Airdrie

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.

Rocky View Schools says there is currently no disruption to learning following a province-wide strike vote by Alberta teachers.

"A strike vote is a step in the provincial bargaining process which could lead to labour action. If the ATA took labour action they would need to provide 72 hours notice. They would have up to 120 days from now to begin labour action. We do not know if labour action will be taken or how long it could last," Superintendent Greg Luterbach wrote in a June 10 letter to parents and guardians.

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.

The RCMP's Musical Ride will make multiple stops this summer, including performances at the Calgary Stampede, Spruce Meadows, and Century Downs in Rocky View County.

The Musical Ride is described by the RCMP as "an iconic Canadian spectacle recognized at home and abroad, and a symbol of tradition, honour, and pride." It features up to 32 RCMP officers and their horses performing intricate formations and drills set to music.

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.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement for Rocky View County near Airdrie and Crossfield, warning that smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement for Airdrie and surrounding areas at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, warning that wildfire smoke is causing or is expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility.

The alert applies to Rocky View County near Airdrie and Crossfield. Environment Canada and Alberta Health officials say air quality and visibility can fluctuate over short distances and change significantly from hour to hour.

A few long-term forecasts are already in for one of Airdrie’s biggest summer events, but they aren’t exactly lining up.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for "sunny, very mild" conditions from July 1 to 4. The Farmers’ Almanac, on the other hand, warns of "hot temperatures for Canada Day."

AccuWeather’s local forecast splits the difference: a high of 18°C and low of 10°C on July 1 — cooler than usual, but dry.