Wednesday, May 7

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her announcement of a potential separation referendum had nothing to do with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
   
• Alberta teachers rejected a collective agreement proposed by a mediator, citing ongoing frustrations over class sizes, student supports, and wages that fail to keep up with inflation.
   
• Smith was also criticized by First Nations leaders across Alberta for inviting a separation referendum, firmly denouncing any movement in that direction.
   
• In Sports, Gerry Moddejonge and Robert Tychkowski analyze Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Edmonton Oilers and the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
  
  
• In Arts, we review the Shadow Theatre's production of "Where Are You?"

Thoughts or suggestions? Email rostad@postmedia.com

— Ramin Ostad

Smith defends timing of Alberta referendum speech as Carney calls for Canadian unity

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the timing of her Monday announcement on a potential separation referendum was linked to last week’s federal election and had nothing to do with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting the following day with U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday afternoon, Smith delivered an 18-minute live address via online streams that set out a list of familiar grievances her government has with Ottawa while also hinting at the likelihood of a citizen-led referendum on Alberta independence next year.

Alberta teachers reject mediator’s recommendations, begin cooling off period ahead of potential strike vote

Alberta teachers have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed collective agreement put forward by a mediator, citing ongoing frustrations over class sizes, student supports, and wages that fail to keep up with inflation. In a record-setting turnout, nearly 36,000 members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) cast their votes online May 2-5. The results show that 61.99 per cent voted “No,” while 37.57 per cent supported the recommendations. Just 158 teachers abstained.

Police evacuate northeast Edmonton homes while investigating and removing hazardous materials, explosives

Edmonton police will temporarily evacuate part of a northeast Edmonton neighbourhood on Tuesday before they investigate and remove hazardous and potentially explosive materials from a nearby home on Wednesday. On April 26 at roughly 8:40 p.m., police conducted a welfare check on a man living near 50 Street and 131 Avenue, EPS said in a Tuesday news release. When they entered the home, officers found unknown chemicals and materials known to be precursors used to make explosives.

Alberta film industry braces for potential fallout from Trump's proposed 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made movies

Alberta’s film and television industry is watching closely and warily as U.S. President Donald Trump proposes a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made movies, which could have sweeping implications for cross-border collaboration and the global screen economy. 

• • Gunter: Time for Ford to get out of bed with Carney and back Smith | Edmonton Journal

  • Carney 'let Trump be the star': Analyzing the Oval Office meeting, from pleasantries to insults

  • Residents northeast of Edmonton ordered to evacuate due to wildfires | Edmonton Journal

  • Bell: Carney must deal with Smith or face Alberta separatist headache | Edmonton Journal

  • What was said: Mark Carney and Donald Trump in the Oval Office | Edmonton Journal

     

'No right talking the way she is': Alberta First Nations chiefs united after emergency meeting denouncing separation talks

Leaders of First Nations across Alberta slammed Premier Danielle Smith for not putting talks of a separation referendum to rest and emphasized their opposition to Bill 54, which would lower the threshold for citizen initiatives. First Nations chiefs from Treaty No. 6, 7 and 8 gathered in Edmonton for an emergency meeting, and all stood firm on denouncing any movement towards a referendum on separation. 

Braid: Will 'yes' vote on independence force Premier Smith to act? She won't say

The question to Premier Danielle Smith was as blunt as I could make it. If Albertans vote “yes” to separation in a referendum, would she proceed to pull Alberta out of Canada? The premier did not say no. Neither did she say yes. “Until I see an actual question with 177,000 signatures of Albertans that are supportive of it, it’s difficult for me to know what that looks like,” she said at Tuesday’s news conference.

Edmonton Oilers send Golden Knights a chilling message in Game 1 win

Slow start: check. Crazy comeback: Check. Dominating playoff performance: Check. The Edmonton Oilers didn’t just win a game Tuesday night, they delivered a rather chilling message to the Vegas Golden Knights in posting their fifth-consecutive comeback win of these playoffs. The underdogs in what was supposed to be an uphill battle against the first-place team in the Pacific Division tore a strip right through the hosts in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

5 THINGS: Edmonton Oilers strike gold in series opener against Vegas

The Edmonton Oilers found a way to beat the Vegas Golden Knights at their own game. That’s right. Whether it was counting cards, smoke and mirrors or having an inside man on the take, the Oilers managed to beat the house. They went in and won against Las Vegas’s built-in advantage. Only they weren’t in a casino on the strip, but rather on the ice at T-Mobile Arena.

Review: Shadow Theatre's Where You Are hilarious, heartfelt

Family homecomings can be stressful, especially when there are secrets to be revealed. In the case of Beth (Nikki Hulowski), returning to her childhood home on Manitoulin Island for a visit before heading off to a new position as a doctor in Montreal, it’s a failed engagement that she never got around to informing her mom, Suzanna (Coralie Cairns,) about.

This space is dedicated to the fabulous and impactful photos taken by Postmedia photographers while they’re out and about town.

Follow Postmedia photographers on Twitter.

Firefighters work to contain a fire near 186 Street and 107 Avenue in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Photo by Greg Southam/Postmedia.

Chief Troy Bossman Knowlton speaks to the media during a press conference in Edmonton where Treaty Chiefs from 6, 7, and 8 rejected Bill 54 on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Photo by David Bloom/Postmedia

Mark Carney crosses his fingers during first meeting with Donald Trump. Cartoon by Malcolm Mayes.

Letters To The Editor welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications.

Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com

Wednesday's letters: Smith must follow Carney on calling byelection

Mark Carney could have played the political game and ensured there would be a lengthy process before Pierre Poilievre would have been able to enter the House of Commons again as an elected member of Parliament. Instead, he stated that a byelection would happen as soon as possible. No games, no posturing, a complete understanding of the important role the Opposition leader plays in keeping the ruling party accountable and ensuring transparency.

Why then is Ms. Smith so afraid to call a byelection for Edmonton-Strathcona? Is she concerned that Mr. Nenshi is a better public speaker and debater? Maybe she recognizes that he would be able to hold the UCP to task and is afraid he would call them out when they are unethical, immoral and incompetent. Could identifying the wasteful spending of money by this government and providing a critical check on their so call fiscal policies be a concern?

Ms. Smith, follow the prime minister’s lead. Stop your political games and call the byelection for Edmonton-Strathcona. We need Mr. Nenshi fighting for