Lacombe

A year-and-a-half after announcing it would massively reorganize the health-care system, Alberta's government says it's now in the final stages of the still-controversial revamp.

The United Conservatives are dismantling the provincial health authority, Alberta Health Services, reducing it to a hospital services provider and putting four new agencies in charge.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange is proposing legislation that would officially shuffle workers represented by five different unions from AHS to a different agency and the Health Ministry.

The idea of Alberta opting out of the Canada Pension Plan isn't moving ahead — at least for now.

Premier Danielle Smith says she won't be putting the creation of a provincial pension plan to a referendum any time soon.

"I'm not seeing that there's an appetite to put it to the people at the moment," Smith told reporters at an unrelated press conference Thursday.

"I have said that I would put it to the people if I saw evidence they wanted to vote on it (but) I'm not seeing that at the moment."

Update:

Wetaskiwin RCMP are now investigating this serious crash as a fatal hit and run incident.

RCMP, Thursday evening were on scene at a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 13 at Range Road 244.

At the time, traffic could not proceed through the scene.

The highway had been closed for many hours but was reopened early Friday morning.

Charlie Mayer, a prominent figure in Canadian agriculture and politics, has passed away at the age of 89. Born in Saskatoon in 1936, Mayer attended the University of Saskatchewan before purchasing a farm in Manitoba in 1965. He grew grain, potatoes, and raised Simmental cattle, becoming active in the Manitoba Beef Growers Association. Mayer played a key role in opposing the introduction of supply management to the beef industry.

Highway 11A has reopened. Traffic has returned to normal.

Earlier this afternoon at around 4:00 pm, emergency crews were on scene at a MVC on HWY-11A at Range Road 284 east of Sylvan Lake.

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On April 28, 2025, Sylvan Lake Council approved the 2025 Budget with a zero per cent core municipal tax rate increase. This was made possible by assessment values that were much greater than the estimate in the draft budget. 

Here are some common questions answered by council and administration.

What is a core municipal tax rate?

The Canadian cattle industry is experiencing unprecedented profitability, with cattle prices reaching all-time highs. Despite this positive outlook, there are significant concerns about the ongoing trade war with the United States and its impact on the industry's stability.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he’s a true Canadian but wouldn’t stop a public vote on separating from the country if it came forward.

Moe says residents are allowed to trigger provincial legislation for a plebiscite on the issue.

He says he does not judge people for having different opinions, but says he supports a united Canada.

Saskatchewan law allows the public to bring forward a petition for a plebiscite as long as 15 per cent of eligible voters sign on.

Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck says Moe should rule out a vote on separation.

Over the years, certain areas in Canada have seen an increase in wild pig populations. Wayne Lees from Squeal on Pigs Manitoba highlights the difficulty in tracking these animals, especially on foot. "In our experience, finding the pigs is the single hardest thing that we have to do. Our situation in Canada is very, very much different than the US under cold climate conditions. We don't have the large numbers of wild pigs that they experience in warmer climates.

At the April 29 Council meeting, Red Deer County Council approved the municipal tax rate bylaw for 2025. Tax rates vary on individual properties and taxation is based on their market value assessment. Changes to mill rates and levies are listed below: