Alberta separatists are clashing over Monday’s referendum after the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) urged supporters to leave nine questions blank, warning that approving them would undermine the push for independence.

“DECLINE THE NINE,” reads an automated text message sent Wednesday to APP members and signed by CEO Mitch Sylvestre.

“Leave Question 1 through nine blank,” the message states. “Mark only Question 10, Option 2: tell the government to start the legal process for a binding referendum on Alberta independence.”

The campaign comes as Albertans vote on nine questions proposed by Premier Danielle Smith addressing immigration, provincial powers and constitutional reforms, alongside a tenth asking whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the legal process toward a subsequent binding independence referendum.

The APP warns that approving Smith’s questions would allow Edmonton and Ottawa to portray the results as evidence Albertans favour reform over separation.

“If the nine pass, Edmonton and Ottawa will point to them as proof Albertans want to fix Canada and stay,” the message reads. “Don’t hand them that.”

Jeffrey Rath, who has served as legal counsel for the APP, defended the strategy in an interview with Juno News, revealing that he personally declined all nine questions.

“I personally declined the nine, and I voted only on option 10,” Rath said.

Rath blasted Smith for voting to remain in Canada, accusing her of surrendering Alberta’s strongest negotiating tool against Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“Do you trust Danielle Smith as a negotiator? None of us do,” he said.

“Her best leverage is option two ... to continue to maintain pressure against Ottawa. But she’s voting against her own leverage.”

Rath also accused Smith of failing to secure meaningful concessions from Carney, citing ongoing federal pipeline restrictions and the continued existence of Bill C-69.

Despite defending the APP’s campaign, Rath insisted Albertans should decide for themselves how to vote.

“People should vote the way they want,” he said. “Vote for the questions you want to vote for.”

However, the campaign has drawn criticism from fellow separatists who argue that supporting provincial reforms does not contradict pursuing independence.

Pathway to Independence leader Cory Morgan said the “decline the nine” campaign was not being “very well received,” accusing the APP of focusing more on Smith than advancing separation.

Let Alberta Decide co-leader Keith Wilson also rejected the strategy, revealing that he supported all nine reform questions alongside the independence option.

“I voted YES to the nine and Option 2 on question 10,” Wilson wrote on X. “I recommend everyone who wants a better future for their kids to do the same.”

Alberta Transition Council co-lead Dennis Kalma also criticized the APP’s campaign, warning that leaving questions unanswered could allow politicians to dismiss voters’ concerns.

“Absolutely idiotic to not vote for the nine,” Kalma wrote on X.

“Politicians will interpret what they want from non-responses and almost always it will be: Voters don’t care about this....I can safely ignore the issue.

“Vote as you will, but vote on every question,” he added. “Personally I will be voting Yes to the Nine and Option 2.”

Smith, who voted to remain in Canada, has presented her referendum questions as a way to address Alberta’s grievances within Confederation.

Five concern provincial policies, while four require constitutional changes. Abolishing the Senate would require unanimous provincial consent.

Alberta’s 2021 equalization referendum highlighted the limits of such votes. Despite roughly 62 per cent supporting the removal of equalization from the Constitution, Ottawa did not pursue an amendment.

For Rath, the prospect of independence remains Alberta’s strongest bargaining chip, even for voters who want to remain in Canada.

“Even if you don’t want independence, it’s the only way to maintain our leverage against Ottawa,” he said.

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Nearly six in ten First Nations failed federal financial transparency requirements in 2024-25, according to a Fraser Institute study, as senators pressed Ottawa over its decade-long suspension of enforcement.

The study found just 41 per cent of First Nations had publicly available financial reports, while Indigenous Services Canada received reports from only 45 per cent of 578 non-self-governing First Nations as of March 31.

As first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, the figures followed an April 22 Senate hearing where Quebec Senator Clément Gignac pressed officials over enforcement of the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

“I believe this law is still in effect, even if you do not enforce it,” Gignac said.

The 2013 Act requires covered First Nations to disclose audited financial statements and chief and council pay within 120 days of fiscal year-end. Ottawa suspended discretionary enforcement measures in 2015, but the law remains in force.

During the hearing, Gignac pressed Indigenous Services Canada chief financial officer Richard Goodyear over whether the department was compelling First Nations to disclose their financial records.

Goodyear explained that the department publishes financial statements when communities submit them.

“You can’t post anything if you don’t receive anything,” Gignac responded.

“What we receive, we publish,” Goodyear said.

“What you receive, you publish, but you hardly receive any of them,” Gignac replied.

Ontario Senator Sandra Pupatello also questioned financial accountability as federal spending on Indigenous programs continues to grow.

“Because there is so much more money that we are spending, we need to be sure that the public is confident in how everyone is spending it,” Pupatello said.

According to the federal government’s 2026-27 Main Estimates, Indigenous Services Canada plans to spend $24.1 billion, while Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has another $11.9 billion in planned expenditures.

Together, the departments account for approximately $36 billion in planned spending.

Indigenous Services Canada cited auditing challenges in remote communities and funding to offset costs. All 578 non-self-governing First Nations must submit annual audited statements under federal funding agreements.

The department’s 45 per cent figure measures reports received, while the Fraser Institute’s 41 per cent finding concerns compliance with public disclosure requirements.

Indigenous Services Canada previously reported compliance with the Act fell from 99 per cent in 2013-14 to 64 per cent in 2019-20, before the Fraser Institute reported a further decline to 41 per cent in 2024-25.

The transparency dispute has also reached Federal Court.

Frog Lake First Nation member Hans McCarthy sought federal records on trust fund withdrawals, including chief and council salaries and expenses.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which backed McCarthy, said the trust fund shrank from $102 million in 2013 to under $9 million in 2024. The court made no finding of financial wrongdoing.

After Indigenous Services Canada refused to release the resolutions, citing privacy and confidential third-party information provisions, McCarthy challenged the decision.

In its November 20, 2025 ruling, McCarthy v. Canada (Indigenous Services), 2025 FC 1843, the Federal Court rejected the department’s grounds for withholding the records and ordered disclosure within 30 days, subject to specified redactions.

The court returned the question of disclosing individual remuneration amounts to the department for reconsideration.

Gignac raised the ruling during the Senate hearing, questioning whether the department had complied.

“Did you comply with this decision?” he asked. “Do you intend to reconsider this to finally implement the 2013 Financial Transparency Act?”

Goodyear did not directly answer whether the department had complied, instead explaining its existing reporting practices.

Fraser Institute study co-author Tom Flanagan argued that Canadians need greater transparency to assess federal spending.

“Canadians need to understand the magnitude of Ottawa’s Indigenous spending in recent years if they’re ever to properly assess what that additional spending is achieving in terms of results for Indigenous people,” Flanagan said.

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The RCMP awarded nearly $84 million in Black Hawk helicopter contracts to patrol Canada’s border, but newly released federal records show the aircraft supported operations resulting in only 73 arrests by the national police force.

According to a September 21 response to an order paper question submitted by Conservative MP Rob Morrison, the RCMP awarded 11 contracts worth $83.7 million, including taxes, between January 2025 and May 2026.

The contracts went to Helicopter Transport Services Inc. and Expedition Helicopters Inc., covering up to three aircraft per contract period.

“The Royal Canadian Mounted Police call-up value is considered all-inclusive and includes flight hours, fuel charges, airport landing fees, crew travel and accommodation related to crew rotations, and maintenance support,” the response states.

Awarded in successive rounds over 16 months, the agreements ranged from approximately $3.9 million to $15 million each. The $83.7-million total represents contract values, not necessarily money spent.

The RCMP also reported $2.28 million in additional expenses through March 31, 2026, including $1.53 million in personnel costs, nearly $600,000 in travel and approximately $150,000 for equipment and supplies.

