THE CANADIAN PRESS/James Maclennan
O Canada, Alberta is staying put.
In a historic referendum Monday that capped a long debate over separation, voters on both sides overwhelmingly marked their ballots to remain in the country that made Alberta a province 121 years ago.
In early returns, about 76 per cent of Albertans said yes to Confederation, while 24 per cent said they wanted the province to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving.
Both Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney lauded the result in statements on social media.
Smith said she would give a TV address Tuesday night to detail where the province goes from here.
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A young woman pays respects to the victims of a fire that killed four soldiers at CFB Wainwright, at the Memorial Clock Tower on Main Street, in Wainwright, Alta., on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Wainwright, Alta., residents grieving but resilient after tragic fire on army base
Residents of a central Alberta town are grieving but stoic after a vicious fire killed four soldiers and wounded dozens more at a nearby military base.
Living alongside soldiers preparing for battle, they say, has built up a deep stoicism and resilience in Wainwright, southeast of Edmonton.
Sharon Pashko says Saturday's tragedy at CFB Wainwright — one of Canada's busiest military bases — is heartbreaking, but that the town will bounce back.
Defence officials have said 84 members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were in a training area of the base when strong and sudden winds sent flames from a nearby grass fire barrelling toward soldiers at lightning speed, sending 39 to hospital.
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Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon prepare to appear before the Legislative Committee on Bill C-39 in the Parliamentary Precinct in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Federal ministers defend major projects bill at House committee meeting
Four federal ministers defended the government's contentious legislation to speed up major projects in the House of Commons on Monday, as Ottawa continues to face criticism from Indigenous, environment and labour groups.
The 243-page bill would fast-track approvals for major projects, cut their review times and create zones of "national interest" to pre-approve certain types of projects.
Labour leaders and union members gathered across Canada last week to protest Bill C-39, arguing the legislation would undermine workers' right to strike, as it proposes changes to the Canada Labour Code.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday the bill strengthens the right to strike by removing the ability to use Section 107 before a labour disruption, adding that "Protecting workers and protecting the national interest go hand in hand."
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People arrive for advance voting at Stelly's Secondary School in Saanichton, B.C., on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Advance voting in B.C. election is down compared to 2024
The number of ballots cast in the first three days of advance voting in the British Columbia election is down about 8 per cent compared to 2024.
Elections BC says there were about 440,000 votes cast from Friday to Sunday, compared to almost 480,000 in the first three days of advance voting last election, which set a record for total advance turnout.
Early voting continues at hundreds of places across the province today and tomorrow until 8 p.m. ahead of final voting day on Saturday.
There were more than one million advance ballots cast in 2024, a surge of 49 per cent compared to the previous election, and a report by the chief electoral officer says the process has been steadily increasing in popularity for two decades.
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A car burns at Republique square during a protest against rising living costs, joining students' grievances, in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Paris police issue overnight curfew in 2 areas of French capital to try to prevent further disorder
Paris police issued an overnight curfew in two areas of the French capital “to protect people and property from the violence and looting.”
The statement on Monday said that the orders ban gatherings and demonstrations and impose a curfew prohibiting anyone from entering or remaining around the Place de la République, where rioting took place Saturday.
The shopping neighbourhood of Les Halles, which has been subject to looting, has also been included in the curfew.
The curfew was in effect from 11 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Clodelle répond aux commentaires concernant les circonstances du décès de Karim Ouellet
« On a été une bonne gang à ne pas dormir, être inquiets… »
Dans les derniers jours, plusieurs personnalités publiques ont partagé un lien où leurs abonné.es peuvent leur poser des questions de façon anonyme. La chanteuse et candidate d'OD Dans L'Ouest, Clodelle, a participé au mouvement et a répondu à une question liée aux commentaires qui circulent concernant le décès de Karim Ouellet.
C'est le 17 janvier 2022 que le chanteur de 37 ans a été retrouvé sans vie dans son studio de musique à Québec. Quelques mois plus tard, soit le 22 juin, le rapport d'investigation du coroner est sorti, révélant les circonstances du décès.
« Le décès serait survenu le 15 novembre 2021 », peut-on lire dans le document suite aux résultats obtenus lors du l'autopsie du 19 janvier. La perte de Karim aurait donc été découverte deux mois après son départ, ce qui a suscité plusieurs questionnements chez les fans de l'artiste.
C'est donc lors de la séance de questions et réponses publiée en stories sur son profil Instagram que Clodelle a reçu un message au sujet de ces événements :
« En fait, je ne comprends pas... Tu dis que c'était ton meilleur ami, mais pourquoi n'as-tu pas pris de nouvelles de lui avant qu'il soit retrouvé? Il n'y a aucun jugement dans ma question, seulement beaucoup d'incompréhension [...]. »
Sans trop vouloir entrer dans les détails, la chanteuse a alors répondu que ce genre de propos la dérange :
« Je vais juste frôler le sujet par respect de Karim et sa famille, mais notre ami était malade. Il avait par moments des difficultés à accepter sa maladie et par moment, même prendre soin de lui-même. C'était quelqu'un qui était très fier et très discret.
« Pas longtemps avant sa mort, il a coupé les ponts avec tout son entourage, par choix. Quand je dis tout, c'est tout. On a été une bonne gang à ne pas dormir, être inquiets, se sentir démunis et tristes de ne pas avoir de nouvelles... », a ajouté Clodelle.
Elle a ensuite remercié les gens de conserver leurs jugements :
« Je sais que nous sommes des personnalités publiques, mais on traverse des difficultés aussi et c'est correct de ne pas vouloir tout partager et médiatiser. »
Suite à son départ, plusieurs vedettes québécoises ont tenu à rendre hommage au chanteur à travers différents textes et images. Clodelle a d'ailleurs participé au spectacle hommage Bye Bye Bye Karim le 12 juin dernier aux Francos de Montréal, aux côtés d'artistes tel.les que Ariane Moffatt, Hubert Lenoir, Claude Bégin et le groupe Alaclair Ensemble.