-Economists got a bit of a shock this morning when the Bank of Canada hiked its key lending rate by a quarter point.
Now it’s at 4.75-percent, the highest since 2001.
Economists didn’t think another hike was coming so soon.

Tory leader Pierre Poilievre asked the Prime Minister how people are supposed to pay their bills when this keeps happening:

“We’re already seeing Canadians being hit with 6 and 7-hundred dollar increases in their monthly mortgage payments.
And according to the Bank of Canada, many are going to see their mortgage payments jump by 40-percent over the next three years.
If you’re paying 3-grand a month, your payment could go up by 14-hundred dollars.
That’s over 15-thousand dollars a year for a family that brings home 80-grand after taxes.”

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-The Alberta Association of Ag Societies is offering some financial support for farmers and ranchers who’ve been affected by wildfires.
To be eligible, a producer would have to have a farm or ranch in an area where an evacuation took place, or if the provincial government had declared a disaster.
Association CEO Tim Carson says some producers lost a lot, while others did what they could to help themselves and their neighbours.
The deadline to apply is June 15th. Just head to albertaagsocieties.ca.

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-The government of Ireland is mulling over the idea of culling almost 200-thousand dairy cows over the next three years, as a way of meeting climate goals.
Department of Ag officials say if it happens, farmers would get about 72-hundred dollars for each animal.
But critics say it’s like what has been happening in the Netherlands, where the government is targeting and blaming agriculture for climate change.

Huge areas of farm land is being purchased, so the government can put it out of commission.

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-There was a deadly crash near Westlock yesterday afternoon.
RCMP say a semi had been hauling a sea-can trailer on Highway 44, when a pickup entered the intersection at Highway 661..
The collision caused the semi and trailer to roll, killing the 35-year old Calgary man driving the rig.
The pickup driver wasn’t hurt.

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-A woman was killed in a crash south of Cold Lake yesterday afternoon.
RCMP say the car she was driving had been heading south in the northbound lane of Highway 28 near Township Road 624, when it collided with a large pickup.
The car burst into flames, and the woman died at the scene.
Mounties are still investigating the incident.

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-Searchers are back on the North Saskatchewan River today, as they continue to look for a 14-year old boy who had been swept away by the river’s undertow.
That happened Sunday afternoon, as he was swimming with some friends near Terwillegar Park.
Edmonton police are also using drones in the hopes of spotting the boy.

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-An Edmonton man who had been convicted back in 2006 of killing his pregnant wife and dumping her body in a ditch, has been granted full parole.
Liana White had been stabbed to death in July of 2005.
Michael White got life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.
The Parole Board of Canada says White has demonstrated the ability to live a law-abiding lifestyle.

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-An Edmonton police officer and two former peace officers have been charged, following the death of a man in a cell three years ago.
The 38-year old man had been in the cell after being picked up for outstanding warrants, and the medical-examiner later determined he died of fentanyl poisoning.
The officers were charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

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-An 80-year old man from the village of Goodsoil, Saskatchewan was shaken up, after a big storm hit his farm on Monday.
Forecasters are trying to figure out if it was tornado or plough-wind, but there was a lot of uprooted and torn apart trees, grain bins were demolished, corrals were destroyed and the barn was moved several feet off its foundation.
Mark Weber says his elderly father had tried to go outside to move his vehicle when the storm hit, and was almost pulled from the house by the wind.
He managed to get down on the floor and had to stay there while the wind and rain howled around him for about 15 minutes.

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-Cenovus Energy is looking at a 140-thousand dollar fine for releasing wastewater into some wetlands three years ago.
The line had belonged to Husky at the time, there was a break in the line, and more than 2-hundred cubic metres of wastewater was released.
Cenovus pleaded guilty.
The money from the fine will be used to improve wetlands in the province.

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-The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness is holding a service today, to remember homeless people who died in the city last year.
The Coalition says 156 people either died directly or indirectly as a result of being homeless.
The service is taking place at Homeless Memorial Plaza, just north of City Hall on 103-A Avenue and 100th Street.
It starts at 2 and is open to the public.

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-Kevin Gausman had 13 strikeouts last night, as he led the Jays to a 5-1 win over the Astros.

-The Jays are sending pitcher Alek Manoah to the minors. He’s heading to the Florida Complex League, where most games are played at spring training facilities .

-The Ridgefield Raptors beat the Edmonton Riverhawks 6-5 last night.

TONIGHT: