November 10, 2026

The next time you hear a Prime Minister or our slate of Premiers use the word “BILLION” in a casual or cavalier manner, think about whether you want the “politicians” spending your tax money or managing it in heritage or investment fund accounts presumably for rainy days (which we probably won’t be around to enjoy anyway).
For us mere mortals who live in a world of tens, hundreds and perhaps a few thousands of $$$ (and balanced budgets), the number “BILLION” can be a bit daunting; it’s a difficult number to comprehend and difficult to put that BILLION number into some perspective.

Consider … a billion seconds ago it was 1994 …in slightly over one billion minutes ago, Jesus was alive … a billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. And … a billion days ago, no one walked on the earth on two feet.

The estimated Federal Budget ANNUAL projections for 2026-27 totals 502.8 billion dollars. At that rate, a billion dollars is spent every 17.5 hours, or $1.38 billion a day, for a grand total of $502.8 billion annually.

The main estimates are:

Transfer payments made to other levels of government, other organizations and individuals. Transfer payments make up approximately 59.8 percent of expenditures or $300.5 billion (including approximately $20 billion to First Nations).

Operating and capital expenditures account for approximately 29.5 percent or $148.6 billion.
Public debt charges are approximately 10.7 percent of expenditures or $53.7 billion.

The top six organizations seeking $10 billion or more in voted (approved) budgetary expenditures are:
 

• Department of National Defence ($48.4 billion) (9.6 percent);
• Department of Indigenous Services ($23.9 billion) (4.8 percent);
• Department of Employment and Social Development ($13.6 billion) (2.7 percent);
• Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs ($11.8 billion) (2.3 percent);
• Treasury Board Secretariat ($11.8 billion) (2.3 percent); and
• Department of Health ($10.4 billion) (2.1 percent).

Not included expenditures in the above totals are: Employment Insurance Operating Account, expenditures legislated through the Income Tax Act (Canada Child Benefit) or new multi-billion expenditures announced following PM Carney’s recent “summit” with Indigenous leaders.
Even a Constitutional amendment to abolish the unnecessary, unproductive and anachronistic Senate would only amount to a trifling saving of $0.14 billion.

However, for insomniacs, the televised Senate proceedings do provide some measure of relief. Just sayin’.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

November 10, 2026

Rob Hill calls the recent Alberta referendum a $130-million waste that “damaged Alberta socially and financially”. He blames Premier Danielle Smith, downplays support for independence, claims Ottawa Liberals never harmed the oil industry, defends equalization as good for Alberta, and insists provincial problems are almost entirely the fault of the Alberta government rather than federal policy. He concludes that Alberta should stop “picking fights” and simply cooperate.

Hill’s claim that “Ottawa Liberals are not harming our oil industry” and that production rose under Trudeau ignores the full picture. Production growth occurred despite Bill C-69, tanker bans, pipeline cancellations and delays, emissions caps, and other measures that raised costs, increased uncertainty, and diverted capital.

Support for independence may be a minority position, but that does not make the concerns illegitimate. Dismissing them with comparisons to belief in sasquatches is rhetoric, not rebuttal.
The referendum itself – expensive as it was – provided an opportunity for Albertans to express broader grievances about federal-provincial relations, not just separatism.  These concerns are not often voiced by the very politicians whom we elect to represent us.

Hill’s preferred path is cooperation and an end to “picking fights.” Cooperation is desirable when interests align, but when federal policy repeatedly prioritizes other regions’ preferences over Alberta’s economic foundation, “cooperation” becomes surrender.

Democracy periodically tests the terms of an agreement. That testing carries a price. The far higher long-term price is a federation in which one province’s productivity is treated as a permanent subsidy for others while its own autonomy is steadily eroded.

Democracy is expensive, but it may be our least expensive option.

Paul McKinstry,
Kingman

 

November 3, 2026

I find it interesting that plans were submitted, building permits were issued, and yet it is the homeowners’ responsibility to make corrections to comply with building codes.

Had owners been advised at the time that their plans encroached and didn’t meet building code specifications … then they wouldn’t have built and would have made corrections to their plans. Why is it the owners’ responsibility to make the correction when this was an oversight of the City? We trusted our building plans were acceptable when our building permits were issued.

Audrey Gaudet,
Camrose

November 3, 2026

We are writing as the Board of the Coronation Music Festival to express our great dismay and disappointment to Dean Parkins and the Board of Governors at the U of A Augustana Campus, regarding the proposed closure of the Bachelor of Music degree program. We heard of this proposed plan recently, and would like to add our voices to the growing list of Albertans expressing our displeasure at this proposed decision.

We are a part of the Alberta Music Festival Association (AMFA), serving the towns and counties of Coronation, Castor, Stettler, Alliance, Veteran, Consort and surrounding areas. We encourage and foster music, speech and dance, and have been actively doing this since 1962. This makes us one of the longest standing members of AMFA.

Yes, that is nearly 65 years of countless volunteer hours spent encouraging students in all forms of the fine arts. We are proud to say that through our grass roots encouragement and support, we have several students who have gone through the Bachelor of Music program at both the U of A Edmonton and Augustana Campuses.

Each of these graduates have gone on to pursue careers in music through teaching (even on your current music faculty), performing, entertaining and community involvement. The lives of hundreds of school children have been enriched by their contributions. Check into our schools, community-based activities, churches and seniors’ lodges to see the impact of their work. It is making a huge difference to the quality of life in central Alberta and far beyond.

We are very discouraged to think that although we give young entry level artists the performance opportunities and encouragement they need, the door will be closed to them at Augustana if they choose to make the Bachelor of Music degree a career choice.

We found out about this situation because one of our local students was at a school trades show, and seeing that Augustana was a participant, ran up to your booth to get more information on the Music program. He was told it would not be available to apply to.

Is this a foregone conclusion or are you actually listening to the wants and needs of students in this area? The proposed move (although it seems you have taken it a step further) to remove this study opportunity takes away some of the joy and humanity the world so desperately needs right now. We believe in the power of music. We also believe that with persistence you could find a workable solution to continuing the program. We believe our youth deserve better.

Brenda Brigley,
Coronation

November 3, 2026

I really enjoyed reading the letter which George Shostak took the time to write responding to my latest letter.

I have checked my facts. I do respect your opinion. I was a little harsh for saying that if you do not like it here to move to the United States. George, I do apologize for my harsh statement.

The real fact is that no province or territory can very easily leave confederation. If that was the case, Quebec would have left a long time ago.

I do thank you for bringing this to my attention. So let us agree to disagree and move on to more important issues such as getting rid of or replacing the 1867 Indian Act. Any thoughts?

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

October 27, 2026

By the time this letter is printed, Alberta taxpayers will have spent a staggering $120 million to $134 million on a multi-question ballot that is being touted as a necessary democratic expense.

To put this massive dollar amount into perspective, a brand new state-of-the-art MRI machine would cost between $2 million and $4 million to purchase and install in a hospital. Add the cost of utilities, annual staffing for 16 hours of daily operation and diagnostic interpretation, another $1.2 million to
$2 million would be required. All in, it would cost at most an estimated $6 million to buy and operate one machine for one year, with an ongoing annual operational cost of $1.1 million to $2.4 million in subsequent years.

As someone who is on a one-year waiting list to get an MRI, for the price of this single referendum, Alberta Health Services could completely fund the purchase, installation, staffing, and clinical interpretation for eight to ten new MRI machines across our province for the next ten years.

Instead of clearing the backlog of patients seeking medical attention, our tax dollars are being wasted on printing an estimated 45 million ballots, hiring 60,000 temporary workers, and funding hundreds of thousands of dollars in promotional websites and ad campaigns for this October 19th referendum.