The government cautioned that those figures “exclude internal services, employee benefits plan, Shared Services Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada costs,” leaving the full taxpayer bill unclear.

According to the response, Black Hawks provided aerial support during 58 border-related events since patrols began on January 18, 2025.

Those operations contributed to the identification of 171 people known or suspected to have crossed the Canada-U.S. border illegally between official ports of entry.

“Border events involving the Blackhawks resulted in the arrest of 73 individuals by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” the response confirmed.

Six others were apprehended by U.S. or Canadian authorities, 78 were gone when officers arrived, and 14 encounters were non-criminal.

Although Morrison specifically requested a breakdown of alleged crimes, the RCMP provided only arrest and encounter totals, without identifying the offences involved.

The disclosures follow an earlier investigation into an RCMP-contracted Black Hawk grounded over aviation regulatory concerns.

Following the June 10 grounding, the RCMP cited commercial confidentiality to withhold contract costs, while insisting the contractor was responsible for ensuring the helicopter could legally fly in Canada.

Documents previously obtained by the Toronto Star showed the RCMP required bidders to provide Canadian registration and a Transport Canada Certificate of Airworthiness.

Subsequent Toronto Star reporting revealed the $7.5-million contract was terminated by mutual consent, costing the RCMP $394,000 for 10 days of flying, with no payment for grounded time.

Public Services and Procurement Canada said the termination resulted in no finding of wrongdoing, while two other Black Hawk contracts held by Helicopter Transport Services were unaffected.

The response lists a $7.51-million contract that mirrors the cancelled deal, but its impact on the $83.7-million total remains unclear.

Transport Canada also addressed whether the helicopters were authorized to operate under Canadian aviation regulations.

“Transport Canada has issued four Special Certificates of Airworthiness – Limited for ex-military UH-60 Blackhawks operated by three Canadian commercial air operators,” the department stated.

“The aircraft to which these certificates have been issued are authorized to operate in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, including operational and maintenance requirements.”

Transport Canada said the certificates were issued under exemptions dating to April and December 2022.

“These aircraft may be used for specialized aerial work under Subpart 702 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, where all applicable regulatory requirements are met,” the department added.

The response doesn’t say whether the grounded helicopter was certified. While the RCMP touts improved border surveillance and response, it provides no flight-hour totals, cost comparisons or evidence of reduced illegal crossings.

Juno News sought comments from the RCMP, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Transport Canada, and Helicopter Transport Services regarding the program’s costs, operational results, procurement decisions and aircraft certification. None of the four responded by the publication deadline.

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The Carney government is moving away from housing unit counts as a central measure of success for its flagship housing initiative while federal bureaucrats collect millions in taxpayer-funded performance pay.

Housing Minister Gregor Robertson’s department confirmed the shift for Build Canada Homes despite Ottawa’s 500,000 annual housing starts goal, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

“The framework is designed to move beyond measuring outputs such as housing counts,” the department stated.

The revelation comes as separate records show the department paid $2,134,907 in executive performance compensation during the 2024–25 fiscal year, despite the ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Official departmental records show 109 executives received at-risk performance pay only. Another ten received both at-risk pay and bonuses, while two received neither.

Conservative MP Andrew Scheer blasted the government’s shift away from housing unit counts as a central performance measure.

“What do Liberals do when they can’t hit their own targets?” Scheer asked.

“Delete the target!”

He added that, “Instead of building 500,000 homes as promised, Mark Carney has decided to stop measuring housing unit counts altogether! While Carney is all talk, Conservatives are focused on REAL results.”

Robertson previously maintained that Ottawa remained committed to reaching 500,000 annual housing starts.

During 2025 testimony before the Commons finance committee, Robertson defended the timeline.

“It is still very aggressive and ambitious to get to 500,000 over the next decade. That’s what we need to scale up to,” Robertson said.

However, the department’s latest response indicates housing unit counts will no longer be the central performance measure for Build Canada Homes.

Conservative MP Jacob Mantle requested details on whether Build Canada Homes had established annual or multi-year housing targets, but the department pointed instead to a broader performance framework.

“The success of Build Canada Homes will be closely tied to improvements in broader thematics related to increasing housing supply and affordability,” the response stated.

Bill C-20, which established Build Canada Homes as a Crown corporation and received royal assent on June 18, 2026, did not establish a fixed annual construction quota.

Industry representatives had already warned that Ottawa’s construction ambitions would be difficult to achieve.

Asked by Conservative MP Tracey Gray whether the government’s housing construction targets were realistic, Residential Construction Council of Ontario president Richard Lyall replied: “Not a chance.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also linked Canada’s housing shortage to immigration levels, arguing that population growth had outpaced home construction.

In a February 2025 interview with Juno News, Poilievre criticized the Trudeau government’s earlier plan to admit 500,000 permanent residents annually. Ottawa had already reduced its planned 2025 target to 395,000 in October 2024.

“It would be a lot more like the Harper numbers that were basically the same for 40 years before Trudeau took office — we were bringing in about 200,000 to 250,000 a year,” Poilievre said, proposing lower immigration levels.

Meanwhile, the housing department defended its executive performance payments as reflecting the importance of its work.

“The higher proportion of bonuses can be reasonably linked to the housing portfolio being a Government of Canada priority,” a May 25 departmental memo stated.

The compensation controversy extends beyond Robertson’s department.

Treasury Board estimates show the federal government spent $146.3 million on executive performance pay last year, with approximately 98% of executives receiving payments.

The payouts come despite Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s promises to rein in federal spending.

“Canadians have been tightening their belt for quite some time. They expect the federal government to do the same,” Champagne told the Senate national finance committee on March 10.

The housing department acknowledged concerns that widespread performance pay resembled routine entitlements but insisted the payouts were justified by performance reviews.

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The Eby government faces potential scandal over a plan to transfer 400 Crown land parcels to First Nations, potentially leaving forestry companies without compensation for lost logging rights.

The proposals were not disclosed in the NDP’s election platform.

A confidential September 10 briefing, obtained by Northern Beat columnist Rob Shaw, outlines proposed changes to the Forest Act that were absent from the NDP’s election platform.

“Presently, there are approximately 400 parcels committed for transfer through Treaty and reconciliation agreements,” the document states.

The proposals could eliminate compensation for forestry losses of up to five per cent or allow payouts to be delayed indefinitely.

Forestry companies hold harvesting rights on Crown land, meaning transfers to First Nations can force the province to cancel or reduce those rights, potentially triggering compensation payments.

With B.C. facing a projected $13-billion deficit, the government identified compensation costs as an obstacle to land transfers.

“Given ongoing fiscal constraints, these provisions create substantial barriers to completing land returns,” the briefing states.

Forestry companies were required to sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving briefings, limiting public discussion ahead of the October 24 election.

Premier David Eby defended the proposals Thursday, arguing they would honour commitments to First Nations while saving taxpayers money.

“It provides a little bit of relief… for taxpayers,” Eby said during a campaign announcement in Surrey.

He also rejected suggestions the changes would undermine forestry jobs, arguing that transferring logging rights to First Nations and local groups could help keep timber processing in communities.

But Council of Forest Industries president Kim Haakstad criticized the prospect of companies absorbing the costs.

“Asking forest companies to absorb that is generally unfair,” she said.

The NDP maintains only about half of the 400 parcels could affect forestry operations, although their locations and combined acreage remain undisclosed.

According to Northern Beat, B.C. has committed 135,425 hectares under treaties, but the total size of the 400 parcels remains unknown, including whether 14 parcels transferred to West Moberly First Nations are among them.

A 2025 forestry briefing warned that separate land transfers would reduce timber harvesting, but did not assess the 400 parcels.

