Monday, November 2: Over the weekend, Justice Minister Mickey Amery released a letter saying his government has no intention of changing the date of the provincial election currently scheduled for October 18, 2027. The letter is a response to Elections Alberta’s request to either delay the next election or keep the current electoral boundaries, since new boundaries will add significant complications to administering the 2027 election.
Read more: Know Your Boundaries
Tuesday, November 3: Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall tables Bill 38, the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act. The bill would “set minimum requirements for institutional neutrality and freedom of expression policies at post-secondary and independent academic institutions,” including barring schools from making statements on political, social and ideological issues “outside of their academic mission.”
Read more: Whatsoever Things Get You a Job
Wednesday, November 4: The government, after one hour of legislative debate, approves new riding boundaries that would see significant changes, especially in Calgary and Lethbridge. Analysts say the new electoral map will benefit the UCP in the next election; critics call it blatant gerrymandering.
Read more: A Violation of Norms
November 4: A ThinkHQ Public Affairs poll shows Premier Danielle Smith’s approval rating at 39% and Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi’s at 44%. Pollster Marc Henry suggests “if the election was tomorrow, they (the UCP) would lose.”
Read more: The Politics of Polling
Thursday, November 5: In response to the 2026-27 federal budget, Alberta Minister of Finance Jason Nixon says “after a decade of destructive governance in Ottawa, our work to repair Alberta’s relationship with the federal government over the past year is paying off… we stand ready to continue working with Ottawa to deliver lasting economic strength for all Canadians.”
Read more: Devastated Crown Land
Friday, November 6: Elections Alberta reveals that the province-wide October referendum cost $84-million. The 2023 provincial election is estimated to have cost $37-million.
The Week in Alberta is updated weekdays by 4:30pm MT.
