Health-care union calls for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines

A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot.

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong.

Smith says the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage, recover costs, and protect those who need it the most by giving them the COVID shot for free.

Whitecourt RCMP conducts arrests following erratic driving complaints

 On June 4, 2025, Whitecourt RCMP received a complaint involving an erratic driver in the town of Whitecourt. Whitecourt RCMP, with assistance from Alberta RCMP Traffic - Whitecourt Unit and Whitecourt RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS), located the suspect vehicle and conducted the arrest of the two individuals within. A search of the vehicle incidental to arrest revealed a loaded firearm.

Two individuals were charged with Criminal Code offences, Traffic Safety Act Offences, and Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act offences, namely the following:

Time to increase field scouting activities for insects

Some areas of the prairies have received some rain over the past few days, but the weeks of hot, dry weather have had an impact on crops, hay, and pastureland. 

With the dry conditions across so much of the Prairies, there's been an increased concern about grasshopper infestations.

Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says grasshoppers could be shaping up to be an important story again this year.

Joint Statement by the G7 Farmers’ Organizations

Farmers across the G7 are confronting unprecedented pressures as the world faces overlapping geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. Inflation, high interest rates, and continued fallout from recent financial shocks have destabilized farm economies. At the same time, trade disruptions, and fractured supply chains are compounding uncertainty in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change—more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather—are threatening productivity and straining rural infrastructure.

Danny Gokey reveals lifelong struggle with OCD and how faith brought him hope

Earlier this spring, Danny Gokey released his single “Only For a Moment,” and he's now opening up about the story behind the song.

"When I was younger, I kept a secret buried deep within me that I hid from everybody, even my parents. It was something I planned on telling no one," said Gokey in a post on social media. "In my young adolescent mind, I had already convinced myself that God rejected me because of it, so I tried harder to keep it hidden because I couldn't bear the thought of any more rejection from anyone else."

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald visits Saskatchewan to meet with producers

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald recently spent Friday and Saturday touring Saskatchewan.

During his visit, he had an opportunity to talk with producers and stakeholders about key agricultural issues and concerns and the potential opportunities that exist within the industry today and in the future.

Carney's task at G7 will be to keep the group alive as experts question the outcome

As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets ready to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit in Alberta, analysts say Canada's most important goal will be to keep the G7 from falling apart — even if that means not issuing a joint statement.

"Keeping this informal international organization together will, I think, be a mark of success," said Sen. Peter Boehm, a former diplomat who played a central role in Canada’s participation in the G7 for decades.

Canada and the United Kingdom think and work alike, Starmer says during Ottawa visit

The historic ties and long-standing working relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada are not just reflections of the past, but are very much needed "in the here and now," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday. 

Starmer said the two Commonwealth members think and work alike, having collaborated for years on issues of security, defence, trade and the economy.

Starmer met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Sunday before the two leaders headed for the G7 leaders' summit in Alberta.