Why do we have MLAs? Shouldn’t these referendum questions be debated by the people we voted for to manage our province?

Remember the last referendum Alberta had in 2021 regarding Daylight Saving Time? Even though that vote was legally binding, Premier Danielle Smith’s government bypassed the will of the people. As a result, Albertans will no longer be setting their clocks back.

The province spent at least millions organizing the 2021 referendum, only to have the government implement the exact opposite policy by decree earlier this year.

Millions for a referendum, pennies for our health.

Don Helgeland,
Camrose

October 27, 2026

We can all be thankful that the referendum campaign is over. Its anger and division has damaged Alberta socially and financially. That is beyond the $130 million price tag – enough to build 10 schools.

Why did Danielle Smith do this to us?

More Albertans voted Liberal in the last federal election than for Option 2

on the referendum ballot. Writing in The Globe and Mail, Andrew Coyne points out that more Albertans believe that sasquatches are real and that the moon landing was fake.

Take away voters who chose Option 2 to “send a message to Ottawa” and apparently those who truly want an independent Alberta are a rare breed.
It is time to come together and heal. Albertans are not victims. Ottawa Liberals are not harming our oil industry. Max Fawcett in The National Observer article, “Justin Trudeau never killed the oil and gas industry”, states that, “since Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were elected in October 2015, Alberta’s oil production increased from 2.9 million barrels per day to 4.4 million barrels per day – a 51.7 percent increase.” Alberta’s oil industry was never more prosperous than it was when Trudeau was Prime Minister.

Federal equalization is not unfair to Alberta. In his article, Equalization has its problems, but it also has its benefits – even for Alberta, former Stephen Harper advisor Ken Boessenkool makes a compelling case that equalization is very good for Alberta.

All credible evidence shows that Alberta is better off economically as a part of Canada. In the article, staying in Canada is a “huge relief” for Alberta business leaders, Canadian Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Candace Laing said, “Businesses, workers and communities can feel more confident with this result. Let’s move forward, stronger together.” I agree.

Alberta does face challenges in health, education and affordability. The problems are mostly due to Alberta government policies and not the fault of the federal government, certainly not the fault of immigrants. Our government needs to stop avoiding responsibility by blaming others.

Canada is a wonderful, beautiful country and people the world over would give anything to have the peace, freedom and prosperity that Canadians enjoy. It is time for the Alberta government to stop complaining and picking fights with Ottawa in order to score political points and instead work cooperatively with the rest of Canada to help make a better life for all Canadians.

Rob Hill,
Camrose

October 27, 2026

It is so interesting that Mr. Vanderwoude is a typical example of the tolerant side, being so intolerant.

He would like us to leave Alberta, and the great free health care, (which is free, if you can get in before you expire), and MAID is very affordable as well.

The tolerant side seemed to be the only side that damaged and destroyed the independent signs, which is a great way to lead by example. Of course, our information was just plain old “misinformation” as usual.

Check your facts first please, before you take the “safe and effective” advice from our great Canadian leader. How is that working out for us all?

Enough browbeating, time to get along and really be tolerant and accepting of our differences  of each other in this very diverse family of Albertans.

George Shostak,
Camrose County

October 20, 2026

In our household, we fully support recycling and try to practice the three  Rs on a daily basis. Part of our Saturday routine was to take our recyclables to the local recycling centre. Occasionally, we had to visit the centre midweek. Because we have a small garage with limited storage, we needed to schedule these regular trips.

As of October 12, a “new and improved” recycling program is in effect in our neighbourhood. This program requires citizens to collect their recyclables for two weeks in large clear bags. Larger cardboard boxes need to be flattened and placed in a cardboard box or under the plastic bag.

Every family in the City is now required to purchase SINGLE-USE PLASTIC bags and store their recyclables for two weeks, hoping that on the assigned date, the bags reach the curbside fully intact, free from tears made by jagged cardboard edges and tin cans, and that they remain in the chosen spot even on a blustery winter day.

If the City is serious about this “new and improved” program, then why not invest in blue containers comparable to the black garbage bins and the green compost bins? A “proper” container would reduce single-use plastic bags, provide adequate space for biweekly recyclable collection, and promote recycling because of the dedicated bin.

Char Fraser,
Camrose

October 20, 2026

If you vote for “strong Canada,” not even wanting to consider being free, you are endorsing the status quo!

If you are happy with Ottawa giving us tens of billions less in goods and services in exchange for the taxes we ship off to them. If you are happy with their regulations controlling our lives, then vote AGAINST VOTING.

ALL provinces should be FREE of that extra and very costly big debt, big government operating in the service of others hundreds of kilometres away.

Douglas Hendrickson,
Bittern Lake

October 20, 2026

My wife and I went to the early voting at the Duggan Mall on this Referendum vote. The small group here in Alberta who are demanding that Alberta become our own country is not legal in any stretch of the imagination.

Most of the facts provided by this group are not based on facts, so I do hope this will put a stop to this group’s nonsense. There is a lot of misinformation out there on the internet.

I voted “yes” for the first nine and for Option A for the tenth question. I will say to this small group that if you are not happy here in Alberta, the United States would love to invite you all into their country.
I hope you love the health care system down south. Just something to think about as you go spreading all this misinformation.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

October 20, 2026

With the upcoming federal budget, there are fears that assistance to less well-off countries will be slashed. That’s not the Canadian way. Yes, we have our challenges, but that has never stopped us from giving to those much worse off. We are still one of the wealthiest countries on the planet.

Look what’s happened to the south of us – for no other reason than maliciousness, the world’s richest country suddenly slashed assistance to hundreds of millions, causing untold death and suffering.

We are better than that. Mr. Carney and you are better than the current U.S. administration. Preserve Canada’s assistance to a needy world.

Nathaniel Poole,
Victoria, B.C.

October 13, 2026

Trade disputes can feel distant from Camrose, but their costs can reach the community through supplier invoices, customer budgets and delayed purchases. For local owners, the issue is whether a higher replacement cost or slower order cycle quietly erodes margin and cash flow.

For Camrose, the risk is how these costs and uncertainties move through the local economy. Serving about 150,000 people in the City and County with 625,000 acres of cropland that supports equipment dealers, fabricators, contractors, transport firms, retailers and professional services, when farmers or manufacturers delay spending, the effect reaches Main Street.

Tariff exposure can be indirect. A contractor may quote a job before discovering that steel, appliances or electronics cost more. A retailer may absorb an increase rather than risk losing a customer. An equipment dealer may carry parts longer as farmers postpone purchases. Statistics Canada found 30 percent of businesses were very or somewhat likely to pass tariff-related cost increases to customers.

The margin arithmetic is unforgiving. If a product sells for $100, costs $80 and earns a $20 profit, a five percent increase in cost reduces that to $16 a 20 percent decline unless the selling price changes. If customers also delay payment, the owner must finance more inventory with less cash.

Camrose businesses should identify which suppliers and products create the greatest exposure, confirm country of origin, shorten quote-validity periods where appropriate, review price-adjustment terms and model alternative suppliers. A rolling 13-week cash-flow forecast can show whether higher costs or slower collections will create a funding gap before it appears in the bank account.

Camrose businesses cannot control tariff policy, but can control how quickly they measure exposure, and respond to changing costs.

Stephen Hall,
Camrose

October 13, 2026

I am so confused so please help me understand… the guide from the Alberta government…  Stand up for a stronger Alberta your guide to the 2026 referendum; in particular the sections regarding “Immigration questions” states “federal policies of triple the number of temporary residents, including temporary foreign workers, international students and asylum-seekers over the last decade, have negatively impacted our immigration system putting excessive pressure on Albertans cost-of-living as well as our public health care, education, and other social services.

