Edmonton Daily Digest — Feb 18, 2026

Heads up — Premier to talk immigration: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will address immigration in a province-wide televised speech Thursday at 6:45 p.m. on Global Television after controversy over comments by her Calgary executive director Bruce McAllister calling “unsustainable mass immigration” disturbing; Smith noted Alberta added about 600,000 people in the last four years and said the growth “is not sustainable.”

Travel alert — Rockslide shuts Highway 93: A rockslide north of Radium Hot Springs closed Highway 93 (first reported Wednesday) and DriveBC says the next update is 11 a.m. PT/noon MST Thursday with no reopening time yet; there’s no local detour — drivers can use Highway 1 east from Golden into Alberta.

Fire season watch — snow helps but drought worries remain: Alberta Wildfire says recent heavy snow helps a little but won’t erase drought fears ahead of fire season as the province shifts from La Niña toward El Niño; last year there were 1,225 wildfires (about 60% human-caused), three bad fire years recently, and so far in 2026 there were 26 new fires burning 283 hectares plus 17 carryovers.

Recall round-up — third petition fails, one withdrawn: A recall against UCP MLA Nolan Dyck gathered just over 1,000 signatures — roughly 10% of the needed total by Thursday’s deadline — and failed, while another petition against Family Services Minister Searle Turton was withdrawn amid privacy concerns; recall campaigns were among 24 launched last year targeting mostly UCP members.

Police shooting cleared — no charges after grenade standoff: Alberta’s oversight agency found Calgary officers acted reasonably in a March 2024 incident where a man with a live grenade strapped to his chest emerged with a shotgun after a 29-hour standoff and was shot 12 times; acting executive director Matthew Block called the subject a “mortal threat.”

Money matters — provinces face record deficits: B.C. announced a $13.3 billion deficit, New Brunswick $1.33 billion and Nova Scotia $1.4 billion, while Alberta is forecasting a $6.4 billion shortfall for 2025/26; economists point to trade uncertainty, slower labour growth tied to immigration shifts, lower oil revenue and higher spending as main drivers.

Sports scoop — Paul Coffey returns to Oilers bench: Hall of Famer Paul Coffey is back on Edmonton’s coaching staff after a previous two-year run; during his earlier hire the club allowed 2.78 goals per game (fifth-best) but the Oilers are currently 25th with 3.29 goals against and sit second in the Pacific Division.

Political move — ex-Conservative MP crosses to Liberals: Matt Jeneroux, former Conservative MP for Edmonton Riverbend (since 2015), joined Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals on Feb. 18, 2026 and was named special adviser on economic and security partnerships; his switch brings the Liberals to 169 MPs, just shy of a majority.

Weather warning — Arctic winds, heavy snow and bitter cold: A cold, windy system from the Northwest Territories is pushing through the Prairies with wind chills near -40 C in the north and 25–35 cm of blowing snow plus gusts up to 80 kph expected from central Saskatchewan into southern Manitoba, lingering until early Thursday morning.

Immigration probes — CBSA investigating hundreds tied to extortion task force: The Canada Border Services Agency says it opened investigations into 296 people flagged by B.C.’s anti-extortion task force (figures as of Feb. 4), has issued 32 removal orders (10 already removed) and has nine cases awaiting Immigration and Refugee Board hearings; the probes relate to India-linked extortion gangs, including the Bishnoi network tied to violence and the 2023 Nijjar killing, prompting community alarm and calls for stronger enforcement.