Meanwhile, the NDP insists cabinet authorized consultations, not legislation, and says proposed legislation for spring 2027 was shelved when the snap election was called September 22.

“These were draft ideas from the ministry,” the NDP told Northern Beat.

The party also noted that some parcels may already have been publicly identified through agreements involving the Lake Babine, K’ómoks and Cheslatta Carrier First Nations.

“Making agreements with First Nations is how the government resolves outstanding land claims and brings certainty to the land base,” the NDP said.

The controversy follows a previous NDP agreement to transfer roughly six square kilometres of land and $104 million to the shíshálh Nation, with details withheld until after the 2024 election.

Conservative candidate Scott McInnis says the lack of transparency is disturbing.

“This is nothing new for this government to make these very important decisions around Crown land and First Nations and not tell anybody about it,” he said.

“So I am shocked that… David Eby and the NDP have not learned their lesson that the public has zero appetite for reconciliation which is done behind closed doors.”

The Forest Ministry did not quell those concerns.

“Due to the ongoing election campaign, government is in a temporary caretaker mode, and communications are limited to critical health and public safety information,” the Forest Ministry told Juno News in an emailed statement.

“Thank you for understanding.”

A Juno News review found roughly 80 per cent of B.C. is subject to active Indigenous claims, while just 5 per cent is covered by settled treaties.

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The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is taking the Carney government to court over RCMP gun confiscation cost estimates Ottawa refuses to release, as independent projections put the potential bill in the billions.

Of Ottawa’s $742.5-million gun confiscation budget, $493.9 million is allocated to policing, administration, collection and other costs rather than compensating firearms owners and businesses.

“No self-respecting shopper pays for anything without looking at the checkout total first,” wrote Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) Prairie director Gage Haubrich, criticizing Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree for withholding cost information.

The fight began in July 2023, when the CTF requested RCMP estimates for collecting and destroying banned firearms.

Seven months later, Ottawa disclosed a $12.6-million estimate for the RCMP’s Pacific region but withheld figures from other divisions.

The CTF complained to the information commissioner in April 2024 after Ottawa withheld the records, initially citing security concerns before invoking cabinet confidence to block further review.

“But that’s ridiculous,” Haubrich wrote. “The government already gave the CTF the numbers for British Columbia.”

“It’s obviously not top-secret information used for cabinet discussion. It’s just information that the government likely doesn’t want taxpayers to see.”

The CTF launched a Federal Court challenge to obtain the withheld estimates and is now seeking a court date, Haubrich said.

The Liberals initially pegged the gun buyback at $200 million, but independent estimates now run into the billions.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated compensation alone could cost up to $756 million, while the Fraser Institute projected broader costs could reach $6.76 billion, including collection expenses and retailer inventory losses.

The Fraser Institute’s figure is a scenario-based estimate, not confirmed spending, and covers different expenses than the parliamentary budget officer’s projection.

As of writing, Ottawa’s $742.5-million funding envelope includes $248.6 million for compensation, with the remaining $493.9 million allocated to administration, RCMP operations, collection and other costs.

“If any employee changed their estimates for a project that many times, they’d be looking for a new job,” Haubrich wrote.

The program has also drawn criticism from police organizations and provincial governments.

The National Police Federation has warned it could divert resources from fighting gun crime, while Toronto Police Association president Clayton Campbell said it would have “essentially, zero impact” on gun crime in Toronto.

A 2025 firearms collection pilot in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, collected just 25 guns against a target of 200, according to the CTF, despite Ottawa approving $149,760 in project funding.

That works out to nearly $6,000 in approved funding per firearm collected, although actual expenditures remain unclear.

The CTF has also questioned whether Ottawa has evidence the program will make Canadians safer.

In a separate access-to-information request seeking analysis of the program’s impact on crime, Public Safety Canada responded that “no information related to your request exists within Public Safety Canada.”

The response does not establish that no other analysis exists.

Ottawa maintains the program will improve public safety by removing prohibited firearms from circulation and says eligible owners can receive compensation.

Haubrich said the government should disclose the full cost rather than force taxpayers to fight for the figures in court.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for this confiscation scheme that is unlikely to work in the first place. And they shouldn’t be forced to go to court to get basic cost information,” he wrote.

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Advance polling has begun for the Alberta Referendum question vote, and in the first two days, Elections Alberta is reporting that over a quarter of eligible voters have already cast their ballots.

Advance polling began on Tuesday, October 13, and will run until Saturday, October 17, with the official referendum voting day on the following Monday, October 19.

When asked how voting turnout has been in the few days it’s been available, a spokesperson from Elections Alberta told Juno News that 174,532 Albertans cast their ballots at advance polls on Tuesday, the first day.

On Wednesday, 186,742 Albertans cast their ballots on the nine referendum questions.

The spokesperson also noted that Elections Alberta, as of Thursday, has received “and processed” 454,000 special ballots.

With nearly 2.7 million registered voters in the province, that means an estimated 27.5 per cent have already voted on the list of referendum questions.

Voters still have until the end of voting on Monday to have their opinions heard on a range of issues, including Alberta’s control over immigration, social services, residency requirements, healthcare and education, voting identification, judicial appointments, abolishing the Senate, and being able to opt out of federal programs.

The questions that are getting the most attention, however, and what many people are driven to vote on, are questions over Alberta having more autonomy in Canada when it comes to its laws and whether or not a referendum should be held on Alberta separating from Canada and becoming an independent nation.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney has expanded his fight against Alberta separation, backing a campaign to defeat nine of Premier Danielle Smith’s referendum proposals just days before Albertans head to the polls.

Speaking in Calgary on Thursday, Carney urged voters to reject ballot questions covering immigration, social services and constitutional reforms, marking his first public endorsement of the “No to the Nine” campaign.

The Prime Minister visited Cinnamon Indian Cuisine & Bar in northeast Calgary, where he met supporters and encouraged them to vote in the October 19 referendum.

“It’s hard to think of a worse time to have a referendum, or a better time for the province,” Carney said.

He later repeated his message to supporters of Public Interest Alberta, another group opposing the nine questions, urging them to vote “no to the nine.”

Carney’s intervention directly challenges Smith, who voted to remain in Canada during advance polling Wednesday but urged Albertans to support the other nine questions.

“Voting yes to questions one through nine is how we send a message to Ottawa that provinces need more autonomy and respect if Canada is going to be stronger and unified,” Smith said.

The nine non-binding questions cover immigration, eligibility for taxpayer-funded services, voter ID, Senate abolition and opting out of federal programs without losing funding.

Smith argues Ottawa’s immigration and fiscal policies are straining Alberta taxpayers and services. However, referendum approval would not override federal authority or constitutional requirements, including unanimous consent to abolish the Senate.

A tenth question asks whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the constitutional process toward a future binding referendum on independence.

Albertans are not voting to approve immediate separation on October 19.

“It’s time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on,” Smith said when announcing the question in May.

The independence debate has also sparked a separate legal battle over a citizen-initiated petition.

In May, Alberta’s Court of King’s Bench blocked the independence petition over Indigenous treaty rights concerns. Proponent Mitch Sylvestre appealed, and the Court of Appeal later allowed signature verification while the case proceeded.

Even a future vote favouring independence would not automatically separate Alberta from Canada.

Under the Supreme Court’s 1998 Quebec Secession Reference, a clear majority on a clear question would trigger a constitutional obligation to negotiate, not an automatic right to independence.

The federal Clarity Act gives the House of Commons a role in determining whether a secession question and its resulting majority are sufficiently clear.

During a May 26 parliamentary exchange, Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin argued that a simple majority should be sufficient.

“The majority wins with 50% of the votes plus one,” she said in French.