“These irresponsible federal policies have caused higher inflation, delayed access to healthcare, created larger class sizes for students and put unaffordable cost pressures across public services. It has also adversely affected Albertans and Canadians looking for affordable housing and employment opportunities.”

The tone of the guide appears to be blaming many of Alberta’s current problems on Federal immigration policy that has allowed too many immigrants into Canada and Alberta.

It is important to remember that Immigration policy IS a Federal responsibility.

Now comes the confusing part; in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed by Premier Smith.
Direct quote… “Dear Prime Minister: I am writing in response to the letter sent by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, informing Alberta of its 2024 allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program.

“With no prior notification, Minister Miller advised that Alberta will not receive any increases in 2024 allocations to nominate future newcomers and temporary workers to become permanent residents and stay in Alberta. I am very concerned with this decision given the adverse impacts it would have on our province’s economy and ability to help Ukrainian evacuees find permanent jobs and futures in Alberta.

“Over the last year, Alberta has participated in good faith in federal-provincial-territorial consultations on provincial nomination allocations. In September 2023, the Honourable Muhammad Yaseen, Alberta’s Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, requested a much needed increase in Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program allocations, including 14,000 in 2024, 14,700 in 2025, and 15,435 in 2026.

“The revised allocation of 9,750 for 2024 not only falls below this request, but also falls below the 2024 notional allocation of 10,140 previously provided to Alberta by the federal government.”
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/Premier%20Smith%20Letter%20to%20Prime%20Minister%20Trudeau.pdf
Is this taxpayer funded brochure just a bit of political theatre or is it an extension of Donald Trump’s playbook to scapegoat immigrants?  Just asking for a friend.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

October 6, 2026

I wanted to say that I agreed wholeheartedly with John Olson’s letter in the September 22 Camrose Booster.

I also wanted to remind all persons who want to remain Canadian to VOTE. Complacency is the enemy for two very important reasons. First, thinking that there are more pro Canada voters so “I really don’t need to vote” is an invitation to losing this referendum.

Second, there needs to be an overwhelming turnout to vote with an unquestionably Option 1 response. Why? Our Premier is looking for any excuse to run a binding referendum on separation. This is what will please her base. Anything less than 80 percent turnout and 70 percent plus Option 1 response will give her the wiggle room she needs.
We saw what happened with the totals for and against petition signatures (even though the Forever Canada petition was done to force the UCP government to show their stance on the issue not to trigger a referendum).

So please, PLEASE vote!

Advance polls run October 13 to 16, with the main vote running October 19. This referendum is so important, not only for ourselves, but for our children, grandchildren, and for all generations to come.

Canada and Alberta are stronger together.

Lori Blades,
Camrose

October 6, 2026

A question to ponder.  Is the CEO of a company inherently more successful than a childcare worker or local pastor? Is a professional athlete more successful than a single parent raising two kids? Success is simple to quantify if you look at a yearly salary or your retirement portfolio but in the grander scope of life, it is far more elusive.
We are all striving for something – some of us just define it more explicitly than others.

A free spirit might strive to bypass corporate ladders and traditional societal norms. A young parent might strive simply to get through the day before letting their guard down.

A recent retiree might be striving to rediscover a sense of purpose. At our core, we are all searching for happiness, whatever abstract form that takes.
Ultimately, each of us will one day be remembered by what fits on a headstone: a name, two dates, and – if we are fortunate – a meaningful line or image. While digital and printed memories capture moments of our past, our true legacy lives in the interactions we have with those around us and the positive contributions we make to our community.
With that certainty of death in mind, I often return to the question: How will I measure my life?

My father used to tell me, “One day you’ll wake up and be 40 years old.” For decades, that felt like something only “old people” said, but it rings true now.

While the daily grind can feel endless, the years pass all too quickly. Promotions, deadlines, projects, and jobs come and go. Yet attending a child’s sporting event, a call with a grandparent, a good meal with friends, or a warm handshake of gratitude with a neighbour are moments that now have more meaning than they had in the past.
I try to pause every few weeks to reflect on what truly matters. Regularly taking stock of those priorities shifts your entire perspective – that simple shift makes it much easier to focus on what actually lasts and what truly matters.

Chris Zarski,
Camrose

October 6, 2026

Danielle Smith often uses the phrase “A sovereign Alberta in a unified Canada” and I see the signs for a sovereign Alberta and “Send a Message”. But what I want to concentrate on is the word sovereign. While the word is a noun and an adjective, let’s look at it in the context it’s being used in this case.

It’s being used to describe what some people want Alberta to be. A sovereign province (state). First the synonyms for sovereign.

They are ‘independent’, ‘autonomous’ and ‘self-governing’. Okay. What about the definition according to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In this context, it’s an adjective meaning an independent state that governs itself without outside interference and describes something possessing ultimate power, absolute authority or complete autonomy.

By her own words, this is what Danielle Smith wants, to be free of the Constitution of Canada. In other words, separate. You can’t deny that this is her position no more than you can argue what the word sovereign means. And she continues to clearly show what her intentions are.

Every question on the upcoming referendum is all about giving her more ability to separate Alberta from Canada. We have what we have in this province because of it being in Canada.

Heritage, strength and the ability to be prosperous. And that fact hasn’t changed. Politicians come and go, but the people who built and continue to build this province with the help of the freedom and rights we have from both our Constitution and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be here for a long time.

And if you take nothing else from this, take this – VOTE!!! We don’t need to send a message to Ottawa, we need to send a message to our Premier. We don’t want a “Sovereign Alberta in a unified Canada”, we want a “Unified Alberta in a Sovereign Canada”!

Miles Degenstein,
Camrose

September 29, 2026

For homeowners who have received a letter about spatial separation from the City, there has been much confusion about how to find out if they are compliant or not, what they are responsible to change, what they need to change, who pays for the changes, what can a contractor do, is there a City of Camrose code inspector who consults with homeowners, why is this an issue now but not during the building permit process, why were these issues not identified during the building code inspections while the home was being built, etc., etc.

The City of Camrose home build permit process starts with an application to build. This includes a blueprint of the complete structure(s) including electrical and plumbing, a site drawing for location, and a professional survey (Real Property Report) to confirm foundation location to property lines.

The homeowner pays thousands of dollars to the City of Camrose to approve this application and to inspect the home while it is being built. If during the build, the City inspector finds something is not code compliant, the builder is required to change it before continuing the rest of the build.

I have been a Masonry Contractor for 40 years and a Registered Home Inspector for 13 years. As a Registered Home Inspector, I have received several phone calls from worried homeowners about how the City of Camrose letter regarding spatial separation is going to affect their home, home safety, home insurance, property value, and many other questions.

I feel for these homeowners because there are differing interpretations of the codes from when they changed in 2006. Many of the homeowners are not the first owner of the house and do not have access to any permits or documents because the City does not keep records longer than 10 years, from what I understand.
In my opinion, the City of Camrose should be responsible for going to look at these affected homes to confirm if there is a code compliance issue.  Homeowners were sent a letter about a potential problem but were not given appropriate guidance on confirming if there is an issue.

On the City of Camrose website section about Building Separation, it advises homeowners to hire a contractor to consult about retrofits. A contractor is not a Code Inspector. A property line is only known from a survey report and contractors do not have access to the reports.
Homeowners are concerned about potentially incurring many costs to find out if they are code compliant and then to remediate the issues and the possibility of losing insurance coverage in the future.

