Lacombe

Alberta's auditor general has been granted his request for nearly $1 million in extra funding to dig deeper into allegations of corruption in private health care contracts.

Auditor general Doug Wylie says the scope and complexity of the probe means his office needs to hire additional help and cover legal costs.

Members from both the United Conservative Party government and Opposition NDP who sit on the legislature committee that approved the request say Wylie is doing important work.

Just after 7:30 pm Monday June 23, Blackfalds Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a crash on Panorama Drive near the intersection of Highway 2A.

A vehicle struck a traffic signal post causing significant damage to the vehicle and the pedestrian crossing control.

This story will be updated once more information is provided by Blackfalds RCMP.

The Town of Blackfalds Broadway reservoir project is set to support future growth.

Construction has begun in Blackfalds on the Broadway Avenue Reservoir expansion project.

In late 2022, the County of Lacombe approached the town to discuss the limits of existing water and sewer servicing for the Aspelund Industrial Area.

Due to these limitations, crews are now installing a large underground water tank and connecting it to the municipal water system.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to announce today next steps in her plan to challenge what she and her government have called unfair intrusions from the federal government.

Smith will be in Calgary to announce details of the Alberta Next Panel. 

She will be joined by Adam Legge of the Business Council of Alberta at a news conference in Heritage Park.

A top federal official said fixing the payroll problems caused by Phoenix cost taxpayers more than $5 billion — and they'll keep paying extra to run two public service payroll platforms at once as Ottawa weans itself off the problem-plagued system.

Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, said the alternative to running the Phoenix system in tandem with its replacement, Dayforce, would have been worse.

"The unfortunate situation is there's no easy path," he said. "This is the one that's going to impact employees the least."

A survivor of a rockfall last week in Banff National Park is remembering his 33-year-old roommate, who didn't make it out alive from under the rubble, as a kind and generous friend.

Khaled Elgamal says Hamza Benhilal of Surrey, B.C., was one of two people who died after a slab of mountain gave way Thursday, raining rock down on hikers at Bow Glacier Falls, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary.

Protein Industries Canada says a new soybean breeding program will open new opportunities for producers and processors.

The new $4.3 million initiative for Canada's identity-preserved non-GMO soybean is being led by NRGene Canada, Pulse Genetics, Hensall Co-op, and Yumasoy Foods Ltd. 

The project, involves the launch of a new breeding program to develop early-maturing, high-protein, non-GMO soybean varieties suited to Canada’s northern climates, including Manitoba and northern Ontario.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has held Edmonton-Strathcona for the New Democrats in one of three provincial byelections.

Related Stories:

• Alberta NDP Leader Nenshi fighting for seat in one of three byelections

Unofficial results from Elections Alberta put him well ahead of the nearest competitor, United Conservative Party candidate Darby Crouch.

Voters cast their ballots Monday in three Alberta ridings: Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona, and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.

We are tracking results in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills and will post updates throughout the evening.

Four candidates are running in the riding: Cameron Davies (Republican Party of Alberta), Tara Sawyer (United Conservative Party), Beverley Toews (Alberta NDP), and Bill Tufts (Wildrose Loyalty Coalition).

Rebels trade Steven Steranka to Moose Jaw for draft pick.

Red Deer Rebels owner, president and general manager Brent Sutter announced Friday (June 20) the club has completed a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The Rebels have sent forward Steven Steranka to the Warriors in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.

Steranka, a native of Regina, Sask., was selected by Red Deer in the seventh round (148th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.