The Canadian Press

Alberta's transportation minister says the province plans to learn from an Ontario court ruling that found a law seeking to remove some Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional.

Devin Dreeshen says Alberta will be watching the case with interest, especially since Ontario's government plans to appeal the ruling. 

Dreeshen says being the second province to go down the same path is helpful, as it gives Alberta the opportunity to analyze the "good and bad" parts of Ontario's legislation.

A former deputy premier's petition to have Alberta declare that its official policy is to remain in Canada can start rolling out across the province.

Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure says canvassers with the Alberta Forever Canada citizen initiative can begin gathering signatures.

Submitted by Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, the petition is for a policy proposal asking people: "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?"

Canvassers have three months to gather around 294,000 signatures on the petition.

The Bank of Canada is expected to make an interest rate decision this morning.

Economists and financial markets widely expect the central bank will keep its policy rate steady at 2.75 per cent.

A surprisingly strong June jobs report and signs of stubbornness in core inflation convinced many economists the bank would remain on hold.

The Bank of Canada left its key rate unchanged at its two most recent decisions as it waits for more clarity on how Canada's tariff dispute with the United States will affect inflation and the economy.

Avery Shenfeld doesn't think the Bank of Canada will cut its benchmark interest rate at its decision on Wednesday, but if it does, he said it will be a "pleasant surprise."

"There's always a chance that they'll surprise with the rate cut," the chief economist of CIBC said.

Most economists are also expecting the Bank of Canada will hold its policy rate steady at 2.75 per cent for a third consecutive decision later this week.

Two people have been hospitalized and more than 200 have shown symptoms after a gastrointestinal outbreak at a Calgary-area food facility.

Alberta Health Services says the outbreak at Saskatoon Farm in Foothills County is presumed to be E. coli and an intestinal illness called amoebiasis.

Saskatoon Farm's food service facilities were ordered closed on Wednesday until deemed safe again, while the rest of the business remains open.

Alberta Health Services says there have been 18 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli, three of which also tested positive for amoebiasis.

An Ontario judge is delivering her ruling in the sexual assault trial for five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team.

Content warning: This live blog includes graphic descriptions of sexual acts and explicit testimony from a court proceeding that some readers may find disturbing or triggering. Reader discretion is advised.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe wrapped three days of meetings with his fellow premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday with a message he admitted he wouldn't have sent over the past decade.

"We can be proud of the work our federal government is doing, in fairness," Moe said.

Moe has been one of the federal Liberal government's most vocal critics in recent years — and criticism of Ottawa is usually guaranteed when provincial leaders gather.

Precipitation that's in the forecast early this week could help crews fighting wildfires that have been threatening a northern Manitoba city after smoke that's blanketed much of the Prairies over the weekend kept some firefighting aircraft grounded and forced the cancellation of a number of weekend events.

In an update posted to social media on Sunday, the City of Thompson said rain was forecast for the area on Monday as the community continues to advise residents to be ready to flee at short notice due to several fires. 

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer.

Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week.

Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks.

Thousands of Manitobans remain out of their home communities due to wildfires.

With recent cooler weather — accompanied by rain in some areas — there was no word of additional evacuations as of Tuesday afternoon.

But the 13,000 residents of Thompson were still being told to be ready to evacuate if necessary as the forecast called for drier weather and strong winds.

The Canadian Red Cross was already housing evacuees in Winnipeg.