Alberta government expects $100 payouts to arrive within 2 weeks of applications
EDMONTON -- Albertans who apply for $100 payments from the province could see the money land in their bank accounts within two weeks of applying.
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.
Senior aide of Alberta premier urges First Nations chiefs to fix squalid communities
EDMONTON -- The executive director of Premier Danielle Smith's office says that instead of criticizing her, First Nations chiefs should fix their own communities, describing them as entrenched in poverty, drugs and violence.
Premier Smith promises affordability payments of $100 for Albertans to combat costs
Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government is offering Albertans a payment of $100 to help pay their bills.
Premier Smith promises one-time affordability payments of $100 for Albertans
Premier Danielle Smith is offering Albertans a one-time payment of $100 to help pay their bills.
Small town rodeo parade cancelled amid backlash over rejected pro-Alberta float
Alberta's heated debate over whether it should stay in Canada has led to harassment, threats and the cancellation of one town's annual rodeo parade.
Watchdog investigating Edmonton police letter to prosecutors in child death case
EDMONTON -- Alberta's police watchdog is investigating a letter sent by Edmonton police to Crown prosecutors challenging an expected plea deal for a woman charged with killing an eight-year-old girl.
Alberta musician Corb Lund delivers anti-coal petition, says more than 200,000 signed
EDMONTON -- Country musician Corb Lund has delivered his anti-coal petition and says thousands of canvassers delivered more than enough to get it approved.
Alberta country music artist Corb Lund says anti-coal petition drive a success
EDMONTON -- Alberta country music artist Corb Lund says his team has collected enough signatures to compel the province to take action to stop coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Elections Alberta kicks off hiring spree ahead of 'colossal' fall referendum vote
Alberta's elections branch has kicked off what it calls the biggest hiring spree of election workers in the province's history. On Oct. 19, Premier Danielle Smith's government is putting 10 referendum questions to Albertans. One question on the ballot will ask voters whether they want the province to remain in Canada or begin the legal process to hold a binding separation referendum.
Elections Alberta kicks off hiring spree ahead of 'colossal' fall referendum vote
EDMONTON -- Alberta's elections branch has kicked off what it calls the biggest hiring spree of election workers in the province's history.
First Nations chiefs say civil disobedience an option if Alberta referendum proceeds
EDMONTON -- Treaty chiefs representing First Nations across the West say they are willing to carry out acts of civil disobedience if necessary to fight Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's separation vote.
Alberta to roll out new ID cards in July with health numbers and citizenship markers
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government says it will begin rolling out three-in-one identification cards, ultimately replacing the province's long-reviled paper health cards.
Former Alberta judge tapped to chair panel redrawing electoral boundaries
EDMONTON -- Alberta's governing United Conservative Party has tapped a retired judge to chair the province's new political boundaries panel.
Former Alberta judge tapped to chair panel re-drawing electoral boundaries
EDMONTON -- Alberta's governing United Conservative Party has tapped a retired judge to chair the province's new political boundaries panel.
Corb Lund's Alberta anti-coal petition enters homestretch amid separatism
EDMONTON -- Corb Lund is exhausted and would rather just play music.
Alberta Premier Smith's government formalizes Oct. 19 separation question
Alberta's upcoming referendum question on separation was made official Thursday, and it mirrors what Premier Danielle Smith announced last week. Smith and her cabinet issued an order in council confirming the date and format of the Oct. 19 referendum, along with the question. It will ask voters to pick one of two options. Option one reads: "Alberta should remain a...
Alberta separation question to be atop stack of ten colour-coded ballots in fall vote
EDMONTON -- Alberta election officials say while the province's question on quitting Canada hasn't been written in stone, it will be at the top of an ordered stack of ten ballots.
Alberta separation question to be atop stack of ten colour-coded ballots in fall vote
Alberta election officials say while the province's question on quitting Canada hasn't been written in stone, it will be at the top of an ordered stack of ten ballots. Elections Alberta says 10 referendum questions to be put to Albertans on Oct. 19 will be colour-coded, and voters won't need to mark the box on every question. Premier Danielle Smith...
Alberta premier wins standoff with party over position on provincial separation vote
A standoff between Premier Danielle Smith and her own United Conservative Party on the issue of separation is over -- and the premier has won. Premier Smith and party president Rob Smith had been at odds over where they stand on Alberta staying in Canada ahead of a fall referendum on the matter. The premier says she wants Alberta to...
Referendum on a referendum: Albertans to vote on putting separation on another ballot
Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will be going to the polls in October to cast their vote on separation - but they won't actually be voting on whether to separate. Instead, they'll be choosing whether or not it's time to hold a binding referendum on quitting Canada. Smith made the announcement in a televised address Thursday night, saying it's the...
Albertans to vote on whether to hold binding separation referendum
Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will be going to the polls in October to cast their vote on separation – but they won’t actually be voting on whether to separate.
Alberta committee passes motion asking premier to set vote on separation question
EDMONTON -- A bid by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives to hold a potential vote on Alberta quitting Canada took a step forward Thursday -- but not without some drama.
CP NewsAlert: Alberta committee passes motion asking premier to set separation vote
EDMONTON -- Members of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus have voted to ask her to call a referendum on the province's place in Canada.
Alberta cabinet minister who introduced separation vote says he wants a united Canada
EDMONTON -- The cabinet minister who set the wheels in motion for a possible referendum on Alberta separating from Canada says he wants the country to remain united.
