Alberta Minute: Issue 335

Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.

📅 This Week In Alberta: 📅

• It’s Municipal Election Day in Alberta - make sure you get out and vote! Our friends at Common Sense Cities have put together helpful election information for Alberta’s 10 largest municipalities: Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, and St. Albert. Check out their 2025 Municipal Election Surveys to see where Mayoral and Council candidates stand on key issues like safety, affordability, taxation, and accountability - some answered, some didn’t, and that tells you something too.
  
  
• And don’t forget - it’s also School Trustee Election Day! School boards make important decisions that affect every taxpayer, from how education dollars are spent to what’s taught in classrooms. Even if you don’t have kids in school, these elections matter. Make your voice heard and help shape the future of education in Alberta. Click here for information on the candidates from our friends at Alberta Parents’ Union.
  
  
• A third-party investigation by former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant examined Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) procurement practices, focusing on multimillion-dollar contracts for children’s medication and surgeries by for-profit providers. The report identified cases of real or perceived conflicts of interest and found that AHS officials often failed to follow their own policies, though no evidence of wrongdoing by government officials was uncovered. Wyant made 18 recommendations, including centralized conflict of interest declarations, whistleblower protections, mandatory training, a vendor code of conduct, and legal review for contracts over $10 million. The investigation was limited in scope, and some individuals refused interviews, meaning definitive conclusions could not be drawn. Former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos said the report confirmed legitimate concerns she had raised, while opposition politicians and union leaders called for a public inquiry to fully address unresolved questions. Premier Danielle Smith emphasized the Province is moving procurement into Acute Care Alberta to improve accountability and transparency. AHS has accepted the findings and pledged to implement Wyant’s recommendations.
  
  
• Alberta teachers have rejected the government’s request to return to class voluntarily for talks that exclude discussions on class-size caps and pupil-teacher ratios. The strike, which began on October 6th, has impacted about 750,000 students, with teachers seeking higher wages and protections for classroom conditions, including addressing complex student needs. The government has suggested hiring more teachers and support staff, but Premier Danielle Smith opposes legally mandated class-size limits, arguing they reduce local flexibility. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides expressed willingness to discuss staffing improvements but stopped short of agreeing to caps. Alberta Education has made November diploma exams optional due to the strike. Teachers argue that without legally binding measures for student-teacher ratios and complexity, overcrowding and inadequate support will continue, despite proposed staff increases. Premier Danielle Smith has proposed forming a commission on education after the teachers’ strike ends.
  
  
• The Alberta government is introducing new licence plates featuring the provincial motto “strong and free.” Premier Danielle Smith and Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally announced that Albertans can vote online until November 5th in a tournament-style contest to choose one of eight designs highlighting Alberta’s landscapes and symbols. The selected design will be unveiled later this fall, with rollout planned for 2026. Drivers can replace their current plate for $28, while those renewing vehicle registrations will receive the new design at no extra charge.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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