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Daily Edmonton Sep 16 - Sep 16, 2026

Distraction Robberies, Oilers Firestorm & $170B Separation Risk — Edmonton Wednesday

25 articles 1 hour ago 12

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Report says Alberta separation could cost up to $170 billion in first five years. A University of Calgary School of Public Policy report commissioned by the Alberta government estimates separation costs ranging from $50 billion to $170 billion in the first five years and warns a “difficult” scenario could cut GDP by 10.1% and lower typical worker pay by about $5,500 within five years.

  2. Preston Manning says polls wrongly label Danielle Smith a separatist. Manning, founder of the Reform movement, told reporters he is “baffled” that Ontario polls show about 60% of voters view Premier Danielle Smith as a separatist, and he plans to host an “Alberta and the West” virtual forum beginning Saturday where Smith will speak on provincial sovereignty.

  3. Police warn of at least 20 distraction-style robberies targeting senior South Asian women since Aug. 19. The Edmonton Police Service says thieves drive through neighbourhoods, engage seniors with conversation and sometimes forcibly remove jewellery; investigators classify recent incidents as robberies rather than thefts because force or threats were used, and no serious injuries have been reported so far.

  4. Sherwood Park woman has donated part of her liver and later a kidney to strangers and friends. Meghan Rozema donated part of her liver in 2021 to an infant and later planned a kidney donation after a two-year wait; Rozema told Global News she first contacted Give Life Alberta in 2018 about living donation and was told she could donate liver tissue before donating a kidney.

  5. Edmonton drivers saw prices near $1.81 per litre after an Illinois refinery lost power. Global News reports pumps jumped up to $0.30 in some locations with Edmonton stations around $1.81/L and Calgary $1.84/L after the Exxon Mobil Joliet refinery lost power; Dan McTeague of Canadians for Affordable Energy estimated the outage added roughly $0.18/L for gasoline and $0.24–$0.25/L for diesel.

🏈 Sports

  1. Oilers training camp opens amid controversy over Alex Formenton signing and Mike Babcock hire. The Edmonton Oilers signed Alex Formenton to a one-year US$850,000 deal and named Mike Babcock head coach in June; GM Stan Bowman said the club did legal due diligence and acknowledged a petition with more than 60,000 signatures and planned protest activity ahead of the first home game.

  2. Ottawa (0-12) visits Calgary as McLeod Bethel-Thompson makes first start, Stampeders (5-8) desperately need wins. The CFL matchup highlights Ottawa’s 18-game losing streak dating to 2025 and Calgary’s position fifth in the West, four points behind third-place Winnipeg (7-6) and B.C. (7-6), with Calgary needing a finish in the top three or a points advantage over the East’s third-place team to make playoffs.

📰 Also Today

  • Former MLA says Alberta ready for bloc-style federal party, unnamed details in report.
  • St. Albert council weighs bylaw changes to boost infill, council discussion ongoing.
  • Federal authorities cancel Edmonton mom’s removal hours before flight, action taken by immigration officials.
  • Small plane makes emergency landing on highway east of Edmonton, no further details provided.
  • Government-commissioned report calls independent Alberta costly and unpredictable, summary released.
  • Piece questions Trump-era oil policies and global transition, analysis published.
  • Alberta referendum could affect temporary residents’ health and education access, topic raised.
  • Study finds more men and boys seeking emergency care for gambling, trend reported.
  • CBC discloses letter from Bishnoi gang to police that reads ‘We will rule in CANADA’, document reported.
  • Grizzly killings increased under provincial program despite recovery claims, government response noted.
  • New roller-coaster to replace West Edmonton Mall’s Mindbender unveiled, attraction previewed.
  • $3.4M in trespass tickets issued on Edmonton transit to people with no fixed address in 2025, revenue figure reported.
  • Man sentenced to 4½ years for role in fatal 2024 Edmonton stabbing, sentencing handed down.
  • Suncor maintenance prompted odour complaints in Fort McMurray region, company maintenance cited.
  • Alberta RCMP says 2026 on pace to be deadliest year on provincial roads, warning issued.
  • Alberta NDP campaigned against separatism to flip a UCP Calgary riding, byelection result noted.
  • Calgary byelection flip attributed to separatism debate and NDP vision, analysis published.

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Source Articles (25)

Alberta separatism, NDP's vision for province among reasons cited for Calgary byelection flip

After the NDP's Kyle Campbell won the Calgary-Shaw byelection on Monday, turning a typically conservative riding orange, some are pointing at the opposition's vision for core issues like health care and education, while others are tying the result to the province's separatist movement.

General Sep 16, 2026

Alberta NDP flies the anti-separatist flag to snatch a UCP riding in Calgary

It's hard to find meaning in one byelection for a general election 12 months away. But the big referendum is only five weeks from now.

General Sep 16, 2026

2026 on pace to be deadliest year on provincial roads, says Alberta RCMP

The RCMP is “begging” Albertans to drive safely as they've seen a significant increase in fatalities and dangerous driving behaviour this year. Statistics show Alberta is on pace to have the highest number of traffic deaths on roads policed by the RCMP in over 10 years.

General Sep 16, 2026

Suncor maintenance triggers odour complaints in Fort McMurray region

The regulator said nearby air monitoring stations operated by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) have not recorded dangerous substances in concentrations hazardous to human health.

General Sep 16, 2026

Man sentenced to 4½ years for role in fatal 2024 Edmonton stabbing

Family and friends of a man who was fatally stabbed in Edmonton in 2024 delivered emotional victim impact statements last week as one of the men involved was given a 4½ sentence.

