The Alberta Next panel makes stop in Edmonton
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CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
Over 200 candidates sign up for Poilievre's byelection — doubling previous record
Social Sharing More than 200 candidates, mostly associated with a group of electoral reform advocates, have signed up to run in an upcoming federal byelection next month. The number more than doubles the previous record on a single ballot. Former Alberta MP Damien Kurek vacated his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot to give Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre a chance to rejoin the House of Commons. Poilievre lost his longtime Carleton riding in April's general election. A group known as the Longest Ballot Committee has been organizing candidates to run in byelections in recent years in an effort to push for electoral reform. The committee's organizers want to put a citizens' assembly in charge of electoral reform and say political parties are too reluctant to make government more representative of the electorate. As of Sunday evening, 209 candidates had registered to run in Battle River-Crowfoot, exceeding than committee's goal of 200. That's more than double the previous record of 91 which has occurred twice in the past year: during a byelection in LaSalle-Emard-Verdun last September and Carleton during the last general election. That number of candidates resulted in a ballot roughly a metre long. The massive ballots have resulted in delays in vote counting and have confounded some voters. Elections Canada told CBC News on Wednesday that it will finalize ways to minimize disruptions from the long ballots. "We are looking at ways to [simplify] things based on recent experiences with elections involving a higher-than-usual number of candidates. We will finalize our plans after the deadline for candidate nominations," spokesperson Matthew McKenna said in an email. Elections Canada has already had to make changes to accommodate the mammoth-sized ballots — mostly through early counting and bringing in extra workers. Although the Longest Ballot Committee has organized in two elections where Poilievre is running, the group has also targeted Liberal strongholds such as Toronto-St. Paul's and LaSalle-Émard-Verdun in 2024. But the advocates' efforts to push the limits of a ballot have sparked calls for changes, most recently from Poilievre himself which he refers to as a "scam." The Conservative leader wrote a letter to government House leader Steven MacKinnon on Tuesday, calling for legislation to change Canada's election rules in an effort to curb the long ballot protests. A spokesperson for MacKinnon's office said the Liberals share those concerns and are open to changes. MPs were debating legislation last Parliamentary session that could have implemented some of Poilievre's proposed changes — specifically to limit electors to only signing one nomination form. The advocates have voters sign multiple forms. Elections Canada head Stéphane Perrault himself made the suggestion in front of a committee of MPs that was studying a bill to amend the Canada Elections Act before Parliament was prorogued. Perrault argued that "certain penalties" should be imposed on individuals who sign — or encourage others to sign — multiple nomination papers in an effort to get as many candidates on a ballot as possible, though he didn't say what those penalties should be. The deadline to register as a candidate in Battle River-Crowfoot is Monday. Voters head to the polls on Aug. 18.
CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
Animal rescue fighting to save resident wild boar
An animal rescue in Yellowhead County is running up against a problematic law that bans residents from raising wild boars. Rosie's Rescue recently relocated to the area along with its wild boar Wilbur who was rescued from a meat farm. As Sarah Reid reports, a recent vote by council means he'll have to be either destroyed or removed.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Five-year funding saga for new Medicine Hat Stampede grandstand continues
Another summer rodeo is underway in Medicine Hat and — for the fifth straight year — talks continue about replacing the 60-year-old wooden grandstand at the Stampede grounds. The north grandstand seats 2,500 spectators. Last year it required hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs and structural work to pass safety inspection ahead of rodeo go-rounds and concerts at the annual fair. Replacing it is part of a larger project envisioned by the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede board to modernize and expand the grounds, but it's one that will require significant municipal and provincial support. What was first discussed as a pandemic stimulus project has now been subject to years of back and forth debate over scope, project management and financing between the Stampede and the city. Council balked at an initial proposal in 2023 to provide about 60 per cent of the budget, now estimated at $38.9 million, in grants and no-interest loans to the agricultural society, and city hall is now studying options to scale back plans to reduce the cost to city hall. 'Like a chicken and an egg' As first proposed, the project would entirely replace one grandstand that dates to 1966, refurbish another grandstand erected in 1979, replace a 45-year-old commercial kitchen beneath the stands and add a new 9,000-square foot convention and meeting space. Ron Edwards, the Stampede general manager, says all elements of the plan are needed, either for safety reasons or to bring in year-round revenue for the not-for-profit ag society. Putting together potential grants and partnerships has been "frustrating," he said, as city hall studies the proposal and suggests scaling it back or alternate financing arrangements. Edwards said municipal support is needed before the province will consider providing matching funds. "It's like a chicken and an egg — the city is asking what the province is doing and the province is saying, yeah, what's the city doing?" said Edwards. "And we're sitting here for four years, saying 'we need a grandstand.'" City councillors say they support the organization, but a $14-million grant and a $7-million loan would be the largest outlays to an outside agency in city history at a time when their own budgets are challenged. For two years, city staff have reviewed the business case and evaluated construction and funding options. This spring council approved $250,000 to redo some design work and city hall plans to take up the issue again in August. Coun. Andy McGrogan said the work now underway could open a path toward the city making a financial commitment. "You can't deny the economic impacts of the Stampede — this weekend hotels are full and restaurants are busy — but some [economic activity] is hard to measure," he told CBC News. "You have to take that back to the average taxpayer and tell them it's worth it to keep the Stampede viable. It's a real balancing act." The city also has infrastructure needs of its own that require cash from city reserves. Beyond upgrades to the city-owned power grid and power plant, council has signalled a large recreation centre, potentially costing $100 million, should be in the next city budget. Province is 'last partner' While Stampede executives say the Alberta government has been receptive to backing the grandstand repair, there hasn't been any formal confirmation from Alberta government officials. Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson announced an increase in operating funds for agriculture societies from Medicine Hat in April, but only cited "an ongoing conversation" when asked by reporters if there would be more cash for the grandstand. Premier Danielle Smith spent some time speaking with Edwards during a luncheon at the Stampede this week. Edwards described the discussion as positive. The premier, who featured as the Stampede's parade marshal on Thursday, sat in the ailing grandstand as she watched the rodeo that evening. Speaking during an unrelated news conference in Brooks on Friday, Smith said her government will consider investing once the Stampede has a deal with the City of Medicine Hat. "We tend to like for the municipalities and the proponent to come through with an agreement on the design," she said. "And then we come in as the last partner to be able to bridge the gap. "They haven't succeeded in being able to come to an agreement with Medicine Hat on what that design should be. But as soon as they do, we'd be happy to re-engage in the conversation."
