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Fakiha Baig

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Fakiha Baig.

Alberta's separatist movement is an outlier among global secession efforts: experts

Alberta's separatist movement is an outlier among global secession efforts: experts

Alberta's secession movement is unlike other separatist efforts in democratic countries across the world, experts say. Those outside of Canada, including ones that led to the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence and the 2017 vote on whether the distinct people of Catalonia should leave Spain, all have similar characteristics. "Significant secession movements starts with nationhood, the idea that members of...

  • 2026-05-27
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta's separatist movement is an outlier among global secession efforts: experts

Alberta's separatist movement is an outlier among global secession efforts: experts

EDMONTON --

  • 2026-05-27
  • — Canadian Press
Experts explain how Indigenous rights are a major hurdle for Alberta secession

Experts explain how Indigenous rights are a major hurdle for Alberta secession

EDMONTON -- Three political scientists say Indigenous treaty rights represent a significant legal hurdle for separatists in Alberta.

  • 2026-05-24
  • — Canadian Press
'This country cannot be broken:' Campaign to keep Alberta in Canada launches

'This country cannot be broken:' Campaign to keep Alberta in Canada launches

An effort to stop Alberta from leaving Canada launched in Edmonton today. Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta's former deputy premier, says the Forever Canadian campaign will see him and hundreds of volunteers in a "Unity Bus" travelling the province to encourage Albertans to vote for staying in Canada in an October referendum.

  • 2026-05-24
  • — Canadian Press
'This country cannot be broken:' Campaign to keep Alberta in Canada launches

'This country cannot be broken:' Campaign to keep Alberta in Canada launches

EDMONTON -- An effort to stop Alberta from leaving Canada launched in Edmonton today.

  • 2026-05-23
  • — Canadian Press
Efforts underway to rename road by Alberta legislature after pro-federalist movement

Efforts underway to rename road by Alberta legislature after pro-federalist movement

EDMONTON -- An Edmonton city councillor says he wants to ingrain the love Albertans have for Canada in a red-and-white street sign.

  • 2026-05-17
  • — Canadian Press
Another man has died while waiting for care at hospital: Alberta Medical Association

Another man has died while waiting for care at hospital: Alberta Medical Association

EDMONTON -- The Alberta Medical Association says another patient has died while waiting for care at a hospital, and the province's health agency says it is investigating.

  • 2026-05-16
  • — Canadian Press
Foreign actors producing more false content about Alberta separatism: report

Foreign actors producing more false content about Alberta separatism: report

EDMONTON -- A report says foreign actors are increasingly generating articles, podcasts and social media posts riddled with disinformation about Alberta's separatist movement.

  • 2026-05-06
  • — Canadian Press
Danielle Smith says diverse opinions welcome after MLA supports separatist petition

Danielle Smith says diverse opinions welcome after MLA supports separatist petition

Alberta's premier says she welcomes diverse opinions in her caucus after a legislature member of her United Conservative Party opined a referendum on separation is good for the province. Danielle Smith reiterated on her provincewide radio show Saturday her government supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada despite the views Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan expressed a day before...

  • 2026-03-29
  • — Canadian Press
Danielle Smith says diverse opinions welcome after MLA supports separatist petition

Danielle Smith says diverse opinions welcome after MLA supports separatist petition

EDMONTON -- Alberta's premier says she welcomes diverse opinions in her caucus after a legislature member of her United Conservative Party opined a referendum on separation is good for the province.

  • 2026-03-29
  • — Canadian Press
Cost of rebuilding Alberta town's only ice rinks after explosion in the millions

Cost of rebuilding Alberta town's only ice rinks after explosion in the millions

EDMONTON -- A hockey-loving town in southern Alberta that lost its only two ice rinks in a Zamboni explosion says it will cost millions to rebuild.

