Lacombe

The Alberta RCMP is inviting Sundre and area residents to ‘Coffee with a Cop,’ today (Feb. 28).  

RCMP members will be available to discuss policing priorities, crime in the community, current crime reduction initiatives, and how to keep the community safe.  

‘Coffee with a Cop’ will be held at the Sundre McDonald’s (841 Main Ave W) from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Critics say the Alberta government's proposed health-care and education spending in its new budget won't address long-standing problems in either sector.

"Public education, once again, with this budget ... is not a priority with this government," said Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling.

"This government should be ashamed of themselves for, once again, short-changing the students of this province."

Premier Danielle Smith appointed Martin Long as Alberta’s new minister of infrastructure days after Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie resigned from cabinet over concerns about financial oversight.

Long, the United Conservative Party MLA for West Yellowhead, was sworn in Thursday. He previously served as parliamentary secretary for small business and tourism, small business, and rural health.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's call for the federal government to bar U.S. President Donald Trump from coming to Canada for the G7 summit this June.

At an event in Montreal Thursday, Trudeau said he sees the idea of banning Trump as an "irresponsible" approach to governance and relationships with other nations.

"It's easy for politicians these days to toss out easy and shocking things to say. We see a lot of it around the world these days. I'm not one of those Canadian politicians," Trudeau said when asked about Singh's comments.

With many producers in Western Canada getting ready for spring seeding and focusing on their seeded acres, it can be easy to overlook those areas that aren’t farmed. Native areas such as shelterbelts, road allowances, and wetlands provide water and nutrient capture for your crop and are key homes for animals and insects that not only benefit agriculture, but the ecosystem as a whole. Dr. Shathi Akhter, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, talks about the importance of these areas not just from an environmental standpoint, but from an agriculture one as well. 

Alberta’s finances, tied for generations to the steep peaks and sharp valleys of oil and gas prices, are once again plunging deep into deficit, with no immediate relief in sight.

Finance Minister Nate Horner introduced a budget Thursday that projects a $5.2-billion deficit this fiscal year on total spending of $79 billion.

That represents an $11-billion swing from the current budget, which wraps up at the end of March and is on track to register a surplus close to $6 billion.

The Alberta government tabled its budget on Thursday. Here are some of the highlights:

Update: 

On Feb. 28, the Red Deer RCMP advised that the missing 13-year-old was found safe. 

Original story:

The Red Deer RCMP were seeking public assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old.

The teen was last seen in Red Deer on Feb. 26. 

They were believed to be in the areas of Edmonton, Didsbury, or Stettler.

There was concern for their well-being.

Red Deer City Council identified four key focus areas for 2025 that will guide efforts in improving the community and enhancing the city’s future, during the Feb. 24 regular council meeting.  

The priorities build on the work across the organization and reinforce the long-term vision outlined in Red Deer 2050 and the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.  

Priorities for 2025 include:  

Relatives of two murdered Indigenous women expressed shock, hope and anger Thursday, after receiving news that potential human remains have been found at a landfill where their loved ones were believed to have been taken.

"I think the shock of everything has finally hit me," Melissa Robinson, a cousin of Morgan Harris, said at a press conference sitting beside other relatives

"To every one of you that said no (to a search), to every one of you that didn't believe in us, do better," said Harris's daughter Elle Harris.