Strathmore

The Speaker of the Alberta legislature is resigning his seat in the assembly to become the province's representative to the United States.

"Serving this assembly has been one of the greatest honours of my lifetime," Nathan Cooper said Wednesday in a speech to the house announcing his resignation.

"Working as the assembly's chief diplomat has equipped me in, and to be ready for, my next role serving Albertans in a new and meaningful way."

As separatist discontent bubbles up anew in Alberta, experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would pitch the country into unexplored territory on everything from money to First Nations and national parks.

“You’re in terra incognita. You’re off the map when we get to that stage of the proceedings,” said law professor Eric Adams.

“A lot of things are going to be broken on the way out the door.”

After the Second World War came to a close, Canada pulled itself away from Great Britain and planted itself firmly within a North American political and economic compact that generated prosperity for much of the western world for decades.

But as the world marks 80 years since the end of the war in Europe, an increasingly unstable geopolitical climate — and an administration in Washington bent on fighting a trade war with much of the world — has Canada looking back to the continent as a way to preserve peace and prosperity.

Observers say the American government’s move toward deregulation could have sweeping consequences for Canadians.

A new policy paper warns Canadian agriculture to prepare for changing U.S. domestic policies that seek efficiencies through deregulation.

The paper from Agri-Food Economic Systems said this could include food inspection.

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Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) have issued a Boil Water Advisory for Siksika Nation.

The advisory was issued on Wednesday, May 7, due to the potential of contamination that may cause illness.

The City of Chestermere has a special contest going on for local middle schoolers.

The Mayor for a Day program gives one lucky student the opportunity to share their ideas, engage with community leaders, and learn about how municipal governments work.

The student will have their own mock inauguration ceremony and a sit down with Mayor Shannon Dean.

The student will also receive a free lunch and some branded City of Chestermere items.

To apply for the contest, the student must live in Chestermere and be between Grades 6 and 9.

Strong nitrogen fertilizer demand is butting up against tight supplies in some regions of the world, says an analyst.

India is the world’s top importer of the product.

Indian urea demand surged to 38.8 million tonnes in 2024-25, an eight per cent increase over the previous year, according to Argus Media.

That was due in part to tight supplies of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer during the winter (rabi) crop season.

A test of the Alberta Emergency Alert system was cancelled on Wednesday, May 7.

The alert was set for Wednesday afternoon but was cancelled due to "the increase of wildfire activity in the province", according to Rocky View County.

It is not known if the test will be postponed to a later date.

The county suggests that residents install the Alberta Emergency Alert app to keep updated on emergencies in the area.

The Alberta Emergency Alert app can be downloaded here.

Chief Ouray Crowfoot of Siksika Nation attended an emergency meeting in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 6.

According to the Siksika Nation Tribal Administration, Crowfoot joined other leaders from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 First Nations to voice opposition to Bill 54.

The bill, which received first reading in April, would lower the threshold for citizen initiatives. Siksika leadership claims the legislation would “make it easier for residents to organize an Alberta independence referendum.”

As the 2025 crop season begins, farmers across the prairies are already on high alert for potential insect damage. Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides insights into what farmers might expect this year based on last year's conditions and winter observations.