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Albertans split in early returns on remaining 9 referendum questions
Albertans split on other 9 referendum questions
THE CANADIAN PRESS/James Maclennan
While Albertans roundly rejected separation in Monday’s referendum, results were decidedly closer in early returns on nine other questions.
Premier Danielle Smith also polled Albertans on five questions on immigration and four about seeking a mandate to work with other provinces to change the Constitution and wrest more power from Ottawa.
The immigration questions asked whether Alberta should have more say on who comes to the province to work and whether it’s time to put more limitations — and perhaps introduce fees — on some who seek access to health care and education.
Smith has said immigration is a benefit but must be economically sustainable. Critics have called the questions anti-immigrant dog-whistling.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said Monday that not only does Alberta need to move on from separation, it should also ditch the immigration questions.
"Edmontonians are the ones most directly impacted by those five questions, and I don't want our neighbours to feel like they're not welcome in our city," Knack said.
"They are welcome in our city no matter who they are, no matter what they believe in, no matter any of that."
At a polling station in Calgary, voters were split.
Jamie Fisher said she supports all nine. "I don't think it's been fair (to Alberta) for a really long time, and I think a lot of people need to really hear that message," she said.
Amneet Mann characterized some of the questions as anti-immigrant.
"I just don't think that's what this country stands for," she said. "I think it's crazy that we're here and we have to make that known."
The constitutional questions asked Albertans for a blessing to pursue talks with other provinces on gaining control from Ottawa and abolishing the Senate.
Smith said those issues are pressing. Critics have called them posturing.
Smith said she voted to stay in Canada but needed a yes to the nine questions to get a mandate to bargain with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Her government commissioned a $4-million advertising campaign urging Albertans vote yes to the nine.
The nine became a passive-aggressive dance between Smith and Carney as the campaign wound down, with each publicly poking the other in the eye.
Last week, Carney barnstormed the province to rally support for federalists and was mobbed by cheering, back-patting selfie-seekers. On Thursday, he leveraged the opportunity and popularity in Smith’s metaphorical backyard of Calgary to publicly urge Albertans to reject the nine questions.
Smith scrambled to pivot the narrative. A day later, at a joint event in a Red Deer brewery, she pointedly handed Carney her government’s explanatory referendum booklet to get him get up to speed on the nine issues.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
-- With files from Dayne Patterson in Calgary
By Jack Farrell | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Death threats, sexual harassment, sexism — female politicians in Peel, Halton speak out
Harassment affects 63 per cent of surveyed local politicians, with women facing identity-based abuse.
Brampton city councillor Rowena Santos said she has faced sexist treatment and serious threats to her physical safety during her time in office.
And according to several female politicians contacted in Peel and Halton regions — many seeking re-election in the Oct. 26 municipal election — her experience is neither unique nor an aberration.
“A couple of people threatened me and said that I deserve to be raped and killed,” said Santos, one of two female councillors on Brampton council.
The first Filipino person elected to Brampton council, she said her identity has also been a target of criticism. In one instance, a woman baselessly claimed that Santos’ Filipino background meant she was submissive to men and that her electoral success was the result of “sleeping her way to the top.”
2026 numbers from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) show that women account for 32 per cent of municipal candidates (2,103 of 6,663), up from 31 per cent (1,931 of 6,306) in 2022. This represents an increase of 172 female candidates, continuing an incremental rise in women’s representation on the ballot.
However, that increase has not necessarily translated into a more welcoming environment for all women.
Harassment widespread but different for women
While data from the 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer shows that harassment is a widespread issue among elected officials, affecting 63 per cent of the 1,633 local politicians surveyed, the ways in which it manifests for women can be different in nature.
“When you look at the harassment and violence that’s directed to women and racialized candidates, violence tends to focus, not on who they are as politicians, but who they are as people,” said Dr. Erin Tolley, the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race, and Inclusive Politics and associate professor in the department of political science at Carleton University, in an interview.
“It’s more likely to pinpoint their identities either as women or racialized or both.”
‘People show up at my house’: Caledon Mayor Annette Groves
Annette Groves, the mayor of Caledon who is not seeking re-election, said “some of the terms that people use on social media, the names they call us, they’re certainly not going to use the same description … or term for a male politician.
“I find people show up at my house. I don’t think you’d be showing up at a male person’s house. That is my private space where my family lives.”
Mississauga Coun. Natalie Hart on scrutiny of appearance
Natalie Hart, Mississauga’s Ward 5 councillor who is seeking re-election, has said that while running for office and serving as a councillor she was subject to sexist remarks as well.
“Shortly after I was elected there was a lot of commentary about the fact that the pictures that I’ve used on my signs didn’t accurately look enough like me. You still experience that at the doors where people will hold your flyer up to your face to see if it looks like you,” said Hart.
