Lacombe

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives. 

Holland says regulated health-care professionals who aren't doctors will be able to bill the government for medically necessary services that would otherwise be provided by a physician. 

The minister says the changes are part of a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act that takes effect on April 1, 2026. 

The federal Liberals will announce a new leader on March 9, the party announced late Thursday, giving potential candidates just two weeks to decide to run and potential voters less than three weeks to join the party in order to vote.

The National Board of Directors met Thursday night to decide the initial rules for the race to race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced Monday he will resign as soon as a new leader is chosen.

Contenders have until Jan. 23 to declare their candidacy and will have to pay a $350,000 entry fee to participate in the race.

As the new year begins, Central Alberta residents can expect several federal and provincial tax credits and benefit payments in the coming weeks.

Here’s what to look out for, starting with payments scheduled this week.

Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB)

 On Jan. 9, 2025, at 3:21 p.m., Red Deer RCMP received a report of an explosion at an industrial workplace on 53 avenue and 54 street in Red Deer.

Unconfirmed reports have said that the incident happened at the Prairie Bus Lines main building.

The Red Deer Fire department quickly extinguished the blaze however remain on scene as a precaution.  5 Individuals, all employees at the site, were taken to hospital with various injuries. Two suffered critical injuries. The fire has now been extinguished.

The Red Deer Rebels have completed a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The Rebels have acquired 18-year-old forward Nishaan Parmar from Seattle in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft (via Prince Albert) and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft (via Swift Current).

Parmar is in his second season in the WHL after being selected by the Thunderbirds in round seven, 148th overall at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Red Deer Rebels Owner, President and General Manager Brent Sutter today announced the club has completed a three-team trade with the Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors.

To Red Deer:

- Ty Coupland (Forward, ’07) from Swift Current

- Keaton Dowhaniuk (Defence, ’04) from Moose Jaw

- 4th round selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft from Swift Current

To Swift Current:

- Hunter Mayo (Defence, ’04) from Red Deer

- Trae Wilke (Forward, ’06) from Red Deer

To Moose Jaw

The City of Lacombe is looking for volunteers for a couple of committees:

• Heritage Resources Committee - 2 Vacancies (2-year and 3-year terms starting January 2025)
• Arts Endowment Committee - 1 Vacancy (term starts January 1, 2025)

All interested applicants are invited to use the online volunteer application available in the Volunteer Opportunities section of the City's website.

Telephone: 403-782-1287
Email: legislative@lacombe.ca
5432 56th Avenue
Lacombe, AB T4L 1 E9

The Lacombe Police Service (LPS) is investigating vandalism that caused Internet interruptions throughout the community on Jan. 7.  

Early Tuesday morning, LPS received a call from a resident regarding property damage.   

It was later confirmed by crews that the service outage was due to a fibre cut caused by vandalism, affecting homes and businesses in Lacombe. 

Alberta is preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support to help battle wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles.

Premier Danielle Smith says on X that neighbours are always there for each other in times of need and the province will assist its American friends in this crisis.

Water-bombing pilots and crews from Quebec and a British Columbia company are already fighting the wind-whipped flames in the Southern California city.

RCMP have made a second arrest in relation to a November armed robbery at a convenience store in Blackfalds.

On Nov. 11, 2024, police responded to a report of a robbery with a firearm at the Blackfalds 7-Eleven.  Two people in scream masks entered the store, threatened the staff and discharged a shotgun into the ceiling. The suspects left after taking cash from the till.

On Dec. 17, 2024, Jackson Mackenzie Cann, 19, of Red Deer was arrested and charged in connection to the robbery.