Lacombe

A recently released international report says Canada's temporary foreign worker program is a "breeding ground" for contemporary slavery.

The final report by a United Nations special rapporteur who visited Canada last year says a power imbalance prevents workers from exercising their rights.

A worker's status is dependent on a closed work permit that is specific to their employer. If an individual is fired, they may be deported from Canada. 

Workers are subject to a wide range of abuses and aren't always aware of their rights, the report says. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says people seeking asylum at the border with Canada will have less time to consult a lawyer before making their case, as President Joe Biden's asylum halt makes its way to Canada’s doorstep. 

Biden announced sweeping changes mostly targeted at the U.S. border with Mexico in June, as the issue remains a thorn in the Democrats' side ahead of the November election. The new procedural changes, which the department confirmed Tuesday, will affect migrants crossing into the U.S. from Canada.

The Optimist Club of Red Deer’s third annual Duck Race is raising funds for youth programming this weekend.  

The club is hopeful to have 1,000 ducks in the race this year.   

“They float down to the end of Discovery Canyon, and the first to cross the line, the person who owns that duck wins $5,000," said Les Trevor, President of the Optimist Club of Red Deer.  

UPDATE: this crash has been cleared and traffic is once again moving in this area.

BACKGROUND:

A semi rollover has closed the Highway 11 to Highway 2 Northbound ramp.

The crash happened at around 9:30 am Wednesday morning. A semi truck could be seen turned over in the ditch while emergency vehicles were in the process of pulling the rig out.

Drivers are being asked to use an alternate route.

At 9:07 a.m., today (Aug. 14), Environment Canada issued an air quality advisory for areas of Central Alberta.   

Wildfire smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility.   

Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.  

‘Lacombe Dome The Movie’ is a gaming tournament that is happening this Saturday and Sunday at The Lacombe Memorial Centre. 

The second annual event is expected to draw over 230 participants. Some of the games played include Smash Bros Ultimate, Mario Kart 8, Tekken 8, and Pokemon. 

Construction work on the 55 Street underpass, south of the CPR Pedestrian Bridge is starting today (Aug. 14).  

To accommodate future construction access and pathway alignments, the underpass is being removed.   

Demolition will begin this week and is expected to be completed by Sept. 6, weather dependent.   

Not a day goes by when the Shippelt family isn’t thinking about powersports. Or revving their own dirt bikes. Or providing ATV sales and service to everyone else. For these owners of S5 Powersports in Rocky Mountain House, they’re enthusiasts first and dealers second.

“We used quads back when I was a kid growing up on the farm,” recalls S5 owner Wes Shippelt. “When I got a bit older, I got into dirt biking and have been racing bikes for the last 20 years. It’s our day-to-day, our work as well as our recreation.”

Two prominent "Freedom Convoy" organizers "crossed the line" into criminal activity when they led a massive demonstration to Ottawa in 2022 and refused to leave, the Crown said in its final submissions on their criminal trial Tuesday.

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were among several organizers who brought a huge number of demonstrators and big-rig trucks to Ottawa two years ago to protest pandemic-era public health restrictions and vaccine mandates.

The town of Jasper says early numbers indicate last month’s wildfires destroyed $283 million worth of property.

The town also reports that while 358 structures were destroyed, mostly businesses and homes, the total number of housing units lost is about 800.

The figures were delivered to councillors by chief administrative officer Bill Given at a virtual meeting Tuesday.

Given said the numbers get even more daunting as the town moves forward with rebuilding because the lost structures equate to a $2.2-million loss in annual property tax revenue.