• Alberta referendum a notable chapter in long history of grievance with Ottawa

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-20 09:19:12.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Energy, Resources, Economy]

  In an Alberta referendum where residents voted on 10 government-initiated questions, approximately 76 per cent of voters chose to remain in Canada rather than proceed to a binding referendum on leaving Confederation. The historic vote brought to a head nearly a century of grievances with the federal government, stemming from historical disputes including the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly established in 1935, Pierre Trudeau's National Energy Program (NEP) in the 1980s, the rise of the Reform Party under Preston Manning, pandemic-era public health restrictions, and modern federal policies such as Bill C-69 (Impact Assessment Act), Bill C-48, and the federal carbon tax.

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• Prime minister set to be in Alberta for critical last week ahead of referendum

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-11 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Alberta, Governance, Energy, Resources]

  Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit Alberta during the final week leading up to the province's October 19 referendum on separation from Canada. The federal government recently designated the Pacific Link oil pipeline from Alberta to the British Columbia coast as a project of national interest. Meanwhile, federal officials and Canada's foreign influence commissioner are monitoring allegations of foreign interference, including meetings between pro-separatist organizers and U.S. entities and social media commentary from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

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• Alberta Energy Regulator brings back executive VP let go after ICORE scandal

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-10 17:23:52.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Energy, Governance, Resources]

  The Alberta Energy Regulator has rehired Mark Taylor as the board secretariat director, an executive who was previously terminated in 2019 following multiple independent reports by the auditor general, ethics commissioner, and public interest commissioner regarding financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest tied to the ICORE scandal. Taylor's return was announced in an internal message from board chair Duncan Au and CEO Rob Morgan. The ICORE scandal involved former CEO Jim Ellis creating a non-profit corporation outside the Alberta Energy Regulator's mandate to sell regulatory expertise, costing the agency millions in funds and resulting in a complete overhaul of its executive leadership and board of directors.

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• Alberta Court of Appeal says Impact Assessment Act is still unconstitutional

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-09 22:16:10.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Environment, Energy, Resources, Governance]

  In a 4-1 decision, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that the federal government's Impact Assessment Act (originally passed as Bill C-69) remains unconstitutional because it still grants federal authorities the power to halt projects entirely within provincial jurisdiction based on minimal federal impacts. The legal challenge was brought by Alberta with backing from Ontario and Saskatchewan, following previous rulings by the Supreme Court of Canada. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called on the federal government to accept the ruling and avoid another appeal, while federal officials stated they are reviewing the decision. Meanwhile, the federal government is attempting to transfer energy project reviews to the Canada Energy Regulator through Bill C-39 while maintaining compliance with the Impact Assessment Act.

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