Alberta judge denies effort to amend court challenge against province's trans law
EDMONTON -- Advocates in Alberta have lost a court battle in their fight against provincial restrictions on medical treatment for transgender youth.
Lisa Johnson
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 Lisa Johnson.
Alberta's Smith lauds new major Canada-U.S. oil pipeline permit, citing advocacy
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a key approval for a cross-border oil pipeline project to deliver more of the province's crude to the United States is coming after years of advocacy from her government.
Trump approves major Canada-U.S. oil pipeline expansion project
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a key approval for a cross-border oil pipeline project to deliver more of the province's crude to the United States is coming after years of advocacy from her government.
Alberta upping prevention efforts to keep invasive mussels out of province
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says it's upping its defences against invasive mussels, hiring more dogs to sniff out the shellfish and preparing to levy hefty fines for boaters who skip inspections this summer.
Alberta launches website pushing referendum proposals on immigration, Constitution
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has launched a website to put the weight of the government's persuasive powers behind getting a democratic mandate for sweeping immigration reform.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith set to update fall referendum question plan
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to deliver an update today on a provincewide referendum scheduled for the fall.??
Alberta government to lower age of eligibility for free breast cancer screening
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is lowering the age for breast cancer screening to those as young as 40, a move that opens the door to self-referral so more people can access publicly funded mammograms by next year.
Alberta's 'Forever Canadian' petitioner says UCP making 'sham' of democratic process
EDMONTON -- The former politician who gathered more than 456,000 signatures to keep Alberta in Canada says he watched first-hand Tuesday as the legislature committee tasked with a review continued to strangle the democratic process.
Alberta's government says it will do away with twice-a-year time change
EDMONTON -- Premier Danielle Smith's government says Albertans will soon be ditching twice-a-year clock changes.
Alberta's Smith says province will do away with twice-a-year time change
EDMONTON -- Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will soon be ditching twice-a-year clock changes.
National libraries group urges Alberta to ditch 'political interference' in libraries
EDMONTON -- An organization representing large public libraries across Canada warns Alberta's proposed bill affecting libraries threatens "unprecedented" government overreach into organizations meant to be shielded from political control.
Alberta sticking to its gas tax formula as Ottawa announces cut amid high prices
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government says it won't axe its fuel tax yet, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced federal measures to give Canadians relief at the pumps.
Alberta proposes legislation to open door to more access to private medical tests
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is laying the legislative groundwork to let more people pay in order to bypass their doctor to get faster access to everything from CT scans to blood tests.
Alberta's access restrictions threaten privacy, democratic role of libraries: critics
EDMONTON -- Critics of Alberta's proposed rule changes to public libraries say the true danger lies in the fact they give the province power to dictate access and potentially snoop on Albertans to see exactly which books they are checking out.
Alberta introduces bill to reduce child access to sex images in public libraries
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government has introduced legislation to ensure children and young teens won't be able to access sexually graphic images in books at public libraries.
CP NewsAlert: Alberta tables bill to reduce child access to sex images in libraries
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government is looking to make changes in all public libraries to ensure children and young teens don't have access to graphic sexual images.
Alberta to compel employers hiring temporary foreign workers to register provincially
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is proposing changes to give it more oversight of who hires temporary foreign workers.
Alberta moving to regulate temporary foreign worker program registration rules
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is proposing changes to give it more oversight on who hires temporary foreign workers.
Alberta moves to designate official Alberta whisky label
EDMONTON -- Alberta is aiming to regulate who can slap an Alberta whisky stamp on spirits produced in the province.
Alberta proposes election blackout on citizen-led proposals for referendum questions
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is proposing major changes to its law governing citizen-led petitions for the third time in less than a year.
Alberta premier's constitutional affairs lead supports separatist petition
EDMONTON -- Premier Danielle Smith's parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs is encouraging Albertans to sign a petition that calls for a vote on separation from Canada.
Alberta legislation to come imposing provincewide conduct rules for local councils
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says it's soon instituting universal provincewide rules to regulate behaviour among local municipal councils.
Alberta committee recommends Phillip Peters to replace Wylie as auditor general
EDMONTON -- An Alberta legislature committee has reached into the auditor general's office to pick a new person to lead the watchdog agency.
Alberta's 'infamous' gold-coloured cat statue sparks legislature hissing match
EDMONTON -- The mystery of a gold-coloured cat perched in the office of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is now a full-on hissing match.
Former Alberta cabinet minister accuses government of killing key tool for scrutiny
EDMONTON -- New rules are now in effect in the Alberta legislature that one opposition member has warned will effectively allow Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government to duck some queries for years.
Alberta's Smith says not contacted by RCMP amid police searches during contract probe
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office says she's not been contacted by the RCMP as Mounties execute search warrants amid a probe into allegations of misconduct in multimillion-dollar government health contracts.
Alberta's Smith says not contacted by RCMP amid police searches in contract probe
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office says she's not been contacted by the RCMP as Mounties execute search warrants in a probe into allegations of misconduct in multimillion-dollar government health contracts.
Alberta's Smith defends gift of Saudi jet tour against accusations of entitlement
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is rejecting Opposition accusations of entitlement for using a private jet courtesy of the Saudi government last fall.
Alberta's Smith hopes to balance budget even with moderate oil prices
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her long-term goal is to be able to balance the province's books even with moderate oil prices.
Alberta health agency makes 16 recommendations in wake of December ER death
EDMONTON -- The Alberta agency in charge of hospitals has released a review making 16 recommendations to the government in the wake the death of a man who waited for hours for care in an Edmonton hospital.
Two more Alberta petitions get green light to collect signatures to oust politicians
EDMONTON -- Recall petitions aiming to oust two opposition members of Alberta's legislature have been approved by Elections Alberta.
