Snowfall sends Alberta drivers a winter warning
Alberta RCMP and AMA are urging drivers to ready their vehicles and emergency kits for the winter as snow fell across central and southern Alberta on Friday.
The Alberta Motor Association says cold temperatures can affect how a vehicle runs, meaning basic checks are important to carry out this time of year. AMA recommends keeping vehicles fuel tank at least half full, since cold weather lowers fuel efficiency and spare fuel helps during an unexpected delay.
Winter tires are another important step, the association says, because they grip and stop better than all season tires in snow and ice. Drivers should check tire pressure often because
it can drop when temperatures fall.
Road science supports the advice. The Canadian Automobile Association says all season tires lose grip below 7C because the rubber stiffens in the cold. Transport Canada says black ice can form between 4C and -4C, and they say bridges and overpasses often freeze before roads do.
The AMA says drivers should pack a kit with booster cables, a flashlight and spare batteries, blankets, warm clothing, non-perishable food, candles, matches, first aid-supplies and a charged cellphone. If a vehicle breaks down, the kits can help keep people safe while they wait for help.
Alberta RCMP are also asking drivers to slow down and make safe choices. Police say impaired, distracted, fatigued and aggressive driving cause the most serious crashes. They suggest setting navigation and music before travelling, not while the vehicle is moving.
"We're seeing a concerning trend in fatal collisions on Alberta roads," said Cpl. Mike Warman of Alberta RCMP Traffic Services. "All road users have a part to play in road safety."
The reminders come during a deadly year on provincial roads. Alberta RCMP say 2026 is on track to be the worst year for road deaths in a decade. As of Aug. 31, there were 192 fatal crashes on roads the force patrols.
Drivers can check road conditions by calling 511 or visiting 511 Alberta online before they leave. RCMP warn drivers that highway conditions can change fast this time of year.
Copyright 2026, Medicine Hat News. All rights reserved.
Brook Wagner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Medicine Hat News.
Inspections continue on Mercier Bridge
No further emergency repair work to the Mercier Bridge is anticipated following initial inspections, according to the Quebec transport ministry (MTMD), but the ministry has not finished assessing the condition of all the bridge’s similar beams.
Last Tuesday, the left Montreal-bound lane was suddenly closed due to a crack in a steel beam that was discovered during maintenance, causing major traffic problems and renewing calls for the aging infrastructure to be replaced.
The beam was repaired over the weekend, a process that involved drilling into the crack and reinforcing the beam with steel plates.
“As a precautionary measure, a new round of inspections for steel beams similar to the one that was repaired is scheduled for the coming weeks,” said MTMD spokesperson Louis-André Bertrand in a statement to The Eastern Door, noting last week’s inspections targeted easily accessible beams.
Planned maintenance will continue no matter the findings of these inspections.
So far, it hasn’t been confirmed how the need for emergency closure arose, according to the MTMD.
“The ministry is continuing its analysis to determine the exact cause of this crack,” Bertrand said.
Grand chief objects to reaction
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo took to Facebook this week to praise Kahnawake workers and criticize regional leaders for failing to offer assistance on traffic, which is exacerbated by regional development Kahnawake opposes, and for taking stances about what should happen on Kahnawake territory without involving the community.
Diabo said Highway 132 and 138 through Kahnawake territory, and the bridge itself, must not increase their footprint under Kahnawake’s “not one more inch” policy.
“Kahnawake has our own priorities, and it does not include making it easier for our community to be a shortcut over the bridge,” he wrote. “We have never been asked how is the development affecting us, instead (we) are expected to accept it and stay silent.”
He tagged Chateauguay mayor Eric Allard, who had called for action on the bridge, including the construction of a new crossing over the Seaway. He also tagged new premier Paul St. Pierre Plamondon and member of the National Assembly Felix Rheaume, who was elected under the Liberal banner to represent the riding of Chateauguay, which includes Kahnawake.
