Calgary Daily Digest — Feb. 18, 2026

Big immigration talk coming from the premier — 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 controversial online comments from her Calgary executive director Bruce McAllister. Smith pointed to rapid population growth — about 600,000 people in the last four years, the fastest in Canada — as a driver for change, while federal Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon defended Canada’s skill‑focused immigration system.

Highway 93 shut by a rockslide — A rockslide north of Radium Hot Springs closed Highway 93 after being reported Wednesday morning; DriveBC’s next update is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT (noon MST) Thursday and there’s no reopening time yet. There’s no local detour; drivers are advised to use Highway 1 east from Golden into Alberta.

Snow helps but drought worries remain — Alberta wildfire officials say recent heavy snow gives some relief, but a drier El Niño trend and warm January temperatures mean drought and wildfire risk persist. Officials warn the critical time is snowmelt and exposed dry grass; last year Alberta had 1,225 wildfires (about 10% above the five‑year average) and so far in 2026 there were 26 new fires burning 283 hectares.

Recall push falls short in Grande Prairie — A recall petition against UCP MLA Nolan Dyck gathered just over 1,000 signatures, roughly 10% of the required total, campaigner Casey Klein said, so the effort failed by Thursday’s deadline. That was one of 24 recall campaigns launched late last year; another petition against Family Services Minister Searle Turton was withdrawn amid privacy concerns.

No charges after Calgary police shooting — Alberta’s Serious Incident Response Team found officers acted reasonably when they shot a man wearing a tactical vest with a live grenade during a March 2024 standoff. The man allegedly shot at police over a 29‑hour incident, threatened to blow himself up, emerged with a shotgun and was shot 12 times; ASIRT called the officers’ force reasonable, proportionate and necessary.

Provinces facing record deficits — Several provinces are posting steep shortfalls: B.C. disclosed a $13.3 billion deficit, New Brunswick $1.33 billion and Nova Scotia about $1.4 billion, while Alberta forecasts a $6.4 billion shortfall for 2025/26. Economists point to trade uncertainty, slower labour growth tied to immigration shifts, weak revenues (including lower oil receipts in Alberta) and rising spending as key causes, and warn budget pressure may hit social services.

Former Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux joins Liberals — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Jeneroux’s floor‑crossing on Feb. 18; the Edmonton Riverbend MP (first elected 2015) said family discussions and Carney’s agenda prompted his move. Carney named him special advisor on economic and security partnerships, the switch brings Liberals to 169 MPs, and Conservatives including Pierre Poilievre called the move a betrayal.

Arctic winds bring snow and deep cold across the Prairies — Environment Canada tracked a windy arctic system pushing south with temps feeling like –40°C in parts of the north and 25–35 cm of snow with gusts up to 80 kph expected from central Saskatchewan into southern Manitoba. Both the cold and heavy, blowing snow were forecast to linger until early Thursday morning.

CBSA probing hundreds linked to extortion task force — Canada Border Services Agency says it is investigating 296 people identified by B.C.’s extortion task force (figures to Feb. 4); 32 removal orders were issued and 10 people already removed, with nine awaiting Immigration and Refugee Board hearings. The crackdown targets gangs tied to transnational extortion (including the Bishnoi network) blamed for targeting South Asian communities; the story includes allegations tied to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Nijjar and recent security talks with India.