Alberta government walks back beer tax hike citing tariffs, need to support business
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government has ditched a new fee schedule for breweries that would have seen the province's oldest beer maker pay significantly more in taxes.
Jack Farrell
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 Jack Farrell.
Edmonton, Sunrise mayors up the ante in bet over Stanley Cup rematch
EDMONTON -- If history repeats itself, Edmonton's mayor may soon declare an official Florida Panthers Day in Alberta's capital city.
Alberta government extends deadline for judge's investigation into contract scandal
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says it's extending the deadline for a former judge to investigate allegations of high-level conflict of interest and arm-twisting in health care contracts.
Edmonton school trustees, advocates want province to allow undocumented kids to enrol
EDMONTON -- Edmonton public school trustees have voted to push Alberta's government to make legislative changes to allow undocumented kids to enrol in school and increase education funding accordingly.
Canadian doctors group challenging constitutionality of Alberta transgender law
EDMONTON -- A group representing Canada's doctors is challenging the constitutionality of Alberta's legislation limiting access to medical treatment for transgender youth, arguing it violates their Charter right to freedom of conscience.
Levy charged to Alberta oil companies too low to cover orphan well costs: report
A new report is warning the annual levy charged to Alberta oil companies to fund the cleanup of orphaned oil and gas wells remains too low to clear the backlog, or keep up with the rate of surrendering.
Alberta's Smith calls three byelections where NDP leader, separatist leader to run
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called three byelections to take place on June 23. The three vacant ridings are Edmonton-Strathcona, Edmonton-Ellerslie and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is to run in Edmonton-Strathcona, which became vacant when former premier Rachel Notley resigned her seat late last year.
Alberta's Smith calls three byelections where NDP leader, separatist leader to run
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called three byelections to take place on June 23.
Alberta changing rules to ensure only 'age-appropriate' books in schools by fall
EDMONTON -- Alberta is bringing in new rules this fall to ensure only "age-appropriate" books are available in school libraries.
Alberta regulator approves Northback coal exploration project in Rocky Mountains
The Alberta Energy Regulator approved on Thursday a controversial coal exploration project on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Alberta's personal information protection law ruled partly unconstitutional
EDMONTON -- Parts of Alberta's personal information protection legislation have been ruled unconstitutional.
Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver exits post, voted in as new legislature Speaker
EDMONTON -- Calgary legislature member Ric McIver is the new Speaker of the Alberta legislature.
Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver resigns post as Speaker vote looms
EDMONTON -- Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet amid speculation he will run for the vacant position of Speaker of the house.
Alberta government announces indefinite freeze on industrial carbon price
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is freezing its industrial carbon price effective immediately at $95 per tonne of emissions.
Investigation finds Alberta government not complying with freedom of information laws
EDMONTON -- Alberta's access to information watchdog has found the provincial government to be non-compliant with its own freedom of information rules.
Investigation finds Alberta government non-compliant with freedom of information laws
EDMONTON -- Alberta's access to information watch dog has found the provincial government to be non-compliant with its own freedom of information rules.
'Things to get off my chest': Alberta's former Speaker to vote, heckle as brief MLA
EDMONTON -- Alberta's now-former Speaker of the legislature says he's excited to display some partisanship in his last days as an elected official.
Alberta's recently resigned legislature Speaker to vote, heckle in last days as MLA
EDMONTON -- Alberta's now former Speaker of the legislature says he's excited to display some partisanship in his last days as an elected official.
Alberta legislature Speaker Nathan Cooper to resign seat, become rep to United States
EDMONTON -- The Speaker of the Alberta legislature is resigning his seat in the assembly to become the province's representative to the United States.
Alberta ramps up measles vaccination push as 3 children in intensive care
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says three children are in intensive care in hospital after contracting measles.
Alberta Premier Smith says meeting with PM Carney a 'positive first step'
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has had a positive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The meeting is the first since Carney's Liberals won Monday's election and Smith warned the prime minister of any "hostile acts" his new government might take against her province. Smith says they had a lengthy conversation about policies and legislation that are holding back...
