Politics

SURREY, B.C. — Surrey’s mayor says it’s "outrageous" that a sex offender who abducted and assaulted an 11-year-old girl in 2004 has been released in the city, which she says has more children per capita than anywhere in British Columbia.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won’t say what happened to her government’s promise to hold face-to-face meetings with citizens in December on quitting the Canada Pension Plan.

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government introduced a bill Thursday to suspend the province's fuel tax for six months, and possibly longer.

OTTAWA — The federal government's fiscal update has sparked disappointment among many who were hoping for big action on housing, including municipal leaders.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government has introduced legislation that aims to prevent victims of human trafficking from being financially penalized, changes the justice minister says aren't related to allegations a legislature member procured sex.

Quebec's auditor general says half of the province's 31,000 kilometres of roads are in bad shape, including about two-thirds of the road network in three regions.

EDMONTON — The Alberta government aims to stop photo radar from being used as a cash cow, beginning with banning its use on ring roads next month and negotiating with smaller municipalities to remove what it deems "fishing holes" to nab speeders.

OTTAWA — Liberals and New Democrats appear to be inching closer to an agreement on proposed pharmacare legislation, but a national drug plan may be farther out of reach than ever after this week's federal fiscal update.

QUEBEC — For the first time since Quebec's public sector unions began strike action earlier this month, Quebec Premier François Legault said clearly on Thursday he is willing to increase his government's offer.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Public Works Minister Kim Masland says the federal government must maintain full ferry service between Digby, N.S., and Saint John, N.B., next year because it is crucial to the region.