Carney responded that Alberta’s October referendum was a “question on the question,” meaning the Clarity Act would not apply to the preliminary vote. A subsequent independence referendum, however, would face federal scrutiny.

The Act does not establish a fixed supermajority, instead requiring consideration of factors including turnout and the margin of victory.

Asked whether 50 per cent plus one automatically satisfies those requirements, Carney rejected the suggestion.

“It is absolutely not. And I would just recommend that you read the Clarity Act,” he said.

Constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson has disputed Carney’s interpretation.

“Carney is wrong about the law,” Wilson wrote on X, arguing that the Supreme Court did not require Parliament to approve a provincial referendum question beforehand.

Carney also warned that an independent Alberta could lose the benefits of Canada’s trade agreements, citing ongoing negotiations with India.

“If we were to go down a different track, then all of a sudden all those deals are gone. They only apply to the rest of Canada. They don’t apply to Alberta,” he said.

Any future trade arrangements for an independent Alberta would depend on negotiations and applicable international agreements.

The prime minister is scheduled to attend a federalist rally Thursday evening before travelling to Edmonton for Friday’s “Forever Canadian” rally. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is also expected in Calgary on Friday.

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Ottawa’s controversial “No More Pipelines” law has suffered another constitutional defeat, with Alberta’s highest court ruling 4–1 on Friday that the legislation still oversteps federal authority despite attempts to fix it.

“Yet another big win for Alberta,” Premier Danielle Smith declared Friday on social media.

The legislation, introduced through Bill C-69 in 2019, governs federal environmental assessments of major infrastructure and resource projects, including mines and pipelines.

The Alberta Court of Appeal first found the law unconstitutional in 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada largely agreed in a 5–2 ruling in 2023, rejecting its designated projects scheme while upholding provisions governing federal projects.

Ottawa amended the legislation in 2024, but Alberta challenged the changes, arguing they failed to address the Supreme Court’s concerns.

Friday’s ruling found that Ottawa could still use limited federal interests to regulate entire provincial projects, exceeding its constitutional authority. The majority also rejected using federal responsibilities toward Indigenous peoples to justify broader regulation.

Justice Kevin Feehan dissented, finding that Ottawa’s amendments sufficiently addressed the Supreme Court’s concerns.

Smith urged Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to accept the ruling rather than pursue another appeal.

“The Alberta Court of Appeal just ruled that C-69 remains largely unconstitutional,” she said.

“I’m calling on the Federal Government to accept this ruling, refrain from yet another appeal, and immediately work with Alberta and the other provinces to clean up this flawed Trudeau-era legislation once and for all so it no longer inhibits economic development in our country.”

The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), which intervened in the case, welcomed the decision.

“Ottawa’s attempt to sidestep the Constitution has been defeated once again,” said CCF interim executive director Christine Van Geyn.

CCF lawyer Heather Treacy said federal legislation can address a provincial project’s federal effects but cannot use those effects as a constitutional “hook” to regulate the entire project.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), another intervener, also applauded the ruling.

“We are pleased to see the court side with taxpayers and hardworking people who want to get this country’s resources out of the ground,” said CTF Alberta director Kris Sims.

“Alberta and other provinces must have the right to develop their resources and create jobs without interference from Ottawa. Full stop.”

Ottawa maintained that its 2024 amendments addressed the Supreme Court’s constitutional concerns. The dispute centres on how far federal environmental oversight can extend into provincially regulated projects.

Like the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision, Friday’s ruling was a constitutional reference opinion rather than a judgment formally striking down the legislation.

The Impact Assessment Act remains in force, and existing projects and federal assessments are not automatically halted.

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Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, bringing losses over the past two months to 110,000 as unemployment climbed to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

The latest Labour Force Survey, released Friday, showed the second consecutive month of employment declines, following 42,000 jobs lost in August.

The September figures were far worse than economists expected. Forecasters had anticipated 9,200 new jobs, missing the actual result by more than 77,000 positions.

Full-time employment fell by 35,000 positions, while part-time employment declined by 33,000.

Public sector employment dropped by 70,000 positions, its fourth consecutive monthly decline, while self-employment fell by 23,000. Private sector employment was little changed.

Young Canadians were among the hardest hit, accounting for 48,000 job losses in September. Another 50,000 young people left the labour force, leaving the youth unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 13 per cent.

Women aged 25 to 54 also lost 28,000 jobs, pushing their unemployment rate to 5.3 per cent.

Quebec recorded the largest provincial decline, shedding 49,000 jobs, followed by British Columbia with 20,000. Alberta bucked the trend, adding 23,000 positions.

Canada’s labour force participation rate fell to 64.8 per cent, its lowest level since December 1997, excluding the pandemic. Statistics Canada attributed much of the longer-term decline to population aging.

Finding employment has also become more difficult. Just 30.6 per cent of Canadians unemployed in August found work in September, compared with 32.8 per cent a year earlier.

The figures sparked a confrontation in the House of Commons on Friday, with Conservative MP Michael Cooper demanding that Prime Minister Mark Carney take responsibility for the worsening labour market.

“The latest StatsCan jobs report is in, and the numbers are devastating,” Cooper said.

“Nearly 70,000 jobs [were] lost in September. That’s on top of 42,000 jobs lost in August.”

Cooper later challenged Carney over his economic promises.

“The Prime Minister promised the strongest economy in the G7. So will he acknowledge that once again his rhetoric doesn’t match reality?” he asked.

The parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance defended the government’s affordability measures, including tax reductions and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

“We’ve cut taxes on income, housing, fuel, and new business investment,” the parliamentary secretary said.

By industry, educational services suffered the largest losses, shedding 35,000 jobs, followed by health care and social assistance with 23,000 and manufacturing with 13,000.

Manufacturing’s decline came despite a gain of 22,000 positions in August, leaving employment in the sector little changed from a year earlier. However, American tariffs on automotive, steel, aluminum and lumber products remain a concern.

Responding to Cooper, AI Minister Evan Solomon pointed to the trade war and major infrastructure projects as sources of future employment.

“We all know we are in a very challenging trade war, and that is why the thing to do is to build major projects and create jobs,” Solomon said.

He highlighted nuclear projects in Ontario and a potash mine east of Saskatoon, citing thousands of construction and energy jobs.

“We are building the jobs,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, a federal regulatory notice warned that U.S. tariffs could threaten approximately 87,000 Canadian jobs, including 52,000 directly tied to exporters and another 35,000 linked to suppliers and service industries.

The estimate, attributed to University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe and cited in the federal notice, represents jobs potentially at risk rather than confirmed layoffs.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Employment Insurance claims have surged in tariff-affected communities. Regular claims in Oshawa, Ontario, increased by 400 per cent, while claims among steelworkers in Northern Ontario rose by 44 per cent.

Ottawa has extended a temporary waiver of the Employment Insurance waiting period until October 9, 2027, citing continued uncertainty surrounding American trade measures.

CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham suggested volatility in education sector employment may partly explain September’s weak numbers, although manufacturing losses could signal that newer U.S. tariffs are beginning to affect employers.

Despite the recent downturn, employment remained 95,000 positions higher than a year earlier, an increase of just 0.5 per cent.

The disappointing jobs report adds to the economic uncertainty facing the Bank of Canada ahead of its October 28 interest rate decision, with its benchmark rate currently sitting at 2.25 per cent.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing conflict-of-interest allegations over his $2-billion heat pump rebate program after ethics filings revealed past investments in manufacturers that could benefit from the taxpayer-funded subsidies.

“How is that not corrupt?” Conservative MP John Brassard, chair of the Commons ethics committee, demanded in the House of Commons on Thursday.

“The conflict of interest is so blatantly obvious, but what’s surprising is the Prime Minister’s not even hiding it anymore,” Brassard said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also accused Carney of directing taxpayer money toward Brookfield-connected businesses while speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill before question period.

