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The province.
Glen Resler says he could not return his special ballot in person and may lose his vote in Alberta’s upcoming separation referendum. Elections Alberta says the rules can create barriers and hopes the government considers changes.
Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Albertans to vote to keep the province in Canada and reject nine other referendum questions when they cast ballots Monday. The questions include proposals on immigration, constitutional reform and Alberta’s powers.
Four men have been charged after searches of homes in Calgary and Cochrane led to the seizure of more than $2 million in currency and $6.8 million in drugs. Calgary police described the seizure as one of the largest in the service’s history.
Residents in Fort McMurray say they have faced delays receiving new recycling carts and having old bins collected since Alberta’s new producer-funded program took effect Oct. 1. Nearly 38,000 municipal carts are being stored at the regional landfill as the municipality considers how to recover some of their value.
RCMP say Ann Carveth, 69, pawned gold and silver stolen from an employer’s home in Carstairs. Police believe her work as a housekeeper may have brought her into contact with additional victims.
Cool air will keep temperatures below seasonal levels Thursday before a ridge brings warmer weather Friday and Saturday. Showers and a quick cooldown are forecast Saturday afternoon, while Calgary highs should return to seasonal norms next week.
Alongside nine proposed government questions, Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum will ask voters whether the province should remain in Canada or begin the legal process for a binding referendum on separation. Political scientists, former federal minister Stéphane Dion, Premier Danielle Smith and two High River neighbours describe the question’s implications and the divide among Albertans.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada expects foreign governments to avoid involvement in Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum, as national security agencies monitor potential interference. He urged Albertans to vote against starting the legal process for a binding separation referendum and pointed to economic uncertainty after Brexit as a warning.
Most Alberta CEOs have stayed out of public debate ahead of Monday’s provincial referendum, though some business leaders have spoken against separation. York University professor Richard Leblanc says executives often avoid political statements that could alienate shareholders or employees.
Chestermere firefighters began a 72-hour rooftop fundraiser for the ALS Society of Alberta and colleague Kimball Yorston, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. The effort comes as a new national report estimates the disease costs $628.2 million annually, with patients and families shouldering most of the burden.
More than 174,000 ballots were cast on the first day of advance voting for Alberta’s referendum. The turnout is drawing attention as voters head to the polls, but the supplied research does not say what questions are on the ballot or how the total compares with past votes.
Alberta has directed pharmacies to begin booking flu vaccinations if doses are in stock, ahead of the previously scheduled Oct. 19 rollout. More than 400 flu cases have already been reported this season, as health officials warn the virus is spreading early.
Cold weather and snow brought a surge of calls to Kal Tire’s south Lethbridge location. The shop is still offering same-day swaps but expects appointments to move to a two-to-three-day wait.
High winds cut power to two advance voting locations in the Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock division Wednesday. The polling stations closed temporarily, with voting hours to be extended to make up for the lost time.
Residents say visitors are crossing Bow Valley Trail from the Cougar Creek dog park to reach a Three Sisters viewpoint, creating traffic and safety concerns. The town is considering new signage and coordinating with other agencies, while Google has removed the viewpoint marker from Maps.
Mayor Andrew Knack says Edmonton has received no written directive explaining how to reverse zoning changes ordered by Alberta, despite a three-month compliance deadline. City officials and developers are seeking clarity as council prepares to discuss the directive’s legality.
Mayors Jeromy Farkas and Andrew Knack urged Albertans to vote as advance polls drew long lineups, while warning that referendum uncertainty and provincial direction on municipal zoning are creating concerns for their cities. They also called for voters to consider the referendum’s other questions and discussed the legal questions surrounding a provincial directive on infill development.
As Albertans vote in advance polls on a 10-question referendum, Lloydminster residents are weighing what separation could mean for their city, which spans the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Former mayor Jeff Mulligan and local business owner Steve Boyce warn of disruption to municipal governance and the economy, while voters express differing views on separation.
Elections Alberta recorded 174,532 ballots on Tuesday, the first day of advance voting in the province’s 10-question referendum. Some voting locations stayed open late to serve people in line, while voters continue to return special ballots ahead of Friday’s deadline.
CTV News will begin its Alberta referendum special at 10 p.m. MT on Monday, Oct. 19, with results for all 10 questions, reporting from across the province and expert analysis. Early results are expected after 8 p.m., with the final count due in the early hours of Tuesday morning.