Okotoks

Despite castigation from provincial premiers over lagging federal contributions to health spending, an analysis of 20 years of health funding data shows that federal transfers have mostly outpaced increases to provincial health budgets. 

In 2023, federal health transfers amounted to $47.1 billion, a 212 per cent increase over 2005, when the transfers were $15.1 billion. Total spending by all 10 provinces grew in that time to $221.9 billion up from $86.2 billion, an increase of 158 per cent.

The first-ever concert at Seaman Stadium was an astounding success with great music, local talent showcased, and a packed Stadium with attentive listeners.

Mayor Tanya Thorn opened up the show thanking all those who came out and mentioning that if anyone has more ideas like another concert to get in touch with her.

Local Talents Brettyn Rose and Chase Morgan opened up the show with just over 45 minutes of easy listening and high-energy songs. They played rock, paper, and scissors to determine who would sing first, and Rose came out on the winning end.

High River's Jason Glass posted the top time on night three of the Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals in Ponoka.

After a three-day ascent, he now leads the aggregate standings, followed closely by Jamie Laboucane.

Laboucane still sits atop the Century Downs "Winners' Zone" Series Playoff Standings, however, two points ahead of Glass and four points up on Chanse Vigen in third.

When it comes to the World Chuckwagon Standings, though, Vigen still maintains a dominant lead and is 84 points ahead of Glass with 1389.5 total.

The Liberal government's decision to reel in the temporary foreign worker program after loosening the rules to help businesses find workers after the pandemic is sparking a contentious debate about whether governments should even try to address labour shortages.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that his government is bringing back stricter rules to stem the flow of low-wage temporary foreign workers, and he urged businesses to hire and train Canadian workers.

The chair of Canada Post’s board says the organization’s financial situation is unsustainable.

"The board and senior management recognize that Canada Post is at a critical juncture," said André Hudon at its annual general meeting on Wednesday.

"Significant change is urgently needed to preserve Canada Post's delivery network, which is vital because it's the only delivery network built to serve all Canadians."

Jamie Laboucane remains atop the aggregate and playoff standings after day two at the Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals.

It was Chanse Vigen who posted the top time of 1:14.43, just two one-hundredths of a second faster than Laboucane.

High River's Jason Glass was fourth on the night, and rose to second in the aggregate, less than second behind Laboucane.

Other Foothills locals, Dayton Sutherland and Jordie Fike, sit at 23 and 26 in the aggregate, respectively.

Health Canada says a recall has been issued for the dumbbell toy from the Fisher-Price Baby Biceps Gift Set because of a choking hazard.

A kettlebell toy, protein shake bottle and wearable headband that are also part of the set are not included in the recall.

The agency says grey caps on the end of the dumbbell toys can come off, posing a choking hazard to infants.

It says as of Aug. 15, Fisher-Price has received four reports in Canada and seven in the United States of the ends of the dumbbell toy coming off, with no reports of injuries.

A new study says planet-warming emissions from Canada's record-breaking 2023 wildfire season were quadruple the country's fossil emissions for all of the previous year and on par with some of the most high-emitting countries. 

The study penned by researchers at NASA, and published in the journal Nature, says only China, India and the United States release more carbon per year than Canada's 2023 wildfires from May to September. 

After resuming negotiations last week, CUPE Local 5040 and the Foothills School Division (FSD) have come to an agreement.

A tentative deal was reached on August 22, ratified by union members on August 27, and is to be ratified by the division's Board of Trustees on Wednesday, September 4.

The agreement came following four years of negotiation and not long before the contract's August 31 expiration.

The union branch, which represents education workers within FSD, has been calling for an increase in pay, improvements to training, and other supports for workers.

While farmers are out in the field harvesting this year's wheat crop, research scientists and breeders involved in the Canadian National Wheat Cluster are working on improving the crops' long-term sustainability in the cropping rotation.

Funding for the work being done by the Wheat Cluster comes through the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC).

The CWRC is a collaboration of the three producer wheat commissions across Western Canada, the Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and Manitoba Crop Alliance.