An Alberta judge has decided to proceed with a review of whether a proposed referendum question on the province’s separation from Canada is constitutional. The question, submitted by the Alberta Prosperity Project, asks if Alberta should become a sovereign country and cease to be a province, but Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer referred it to the court over potential constitutional and treaty rights violations. Justice Colin Feasby ruled that an early legal review was necessary to ensure clarity and legality before any vote. The court has appointed constitutional experts as “friends of the court” and will prioritize evidence from Indigenous groups on how treaty rights might be affected. Alberta’s Justice Minister and Premier Danielle Smith oppose the referral, saying the question should only face judicial scrutiny after a referendum result. The court will hear written arguments in the fall, with a decision expected before the end of 2025. A competing petition to keep Alberta in Canada is already collecting signatures.
China has imposed a 75.8% anti-dumping tariff on Canadian canola, a move Alberta farmers warn could severely damage the industry. Alberta produces about one-third of Canada’s canola exports, and the province’s agriculture minister says the tariffs - retaliation for Canadian duties on Chinese goods - could cut producers out of one of their top markets. Existing Chinese tariffs of 100% already apply to canola oil, oil cake, and peas. Alberta officials and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission are urging Ottawa to engage in urgent negotiations with China to restore market access. Farmers say the announcement immediately dropped canola prices by about $1 per bushel, potentially erasing 7% of their income overnight. China is Canada’s second-largest canola buyer, while the US remains the largest.
Alberta is set to open its first involuntary drug treatment centre near Calgary’s Royal Oak neighbourhood, adjacent to the Calgary Remand Centre and the forensic psychiatry centre. The facility, part of the UCP’s Compassionate Intervention Plan, will allow family, doctors, or police to mandate treatment for individuals with severe addictions. The 150-bed centre will provide detox and therapy services and is expected to open in 2029 through a public-private partnership. Plans for involuntary treatment, introduced with Bill 53 in April, are intended as a last resort for those deemed a harm to themselves or others. Individuals of sound mind will retain the right to choose their own treatment, while the bill permits secure care for up to three months and community care for six months. Similar centres are planned for Edmonton, with the Province committing to at least 11 addiction treatment facilities across Alberta.
The Alberta government is launching a short-term campaign aimed at curbing stunt driving and excessive speeding, following a rise in fatal crashes in Edmonton this year. The initiative comes after provincial rules restricted photo radar use to school, playground, and construction zones, a move critics say reduced enforcement capacity. Edmonton City Councillor Michael Janz argues the campaign focuses too much on advertising and not enough on on-the-ground enforcement, accusing the Province of playing politics. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says the effort will target known speeding hotspots, identified through cooperation with law enforcement and public reports. Dreeshen says physical enforcement on major roads will complement the campaign, which will run for two to three weeks before being assessed for results.
Residents of southern Alberta’s County of Warner will lose access next July to Border Road, a Montana highway they have used freely for decades without passing through an official border crossing. The US decision is part of heightened Canada-US border security measures, which Alberta has also bolstered with new patrol teams and surveillance. Local leaders say the closure will end a long-standing cross-border partnership in which Montana supplied gravel and Alberta maintained the road. Many residents argue the change is unnecessary and will duplicate infrastructure, as a new gravel road will now be built on the Canadian side. Alberta’s Transportation Minister says the Province is fast-tracking the design, with construction expected to start later this year or early 2026. While some residents remain frustrated, Warner’s Reeve believes the new road will eventually be accepted and could improve coordination between law enforcement agencies. US officials say the closure is about national security and controlling what enters and exits the country outside official ports of entry.
The Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) plans to withdraw from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) by July 1st, 2026, citing long-standing concerns about governance and fiscal transparency. ABP, which contributes over half of the CCA’s national funding, says its calls for an independent review of the organization’s governance have gone unanswered. The dispute centers on representation, with Alberta holding less than 30% of board seats despite providing the majority of funding. CCA president Tyler Fulton expressed surprise and disappointment, noting the withdrawal would immediately cut the organization’s resources in half, but remains hopeful a deal can be reached. Both sides acknowledge the complexity of changing the national structure, as any adjustment would affect all nine member provinces. The ABP emphasized the need to ensure Alberta ranchers’ money is used efficiently and aligned with their priorities. While the current agreement remains in place until June 2026, the ABP says it will continue financial contributions during ongoing talks. Both parties say there is still time to negotiate a resolution before the split takes effect.
