EN - People
50 Cent Just Made $8 Million In Bitcoin And How He Did Is Absolutely Hilarious
And the rich get richer...
Discover Narcity
Get the latest and greatest stories every day in your inbox.
A look at past referendums in Canada as Albertans reject future separation vote
A look at past referendums in Canada
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Albertans voted in a referendum Monday against separation. In early results, about 76 per cent of said they wanted the province to stay in Canada, while 24 per cent said they wanted the province to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
Here's a look at some of the other referendums held across Canada:
2021 — Alberta on daylight time
The province asked residents whether it should adopt year-round daylight time — the time often used across Canada in the summer — to put an end to twice-yearly clock changes.
Out of more than 1 million votes, 50.2 per cent were against the idea, while 48.8 per cent were in favour of ditching clock changes.
Premier Danielle Smith announced this year that starting Nov. 1, the province is adopting year-round daylight time.
She said it's to gauge opinion and that most people will agree. She said if she's wrong, the government could put the matter to a vote in 2027.
---
2019 — Prince Edward Island electoral reform
Voters weighed in on electoral reform alongside the provincial election.
It followed similar votes in 2016 and 2005, which both failed to eliminate the voting practice known as "first past the post."
The referendum asked: "Should Prince Edward Island change its voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system?"
The threshold for a win in either direction would have been 17, but neither side was able to secure that number — 13 districts voted against, while 14 voted in favour.
---
2018 — British Columbia electoral reform
After failed votes in 2009 and 2005, the province held a third referendum on electoral reform.
Out of all ballots received, 61.3 per cent voted to keep first past the post, while proportional representation got 38.7 per cent.
---
2007 — Ontario electoral reform
The referendum asked voters to chose between the existing first-past-the-post or the mixed-member proportional systems.
Voters overwhelmingly rejected mixed-member proportional representation, with Elections Ontario figures showing roughly 1.5 million people voted for change, while nearly 2.7 million voted against it.
---
2001 — New Brunswick video lottery terminals
Voters were asked whether the province should ban VLTs, following a 1999 campaign promise by former premier Bernard Lord.
"Should the province of New Brunswick continue to permit the legal and regulated operation of video gaming devices, commonly known as video lottery terminals?"
About 53 per cent were in favour of keeping VLTs, while 47 per cent were opposed.
New Brunswick was the first to allow VLTs after Ottawa, in 1985, allowed provinces and territories to operate the machines.
---
1997 — Newfoundland education
Newfoundlanders voted in on the churches’ role in the province’s education system.
The referendum asked: "Do you support a single school system where all children, regardless of their religious affiliation, attend the same schools where opportunities for religious education and observances are provided?"
More than 70 per cent of voters wanted to create a non-denominational public education system still allowing religious instruction and observance, ending the church-run school system.
In a similar vote two years earlier, voters narrowly approved the government’s plan to reform the church-run education system.
---
1995 — Quebec sovereignty
A razor-thin majority rejected the idea of the province leaving Confederation and becoming its own country.
In a dramatic campaign, the sovereigntist side came from behind to take a lead in the polls in the final weeks before the vote. In the end, 50.58 per cent voted no.
Another vote was held in 1980, and 60 per cent also said no to sovereignty.
---
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
By Aaron Sousa | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less
What’s next for Surrey now that McCallum is mayor again?
McCallum’s coalition holds seven of eight council seats, but major promises depend on funding.
On Saturday night, Doug McCallum won his fifth term as Surrey’s mayor. Not only did he win, but his Safe Surrey Coalition swept up seven of the eight councillor seats — meaning that McCallum will likely have almost no opposition when trying to pass things in city hall.
So, what happens next?
While Surrey residents made it clear they preferred McCallum’s platform over the other six mayoral candidates running, it’s worth returning to the party’s platform and seeing how likely some of their promises actually are.
The coalition vowed to bring a SkyTrain to Newton and build a new general hospital along King George Boulevavd. However, both of these projects would be the final decision of the province. While city hall could advocate for it, there is no guarantee the province will allocate the funds for it — the province is also facing an unprecedented deficit.
But other commitments are within McCallum’s jurisdiction to implement, like his promise to freeze property taxes for the next four years and waive business license fees for the first two years of every new business.
Property taxes go to several authorities like the provincial government, Metro Vancouver Regional District, TransLink and police services. The city uses their cut of the taxes to fund services like the fire department, road safety, parks and recreational centres, libraries, garbage pick-up and more.
According to the city’s website, Surrey already has one of the lowest property rates in Metro Vancouver. With inflation increasing the cost of labour and goods, it’s unclear how McCallum plans to fund all the city’s current operations without cutting anything.
Many of McCallum’s other commitments also hinge on the question of funding. The party has promised an expansion of policing services and securing a helicopter and drone fleet within 90 days for the SPS.
Going forward, McCallum has also committed to having all residential building permits approved within 60 days. If city hall misses this deadline, all permit fees will be waived. Surrey currently has a glut of unsold condos and some have questioned whether more housing is even the answer to lowering prices.
When it comes to recreation services, McCallum wants to build new pools in Clayton Heights, City Centre and add a pool into the Newton Community Centre being built. Again, it’s unknown how city hall would fund such large capital projects with a freeze on property taxes.
The party also wants to conduct a forensic audit of city hall’s land deals and “root out waste.” Locke faced backlash during her June announcement of a new $360 million arena — many questioned how much tax payers would be funding. Locke had previously said there was no way to cancel the project, even if a new party was elected.
Another pressing issue in city hall has been Surrey’s fraught relationship with Metro Vancouver Regional District. The regional district oversees core services in the Lower Mainland like delivering clean drinking water, treating waste and monitoring air quality, among other things.
But, the district has also faced criticism for the rising cost of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, with the top administrator exiting the organisation in early September.
While McCallum wants Surrey to withdraw from the regional district — remaining connected for utilities like water, sewer and waste — it’s unknown if he has the jurisdiction to do so. Or if McCallum does remove Surrey, if the district will allow the city to leave while still benefiting from their services.
McCallum will be sworn in on Nov. 2 and the first council meeting of the newly elected officials will be on Nov. 9.
Copyright 2026, Surrey Citizen. All rights reserved.
Aisha Chaudhry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Surrey Citizen.
Keep reading
Show less
Four stabbed, hospitalized in targeted gang attack in Vancouver nightclub: police
Four stabbed in targeted Vancouver attack
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Police say four people have been stabbed in an attack at a Vancouver nightclub over the weekend.
It happened Saturday inside a club on city's Granville Entertainment District at around 3 a.m.
Police say arriving officers found the four hurt and all were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses say there was an altercation and three men who were patrons of the club were stabbed along with a male employee who tried to intervene.
Investigators say they believe it was a targeted attack that has links to the gang conflict in the Lower Mainland.
A suspect remains at large and is described as a black man about five feet 10 inches tall with dreadlocks and wearing a black puffy jacket.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less