Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver resigns from cabinet as Speaker vote looms

OTTAWA — Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne signalled Wednesday there will be no spring budget and only a fall economic statement, despite his predecessor Dominic LeBlanc announcing pre-budget consultations earlier this year. Asked by reporters about the date of the next budget, Champagne said his first three orders of business are tabling a motion to cut the bottom income tax bracket by one per cent, presenting a speech to the throne on May 27 and then publishing an economic update in the fall. He made no mention of a budget, nor did he respond to repeated questions as to...