Alberta Premier Smith says meeting with PM Carney a 'positive first step'
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has had a positive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
'Stains, rips and tears': Alberta government defends $280K carpet in Smith's office
Alberta's government is defending a hefty bill to replace the carpet in Premier Danielle Smith's office, after it became a point of attack in question period. The provincial infrastructure ministry said Friday in a statement that the previous carpet in the 6,500-square-foot legislature space was in poor condition, riddled with "stains, rips and tears" and more than 20 years old.
'Stains, rips and tears': Alberta government defends $280K carpet in Smith's office
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is defending a hefty bill to replace the carpet in Premier Danielle Smith's office, after it became a point of attack in question period.
Alberta government defends $280K for new rug in premier's office
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is defending a hefty bill to replace the rug in Premier Danielle Smith's office.
Alberta's Smith says she doesn't see 'an appetite' for provincial pension plan
EDMONTON -- The idea of Alberta opting out of the Canada Pension Plan isn't going anywhere -- at least for now.
Alberta seeks court ruling on constitutionality of Ottawa's clean electricity plan
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is seeking a court ruling on the constitutionality of Ottawa's clean electricity grid regulations.
Former Alberta minister calls for government transparency, tables cabinet notes
EDMONTON -- The former Alberta cabinet minister removed from caucus says he's been pestering the government in question period and tabling a series of documents in the legislature in an effort to provide transparency.
Alberta's request to question fired health executive over confidential emails granted
EDMONTON -- A judge has granted Alberta's government its request to question the former head of the provincial health authority about confidential emails she is accused of keeping and sharing without permission.
Alberta transportation minister wants bike lanes gone, critics say stay in your lane
EDMONTON -- Alberta's transportation minister is calling on the province's two major cities to remove bike lanes from key roadways, prompting critics to say the government is overstepping and making an issue out of nothing.
Transportation minister calls on Edmonton to cancel bike lane project, irking critics
EDMONTON -- Alberta's transportation minister is asking the city of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, saying the city should be working to increase vehicle capacity rather than reduce it.
Alberta UCP boots former cabinet minister from caucus for health scandal criticism
EDMONTON -- Alberta's United Conservative Party has expelled its former infrastructure minister from caucus over his repeated criticism of the government's handling of the health-care contract scandal.
Alberta UCP boot former cabinet minister from caucus over scandal criticism
EDMONTON -- Alberta's United Conservative Party says it has expelled former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie from caucus over his repeated criticism of the government's handling of the health-care contract scandal.
Alberta's chief medical officer out as contract ends, province looking for successor
EDMONTON -- Alberta is without a chief medical officer of health, as the government says Dr. Mark Joffe's contract expired this week.
Alberta Law Foundation board members quit over bill giving minister power on grants
EDMONTON -- Two of the Alberta Law Foundation's provincially appointed board members have resigned in protest over proposed legislation that they say amounts to political interference in how vulnerable people access the justice system.
Alberta measles outbreak not dire enough to warrant public address: health minister
EDMONTON -- Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says Alberta's measles outbreak isn't dire enough for the province's top doctor for public health to address the public, despite mounting calls for the government to do more to stop the spread.
Alberta oil well report updated after concerns over taxpayer backstop recommendation
A new version of a government-commissioned report about Alberta's inactive oil wells and what to do about them now says the province should manage a new insurance fund, rather than backstop it with taxpayer funding.
Alberta, nurses union reach four-year deal, pay increases up to 20 per cent
EDMONTON -- Alberta's nurses union has signed a four-year contract with the province after months of bargaining and mediation.
Montana electricity generators not treated unfairly: Alberta utilities minister
Alberta's utilities minister says contrary to a new report the province's electricity grid operator doesn't treat U.S. generators unfairly.
Alberta aims to regulate online gambling market, capture lost revenue under new bill
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is looking to regulate private online gambling websites in a move it says will capture lost revenue and protect bettors.
Smith meets Carney, demands oil policy changes and warns national unity at stake
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says that in her first face-to-face meeting with the new prime minister she gave him an earful on wildfires and oil sales and warned him national unity hangs in the balance. "I provided a specific list of demands the next prime minister, regardless of who that is, must address within the first six months of their...