Wayne Finley, 
Camrose

September 29, 2026

“Three times championship fastball pitch coach” Darlene Jacobson claims to know how competition works – “play by the rules.” Except the “game” she constructs has only one side – those petitioning for one of two positions in the upcoming referendum vote.

Her position is against having any vote all, as though merely signing up a great number for support of one side gives a referendum victory. NOT at all a democratic vote, which is actual endorsement of one side OR the other open to all voters in order to make a CHOICE, one path forward OR the other. There was no vote at all in her “game,” which seems to  be considered able to supplant the entire debate.

Should we not prefer a REAL VOTE with options, an expression of the present thought of the people even though not enforceable, in the upcoming October 19 vote? It is certainly useful to find out what IS the mood of Albertans.

There be many who seem to side with her against democratic options, against the people being able to express a  view opposing hers. That is unfortunate, especially when the voting she campaigns against is simply asking the question whether there should be more democracy in the form of a REAL vote that counts for (or against) the FREEDOM of Alberta.

So let us joyfully “drag us back to the ballot box,” to actually vote and not ONE SIDE be ruled out as never to be tested against her one side position.

Douglas Hendrickson,
Bittern Lake

September 29, 2026

There are ten questions on which Albertans will have to vote yes or no. All I hear about is how this is all about Alberta becoming our own nation. This is what the separatists want us to think. Only one question (ten) deals with whether we should have a referendum or not on separation.

The rest of the questions have to do with our province taking back control from the Federal government on issues of immigration, making sure only Albertans vote and to get the jobs they need to live a successful life.

I do encourage all people to vote yes on questions 1-9 and for Alberta to stay in Canada as a province.

To the separatists, I say that we cannot afford to be a separate country.    Your so-called facts are false and misleading.

If you don’t like to be with Canada, well you guys are welcome to leave.    This is just something for all of you to ponder.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

September 22, 2026

I do agree in part with Ms. Jacobsen that the Forever Canadian group received more signatures than the independence group. But under different conditions and rules.

It was much easier for the Forever Canadian group to get their “signatures” with less stringent rules applying to them. They also did not have a leftist judge throw out the petition in a response to some First Nations groups. Thus we are off to a referendum.

I would have preferred the proposed referendum question from Lukaszuk which was “Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” My vote would be easy....NO!

George Shostak,
Camrose County

September 22, 2026

Wanting to educate myself about the impending referendum, I found the Alberta government’s website identifying and explaining the questions.  What I saw there was deeply troubling.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that the information there was very biased (against immigration) and misleading. For example, the claim is made that “$600 million plus” is “the approximate annual cost to taxpayers for providing education to the 45,000 children of temporary residents in the provincial education system”.

The claim implies that there are two mutually exclusive groups of people: taxpayers and temporary residents. That implication is misleading because temporary residents are taxpayers! (By the way, I was surprised to learn that the vast majority of immigrants in Alberta are from other parts of Canada, not from other countries! The opposite is implied on the government’s website.)

In the pool of constitution-related questions, I found the government’s website unsettling. I don’t trust the UCP to act in the best interest of all Albertans (for examples, think of: the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause; flip-flops on coal mining; enabling its ministers to make laws; protecting its ministers from sanctioning by their professional societies).

One of the referendum questions has to do with the Alberta government having more say in the appointment of certain judges.

In a democracy, the three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial – need to be independent of each other. Is Premier Smith “meddling” in a process that (a) is not hers to meddle in and (b) is working just fine?

Albertans need to vote in this referendum (especially question 10, which I haven’t addressed here, yet), but we need to be aware of what we’re voting for (or against). We need to hear from knowledgeable, non-partisan sources. We need to be very skeptical of the government’s propaganda. (The UCP is uncannily adept at word wizardry!) I’ll leave it to everyone, of course, to “do their own research” and come to their own conclusions, so I’m not “telling” anyone how to vote. I will say, though, that I’ll be voting a resounding “no” on questions one through nine, and I’ll choose option one for question 10.

John Olson,
Camrose

September 22, 2026

Many Albertans who are considering Alberta separation are labelled as traitors. A traitor is someone who betrays what his country stands for. The Liberal government of today is trying to remake Canada as a global net-zero emissions leader and so it is Canada, not Alberta, that is abandoning the values that made us successful. As a result, like Britain and Germany, Canada’s economy is failing. The new ways aren’t working. It was the old ways that made Canada rich.

Canada’s strength is its resources. We should be “drawers of water and hewers of wood” for the world. There is no shame in that because it is our blessing. For example, we will never be a global leader in AI research, but we have resources to provide the energy for AI to function. Canada will never be a manufacturing power because the global average annual manufacturing wage is about $20,000. Would you work for that?

Many Alberta seniors are concerned about losing their CPP if Alberta were to separate. The CPP is a contributor-based pension plan. It is your money and not Ottawa’s that pays your pension. Today there is a bigger concern with the CPP because your money is now invested in around 50 per cent private equity and credit. That is the real risk to you. It’s a risk that can’t be ignored.  And who chooses those investments?

We also need to be concerned about government deficits. Remember that a deficit is money we have taken from our children and grandchildren. They will have to pay it back. Canada’s federal and provincial debt interest payments are around $94 billion per year. Compare that to Alberta’s annual budget of around $70 billion per year. Think of all the health care, education and social services that money could buy.

So what about net-zero? Yes, the weather appears to be changing and becoming more extreme. If Canada did go to net-zero that would change very little because it is a global problem and Canada contributes 1.4 per cent of global emissions. Globally, there is a lot of talk but little progress because countries develop by using energy, and fossil fuels are still the most reliable, continuous source of energy.

So Canada is paying the price for nothing.  That said, we should be sensible and prudent in our use of energy and, when the world changes, so should we.

Tony Hladun,
Camrose

September 15, 2026

The fifteenth Annual Armena Community Market took place on September 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside at Armena Anniversary Park. It featured local artisans and farmers selling their home baked, crafted, grown and raised products while also being entertained with live music from a variety of local musicians.

Kids’ entertainment included a bouncy castle, face painting, rock painting and lawn games. A concession was on site serving up beef on a bun and homemade pies. It was a great day to come out to Armena to catch up with new and old friends alike while supporting our local small businesses and the host of the event, the Armena Athletic Association.

We had such a great turnout to our market even with the rainy weather, and it was all due to the fact that we were on the front page of The Camrose Booster, so I wanted to say thank you again! We definitely drew in people from outside our community who normally wouldn’t come to events in Armena.

Kim Wetsch,
Armena

September 15, 2026

As a three-time provincial championship fastpitch softball coach, I know how standard competition works: when you play by the rules and win a game at provincials, you advance. Unless a tournament is clearly structured as a double-knockout format before the first pitch – where every team knows the rules going in – officials don’t force you into a “loser’s rematch” against a team you already beat.

​And this was no squeaker. When over 400,000 Albertans signed the Forever Canadian petition, we won that issue by a blowout margin of over 100,000 signatures. We organized, followed the law, put the score on the board, and settled it. For our government to take those verified signatures and treat them as an excuse to drag us back to the ballot box for Question 10 is deeply offensive. You do not force victors to replay a game they won handily just to manufacture political friction.

​I stand in the same tradition of pragmatic, law-and-order governance represented by our own former MLA, Justice Minister, and Agriculture Minister, Verlyn Olson. He understood what responsible government looks like: protecting rural economies, upholding the rule of law, and making tough decisions – not running multi-million-dollar survey campaigns to avoid taking personal responsibility.
​What makes this entire exercise truly surreal is the sheer operational disconnect:

​Disrespecting harvest: forcing a 10-question, hand-counted vote in mid-October during peak harvest shows a complete disregard for rural life in Camrose.

