Fakiha Baig

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Fakiha Baig.

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

EDMONTON -- The Alberta government is about to take the next logical step in artificial intelligence -- using it to draft a proposed law.

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

The Alberta government is about to take the next logical step in artificial intelligence -- using it to draft a proposed law. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says the plan is to use AI to develop and introduce the Alberta Whisky Act when the house sits next spring. "AI is a tool that is being leveraged across many sectors in...

'After all, they're family': Poll finds holiday gatherings still important for most

'After all, they're family': Poll finds holiday gatherings still important for most

EDMONTON -- The upcoming holiday gatherings with relatives may feel ripe for conflicts over politics, relationships, and social issues, but an online survey suggests a majority of Canadians still feel it's important to spend time with loved ones.

Hospital staff back to work after AUPE reaches tentative deal

Hospital staff back to work after AUPE reaches tentative deal

EDMONTON -- The union representing 16,000 hospital workers says it reached a tentative agreement with Alberta's health authority a minute before its members hit the picket lines Saturday morning.

Alberta minister of arts, culture and Status of Women apologizes for using expletive

Alberta minister of arts, culture and Status of Women apologizes for using expletive

EDMONTON -- Alberta's minister of arts, culture and Status of Women has apologized for using an expletive in a voice message left for a constituent.

Halloween display depicts municipal politicians hanging from a noose in Manitoba

Halloween display depicts municipal politicians hanging from a noose in Manitoba

A group representing more than a dozen Manitoba municipalities says RCMP are investigating a gruesome Halloween display the group believes was meant to intimidate local politicians.

'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures

'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures

EDMONTON -- Thomas Lukaszuk, a former deputy premier of Alberta who has circulated a petition to make it official policy for the province to stay in Canada, says it has just over 456,000 signatures.

'It's a lot of fun': Nunavut residents head to polls for election day

'It's a lot of fun': Nunavut residents head to polls for election day

It's election day in Nunavut.

Alberta students face stress, uncertainty as legislation looms to end teachers strike

Alberta students face stress, uncertainty as legislation looms to end teachers strike

EDMONTON -- As legislation looms ordering striking Alberta teachers back to work, Jennifer Black is bittersweet about returning to class to teach English to dozens of anxious Grade 12 students while feeling hopeless herself.

Alberta teachers weigh legal options as back-to-work legislation looms in strike

Alberta teachers weigh legal options as back-to-work legislation looms in strike

EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta teachers in a provincewide strike say they're talking to lawyers to determine next steps as legislation looms ordering them back to work.

About 750,000 Alberta students enter third week of no school amid teachers strike

About 750,000 Alberta students enter third week of no school amid teachers strike

EDMONTON -- A labour relations professor is criticizing the Alberta government's threat to legislate striking teachers back to work as about 750,000 students enter a third week of cancelled classes on Monday.

'A big mess': Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike

'A big mess': Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike

EDMONTON -- An education expert is criticizing online lessons the Alberta government has curated for students during a provincewide teachers strike as "incoherent."

Saskatchewan's Moe faces call to clean up sewage fouling area at cult compound

Saskatchewan's Moe faces call to clean up sewage fouling area at cult compound

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says Premier Scott Moe's government needs to step up, snap on some rubber gloves and clean up the sewage fouling the air and land at a building forcibly abandoned by a cult.

No talks planned as 51,000 Alberta teachers set to hit picket lines next week

No talks planned as 51,000 Alberta teachers set to hit picket lines next week

EDMONTON -- The head of the Alberta Teachers' Association says no talks are scheduled and 51,000 teachers are set to hit picket lines Monday in a provincewide strike.

Canadian energy minister, Alberta premier disappointed with Imperial Oil job cuts

Canadian energy minister, Alberta premier disappointed with Imperial Oil job cuts

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Imperial Oil's "very disappointing" plan to lay off roughly 20 per cent of its workforce by 2027 reinforces the need to build more pipelines.

'When has a cult ever turned good?': Richmound mayor describes aftermath of raid

'When has a cult ever turned good?': Richmound mayor describes aftermath of raid

Sewage water continues to seep into a large puddle near the entrance of a purple-coloured school-turned-compound that housed members of a cult in the southwest Saskatchewan village of Richmound for the last two years.

Dozens of Alberta students play hooky, rally for teachers as strike deadline looms

Dozens of Alberta students play hooky, rally for teachers as strike deadline looms

EDMONTON -- Dozens of students played hooky from school Monday to rally for teachers at Alberta's legislature as a provincewide strike deadline nears.

Alberta to launch ad campaign as strike looms in contract standoff with teachers

Alberta to launch ad campaign as strike looms in contract standoff with teachers

EDMONTON -- A nasty standoff between the Alberta government and its 51,000 teachers - with each side accusing the other of lying -- is set to turn into an all-out advertising war.

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Ripple effects of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the United States continue to be felt across Canada. The University of Alberta says it has temporarily put a law professor on non-disciplinary leave, as it looks into online comments and threats surrounding comments on the shooting of Kirk earlier this month. The university in Edmonton says in a...

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

EDMONTON -- The ripple effects of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk's killing continued to be felt across Canada as an Alberta university confirmed it was facing threats, and a major TV network rejigged its programming after the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Experts say Alberta's impending ad campaign against teachers escalating standoff

Experts say Alberta's impending ad campaign against teachers escalating standoff

EDMONTON -- A nasty standoff between the Alberta government and its 51,000 teachers - with each side accusing the other of lying -- is set to turn into an all-out advertising war.

Looming Alberta teachers' strike puts spotlight on overcrowded schools

Looming Alberta teachers' strike puts spotlight on overcrowded schools

EDMONTON -- As the clock ticks toward a potential provincewide strike by Alberta's teachers, parents say classroom overcrowding is having a disastrous domino effect on learning with tutors being hired to fill in the gaps.

