Lacombe

Canada Post on Wednesday laid out its "final offers" to the union representing 55,000 workers after negotiations resumed Wednesday morning, as tensions run high over the future of the beleaguered institution.

Included in the proposal are an end to compulsory overtime, a signing bonus of $1,000 for urban employees and $500 for rural and suburban ones, cost-of-living payments that are triggered at a lower inflation threshold.

Parliament gets back to work Wednesday with a new Speaker, a new prime minister and plenty of new faces in the House of Commons.

Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia will preside over the House of Commons for the first time today, while his office has confirmed that all 343 members of Parliament have now been sworn in.

Roughly a third of those MPs, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, were elected for the first time in April and will face their first question period today.

Heat warnings have been issued for parts of central Alberta for Wednesday.

A Red Deer MLA has been appointed as Alberta’s new parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs.

Premier Danielle Smith named Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South, to the role on May 21.

According to the province, the position will play a key role as Alberta continues to assert its constitutional jurisdiction in areas such as resource development—ensuring the province’s rights are protected and respected within the federation.

“I am committed to standing up for Alberta and ensuring our constitutional rights are respected and upheld,” Stephan said.

InteliRain is like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but for irrigation farmers — getting their fields “just right” for water distribution.

The Calgary-based company uses an automated variable rate irrigation system that allows growers to maximize yields, minimize workloads and conserve water.

Construction will soon begin at Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre as part of a project designed to help the facility improve access to surgery and procedures. 

Alberta Health Services, in partnership with Alberta Infrastructure and its contractors, is expanding and upgrading the surgical department, as well as building an addition onto the northwest corner of the hospital that will house a relocated and modernized Medical Device Reprocessing Department where surgical instruments are sterilized and processed.

Sylvan Lake RCMP are reporting that a 17-year-old youth has been located safe. They would like to thank the public for their help.

The youth had been reported missing after leaving HJ Cody School, Monday, May 26th. 

Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.

From Alberta to Manitoba, residents across the Prairies are out of their homes, while others remain on edge as wildfires inch closer to their communities.

The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan has imposed an evacuation order for more than 1,800 residents of Pelican Narrows, 412 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

They are to flee to PAGC Urban Services, also known as the Margo Fournier Centre, in Prince Albert.

A new report is warning the annual levy charged to Alberta oil companies to fund the cleanup of orphaned oil and gas wells remains too low to keep up with the rate of surrendering.

The report, written by former University of Calgary Public Interest Law Clinic lawyer Drew Yewchuk, says this year's levy rate combined with low rates in previous years is leading to an estimated funding shortfall of $1.2 billion.

A free fishing event in Lacombe allows kids to experience the joy of casting a line. 

The annual Kids Can Catch Youth Fishing event will take place on Saturday at Len Thompson Trout Pond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“We try to encourage kids to get out in the world and do a little fishing,” said Bernie Street, the fishing chair for Lacombe Fish and Game Association. 

“So, we have people around to try and help them out when they come and there are fishing rods and stuff available.”