News
Around Red Deer April 27th…..
11:21 am – Good news to report regarding a missing woman from Rocky Mountain House. RCMP have located Beancia Smallboy, safe and well, and are no longer seeking any assistance in finding her.
10:04 am – Trustees with the Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division received an update this week on their District’s Capital Projects. Administration is working on organizing a meeting with Alberta Education to determine the full scope of work for the St. Pat’s Modernization Project, it’s timelines and delivery method. Modernization work is complete at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School in Innisfail and the school is expected to move into these new spaces at the end of June. At the moment, the fire alarm safety devices are being tested and verified. At St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Blackfalds, the second floor is nearing completion and work is progressing on the main floor. The exterior landscape work will begin shortly, as well as the hardwood floor installation in the gymnasium. The school is scheduled to be completed at the end of May. At École Our Lady of the Rosary School in Sylvan Lake – Modular Relocation, tenders have closed on this project and RDCRS is waiting for the successful bidder from Alberta Infrastructure. At St. Elizabeth Seton School in Red Deer – Modular Relocation, this project is currently out for tender. Finally, at Father Henri Voisin School in Red Deer – Modular Addition, ABC School has indicated that construction will begin in June on the modulars.
9:50 am – The Town of Innisfail is honouring it’s Volunteers tonight! A Volunteer Appreciation Night is taking place at the Town’s Library Learning Centre from 6 to 9 p.m.
For more local news, click here!
9:42 am – Lacombe County’s series of District Ratepayer Meetings continues tonight:
- Division 3 Councillor Barb Shepherd – April 27 @ Lakeside Hall
9:36 am – They’re sweeping the streets in Lacombe today as well. Residents are advised that City crews are sweeping the ditches on Hwy 2A this morning, starting at the north end and working their way south. The curb lane will be closed in sections as work progresses.
9:29 am – Street sweeping is underway in Blackfalds today:
Churchill Place
Chinook St
Charlton Ave
Camille Gate
Cyprus Road
Ponderosa Ave North of Pine
Colman Cr.
Pioneer Way North of Colman
Mitchell Cr.
Murphy Bay
Maclean Cl.
For more local news, click here!
9:22 am – Red Deer County and the Town of Penhold have partnered to create an Intermunicipal Development Plan. This document will provide the Town and County with a comprehensive long range land use plan that will assist in future development within the boundaries identified by the two municipalities. Read More.
9:05 am – Red Deer County is hosting another Ag Market Development Public Info Gathering Session at Fensala Hall from 7 – 9 pm tonight. Read More.
8:59 am – High School students from both the Red Deer Public School District and Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division will be taking part in a big Drama Festival over the next few days. The Zone 4 West High School Drama Festival is being hosted by Hunting Hills High School from Thursday, April 27th – Saturday, April 29th. Over 20 plays from Central Alberta schools – most of them student directed – celebrate the performing arts by sharing their work in festival. Two plays will be selected to represent the Zone at the Provincial High School Festival in May at RDC. Plays start at 6:00 pm on April 27 and 28; Noon on April 29. Admission is $5 at the door.
For more local news, click here!
8:40 am – Grade 7 Boys singles and doubles will be playing in the City finals at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School from 4 – 8 pm today!
8:32 am – Students at Red Deer’s Fairview Elementary School will learn today how much money they’ve raised by selling raffle tickets this month for the Red Deer Health Foundation’s NICU and Pediatrics Unit!
8:22 am – A Regional Skills Competition is taking place throughout the day at Red Deer’s École Secondaire Notre Dame High School today. The Career and Technology Studies competitions will include baking, electrical installations, hairstyling and welding.
Business
Allow unvaccinated Canadians to cross U.S. border, Poilievre asks President Joe Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on, during a welcoming ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, March 24, 2023. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says allowing Canadians who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 to cross into the United States was among issues he raised with President Joe Biden. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
By Stephanie Taylor in Ottawa
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Friday he asked President Joe Biden to remove the U.S. government’s requirement that Canadians be vaccinated for COVID-19 before crossing the border.
He told reporters after their meeting that American citizens are no longer required to have their shots and Canada allows unvaccinated Americans to visit.
“There are millions of good, decent, honourable people who, through a personal medical decision, are discriminated against at the border,” Poilievre said.
“I encouraged the president to lift those restrictions to allow them freedom of mobility.”
Poilievre won the leadership of his party a little more than six months ago by mounting a vocal opposition to COVID-19 health restrictions, including mask and vaccine mandates, but he has since focused his message on cost-of-living issues.
He met with Biden on Parliament Hill Friday during the president’s 27-hour visit to the Canadian capital, and later shared a photo of the two online.
