This week's highlights:Equity markets re-price following 2025 rate cut guidanceForward guidance leads bonds lower, Feds preferred inflation gauge brings them back upCanadian inflation dips back below BoC's 2% targetFed signals plan to slow rate cuts after quarter-point reductionBundesbank cuts German growth forecasts, ...

Long awaited residential construction will soon be coming to Red Deer's Capstone neighbourhood.On Tuesday, Capstone announced the sale of 1.6-acres of land to Abbey Platinum Master Built, which marks a significant milestone in residential growth in the downtown area.The sale will now lead the way for the construction o...

The Red Deer District Chamber is reaffirming its commitment to finding a solution for homelessness in the community following the City's latest Point in Time (PiT) homeless count. According to the count, there are now at least 766 people experiencing homelessness in Red Deer, which is more than double the reported 334 ...

The Government of Alberta is pleased to share that in 2023, the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) issued wage-loss benefits to 83 per cent of reported injured workers within 14 days of claim registration, a key achievement for the regulator. The details come from the WCB's 2023 annual report, which also said the provin...

Red Deer postal workers are angry and upset after being forced to return to work on Tuesday.For the first time in over a month, 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) returned to delivering mail across Canada after the federal government stepped in to end the strike.President of the CUPW Local 81...

Red Deer home sales were lower in November when compared to the month before and the same month last year. According to the latest Market Update from Central Alberta Realtors Association, there were 110 units sold in November, down from 134 units sold in October, and 122 units sold in November 2023. Year-to-date number...

This week's highlightsEquity markets falter despite constructive backdropRate cuts, rate cuts, and possibly more rate cutsBank of Canada cuts rate by half-pointU.S. inflation ticked up to 2.7% in NovemberECB cuts rates by quarter point in attempt to boost slowing growthWeek in reviewEquity markets falter despite constr...

While mail is set to begin moving again on Tuesday as Canada Post employees return to work, key "structural issues" at the centre of the month-long strike remain outstanding heading into the next phase of negotiations.The federal government pushed to end the work stoppage last week, when Labour Minister Steve...

The federal government has announced that on Saturday the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) break will be put into effect after it was passed into law.It is set to begin on Dec. 14 through Feb. 15, 2025 and will give Canadians a tax break on multiple essentials such as food and beverage related serv...

The Canadian government is pushing to end the nearly month-long Canada Post strike. On Friday morning federal labour minister Steven MacKinnon asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to send the 55,000 striking postal workers back to work until May in hopes of delivering mail as early as next week. Mackinnon says t...

Red Deer Polytechnic and Exro Technologies Inc. introduced the first-ever Cell Driver Battery Energy Storage System on campus Thursday morning.The system, which is positioned just outside the Four Centres building at RDP, will not only expand the schools energy storage capabilities, but will also enhance the institutio...

The City of Lacombe and its municipal council believe they've cooked up a way to allow more retail and office-based businesses in the local light industrial district.Before anything is approved, however, they say there will be plenty of opportunity for the public to have its say.The move, which would involved changes t...

Town of Sylvan Lake council has approved the 2025 capital budget, 5-year capital plan, and 2025 interim operating budget.The 2025 capital budget was approved at $17,000,000 followed by the five-year plan in 2025 (17,000,000), 2026 (18,815,300), 2027 (13,880,000), 2028 (13,050,000), and 2029 (5,845,000).In 2025, over $3...

In Blackfalds' town council's regular meeting Dec. 10, multiple decisions with budget implications were brought to the table that found both savings and revenue opportunities for the town moving forward. Facilities feesCouncil unanimously approved third reading of Bylaw 1318.24, which outlines the fee schedule for comm...

The Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate by half a percentage point today but signalled a slower pace of rate cuts moving forward.The decision marked the fifth consecutive reduction since June and brings the central bank's key rate down to 3.25 per cent.Forecasters were widely expecting the jumbo interest rate ...

This week's highlightsGlobal markets face uncertainty amid mixed economic signals and political instabilityIndecisive Fed, jobs reports drive volatility in fixed income marketsCanadian manufacturing activity rose at fastest pace in 21 months in NovemberU.S. services sector slows as firms gauge trump policiesChina's cen...

The Alberta government has released new wind and solar development rules it says are needed to protect the environment, food security and the province's scenery.The regulations say wind projects will no longer be permitted within specified ``buffer zones'' that encompass much of the Rocky Mountain areas.Wind and non-re...

The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories received a substantial donation on Friday from a Red Deer division of Scotia McLeod.A donation of $12,000 from Scotia Wealth Management will help the organization make a meaningful impact in the lives of those living with Alzheimer's and dementias."The $12...

The Red Deer region saw a rise in its unemployment rate last month, increasing from 6.6 per cent in October to 6.9 per cent in November. Still well below, however, a jobless rate of 7.9 per cent in November 2023. Edmonton had the highest unemployment rate in the province last month, coming in at 7.4 per cent, while Cal...

Premier Danielle Smith will represent Alberta from Dec. 6-10 at the Western Governors' Association's winter meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to provincial officials, this meeting is expected to provide a forum for critical conversations and information sharing that should help inform future policy development an...

The Government of Alberta is aiming to make Alberta the North American destination of choice for Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre investment.Officials say an AI data centre attraction strategy will identify three pillars that create the foundation of Alberta's work to position itself as a competitive player in ...

For the third month in a row, the City of Red Deer reports that building permit values continued to climb in November, with 83 permits issued at a value of $23 million; in November 2023, there were 91 permits issued for a total of $9.3 million. Additionally, year-to-date values remain higher this year, with current val...

This week's highlightsEquity markets advance despite tariff threats and weaker-than-expected GDPTariffs and weak GDP data rattle fixed income marketsCanada's economy grew by 1% in third quarterFed's preferred inflation measure remained elevated in OctoberGerman business confidence declines as geopolitical pressures mou...

Prairie premiers are urging Canada to act on American concerns over illegal cross-border traffic of people and drugs to stave off the looming threat of 25-per-cent tariffs.Alberta's Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan's Scott Moe, and Manitoba's Wab Kinew said Tuesday that Canada must better address the concerns of its larges...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is taking steps to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap.Suggestions include a legal challenge to the cap, passing legislation to give the province exclusive authority over emissions data and banning federal employees from designated oil and gas f...

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose large tariffs once he takes office early in the new year. On Monday, Trump said he'll implement a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports until the country stops drugs and illegal immigrants from crossing the U.S. border. The move could potentially have a de...

The Town of Ponoka would like to remind local business owners they have until Dec. 31, to renew their business licences for 2025. Town officials say businesses that operate, provide or sell a product or service within, or partially within, the Town of Ponoka corporate boundaries are required to have a valid Ponoka busi...

This week's highlightsEquity markets rebound despite geopolitical tensions, post election re-pricingShifting interest rate forecasts push bond yields higherCanada's inflation rate jumps back up to 2% in OctoberU.S. home sales rose in October following decline in mortgage ratesEurozone trade surplus rises on jump in exp...