What's Happening?
It was a busy week in Canadian politics. Here's what you need to know:
Alberta
- π Strike Standoff: As Alberta's teachers' strike enters its second week, Finance Minister Nate Horner says the province will consider back-to-work legislation if job action continues when the legislature reconvenes. Talks resumed Tuesday, with Horner saying the union's latest proposal would add about $2 billion beyond the government's budget, while the ATA maintains its offer includes a phased plan to improve student-teacher ratios and address classroom complexity.
- π Public Poll: An Angus Reid poll found 58 per cent of Albertans sympathize with striking teachers, while only 21 per cent support the provincial government's stance. Support split along party lines, with 89 per cent of NDP voters backing teachers, while UCP voters are divided, with 40 per cent siding with the government, 28 per cent with teachers, and 28 per cent neutral.
- π Procurement Probe: Alberta has received the long-awaited third-party report by former judge Raymond Wyant into alleged corruption involving provincial health contracts, sparked by a wrongful dismissal suit from former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. The report, expected to be publicly released in the coming days, examines potential conflicts of interest in multimillion-dollar medication and private surgery deals, while separate RCMP and auditor general investigations remain ongoing.
- π€ Mayoral Showdowns: With the October 20 Alberta municipal elections just days away, the races in both Calgary and Edmonton remain wide open, and voter uncertainty is high.
- π Calgary: A Janet Brown poll (October 1β8) shows Jeromy Farkas leading with 27 per cent, while incumbent Jyoti Gondek and Sonya Sharp are tied at 23 per cent, followed by Jeff Davison (16 per cent) and Brian Thiessen (eight per cent).
- π Edmonton: Andrew Knack is leading with 41 per cent among decided and leaning voters, followed by Tim Cartmell at 21 per cent. Omar Mohammad and Michael Walters each sit at 10 per cent, with Rahim Jaffer (seven per cent) and Tony Caterina (six per cent) rounding out the field.
- βοΈ Ministerial Mandates: Premier Danielle Smith has issued new mandate letters directing Ministers Nate Horner, Nathan Neudorf, Nate Glubish, and Dale Nally to focus on affordability, fiscal discipline, and innovation. Priorities include keeping spending growth below inflation and population, growing the Heritage Fund to $35 billion by 2027, fighting the federal Clean Electricity Regulation, fast-tracking AI data centre projects, and reducing red tape across government.
- π₯ Lead the Way: Alberta has released the Lead the Way β What We Heard report, capturing feedback from more than 2,000 Albertans and front-line health workers on how to build a more responsive, community-focused health system. The consultations, held from January to May 2025, emphasized faster access to care, stronger prevention, workforce support, and greater transparency as the province refocuses its health system.
- π Strong and Free: Alberta has launched a provincewide vote from October 15 to November 5 to choose its first new licence plate design in more than 40 years. The new plate will feature a "Strong and Free" theme, echoing the province's Latin motto, with the winning design to be revealed during the fall legislative session and the plates hitting the roads in late 2026.
π£ Alberta Municipal Elections: What You Need to Know
- ποΈ Election Day: Monday, October 20, 2025
- Calgary: Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. β Find your polling station.
- Edmonton: Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. β Find your polling station.
- β Who Can Vote
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old on Election Day.
- Citizenship: You must be a Canadian citizen.
- Residency: You must be a resident of the municipality where you are voting for at least six consecutive months before Election Day.
- Voter registration: Your name must appear on the municipality's permanent electors register.
- Not on the register? You can still vote! Register at your polling station during Advance Vote or on Election Day using acceptable ID.
- π‘ FYI: Voters are allowed three consecutive non-work hours to vote on Election Day, and if their schedule doesn't permit it, employers must provide paid time off.
- π Stay Updated: Follow us on social media or become a member to access our upcoming post-election, member-exclusive webinar with results analysis and insights from Calgary, Edmonton, and across Alberta.
π½οΈ ICYMI: 2025 Alberta Local Elections Primer
Check out our 2025 Alberta Local Elections Primer Webinar for a comprehensive rundown of everything you need to know ahead of Election Day. π
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Canada
- π Bail Bill: Prime Minister Carney announced that the federal government will be introducing new bail reform legislation next week, targeting violent and repeat offenders, including measures such as reverse-onus bail and consecutive sentencing. Additionally, Budget 2025, to be tabled on November 4, will include a $1.8 billion investment over four years to increase federal policing capacity.
- ποΈ Housing Happenings: Toronto's Downsview lands will be the site of the first project under the federal Build Canada Homes program, backed by $425 million in city funding and $280 million from the federal government to expand infrastructure. The project will include 540 modular homes, at least 40 per cent affordable, with studios and one- to three-bedroom units, and upgrades to the Black Creek Trunk Sewer.
- π CanadaβIndia Roadmap: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with Indian officials on Monday, where both countries agreed to a roadmap to revive ties two years after their diplomatic rupture. The plan includes (1) launching ministerial-level talks on trade and investment; (2) expanding co-operation in agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy; (3) improving supply chain resilience and strategic stability; and (4) fostering renewed diplomatic and law-enforcement collaboration.
Why it Matters.
Let's unpack the details of what happened this week and why it matters.