Government Affairs

Economic Environmental Government Affairs 

Energy minister leans on oil industry talking points in carbon capture announcement

Posted on: Staff Writer

By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter At a carbon capture funding announcement, Canada’s energy minister was using rhetoric straight out of Big Oil’s playbook. On Friday, the federal government announced $21.5 million for a handful of carbon capture projects in Alberta, and while the amount isn’t going to move the needle, Energy and Natural Resource Minister Tim Hodgson’s choice of … Read more…

Business Economic Government Affairs 

Keep away from wokeness and DEI, new minister warns municipalities

Posted on: Staff Writer

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Major municipalities should steer clear of creating drug injection sites, licensing body rub parlours and banning plastic straws, says the first municipal affairs minister from rural Alberta since January 2021. Using terms like woke and DEI, Dan Williams said municipalities of every size and type should concentrate on services taxpayers deserve and expect. “I … Read more…

Education Government Affairs Political 

Government alerted to no sexually graphic material so far in rural school libraries

Posted on: Staff Writer

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter No examples of potentially age-inappropriate content from Alberta’s rural school libraries had landed on the education minister’s desk by Tuesday morning. During a roundtable with about 20 reporters and other rural media representatives, Demetrios Nicolaides confirmed that the examples of graphic content the government was alerted to originated from four books in Edmonton and … Read more…

Economic Environmental Fort Macleod Government Affairs 

Hundreds kept out of meeting on controversial Crowsnest Pass coal mine

Posted on: Staff Writer

By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Premier’s Coal Town Hall event held on Wednesday evening at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall was described as “a gong show” by many in attendance, with several being left outside, including the media. Hundreds of people lined up down the street hours before the doors opened, many of them protesting the … Read more…

Government Affairs Political 

Voters must register for 2025 Municipal Election

Posted on: Staff Writer

By Lacie Nairn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Residents interested in exercising their voting rights during the 2025 municipal elections will need to ensure that they are registered to vote in the upcoming municipal election before September 15, 2025.  This is the first municipal election cycle where voters will need to register to vote following changes made by the Municipal Affairs Statutes … Read more…

Economic Environmental Government Affairs 

Boos, cheers and pointed questions: Emotions flare at coal town hall with Danielle Smith, ministers

Posted on: Staff Writer

By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter “You took us down!” “What about the back room deal?” Voices shouted in protest, fists pounded on chairs and anti-mining placards waved in the air at the Fort Macleod community hall as Premier Danielle Smith stepped to the podium June 11 to face sharp scrutiny over Alberta’s coal future. Dozens stood along the walls, … Read more…

Economic Environmental Government Affairs 

Coal town hall draws conflicting reactions

Posted on: Staff Writer

By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Reactions to last week’s coal town hall revealed the sharp divide that remains over coal development in southern Alberta. Dean Ward, a Municipality of Crowsnest Pass councillor who attended the meeting, said he was disappointed by what he described as a lack of respectful dialogue. “I went to the coal meeting in Fort Macleod … Read more…