​The bureaucratic contradiction: Elections Alberta is short tens of thousands of workers. To fill the gap, the province is recruiting non-citizen temporary residents to hand-count ballots for Questions 2, 3, and 4 – questions asking voters whether to restrict public services for those exact same non-citizens.

​Betrayal of public privacy: beyond the operational chaos, extreme political actors like David Parker and his Centurion Project illegally deployed a database containing the private names and addresses of nearly three million Albertans – a massive breach now facing court injunctions and police investigation. Taking zero accountability for these radical fringe elements while asking citizens to participate in another province-backed exercise is unacceptable.

​Our government holds a majority in the Legislature. They have the authority to govern, yet they are running an expensive opinion poll to avoid taking ownership of policy.

​MLA Jackie Lovely needs to step up, represent the practical realities of our agricultural community, and call on leadership to stop this referendum.

Darlene Jacobsen,
New Norway

September 1, 2026

I wanted to reach out and send a very sincere thank you for the support of The Camrose Booster in promoting our Family Fun Day and Market, and especially for featuring our event in the August 18 edition of The Country Booster.

We had an absolutely wonderful day and saw a record turnout for the event. We heard from so many people throughout the day who had seen the event advertised in The Booster, and there is no doubt that the exposure you provided played a significant role in helping us reach people beyond our immediate community.

For a small community like Hay Lakes, having that kind of support and coverage means so much. A tremendous amount of work went into planning the day, and seeing so many families, visitors, vendors and community members come out and enjoy it made it incredibly rewarding.

Thank you for helping us get the word out, for supporting our community, and for being so wonderful to work with. Please know how genuinely appreciated your contribution to the success of our event was.

We are very grateful!

Beth Ogilvie,
Hay Lakes

September 1, 2026

Rural families should know that the federal apprenticeship support first announced as an $8,000 payment has quietly grown into a much larger program. Ottawa has confirmed several expansions since Prime Minister Carney’s early announcement, and none of it has been reversed or delayed.

The biggest change is financial. Apprentices now receive a $400‑per‑week top‑up during their mandatory in‑class technical training. Over a standard 40‑week training cycle, that adds up to $16,000. On top of that, anyone who completes their apprenticeship and earns a Red Seal receives a $5,000 completion bonus. For rural apprentices who often face long travel distances, seasonal layoffs, and higher living costs, these supports matter.

The program has also been folded into a national skilled‑trades plan aimed at bringing 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal workers into the labour force. This includes modernized exams, digital logbooks, a national apprenticeship number, and expanded training capacity at union centres. Employers who hire first‑year apprentices can qualify for wage subsidies up to $10,000, which helps small rural shops take on new trainees.
This is good for young people because it lowers the financial barriers that keep many from entering the trades. It gives them a clear path to a stable career without taking on heavy debt, and it helps rural youth stay in their home communities instead of leaving to find opportunity elsewhere.

In short, the original $8,000 announcement was only the starting point. The federal government has since confirmed larger payments, stronger incentives, and a broader strategy to rebuild the trades workforce. Rural readers should be aware that these supports are active, expanding, and available now. As always, confirm details with official government sources. Finally!

Ken Riley
Bassano, AB

August 25, 2026

Public backlash and organized protests against artificial intelligence data centres (AIDC) have surged across North America due to projected massive water consumption, skyrocketing electricity bills, and a lack of public consultation.
But what about questions relating to the front end need/demand for data centres (DC)?
Currently, in a typical home, video streaming uses the most internet bandwidth (Netflix is 35 per cent of total). Other major bandwidth consumers include large game downloads and updates, continuous cloud backups, security cameras, and video conferencing. Simple tasks like reading email, browsing websites, music streaming, actual on-line game play uses very little bandwidth.
Canadians need MLAs and MPs to cooperatively enact legislation and policies to protect our youth, promote responsible, necessary computer and internet usage, protect unsuspecting and non-tech savvy users and account for using our tax dollars wisely.
Can we have confidence that they will act in our best interests to address a myriad of concerns about AIDC, internet usage and regulations, etc. versus surrendering to self-serving populist forces?
What is the REALITY of the hype surrounding the Artificial Intelligence (AI) bubble as many international market economists are warning of the AI and the technology bubble bursting?
What are the driving forces for more DC? Heightened expectations of investors? Is AI the most recent form of corporate (government subsidized) welfare for the rich and powerful? For politicos to attract investment?
Many countries are reining in the powers of telcos; it is timely for Canada to follow suit and hold accountable Canada’s telcos, who operate as an oligopoly. Telcos whose telemarketing practices, exorbitant fees, intrusion upon one’s privacy, irritating popup ads, and support of websites that use third party cookies to track users that increase the risks of fraud, scams, and hacking.
Canada lags far behind other countries with respect to internet regulation and does not have a single standalone “malware” law nor a single, dedicated federal law explicitly targeting internet third-party cookies.
Is the frivolous fluff
of social media like
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube etc. REALLY necessary? Time management, addiction to gaming, and cyberbullying are major struggles for our youth.
Is it a wise decision to allow sports and online gambling to compete with bricks and mortar casinos given the much higher risk of youth becoming “problem” gamblers online?
Is the cryptocurrency
“experiment” a basic need to be supported by DC? An objective comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is in order.

Lynn Clark, 
Camrose

August 25, 2026

I did apply for the provincial gas rebate and received $100 into my account. I find this rebate to be a complete joke.
I personally work seven days a week for three jobs just to barely pay our bills. I work part-time for a taxi company here in Camrose and I spend more on fuel per month than a one time payment of $100.
In my view, this rebate really is too small to help make life more affordable.
When will our governments be serious to really help make life more affordable by maybe reducing the cost of fuel at the pumps? This would save people like myself a lot of money as a result making life more affordable.
This is just something for all of you to ponder.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

August 4, 2026

Last month in June there were student protests outside of the high school and along the main road by the high school.

The result of these protests was the start of an investigation into these serious concerns which was brought out to light by these protests. The Police investigated and found a group chat which were attacking females online.

There has to be a better system in place to monitor such online activity. This is very disturbing to see happen in our society.

I would like to thank all those who took the time to bring this to the attention of the police and to the School Board as well to the society as a whole. Your brave actions, I hope, will bring about positive change to this very important issue.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

July 21, 2026

The avenue in front of my house was closed from June 9 to 25. The road, not the sidewalks. In that time, I faithfully received a copy of The Booster. That’s three if you want to check your calender.

“How many Canada Post workers did I see?” you might be asking yourself for some strange reason. Well here’s a hint, read the subject line.

The actual score was Booster – 3, Canada Post – 0. Was there ever any doubt? Thank you to the very lovely woman who delivers my Booster and loves my cat. And a big shout out to the woman who helps her and indeed to all who work at our community paper.

Miles Degenstein,
Camrose

July 21, 2026

Camrose is home to many seniors in the central Alberta area. We are fortunate to have many amenities and activities for our well-being and enjoyment. What we are lacking, though, is better access to some specialist health services.

There are clinics and/or mobile units in the city for several key issues. For example, heart health, MRI, men’s health, and mammography. They are either self-appointed or on referral from the doctor. However, other specialists needed in our community include urologist, ophthalmologist, dialysis, pacemaker checks, and diabetes care. These and possibly other specialist support are needed for persons who live in this and the broader outlying communities.

The stress, expense, time involved, and in many cases, transportation issues are all factors which have a negative effect on someone’s health and well-being. Most of the specialties listed could be serviced through mobile clinics.

