Canada’s Auger-Aliassime ousted in quarterfinals of European Open

EDMONTON – Alberta is unveiling new regulations that will once again allow corporate and union donations in local elections.

The move by the United Conservative Party government reverses a ban brought in under the NDP.

The rules come under a bill that makes sweeping changes to municipal elections, which the province says will make them more transparent.

It passed debate in the legislature earlier this year and comes into effect later this month.

Alberta Municipalities has been a vocal critic of the changes, with president Tyler Gandam saying that opening the door to big donors puts local government’s “up for sale to the highest bidder.”

The legislation also allows local political parties and slates on the ballot beginning in 2025 — but only in the province’s two largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary.

Individuals, corporations or unions are capped at contributing $5,000 total to all local parties per jurisdiction per year.

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VANCOUVER – Environment Canada has issued several rainfall warnings for British Columbia, covering much of Vancouver Island and the coastal regions as the first atmospheric river of the season approaches.

It says heavy rain is expected to reach inland sections of the central coast that will intensify throughout the day before peaking this afternoon, bringing up to 70 millimetres.

The weather office says west and inland Vancouver Island will see rainfall amounts of about 100 millimetres, possibly more than 200 millimetres in mountainous terrain.

It says Metro Vancouver will also see up to 70 millimetres, and the Sea-to-Sky corridor may get up to 100 millimetres.

The atmospheric river will also roll over B.C.’s southern Interior with prolonged periods of heavy rain expected to persist through the weekend.

The expected rain has prompted flood watches by the River Forecast Centre for several rivers along the central and south coasts, Lower Fraser tributaries, waterways in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

Wind warnings have also been issued for exposed sections of Haida Gwaii, North and Central Coasts, and North Vancouver Island.

Environment Canada is also maintaining snow warnings along the B.C.-Yukon boundary that may bring up to 25 centimetres in some areas.

It says rapidly accumulating snow may make it difficult to drive, so it is asking travellers to be cautious while on the roads.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2024.

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TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain nearly 100 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 87.36 points at 24,777.84.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 85.55 points at 43,153.50. The S&P 500 index was up 17.22 points at 5,858.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 118.13 points at 18,491.74.

The Canadian dollar traded for 72.42 cents US compared with 72.52 cents US on Thursday.

The December crude oil contract was down US$1.75 at US$68.34 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.27 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$26.60 at US$2,734.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up five cents at US$4.37 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

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