TORONTO - Russia’s attack on Ukraine is putting even greater pressure on an already surging oil price environment and that will cost Canadians more at the pump. Roger McKnight, chief petroleum analyst at En-Pro International Inc. expects gas prices across the country will rise five cents per litre on Saturday. He says drivers who fill up occasionally have hours to avoid extra costs but there's not much that can be done for those who fill up daily. The high demand for oil combined with a [Read more]

EDMONTON - It's budget day in Alberta, and Premier Jason Kenney says there will be a massive infusion of money for the health-care system. Kenney says the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a system that has too few hospital beds, labs and intensive care spaces. He says the budget will include a historic investment in health care that has been made possible by a strong economy hitting on all cylinders on all fronts. Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the bottom line is looking better, [Read more]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider an appeal of a lawsuit over the Dakota Access Pipeline, meaning that an ongoing environmental review of the pipeline will continue. Dakota Access, which is controlled by Texas-based Energy Transfer, appealed a lower court ruling that affirmed the need for a more thorough environmental study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The Corps issued an easement for the pipeline’s Missouri [Read more]

EDMONTON - Alberta's United Conservative government is getting ready for a speech from the throne to open a legislative session that could be like no other. Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani is expected to deliver the speech in the legislature this afternoon. Throne speeches are intended to lay out the government's direction for the coming session and Premier Jason Kenney's government faces a series of controversial choices. The budget, which is to come Thursday, will show how the government [Read more]

HOUSTON, B.C. - Mounties in northern British Columbia are investigating what they say was a violent confrontation between a group of about 20 people and Coastal GasLink employees at a work site for the pipeline. RCMP says in a news release they were called to the area early Thursday following reports that a group of people, some allegedly armed with axes, attacked security guards and smashed vehicle windows. Police say when they tried to reach the work site they were stopped by a downed [Read more]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia is signalling it isn't willing to pump more oil and won't push for changes to an agreement with Russia and other producers that has kept a lid on oil production levels. This has Washington concerned as gasoline prices rise and tensions with Russia over Ukraine fuel market uncertainty. The Biden administration dispatched Brett McGurk, the National Security Council's Middle East coordinator, and the State Department’s energy envoy, Amos [Read more]