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AIR MILES Is Gone. Here's What Actually Earns You Travel Now

  If you've been holding onto a Air Miles card waiting to redeem for a flight, the program you signed up for doesn't exist anymore — and the cards that replaced it aren't the best game in town. If you searched "best AIR MILES credit card" and landed here, there's something you need to know first: there is no such thing anymore. AIR MILES, the loyalty program that's been part of Canadian wallets since 1992, officially became BMO Blue Rewards on June 2, 2026. BMO had already stopped issuing new AIR MILES cards back in January, and every collector's Miles converted automatically into Blue Points at a rate of roughly 1 Air Mile to 15.79 Blue Points — no action needed, no lost value. That's good news if you're a longtime collector sitting on a pile of Miles. It's less good news if you were hoping to earn free flights that way going forward, because Blue Rewards was built to compete with PC Optimum and Scene+ — grocery, gas, and everyday spendi...

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Leaked Memo Reveals Alberta Plan to Shield Transgender Laws with Notwithstanding Clause

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has previously said the notwithstanding clause was on the table as a 'last' resort regarding the government’s transgender health restrictions.

A leaked internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press indicates Alberta Premier Danielle Smith intends to invoke the Charter’s notwithstanding clause this fall to protect three controversial laws affecting transgender people.

The September 10 directive from the justice department instructs ministries to prepare amendments allowing the laws to operate “notwithstanding” the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights. The move, described as “highly sensitive,” is set for cabinet review on October 21, ahead of the legislature’s return.

The laws — passed last year — require parental consent for students under 16 to change names or pronouns at school, ban transgender girls from competing in amateur female sports, and restrict gender‑affirming health care for minors. Two of the measures face ongoing court challenges from advocacy groups, who call them discriminatory.

Justice officials say the government will use “all available legal and constitutional means” to protect children, while critics argue the plan represents an unprecedented attack on LGBTQ+ rights. The notwithstanding clause, rarely used, allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years.


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