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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. Despite separatism being relatively unpopular among Alberta voters, its supporters now dominate the province's governing party. We'll look into how that happened below. Then, we'll look at some skyrocketing grocery staples and whether you should get your flu shot this year.
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THE LATEST
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- South Africa-born Navanethem (Navi) Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights and now a judge on the International Court of Justice, has been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
- The Supreme Court will release a written decision in R. v. Cope today at 9:45 a.m. The case centres on the Gladue principles and their application with regard to violence against Indigenous women.
- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be in Burlington, Ont., today for a news conference, with Stelco as a backdrop. It comes as Ottawa warns the steelmaker could face legal action over recently announced layoffs.
- Canada has long relied on its allies to get technologies like satellites into space. Some companies want to change that.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Tim Kindrachuk/CBC)
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The Alberta question: How separatists took hold of the province’s governing party
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In her rise to the premiership of Alberta, Danielle Smith leaned on the separatist movement, according to a fifth estate investigation — and some of those same separatists are now trying to remove her from office.
What's happening: In 2021, separatists looked to join the United Conservative Party and change it into a government with an "independent focus." But the party's leader at the time, then-premier Jason Kenney, was vehemently against seceding from Canada. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced a leadership crisis, the separatists saw opportunity. Kenney resigned in May 2022 after receiving just 51 per cent support, and separatists seized upon the change, filling the party ranks.
Why it matters: Smith then won UCP leadership. While she has never been a separatist herself, she has, unlike Kenney, accepted them in the UCP. The path to actually holding a referendum was full of hurdles, and Smith eventually announced her own question: On Oct. 19, Albertans will vote to remain in Canada, or start the process of having a binding referendum to stay or leave. Separatists, however, took this as a betrayal — and are now looking to oust her as leader, like they did Kenney.
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These 5 grocery staples have skyrocketed in price this year. Here's why
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Aside from August, grocery prices have been rising faster than inflation for more than a year — the CBC's Marketplace looked at some of the biggest increases and what's driving them.
The biggest increases: Beef and chicken have seen the highest growth. The former was largely due to high consumer demand and record low cattle herds, as dry weather in Western Canada reduced grass and hay supplies. In turn, people turned to chicken, pushing its price higher, as there weren't enough chicks to meet the increased demand. Cases of bird flu also contributed to the reduced supply.
The produce aisle: Among produce, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers rose the most. Changes to migrant labour in the U.S. affected tomato planting, while some production shifted to Mexico, where it was affected by poor weather and dry conditions. Meanwhile, much of Canada's lettuce comes from California, where growers have faced water issues and plant viruses.
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How good is this year's flu shot? Here's what to know about flu season
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Health officials have announced that the flu season has begun earlier than usual. Should you be worried?
What's happening: Not necessarily. The strain making up about 98 per cent of cases in Canada so far tends to be milder, although doctors say it's striking hard in some places. Much of the increase has been driven by an uptick of cases in B.C. and Yukon, as well as in large cities like Toronto and Calgary, with the rest of the country being "really very quiet," according to Brian Ward of the McGill University Health Centre.
Why it matters: The effectiveness of the flu shot varies by year because the dominant strain of the virus is always evolving. This year, however, it's a good match. Rates of COVID-19, meanwhile, are currently trending lower than last year. Several provinces like New Brunswick and Manitoba already have appointments open for flu and COVID-19 shots; check the requirements in your area to be sure you're eligible.
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