News about Alberta

Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Chantelle de Jonge, ahead of an Alberta referendum and amid AI backlash and US trade tensions, says the provincial government remains focused on responsible resource development, job creation and strengthening Alberta's economy within Canada. She said she ran on an Alberta First platform because of frustration with federal policies, but was not elected on a separatist mandate, and that Albertans should be able to voice their views through a democratic process. She cautioned against escalating the trade dispute, saying tariffs and counter-tariffs harm both Americans and Canadians, and urged diplomacy. On AI and data centres, which have prompted town halls in communities such as Langdon and Indus, she said Alberta is developing consistent province-wide standards so large data centres are built far from residential areas. She also noted ground was recently broken on the Dawson's Landing school in Chestermere with Rocky View Schools.

The column argues that Alberta's upcoming referendum, which asks whether to hold a later vote on leaving Canada, reflects weak leadership from Premier Danielle Smith, who has pandered to separatists rather than handle them as previous premiers did. It cites warnings from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Alberta that even putting the question forward is harming the province's economic outlook. To illustrate Alberta's history of fringe movements, it recalls how Aberhart's Social Credit Party won power in 1935 and pursued unconstitutional ideas, until Premier Ernest Manning dissolved its Social Credit Board in 1948 and marginalized the extremists. It also recalls Pierre Trudeau's 1980 National Energy Program, which Premier Peter Lougheed fought in the courts.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed that people have died and been injured in an incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, without disclosing numbers or the cause. A large fire broke out at the base and spread beyond its fence into nearby areas, though no evacuation order has been issued. Census data from 2021 shows the base had 1,310 military and civilian personnel, while the town of Wainwright, with about 6,600 residents, lies just north of it. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government is working closely with Alberta, and the military and the RCMP are investigating.