Back to Digests
Daily Calgary Sep 16 - Sep 16, 2026

Byelection Flip, Separation Cost Report & Stampeders vs Redblacks — Calgary Wednesday

21 articles 1 hour ago 12

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Alberta NDP flipped a Calgary UCP riding in a recent byelection. Post-vote analysis cites Alberta separatism and the NDP’s vision as key reasons for the upset, with local campaign messaging contrasting the parties on provincial unity and policy positions.
  2. A University of Calgary School of Public Policy report says separation could cost up to $170 billion. The government-commissioned study estimates short-term separation costs between $50 billion and $170 billion over the first five years and warns a “difficult” split could cut GDP by about 10.1% within five years.
  3. Gas jumped up to $0.30 at pumps; Calgary prices reached $1.84 per litre. Analysts link the spike to a power failure at ExxonMobil’s Joliet, Illinois, refinery, which lost power on Sunday and remained offline into Tuesday, while diesel prices rose about $0.24–$0.25 per litre in impact estimates.
  4. Edmonton police report at least 20 distraction-style robberies since Aug. 19 targeting senior South Asian women. Investigators say suspects drive residential routes, engage elderly women in conversation, then forcibly remove jewellery in some incidents, and police are treating several files as robberies rather than simple thefts.
  5. Sherwood Park’s Meghan Rozema donated part of her liver in 2021 and later sought to donate a kidney. Rozema told Global News her 2021 liver donation went to a baby who likely needed it to reach a first birthday, and a planned kidney donation to a family friend was delayed two years before the friend died.

🏈 Sports

  1. Calgary Stampeders (5-8) urgently need wins as Ottawa visits with an 0-12 Redblacks team. Ottawa will start McLeod Bethel-Thompson for his first start this season against Calgary on Saturday; Calgary is four points behind the third-place West teams and has an October stretch that will decide playoff chances.
  2. Edmonton Oilers training camp opens amid controversy over Alex Formenton signing and Mike Babcock hire. Formenton signed a one-year, US$850,000 deal after acquittal of 2018 charges, and reports say a petition over the signing has more than 60,000 signatures ahead of a planned Rogers Place protest.

📰 Also Today

  • Alberta to provide free RSV vaccines to newborns after pediatricians lobbied for expanded access.
  • Erlton residents oppose a proposed 45-unit affordable housing project in southwest Calgary.
  • Calgary landfill fire is under control but air quality remains a local concern.
  • Alberta oil and gas company ordered to abandon assets after repeated regulatory non-compliance.
  • Former MLA says Alberta is ready for a bloc-style federal party, per interview.
  • Government-commissioned analysis finds independent Alberta would be costly and unpredictable.
  • Alberta referendum could affect temporary residents’ access to public health care and education.
  • Emergency visits for gambling-related problems are rising, study finds, mostly among men and boys.
  • CBC published a disclosed letter from the Bishnoi gang to police, per reporting.
  • Provincial program killings of grizzly bears have spiked despite government saying recovery is a priority.
  • Judge says “incarceration is required” when sentencing man who killed a father of four after blowing a stop sign.
  • Alberta RCMP warn 2026 is on pace to be the deadliest year on provincial roads.
  • Alberta NDP flew an anti-separatist flag during a Calgary byelection campaign, per coverage.
  • (Duplicate listing) Former MLA says Alberta ready for bloc-style federal party, per interview.
  • Preston Manning called polls showing Danielle Smith as a separatist “baffling” at his forum announcement.
  • (Duplicate listing) Erlton residents oppose proposed 45-unit affordable housing project in southwest Calgary.
  • (Duplicate listing) Report says separation could cost up to $170 billion, University of Calgary study.
  • (Duplicate listing) Alberta drivers face a pump-price jump after an Illinois refinery outage; Calgary at $1.84/L.
  • (Duplicate listing) Edmonton Oilers camp controversy over Formenton signing and Babcock hiring.

Get this digest in your inbox

Never miss a day. Subscribe and we'll email you the digest automatically.

Source Articles (21)

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

'Incarceration is required,' judge says in sentencing man who killed father of 4 after blowing stop sign

The family of Daniel Bzdel, who was killed when a driver blew through a stop sign at a rural intersection in Rocky View County, says they are "relieved" at the judge’s decision to impose a 20-month jail sentence.

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

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

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

Air quality remains concern with Calgary landfill fire under control but not out yet

More than a week after the fire initially sparked at the former landfill site of ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp., the Calgary Fire Department says the site is now under control, though crews are still working to fully extinguish flames and hotspots.

General Sep 16, 2026

Erlton residents rally against proposed 45-unit affordable housing project in southwest Calgary

Erlton residents are pushing back against a proposed affordable housing project at a former Enmax substation in southwest Calgary, saying the building would be too big and increase traffic in the area.

General Sep 16, 2026

Alberta now providing free RSV vaccines to newborns after calls from pediatricians to expand access

Alberta is now offering free RSV immunizations for all babies born in hospital during the fall respiratory virus season, following calls from pediatricians to provide the preventative vaccine universally.

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