Alberta
COVID19 spreading events – Premier Kenney asks Calgary and Edmonton residents to stop hosting gatherings
From the Province of Alberta
Strong public health measures are being implemented to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19.
Expanded mandatory and voluntary limits on social gatherings are now in place to help reduce growing caseloads.
New COVID-19 measures
- Effective immediately, new mandatory and voluntary public health measures will help protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19.
- All Edmonton and Calgary residents should stop holding social gatherings within their homes and instead socialize in structured settings where it is easier to limit risk of exposure.
- The mandatory 15-person limit on social gatherings is being expanded to all communities on the watch list.
- Voluntary measures to limit cohorts to no more than three and to wear masks in the workplace unless able to safely distance are also strongly recommended for any community on the watch list, regardless of location.
- Additional measures to bolster Alberta’s public health response:
- AHS is prioritizing the hiring of about 380 additional contact tracing staff that will expand the contact tracing team to more than 1,100 people.
- To support contact tracing, all Albertans should download ABTraceTogether, Alberta’s contact tracing app.
- Alberta will also be shifting back to daily reporting of case numbers and information, including on weekends and holidays.
Latest updates
- To date, 24,684 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.
- There are currently 6,822 active cases in the province.
- Over the last 48 hours:
- 802 new cases were identified on Nov. 4
- 609 new cases were identified on Nov. 5
- Alberta labs have now performed 1,869,192 tests on 1,305,540 people.
- There were nine additional deaths since Nov. 3, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 352.
- All zones across the province have cases:
- Calgary Zone: 2,886 active cases and 10,966 recovered
- South Zone: 398 active cases and 2,216 recovered
- Edmonton Zone: 2,819 active cases and 8,713 recovered
- North Zone: 431 active cases and 1,821 recovered
- Central Zone: 255 active cases and 914 recovered
- 33 active cases and 54 recovered cases in zones to be confirmed
- Additional information, including case totals, is online.
- There are 392 active cases and 1,631 recovered cases at continuing care facilities; 221 facility residents have died.
- School case information will be updated on Monday.
Updated contact tracing approach
- Alberta is piloting a targeted contact testing approach. This will make contact tracing faster and focus on populations at greatest risk of illness and further spreading COVID-19.
- Alberta Health Services will directly notify close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in three priority groups only:
- health-care workers
- minors (parents will still be notified if their child has been exposed in a school setting)
- individuals who live or work within congregate or communal facilities
- AHS will no longer directly notify close contacts outside of these three priority groups, at this time.
- Albertans outside the priority groups who test positive will be asked to notify their own close contacts.
- AHS will continue to directly notify all positive cases of COVID-19 of their result, identify priority contacts that AHS will notify, and provide the case with guidance on notifying their own contacts.
Alberta
Emissions Reduction Alberta offering financial boost for the next transformative drilling idea
From the Canadian Energy Centre
$35-million Alberta challenge targets next-gen drilling opportunities
‘All transformative ideas are really eligible’
Forget the old image of a straight vertical oil and gas well.
In Western Canada, engineers now steer wells for kilometres underground with remarkable precision, tapping vast energy resources from a single spot on the surface.
The sector is continually evolving as operators pursue next-generation drilling technologies that lower costs while opening new opportunities and reducing environmental impacts.
But many promising innovations never reach the market because of high development costs and limited opportunities for real-world testing, according to Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA).
That’s why ERA is launching the Drilling Technology Challenge, which will invest up to $35 million to advance new drilling and subsurface technologies.
“The focus isn’t just on drilling, it’s about building our future economy, helping reduce emissions, creating new industries and making sure we remain a responsible leader in energy development for decades to come,” said ERA CEO Justin Riemer.
And it’s not just about oil and gas. ERA says emerging technologies can unlock new resource opportunities such as geothermal energy, deep geological CO₂ storage and critical minerals extraction.
“Alberta’s wealth comes from our natural resources, most of which are extracted through drilling and other subsurface technologies,” said Gurpreet Lail, CEO of Enserva, which represents energy service companies.
