Elections Alberta has estimated the total cost of last month's referendum at nearly $84 million. The agency has requested more than $59 million in additional funding from the provincial government to cover expenses already incurred and upcoming work. Of the requested amount, approximately $49 million is intended to cover costs related to the October referendum, which have already been incurred. The vote set new records for advance voting, special ballots and voter turnout. Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure told a committee that manually counting 10 ballot papers for each voter placed sign

Following the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections, experts and political leaders in Alberta are assessing the potential impact on Canada, particularly the province. American voters also voiced strong opposition to political parties manipulating electoral maps. Alberta’s NDP has compared the issue to the ongoing controversy over the province’s proposed new electoral boundaries. Premier Danielle Smith said the U.S. midterm results reinforced her government’s approach to dealing with tariffs. Her government has emphasized diplomacy and negotiations to strengthen rela

A powerful explosion at a building in Okotoks, southeast of Calgary, caused significant damage Thursday morning, completely destroying a large single-family home. According to Calgary Fire crews, a loud blast was heard across the area between approximately 7:10 and 7:45 a.m. The explosion occurred in a detached building on a rural property near Heritage Heights School. An elderly couple was inside the home at the time of the explosion, but both were reported safe. As a precaution, Heritage Heights School was immediately evacuated and will remain closed for the day. Students who normally travel

Alberta’s police watchdog has cleared two officers involved in an alleged excessive use-of-force incident during an arrest in Leduc. Body camera footage played a key role in the investigation. According to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the man had allegedly assaulted someone earlier that night and repeatedly resisted arrest, forcing both officers to use physical force to restrain him. The officers punched the man in the face, which ASIRT determined was justified under the circumstances. The man had alleged that officers kicked him in the face. ASIRT concluded that the o

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s popularity has taken a hit following the province’s recent referendum, although she continues to enjoy strong support among her party’s voters. According to a survey, 59 per cent of Albertans are dissatisfied with Smith’s performance, while 39 per cent approve of her leadership. Experts believe the referendum debate over the past 18 months has diverted attention from issues that could have benefited the government. Her approval rating has reportedly dropped by around six percentage points. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has a slightly higher approval rating,

Edmonton police have arrested a man allegedly connected to an international fraud network operating through call centres in Pakistan. According to police, scammers linked to call centres in Lahore have been targeting residents since 2024 by posing as representatives of major telecommunications companies, including Rogers, Telus and Virgin Mobile. The scheme has resulted in total losses of approximately $20 million for Edmonton residents. The fraudsters allegedly lured victims with offers of free or heavily discounted cellphones and mobile plans to obtain their personal information. They then a

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has strongly defended a proposal to redraw the province’s electoral boundaries, which the Opposition NDP has described as fraudulent. A report released Monday proposes splitting Lethbridge’s two existing ridings into four. Under the proposal, one riding would be entirely urban, while the other three would combine parts of the city with neighbouring rural communities. Smith said such hybrid ridings are already an accepted practice and are working well in other parts of the province. “I think Lethbridge will be very well served by having four representatives,

Stage 4 water restrictions will return across Calgary and surrounding communities starting Wednesday as repair work continues on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main. The restrictions are expected to remain in place for approximately four weeks, meaning they will also affect the 113th Grey Cup and the 2026 Grey Cup Festival, scheduled to take place from November 11 to 15. Officials are working continuously to connect the newly installed pipe to the city's existing water system. In addition, six sections of the 1,500-millimetre feeder main, along with roads and sidewalks near Parkdale Boulevard and M

A 29-year-old woman has been found dead inside a home in West Edmonton, with police investigating the death as suspicious. According to Edmonton police, officers were called to a home near 95 Avenue and 164 Street at around 6 p.m. on Friday to conduct a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found the woman dead inside the residence. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the exact cause of death. Homicide detectives are currently investigating the case. Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact them.