Monday, August 18: Voters head to the polls today in the Battle River–Crowfoot by-election. Over 200 candidates are running, including Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, who is seeking to return to parliament after losing his Ottawa-area seat in the April 2025 general election.
Read More: Populism in Alberta
Tuesday, August 19: Pierre Poilievre wins the Battle River–Crowfoot federal by-election over 213 other candidates, garnering more than 80% of the vote, and can once again sit in the House of Commons as Official Opposition leader.
Read More: Populism in Alberta
August 19: The UCP government reverses its changes to expense disclosure policy. It had removed the requirement that cabinet and senior staff disclose receipts for expenses over $100, and it removed eight years of reports from a public website. It promises to restore the reports.
Read More: The UCP Want More Control
August 19: In a partial reversal of policy, the UCP government says it will now cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers.
Read More: Should Vaccinations be Mandatory?
Thursday, August 21: A proposal submitted to the 2025 Electoral Boundaries Commission by UCP Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf to reshape Lethbridge ridings is dubbed “textbook gerrymandering” by NDP Lethbridge-West MLA Rob Miyashiro. The proposal would see Lethbridge shift from two all-urban ridings to three or four ridings, each combining urban and rural populations. The commission’s initial report is expected October 28th.
Read More: The Mapmakers
Friday, August 22: The Alberta government provides an update on its fall COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The first phase will be available for free to healthcare workers, certain seniors, home care clients, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions. The second phase will be open to all other Albertans at $100 per dose.
Read More: The Canadian Vaccine Fiasco
