

Industry raises concern over end of horse racing at Edmonton's Northlands Park
EDMONTON — It was news that Alberta’s racing industry had been dreading for months. Rumours of the closure of Edmonton’s Northlands Park racetrack were proven true on February 17 at a press conference hosted by Northlands president and CEO Tim Reid. “2016 will be our last year in the horse racing business,” Reid said to the room crowded with press, industry officials and dignitaries. “As the realities of change have impacted Northlands, we needed to think about our entire sit

Chestermere plays tough in development war with Rocky View county
After years of playing nice, the gloves are coming off. In the latest chapter in a years-long battle over development east of Calgary, the City of Chestermere has filed an application to annex nearly 25,000 acres of Rocky View County — a move Mayor Patricia Matthews describes as a last-ditch effort to preserve her city’s interests. “This wasn’t done to develop land,” she said. “This was done to freeze bad planning under a comprehensive and sustainable plan can be put in place


World confidence in Alberta oil sector falling: study
CALGARY — Low energy prices aren't the only struggles facing Alberta's oil industry, says a recently-released study. Unveiled Tuesday, the Fraser Institute's ninth annual survey of the world's petroleum industry suggests policy changes made by Alberta's NDP government are causing investors to lose confidence in the province's oil and gas industry. "Since the 2015 provincial election in Alberta, the new government has implemented a number of oil and gas sector policies that ma
Shaw call centre expansion affects 1,000 Calgary workers
About 1,000 workers at Shaw's Calgary call centre will be affected by a national customer service reorganization, the media company announced Wednesday. Chethan Lakshman, Shaw's vice-president of external affairs, said the move will consolidate call centre operations across Canada. "It's an expansion of our call centres in Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal," he said.
"About 1,600 people from our Calgary, Edmonton and Kelowna operations -- their roles will be relocat


Calgary plays host to climate change advisory panel open house
It’s an issue causing a climate of unrest among Albertans. Turnout was brisk Tuesday at Calgary’s first climate change advisory panel open house, giving several hundred a chance to have their say on the future of environmental policy in Alberta. “It gives all Albertans a chance to feed into the process,” said panel chair Dr. Andrew Leach. The panel is tasked with reshaping Alberta’s policy on climate change in time for the UN Climate Change Conference this December in Paris.


No fossil fuels by end of century: summit
G7 nations will abandon fossil fuel use by the end of the century, world leaders pledged Monday. This comes in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the two-day summit in Elmau, Germany where world leaders announced goals to limit global temperature increases to below 2 C.
"We emphasize that deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required with a decarbonization of the global economy over the course of this century," the communique read. Leaders invited other cou

Big boost for Alberta digital media
Alberta's digital media industry is set to get a big boost, courtesy of the federal government. Announced Sunday, the BANFF World Media Festival Foundation will receive a $730,000 grant from Western Economic Diversification Canada to bolster the growth of Canada's digital, Internet and video gaming industries. "By supporting the BANFF World Media Festival, we are showcasing to the world internationally recognized events that are made here in western Canada, while helping to c


Anger over NDP candidate's oilsands comments
Controversial oilsands development comments have a star NDP candidate facing gushing wells of criticism from her federal and provincial counterparts. Appearing as a panellist on CBC's Power & Politics broadcast Friday, NDP Toronto-Centre candidate Linda McQuaig suggested Canada should dial back Alberta's oilsands development to address environmental concerns. "A lot of people recognize that a lot of the oilsands oil may have to stay in the ground if we're going to meet our cl


Cautious optimism after NDP election win
Alberta’s NDP sweep was met with cautious optimism from the province’s oil-and-gas sector. With premier-elect Rachel Notley’s message of energy reform resounding with voters, Alberta’s energy industry says it's prepared to play ball with the province’s first-ever NDP government. “At the end of the day, Albertans have spoken quite clearly, and we have to respect their choice,” said Jeff Gaulin, vice-president of communications with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Produce


Oil group says it can work with new Alberta NDP government
CALGARY -- Alberta’s NDP sweep was met with cautious optimism from the province’s oil-and-gas sector. With premier-elect Rachel Notley’s message of energy reform resounding with voters, Alberta’s energy industry says it's prepared to play ball with the province’s first-ever NDP government. “At the end of the day, Albertans have spoken quite clearly, and we have to respect their choice,” said Jeff Gaulin, vice-president of communications with the Canadian Association of Petrol