“You face a lot of scrutiny on your physical presentation. What you wear, how often you wear it, your weight, your age, your marital status, all of those things that are not necessarily a part of what it looks like as a male in these spaces.”
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Elect Respect campaign
Marianne Meed Ward has been mayor of Burlington since 2018 and is also running for re-election. She too has been subject to gender-based discrimination and harassment, listing several unsettling incidents, including people:
- calling her office at city hall and making sexual references toward her
- threatening to set her on fire
- telling her she should be “strung up at city hall”
As well, she said she’s been threatened by people using profane and derogatory language specific toward women.
As soon as she went public with this story, she said the first comment she received was someone saying “weak women shouldn’t be in politics.”
Against the backdrop of this increasingly hostile political environment, Meed Ward began convening female elected representatives from across Halton Region, from school board trustees to members of parliament, to share their experiences as women in politics.
Twice a year this group of 25 women would get together, privately, for coffee to exchange stories and figure out ways to offer one another support.
At one of the meetings, she said someone asked, “if you had a daughter would you advise her to seek elected office?”
“All of us hesitated. And there was a time where I would have never hesitated,” she said.
“And then story after story came out … and every single person had a story of being threatened with bodily harm, and none of us had really talked about it with anyone. We had kept it private.”
The meeting of women in Halton led to the creation of the “Elect Respect” campaign, which brings together politicians from diverse backgrounds to call for more respectful and civil political discourse across the country, while recognizing that female elected officials may face heightened levels of intimidation.
Does harassment deter women from running?
Some female politicians believe that the unique treatment and threats women are subject to can deter them from entering the political arena altogether.
“I think part of the reason why women choose not to run is because they don’t want to put themselves into that situation,” Santos said. “You really have to have thicker skin if you’re a woman … Women always have to think twice or three times as to whether or not they want to put themselves and their family through that level of risk.
“It is sometimes mentally and emotionally taxing on you and so I think that’s part of the reason why a lot of women don’t do it.”
Added Hart: “It can really be tough to convince people that this is a career that they want.”
Women who run are more likely to win — so why aren’t more running?
Despite women in Ontario making up slightly more than half of the province’s population, they make up only 32.2 per cent of all municipal council seats, according to data from AMO.
However, Tolley said that when women do make the decision to run, research demonstrates they are more likely to win their elections.
Data from AMO shows in the 2022 municipal elections across Ontario, the success rate of women slightly exceeded that of men. Women candidates had a 47 per cent success rate while male candidates had a 44 per cent success rate.
Tolley said she believes the reason for this is because “the women … who tend to come forward, typically are more qualified than other candidates and the reason I think they’re more qualified is that they understand that in order to participate in this hostile climate, they need to be better than their competition.”
Elaine Moore, a former Brampton city and Peel regional councillor, said she did not experience sexism to the same extent while serving as a regional councillor, but noted that she felt the men around her viewed their opinions as more credible, leaving women feeling they had to be especially well prepared to have their voices heard.
Tolley believes that while the number of women seeking municipal office is still low, it is increasing because more and more women are either choosing to overlook the hostility or are empowered to change it through their presence in politics.
A parting message from Caledon’s outgoing mayor
Groves said as her mayoral term comes to an end her parting message to young women is not to be deterred or intimidated by such behaviour.
“This is a message I have for young women. Never be intimidated. You need to believe in yourself, you need to believe in who you are, and you need to stand up for what is right. And even if you are the only one standing, you must stand up for what you believe is right, and never be intimidated by any of this,” said Groves.
Copyright 2026, Mississauga.com. All rights reserved.
Bridget Potasky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Mississauga.com.
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This Ontario town with storybook streets and cozy little shops is the prettiest in Canada
You'll want to add this spot to your bucket list!
If you've ever wanted to step into a small town that feels like it belongs in a Hallmark film, you might want to take a trip to this quaint Ontario gem.
With historic buildings, little shops, freshly baked treats, and picturesque river views, it has all the ingredients for a postcard-worthy escape and has been named among the prettiest towns in the country.
Just over an hour from the city, it's a convenient spot for an autumn or holiday-season getaway.
Narcity Canada asked readers on Facebook which small towns they consider the prettiest in the country, and this charming Ontario destination was one of the recommendations.
St. Jacobs Village is a cozy community located near the picturesque Conestoga River.
With roots dating back to the 19th century, the Village has a rich history and German heritage still visible in its historic buildings and locally owned shops.
According to the website, "the Village of St. Jacobs is filled with authentic sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and incredible one-of-a-kind shopping, that are sure to re-inspire the soul."