ERA funding for the challenge will range from $250,000 to $8 million per project.
Eligible technologies include advanced drilling systems, downhole tools and sensors; AI-enabled automation and optimization; low-impact rigs and fluids; geothermal and critical mineral drilling applications; and supporting infrastructure like mobile labs and simulation platforms.
“All transformative ideas are really eligible for this call,” Riemer said, noting that AI-based technologies are likely to play a growing role.
“I think what we’re seeing is that the wells of the future are going to be guided by smart sensors and real-time data. You’re going to have a lot of AI-driven controls that help operators make instant decisions and avoid problems.”
Applications for the Drilling Technology Challenge close January 29, 2026.
The Police Review Commission (PRC) is now fully operational, giving Albertans a single, independent process to file policing complaints and ensure accountability.
Alberta’s government is putting the province at the forefront of police oversight in Canada with the creation of the PRC. This new commission replaces the current patchwork of police investigating police with one independent body responsible for receiving complaints, conducting investigations and overseeing disciplinary hearings. By centralizing these functions within a single, independent agency, Alberta is ensuring complaints are handled fairly and consistently.
“The Police Review Commission represents a new era in how Alberta addresses policing complaints. These changes are part of a broader paradigm shift where police are no longer seen as an arm of the state, but rather an extension and a reflection of the community they serve. As an independent agency, it is committed to fairness, accountability and public trust, ensuring every complaint is investigated impartially and resolved openly.”
The Police Amendment Act, 2022 laid the groundwork for this new model, establishing a modern approach to oversight built on accountability, consistency and public confidence. The PRC will manage the full complaints process from receiving and assessing, to investigating and resolving complaints related to police conduct, including serious incidents and statutory offences.
“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police welcomes the launch of the Police Review Commission as a meaningful step toward enhanced oversight and greater transparency in policing. By ensuring complaints are reviewed fairly and impartially, the Commission will help strengthen accountability and reinforce public trust in Alberta’s police agencies. Police leaders across the province are committed to working with the Commission and our communities to ensure every Albertan has confidence in the integrity of our police services.”
A timely and transparent complaint resolution process is essential for both the public and police. That is why the PRC must complete investigations within 180 days, and if more time is needed, the chief executive officer must publicly report on delays and provide justification. This ensures clarity, predictability and accountability throughout the process. The commission will be arm’s length from government and police services, meaning people can have greater confidence that their complaints will be investigated and resolved impartially.
“Our goal is to build trust in policing by delivering timely resolutions and fair, consistent outcomes that put people first. Every complaint will be reviewed thoroughly and handled with the transparency and respect Albertans expect and deserve.”
The PRC can also initiate systemic reviews related to police conduct or emerging trends without the need for a public complaint, and these reviews must be made public. Together, these measures create a clear, accountable process that strengthens transparency, supports continuous improvement and enhances trust in how police oversight is carried out across Alberta.
“Public safety and the confidence the public has in our police services and service members are incumbent for effective and responsible service delivery. The PRC has been developed so that Albertans may have a responsible and impartial mechanism to voice concerns regarding delivery of policing services in Alberta. I am confident that the PRC will be an inclusive and diverse representation of the communities, so we may better understand the most appropriate and effective way to respond to concerns regarding police services. I look forward to the positive outcomes for the community.”
The commission’s design was informed by engagement with Indigenous communities, law enforcement partners, municipal officials and community organizations, ensuring its structure and training reflect Alberta’s diversity and values.
Quick facts
- The PRC will handle complaints in three categories:
- Level 1: Death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving all police services in Alberta, as well as peace officer agencies.
- Level 2: Allegations of criminal and other statutory offences involving all police services in Alberta.
- Level 3: Complaints about non-criminal misconduct involving officers employed by municipal and First Nations police services.
- Complaints that fall outside the three categories will be referred to the appropriate bodies or agencies for review.
- The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) will now operate under the PRC.
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