Lacombe

Canada's national approach to combating foreign interference rather than tackling it on a riding-by-riding basis was unfair to voters, Conservative leader Erin O'Toole told a federal inquiry Wednesday — and he thinks it could even have cost him his job.

It quickly became clear to O'Toole on election night in 2021 that he was not about to become prime minister, but he was nonetheless startled by the disappointing results in a number of ridings, he testified.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. has now confirmed a human case of avian influenza with an individual that had contact with dairy cows that were believed to have the virus.

The individual's only symptom seemed to be eye inflammation.

The H5N1 bird flu human health risk for the U.S. is still considered to be low, however they note the risk is higher for anyone exposed to infected birds or animals.

Over the last few days, we've seen protests pop up across the country over the increase in the Federal Carbon Tax.

As of Monday, the Federal Carbon Tax jumped $15 a tonne to $80 a tonne - a 23 per cent increase.

In the last few weeks, seven premiers have called for a pause on the increase from Ottawa or to scrap it altogether. 

However, the Federal Government moved ahead with the increase pushing the carbon price tax forward, resulting in a 3 cent a litre jump at the pumps.

After splitting their games in Medicine Hat over the weekend, it was home sweet home for the Red Deer Rebels as they beat the Tigers 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night.

The Tigers would get on the board first with a goal in the opening period, but with just seconds remaining Carson Latimer would get a short handed goal for the Rebels to tie it up at 1-1.

After a Medicine hat goal, and two Red Deer goals in the second the game would be 3-2 in favour of the home team.

Rocky Mountain House Council has requested more policing support.  

A March 26 letter addressed to Clearwater County Member of Parliament Gerald Soroka, explained that council is concerned about the equity of policing services from the Rocky Mountain House RCMP detachment.   

There has been an increasing number of reports of abandoned pets in Central Alberta. Local animal shelters and pet rescue organizations are saying that they can not keep up with the demand on the number of pets brought into their facilities.

Jim DeBoon the owner of Klassic Kennels says the economy is one of the factors to blame.

Drivers are advised of an emergency road closure on 20 Avenue between 39 Street and 55 Street due to roadway flooding.

Motorists are advised to obey all signs and use extra caution while crews are present. Please plan an alternate route.

For information about road construction and closures visit www.reddeer.ca/roadclosures.

Dr. Emadeddin Ben Khalifa is now practising at the Wetaskiwin Tower Clinic.

He invites new patients to call the clinic at 780-352-9700 to arrange a meet and greet. New patients will be required to complete and submit a new patient intake form. 

Dr. Ben Khalifa will also be joining the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre care team as a general practitioner and surgical assistant. Surgical assistants work as part of the operating room team to help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient.

On Jan. 1, the Ponoka RCMP received a report of fraud from a resident in Ponoka.

The victim reported that she was contacted by someone pretending to be her daughter, and stated she had been arrested and needed money for bail.

A person pretending to be a lawyer contacted the victim and planned for a Bailiff to come collect the bail money from the victim’s residence. An unknown male then attended the victim’s residence and collected the money. The victim then contacted her daughter who advised that it was a scam.

The upcoming federal budget will include a $6-billion infrastructure fund to support homebuilding as well as a $400 million top-up to the housing accelerator fund, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.

Trudeau was in Dartmouth, N.S., alongside Housing Minister Sean Fraser as part of the government's pre-budget tour, which aims to drum up attention and win back support on cost-of-living issues.