Monday, October 26: The Globe and Mail’s Carrie Tait and Tom Cardoso report that the RCMP is investigating fraud, breach of trust and money laundering with respect to the ongoing “CorruptCare” AHS procurement scandal.
Read more: The Hidden Connections in the Skybox Photo
October 26: MLA Shane Getson (UCP), representing Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, resigns his seat. This follows an announcement by Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan (UCP) that he won’t seek re-election.
Read more: Operation Total Recall
Tuesday, October 27: Justice Minister Mickey Amery tables Bill 33, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, which seeks to scrap “DEI hiring practices” by amending the Alberta Human Rights Act. A statement from the government says “hiring and promotion decisions in public institutions [sh]ould be based on merit… rather than personal characteristics.” Critics of Bill 33 say DEI practices simply create checks and balances to protect people against discrimination.
Read more: Whitewashing History
Thursday, October 22: The province rolls out new rules for schools, requiring Canada’s and Alberta’s flags to be flown outside schools all year. Other flags may be displayed inside schools only if “directly related to the instruction of a course or program prescribed or approved under the Education Act.” The restrictions take effect January 4, 2027.
Read more: Why Gay-Straight Alliances are Essential
Wednesday October 28: Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi accuses the UCP government of gerrymandering—creating new riding boundaries to benefit the UCP—ahead of next year’s election. A new electoral boundaries report, created by a UCP-MLA-dominated committee, is expected to be tabled in the legislature on Monday.00% of polls having reported,Elections Alberta says 75% of voters selected “Alberta should remain a province of Canada.” Voters opted narrowly to limit immigration and tighten voting ID requirements, and rejected the four questions dealing with constitutional issues.
Read more: The Mapmakers
October 28: The CBC reports that the UCP government plans to pursue its own dental and drug benefit programs and opt out of the Canadian Dental Care Plan and national pharmacare. The news comes a week after the province-wide referendum saw 57 per cent of voters reject a question relating to the province amending the Constitution so that it could continue to receive federal funding but use it for its own programs.
Read more: The Gap
Thursday, October 29: News circulates that Acute Care Alberta (ACA) has laid off eight senior managers. ACA’s interim CEO won’t confirm the positions and departments affected.
Read more: A Violation of Norms
Friday, October 30: The Calgary Sun’s Rick Bell reports that Finance Minister Jason Nixon has told him the government will bring in an education property tax break equivalent to “just shy of $100-million.”
Read more: Should Alberta Have Higher Taxes?
October 30: Starting November 1, Alberta will move to permanent daylight time, or Alberta Time (ABT). The move comes five years after Albertans voted in a referendum to reject a permanent move to daylight saving time.
The Week in Alberta is updated weekdays by 4:30pm MT.