“The Prime Minister just finished announcing he’s going to take $2 billion out of the pockets of Canadians and give it to companies like those owned by Brookfield,” Poilievre said.

He argued Canadians should decide for themselves whether to purchase heat pumps rather than have Ottawa redistribute their money.

The rebates, however, are intended for homeowners rather than direct corporate grants, although manufacturers and installers could benefit from increased demand.

Brassard went further, alleging Carney stood to profit personally through his financial interests.

“He stands to make millions in deferred stock units, stock options, and carried interest,” Brassard said.

“Today’s $2-billion taxpayer-funded announcement increases the value of his personal assets and Brookfield’s.”

Carney’s July 2025 ethics disclosure identified historical investments in hundreds of companies, including heat pump manufacturers Trane Technologies, Carrier Global Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Blacklock’s Reporter first reported.

The securities included holdings in a third-party-managed account in which Carney did not direct investment selections.

His investments were placed in a blind trust, while an ethics screen limits his involvement in Brookfield-related matters, with exceptions for decisions of general application.

The disclosure does not establish the current value of his investments or whether he continues to hold the individual company shares.

Brassard also claimed Trane and Canadian heat pump installer Enercare were both owned by Brookfield, Carney’s former employer.

However, Trane is a separately publicly traded manufacturer, not a Brookfield subsidiary.

Natural Resources Canada’s existing Oil-to-Heat Pump Affordability Program database lists 3,152 Trane-branded heat pump configurations for Manitoba and Yukon. Their eligibility under Carney’s new program remains unconfirmed.

Trane partnered with Brookfield Renewable in July 2021 to pursue energy-efficiency projects across North America, including building retrofits. Brookfield Renewable CEO Connor Teskey subsequently described opportunities for the companies to sell services to each other’s customers and jointly invest in projects.

Carney previously served as Brookfield Renewable’s vice-chair, according to a 2020 company filing. His involvement in negotiating the Trane partnership has not been established.

Brookfield’s connection to Enercare is more direct.

Brookfield Infrastructure and its partners acquired the heating and cooling services provider in 2018 for $4.3 billion, including debt. Enercare installs heat pumps and participates in government-supported rebate programs.

Federal lobbying records show Enercare lobbied Natural Resources Canada and the Prime Minister’s Office on the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, though no link to the new program has been established.

The allegations followed Carney’s announcement Thursday in Sherbrooke, Quebec, of an eight-year rebate program expected to launch in early 2027, offering up to $10,000 to eligible lower-income households and $2,000 to other qualifying homeowners.

“Today we’re announcing more than $2 billion to deliver over 1 million home retrofits to lower energy costs and create additional savings for multi-unit buildings,” Carney said.

Ottawa expects to support up to 820,000 households through rebates, with separate financing initiatives targeting another 280,000 apartment units.

“When fully taken up, these upgrades will save Canadian families more than $1 billion every year on their energy bills,” Carney said. “That is a great return on investment.”

Carney promoted heat pumps as two to three times more efficient than conventional heating, projecting annual savings of approximately $2,000 for households switching from oil and $1,400 for those replacing electric baseboards.

The government defended the rebates as an affordability measure intended to lower household energy costs and emissions.

Carney has previously described how government policies can create investment opportunities for Brookfield.

In remarks attributed to an October 10, 2024 appearance at Toronto’s Prime Quadrant Conference, Carney cited sustainable aviation fuel requirements as an example of policies making private investments commercially viable.

“Brookfield put a billion dollars to work there, and, you know, it’s a fantastic opportunity,” he said, according to a transcript of the remarks.

The previous month, Brookfield committed up to $1.1 billion to sustainable aviation fuel producer Infinium, including an initial investment exceeding $200 million and up to another $850 million subject to conditions.

Those remarks concerned aviation fuel, not heat pumps, and do not establish that Carney designed the new rebates to benefit Brookfield.

Concerns about Carney’s financial interests also predate Thursday’s announcement.

In April 2025, then-Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett requested a lobbying investigation into potential conflicts involving Carney’s heat pump policies and Brookfield-related businesses, writing that it was “conceivable that Mr. Carney might well benefit financially.”

During a December 2, 2025 Commons speech, Brassard accused Carney of advancing a “MODEL OF PUBLIC RISK FOR PRIVATE RETURN” while advising former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, alleging that federal investment policies could benefit Brookfield and “will make the Prime Minister millions, and he knows it.”

In an April 23 report, the Commons ethics committee recommended requiring prime ministers to sell their controlled assets rather than place them in blind trusts.

“Individuals with greater decision-making authority should be held to higher standards,” the committee concluded.

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Liberal MPs voted to adjourn a parliamentary committee meeting Wednesday, cutting short debate as Conservatives demanded Ottawa recover $34 million in taxpayer funds awarded to ineligible green technology projects.

The clash erupted at the House of Commons public accounts committee over Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the scandal-plagued agency Conservatives dubbed the “green slush fund.”

During the October 8 meeting, MP Kristina Tesser Derksen defended the government’s response to concerns raised by Auditor General Karen Hogan.

“The department responded proactively, quickly, and well,” she said, citing Hogan’s previous testimony.

“Weaknesses were identified and addressed. Let’s not throw more good money at this. It is not in the public interest to do so.”

Tesser Derksen then moved to adjourn, ending the meeting without a vote on the Conservative recovery proposal.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had confirmed Ottawa would not seek repayment of $34 million awarded to five ineligible projects, citing the likelihood that recovery efforts would fail.

“Therefore, as a matter of fairness and sound stewardship of public funds, it was determined that further pursuit of recoveries was not likely to be successful, and not in the public interest,” Joly wrote in response to an order paper question.

On Wednesday, Conservative MP Michael Cooper accused Liberals of shutting down efforts to recover taxpayer money.

“The Liberals SHUT DOWN a CPC motion to ORDER the recovery of $34 MILLION tax dollars,” Cooper wrote on social media.

A 2024 Auditor General report found SDTC awarded $59 million to 10 ineligible projects and identified 90 conflict-of-interest policy violations involving nearly $76 million.

A subsequent review identified five ineligible projects receiving $34 million, but Ottawa did not name the recipients or publicly explain the differing findings.

The decision not to pursue repayment contrasts with the Public Accounts Committee’s earlier unanimous recommendation to recover improperly awarded funds.

SDTC disputed some eligibility findings, which do not necessarily establish wrongdoing. The scandal prompted Ottawa to transfer SDTC’s programming to the National Research Council in 2025.

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B.C. Premier David Eby’s snap election gamble is facing voter resistance, with three recent polls putting the BC Conservatives ahead and multiple surveys showing opposition to the early election call.

British Columbians were not scheduled to vote again until October 2028. Instead, Eby called an election for October 24, arguing he needed a new mandate as U.S. President Donald Trump escalated economic threats against Canada.

Asked why he was going to the polls now, Eby said, “The conditions have changed by the hour,” citing new White House threats against Canadian industries.

“We will not bow down, and we will stand strong even under these recently and massively escalated threats against our economy and our workers and our communities,” Eby said.

Confronting Trump has since become a central campaign theme.

“Stand up,” Eby said in another campaign appearance. “It begins by having the courage to say no. To stand up to Trump’s threats, to the bullying, to the red-face[d] shouting, the violent memes.”

“We will hold the line,” Eby added. “That means not backing down on selling American liquor. Not one drop of Jack Daniel’s until there is a fair deal for B.C. forest families.”

But the early election itself is drawing significant opposition.

Mainstreet Research puts the BC Conservatives at 44.7% among decided and leaning voters, compared with 37.2% for the NDP. The Greens sit at 11.2%, OneBC at 5.7% and CentreBC at 1.1%.

