Grassfires, Assaults & Hockey Heroes — Your Edmonton Thursday

Fewer Albertans dying due to COVID-19, statistics show. But experts warn the risk isn’t gone

Alberta’s COVID-19 death toll continues to decline. While the trend is positive news, experts warn most of these deaths are still preventable and the threat is far from over.

Environmental law changes 'possible' to expedite resource projects: government House leader

The government House leader confirmed on Thursday plans to change regulations and legislation in order to speed up the approvals of major resource projects.

This woman’s identity was stolen in a CRA hack. Why hasn’t the impostor been charged in her case?

A B.C. nurse whose identity was stolen after her Canada Revenue Agency account was hacked says the CRA seems uninterested in pursuing the impostor who stole the public’s money after receiving a bogus refund in her name.

Innu man dies in custody after 'violation of human dignity,' reports Quebec ombudsman

The Quebec ombudsman identified several failures in the care provided to Philippe Pinette, a 40-year-old Innu man from Uashat, near Sept-Îles on Quebec's North Shore. He died in hospital on Sept. 19, 2022, while under the care of the Quebec City detention centre.

Referendum bid by Alberta separatists stuck in legal limbo, even if petition has enough names

A legal case brought by First Nations over treaty rights prompted a temporary injunction in April. What happens next?

Edmonton piano teacher found guilty of sexual interference against 9-year-old student

An Edmonton piano teacher cried in court Thursday, as a judge found him guilty of one count of sexual interference against one of his students, who was nine years old at the time of the last incident.

Appeal court increases sentence for Alberta man who cut off woman's finger, forced her to eat it

An appeal court in Alberta has nearly doubled the sentence for a man who cut off a woman's finger and then forced her to eat her own severed digit, saying in a ruling that the original judge downplayed the victim's suffering and terror.

University of Alberta among Canadian universities targeted in cyberattack

The University of Alberta is among more than 9,000 educational institutions implicated in a cybersecurity breach that caused chaos on campuses across Canada and beyond.

Canada's economy dropped 18,000 jobs in April as unemployment rose to 6-month high

April's loss means Canada has shed jobs in three of the fourth months so far this year, making for 112,000 jobs lost since January. The Statistics Canada data released on Friday indicates a continued weakness in the labour market, which has struggled in the ​face of U.S tariffs and trade uncertainty.

RCMP pilot sees officers once again live in remote part of northeastern Alberta that they serve

For the first time in nearly two decades, RCMP officers who serve in a remote part of northeastern Alberta will once again be living next to the residents of the region they serve. As part of a six-month pilot project launched last month, Mounties are now living in Conklin, a hamlet located more than 150 kilometres south of Fort McMurray.

Canada captain Alphonso Davies sustains hamstring injury weeks before World Cup

Canada men's soccer captain Alphonso Davies sustained a left hamstring injury in Bayern Munich's Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, putting his availability for the upcoming World Cup in doubt.

Danielle Smith says she hopes MOU can be finalized in 'next number of days'

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday she hopes the memorandum of understanding between her province and the federal government can be completed soon because Albertans need to see that "Canada can work."

After more than a year of litigation, former AHS CEO’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit has much to sort out

Civil cases, especially complex ones, can take years to weave through the legal system. But 14 months after Athana Mentzelopoulos launched her wrongful dismissal suit, many Albertans may wonder about the status of the high-profile case.

Man called N-word during assault outside St. Albert mosque, friend says

St. Albert RCMP are investigating after a 56-year-old Black Muslim man was assaulted while driving home from the Muslim Association of St. Albert in early May.

McDavid up for 4th Hart Trophy, MacKinnon and Kucherov also named finalists

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon and Tampa Bay winger Nikita Kucherov are the finalists for this season's Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Friday.

Calgary on pace to set new record for number of deaths on city roads

Calgary is on pace to set a new record for the number of people killed on the city's roads in 2026, and reducing the disturbing trend will take time, one researcher says.

As condo prices fall, potential buyers should factor in rising fees, experts say

Condo prices have steadily fallen over the past year, leaving first-time buyers in a good position. But condo fees are rising and special assessments are becoming more common.

Several Canadian universities face security breach, student data leaked

The U of T, UBC and U of A are amongst the major Canadian post-secondary institutions dealing with fallout from a cybersecurity incident involving a popular platform called Canvas.

Pipeline company Enbridge unfazed by rival oil shipping projects

Oil and gas pipeline company Enbridge says its unfazed by rival expansions likely to jockey for oilsands producers' business, adding stepped-up competition is a good sign.

Ottawa proposes suite of measures to streamline project approvals, complete review process within 1 year

The federal government is proposing legislative changes to streamline the review process for major projects, including energy projects such as pipelines. The changes are aimed at completing these reviews within a year.

Celebrini headlines Canada’s roster for worlds

Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks headlines Canada's roster for the world hockey championships in Switzerland.

Risk of hantavirus pandemic 'very low,' Canada's top health official says

Working through differences with Ottawa key to quelling Alberta separatism: Danielle Smith

Danielle Smith said she's always taken separatism seriously and has spoken with Carney, who was in the UK 'at the time that Brexit was not taken as seriously by political leaders.'

Calgary-based South Bow says demand strong for oil shipments to U.S. Gulf Coast

Calgary-based pipeline company South Bow says the recent turmoil in the middle east has customers clamouring for more oil from its pipeline network.

Calgary police report an increase in violent crime committed by youth

The latest stats from Calgary police show a disturbing trend involving youth crime in the city — it has shifted away from property crime and towards more violent crimes.

Feds want pipeline projects reviewed by energy regulator instead of impact agency

The proposal would undo the move the Liberals made eight years ago to create the Impact Assessment Agency as a one-stop shop for all national project reviews.

Attack after Friday prayers at St. Albert mosque leads to aggravated assault charge

The victim and his wife were leaving Friday prayers at the Muslim Association of St. Albert when another man allegedly drove up, blocked their vehicle and began shouting.

Lethbridge police charge man with sexual assault, say there may be more victims

Lethbridge police have charged a man from Fort Macleod with sexually assaulting two women and say they believe there may be more victims.

Several grassfires burn in Edmonton as city steps up prevention measures

Several grassfires broke out in Edmonton on the same dry, warm, windy day the city conducted a prescribed burn in Jan Reimer Park.