Alberta's premier says conflict in Iran underscores need for new Canadian pipeline
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the war in Iran underscores the need for a new pipeline connecting her province's oil reserves to the West Coast.
Multibillion-dollar budget deficit on tap as Alberta introduces its 2026 budget
EDMONTON -- It's budget day in Alberta, and the overarching question is not whether the budget will show a deficit, but exactly how many billions of dollars in the red it will be.
Alberta to boost doctor spending by 22 per cent as detail of new budget shared
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says it plans to increase physician spending by more than 20 per cent in its upcoming budget.
Alberta's Smith to put immigration, Constitution questions on fall referendum
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is putting nine questions to a provincewide referendum on Oct. 19, including proposals to restrict social services from some immigrants.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to address province in pre-budget TV broadcast
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to address the province in a TV broadcast Thursday evening and is expected to discuss immigration.
Alberta's Smith to address province in live pre-budget TV broadcast
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to address the province in a TV broadcast Thursday evening and is expected to discuss immigration.
Alberta pauses health-care coverage change for some international work permit holders
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government is hitting pause on a recent policy change cutting off health coverage for some temporary foreign workers, including youth coming to Canada on working vacations.
Alberta sets budget date for Feb. 26, warns will be tough one amid global uncertainty
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government says it will bring in the new budget on Feb. 26 and is warning it will be a tough one.
Extra Alberta ER doctor shifts delayed amid talks between government, physicians
EDMONTON -- Alberta's recently announced effort to add physician shifts to help triage patients in crowded emergency rooms has been delayed.
Independent Alberta legislature member says he isn't joining Progressive Tory party
EDMONTON -- A former United Conservative member of Alberta's legislature says he will remain an Independent MLA when the house reconvenes in February.
Massive Edmonton care home battling mice infestation, droppings
EDMONTON -- The operator of one of the province's largest long-term care homes says it's working to address serious concerns about an infestation of mice and mice droppings.
Alberta emergency doctors detail waiting room horrors, preventable deaths to minister
EDMONTON -- Alberta's emergency room doctors, in a letter to the provincial government, have detailed front-line horror stories of preventable deaths along with indignities and suffering by patients in what one physician describes as "death zones."
Alberta teacher's rant sparks school division review, criticism from Premier Smith
EDMONTON -- An Alberta school division has launched an investigation after the premier shared on social media an audio recording, purportedly of a teacher disparaging the province's conservative political culture.
Alberta NDP calls on Premier Smith to acknowledge, address ER capacity 'crisis'
EDMONTON -- Alberta's Opposition NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to face a "crisis" of overcrowded hospitals head-on as doctors plead for emergency measures to help cope.
Alberta doctors say leadership lacking amid crisis of overcrowding in hospitals
EDMONTON -- Doctors who have been pleading for help as Edmonton hospitals are being overwhelmed by patients say Alberta's health-care leadership is missing in action.
Alberta's Danielle Smith says Maduro capture outlines urgency of West Coast pipeline
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the American capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro underlines the urgency of building oil pipelines to export Canadian oil to new markets.
Alberta Tory Party says prepping for possible spring election against Smith's UCP
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA -- The leader of a rival party to Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives says they're scrambling to organize on the chance Smith tries to undercut them by calling a spring election.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz quits cabinet, to leave soon as MLA
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA -- Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz is quitting cabinet and says she will also soon be leaving the legislature altogether.
New legal structure of Alberta health system in place, Premier Smith now eyes results
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA -- The Alberta government in 2025 completed the final legal foundations of its new health-care system -- and Premier Danielle Smith says she's working in 2026 to prove it was worth it.
Alberta Next panel recommends ditching RCMP, referendum to quit CPP
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's hand-picked panel re-examining the province's relationship with Ottawa says it's time to ditch the RCMP and hold a provincewide referendum on quitting the Canada Pension Plan.
Alberta increases referendum petition fees to $25,000 -- a 5,000 per cent hike
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is hiking the cost to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum by 5,000 per cent, saying it's about making sure applicants are serious.
Alberta recall petitions grow to 23 with latest against justice minister
EDMONTON -- Alberta's justice minister is the latest member of Premier Danielle Smith's caucus to face a citizen recall petition.
Alberta legislature passes bill invoking Charter override for fourth time
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA -- Alberta's governing United Conservatives stayed up into the early pre-dawn hours of Wednesday morning to pass a bill that marks the fourth time in under two months they have used the Charter's notwithstanding clause.
Alberta begins final debate on bill to apply notwithstanding clause to 3 more laws
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government moved to the final stage of debate early Wednesday on legislation that, if passed, would see the Charter's notwithstanding clause invoked four times in less than two months.
Alberta moves closer in debate to passing bill using notwithstanding clause 3 times
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government moved one step closer late Tuesday night to passing legislation invoking the Charter's notwithstanding clause for a fourth time in this sitting.
Alberta likely to pass another bill that invokes the notwithstanding clause tonight
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government was poised Tuesday to pass legislation invoking the Charter's notwithstanding clause for a fourth time in this sitting.
Alberta's Smith says courts should not be gatekeepers on constitutional questions
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says those seeking an independence referendum should not have "gatekeepers," like the courts, standing in their way.
Two cabinet ministers say money a key factor in using Charter override on teachers
EDMONTON -- Two Alberta cabinet ministers say money was a key factor in the United Conservative government's decision to use the Charter's notwithstanding clause to override teachers' rights and shut down a provincewide strike.
Alberta urges prosecutors to think twice before charging in cases of self-defence
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is urging Crown prosecutors to think twice about charging someone who acts to defend themselves or others in their own homes.