Alberta cabinet minister who introduced separation vote says he wants a united Canada
The cabinet minister who put the wheels in motion for a referendum on Alberta's place in Canada says he doesn't want the province to separate. Nate Glubish says in a social media post that Canada is worth fighting for and that he'll vote for Alberta to stay if a referendum goes ahead as proposed on Oct. 19. He also says...
Alberta cabinet minister who introduced separation vote says he wants a united Canada
The cabinet minister who put the wheels in motion for a referendum on Alberta's place in Canada says he doesn't want the province to separate.
Alberta Premier Smith to make TV address amid talk of separation referendum
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is to make a TV address to the province tonight amid speculation of a referendum on separation. It is to be broadcast at 6:45 p.m. on CTV, Global and Rogers as well as livestreamed on the premier's social media accounts. The address comes a day after members of her United Conservative Party caucus failed to pass...
Jason Nixon named Alberta's new finance minister in cabinet shakeup
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has shuffled her cabinet, naming Jason Nixon her new finance minister. Nixon takes over from Nate Horner, who announced earlier this week he was stepping down and won't run in the 2027 provincial election. Nixon had been social services minister.
Jason Nixon named Alberta's new finance minister in cabinet shakeup
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has shuffled her cabinet, naming Jason Nixon her new finance minister.
Alberta Premier Smith to make TV address amid talk of separation referendum
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is to make a TV address to the province tonight amid speculation of a referendum on separation.
Alberta committee passes motion asking premier to set vote on separation question
A bid by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives to hold a potential vote on Alberta quitting Canada took a step forward Thursday -- but not without some drama. Three members of Smith's UCP caucus passed a motion in committee asking her and her cabinet to put the issue to a referendum on Oct. 19. The vote split along party...
Alberta NDP says last-minute petition meeting may signal referendum vote
EDMONTON -- Alberta's Opposition says the decision by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives to schedule a last-minute committee meeting suggests the government might be looking for a new way to get a separation question on a fall referendum.
Alberta NDP says last-minute petition meeting may signal referendum vote
Alberta's Opposition says the decision by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives to schedule a last-minute committee meeting suggests the government might be looking for a new way to get a separation question on a fall referendum. A bipartisan legislature committee headed up by the UCP is to meet Wednesday to discuss a pro-Canada petition put forward by former deputy premier...
Alberta NDP says last-minute meeting on petition may signal looming referendum vote
EDMONTON -- Alberta's Opposition says the decision by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservatives to schedule a last-minute committee meeting suggests they might be looking for a new way to get a separation question put to a referendum this fall.
Alberta lawmakers wrap up a spring sitting overshadowed by separatist movement
EDMONTON -- Alberta lawmakers are rising for the summer after a spring sitting overshadowed by the province's vocal separatist movement and the political tensions that came with it.
Scope of access to leaked Alberta voter list may be incomplete: Elections Alberta
Elections Alberta says the separatist group at the centre of a massive voter information breach may not have shared the full list of individuals who accessed its public database. The group, called the Centurion Project, created an app containing the names and addresses of nearly three million Albertans, which Elections Alberta traced back to an official voter list the group...
Alberta's United Conservatives welcome back former estranged backbencher and critic
EDMONTON -- A former backbench member of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative caucus is back in the fold, a day after standing in the house to apologize for past actions and statements.
More than 550 people accessed renegade voter list database: Elections Alberta
Alberta's elections agency said Thursday it believes 568 people accessed a voter list at the heart of a massive privacy breach involving a separatist group. The group, called the Centurion Project, had made a publicly accessible database featuring the names and addresses of nearly three million Alberta voters. The website was shut down last week after Elections Alberta secured a...
Alberta's Smith says Opposition should have warned her of privacy breach at a meeting attended by one of her caucus staffers
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is criticizing the Opposition for not telling her about a massive privacy breach at a meeting attended by one of her caucus staffers. Smith says the United Conservative Party caucus staffer didn't realize a database shown at the virtual meeting three weeks ago involved a privacy breach with the personal information of three million Alberta voters.
Alberta UCP staff attended meeting about voter database before app was shut down
Alberta's United Conservative Party caucus says staff attended a meeting to discuss how to access a website that's now the focus of investigations into a massive breach of personal data. The caucus says in a statement that staff regularly attend meetings of political interest and, in this case, organizers told them the database was obtained legally. The database contained the...
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.
Trump approves major Canada-U.S. oil pipeline expansion project
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. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential permit authorizing the Bridger Pipeline expansion, considered a partial revival of the Keystone XL pipeline project. The Keystone...
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'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.
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
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to deliver an update today on a provincewide referendum scheduled for the fall.?? Smith announced in February she will put nine questions to Albertans in October, including proposals to restrict social services from some immigrants. Since last April's federal election, the province has also been embroiled in a heated debate over Alberta separating from...
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
Premier Danielle Smith's government says Albertans will soon be ditching twice-a-year clock changes. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally confirmed Monday the province plans to stick with daylight time year-round. "We'll be moving forward with having an extra hour of daylight in the evenings," he told reporters in the legislature. That means Albertans would stay on the current time and no...
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.
Alberta's governing UCP to revisit proposed riding changes before next election
Alberta's governing United Conservatives are looking to take another run at redrawing provincial riding boundaries - a move the Opposition NDP calls a cynical backdoor scheme to rig the October 2027 general election. Premier Danielle Smith's caucus is set to introduce a motion in the house today to revisit a recent bipartisan panel report to add more seats to reflect...
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.