Allard was not available for an interview, and the city of Chateauguay offered no comment.
marcus@easterndoor.com
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Copyright 2026, The Eastern Door. All rights reserved.
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door.
U.S. to drop some tariffs on Canadian exports, says Maine senator
A United States senator says nine categories of Canadian exports will be exempted from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada.
A statement released by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, says the categories include corrugated paper, plastic boxes and several types of machinery important to her state's agricultural industries.
Collins says the tariff exemptions are for products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
It comes just ahead of November's midterm elections and Trump's trade war with Canada has become a ballot box issue in Collins' state.
Trump slammed an array of Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs in August after trade talks with Ottawa broke down.
He banned imports of certain Canadian goods, including motorcycles and some dairy products, the following month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
By Kelly Geraldine Malone | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Cette blogueuse prouve que le «corps idéal» n'existe tout simplement pas
Ta mère te l'a sûrement déjà dit: dans la vie, c'est important d'avoir une bonne balance. On parle pas ici d'une balance pour te peser, mais bien d'un équilibre.
Anna Victoria, fille tout à fait normale de 28 ans devenue star d'Instagram, profite souvent de sa tribune pour passer des messages inspirants à ses abonnés. Elle a complètement changé son mode de vie il y a quelques années après en avoir eu marre d'être constamment malade.
Depuis, elle s'efforce de faire comprendre aux femmes que rien n'est jamais parfait, et qu'on devrait toutes se donner un peu de slack.
Si ton objectif de « corps idéal » est la photo de gauche, tu devrais tout de suite réajuster tes attentes! Ce type de silhouette n'existe pas.
Voici 6 réalités à comprendre immédiatement:
1. Ton ventre va enfler après avoir mangé. C'est normal, et ce même si tu t'entraînes comme une folle et que tu manges santé.
Et encore plus normal après un « cheat meal », hyper important pour maintenir un bon équilibre.
Anna pratique le 80/20: elle mange bien 80% du temps, puis se permet 20% de gâteries.
2. Tu n'auras jamais le corps des filles dans les magazines/sur Instagram, puisque ces filles n'ont même pas le corps qu'on voit sur leurs photos.
Tout est une question d'éclairage et de pose!
3. Tu n'as pas de cellulite sur les bras. C'est le miroir de l'ascenseur et l'éclairage qui donnent cette impression à tout le monde.
4. Il va toujours y avoir des plis sur ton ventre quand tu t'assois, même si tu t'entraînes.
5. Les poignées d'amour ce n'est pas une «imperfection». Ça vient avec le fait d'être humain!
6. Les pilules magiques et les thés détox c'est d'la m*arde et ça marche pas!
Voici des résultats réalistes pour 6 mois d'efforts (photo ci-dessus)! Sois réaliste et fière de toi tout au long de ta transformation physique, parce que c'est une longue aventure.
Toute ma vie, je me suis fiée au chiffre sur le pèse-personne pour dicter mon bonheur du jour. -2 livres = une maudite belle journée! +3: cr*ss, j'aurais pas dû manger le 2e burrito hier.
J'ai vécu comme ça pendant un beaucoup trop long moment, jusqu'à ce que je découvre l'histoire d'Anna Victoria, qui m'a fait comprendre c'est quoi être en accord avec son corps.
Tsé le fameux « poids santé/poids naturel », ben c'est vrai qu'il vient tout seul quand tu fais attention à toi-même, quand tu t'aimes, que tu bouges et que tu manges bien non pas pour maigrir, mais pour être bien dans ta tête et ton corps.
Et la shape idéale, c'est pas juste celle de Gigi Hadid ou de Maripier Morin. C'est la tienne également quand tu te sens bien dans ta peau (peu importe ton poids ou l'angle dans lequel tu es placée).
Alors, arrête tout de suite de penser que t'es grosse quand tu vois un plis sur ton corps, cesse de te comparer aux vedettes qui posent et sois patiente. ❤️