Nearly six in ten — 59.3% — disapprove of the election call, compared with 29.4% who approve. Mainstreet said the Conservatives are “quite likely in majority territory.”

“David Eby said he needed a mandate to deal with the threat of Donald Trump and he may regret it,” Mainstreet president and CEO Quito Maggi said.

“If the anger at the election call itself does not subside soon, BC could be headed toward a change of Government for the first time in almost a decade,” he added.

Angus Reid Institute also has the Conservatives ahead at 48% versus 43% among decided and leaning voters.

Conservative supporters appear more committed, with 65% “very certain” of their choice compared with 44% of NDP supporters.

Ipsos, meanwhile, puts the Conservatives at 42% and the NDP at 40% among decided voters — a statistical tie.

Compared with its previous survey, Conservative support rose seven points while NDP support fell five.

Ipsos also found similar dissatisfaction with the early election: 50% disapprove of holding an election now, compared with 32% who approve.

Nearly half — 47% — said it was time for another party to take over, while 31% said the Eby government had done a good job and deserved re-election.

The three polls use different methodologies and should not be treated as directly interchangeable. All three, however, put the Conservatives ahead.

The surveys also suggest Eby’s Trump-focused campaign is competing with more immediate voter concerns.

Angus Reid found just 10% identified U.S. tariffs, Trump or the provincial alcohol ban as one of their most important election issues. Cost of living and inflation led at 57%, followed by health care at 42%.

Ipsos found a similar picture, with cost of living and inflation at 56%, health care at 39% and housing at 31%.

Eby is also struggling on personal measures. Angus Reid found 58% view him unfavourably and 36% favourably.

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson leads Eby 36% to 33% when voters are asked who would make the best premier, while 31% choose neither.

The polling comes as the Conservatives field candidates in all 93 ridings, while the NDP fell one short of a full slate — the party’s first time doing so since 1963.

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Toronto-based Psiphon, whose VPN technology is used in countries including Iran, China and Russia, says Bill C-22 could compromise privacy protections at the heart of its anti-censorship software.

“We spend our days protecting people from authoritarian surveillance,” Psiphon vice president Kenzie Elsworthy told The Globe and Mail. “This bill would compel Psiphon to help build an arbitrary surveillance system in Canada.”

Founded out of the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, Psiphon now reaches roughly 20 million monthly users worldwide, including millions in Iran and Myanmar. Ottawa also gave Psiphon $685,000 this year to improve what it called the “world’s largest and most capable anti-censorship platform.”

Meanwhile, Elsworthy said Psiphon has already begun plans to relocate.

“We do not want to leave Canada. We were built here, originally out of the University of Toronto, and we have been here for nearly 20 years,” she said.

“But if this bill passes as written, relocating is the only way the work continues.”

Psiphon’s software is open source, meaning its code can be publicly inspected, adding additional problems to the Carney government’s plans.

“You cannot build a secret backdoor into open-source code,” Elsworthy said. “Every line we ship is public.

“Any access capability this bill forces us to build would be visible to the whole world, including the authoritarian governments our users are trying to escape. That is not lawful access. It is a published vulnerability.”

Bill C-22, the Lawful Access Act, would require certain telecom and electronic service providers to maintain technical capabilities allowing police and CSIS to access information they are legally authorized to obtain.

Ottawa says the bill does not authorize mass surveillance or direct access to company systems and exempts obligations that cause a “systemic vulnerability.” However, Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne has warned the safeguard may not fully protect encryption.

The bill would also allow Ottawa to require certain providers to retain metadata for up to one year and let authorities demand, without prior judicial authorization, confirmation that a provider serves a particular subscriber or account.

The Canadian Bar Association has questioned the need for the expanded powers, warning they could extend beyond tech companies to universities, hospitals, law offices and media outlets.

Psiphon, however, is not alone in threatening to leave.

Signal has said it would “rather pull out of the country than be compelled to compromise” its privacy promises, while DuckDuckGo has said it would remove its VPN service from Canada if Bill C-22 passes.

Proton VPN, NordVPN and Toronto-based Windscribe have issued similar warnings, while Apple, Google and Meta have raised privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

Apple previously warned the legislation could force companies to break encryption by inserting backdoors, “something Apple will never do.”

The Liberals split Bill C-22 from Bill C-2 amid privacy concerns and later added safeguards. It passed the House in June and is now before the Senate.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, who has defended the legislation, says Bill C-22 would give police and CSIS the “essential tools they need” when digital investigations stall.

His office has also rejected suggestions that a lawful access framework makes privacy-focused services impossible to operate in Canada.

“The existence of a lawful-access framework does not, on its own, make it impossible to operate a secure, privacy-protective service in Canada,” spokesperson Simon Lafortune told The Globe.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberals of trying to turn the tech sector into a “gigantic surveillance arm of the state,” which he said, “will kill many jobs and drive many of the best businesses out of our country.”

The NDP and Green Party have also raised objections.

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Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas has officially made October ‘Canadian Islamic History Month’ in the city to celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Muslim Canadians.

Farkas made the proclamation during a Calgary city council meeting on Tuesday, October 6.

“We have the opportunity to mark Canadian Islamic History Month, which is observed each October to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and meaningful contributions of Muslim communities all across Canada,” Farkas said.

“Muslim Canadians have made significant contributions to all aspects of Canadian society, including education, healthcare, business, public service, the arts, and community development.”

Farkas said the month encourages Canadians to learn about the diverse experiences of Muslims while fostering “greater understanding, inclusion, and respect.”

He also highlighted this year’s theme of Islamic calligraphy, calling it “a living legacy of faith, art, and expression.”

“Together as Canadians of all faiths, backgrounds, and origins, we can help build stronger, more welcoming communities where everyone feels valued, respected, and included,” Farkas said.

He concluded by proclaiming Canadian ‘Islamic History Month “on behalf of City Council and Calgarians.”

Muslims represented seven per cent of Calgary’s population in the 2021 census, with 95,925 residents identifying as Muslim — the city’s third-largest religious affiliation.

Farkas has made several other proclamations recognizing Calgary’s religious and cultural communities.

In April, he proclaimed Sikh Heritage Month, honouring the Sikh community’s history and contributions to Calgary and Canada while highlighting Baisakhi and Calgary’s annual Nagar Kirtan.

Following threats against the Dashmesh Culture Centre this summer, Farkas also declared: “Sikh Calgarians are Calgarians. Period.”

In May, Farkas formally proclaimed Asian Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions of Calgary’s Asian communities.

Farkas has also marked observances connected to Christian and Jewish communities — but not through equivalent heritage month proclamations in 2026.

In December 2025, Farkas proclaimed Christian Minority Week, recognizing Christian minorities’ contributions to Calgary’s “social, cultural, and spiritual fabric.”

“May the message of Christmas inspire compassion and reflection well beyond the season,” he said.

On January 27, Farkas signed a proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honouring the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and its survivors.

However, neither Christian Minority Week nor International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on the level of an entire month dedicated to the respective cultures.

Calgary has previously proclaimed Jewish Heritage Month, which has been federally recognized each May since 2018. City records show it was also recognized in May 2023, the same year Calgary proclaimed Sikh Heritage Month throughout April.

But unlike Canadian Islamic History Month and Canadian Jewish Heritage Month, there is no federally designated Christian Heritage Month in Canada.

Juno News reached out to the mayor’s office seeking clarification on whether Farkas issued similar heritage month proclamations for Christians and Jews in 2026 and why none appear in publicly available records. The mayor’s office did not respond.

Canadian Islamic History Month dates to 2007, when the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion designating October as a month to recognize the history and contributions of Muslim Canadians.

The federal government is also marking the month. Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller said nearly two million Muslims from more than 50 countries now call Canada home.