Our provincial government has started the process of making our system more efficient. The above additions would certainly be helpful for us, and I am sure for other rural communities. It is very possible that some appointments which are made in larger centres are missed because of one or more of the factors listed above.

Funding for the training, and equipment needed for these services would need to be provided by the appropriate government department. There are hundreds of persons in this area who would benefit by having these services more convenient.
If you share this concern, please send your comments to our MLA Jackie Lovely. It is expected that she will understand the support and convenience of these additions.

Delphine Murray,
Camrose

July 21, 2026

Once again, government has shown little regard for Canadian history and traditions. The federal government is planning the unthinkable – halting jet-powered aircraft performances of the nationally-loved 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Snowbirds of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The intention of Carney’s government is to replace the Canadian designed and built Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets with propeller-driven aircraft, the Swiss-built CT-157 Siskin II.

That would be a giant step backwards. I am sure the Siskin is a fine aircraft and could serve the Royal Canadian Air Force well as a pilot trainer. How ironic it is that the government plants to revert to aircraft named as Siskins! Canada’s first aerobatic team was formed in 1929 and comprised of three British-built Armstrong Whitworth Siskin biplanes that were developed as fighter aircraft after the First World War.

If the federal government replaces the Tutor jets with Siskin trainers, Canada will be the only G7 country with propeller-powered aerobatic teams. The Snowbirds at present, rank with the other six high-performance jet teams from Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and the United States.

The move to change to the Siskins is considered with complete disregard to national history, heritage and tradition. It would be like asking the RCMP to abandon their horses of the Musical Ride and switch to Shetland ponies or burros and perform at children’s petting zoos.

John Chalmers,
Edmonton

July 14, 2026

I’m all in favour of governments investing in economic opportunities but this west coast pipeline is just politics. Last year, Mark Carney said a pipeline will only happen if the private sector pays for it, but now it seems taxpayers will pay. We are told $35-44 billion, but this new pipeline has much larger pipe and more powerful motors than the TMX, so I think we will pay much more.
Part of the deal was that the oil industry would install a carbon capture and storage system but The Hub expects we’ll pick up $20 billion in cost for that too. (New West Coast pipeline could cost over $100 billion in overruns, raising concerns about ‘Laurentian Capitalism’ spreading to Alberta). And The Hub expects there will be about $100 billion in cost overruns.
If this project makes sense, the private sector will take it on. The reality is that this pipeline makes no economic sense. Smith says that the oil will be sold to the growing market in Asia, but she knows that the Asia market is shrinking. The main Asian country with refining facility for our heavy sour crude is China, and China is installing renewable energy quickly to eliminate the need for imported oil. China says their oil consumption will drop this year by 5 per cent. (PetroChina forecasts Chinese oil consumption will drop 4.9 per cent this year – Reuters). It is shrinking, not growing. If there is any market for our oil by the time the pipeline is finished, we will be competing with Saudi Arabia, who provide most of the heavy crude to China now.
Unfortunately, according to the Pembina Institute (West Coast Pipeline Deal Is a Massive Gift to the Oil Industry, Alberta – Energi Media), Saudi Arabia can produce heavy crude profitably for as little as $5/barrel, but for the oil sands the break even point is about $35/barrel.
To transport Saudi oil to China costs about
$2/barrel and for Alberta oil its about $18/barrel. It appears that the only way any oil will move through that pipeline is if it is heavily subsidized by taxpayers.
It appears to make no sense, so why are we doing this. Well, some separatists say we should vote to separate to send Ottawa a message.
I think they have got their wish. Carney appears to be willing to throw a ridiculous amount of Canadian taxpayers’ money at this to show that Ottawa can satisfy Alberta. And Smith seems willing to throw a ridiculous amount of Alberta taxpayers’ money at this to show that she can get Ottawa to do what she wants.
In my opinion, the big winners – oil companies (many foreign). The big losers – Canadian taxpayers. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Rob Hill, Camrose

July 14, 2026

How does one sort through the myriad of information/noise that permeates our lives and make sense of the craziness in news feeds at home and abroad?
We boomers are thankful to have grown up and lived, loved and worked in the best of times. Raised with the traditionalist values of our parents, we enjoyed a comfortable, prosperous, healthy and unencumbered lifestyle during peaceful times.
However, we must concede that our well-grounded lifestyle has become more chaotic of late.
We reflect (lament perhaps? upon life “BEFORE…”
BEFORE … The internet completely transformed society by access to global knowledge, collapsing communication distances, and revolutionizing how we work, learn, and shop
BEFORE… the downside; namely, narrative from vested interest groups posting mis/dis-information, fraudsters, conspiracy theories, “alternate facts” from politicians, cyber bullying, loss of privacy, the need for ad blockers, foreign ownership of media, youth addicted to videogaming, etc. and last, but not least, the downside of AI.
Twenty-first century societies are a multigenerational mix characterized by people attached to their cellphones by an umbilical cord (myself included); a society that has morphed into getting its information in 30-second sound/video bytes often circulated by social media friends or as a subscriber to a group.
What would one of Canada’s most well-known philosophers, Marshal McCluhan, say about the 21st century? He died 10 years before the internet and social media came on stream.
McCluhan’s work was a groundbreaking study in media theory in the 1960s; he was dismayed by the way in which people approached and used TELEVISION, (the newest) media at that time. The media themselves, not the content they carry, should be the focus of study – popularly quoted as “the medium is the message”.
Another visionary who died before the internet was educator Neil Postman who provided advice to educators and parents to assist in arming our youth. Postman’s 1969 address, “Bullshit and the Art of Crap-Detection,” pioneered the notion of crap detecting, the critical ability to analyze, question, and see through propaganda, media manipulation, and misinformation
So…the solutions to our dilemma?
Government regulations to limit social media access for youth has not worked in Australia as tech savvy youth have already bypassed the regulations.
It is unrealistic to expect profitable social media giants like Meta, to regulate themselves.
Leaving only… parents and teachers to limit screen time and content and engender a built-in “crap detector”. Is there hope?

Lynn Clarke, Camrose

July 7, 2026

There are two issues in the public consciousness that need to be commented on.

First, wait a minute… there. It took me 2 minutes to type the text of the Corb Lund petition and our government maintains that there is not time to add the question to the October referendum. Unless they come up with a compelling reason for not being able to add the Corb Lund question, I would be forced to be of the opinion that they are either incompetent or corrupt. I wonder which of these they would prefer me to choose?

It seems to me that the Alberta government is afraid of the outcome of the Thomas Lucaszuk “Forever Canada” petition, successfully completed with over 400,000 signatures. Why else would we have heard nothing about how they planned to deal with it? In contrast, it also seems to me that they have embraced the much weaker, and, at this point, unapproved separatist petition which only required 178,000 votes as a result of the government’s deliberate step to make petitions easier to achieve.

What’s more, the government is suggesting that over 700,000 Albertan’s want a petition. The premier is counting the Lukaszuk 400,000 in this number in spite of the fact that Lucaszuk specifically did not want his question to be a referendum. Instead, he wanted the question to be put to all Alberta MLAs, so the public could see how each member of the government felt about remaining in Canada.

Furthermore, the petition could not be used in a referendum, because the question was never vetted for constitutionality. Granted, there is some question about this, because Lucaszuk’s language suggests he would like a referendum “Therefore, we as represented by the signatory and applicant below, propose a referendum on the following question: ‘Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?’. On the other hand, he never selected the “constitutional referendum” box on the petition submission form.

