• UCP to vote on bathroom laws, land acknowledgements, but not separatism

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-27 18:10:54.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Energy, Indigenous, Justice]

  Members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party will debate and vote on 22 policy resolutions at their annual general meeting in Calgary from November 27 to 29, 2026. The proposed resolutions include measures regarding public washroom policies and updates to the Alberta Human Rights Act, the discontinuation of First Nations land acknowledgements and blocking of indigenous land claims, mandatory byelections for floor-crossing MLAs, and opposition to federal net zero and carbon capture mandates. While the party's governing caucus is not bound by the member-approved resolutions, past meetings have resulted in implemented policy and legislative changes under Premier Danielle Smith's administration.

  Read Original

• Alberta introduces new flag rules and restrictions for all schools starting in 2027

  Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
  Date: 2026-10-24 00:27:35.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Education, Governance, Indigenous, Culture]

  The Government of Alberta announced new provincial rules restricting flag displays across all public, separate, francophone, charter, and accredited independent schools starting January 4, 2027. Under the policy led by Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Premier Danielle Smith, the flags of Canada and Alberta must be flown outside during the school year, while municipal, sports team, Franco-Albertan, and Vatican City flags are permitted. Other flags—including First Nations, Métis Settlement, foreign national, and the Royal Union Flag—are restricted to specified days and cannot remain displayed for more than 14 consecutive days. School boards may apply for exemptions only for flags that do not constitute a political, social, or ideological statement and reflect school identity.

  Read Original

• Alberta to stay in Canada; PM Mark Carney, First Nations and leaders hail unofficial results

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-20 18:32:10.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Indigenous, Immigration]

  In an unofficial provincial referendum held in Alberta, 75.5 per cent of voters rejected separation by choosing to remain in Canada, while 24.5 per cent voted in favour of option two. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith discussed intergovernmental cooperation on shared priorities, including immigration, following the results. Indigenous leaders, including Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nation and Chief Samuel Crowfoot of Siksika Nation, emphasized the importance of upholding treaties and protecting rights while noting ongoing political divisions.

  Read Original

• ‘Silence could be consent’: Alberta First Nations push to get out vote for referendum

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-04 12:33:40.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Indigenous, Governance, Justice]

  Alberta First Nations, including the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations, are mobilizing get-out-the-vote campaigns for the province's October 19, 2026 referendum on provincial separation and constitutional matters. The mobilization follows a successful legal challenge by First Nations in May 2026 where a judge quashed a citizen-initiated petition for a separation vote due to a failure in the constitutional duty to consult, which the United Conservative Party government under Premier Danielle Smith subsequently appealed while pushing forward with the referendum anyway. Turnout for the referendum is projected by Elections Alberta to reach 85 per cent, surpassing previous provincial records, with over 652,000 mail-in ballots already dispatched.

  Read Original

• Saddle Lake Cree Nation asserts treaty rights over access to gender-affirming care

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-09 21:56:42.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Indigenous, Healthcare, Justice, Governance]

  Saddle Lake Cree Nation is asserting its sovereign treaty rights under the "medicine chest" clause of Treaty 6 to create protections for gender-affirming care on reserve lands and territories. The initiative directly challenges Alberta provincial legislation, specifically Bills 26, 27, and 29, which implemented restrictions on transgender youth regarding medical treatments, name and pronoun changes, and sports participation. Backed by Two-Spirit family physician Dr. James Makokis, the Nation plans to bring in Canadian-trained clinicians to provide uninterrupted medical services on reserve lands outside provincial jurisdiction.

  Read Original

• Premier's updated Alberta Day statement removing Indigenous land acknowledgement troubles Treaty 8 Grand Chief

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-02 16:04:02.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Indigenous, Governance]

  Premier Danielle Smith's office released an updated Alberta Day statement that removed an initial Indigenous land acknowledgement and replaced it with a legacy focus on the province's economy and independent spirit. Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi publicly criticized the removal as troubling and erasing, particularly amidst ongoing tensions regarding treaty rights and provincial separation discussions. Premier Smith characterized the alteration as a technical "glitch" committed by the public service during the posting process.

  Read Original

• Indigenous lawyer Leighton Grey garners separatist rally applause in Edmonton Saturday

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-08-30 21:34:58.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Indigenous, Justice]

  Indigenous lawyer Leighton Grey spoke at a separatist rally outside the Alberta legislature ahead of an upcoming October 19 provincial referendum on separation, touching on debates surrounding the federal Clarity Act, the Indian Act of 1876, and legal challenges from Treaty 6, 7, and 8 First Nations. The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs previously requested the RCMP investigate Premier Danielle Smith's actions regarding separatism under Section 46 of the Canadian Criminal Code for alleged treason. Meanwhile, the provincial government amended the Citizen Initiative Act via Bill 14 to enable the binding referendum process.

  Read Original