Rallies planned in final weekend before Alberta separation referendum
It's all over but the rallies in the final weekend before Albertans vote on their place in Confederation.
On Monday, voters go to the polls to decide if Alberta should stay in Canada or if it's time for a second, binding referendum on leaving.
Supporters for and against the topic have events planned, including in Edmonton at the legislature.
It's been a week of last-ditch pleas.
Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up a two-day barnstorming tour of the province to rally the pro-Canada vote.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is also voting to stay in Canada, and says recent joint deals with Ottawa -- such as fast-tracking a new oil pipeline --show that a united country can get things done.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
B.C. votes for mayors and councillors before general election next week
It’s voting day in British Columbia but if you are confused, you're probably not alone.
B.C. residents vote today for their local representatives on councils, school boards and other regional posts, choosing from 3,500 candidates across the province.
But advance voting in the provincial general election is also taking place, continuing until Oct. 21 ahead of final voting day on Oct. 24.
NDP Leader David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years early and in the middle of the planned municipal election period has been denounced by local and opposition politicians.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution at its annual convention last month imploring Eby not to call an election during the local campaign period, but days later he set off the provincial vote.
Cori Ramsay, who was the president of the union at the time of the resolution, said since then that the two elections have caused voter confusion and local campaigns lost staff to provincial candidates.
Many cities and municipalities have nevertheless reported increased or even record turnout at advance polls, including Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Kamloops, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Cranbrook and View Royal, among others.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Crash involving semi-truck, bus and other vehicles closes Highway 99 in Surrey, B.C.
Police say a crash involving a semi-truck and trailer, a bus and several other vehicles has closed Highway 99 in both directions in Surrey, B.C.
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says in an email that the number and types of vehicles involved in the crash have not been confirmed and he did not have information on the type of bus or whether it was carrying any passengers at the time.
Houghton says firefighters and paramedics were at the scene, but he couldn't confirm whether anyone has been seriously injured in the crash.
He says parts of the highway would likely be closed for several hours and police would issue any further significant updates later Friday or on Saturday.
The DriveBC website shows the route is closed between the Highway 91 interchange and King George Boulevard in south Surrey.
The driver information service says drivers should expect major delays, with no estimated timeline for the highway's reopening.
BC Emergency Health Services did not immediately respond to a request for details about its response to the crash Friday evening.
TransLink, Metro Vancouver's transit operator, directed a question about whether one of its buses was involved in the crash to B.C. Highway Patrol, while the Mounties referred a request back to the Surrey Police Service.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.