  • 2026-03-16
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta's chambers of commerce say separation talk not helping attract business

Alberta's chambers of commerce say separation talk not helping attract business

Alberta's chambers of commerce say talk of the province potentially quitting Confederation is bad for business, with one saying it's time Premier Danielle Smith's government move on from blaming former prime minister Justin Trudeau. The Alberta Chambers of Commerce says a recent survey of members and investors suggested more than half of participants say the provincial separation issue is affecting...

  • 2026-03-12
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta's chambers of commerce say separation talk not helping attract business

Alberta's chambers of commerce say separation talk not helping attract business

EDMONTON -- Alberta's chambers of commerce say talk of the province potentially quitting Confederation is bad for business, with one saying it's time Premier Danielle Smith's government move on from blaming former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

  • 2026-03-12
  • — Canadian Press
Animated series profiles brave women, including Canada's first Black female lawyer

Animated series profiles brave women, including Canada's first Black female lawyer

EDMONTON -- Jo-Anne Henry says her mother never described herself as a rebel.

  • 2026-02-01
  • — Canadian Press
Protest campaign planned as Alberta government workers return to office: union

Protest campaign planned as Alberta government workers return to office: union

EDMONTON -- Alberta's 9,000 unionized provincial employees are going back to the office full time starting this weekend, but not without a brown bag protest.

  • 2026-01-29
  • — Canadian Press
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announces closure of research operations, job cuts

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announces closure of research operations, job cuts

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says it is closing seven of its research operations as part of the federal government's efforts to cut the size of the public service. The federal department said research centres in Guelph, Ont., Quebec City and Lacombe, Alta., as well as four satellite research farms across Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are closing.

  • 2026-01-25
  • — Canadian Press
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announces closure of research operations, job cuts

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announces closure of research operations, job cuts

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says it is closing seven of its research operations as part of the federal government's efforts to cut the size of the public service.

  • 2026-01-24
  • — Canadian Press
Canada's oil sector shouldn't panic, stay competitive after Maduro's seizure: expert

Canada's oil sector shouldn't panic, stay competitive after Maduro's seizure: expert

A political scientist says U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in transforming Venezuela's oil-rich sector is a reminder for Canada's oil and gas industry to not panic and stay competitive. Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment with the think-tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says Canada has always competed with other oil-rich countries, and Trump's recent claims his country will "run"...

  • 2026-01-04
  • — Canadian Press
Canada's oil sector shouldn't panic, stay competitive after Maduro's seizure: expert

Canada's oil sector shouldn't panic, stay competitive after Maduro's seizure: expert

Edmonton -- A political scientist says U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in transforming Venezuela's oil-rich sector is a reminder for Canada's oil and gas industry to not panic and stay competitive.

  • 2026-01-04
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta minister, new permanent chief health officer eye renewed collaboration

Alberta minister, new permanent chief health officer eye renewed collaboration

EDMONTON -- Alberta's primary care minister and its first permanent chief medical officer of health since the last one was fired say they're looking forward to working together as the province enters a new era.

  • 2025-12-19
  • — Canadian Press
Hockey, table tennis to go ahead in Alberta after figure skating out over trans law

Hockey, table tennis to go ahead in Alberta after figure skating out over trans law

EDMONTON -- The bodies that govern hockey and table tennis in Canada say their events in Alberta are going ahead despite the province's law banning transgender athletes from female amateur sports.

  • 2025-12-18
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

EDMONTON -- The Alberta government is about to take the next logical step in artificial intelligence -- using it to draft a proposed law.

  • 2025-11-26
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada

The Alberta government is about to take the next logical step in artificial intelligence -- using it to draft a proposed law. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says the plan is to use AI to develop and introduce the Alberta Whisky Act when the house sits next spring. "AI is a tool that is being leveraged across many sectors in...

  • 2025-11-26
  • — Canadian Press
'After all, they're family': Poll finds holiday gatherings still important for most

'After all, they're family': Poll finds holiday gatherings still important for most

EDMONTON -- The upcoming holiday gatherings with relatives may feel ripe for conflicts over politics, relationships, and social issues, but an online survey suggests a majority of Canadians still feel it's important to spend time with loved ones.