In any case, somehow the petition has disappeared for months into “committee”. It’s clear to me that the last thing this government wants is to be pressured into revealing its stance on the Forever Canada question. Its handling of this issue speaks volumes…

Second, for years Canadians have looked aghast south of the border at the rampant practice of gerrymandering, which provides a distinct unfair advantage to the party in control of the process. In Canada independent commissions have handled federal and provincial redistricting since the 1950s and 1960s, ensuring boundaries are drawn based on population equality and community interests rather than partisan advantage.

And yet, we now learn that the UCP is rejecting an independent electoral boundaries commission’s majority report, which cost over a million dollars to produce. Instead, they have established a new, UCP-dominated committee to redraw provincial electoral maps. Oh, and by the way, instead the original report, which was written after a year of public hearings, including more than 1,140 submissions, this hand-picked panel will have NO PUBLIC INPUT and will work behind closed doors. To me, this smacks of the UCP doing whatever it can to tilt the electoral playing field.

I wonder how many other Albertans were as horrified and angered as I was to learn how readily and completely this government has embraced outright cheating to demonstrate their desperation for preserving their power?

Furthermore, I would like to hear our own MLA’s thoughts on these issues. I realize her government has put her in what I hope she sees as a difficult position, but it would be interesting to see just how far her voiced loyalties extend.

Timothy Parker, Camrose

June 30, 2026

I have also been concerned about the misguided Alberta separatists co-opting the provincial flag for corrupt purposes. It is a cheap trick, like not creating a new political party, that demonstrates their unworthiness. Perhaps we’ll need a new provincial flag when it’s all over.
It is heartwarming to see the number of patriotic citizens who are currently displaying the Canadian flag in support of national unity. However, I notice that many of the flags being sold are knock-offs that don’t conform to official dimensions. The official length-width ratio is two to one, so three by six flag is correct but a three by five flag is not.
The official flag also looks better so it’s worth the effort to find one.

Wayne Hansen, 
Edmonton

June 30, 2026

I read with interest the front page of the June 23 issue of The Camrose Booster.
While I join with all Canadians in bemoaning the recent announcement that the RCAF Flight Demonstration Team - the beloved Canadian Snowbirds - will be placed on pause, I write to suggest that there is a depth to this story beneath the surface.
I have lost count of the number of times I have watched, spellbound, the Snowbirds’ performances. Just the sound of the nine ship team approaching show space evokes deep emotion within, not to mention tears to my eyes. The Snowbirds have established themselves as an icon of Canadian unity throughout their storied fifty-five year history. It is no wonder so many of us wish there would be no pause in their schedule.
However, the Canadair CT-114 aircraft that has comprised the team has reached its service limits. Numerous parts for the aging fleet are no longer available or at least, difficult to come by. Components, especially those which ensure the safety of the pilots such as the ejection systems, are outdated.
I would refer readers to Episodes 105 and 106 of “The Pilot Project Podcast” in which host  Bryan Morrison and former Snowbird Commander Lieutenant Colonel Maryse Carmichael (Ret.)  discuss at length the reasons behind the pause. L-C Carmichael applauds the pause in view of the realities behind it. Pilot safety and aircraft longevity are the primary concerns driving the decision.
Public reaction, understandably, has been swift and largely negative. But can a sixty-three year old airframe be expected to fly forever, given the extreme maneuvers that are part of the Snowbirds’ routines? And at the potential expense of human lives?
A quiet and smooth transition is in the works to replace the Tutor with the new PC-21 or Siskin II aircraft, and yes, this transition will take several years. In the meantime, Canadians will miss the spectacle of nine red and white aircraft flying over Parliament Hill on July 1, not to mention the inspirational performances throughout show season from sea to sea to sea. But anyone who has ever strapped into any aircraft knows that safety is the overarching concern.
A well intended “No Pause” postcard campaign may express our love for the Snowbirds, but it falls short of understanding the complexities of, and the need for, a well-planned pause.

Brian Krushel, 
Camrose

June 30, 2026

Now I would consider myself a happy person and am grateful for all of the blessings and goodness that life has bestowed upon me. The unfortunate reality is that life is hard. Even at the best of times life can be consuming. The daily grind of work, the battle to pay the bills, do laundry, try to be the best parent possible, eat right, exercise and the list goes on. Then throw in the inevitable conflicts at work, a broken down vehicle, a washing machine that needs replacing and life gets even more complicated. Then throw in the real blows such as an unexpected death, job loss or cancer scare and it can feel as if life is too much to handle.
Have you ever looked at someone and thought that they had it all together? That their life must be so easy and if only you had what they had? The reality is that we all struggle. We struggle to survive in our own worlds. We struggle to be happy, to enjoy the little things in life and not dwell on the daily grind. Every parent is struggling to do it right, not everyone working with you knows exactly what they are doing and people everywhere are constantly grieving for those who have passed away in their lives no matter how long ago.
In no way can this letter convince you not to worry about things, but what I am hoping is that we all check in on each other. Ask your friends and family how they are doing. If you know someone is struggling in life, offer to help them. Give them a call, send a text or give them a hug. Even if someone appears to be doing well, check in on old friends and family to truly be sure that they aren’t struggling with life.
For those of you who are struggling with life, talk to someone. Whether it is a spouse, friend, co-worker or a health care provider. No one needs to feel that they need to go about life alone. The world has become so busy and so complex that it is almost impossible to always have your life in order. Just as you would ask for help lifting something that is too heavy, one must do the same when it comes to your mental health. Let’s all help to take care of each other.

Chris Zarski, 
Camrose

June 23, 2026

In response to the letter from George Shostak, June 16, 2026, and his reference “the next generation losing hope in ever owning their own homes or being able to build some financial secure savings for themselves” as one excuse for separation is without merit. The next generation with their motivation, ingenuity, and strength of character will have a very bright future in Canada.

There have always been tough times and those times are what shape people to become creative, ingenious, motivated, and positive. Tough times do not last. Tough people do.

I encourage our youth to never lose hope. Your future is what you make it. My generation survived the tough times, and yours will, too. The best place on the planet to achieve your dreams is Canada.
Do not be fooled that owning your own home is what counts as success. In the European Union only 68 per cent of people own their own homes. That number drops to 45 per cent or less in Germany and Switzerland.

Many young people view home ownership as a financial and time-consuming burden, and thus are not interested. The next generation will decide for themselves what is best for them as previous generations have done.

The world is in turmoil now, but that will end.
Jobs will be plentiful and our youth will handle them well. They will find a way to achieve financial security.

Currently, there are young people still living with their parents, often while waiting to secure good paying jobs. Multi-generational living is not new to many Canadians. This type of arrangement can be very beneficial for all concerned.

Separating from Canada will not improve the situation for our youth. Our youth will improve their own situations. They are capable of great things. My best wishes to you on the journey called life. It is worth every minute, hardships or no hardships.

Edith Read,
Camrose

June 23, 2026

Hard-working families in Alberta need to understand what the American two-tier healthcare system actually looks like, because the direction the UCP government is taking resembles the early stages of that model. In large parts of the United States, a small number of large corporations own hospitals, clinics, labs, surgical centres, pharmacies, insurance companies, and physician groups. They control the entire chain of care, from the first appointment to the final bill. When the same corporation owns both the insurance plan and the hospital, it sets the prices, decides which treatments are covered, and keeps all revenue inside the same organization.

Insurance companies employ physicians whose job is to review claims and find reasons to deny coverage, even when the attending doctor has prescribed the treatment. Millions of Americans have no insurance because the fees are too high, and some die because they cannot afford care. Even those with employer plans pay hundreds of dollars a month in premiums, plus deductibles that can reach several thousand dollars before insurance pays anything. A single emergency can bankrupt a family. Despite these costs, the American system delivers no better outcomes. On a per capita basis, it costs roughly twice as much as Canada’s public system, with much of the money going to corporate overhead and administrative departments dedicated to denying claims.

