An Alberta judge has reserved his decision until August 14th on whether to proceed with a court review of a proposed provincial separation referendum question. The case began when Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure asked the court to determine if the question - asking if Alberta should become a sovereign country - violates the Constitution or treaty rights. The Alberta Prosperity Project, which proposed the question, argued the review is premature since the petition may never gain enough signatures or pass in a vote. Their lawyer maintained that asking the question itself is not unconstitutional and that issues such as Indigenous and minority rights should be debated politically, not decided in court. Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery also believe the question is constitutional and should only face review if approved by voters. McClure has defended referring it to court due to its serious implications. A competing petition, led by former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, seeks to enshrine Alberta’s commitment to remain in Canada. Both sides will face significant signature-gathering campaigns to advance their proposals.
Advance polls have opened for the federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, which has drawn national attention for its unprecedented 214 candidates. The record-breaking list means Elections Canada will use blank ballots, requiring voters to handwrite the name of their chosen candidate, though minor spelling errors will still be accepted. Most of the contenders are linked to the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group advocating for electoral reform. The byelection was triggered when former MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his Ottawa-area seat in April, to run. Other candidates include Liberal Darcy Spady, the NDP's Katherine Swampy, and Independent Bonnie Critchley. Elections Canada has implemented accessibility measures such as large-print candidate lists, magnifiers, and specially trained poll workers. Poilievre has criticized the protest group’s tactics, saying they make voting more difficult for seniors and people with disabilities. Voting day is scheduled for August 18th.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario are collaborating to study the feasibility of a new west-east pipeline that would connect western oil and gas supplies to Ontario’s ports and refineries. This project aims to enhance Canada’s energy self-reliance, create thousands of jobs, and open new trade and investment opportunities. The initiative gained momentum amid concerns about potential US tariffs, which could disrupt Canada’s energy exports, prompting a need for more secure, domestic infrastructure. The Premiers signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on pipelines and trade infrastructure across provincial borders earlier this summer. A formal request for proposals for the feasibility study has been issued and is open to companies across Canada.
Alberta’s government is backing away from earlier claims that its upcoming auto insurance reforms will save drivers up to $400 a year. Premier Danielle Smith and Finance Minister Nate Horner had touted the figure when announcing a 2027 shift to a “Care First” system that limits lawsuits for collision damages, but a new government report omits any savings estimate. Officials now say the $400 projection was based on 2023 data and doesn’t reflect new cost pressures, including inflation, US tariffs on car parts, and severe weather events. Horner suggested current rate caps for good drivers may already be delivering comparable savings, though insurers argue the cap is keeping premiums artificially low and want it lifted. Critics, including injury lawyers, say the reforms will slash Albertans’ ability to sue - allowing it only in limited cases like impaired driving or criminal offences - while eliminating hundreds of legal jobs and failing to deliver promised savings. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has also cast doubt on cost reductions, warning that generous benefits and partial legal access will keep expenses high. The government maintains the new model will stabilize rates in the long term.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) will resume negotiations on August 26th, just before the school year starts, as tensions rise over a potential strike or lockout. TEBA has applied for a lockout vote on August 29th, calling it a standard response to the ATA’s earlier strike vote, in which over 94% of teachers authorized possible job action by October 7th. Teachers say they want progress on chronic issues such as large class sizes, insufficient funding, and lack of supports for students with complex needs, which they describe as having reached a “crisis level.” While both sides stress they prefer a negotiated settlement, the ATA has not ruled out work-to-rule or rotating strikes if talks fail. The Calgary Catholic School District and Calgary Board of Education are advising parents to prepare for possible disruptions. Earlier this year, teachers rejected a proposed contract, citing wages they say lag behind inflation as well as inadequate resources.
Alberta has introduced new rules to combat predatory towing practices, creating a 200-metre exclusion zone around collision scenes that tow truck drivers cannot enter unless invited by police or those involved. Violators face a $1,000 fine, aimed at stopping aggressive operators from pressuring drivers into unnecessary or overpriced services. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said the changes address complaints of harassment, inflated bills, and withheld information by some in the towing industry. Edmonton police reported recent cases involving fraud and overcharging, including billing insurance companies more than $5,000 for basic tows. The provincial rules mirror a Calgary bylaw but carry a smaller fine, which Dreeshen described as a baseline for province-wide protection. Officials are considering further measures, such as a mandatory code of conduct and driver certification. Some towing companies, including AMA members, support the changes and stress the need for public awareness of drivers’ rights at accident scenes.