Under Calgary’s policy, proclamations are ceremonial documents signed by the mayor on behalf of city council and Calgarians. The city states that a proclamation does not constitute a personal endorsement by the mayor’s office or council.

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Years after several individuals and the Toronto Star attempted to uncover what was being discussed in a WhatsApp group chat between Ontario’s “Big City Mayors,” the chat logs have been disclosed, revealing that mayors were concerned about a lack of provincial and federal support for homelessness and about increasing refugee and migrant populations.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario ruled at the end of August that the chat logs were akin to an email chain and should be available for the public to read, following three separate freedom of information requests seeking disclosure.

A look at the 101 pages of chat logs spanning about 18 months, which were provided to Juno News by one of the applicants, shows that many mayors were frustrated with the provincial and federal governments over a lack of assistance in dealing with their respective cities’ homelessness crises, an increase in asylum seekers, and a surge in immigration caused by federal Liberal policies.

The chat logs start on July 15, 2023, with representatives from Guelph asking other cities and their mayors whether they were also experiencing overwhelmed social services and a surge in refugees entering their cities.

Others discussed conversations with the then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, who allegedly indicated that there would be no additional assistance to deal with the influx caused by the feds’ immigration and refugee policies beyond the “existing Federal dollars and programs in the medium term.”

One representative from Niagara said that the surge in refugees into Niagara has been “putting strain on our already full shelters for the last several months.”

Mayors, including Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier, acknowledged that many of Ontario’s “big cities” were experiencing capacity issues with the “recent flood of asylum seekers” that had been brought into their cities.

“Ajax has had over 200 in the last 2 weeks. Regional resources are exhausted. Of our 200, approx half are documented and in the system so the Feds have or are supposed to have provided funding for them,” Collier said in one message.

Collier also noted that social services to support and house the new refugee claimants had now been made the region’s responsibility.

Mayors and city representatives discussed homeless encampments, addictions and public disorder as well. A common theme among many mayors was that the provincial and federal governments weren’t doing enough to help cities address the issues.

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was particularly critical of the Liberal government’s immigration and refugee intake policies, noting that mass immigration “broke the housing market” by increasing demand that municipalities were not prepared for.

“Ottawa broke the housing market with an unsustainable and unpredicted and unprepared for increase in demand from their massive increase in immigration,” Burton said in 2024.

Hamilton Mayor and former NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, on the other hand, responded that immigration was needed but that the federal and provincial governments failed to account for where all of those “needed” immigrants would live.

Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe even complained that municipalities were not adequately consulted about immigration and refugee targets before the federal government set immigration policy.

McCabe complained about Ukrainians arriving to study in Waterloo and discovering they did not qualify as refugees for purposes affecting tuition. She called the situation “untenable.”

“The federal government needs to start talking to municipalities before they set their immigration and refugee targets,” she said.

When Premier Doug Ford said Ontario was “pouring money in” for shelters, Burton, Oakville’s mayor, claimed that the money was “news to Halton,” and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe joked that “Niagara would also like to know the location of the money spigots.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow pushed for immediate federal and provincial help after an influx of asylum seekers, and the other mayors discussed municipalities being left to handle accommodation and associated costs.

Health-care funding was another topic of concern, as the mayors privately discussed presenting a united position to Ontario, demanding additional hospital and health funding. Chow told the group she would support what the group decided.

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B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is campaigning on a new “millionaire tax”, but his tax hikes would start on incomes above $190,405.

Beginning in 2027, Eby proposes raising the provincial tax rate on taxable income between $190,405 and $265,545 from 16.8 per cent to 18.8 per cent.

Income between $265,545 and $1 million would face a 22.5 per cent rate, up from 20.5 per cent, while income above $1 million would face a new 24.5 per cent provincial rate.

The higher rates would apply only to income within each bracket, not a taxpayer’s entire income.

University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said the proposal would have significant implications for B.C.’s tax competitiveness.

“This would raise BC to the highest income tax rate since 1981, and make the province (by a decent margin) the highest tax rate jurisdiction in Canada,” Tombe said. “The gap with Alberta would be back at 1990s levels.”

The NDP estimates the changes would affect 3.88 per cent of B.C. income earners and eventually raise $1 billion annually for health care and affordability measures.

“As we face an unprecedented attack on our economy and rising costs for working families, we’ll ask the wealthiest to chip in a little more,” Eby said.

The B.C. Conservatives seized on the fact that the increases begin at $190,405, arguing they could make it harder to recruit and retain doctors and specialists.

“At a time when British Columbians desperately need more doctors, David Eby has revealed his plan to drive doctors out of our province,” the party said. “Emergency rooms are still closing at night, and now he wants to tax the doctors and specialists every community is fighting to recruit.”

The Conservatives have pledged no new taxes under leader Lorne Doerkson.

The NDP, meanwhile, is campaigning on tripling the recruitment of U.S. healthcare workers and says more than 800 have accepted jobs in B.C.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business also criticized the proposal, saying nearly half of B.C. small businesses surveyed want personal income tax cuts prioritized over increases.

CFIB also pointed to the province’s decision to pause inflation indexation of income tax brackets through 2030, arguing it means taxpayers will face a “hidden inflation tax increase” as incomes rise while brackets remain frozen.

The business group said B.C. is facing an “entrepreneurial drought,” with business exits outpacing entries, and called on all parties to focus on reducing the cost of doing business to reverse the trend.

B.C. already has one of North America’s highest top income tax rates. A March 2026 Fraser Institute study ranked its current 53.5 per cent combined rate fourth-highest among 61 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions — and 16.5 points above neighbouring Washington and Alaska.

That comparison predates Eby’s proposed increase from 20.5 per cent to 24.5 per cent.

B.C. also ranked last among eight western jurisdictions examined in 2024 GDP per capita, at roughly $75,300.

Washington generated roughly $147,300 in GDP per person in 2024 — nearly twice B.C.’s $75,300 — while California, Alaska, Oregon, Alberta, Montana and Idaho also outperformed B.C. U.S. figures are converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada’s annual average exchange rate.

B.C. also trailed on income. Fraser Institute data found its 2019 median employment income was $34,008 versus $47,307 in Alberta, while Vancouver ranked 48th of 59 western metropolitan areas, nearly $24,000 behind Seattle.

The proposed increases would also follow tax changes already introduced by the Eby government.

Budget 2026 increased B.C.’s lowest provincial income-tax rate from 5.06 per cent to 5.60 per cent and froze personal income-tax brackets at 2026 levels through 2030 by pausing inflation indexation.

The budget also proposed extending the PST to professional services, but the government paused that expansion in September amid economic uncertainty.

High marginal tax rates can affect incentives to work, invest and undertake entrepreneurial activity and influence where highly skilled workers choose to live.

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PM Mark Carney’s government is exploring a Canadian version of the European Union’s youth “Solidarity Corps”. This comes after Ottawa already spent $204.4 million on a previous youth volunteer program that an audit found few youth or charities had even heard of.

A Privy Council report says the government is considering a “civic corps” where young Canadians could participate in “nation-building projects” and receive free volunteer training.

“The Government of Canada is looking into the possibility of developing its own civic corps in Canada,” said the report, first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The proposal was presented alongside the European Solidarity Corps, an EU initiative that subsidizes organizations hosting young volunteers for community, cultural and environmental projects. Its budget this year totals $282 million.

Ottawa commissioned focus groups to gauge reaction to a Canadian version and test possible names.

A May 7 Privy Council report found many participants were unfamiliar with the concept. Participants were told a civic corps generally consists of paid or volunteer work–study programs providing young adults with training and experience.

Ottawa also tested names for programs targeting Canadians aged 15 to 30, with “Work Readiness and Experience Program” overwhelmingly preferred over alternatives.

