Alberta Proud

A new analysis from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute lays out a clear idea: Alberta's path to greater power doesn't begin with separation. It begins by using the constitutional powers the province already has. The paper, How the West Wins, authored by Alberta energy leader Michael Binnion, makes a straightforward case. Canada's constitution already gives provinces real authority over taxation, pensions, policing, immigration, and resources. The task is turning that authority into real capacity for responsible self-government. Alberta doesn't get stronger by waiting for Ottawa to grant it influence. It gets stronger by governing well, proving it can, and negotiating from a position of strength, the way Quebec has done for years. With Albertans set to vote on change or keeping the status quo this October, the question has rarely been more timely. Read the paper at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute: macdonaldlaurier.ca/how-the-… What could a stronger, more self-governing Alberta mean for the whole country? Tell us below.

Albertans are set to pay a staggering amount towards Ottawa's debt this year, and it’s not for new programs or services. Federal interest costs have reached $58.7 billion, now consuming 90 percent of Ottawa's $65.3 billion deficit, according to the latest Parliamentary Budget Officer figures. This comes as Canada has seen the largest percentage-point increase in gross government debt of any G7 country since 2014. Hub contributor Charles Lammam argues that despite the government emphasizing higher revenues and an early operating balance ahead of the November 5 budget, federal debt continues to grow. This means rising debt-servicing charges are making the true deficit significantly higher than what headline numbers suggest, directly impacting how taxpayer dollars are being spent. When most of the federal deficit goes to debt interest, what’s left for actual services for Canadians?

Alberta's heavy oil is facing its widest discount in years, even as global prices surge, and there's a clear reason we're missing out. As of Tuesday, Western Canadian Select's (WCS) discount to the US benchmark widened to US$31 a barrel in Alberta, the largest gap since 2022. This discount also reached US$23.50 a barrel on the US Gulf Coast, marking its widest point since 2018, according to Link Data Services. While global prices for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude climbed over US$104 and US$117 a barrel due to Middle East conflicts, Alberta's WCS has remained below US$70 a barrel since June. With 90% of Canadian oil exports going to the US and shipping disruptions impacting Gulf Coast routes, Alberta urgently needs diversified international market access. As Alberta and Ottawa back the Pacific Link pipeline, how long should the province wait to fully connect its oil to the global market?

Failing to approve Calgary's police budget could have 'major impacts' on the safety of every Calgarian, warns Chief Katie McLellan. Chief McLellan is seeking a substantial budget increase for the Calgary Police Service over the next four years. Her plan includes hiring 309 new officers and 214 additional civilian employees by 2030. This also involves boosting the annual operating budget 19 percent, from $684.5 million in 2026 to $816.7 million by 2030. She also requests $191.9 million in capital spending, a 73 percent increase. McLellan states that without full funding, officer response will be further limited, worsening public safety outcomes given rising shootings, fatal collisions, and mental health calls in Alberta's largest city. With the Chief stating they need double the officers requested, how will Calgary ensure public safety without sufficient funding?

An opportunity to export 250,000 barrels of Alberta oil daily is blocked by a federal tanker ban. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are backing MP David McKenzie’s Bill C-264 to repeal the federal tanker ban. This bill targets the ban along British Columbia’s northern coast, which prevents the export of 250,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily. Poilievre urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap the ban ahead of an upcoming vote. Calgary-based Strathcona Resources proposes shipping this oil by rail to Prince Rupert for overseas export, potentially within two years, using existing infrastructure. Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, pledged in July to maintain the tanker ban under a B.C. agreement. MP McKenzie challenged the government on October 26, arguing Strathcona could export immediately if the ban were lifted. Why does Ottawa continue to block Alberta's energy export potential, especially when it pays their bills?

One new study reveals something shocking about Canadian home prices, but it's not the same for everyone. A new Fraser Institute study, spanning 33 Canadian cities from 2018 to 2025, compared new single-detached home sale prices to their construction permit values. Metro Vancouver recorded the largest gap, with homes selling for an average of 367.4 percent more than build cost. In 2025 alone, a Vancouver home sold for about $3.15 million, while its permit value was roughly $608,000. Alberta cities offer significantly better affordability. Calgary's average gap was 93.5 percent and Edmonton's was 94.2 percent, showing new homes sold for less than double their construction value, compared to Toronto's 96.6 percent. Lethbridge had one of the smallest national gaps at 11.1 percent, meaning new homes sold much closer to their build price. This highlights Alberta's advantage in managing housing costs. When other major cities see new homes selling for nearly double their build cost, what does Alberta's relative affordability mean for our future?