Alberta teachers plan provincewide strike starting Oct. 6, as talks hit stalemate

Alberta teachers plan provincewide strike starting Oct. 6, as talks hit stalemate

EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta's 51,000 teachers says they're planning to walk off the job starting Oct. 6.

Premier Danielle Smith defends new COVID shot administration fee during radio show

Premier Danielle Smith defends new COVID shot administration fee during radio show

EDMONTON -- Alberta's wasteful purchase of children's pain and fever medicine three years ago helped inform the province's decision to charge some people $100 for a COVID-19 vaccine shot this fall, Premier Danielle Smith said Saturday.

Pierre Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, regains seat in House of Commons

Pierre Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, regains seat in House of Commons

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre secured a seat in the House of Commons late Monday with a crushing byelection win in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot.

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and 213 others vying for a seat in the House of Commons will be in the spotlight Monday, as voters in a rural Alberta riding head to the polls. Two political science professors say Poilievre is expected to handily win the byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, a sprawling eastern Alberta riding stretching from Edmonton to Calgary...

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

EDMONTON -- Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and 213 others vying for a seat in the House of Commons will be in the spotlight Monday, as voters in a rural Alberta riding head to the polls.

Effort underway to get Afghan women at risk of deportation to University of Regina

Effort underway to get Afghan women at risk of deportation to University of Regina

Parissa Ahmadi says the least worst thing that could happen if she doesn't make it to Saskatchewan this summer, and is deported to Afghanistan, is that she's jailed and tortured.

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls in a historic federal byelection for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot open today. For the first time ever, Elections Canada says voters must fill out a blank ballot. The agency lists a record 214 candidates running in the rural riding, with voting day on Aug. 18. The majority are part of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group calling for...

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

CAMROSE -- Advance polls in a historic federal byelection for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot open today.

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients. As debates unfold over Canada's immigration system, those who provide help to newcomers in Alberta say there has been an uptick of hostility toward immigrants. "I hear from people in my...

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

EDMONTON -- Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients.

Rural Alberta byelection has some conservative voters questioning party loyalty

Rural Alberta byelection has some conservative voters questioning party loyalty

The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory. Fossen is the president of the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce. In the April federal election, it held a candidate forum. Only one nominee showed up to speak to a half empty room. Three months later, Fossen is hosting another candidate forum, this time in a...

'It's fantastic to see': Rural Alberta riding in spotlight ahead of August byelection

'It's fantastic to see': Rural Alberta riding in spotlight ahead of August byelection

CAMROSE -- The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory.

Long-ballot protest group signs up more in Alberta byelection featuring Poilievre

Long-ballot protest group signs up more in Alberta byelection featuring Poilievre

EDMONTON -- An advocacy-protest group that broke its own record last week for putting the most candidates on an election ballot is now up to 132 for the federal Battle River-Crowfoot byelection in Alberta.

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

EDMONTON -- An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats.

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States. A University of Toronto research group that has been monitoring the meetings of world leaders since 1998 says its analysis shows Canadian protests are more peaceful and smaller. But similar to the recent demonstrations...

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

EDMONTON -- Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States.

'General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms

'General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms

EDMONTON -- Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year.

'We're Canadians': Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup

'We're Canadians': Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup

Row after row of Canadian flags fly high atop tall poles over manicured lawns in a southern Alberta town that's also home to the province's premier, her husband and their dog. Kathleen Sokvitne has lived on the street in High River, Alta., about 60 kilometres south of Calgary, for 30 years. She says those flags show that not all Albertans...

'We're Canadians': Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup

'We're Canadians': Some Albertans divided about separation in cross-province checkup

EDMONTON -- Row after row of Canadian flags fly high atop tall poles over manicured lawns in a southern Alberta town that's also home to the province's premier, her husband and their dog.

'Can't imagine Alaska without Canada': Resolution would affirm Canadian sovereignty

'Can't imagine Alaska without Canada': Resolution would affirm Canadian sovereignty

America's 49th state is showing support for the country that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to make its 51st.

Alberta judge calls for public inquiry to answer questions on prison inmate death

Alberta judge calls for public inquiry to answer questions on prison inmate death

EDMONTON -- A judge is calling for a public inquiry into an Edmonton inmate's death, saying it's the only way to get to the bottom of three guards' actions that day amid concerns they were running a prison "fight club."

'No Canadian dream': Meet some who want to join a 51st U.S. state

'No Canadian dream': Meet some who want to join a 51st U.S. state

EDMONTON -- Jordon Kosikowie has been thinking a lot about what would happen if Alberta joined the United States.

Hundreds of school support workers rally at legislature as Alberta releases budget

Hundreds of school support workers rally at legislature as Alberta releases budget

EDMONTON -- Hundreds of striking school support workers marched through the streets of downtown Edmonton to the Alberta legislature on budget day and stood outside, waving signs, blowing horns and demanding higher wages.

'Horses are my world': Advocates decry Alberta plan to control wild horse population

'Horses are my world': Advocates decry Alberta plan to control wild horse population

Maverick, Radar and White Spirit mostly gallop in the confines of the Rocky Mountain foothills, but they are known among equine enthusiasts around the world.

'I feel empty': Transgender skier worries Alberta bill would ban her from competing

'I feel empty': Transgender skier worries Alberta bill would ban her from competing

Allison Hadley says she has been having a hard time focusing on training for an upcoming cross-country skiing competition. If an Alberta bill restricting transgender women in sports is passed, she fears she won't be able to register for the event she's participated in for years. "I just feel empty," Hadley, 44, said in a phone interview from Edmonton.