Veterans Affairs Minister and Alberta MP Kent Hehr said the advance payment from the federal−provincial disaster assistance agreement will be in Alberta’s hands by early July.

Research suggests a Spain−sized area of forest in the centre of the province will be one of the rare places where nature will ease the effects of global warming and preserve existing ecosystems.

The oilsands company, of which Suncor owns the majority, argued that it was unconstitutional for Ottawa to require that at least two per cent of diesel fuel be from renewable sources such as ethanol.

On Saturday, a stage of a Russian satellite-launching rocket is expected to fall into Baffin Bay between Ellesmere Island and Greenland within seas over which Canada has economic control.

"The Government of Canada has sought clarification from the Government of Russia regarding the lack of sufficient notification of this rocket launch," said a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada.

"Our process on this, with the blessing of the aboriginal communities, is to withdraw Bill 22, which will be happening next week in the legislature," said Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan.

Pipelines and other energy infrastructure will be rated based on risk: "That's going to take us a little bit of time."