Is DEI a dying trend? Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is moving to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices across much of the public sector, saying taxpayer-funded jobs should be awarded on merit, not identity. Bill 33 (introduced Tuesday by Justice Minister Mickey Amery) would prohibit public agencies, Crown corporations, universities, colleges, school boards and municipalities from having DEI policies in place for hiring and promotion. “Albertans expect public institutions to hire and promote the best qualified people and ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed based on their skills, experience and qualifications,” Smith told reporters in Edmonton. “These changes will help to ensure that fairness is at the heart of hiring.” It looks like hiring based on skill and fit for the job making a comeback in Canada.

Beloved British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, widely known for his performances as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, has sadly passed away at 86.

Alberta is home to hundreds of thousands of people who came here from somewhere else to build a life, and a new national poll suggests they may see immigration most clearly of all. In the Environics Institute’s 2026 survey, it was first-generation immigrants and racialized Canadians who agreed most that too many immigrants aren’t adopting Canadian values: 63% of first-generation Canadians and 60% of racialized Canadians, compared with 57% of white Canadians. The pattern held on the refugee system too, where 57% of first-generation and 54% of racialized Canadians said they believe many refugee claimants are not genuine, more than Canadians whose families have been here for generations. It’s a reminder that wanting immigration to work, with real integration is a reasonable person's position. Do you think newcomers see this more clearly than most? Tell us below.

A critical federal policy is currently blocking Alberta's oil from reaching global markets, and two key leaders are pushing to change it. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are calling on the federal government to repeal the oil tanker ban off northern British Columbia. Both leaders issued statements Monday in support of Conservative MP David McKenzie's Bill C-264, which aims to repeal the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act and is set for debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, October 28. This move comes after a Bloomberg report highlighted Strathcona Resources' proposal to ship 250,000 barrels of Canadian oil per day by rail to Prince Rupert, B.C., for export across the Pacific. The existing ban prevents large oil tankers from loading crude at northern B.C. ports, effectively blocking this route and causing Alberta oil to sell at a significant discount to the United States. Smith stressed the need for additional pipelines and export terminals to lessen Canada's reliance on American refineries. How much longer should federal policy hinder Alberta from accessing world markets for its energy?

Small businesses in Alberta have applied for federal tariff relief, but their files have been gathering dust in Ottawa for a surprising reason. Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), told the House of Commons foreign affairs committee on Wednesday that remission files from his members have gone untouched in Ottawa for a year. University of Calgary economist Dr. Trevor Tombe added that Canada's counter-tariffs haven't changed Washington's course, leaving firms to bear the cost. Kelly's central complaint was that almost all Government of Canada programs require a minimum of $1 million in sales, excluding the smallest businesses from support. He called this 'deeply unfair,' noting only the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency avoids this threshold. Kelly urged Minister Joly to change the policy for firms across Alberta. When federal programs meant to help small Alberta businesses are inaccessible, how much longer can they afford to wait for relief?

Remesie Uy was last seen at her Calgary home on the night of April 5, 2022, and no one has seen or heard from her since. Police think she may have travelled to the Edmonton area. Her missing persons listing gives her age as 21, and she is 5'2" and about 110 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. If you know anything, contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or Edmonton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a tip online. Have you seen Remesie?

Jason Kenney, who served five years as Canada’s immigration minister, says something that cuts against the usual narrative. The tougher immigration and asylum reforms he brought in were, he says, consistently supported by immigrants more than by Canadian-born citizens, even as leftists branded them racist. A new Environics Institute poll suggests he has a point. It found that first-generation immigrants and racialized Canadians are among the most likely to say too many newcomers aren’t adopting Canadian values, and the most skeptical that every refugee claim is genuine, more so than Canadians whose families have been here for generations. The takeaway is simple. Wanting an immigration system that works, with real integration and honest rules, isn’t anti-immigrant. Often it’s the immigrants themselves asking for it. Can Canadians have a serious conversation about immigration without it being considered racism? Tell us below.

Alberta has scored another victory against federal interference, as the 'No More Pipelines' law has been declared unconstitutional for crucial reasons that impact the province's future. Bill C-69, introduced in 2019, governs federal environmental assessments for major resource projects like pipelines. The Alberta Court of Appeal first declared it unconstitutional in 2022, with the Supreme Court of Canada largely agreeing in 2023 by rejecting its 'designated projects' scheme. In Friday's ruling, the Alberta Court of Appeal found Ottawa's 2024 amendments still allowed the federal government to use limited interests to regulate entire provincial projects, exceeding its constitutional authority. The court also rejected attempts to justify broader regulation via federal responsibilities towards Indigenous peoples. Premier Danielle Smith urged the Federal Government to accept this ruling and work with provinces to fix the 'flawed Trudeau-era legislation' that 'inhibits economic development in our country.' When will the federal government finally respect Alberta’s jurisdiction and stop hindering our vital energy projects?

