Housing rollback, Separation tensions & Elks playoff return — Edmonton Saturday

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Premier Danielle Smith accuses Ottawa of ‘bribing’ Edmonton over 2024 zoning changes. Smith said the federal government offered Edmonton “millions in funding” via the Housing Accelerator Fund to speed up 5,200 new housing units and that Edmonton has three months to reverse the 2024 zoning bylaw changes; she said the province rolled back some Edmonton rules after federal pressure.
2. Tension is rising ahead of Alberta’s Oct. 19 vote, officials and residents say. The story cites voters including Sarah Batchelor in Airdrie and Kathy Bradshaw in Sylvan Lake and notes Albertans will vote in person on Oct. 19 on 10 questions, including the binding referendum on separation.
3. Alberta judge dismisses NDP court challenge on voter list changes. The province’s court action by the NDP over changes to voter lists was dismissed by an Alberta judge, per the report’s headline.
4. Premier Danielle Smith rules out a second separation referendum if Albertans vote to remain. The headline quotes Smith: “Not as long as I’m premier,” indicating she will not pursue another binding referendum if voters choose to stay in Canada.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. U of A researchers find bite marks suggesting a raptor fed on an Albertosaurus. A University of Alberta study by master’s student Joshua Doyon reports unusual tooth marks on an Albertosaurus jaw; researchers say the deceased animal was roughly eight years old and the marks best match a dromaeosaurid raptor.
2. Edmonton Elks bringing playoff football back to the city for first time since 2015. The Elks’ playoff return marks the team’s first postseason home appearance in Edmonton since 2015, per the report’s headline.
3. Community leaders call for more communication on detainee drop-offs in Edmonton’s Chinatown. Local community leaders want improved provincial or policing communication about detainee drop-offs in Chinatown, according to the report’s headline.
4. Edmonton boy growing up without father because of bureaucratic challenges in Gaza. The report’s headline notes an Edmonton youth’s family separation tied to bureaucratic barriers involving Gaza.

📰 Also Today

• Lotto Max jackpot set at $85 million, largest prize in Canadian lotto history, draw Oct. 13.
• Fossil researchers say dog-sized raptor may have fed on larger tyrannosaur, per report headline.
• Parks Canada investigating Banff superintendent for National Parks Act violation, per report headline.
• Opinion: few committed separatists but many Albertans angry and wanting change, per headline.
• Mark Carney faces return of national unity politics, per headline.
• Danielle Smith says no second separation referendum if Alberta votes to remain, per headline.
• Alberta judge dismisses NDP voter list challenge, per headline.
• Leaders seek more info on detainee drop-offs in Chinatown, per headline.
• Edmonton boy separated from father due to Gaza bureaucracy, per headline.