Western Standard

ANDRUS: ‘Kenney should be the one ejected’ — readers blast former premier over independence ejection comments Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney's call to remove independence supporters from the United Conservative Party (UCP) has sparked an angry response from Western Standard readers, with many accusing him of betraying the conservative movement he helped unite. Kenney, who appeared alongside former NDP premier Rachel Notley at an Edmonton Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday, argued that the UCP must return to its federalist roots after Alberta's October 19 referendum. “There’s no doubt that those folks have infiltrated (the party),” Kenney said. “They’re welcome to participate in democracy, but if their primary goal is separation, then they have to do it in a separatist party.” Among Western Standard... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

LYTLE: The inefficiency of Elections Alberta’s referendum voting process In many countries, you know an election has been held by the sudden appearance of purple index fingers on everyone you meet. In such countries, voting is compulsory, and non-voters face a fine. After voting, you avoid the fine by dipping your finger in ink. It is kind of charming. In Canada, you know that there is an election underway because I become cranky. Today, I voted in the advance poll for the referendum questions and am cranky. In the past, I have completed assignments to increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of industrial processes. My forte was efficiently blowing stuff up, but my repertoire was wider than that. I concluded this afternoon that, if time wasted is the goal of Elections Alberta, then they are close to overachieving on their objective.... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

ZOLTAN: Transgender pronouns outweigh the facts VANCOUVER — I have a dream that one day a man will be able to stand before Mark Carney and ask a simple question — “How many genders are there?” — and receive an answer not requiring a committee, a cavalcade of litigators, a row of riot police, or a press secretary. I have a dream that one day the answer will be precisely the same one biology has given every generation before this one. The word “woman” will not be pressed into service to soften the description of a man accused of helping plan the murder of schoolchildren. I have a dream that when national newspapers write about James Cody Bryant of Bellingham — a man who goes by “Melody,” who is accused of spending months advising the Tumbler Ridge shooter, sending money, and offering to livestream the killing — they will not begin by calling him a woman. > Woma... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

FLETCHER: David Eby’s $10-a-day daycare subsidy trips him up before debate Tom Fletcher has covered BC politics and business as a journalist since 1984. VICTORIA — A $13 billion deficit rolls off him like rain off an Arc’teryx jacket, but David Eby’s daycare discount has stuck to him like seagull guano. Mere months after the NDP’s finance minister admitted that British Columbia’s books are so bad that there is a three-year freeze on growing the number of subsidized daycare spaces, Eby disclosed at a campaign stop that he and his doctor wife have the coveted $10-a-day program for their kids. With a household income of around $500,000 and a home in Vancouver’s exclusive Point Grey neighbourhood, Eby would not seem to be a priority target for an expensive child care subsidy program that has been extended to about 10% of the parents who c... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

MACLEOD: Kenney united the Right — now he wants to decide who belongs Jason Kenney rolled into Alberta provincial politics in a big blue pickup truck with a straightforward proposition: unite the right, defeat Rachel Notley, and restore competent conservative government. He delivered the merger and election victory. His political rise ended less triumphantly: after receiving just 51.4% support in his 2022 leadership review, he announced his resignation before completing one term. The epic salesman proved better at filling the truck than getting his passengers to their destination. Now he is appearing alongside Notley to defend Confederation. Albertans will appreciate the spectacle: the man who united conservatives to remove Notley now joins her while questioning where some conservatives belong in the United Conservative Party (UCP). Apparent... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Edmonton man charged with child sexual assault at day home as police seek more victims Edmonton police have charged a 54-year-old man with sexually assaulting a child at an unlicensed day home and are appealing for other potential victims to come forward. Michael Doucette was arrested Wednesday following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault dating back to 2022 at Shining Stars day home in southeast Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said investigators received a complaint earlier this month concerning the alleged assault of a minor at the private childcare facility near 50 St. and 101 Ave. Doucette, who lived at the residence and assisted with childcare duties, has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. Police believe there may be additional victims who... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

WATCH: Ford outlines plan to protect Ontario amid U.S. trade uncertainty TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford told the Empire Club of Canada Wednesday that Ontario’s plan to protect the province is already producing results and that the province must treat U.S. tariffs as a permanent feature of the relationship with its largest trading partner. Speaking at the club’s annual state-of-the-province event, Ford said Canada’s economic partnership with the United States “has changed permanently” and that the province needs to plan accordingly. “We need to ensure that Canada’s future is in Canadian hands now and always,” he said. He repeated that the goal of the plan is to make Ontario “the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, do business and create jobs.” Ford highlighted two large resource and energy projects. He said the critical-mineral depos... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

