Latest news with #EdmontonJournal.com
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Province working to extract firefighters trapped in northern Alberta as wildfires surge
A crew of eight firefighters are currently trapped in Chipewyan Lake and the province says they're working on a plan to extract them as severe wildfires rage across Alberta. In a social media posted late Thursday night, Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said at approximately 8:20 p.m. wildland-urban interface crews temporarily lost radio contact while responding to a wildfire in the Chipewyan Lake located 450 km north of Edmonton. One team is currently sheltering at the fire station and another is safe at the school, designated the community's emergency shelter. 'We are working on a plan to extract all eight personnel using NVIS (night vision), though earlier attempts were limited by heavy smoke,' Loewen said. Loewen said there are also indications of damage to structures in the community, but the full extent remains unknown said Loewen. A mandatory evacuation order was issued on Wednesday for the community of Chipewyan Lake forcing residents to flee. There is currently a wildfire threatening the Chip and Alpac Road. 'We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available. Please continue to monitor official sources and stay safe,' Loewen said. More to come ctran@ X: @kccindytran Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's why electric vehicle sales have dropped across Canada for the third year in row
A new survey from AutoTrader shows electric vehicle sales have dropped for the third year in a row. According to the data, interest in electric vehicles has continued to drop since 2022 and the ongoing threat of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs has contributed to the downward trend. Consumers have raised concerns over reduced government incentives, the lack of electric vehicle infrastructure, and cost, the survey said. Baris Akyurek, vice-president of insights and intelligence at AutoTrader, said the main reasons consumers are hesitating to purchase an electric vehicle has not changed in the last three years. Akyurek said 78 per cent of those surveyed raised concerns about the limited range of electric vehicles. 'The No. 1 (concern) is always the same — limited travel range,' Akyurek said. 'Range anxiety has always been a hot topic, and that's something that keeps coming up.' The second-highest concern, according to 69 per cent of those surveyed, is how expensive electric vehicles are. Akyurek said when AutoTrader assessed the models of various electric vehicles and prices, the cost for an electric vehicle compared to non-electric was 15 to 20 per cent higher. Year-over-year cost of an electric vehicle has declined, making electric vehicles more affordable, according to AutoTrader. The survey said in 2025, 42 per cent of Canadians are considering an electric vehicle for their next vehicle, down from 46 per cent in 2024. Only 29 per cent of Canadians said they would exclusively consider going electric, down from 40 per cent in 2024. The ongoing threat of Trump's tariffs has contributed to a lot of activity in the market, Akyurek said. More than ever, he said, government incentives are needed to push Canadians to go electric. 'Incentives are a big part,' Akyurek said. 'Removing the government incentive from the equation … essentially makes EVs more expensive. The federal incentive program helped consumers with their purchases.' In January, the federal government paused its electric vehicle rebate program. The rebate offered up to $5,000 for zero-emission passenger vehicles. The survey said 68 per cent of non-electric vehicle owners who would consider buying an electric vehicle believed they could be influenced if there were government incentives. Over half of respondents said incentives increased their confidence in purchasing an electric vehicle. Alberta implemented a yearly registration fee of $200 for electric vehicle users in early 2025. Akyurek said the fee, when compared to the purchase of an electric vehicle which can cost thousands of dollars, may not be a huge deterrent, but does not help the electric vehicle cause. ctran@ X: @kccindytran What's it like to drive an EV in Canadian winters? Albertans weigh in Vape and electric vehicle taxes coming to Alberta in 2025 Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smith repeats demands, creates 'Alberta Next' panel ahead of likely independence vote in 2026
Alberta is creating a new panel to discuss the province's future within Canada and is creating a special negotiating team to square-off against Ottawa ahead of an anticipated citizen-led referendum on independence next year. Premier Danielle Smith made those announcements during a province-wide address via online streams Monday afternoon. Smith spoke seated before a backdrop of Alberta and Canada flags and began her 18-minute speech by reciting a list of historical grievances against the federal government. While she said her government would not be putting forward a vote on separating from Canada, she acknowledged the likelihood of that happening in the future. 'We are well aware that there is a large and growing number of Albertans that have lost hope in Alberta having a free and prosperous future as a part of Canada. Many of these Albertans are organizing petitions to trigger a citizen-initiated referendum,' she said. Last week, Smith's government tabled Bill 54 which among other things lowers the signature threshold for a citizen initiative while also extending the timeline to get those signatures to 120 days from 90 days. The bill is awaiting second reading which could come as soon as Tuesday afternoon. An independence vote could come as soon as next year as part of a broader series of votes on issues determined by a newly-appointed panel, dubbed Alberta Next. Smith said she will chair the panel that will be made up of 'our best and brightest judicial, academic and economic minds' that will host town halls to discuss what steps Alberta could take against Ottawa. 'After the work of the panel is finished, it is likely we will place some of the more popular ideas discussed with the panel to a provincial referendum so that all Albertans can vote on them sometime in 2026.' Smith added details on the panel's scope and membership will be revealed 'in the coming weeks.' Until then, Smith said the province will continue to negotiate with Ottawa on a number of demands, which echo those she had already stated in March. Those include ensuring Alberta's access to tidewater for energy exports, lifting the tanker ban off the B.C. coast, eliminating the emissions cap, scrapping clean electricity regulations, and abandoning the net-zero car mandate, among others. 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an Alberta accord,' she said. 'If these points can be agreed to by the federal government, I'm convinced it will not only make Alberta and Canada an infinitely stronger and more prosperous country, but will eliminate the doubts of a growing number of Albertans.' The premier's office did not organize a news conference immediately following the announcement though Smith is scheduled to speak with reporters at noon on Tuesday. mblack@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man, 35, dies after report of 118 Avenue 'disturbance' Sunday night
A 35-year-old man died in hospital after police responded to a 'disturbance' at 118 Avenue and Wayne Gretzky Drive Sunday night. Northeast patrol officers responding to the call around 9:30 p.m. found the man 'unresponsive,' police said in a Monday news release. Emergency medical services provided lifesaving measures and transported the man to hospital, where he later died, police said. The city police homicide unit has since taken over the investigation, with an autopsy set for Wednesday. Man arrested after woman's suspicious death in Strathearn home: Edmonton police Edmonton police probing suspicious death of man at west-end home Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