Smith meets Carney, demands oil policy changes and warns national unity at stake
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says that in her first face-to-face meeting with the new prime minister she gave him an earful on wildfires and oil sales and warned him national unity hangs in the balance.
PM Carney returns to Edmonton, meets with Premier Smith, skates with Oilers
EDMONTON -- With reports swirling of a weekend election call, Prime Minister Mark Carney came to Edmonton on Thursday to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, announce more money to rebuild fire-ravaged Jasper and go for a skate with the Edmonton Oilers.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney are meeting today for the first time since he was sworn into office last week.
Alberta premier defends $4.8-million office budget increase
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending a nearly 23 per cent increase to her office's budget, saying it's coming at the expense of the Energy Ministry as her office assumes some formal and financial responsibility for promoting the province's oil and gas industry.
Premier Smith not sold on killing of consumer carbon tax, wants industrial levy plan
Despite calling for its demise for years, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she isn't phased by the new prime minister's move to kill the consumer carbon levy. On Friday -- moments after news broke that Prime Minister Mark Carney had eliminated the pricing scheme -- Smith told reporters in Calgary the real test of the new federal government will be...
Premier Smith not sold on killing of consumer carbon tax, wants industrial levy plan
EDMONTON -- Despite calling for its demise for years, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she isn't phased by the new prime minister's move to kill the consumer carbon levy.
Alberta health agency, in lawsuit, says it fired its CEO for 'alarming' incompetence
EDMONTON -- Alberta's front line health agency says it fired its leader earlier this year not because she was investigating corruption but because she was an "alarming" failure at her job.
Alberta at odds with its biggest craft brewery after substantial beer tax hike
EDMONTON -- A standoff is brewing between Alberta's government and the province's biggest and oldest craft brewery.
Alberta legislature member Sinclair disappointed but not ruling out return to UCP
EDMONTON -- A rural United Conservative Party backbencher kicked out of caucus for threatening to vote against the Alberta government's budget says he's disappointed but not ruling out a return to the party.
Newly independent MLA Scott Sinclair disappointed, but not ruling out return to UCP
EDMONTON -- A rural United Conservative backbencher kicked out of caucus last week for opposing the government's budget says he's disappointed but isn't ruling out a return to the party.
'Despicable': NDP calls on Smith to cancel PragerU appearance with Ben Shapiro
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is facing calls to cancel a speaking appearance with conservative media personality Ben Shapiro at a fundraiser for Florida-based PragerU. PragerU, a conservative content company, describes itself as an educational media platform devoted to furthering U.S. values.
'Despicable': NDP calls on Smith to cancel PragerU appearance with Ben Shapiro
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is facing calls to cancel a speaking appearance with conservative media personality Ben Shapiro at a fundraiser for Florida-based PragerU.
Alberta working on agreement to send Turkish pain medication to Ukraine: Smith
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is working on a deal to send scores of its controversial stash of unused children's pain medication to Ukraine.
Alberta Premier Smith faces second challenge from caucus member in less than a week
EDMONTON -- For the second time in under a week, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is facing pushback from within her own United Conservative caucus.
Alberta Premier Smith faces second challenge from caucus member in less than a week
EDMONTON -- A rural United Conservative Party backbencher says the Alberta government's new budget is indefensible and that he won't be supporting it unless major changes are made.
Gretzky super fan, memorabilia market undeterred by outrage over Trump connection
EDMONTON -- Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky might be in the penalty box in the minds of many Canadians right now, but one Alberta-based superfan says his admiration for the Great One remains intact.
'Not a priority': Critics say Alberta falls short on health-care, education spending
EDMONTON -- Critics say the Alberta government's proposed health-care and education spending in its new budget won't address long-standing problems in either sector.
Guthrie returns to Alberta legislature after quitting cabinet, calling out government
EDMONTON -- One day after quitting cabinet and calling out his own government, Peter Guthrie returned to the house Wednesday, sat in the back row and looked at his phone while the Opposition NDP used his words to attack his colleagues.
Alberta's special hunting licences yield $356K at Utah auction
Eight unique hunting licences issued by the Alberta government have sold for the equivalent of C$350,000 at an auction in Utah.