'ZOMBIES EVERYWHERE': UFC champion Sean Strickland calls Edmonton a ‘trash can’ over open drug use CALGARY — UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland blasted Edmonton, calling Alberta’s capital a “trash can” and criticizing open drug use during a visit to the city. Late Tuesday night, the 35-year-old American fighter posted on the social media platform X that people who told him that “Edmonton is ghetto have clearly never been to a major US city.” > The guys saying Edmonton is ghetto have clearly never been to a major US city.. > > — Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 14, 2026 However, on Wednesday, Strickland reversed his position and criticized the city after visiting the downtown area. “Left downtown and yep this place is a trash can,” he said. “Zombies everywhere... It's not American I might have to k... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Record $90M Lotto Max jackpot up for grabs, largest in Canadian history CALGARY — Lotto Max is offering a record $90-million jackpot for Friday's draw, marking the largest single lottery prize ever offered in Canadian history. The jackpot reached the new maximum after no ticket matched all seven winning numbers in Tuesday's $85-million draw, allowing the prize to increase ahead of Friday. In addition to the $90-million grand prize, the draw will include 18 MAXMILLIONS prizes worth $1 million each and 90 MAXPLUS prizes worth $100,000 apiece, bringing the combined value of the advertised top prizes to $117 million. The record follows changes introduced to Lotto Max in April 2026, when the maximum jackpot increased from $80 million to $90 million. The changes also increased the cost of a ticket from $5 to $6, with players receiving four s... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Trump announces $80B Alaska LNG deal with Taiwan, but officials say terms not finalized CALGARY — US President Donald Trump says Taiwan has agreed to purchase between $70 and $80 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska over the next 20 years, despite Taiwanese officials saying the final terms have yet to be negotiated. Trump also added that Taiwan would invest an additional $4.4 billion in the project and purchase 30% of the proposed Alaska LNG project’s output. Celebrating the announcement on Truth Social, the president said it was “the largest energy infrastructure project in Alaska history.” > pic.twitter.com/kK6Bzy932X > > — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 14, 2026 He also thanked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for helping to secure the deal. “Howard Lutnick has secured an offtake com... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Calgary trucker fined $1,674 after BC police find bad brakes, bald tires and unrestrained toddler A 46-year-old Calgary truck driver has been fined $1,674 and had his tractor-trailer pulled off the road after BC Highway Patrol discovered a lengthy list of safety violations, including defective brakes, bald tires and a one-year-old child travelling without a proper restraint. Police say the truck was stopped September 26 at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Hwy. 1 near Malakwa after an officer noticed it had no functioning taillights. The tractor-trailer was travelling in heavy rain and darkness when the officer conducted the traffic stop. What followed was the discovery of numerous mechanical defects and safety violations that police say made the vehicle unsafe to operate. The truck had defective brakes and lights, no wi... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

WATCH LIVE: Choose Option 2 on Question 10 Albertans may choose Option 2 to send a message or to pursue independence. Neither motivation is wrong. westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Canadian energy sector poised for growth in 2027 as producers plan expansion Canadian oil and gas producers are preparing to ramp up production in 2027, with a new survey showing growing optimism across the energy sector despite expectations of lower oil prices and continued concerns about federal energy policies. A survey released Wednesday by ATB Cormark Capital Markets found 96% of exploration and production companies expect to increase output over the next year, while 90% of energy services companies anticipate higher customer activity in 2027. The findings suggest a major turnaround from a year ago, when uncertainty surrounding commodity prices and government policies contributed to a more cautious outlook. “A year ago, the industry was much more cautious. Today, we’re seeing producers plan for higher output, service companies ... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

German police seize robot after alleged sexual harassment of 16-year-old girl CALGARY — German police have seized a humanoid robot and two cellphones after a 16-year-old girl was allegedly sexually harassed by the machine outside a fast-food restaurant in Cologne. The unusual incident, which reportedly occurred shortly before midnight on October 10, has prompted questions about how existing criminal laws apply when a robot is allegedly used to commit an offence. According to CBS News, the robot approached the teenager from behind, allegedly touched her buttocks and performed sexually suggestive movements while two young men reportedly filmed and livestreamed the encounter. Officers located the two suspects nearby shortly after receiving a report of the incident. The robot had already been placed inside the trunk of a Volks... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

