Provincial News

Killer Ronald Smith bothered by lack of support from Ottawa

DEER LODGE, Mon. — With the clock ticking down toward a decision on whether he lives or dies, the only Canadian on death row in the United States is expressing regret and sadness for the crimes he committed and the situation he finds himself in.

But Ronald Smith is also angry at the Canadian government for its “tepid” support of his clemency bid — support that came only after Federal Court forced Ottawa to act on Smith’s behalf. READ

Alberta to push ahead with health inquiry despite panel’s finding

Bureaucratic mismanagement and bullying of doctors have knocked Alberta’s health system off the rails and brought much patient suffering, a government panel reported Wednesday. READ

Panel says Alta docs bullied by bosses but no provincial inquiry needed

An Alberta panel investigating doctors being bullied by their bosses for speaking out on poor patient care says the intimidation exits, but a full-scale inquiry is not needed. READ

Police say man found murdered in Abbotsford, B.C., was from Edmonton

A 31-year-old man found dead in a field in Abbotsford, B.C., last Sunday has been identified as an Edmonton resident. READ

Senior says life in long-term care is abuse, misery and broken elevators

An Alberta senior has gone public with allegations of misery, physical abuse and substandard living conditions at a long-term care centre. READ

Teacher facing sex assault charges involving 14-year-old girl

A teacher in southwestern Alberta is facing sexual assault charges. READ

Accused in Alberta Mountie shootings not present for first court appearance

A man accused in the attempted murder of two Alberta RCMP officers was not present for his first court appearance Tuesday. READ

Coal fingered as climate change baddie

One of the world’s top climate scientists has calculated that emissions from Alberta’s oilsands are unlikely to make a big difference to global warming and that the real threat to the planet comes from burning coal. READ

‘Dirty oil’ label prompts trade complaint against EU

Canada is threatening to take Europe to the world’s trading body if it persists in trying to single out oilsands crude as dirty oil. READ

Calgary West Tories to hold another nomination vote

CALGARY — The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta says it has agreed to a recommendation by the Calgary West P.C. Board to hold a new vote to choose their candidate for the coming election. READ

Molson Coors to stop selling big beer

EDMONTON — Molson Coors says it’s going to stop selling one of its products in Alberta for the good of the community. READ

Alberta government lays environmental charges against natural gas processor

A Calgary company faces charges over a pipeline leak that killed fish and aquatic plants near a natural gas processing plant in northwestern Alberta. READ

Alberta expands coverage for diabetic supplies

EDMONTON — The Alberta government is expanding its coverage on supplies needed for insulin-dependent diabetics. READ

Alberta man arrested on charges involving young gir

CANMORE — Canmore RCMP have arrested a man wanted in the alleged abduction and attempted sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl earlier this week. READ

Minister decries European complaints

Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver is calling a European effort to bar oil imports from Alberta’s oilsands nothing more than grandstanding. READ

Alberta Justice officials investigate files of forensic pathologist

EDMONTON — Justice officials in Alberta are investigating the work of a former forensic pathologist after mistakes were found in at least four of his autopsies. READ

Some Alberta hospitals hit by illegal strikes by support staffers

Hospital officials cancelled surgeries and struggled to deliver meals to patients Thursday after hundreds of support workers illegally walked off the job at hospitals across Alberta. READ