Do Albertans actually want a new country?

Despite voting to stay, a deep anger still simmers in Alberta, according to Preston Manning. Preston Manning, former Calgary MP and founder of the Reform Party, says it is a "huge mistake" to assume Alberta's recent referendum vote signals contentment. Albertans voted on October 19, with preliminary results showing a 75-25 split against secession, yet Manning warns that the underlying issues prompting the vote remain unsolved. Manning emphasizes that federal intrusion in areas like natural resources, health, and civil rights is fueling this angst, leaving the question "remain and do what?" unanswered for many. He urges Premier Danielle Smith to define what building a strong, sovereign province means by asserting provincial jurisdiction in key areas like agriculture and environment to address these unresolved grievances. With daily costs rising, how much longer can Alberta afford federal overreach that limits our ability to act?

Starting in January, new regulations will dictate exactly which flags can be displayed at Alberta schools, with some notable exceptions. The Alberta government's new Flag Display Regulation, taking effect on January 4, will make the Alberta and Canada flags mandatory outside all school buildings during the school year. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated these rules aim to keep learning environments focused on student success, prohibiting flags that primarily advance a social or political cause. Minister Nicolaides emphasized that the change ensures students are allowed to form their own opinions on controversial topics, free from political messaging in the classroom. While the Franco-Albertan flag, civic, municipal, and Royal Union Flags can fly on specified days, and First Nations, Métis Settlement, and foreign national flags are permitted indoors during official events, any exemption requests for other flags cannot be used to advance social or political causes. Do rules that keep political causes out of the classroom truly help students develop their own opinions and a strong civic identity?

The recent shift in eastern Canadian energy policy, with provinces now exploring resources they once banned, highlights a simple truth Alberta has championed for over a century. After years of policies that halted resource development, provinces like Quebec and Nova Scotia are now looking at their own fossil fuel potential. This movement reflects a growing national understanding that secure, local energy supply is crucial for economic stability and meeting provincial needs. Here in Alberta, we have always known the importance of responsible energy development. For generations, our resources have powered homes, created good-paying jobs for Albertans, and contributed reliably to Canada's energy security and global demand. It’s a foundational part of our economy and our identity. That simple truth is that locally developed energy fuels prosperity and security for everyone. How do you see Alberta continuing to lead Canada's energy future?

Canada's approach to immigration has seen a dramatic shift, with annual numbers now more than double what they were just a few years ago. Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the average annual immigration rose to 1.4 million between 2016 and 2024. This figure is considerably higher than the 617,800 averaged each year from 2000 to 2015, leading to impacts felt by people and provincial governments across the country. The significant increase has led to discussions about how to sustain such growth, with the Indian High Commissioner even suggesting Canada needs another 15 million newcomers. Concerns about these rapid changes were evident in Alberta's recent referendum, where immigration was a key question for many in our province. With such unprecedented growth, what is the plan to ensure Canada's communities, including ours in Alberta, remain safe and affordable when bringing in new immigrants?

A new study reveals Albertans are set to send $900 billion more to Ottawa than they get back over the next 25 years, raising questions about where that money could be going here at home. New research from Lennie Kaplan projects that Albertans will contribute an estimated $900 billion more to Ottawa than they receive in federal spending over the next 25 years, from 2027 to 2052. This massive outflow averages out to $35.8 billion annually, or $5,721 per Albertan each year, under a medium-growth scenario. This significant contribution represents the difference between federal taxes collected from Albertan incomes and corporate profits, and what the federal government spends back here. Under a high-growth scenario, this could hit $1.3 trillion, while low-growth still projects $531 billion by 2052. This wealth leaves Alberta because federal revenues track our rising incomes, while federal spending in the province tracks population and other factors. With such vast sums leaving the province, how can Albertans truly get ahead when facing rising daily costs?

Despite voting to stay, a deep anger still simmers in Alberta, according to Preston Manning. Preston Manning, former Calgary MP and founder of the Reform Party, says it is a "huge mistake" to assume Alberta's recent referendum vote signals contentment. Albertans voted on October 19, with preliminary results showing a 75-25 split against secession, yet Manning warns that the underlying issues prompting the vote remain unsolved. Manning emphasizes that federal intrusion in areas like natural resources, health, and civil rights is fueling this angst, leaving the question "remain and do what?" unanswered for many. He urges Premier Danielle Smith to define what building a strong, sovereign province means by asserting provincial jurisdiction in key areas like agriculture and environment to address these unresolved grievances. With daily costs rising, how much longer can Alberta afford federal overreach that limits our ability to act?