Alberta is now moving in this direction. The UCP government spent years pushing down public sector physician income through technical billing changes that reduced earnings for the same work. Family doctors were hit the hardest. After suppressing public pay, the government is introducing a dual practice model that allows physicians to work in both the public and private systems. Dual practice drawing doctors into the private tier is a reasonable and evidence supported prediction based on what has happened in other countries. It is not yet a proven outcome in Alberta, but the pattern is well documented elsewhere. When a private tier offers higher earnings, physicians tend to shift more of their time toward it, leaving fewer hours available in the public system.

Readers should also understand that some of these statements describe systemic incentives rather than literal rules. In both the American system and in any emerging two tier structure, outcomes are shaped by how organizations respond to financial pressures, not by explicit instructions written into legislation. These are structural truths about how healthcare markets behave.

Middle class families need to understand that two-tier healthcare does not protect them. It exposes them. It turns them into customers in a marketplace where corporations decide what care they receive, how long they wait, and how much they pay. The American system did not appear overnight. It was built step by step, through the same kinds of policy choices Alberta is now making. The efficient public system chipped away bit by bit over the last 46 years by those wanting a piece of the healthcare financial pie.

Ken Riley,
Bassano

June 16, 2026

I am writing to express my concerns about the upcoming process to hold referendums on an annual basis.

I do not see any value in this process to the citizens of Alberta. I do believe in the democratic process but have found that in Alberta that process is not always honoured. I specifically refer to the binding referendum held in 2019 where a majority, albeit slim, voted against Alberta moving to permanent Daylight Savings Time (DST). Now a few years later, the government has made the decision to move ahead with this plan anyway.

As someone who was in the majority voting against DST, I feel that my democratic rights have been violated. Let me be clear. I did not vote against DST because I feel that we need to change clocks annually, but rather because I feel that we should be looking to the scientific evidence that indicates the most advantageous to our health is to stay on Mountain Standard Time (MST). When the recent decision to stay with DST was made, you, Premier Smith, indicated that you prefer to have daylight later into the day. That is hardly a valid reason when there is documented evidence in support of remaining on MST and a binding referendum result in which a majority of Albertans voted no!

What will happen now with an election every year where special interest groups divide the population by petitioning for everything and anything to force a referendum?

You have proven by your actions on the DST issue that you are prepared to go against the majority vote if it does not suit you, so what is the point? The cost of these referendums will be the same if not more than a general election, essentially quadrupling the expenses of running our “democratic” process. I feel that money could be better spent on healthcare, education and social programs.

Run your provincial campaign on what your true platform is, and I will accept the results. Privatizing healthcare, decimating the education system and demoralizing our marginalized citizens was not something you promised in the past election and now you are holding referendums to create a smokescreen to hide behind. If the results are not what the government wants, you have proven we can expect the results to be ignored a few years down the road anyway.

Where is this province headed? The richest province with the lowest minimum wage, clawing back money from AISH recipients, privatizing healthcare and trashing education. Not something to be proud of and perhaps this has something to do with the fact that we have the lowest satisfaction in the country.

We need to look at ourselves to ask why. And I’m sorry, but Justin Trudeau is not, nor ever was responsible for your level of personal happiness, and he is no longer in any government position.
Let’s see some positive things happening in the province now that an unfortunate war has improved the government coffers so much!

Patricia Johnston,
Camrose

June 16, 2026

We are living in exciting and history making times! Should Alberta remain in Canada or take a path leading to its own sovereignty. As a senior, I have lived through some interesting times in Canada and as I listen to the next generations losing hope in ever owning their own homes or being able to build some financial secure savings for themselves I too think it is time to re-invigour the Alberta pioneer spirit and become a free nation on our own!

Our current political structure concentrates immense power in the Prime Minister’s office. It marginalizes our voices through an unequal electoral map. We all know on election day that usually the outcome has taken place before our polls close at 8:00 p.m. We rely on an unelected, unaccountable Senate who can be appointed as young as 30 and can stay till they are 75 years of age. And as we have just experienced from appointed Liberal judges in Alberta, they can quash the separatist petition with a stroke of the pen.

Also the number of voters per electoral riding is not equal. Federal policies such as Bill C69 are direct attacks on our (Alberta’s) core industries.

Alberta also lacks a constitutional veto over federal structural changes, unlike Quebec, which leaves us to be legally vulnerable to federal overreach.

Yes, it will NOT be easy, but anything good is never easy and it may cause some short term struggles but just as our forefathers endured, so shall we.

WE could control local energy and eliminate federal carbon taxes and pipeline restrictions. We can protect our provincial culture where local laws will match our unique western heritage and values. We will do direct global trade (and no, we are not landlocked, our neighbours to the south would be open and we can and will negotiate with neighbouring borders. We can also improve local services by keeping our wealth and bringing HOPE back to the next generations.

For our children and grandchildren, we can and will be excited to take this challenge on and not wait to be told that we will own nothing and be happy.

George Shostak,
Camrose County

June 9, 2026

Mammas – don’t let your babies grow up to be LITTERBUGS.

The year is 2026 – garbage adorns our ditches, county roads and highways ditches.

When did it become acceptable to “deposit” fast food containers and garbage bags on the County roadsides? Every kind of alcohol container is also dropped off on the roadsides.

Landowners have their barbed wire fences decorated with all kinds of plastic garbage, farmers’ fields are loaded with every kind and colour of plastic and paper which settle alongside the fence.

Who goes to pick the garbage for them? The 4-H kids and parents used to do a clean up in spring – maybe we all should do that and keep our province clean. Maybe enforcing littering fines would help. Let’s work together and keep Camrose beautiful.

Darlene Brash,
Camrose

June 2, 2026

The separatism issue is a mess. Part of the problem stems from the disinformation separatists are getting from social media. And part of the blame goes to our premier who is doing nothing to correct the false information. People have been led to believe that if Alberta votes in a referendum to separate, then Alberta becomes independent. Not true.

At any time Alberta can ask the federal government to change the constitution to remove Alberta. However, Indigenous people would have to agree to give up their treaty rights, which they have said they won’t do. And Albertans would have to give up our rights under the Canadian constitution, which many of us won’t agree to. And if by some miracle we get to an agreement with the federal government that overcomes all hurdles (extremely unlikely), 7 of 10 provinces making up 50 per cent of the population would have to agree to remove Alberta and the chance of that is basically zero. Alberta simply cannot separate and Danielle Smith knows that.

All this talk of separating accomplishes is to create anger, division and uncertainty and that is bad for us all. Smith should make it clear that a separate Alberta would be a poorer Alberta.

The people of Britain were told that they would be wealthier if they separated from the EU but now Britain is 12-18 per cent poorer than if they had stayed part of the EU.  Economist Trevor Tombe calculated that all Albertans would be $4,000/year poorer if Alberta became independent. The major Chambers of Commerce are saying the talk of separating is already causing investment to turn away from Alberta. Good luck getting the private sector to fund and build a pipeline as long as there is talk of separation.  Separatist leaders say we would be wealthier if we separated from Canada but that is false.

Now we will have a referendum to determine if we want another referendum. Even if we vote overwhelmingly to stay in Canada in October, that is not the end of it, because Smith and the separatists are appealing the court decision that the separatist petition is unconstitutional. If, after a few years the Supreme Court rules in Smith’s favour, Elections Alberta will approve the separatists’ petition and we are into another referendum.

Rob Hill,
Camrose