HighRiver

As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.

Briefing materials prepared for incoming Housing Minister Gregor Robertson this past May and released this week acknowledge that costly housing is hurting the economy and making it difficult for people to find places to live.

"Vulnerable populations and lower-income households are struggling to have their basic housing needs met due to a lack of suitable affordable housing," the documents say.

Ottawa's chief data officer says he thinks the introduction of artificial intelligence to federal government operations will lead to "some" job cuts in the public service.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Stephen Burt said he thinks the impacts are going to vary widely and will be job-specific, with different outcomes in different areas.

While he wouldn't identify the risk of job losses in specific areas of government, Burt said the goal will be to ensure employees receive opportunities to retrain and change jobs.

Avian Influenza has been detected in three commercial poultry operations in Alberta. 

Earlier this week, the CFIA identifying one infected premise in Strathcona County and one in Beaver Country - both areas are located near Edmonton.
which is located near Edmonton. Another infected premise was confirmed on Wednesday in Minburn County.

Avian influenza - H5N1 - can affect wild bird and domestic bird populations. 

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) presented The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2025 to Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag Holdings Inc

The couple run a 70 head Angus-based cow herd on a land base next to the Kennebecasis River and show incredible respect for the land and the environment protecting the water, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat.

A Mountie seriously injured in a highway crash while responding to a mass stabbing on a Manitoba First Nation says she's doing well but the tragedy will stay with her forever.

About 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category from 2011 to 2021

The amount of rented farmland in Saskatchewan and Alberta shot upward in the 2010s.

Farmland rented or leased in the two provinces went from 25.7 million acres in 2011 to 29.1 million in 2021, says Census of Agriculture data.

So, in a decade, about 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category. The 3.4 million acres includes cropland and ranchland.

The Okotoks RCMP are seeking the public's assistance in identifying suspects involved in a mischief investigation.   

On Aug. 31, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Okotoks RCMP responded to a report of mischief to two vehicles parked in front of a residence on Crystal Shores Drive.  

A passenger was dropped off from a vehicle before slashing the tires of two vehicles parked in front of the home.  

The 3rd annual Simpora Foundation Rubber Duck Race & Family Fun Carnival is coming up this Saturday, Sept. 13.

It’s become an end-of-summer tradition in Okotoks, where locals can adopt one of thousands of rubber ducks that will race down the river from Sheep River Park to the Laurie Boyd Bridge.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the adopters of four ducks: $2,000 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd place, and $500 for 3rd and last place.

Last year’s event featured 1,500 ducks.

As farmers work on the harvest, agriculture ministers from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg this week for the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting. The annual event hosted by Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald provided a key platform to discuss shared challenges, policy priorities, and the future of Canadian agriculture. 

Kananaskis Mountain Rescue, with assistance from the Alberta RCMP Underwater Search Team and the Cochrane RCMP, recovered the two drowning victims from Upper Kananaskis Lake.  

The victims, a 33-year-old female resident of Banff and a 34-year-old male resident of Canmore, were recovered yesterday (Sept. 11).  

On Aug. 26, emergency services responded to a report of a capsized canoe on Upper Kananaskis Lake around 4 p.m.