WATCH: Three Canadian Armed Forces members among seven charged in Toronto crypto kidnapping TORONTO — Toronto police have charged seven people — including three members of the Canadian Armed Forces — with 82 criminal offences in a July kidnapping they say was motivated by access to cryptocurrency. Chief Myron Demkiw and Chief Supt. Joe Matthews of Detective Operations outlined the results Wednesday at police headquarters. The incident occurred July 25 in the Finch Ave. E. and Bayview Ave. area of North York. Police allege the victim was targeted as he approached his vehicle, abducted at gunpoint, handcuffed and assaulted. The suspects allegedly tried to gain access to his cryptocurrency assets. He was later released after being threatened not to contact police, escaped, and notified officers. He suffered only minor inju... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Montreal father sentenced to life for murdering his nine-year-old daughter, faking kidnapping CALGARY — A Montreal father has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for murdering his nine-year-old daughter during a trip to New York, after initially telling police she had been kidnapped by two men in a white van. Luciano Frattolin, 46, was sentenced Wednesday, in Essex County Court in New York for the July 2025 killing of his daughter, Melina Galanis Frattolin. According to the Canadian Press, the sentence follows his conviction in August on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He received an additional one-to-three-year sentence for concealing his daughter's body. Melina had been travelling with her father through the northeastern United States when she was reported missing on ... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Toronto church worker charged with multiple sexual assault offences involving children Toronto police have arrested a church worker and charged the man with a multitude of sexual assault offences involving children. Paul Conn, 71, a resident of Toronto, has been charged with five counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference with a person under 16, and four counts of sexual exploitation of a young person. On the evening of October 7, police responded to a call reporting a sexual assault in the area near Bloor Street West and The East Mall in Etobicoke. According to the Toronto Police, Conn allegedly had driven the victim to his house, where the sexual assault occurred. Police then stated that after the assault the man fled the home and was able to contact the authorities to report the incident. After sp... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Saudi Aramco headquarters struck as Houthis intensify attacks on oil infrastructure CALGARY — Offices belonging to senior executives at Saudi Aramco were struck by Houthi forces in an overnight attack that damaged the oil giant’s headquarters, as escalating regional hostilities continue to threaten oil supplies and push crude prices higher. According to multiple regional officials, the attack on Aramco’s office complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, damaged the top three floors of a tower used by senior executives, including the office of the company's CEO, Amin Nasser. > A Houthi missile struck the HQ of Saudi Aramco tonight in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.Saudi Aramco is the world’s largest oil company pic.twitter.com/gFCeJIr2UF > > — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 14, 2026 Bloomberg reports employees were instructed to work from h... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

Majority of Alberta doctors would leave province or retire early if independence succeeds More than six in 10 Alberta physicians say they would leave the province or retire early if Alberta becomes independent from Canada, according to a new survey released by the Alberta Medical Association (AMA). The findings come as Albertans prepare to vote in the October 19 referendum, with the doctors' organization raising concerns about the potential consequences for physician recruitment, patient care and billions of dollars in federal health funding. In its latest Pulse Survey, the AMA asked practicing physicians what they would do if Alberta became independent. Of the 1,649 physicians who answered the question, 55% said they would move to another province or territory and stop practising in Alberta. Another 8% indicated they ... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026

WATCH: Protesters stall Ford’s Etobicoke bike lane removal as $48 million taxpayer bill looms TORONTO — The Ford government began the first phase of removing protected bike lanes on a 1.2-kilometre stretch of Bloor st. in Etobicoke on Oct. 13, but protesters surrounded construction trucks that evening and forced the crews to leave without starting the work. The section runs between Clissold Rd. and Royal York rd. It is the opening move in the province’s plan to eliminate roughly 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Bloor St., Yonge St., and University Ave. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said after the delay that the province still intends to proceed. “Make no mistake: these bike lanes are coming out,” Sarkaria wrote on X. “We have a clear mandate and we will deliver.” The removals follow an Onta... westernstandard​.news • Oct 14, 2026