Beyond Local

There was also an employment bump of 21,000 in the accommodation and food services sector, which Statistics Canada noted still leaves that sector the furthest from a full recovery at 24.4 per cent, or 298,000 jobs, below pre-pandemic levels.

Owners and managers say they and their employees can't afford to keep their doors shut to dine-in service

Kenney says dissent is part of a democracy, but adds he has warned United Conservative legislature members that flouting the rules means disciplinary action that includes getting kicked out of caucus.

"We have now reached the point where variants of concern are the dominant strains of new COVID-19 cases in our province."

Despite the provincial government's decision to backpedal, Wheel Fit Co. will keep on spinning. "We feel morally obligated to do this for our community’s mental and physical wellbeing."

If the bill passes, open-pit mines would permanently be prohibited in the most environmentally sensitive areas and mines elsewhere would be prevented until a land-use plan for the region was developed. 

Applications in all parts of province

However, the hefty price tag – estimated by budget officer Yves Giroux at $85 billion in 2021-22, rising to $93 billion in 2025-26 – is likely to reinforce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's view that now is not the time to embark on a costly new program.

“The endangered species conservation committee must first review all available information and make a recommendation to the Minister of Environment and Parks,” said John Muir, a spokesperson for Alberta Environment and Parks.

A long-time Airdrie resident who lost her son to an opioid overdose last fall is hoping to bring more awareness to the issues of mental health struggles and addiction among the city’s youth.