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Nearly 175K referendum votes cast on first day of advance polling: Elections Alberta
Nearly 175K votes cast on Day 1 of advance polls
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The first day of advance voting is in the books in Alberta’s separation referendum — and the numbers suggest voter interest remains very high.
Elections Alberta says close to 175,000 voters trekked to the polls on the first day of advance voting on Tuesday, with the official polling day set for Monday.
A spokesperson for the agency says that's higher than the daily average of nearly 152,000 people seen during the advance voting period in the 2023 provincial election.
Michelle Gurney says a few polling stations stayed open late to accommodate the people in line, including one that was open until 11 p.m., three hours after it was supposed to close.
Elections Alberta has said it's expecting record voter turnout for Premier Danielle Smith's 10-question referendum, which includes one on whether the province should hold a second, binding vote on separating from Canada.
The province saw unprecedented interest in mail-in ballot requests last month, and the agency says two-thirds of the roughly 658,000 special ballots requested have now been returned.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.
By Jack Farrell | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Chiefs of Ontario, NAN demand withdrawal of Bill C-39
The bill would set a one-year deadline for certain federal project decisions.
The Chiefs of Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and several regional Indigenous leaders want Ottawa to withdraw its major projects bill, saying faster approvals could leave communities without enough time to examine what development would mean for their lands and waters.
COO and NAN are being joined by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations in rejecting Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, as outlined in an Oct. 8 joint statement.
“This government is writing legislation about our lands and our future without us at the table,” NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said.
Introduced Sept. 21, the bill would set a one-year deadline for certain federal project decisions once proponents provide the required information and studies. It would also let Ottawa designate regions of national interest, giving certain projects in those areas access to a streamlined approval framework.
The federal government says the legislation would reduce duplication, speed up reviews and give investors more certainty. Ottawa also says it would continue to meet its duty to consult, treaty obligations and commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP).
The First Nations organizations say communities need time to study potential impacts, hear from their citizens and obtain technical and legal advice. They argue federal deadlines must allow that work to happen.
Their concerns also extend to environmental safeguards and designating entire regions for development. They say a regional designation cannot be treated as consent from every First Nation whose territory could be affected.
The bill would shift responsibility for some assessments to federal energy and nuclear regulators. It also proposes changes to laws governing fisheries, species at risk and navigable waters, alongside transportation and labour provisions.
MPs voted 296 to 26 on Oct. 8 to send the bill to a legislative committee after second reading. It has not become law. The Senate also authorized a study of the bill’s subject matter before receiving it from the Commons.
The organizations criticized the pace of parliamentary review. They said they support jobs and sustainable development but warned that proceeding without meaningful First Nations involvement could lead to conflict and litigation rather than the certainty Ottawa is seeking.
Copyright 2026, Kenora Miner & News. All rights reserved.
Pam Fedack, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kenora Miner & News.
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Quebec Court of Appeal hears case on granting tenants the right to have pets
Quebec Court of Appeal hears case on pet clauses
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
The Quebec Court of Appeal is hearing arguments on whether the right to have pets should be protected by law.
Last March, housing tribunal Judge Suzanne Guèvremont ruled that lease clauses banning pets violate Charter rights to liberty and privacy.
Guèvremont also argued in her decision that the evolution of animal protection laws, which recognize the bond between humans and their pets, required case law to evolve as well.
Amilis, the company that owns the building in which the complainant lives, appealed the decision.
The company's lawyer, Damarys Pineda, argued Wednesday morning that the judge had gone beyond her authority by acting as a substitute for the legislature, which is responsible for pet clauses.
Arguments presented by the attorneys for M Desjardins, the complainant, and the Montreal SPCA, which is supporting the case, were scheduled to be heard Wednesday afternoon.
By Pierre Saint-Arnaud | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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A Toronto Student Was Charged For Making Racist Comments During An Online Class
One online class had a turn for the worse. A Markham high school student has just been charged after making hateful comments during a virtual learning session.
According to police, the 18-year-old reportedly made multiple "anti-Black comments" during the lesson.
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During the video lesson, an unknown student made several anti-Black comments.
York Regional Police
The incident, which took place on April 15, 2020, got so out of hand that the instructor was forced to stop the class.
"York Regional Police does not tolerate hate crime in any form," stated police.
Tristan Stronach now faces one count of indecent communication.
Anyone with information on the case is being asked to contact the York Regional Police.