Beyond Local

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government introduced a bill earlier this month to make it easier to launch a citizen-initiated referendum — including a vote on separating from Canada.

The new cabinet includes both seasoned and newly appointed ministers.

Alberta needs to stand up to Donald Trump and protect an industry worth billions of bucks to its communities and overall economy, the NDP’s arts and culture critic told the legislature this week.

Trump's first administration turned into a stress test for the federal government when he hit Canada with steel and aluminum tariffs and tore up the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The case to have Lac La Biche Mayor Paul Reutov disqualified from Lac La Biche County council was dismissed by the Court of King’s Bench.

Alberta’s government is extending the Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program and is providing grants to four organizations to improve access to cancer screening – particularly in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, said the province.

Included from Danielle Smith's government were bills to lower the bar for citizen-initiated referendums to take place, force those suffering from addiction into treatment without consent and to set the stage for a provincial police force.

The Impact Assessment Act is already being revised to address a Supreme Court ruling that found some parts of it encroached on provincial jurisdiction, and the oil and gas emissions cap is still being finalized

Every adult of an affected community who has been evacuated for seven days or more is eligible to receive a one-time payment of $1,250 from the Alberta government.

Danielle Smith has said she wants Alberta to stay in Canada, but Onion Lake Cree Nation chief says the referendum legislation signals that the province is pushing a separatist agenda.