Okotoks

Ottawa’s efforts to prepare the country for the impacts of climate change have stumbled out of the gate, Canada’s environment commissioner said Tuesday.

In a new report, Jerry DeMarco concluded the National Adaptation Strategy was not effectively designed, did not prioritize Canada’s climate change risks and only established one of its three components since its release in 2023.

The federal government is moving to shore up a historically weak summer job market for students — even as one economist argues tough employment prospects for young people suggest broader softness in the job market.

Statistics Canada shone a light on the difficult employment prospects for students heading back to school this fall in its May jobs report last Friday.

Roughly one in five returning students aged 15 to 24 was unemployed in May, the agency said. The last time the jobless rate for students was this high outside the pandemic was in May 2009.

The Town of Okotoks is advising residents of a water main repair today (June 11), as part of the Downtown Improvement Project.  

Residents on Poplar Avenue in the immediate area affected by the underground utility construction work at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and North Railway Street could experience water interruptions between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  

The union representing Alberta teachers says members have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action and they could hit the picket lines in the next four months.

Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling says teachers are sending a message that they are united and will no longer prop up an underfunded public education system.

Finance Minister Nate Horner says a mediator's recommendation rejected by teachers included the same 12 per cent pay increase over four years that has already been accepted by other unions.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is winning applause but also facing pointed questions from party members ahead of three byelections.

Smith, in her role as United Conservative leader, appeared at a town hall meeting attended by about 300 in Three Hills Monday.

She came with Tara Sawyer, who is running under the party banner in the June 23 byelection in the area.

Politicians from around the world will be in K-Country soon for the G7 Summit.

The G7 Summit will be held in Kananaskis from June 15 to 17, which is going to see a Controlled Access Zone in effect from June 10 to 18 in K-Country, as well as parking restrictions along a portion of Highway 40.

Parking restrictions will be in place on all motorized vehicles leading into Kananaskis Valley, beginning this Saturday.

Members of the Diamond Valley Fire Rescue are on route for their second deployment to support wildfire relief efforts.   

On May 29, two Diamond Valley firefighters and a fire apparatus were deployed to Swan Hills.   

Now that the Swan Hills wildfire is being held, the crew and equipment are now travelling to the Red Earth East Complex.   

Federal organizations failed to follow procurement and security rules when awarding contracts to the company behind the controversial ArriveCan app, the auditor general said Tuesday.

The report on GCStrategies — one of several audits tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday — says the company was awarded 106 contracts by 31 federal organizations between 2015 and 2024.

The maximum value of those contracts was more than $90 million but only $65 million was paid out.

Now that the sun is shining, and the weather is warm, be careful of cattle that could be on the road.

The M.D. of Willow Creek recently posted to Facebook to remind people that ranchers in the area are going to be bringing their herds to summer pastures.

As part of bringing their cattle to summer pastures, the ranchers conduct cattle drives, which could see cattle being herded along roads and highways in the area.

Foothills County is hosting a public hearing Wednesday afternoon regarding the Rimrock Cattle Company's biodigester.

The provincial government has already approved the project; however, the public will now have its say.

Time will be allotted for the public to speak to the council during the 1 p.m. meeting.

Protesters are expected in front of the municipal building in downtown High River again.

The Town of High River has also pushed back on the project.