You can spend an afternoon wandering the main street, browsing the boutiques, and stopping for a bite at one of its local eateries.
One must-visit spot is Hamel Brooms. Founded in 1908, the business is reportedly Canada's last remaining corn broom manufacturer. You can see traditional broom-making in action while browsing other handcrafted finds, from stained glass to home accessories.
For something sweet, head to the Stone Crock Bakery, where you'll find an assortment of freshly baked treats. The bakery is known for its butter tarts, fresh bread baked on-site, and Dutch apple pies.
You can also warm up with a drink or meal at places like EcoCafe, St. Jacobs Grill, The Pub by Stone Crock, and Harvest Moon.
The Stone Crock Market is another spot to check out, offering locally-grown food, premium meats, and more.
No visit is complete without stopping by the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, a major attraction just a few minutes from the village centre.
Operating year-round, the market is the largest of its kind in Canada, with three indoor buildings and an outdoor space where you can browse everything from fresh local produce and specialty foods to handmade crafts and one-of-a-kind treasures.
If you're planning an autumn visit to the Village, you can enjoy Pumpkin Palooza on October 24, featuring pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and more.
It's also worth scheduling a visit during the Christmas season. St. Jacobs Village is extra magical during the holidays, with glittering lights, cozy winter drinks, and festive shopping.
From November 12 to 15 and November 19 to 22, you can enjoy Sparkles, an annual shopping event with thousands of twinkling lights, horse-and-wagon rides, and more.
With its quaint little shops, cozy cafes, and old-world charm, it's no surprise readers say St. Jacobs Village is the prettiest town in Canada.
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Un dîner tout en blanc débarque à Québec dans un lieu secret et ça s'annonce magique
Gastronomie, party et paysage magnifique!
Tu n'as pas besoin de chercher quoi faire à Québec pour passer un moment magique dans cette ville pittoresque ce mois-ci, puisque le Diner en Blanc (DEB) est de retour après cinq ans d'absence et c'est l'événement estival à ne pas manquer. Imagine la scène : tu as minutieusement élaboré ta tenue originale d'un blanc immaculé, ton pique-nique est préparé ou réservé, puis tu te rends à un point de rencontre prédéterminé avant d'être mené.e vers un lieu secret où une vague de personnes en habits monochromes se rassemble pour un moment gastronomique chic d’inspiration française et festif à souhait.
Après avoir mangé, place à la fête sous le ciel étoilé, lancée en allumant des sparklers distribués aux invité.e.s. Danse, musique live et ambiance électrisante sont au programme.
Voilà ce qui t'attend au fameux DEB qui célèbre du même coup son dixième anniversaire dans un esprit mettant la mode, la nourriture et la convivialité à l'honneur
Si le lieu reste secret, l'organisation te promet un emplacement remarquable, alors que des éditons passées ont envahies le Grand Théâtre de Québec, le Quai 22 au Port de Québec et le Jardin Saint-Roch, pour te donner une idée. Cela dit, note qu'il y a certaines règles à respecter afin de participer.
Les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront donc apporter leur propre repas ainsi que leur vin et leur champagne (les deux seuls types d'alcools permis afin de respecter l'influence française de l'événement), ou réserver l'un des deux menus conçus pour la fête.
Ceux-ci offrent trois à quatre services pour deux personnes et détiennent chacun au moins un plat proposé par des chefs locaux de renom comme Arnaud Marchand et Olivier Langlois de Chez Boulay, Pierre Gagnon de Le Bedeau ainsi que Emeline Pero de Les Botanistes.
Tu peux sélectionner La boîte découverte à 85 $, qui inclut un parfait de foie gras au nard des pinèdes avec confit d'échalotes à l'aronie et pain brioché, du saumon confit badigeonné d'une laque miroir de vin rouge présenté avec une émulsion d'algues, et pour le dessert, une tartelette au citron meringué et osmanthus.
La seconde option est affichée à 110 $ et se compose d'une burrata farcie au praliné amandes et fruits séchés, d'un gravlax de flétan de la Gaspésie servi avec rhubarbe, agastache, cucurbitacées et riz soufflés, d'une mosaïque de poireaux au nori et magret de canard cuit au sel, ainsi que d'un tiramisu aux épices et grains du Québec.
Tu as déjà l'eau à la bouche? Alors, n'hésite pas à réserver ta place dès maintenant sur le site du DEB.
Le Diner en Blanc de Québec
Prix : 51 $ par personne pour l'inscription - À partir de 85 $ par repas pour deux personnes
Quand : Le 22 août 2024
Adresse : Un lieu secret dévoilé quelques minutes avant l’événement
Site Internet du Diner en Blanc