Okotoks

The Alberta government and its auditor general are at odds over the province’s decision to bring lawyers directly into the investigation surrounding multimillion-dollar health contracts.

The issue arose after the Opposition NDP revealed a leaked email this week from Alberta Health that directs public servants to contact a lawyer to co-ordinate if auditor general Doug Wylie requests an interview as part of his investigation.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to tighten financial transparency rules for elected officials — and is using that promise to take aim at Liberal Leader Mark Carney.

Poilievre told a press conference in Ottawa on Sunday that if his party forms government, he'll ban what he calls "shadow lobbying."

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to cut red tape and step up support for veterans Saturday, while Liberal Leader Mark Carney pledged to make visiting national parks and museums more affordable for Canadian families.

Poilievre unveiled his party's plan for veterans during a press conference in Nepean, the suburban Ottawa community that contains the neighbouring ridings where he and Carney are running. 

Carney did not have any public events scheduled. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's itinerary shows he will hold an evening event in Timmins, Ont.

Okotoks Fire & Rescue responded to another grass fire on Friday (April 11) afternoon.

At around 3:30 p.m. they were called to a fire near the Sheep River just behind the Okotoks Public Library.

According to emergency personnel at the scene, a passerby reported a small tipi structure made of logs and branches that was fully engulfed.

Crews arrived shortly after and were soon able to get the fire under control.

The cause is under investigation.

Local water polo players recently took home some hardware in a provincial tournament.

Members of the Foothills-based Prairie Dolphins Water Polo Club were in Edmonton over the weekend to compete in the Alberta Water Polo Winter Provincial League.

Three groups of Prairie Dolphins players competed each of them paired with other teams.

The U12 girls were paired with the Calgary Wild, the U14 boys played with the Edmonton Riptides to form the Riptides Blue and Riptides Teal teams, and the U18 boys were paired with Calgary Mako.

Two of the Alberta Law Foundation's provincially appointed board members have resigned in protest over proposed legislation that they say amounts to political interference in how vulnerable people access the justice system.

The bill would give Justice Minister Mickey Amery final say on grants over $250,000 that the foundation provides to community legal clinics and researchers.

The foundation says it funds about 65 non-profit service providers every year through interest earned on lawyers' trust accounts, not government coffers.

The Town of Okotoks is hosting a special Easter Bunny Party this Wednesday (April 16).

It is an annual event the Town hosts at the Okotoks Recreation Centre and is aimed at young children.

With the weekend upcoming, there is plenty to do to keep busy.

Here is what's going on in the Foothills this weekend:

Friday, April 11:

The Town of Okotoks hosts Nature Fridays events, and at this week's event, they are teaching about pollinators and how bees and butterflies help plants grow and grow the ecosystem.

High River's Jason Glass and the reigning Calgary Stampede chuckwagon champion claimed the top bid last night at the Big Four Roadhouse.

The unofficial kick-off to the Calgary Stampede saw record numbers last night for the 45th annual Canvas Auction.

Glass reined in $230,000 from longtime sponsor Birchcliff Energy, beating his $150,000 bid from last year.

"Thank you to Birchcliff Energy, my longtime sponsor. They're an amazing group. I can't thank Birchcliff Energy enough."

Season two of the HBO series The Last of Us returns this Sunday.