Okotoks

Federal party leaders spent their first full day on the election campaign trail talking about taxes, transfers, tariffs and the trades.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising a middle-class tax cut, following a Liberal pledge that involves a smaller reduction to the same tax rate.

After Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised on Sunday a one percentage point cut to the lowest income tax bracket, Poilievre said Monday he would drop the lowest income tax bracket by 2.25 percentage points.

The federal Liberals are pushing further ahead of the Conservatives in voter support, and almost one in two Canadians surveyed said they think the Liberals will win the election, a new poll suggests.

The survey, conducted by Leger for The Canadian Press, reports that 44 per cent of decided voters surveyed would vote Liberal in the upcoming election, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

The poll surveyed 1,599 Canadians between March 21 and March 23, which includes the first day of the election, and the two days leading into it.

As tensions rise in ongoing trade disputes, China's latest move is adding to concerns for Canadian producers. The country recently announced a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and meal exported from Canada, compounding the uncertainty already present due to U.S. tariffs.  

Farmers caught in the middle  

The new tariff has many farmers wondering how to best proceed and that includes Curtis Sims, owner of Emeline Farms near MacGregor, Manitoba. Sims grows canola and is worried about the impact of these trade measures.  

A missing person from Brooks has been located safe.

Last week, the Brooks RCMP had asked for assistance locating a missing 32-year Brooks resident who was last seen in Okotoks.

They had last been seen at the 7/11 near the Denny's in Okotoks on February 19, and it was believed they were travelling to the Calgary area, and the RCMO was concerned for their well-being.

Today (March 24), the Brooks RCMP has stated that the missing person has been located safe.

Tariffs are beginning to add up in Canada, and Alberta is no exception.

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, R.J. Sigurdson, says the threat of these tariffs has caused the agriculture industry to be tossed many challenges.

The federal government has already responded to the tariffs placed on Canada by the United States with an immediate 25 per cent tariff on $30 billion worth of American imports, and they will be implementing an additional $125 billion on April 2.

The High River Community Cancer Center has teamed up with Wellspring Alberta again on their wellness speaker series.

The series covers many aspects of dealing with cancer and often features cancer survivors giving talks.

Carissa Boleziuk, an RN and High River Patient Navigator at the centre is excited for the return of the Healing Journey series.

Boleziuk said the initial diagnosis can be very difficult for some patients so, is grateful this program tackles that.

In the news this weekend I saw a crazy picture of the side of a diesel tanker ripped open spilling fuel on the road and this happened because the driver of the tanker decided to ignore the pilot vehicle. Thankfully no one was injured but it got me thinking...

What is something you have seen someone do while driving that made you stop and wonder, "What in the world were they thinking?"

Send your responses to (403) 938-0652 or joelle.reimer@goldenwest.ca

The Okotoks Oilers of the BCHL, are in a very tight race to make the playoffs.

With only two games left in the regular season, they're only three points up on the Spruce Grove Saints for the final playoff spot in the Interior Conference.

Over the weekend the Green and Gold lost a pair of home games at the Viking Rentals Centre.

Friday night saw the Oil lose to the West Kelowna Warriors 5-2 and then on Saturday, they were handed a 4-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Penticton Vees.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney will try to inject some Canadian symbolism and pride to his election campaign today with a stop in Gander, Nfld.

The town in northeastern Newfoundland famously fed and housed thousands of passengers — most of them Americans — when flights were grounded after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Carney's chief opponents, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, will campaign in the seat-rich Greater Toronto Area.

AAFC Researchers at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre want to turn Canadian agriculture’s value chains into value circles.  

Dr. Emma Stephens and a team of data analysts are taking the most comprehensive look yet at Canada’s entire agriculture and agri-food industry, from the field, to processing and exports, to the end use by consumers.

"What that means is looking for additional value-added opportunities within our agri-food value chain through co-products and current waste byproducts to find additional ag-based resources," she explained.