Monday, July 20: Elections Alberta announces that, effective today, Albertans can apply to vote by mail in the October 19 referendum. Mail-in ballots can be ordered using a form at specialballot.elections.ab.ca or by emailing info@elections.ab.ca.
Read more: Should We Be Able to Vote Online?
Tuesday, July 21: Premier Danielle Smith joins eight other premiers in signing an agreement to implement direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, allowing Canadians (excluding retailers and resellers) to order directly from producers.
Read more: Protecting the Local
Wednesday, July 22: The Alberta government, through an Order in Council, reclassifies preventative health testing as “non-insured extended health services.”
Read more: Why Can’t You Get a Family Doctor?
Friday, July 24: Friends of Medicare issues a statement responding to the reclassification of preventative health testing: “The majority of Canadians believe that everyone deserves timely access to quality public health care when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay. Yet Alberta’s government seems intent on ignoring those voices, while doubling-down on failed privatization, bolstering a private insurance industry and constructing more barriers to access…”
Read more: Should We Allow More Private Healthcare?
July 24: Elections Alberta announces that separatists have collected enough valid signatures for their “A Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence” citizen initiative petition. The agency says an estimated 7.5 per cent of the province’s population signed the petition.
Read more: Forever Canadian
The Week in Alberta is updated weekdays by 4:30pm MT.