But participants raised concerns about taxpayers footing the bill.

“Several expressed concerns as to whether it would be financially feasible for the Government of Canada at present, especially given other pressing priorities such as the high cost of living and housing affordability,” researchers wrote.

Others warned about ineffective implementation and administrative complexity, while some questioned whether participation could become mandatory.

The concerns follow Ottawa’s previous attempts at federally funded youth volunteer programs.

Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau launched the Canada Service Corps in 2018, offering students up to $1,500 for volunteer work.

A 2025 evaluation found few young Canadians or charities had heard of the program despite Ottawa spending $204.4 million on it.

Ottawa also previously funded Katimavik, once chaired by Trudeau, which had an annual federal budget reaching $14 million before cuts in 2012.

The latest focus group research was conducted by Toronto pollster The Strategic Counsel under a $1.6-million federal contract.

Ottawa’s interest in a European-style youth corps comes as Carney pursues deeper ties with the EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently proposed making Canada the EU’s first “associate member.” No country currently holds the status, leaving its terms and obligations undefined.

Carney welcomed the proposal while stressing Canada is not seeking full EU membership. His government has also floated expanded opportunities for young Canadians to live, work and study in Europe.

There is no indication the proposed civic corps is part of the prospective Canada-EU associate arrangement.

Polling suggests Canadians are more enthusiastic about closer economic ties with Europe than joining the bloc outright.

A Nanos Research poll conducted from March 31 to April 4 found 84 per cent of 1,099 people supported stronger economic and trade ties with the EU, while 56.8 per cent supported or somewhat supported full membership.

Younger Canadians — among those targeted by Ottawa’s proposed civic corps — were the least supportive age group of full EU membership.

Among respondents aged 18 to 34, 53.5 per cent supported or somewhat supported membership, compared with 55.7 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 and 59.8 per cent of those 55 and older.

Opposition was highest among younger Canadians at 35 per cent, falling to 32.1 per cent among those aged 35 to 54 and 28.1 per cent among those 55 and older.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has opposed importing EU laws, taxes or immigration policies into Canada.

“We will never be the 28th state” of the EU, Poilievre recently told supporters.

“Canada must be independent and sovereign. Period,” he previously told Juno News. “Conservatives say no EU taxes, no EU laws, and no EU open-border rules on immigration in Canada.”

Carney argues closer European cooperation would strengthen Canada.

“We very strongly believe that Canada is a better partner if our economy is stronger, if we’re more independent or more resilient, we have a deeper web of ties around the world,” he said.

The government has not announced a budget for the proposed civic corps or confirmed it will proceed.

Juno News sought comment from the Privy Council Office but received no response by publication time.

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Two leaders of the 2022 Coutts border blockade have lost their bid to overturn their weapons convictions, despite Alberta’s top court finding further Charter breaches in the police investigation.

The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed conviction appeals Thursday from Chris Carbert and Anthony Olienick, who were convicted in 2024 of mischief over $5,000 and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick was also convicted of possessing a pipe bomb.

Both men were acquitted of the most serious charge they faced — conspiring to murder RCMP officers.

Carbert and Olienick were among four men originally charged with the conspiracy. The other two pleaded guilty to lesser offences before trial.

The appeals focused partly on RCMP wiretaps and searches that uncovered firearms and other evidence near the blockade, according to CBC News.

The trial judge had ruled emergency wiretaps were justified for the first 24 hours but that police should have obtained warrants after that point, excluding communications intercepted later.

The Court of Appeal found further problems with the investigation, ruling there was insufficient evidence to justify wiretapping Carbert. The interceptions involving Olienick were found to be lawful.

The judges acknowledged the wiretap violations “colour and exacerbate the search warrant breaches,” but ultimately refused to exclude the firearms and related evidence.

Even after accounting for the breaches, the court found there was “ample evidence” obtained independently of the wiretaps to support the subsequent warrants.

“The strongest consideration in the circumstances is the public interest in the prosecutions proceeding with the benefit of the evidence,” the court wrote.

It added that the prosecutions sought to “deter and denounce dangerous forms of public protest that are squarely antithetical to Canadian democratic values.”

Carbert’s lawyer, Katherin Beyak, criticized the outcome.

“It’s troubling to me that the RCMP have been found to engage in repeated unconstitutional behaviour but our clients have been left without a remedy,” Beyak said.

Carbert and Olienick were arrested during the weeks-long protest against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates at the Sweetgrass–Coutts border crossing in early 2022.

Police discovered guns, ammunition and body armour while searching trailers near the blockade. At sentencing, Justice David Labrenz found the men had armed themselves “for the purpose of using those weapons against police.”

Both men received six-and-a-half-year sentences, with nearly four years credited for time already spent behind bars awaiting trial.

Carbert was released on bail pending appeal in June 2025, followed by Olienick in January 2026.

Their legal fight is not over.

Thursday’s ruling resolves only their conviction appeals. Their separate bids to reduce their six-and-a-half-year sentences remain outstanding.

Beyak said she will wait for the sentence appeal outcome before deciding on any further challenge to Carbert’s convictions.

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Alberta’s Election Commissioner has cracked down on a pro-Canada advocacy group after speakers at some of its events took sides on the province’s separation referendum question.

Forever Canadian, led by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, registered as a Referendum Third Party Advertiser under Alberta’s Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act on June 8.

For months, the group maintained that its rallies, Unity Bus tour and other events were about Canadian unity generally, rather than telling Albertans how to vote.

According to the Sept. 29 compliance agreement, those events were initially “general in nature” and did not constitute referendum advertising because promoting or opposing a referendum question was not a significant purpose.

But the Election Commissioner says that changed.

“More recently, at some of these events, the Election Commissioner identified occasions where a speaker made specific reference to the referendum question on Alberta separation and took a position,” the agreement states.

Forever Canadian has also advised the commissioner that it now intends to engage in referendum advertising.

Under the agreement, Forever Canadian must separate referendum-advertising contributions from other donations and report expenses for events where speakers took sides on the referendum question.

That includes its Aug. 23 YouTube town hall at West Edmonton Mall, similar productions and Unity Bus events held on or after Aug. 20.

The agreement does not say Forever Canadian was fined or establish that all of its earlier activities constituted referendum advertising.

The development follows months of scrutiny from Rebel News over the group’s activities and financial disclosures.

Rebel reported that Forever Canadian disclosed $0 in referendum advertising contributions for 15 straight weeks, despite running events, a branded Unity Bus and distributing lawn signs.

On July 24, lawyers acting for the publication filed a formal complaint with Elections Alberta backed by more than 200 pages of material. It then sought judicial review on Sept. 10 after the complaint remained unresolved.

Rebel also sought a court order to accelerate the complaint process before the Oct. 19 vote, but a judge dismissed that request. The underlying complaint process continued.

Eleven days later, Lukaszuk announced Forever Canadian would campaign explicitly for Alberta to remain in Canada and begin reporting under Elections Alberta’s referendum rules.

Forever Canadian subsequently reported $48,345 in contributions in a single week, according to Rebel News.

Neither the contributions nor Rebel’s legal action establish that Forever Canadian previously violated election law.

The Sept. 29 agreement does, however, require Forever Canadian to account for certain referendum-related expenses dating back to Aug. 20.

Forever Canadian previously spearheaded the Alberta Forever Canada citizen initiative, which secured 404,293 verified signatures calling for Alberta to remain in Canada.

The organization is now openly campaigning for Option 1 on Question 10 ahead of the Oct. 19 vote.

Option 1 says Alberta should remain a province of Canada. Option 2 would begin the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on separation.

The Oct. 19 vote is therefore not itself a binding referendum on Alberta independence.

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