General Sep 16, 2026

$3.4M in trespass tickets issued on Edmonton transit system to those with no fixed address in 2025, data shows

Transit peace officers have issued more than $3 million worth of trespass tickets to Edmontonians with no fixed address, according to data that several organizations obtained through an access-to-information request.

General Sep 16, 2026

A look at the new roller-coaster replacing West Edmonton Mall’s Mindbender

West Edmonton Mall's Galaxyland theme park is getting a new Nerf-themed roller-coaster in the former home of the Mindbender. The two-mode ride is designed to offer both a family-friendly experience and bigger thrills on the same track. CBC’s Tristan Mottershead gets a first look ahead of its expected opening in spring 2027.

General Sep 16, 2026

Grizzly bear killings have spiked through provincial program; government says recovery still priority

The number of grizzly bears shot by hunters through Alberta's Wildlife Management Responder Network has surged over the past few months, with 14 bears killed since the program's inception. The provincial government says its recovery strategy is continuing to meet goals, while experts say the numbers reflect the challenges of coexisting with southwestern Alberta's large bear population.

General Sep 16, 2026

'We will rule in CANADA': Letter from Bishnoi gang to police disclosed to CBC News

CBC News has obtained a copy of a letter sent from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to Canada's "defence minister, army and police" claiming to have 5,000 gang members in Canada and "more guns" than the police.

General Sep 16, 2026

More people are seeking emergency care for gambling, a new study says — and it's mostly men and boys

New research published Wednesday in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found a nearly 100 per cent increase in emergency department visits, in just the past few years, following the rapid growth of privatized online gambling and legalization of betting on single sports events.

General Sep 16, 2026

Temporary residents’ access to public health care, education at stake in Alberta referendum

CBC News breaks down immigration questions two, three and four in the Oct. 19 referendum, which propose three methods to restrict non-permanent residents’ access to public and social services.

General Sep 16, 2026

Is Donald 'drill, baby, drill' Trump helping the world transition away from oil?

While running for the U.S. presidency in 2024, Donald Trump promised to do almost anything to benefit the oil industry. His slogan: "Drill, baby, drill." But his bold actions since retaking office have in many ways had the opposite effect.

General Sep 16, 2026

Establishing independent Alberta would be costly, unpredictable: government-commissioned report

Alberta’s separation from Canada would be costly in the short term and highly unpredictable in the long term, a new report from the University of Calgary School of Public Policy released Wednesday says.

General Sep 16, 2026

Small plane makes emergency landing on highway east of Edmonton

Strathcona County RCMP say a Cessna 172 touched down on Highway 21 with two people on board.

General Sep 16, 2026

Federal authorities cancel Edmonton mom's removal from Canada hours before she boards plane

In an email, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said Halima Abdi’s application for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds passed eligibility requirements on Sept. 9.

General Sep 16, 2026

St. Albert city council considers bylaw changes to boost infill development in some areas

St. Albert’s city council is considering changes to the city’s land use bylaw to allow for denser development along St. Albert Trail and skinnier homes with single driveways in low-density residential neighbourhoods.

General Sep 16, 2026

Alberta ready for bloc-style federal party, says former MLA

A former Alberta provincial MLA is working to form a new federal party that would focus on Alberta's issues and sovereignty in the House of Commons — similar to the mandate of the Bloc Quebecois. Drew Barnes sat as a Wildrose and United Conservative MLA in provincial politics.

General Sep 16, 2026

Alberta oil and gas company ordered to abandon assets for repeated non-compliance

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued a formal abandonment and reclamation order against Calgary-based MAGA Energy Ltd., forcing the company to permanently decommission its assets.

General Sep 16, 2026
Redblacks, Stampeders are both in need of victory

Redblacks, Stampeders are both in need of victory

McLeod Bethel-Thompson and the Ottawa Redblacks won't be the only ones in dire need of a win this week.

Sports Sep 16, 2026
Cost of Alberta separation could be up to $170B: report

Cost of Alberta separation could be up to $170B: report

The report looks at two scenarios involving how separation would occur, but in both cases the short-term costs of leaving Confederation would be high.

Canada Sep 16, 2026
Alberta drivers face another jump at the pump after Illinois refinery outage

Alberta drivers face another jump at the pump after Illinois refinery outage

This latest price jump isn't the first this year, as the ongoing war in Iran and blockage of the Strait of Hormuz are causing costs to soar.

Canada Sep 16, 2026
Preston Manning ‘baffled’ by those who view Danielle Smith as an Alberta separatist

Preston Manning ‘baffled’ by those who view Danielle Smith as an Alberta separatist

Conservative elder statesman Preston Manning says Canadians will get a renewed look at Danielle Smith when she speaks at a virtual two-day forum he is co-hosting next week.

Politics Sep 16, 2026
Edmonton Oilers open camp mired in controversy around Formenton signing, Babcock hiring

Edmonton Oilers open camp mired in controversy around Formenton signing, Babcock hiring

After a 2025-26 season full of criticism, from a slow start to a first-round playoff exit, the Edmonton Oilers opened training camp Wednesday mired in new off-ice controversy. 

Sports Sep 16, 2026
Distraction robberies targeting senior South Asian women rising in Edmonton

Distraction robberies targeting senior South Asian women rising in Edmonton

Since Aug. 19, Edmonton police said they've received at least 20 reports of distraction-style robberies involving theft of jewellery, typically targeting older South Asian women.

Crime Sep 16, 2026
Alberta woman saves 2 strangers with living organ donations: ‘She’s a hero’

Alberta woman saves 2 strangers with living organ donations: ‘She’s a hero’

Sherwood Park's Meghan Rozema is the first person in Alberta to become a living double organ donor, giving both a kidney and part of her liver to save two different lives.

Health Sep 16, 2026