Okotoks

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. 

A south Calgary community is rallying after a fire destroyed two homes over the weekend.

The Calgary Fire Department responded to reports of a fire in Seton around 9:25 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Two townhomes, each with a basement suite, were fully engulfed. According to the Calgary Firefighters Association, about a dozen people were displaced.

One person was treated for smoke inhalation, and a dog died inside one of the homes.

The Alberta RCMP are looking for a wanted man who could be in the Foothills area.  

Ryan Randy Watson was included in this week’s Alberta RCMP Wanted Wednesday campaign.   

Watson is wanted for various crimes.  

His last known location was Rocky View County, but he is known to frequent Claresholm, Vulcan, and Hesketh.  

The Alberta government says the notwithstanding clause is an essential part of the Canadian constitution and the country's top court should not undermine it.

The province’s attorney general filed its arguments this morning in a landmark Supreme Court of Canada case over Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21. 

Alberta says the notwithstanding clause was a "hard-fought and hard-won compromise" during constitutional negotiations, and preserves the provinces' parliamentary sovereignty. 

The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday as the central bank worries less about inflation risks and more about a slowing economy.

The Bank of Canada’s policy rate now stands at 2.5 per cent, breaking a streak of three consecutive holds since March.

Governor Tiff Macklem said the risks have shifted since the Bank of Canada’s last interest rate decision in July.

Cracks in the labour market and a sharp drop in exports are threatening growth, he said, while earlier signs of underlying inflation pressure are fading.

A Wildlife Warning and Bear Closure have been issued in parts of Kananaskis Country due to increased wildlife activity this week.

The Bear Closure was put in place on Monday, Sept. 15, for Rockwall Trail and the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre Meadow area, after multiple bears were seen feeding nearby.

On Tuesday, a Wildlife Warning was issued for the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail (from the Upper Lake Day Use area to Point Campground, not including the campground itself) and the Hidden Lake area, following an encounter with an aggressive moose.

It may feel early, but the Sheep River Health Trust (SRHT) is already preparing for Christmas.

The group has put out a call for designs for its 13th annual Avenue of Trees, a holiday tradition where Foothills businesses, groups, and organizations decorate Christmas trees that are later donated to local families in need.

The event also serves as a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting health services, wellness programs, and medical equipment through the SRHT.