• Experts, Liberal MP hope for full ban on sports betting ads as advocates cite mental health decline

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-30 14:50:39.0
  Tags: [National, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Healthcare, Social Services, Governance]

  Bill S-211, introduced in May 2025 by Senator Marty Deacon and sponsored in the House by MP Bardish Chagger, is currently before the House standing committee on Canadian heritage to restrict sports betting ads across Canada. Supporters including Liberal MP Michael Coteau and public policy think-tank Cardus cite a University of Toronto study showing gambling-related emergency room visits nearly doubled in Ontario, alongside a 161 per cent increase in helpline calls among males aged 15-24 since single-game betting was legalized in 2021. Provincial officials from Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, along with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, have raised concerns regarding provincial jurisdiction, overlapping regulations, and economic impacts on commercial operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.

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• Advance voting opens as experts debate meaning of Alberta referendum results

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-12 18:08:35.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Immigration, Healthcare, Education, Energy]

  Advance voting has opened for the 2026 Alberta Referendum, featuring 10 distinct questions covering immigration, constitutional matters, healthcare and education fees for non-permanent residents, Senate abolition, and a final question on holding a binding referendum to separate from Canada. Elections Alberta reported receiving 650,000 special ballot requests and hired over 44,000 election workers to manage turnout. Meanwhile, the Government of Canada designated the Pacific Link pipeline a project of national interest, and Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized federal unity in opposition to provincial separation.

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• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asks Ottawa for 'latitude' as dual practice model take effect

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-01 22:11:13.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Healthcare, Governance]

  Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has formally asked the federal government for latitude to implement the province's dual practice healthcare model, established under the Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (formerly Bill 11). The legislation, which takes effect on Tuesday, allows specialized physicians—excluding family doctors—to provide both private and public medical services for approved surgical procedures including orthopedics, minimally invasive general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, and ear/nose/throat surgeries. Premier Smith stated that 400 physicians have expressed interest in the model, and the province will apply rigorous oversight to ensure participating doctors maintain their public service levels and that cancer-related and life-threatening conditions remain entirely publicly funded and exempt.

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