Cochrane

For Andrea Raab, the countdown is on.

The 17-year-old is in the final stages of training as she prepares to represent Canada at the World Taekwon-do Championship in Croatia this October—a dream she’s been chasing for as long as she can remember.

“It’s going well. I’m trying to balance rest days with the training I need, and it can be a struggle sometimes,” says Raab. “But I’ve got to keep pushing through—it’s coming up soon, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Alberta government says it will maintain a frozen industrial carbon tax price for 2026, putting the province at odds with federal rules.

Premier Danielle Smith announced the freeze in May, saying Alberta's price would stay at $95 per tonne of emissions for an indefinite period of time.

Alberta was set to increase the price to $110 per tonne starting next year — in line with the federal schedule — but now says it's keeping the freeze in place for 2026.

Widespread rain last week slowed harvest in parts of Manitoba. That is according to Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson, after Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly crop report. 

Wilson says the week of September 8th started warm, which allowed for harvest to progress. But then came some intense thunderstorms and extensive rain events, particularly in the southwest and eastern regions of our province. Wilson says the wettest location in the eastern region was Steinbach, with more than 100 millimetres of rain recorded in 31 hours. 

The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to set limits around how provincial governments can override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ottawa brought forward the request in a factum filed at the court on Wednesday, as part of a landmark case on Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21.

Quebec has invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Charter in its legislation.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum during his visit to Mexico, which starts today.

The agreement will cover infrastructure, trade, health, agriculture, emergency preparedness and security, senior government officials say.

Carney's two-day visit to Mexico City is happening as Ottawa seeks more trade with Mexico in response to the United States' trade war, and as both countries brace for the renegotiation of the continental trade deal linking all three economies.

The union for educational assistants in Alberta, fresh off its own strike, says its members won't step in to help schools if teachers walk off the job next month.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Alberta president Raj Uppal says members are being advised to refuse teachers' work and to get union officials to clarify areas where those duties could overlap.

She says the union supports teachers and will do "everything in our legal power" to help them improve classroom conditions.

Add two more people to the list of candidates for Cochrane town council.

As of yesterday, we have 17 people running for the six positions available.

Howard May and Brian DeMong have officially registered for the Oct. 20th municipal election.

There remain three candidates for mayor.

Nominations continue to be accepted until noon, Monday Sept. 22.

Canada needs to maintain its 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday.

Ford said the measure is critical to securing a trade deal with the U.S. and protecting Canada's auto sector.

"If the federal government removes its tariffs against Chinese-made EVs, you will contradict and undermine months of engagement with U.S. officials and lawmakers about the need to protect and enhance our highly integrated cross-border automotive supply chains," Ford writes.

Premier Danielle Smith is directing her jobs minister to use all legal means possible to give Alberta more control over immigration.

In a new mandate letter given to Joseph Schow, Smith says Alberta needs more control over immigration to ensure the province sees sustainable levels of newcomers.

The letter says Canadian citizens should have first access to jobs and that young people should be prioritized over temporary foreign workers.

Immigration is increasingly becoming a focal point for Smith and her government. 

The McCafé Coffee Break got to celebrate The Lost Sock Laundromat this week!

The CochraneNow crew dropped in with hot McCafé coffee and tasty treats from Cochrane McDonald’s to fuel up the hardworking team.

The Lost Sock Laundromat was nominated here and it was these kind words that brought in the win.

“The laundromat is always so welcoming and clean. The wash and fold service is an amazing service that I use personally and for my Airbnb business.”