Michael Ignatieff was the last Opposition leader to have face time with a U.S president. The former Liberal leader met with former President Barack Obama in 2009. It happened at the airport.
Poilievre said Friday he found Biden wants to be a “friendly” and “decent” neighbour to Canada, and on a personal level, he said he told the president they share Irish heritage.
He said they discussed the need for Canada to bolster its defence systems and “bring fairness” to workers by seeing the U.S. exempt Canada from its Buy American policies.
The Tory leader also said he expressed a need for Biden to axe tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, arguing that the long-standing dispute saw a brief reprieve under Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.
“I don’t believe that Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau has pushed and fought on behalf of Canadians,” he said.
Before the meeting, Poilievre had shared some unscripted moments with the leader of the free world.
As he stood in a receiving line of Canadian politicians from all parties who were greeting Biden upon his arrival at Parliament Hill, Poilievre introduced himself as the “Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.”
That prompted Biden to question, still shaking Poilievre’s hand: “Loyal opposition?”
Poilievre assured him that yes, “we believe that opposition is an act of loyalty in our system.”
Biden chuckled, patting Poilievre on the arm.
“We do, too, unfortunately,” he said, chuckling.
Later, while addressing the House of Commons, Biden noted that both he and Trudeau appointed cabinets that were half women, making them the first in their respective countries to do so.
Many in the chamber broke out in applause.
Biden noticed that Poilievre and the Opposition Conservatives were not quick to rise, and quipped: “Even if you don’t agree, guys, I’d stand up,” which Poilievre and others then did.
Asked afterwards about that interaction, Poilievre said only: “We support gender equality for all Canadians.”
Poilievre was on the guestlist for a dinner with Biden Friday evening, along with other government ministers, officials and celebrities.
The invitation process came with a dash of partisanship.
Earlier in the day, staff in Poilievre’s office were left scratching their heads when they said it had not received an invite from Trudeau’s office to attend, and asserted that any suggestion he had refused the invitation was false.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed it had sent Poilievre notice of the dinner — but the invitation went to a personal email account that notifies senders it is not monitored.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.
Federal Election 2021
Trudeau says he accepts MP’s choice to leave Liberal caucus amid meddling allegations

Then-Provincial Liberal candidate Han Dong celebrates with supporters while taking part in a nomination event, in Toronto, Thursday, May 22, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
By Stephanie Taylor in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he accepts Han Dong’s decision to leave the Liberal caucus after an allegation he spoke to a Chinese diplomat about delaying the release of two Canadians.
Trudeau sidestepped a question Friday about whether he believes the allegation, saying only that Canadians should watch Dong’s “strong” speech for themselves.
He said at a news conference alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, who was visiting Ottawa, that he fully accepts Dong left the Liberal caucus “to vigorously contest these allegations.”
The prime minister also added that he and Biden discussed foreign interference, and said it is “unacceptable,” whether from China or from other countries such as Russia and Iran.
Dong, a Toronto MP, announced he would sit as an Independent on Wednesday night, telling the House of Commons that he would defend himself against “absolutely untrue claims” regarding his alleged involvement in Chinese interference.
Global News published a report that night, citing unnamed security sources who alleged that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who at that time had been detained in China for just over two years, with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.
The two Canadian men had been detained by China in December 2018, just over a week after the RCMP arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.
Global News alleged that Dong told China’s consul general in Toronto that releasing the men would benefit the Conservatives, but also that showing some “progress” in the case would help the Liberals.
The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations.
The MP said he met with the diplomat but disputes any suggestion he urged China to delay releasing Kovrig and Spavor, telling the House of Commons he did nothing to cause them harm.
Kovrig and Spavor were treated as honoured guests when Biden addressed the House of Commons on Friday.
Members of Parliament and others who packed the gallery gave the men no fewer than four standing ovations. It was their first time in public together since returning to Canada in September 2021.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters it was moving to see Kovrig and Spavor, whom he described as “two courageous men who survived unimaginable hell.”
Poilievre added: “I was very heartened that everyone in the chamber gave them such a warm welcome.”
The Tory leader declined to weigh in on the allegations against Dong, but repeated his position that holding a public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of China’s alleged meddling in Canadian affairs.
He noted that all opposition parties agree on that — and pointed out that even Dong himself voted in favour of a motion that called for a public inquiry, the day after he left the Liberal caucus.
“So for his sake and for everybody’s sake, and most importantly, for the sake of the truth, the prime minister has to end his cover up and call a full public inquiry,” Poilievre said.
Trudeau has not ruled out the possibility of calling a public inquiry, but he has said that any recommendation to do so will have to come from former governor general David Johnston, who was recently appointed to probe the issue as a special rapporteur.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.
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