Okotoks

Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre aligned on support for new oil and gas pipelines as a matter of national security during the French language election debate Wednesday night.

Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump was a running theme as the four main federal party leaders took the stage in Montreal for the first of two debates. Even the debate moderator Patrice Roy cited the elephant in the room as he pitched questions on immigration, affordability and Canadian identity.

Anyone for Tennis?

If you are, you'll need to wait until May.

The Town of High River will be working on the courts throughout April.

They need to wash the courts, apply crack filler to any surface cracks and install the nets.

Once it's complete, the High River Tennis Club is looking to hit the courts on Friday, May 2.

The windscreens won't be installed until the following week, and the outdoor port-a-potty will open that same week.

Agriculture takes center stage in the Federal  Election campaign for some candidates this week . 

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture  (CFA) is holding their National Agricultural Leaders Debate on Thursday, April 17th.

CFA President Keith Currie says, like most Canadians, producers are concerned about what's happening south of the border and the plethora of executive orders that President Trump is putting in motion.

Communities in Alberta are continuing to grow rapidly, with an 18 per cent increase compared to last year.  

The provincial government has been working to support builders by reducing barriers, encouraging new residential housing construction by cutting red tape, incentivizing construction, and supporting innovative strategies to get shovels in the ground faster, a Government of Alberta news release said.  

Alberta's United Conservative Party says it has expelled former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie from caucus over his repeated criticism of the government's handling of the health-care contract scandal.

Guthrie gave up his ministerial position in February over concerns about government contracts and has been sitting as a backbencher for his Airdrie-Cochrane riding.

His pushback against Premier Danielle Smith also led the caucus to suspend him from voting in caucus matters.

The Easter long weekend is almost here, and with that comes church services on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

St. Francis De Sales is planning their Good Friday service for 3:00 p.m., with the Stations of the Cross happening at 6:30 p.m. They have an Easter Sunday service at 11:00 a.m.

St. Benedict Anglican Church has its Good Friday service from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and its Easter Sunday Eucharist and Holy Baptism goes from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Calgary Stampede cracked open its lineup for the Coca-Cola Stage on Wednesday morning.

Bubbling to the top are stars like Khalid, Diplo presents with Thomas Wesley, the Arkells, and dozens more.

A lot of local up-and-comers will also be performing, like Kyle McKearney and Rebel Grrrlz.

DJ Brandi Cyrus will also hit the stage. She's Miley's older sister, and yes, Billy Ray is her dad.

Another famous offspring will also bring his band to town. Devin Cuddy, son of Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame, will also entertain the crowds during Stampede.

The Bank of Canada left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday as it waits to get a clearer picture of how global trade uncertainty is going to impact the Canadian economy.

The central bank held its policy rate steady at 2.75 per cent, the first time it has left the key rate unchanged following seven consecutive cuts since June.

That decision arrived in the midst of the United States' ever-shifting global trade war, and Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem made clear that the disruption from south of the border was the clear focus of Wednesday’s decision.

Our online auction comes to a close this afternoon.

Lots are ending every few minutes, but there are still plenty of local deals to bid on!

If you've been keeping an eye on anything in particular, now is the time to pounce.

The last lot comes to a close at around 4 p.m., so be sure to keep an eye on the timer if you're bidding on a popular item.

Good luck and happy bidding!

The stage will look different than originally planned Wednesday night, when Canada's major party leaders square off in the first of two nationally televised debates.

Instead of five podiums on the stage, there will now only be four.

The Green Party had its invitation rescinded less than 12 hours before the debate is set to start, with the Leaders' Debate Commission saying the party no longer met the criteria to be included.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault called the "last minute decision" both "unfounded" and "undemocratic."