Saskatchewan latest province to restrict cellphone use in school classrooms

The Saskatchewan government says students won't be allowed to use cellphones in class in the upcoming school year.

The move, announced Tuesday, applies to all kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms. 

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a news release that too often phones are taking students' attention away from what they should be learning.

"This new policy will allow students to be more engaged with their teachers and focused on learning the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential," he said.

Body of missing woman found in Saskatoon landfill, police say suspect dead

Saskatoon police say they have found the remains of a missing woman in a city landfill and that a suspect in her death has since died.

Officers began searching the landfill in May for 22-year-old Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who was reported missing in December 2020.

Police said at the time they had collected evidence from electronic devices that led them to the landfill.

Chief Cameron McBride says an autopsy could not determine the cause of the woman's death.

But he says a suspect in the death died of a drug overdose in 2023.

Ottawa considers changes to reduce number of temporary foreign workers in Canada

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault says the federal government is considering new regulations that could make fewer employers eligible to hire temporary foreign workers.

It's part of a suite of changes the minister is announcing in an effort to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada. 

He says he told a group of large business associations today that the program cannot be used to circumvent hiring Canadian workers.

Kamala Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, hails from state with close ties to Canada

Vice President Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, marking a major milestone since her move to the top of the Democratic ticket ahead of the November presidential election. 

They are expected to appear together at a rally this evening after Harris formally clinched the nomination on Monday. 

The search for a running mate began just two weeks ago, after President Joe Biden removed himself as the nominee amid concerns over his age and endorsed Harris. 

'We will rebuild': A look inside the wildfire devastation in Jasper

Richard Ireland's eyes well up with tears as he gazes in silence towards his home and sees memories of a lifetime burnt to ashes.

The mayor of Jasper then leans over what remains of the small, cosy home he grew up in — a piece of a concrete wall — and says all he can think about is a framed photograph that was taken after his family moved in when he was two years old, lost somewhere in the rubble.

New numbers confirm one-third of Jasper townsite destroyed in this week's wildfire

One-third of all structures in the townsite of Jasper are gone, burned to the ground in this week’s wildfire, officials confirmed Friday.

Premier Danielle Smith said there are 1,113 structures in the picturesque Rocky Mountain resort community.

She said Wednesday night’s wildfire destroyed 358 of them and damaged seven more.

The structures were homes and businesses. Much of the damage was contained to the west side of town.

Smith said critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water treatment services, remain intact.

Recent rain, cooler weather limiting spread of wildfires in Jasper National Park

Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.

The park posted a statement on X late Thursday night saying cooler temperatures and up to 15 millimetres of rain since midnight had led to minimal fire activity.

The park says due to the rainfall, fire behaviour is likely to calm over the next 72 hours.

While more rain is expected Friday, temperatures are supposed to return to the mid 20s by Saturday, which the park says will lead to an increase in fire activity.

Here are the latest developments in the Alberta wildfires

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says up to half of the buildings in Jasper may have been burned after wildfires swept through the evacuated community.

Here are the latest developments on the wildfire situation in Alberta (all times are MT):

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10:13 p.m.

Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.

A statement from the park Thursday night says up to 15 millimetres of rain has fallen in the area since midnight, leading to minimal fire spread.

Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta’s request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.

The park's social media account says the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported.

On the social media platform X, the account for Fairmont's Jasper Park Lodge says the flames have reached the hotel's grounds, but the extent of damage, if any, is not yet known.