  • 2025-11-23
  • — Canadian Press
Hospital staff back to work after AUPE reaches tentative deal

Hospital staff back to work after AUPE reaches tentative deal

EDMONTON -- The union representing 16,000 hospital workers says it reached a tentative agreement with Alberta's health authority a minute before its members hit the picket lines Saturday morning.

  • 2025-11-22
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta minister of arts, culture and Status of Women apologizes for using expletive

Alberta minister of arts, culture and Status of Women apologizes for using expletive

EDMONTON -- Alberta's minister of arts, culture and Status of Women has apologized for using an expletive in a voice message left for a constituent.

  • 2025-11-17
  • — Canadian Press
Halloween display depicts municipal politicians hanging from a noose in Manitoba

Halloween display depicts municipal politicians hanging from a noose in Manitoba

A group representing more than a dozen Manitoba municipalities says RCMP are investigating a gruesome Halloween display the group believes was meant to intimidate local politicians.

  • 2025-11-02
  • — Canadian Press
'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures

'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures

EDMONTON -- Thomas Lukaszuk, a former deputy premier of Alberta who has circulated a petition to make it official policy for the province to stay in Canada, says it has just over 456,000 signatures.

  • 2025-10-28
  • — Canadian Press
'It's a lot of fun': Nunavut residents head to polls for election day

'It's a lot of fun': Nunavut residents head to polls for election day

It's election day in Nunavut.

  • 2025-10-27
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta students face stress, uncertainty as legislation looms to end teachers strike

Alberta students face stress, uncertainty as legislation looms to end teachers strike

EDMONTON -- As legislation looms ordering striking Alberta teachers back to work, Jennifer Black is bittersweet about returning to class to teach English to dozens of anxious Grade 12 students while feeling hopeless herself.

  • 2025-10-23
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta teachers weigh legal options as back-to-work legislation looms in strike

Alberta teachers weigh legal options as back-to-work legislation looms in strike

EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta teachers in a provincewide strike say they're talking to lawyers to determine next steps as legislation looms ordering them back to work.

  • 2025-10-21
  • — Canadian Press
About 750,000 Alberta students enter third week of no school amid teachers strike

About 750,000 Alberta students enter third week of no school amid teachers strike

EDMONTON -- A labour relations professor is criticizing the Alberta government's threat to legislate striking teachers back to work as about 750,000 students enter a third week of cancelled classes on Monday.

  • 2025-10-20
  • — Canadian Press
'A big mess': Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike

'A big mess': Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike

EDMONTON -- An education expert is criticizing online lessons the Alberta government has curated for students during a provincewide teachers strike as "incoherent."

  • 2025-10-10
  • — Canadian Press
Saskatchewan's Moe faces call to clean up sewage fouling area at cult compound

Saskatchewan's Moe faces call to clean up sewage fouling area at cult compound

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says Premier Scott Moe's government needs to step up, snap on some rubber gloves and clean up the sewage fouling the air and land at a building forcibly abandoned by a cult.

  • 2025-10-03
  • — Canadian Press
No talks planned as 51,000 Alberta teachers set to hit picket lines next week

No talks planned as 51,000 Alberta teachers set to hit picket lines next week

EDMONTON -- The head of the Alberta Teachers' Association says no talks are scheduled and 51,000 teachers are set to hit picket lines Monday in a provincewide strike.

  • 2025-09-30
  • — Canadian Press
Canadian energy minister, Alberta premier disappointed with Imperial Oil job cuts

Canadian energy minister, Alberta premier disappointed with Imperial Oil job cuts

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Imperial Oil's "very disappointing" plan to lay off roughly 20 per cent of its workforce by 2027 reinforces the need to build more pipelines.

  • 2025-09-30
  • — Canadian Press
'When has a cult ever turned good?': Richmound mayor describes aftermath of raid

'When has a cult ever turned good?': Richmound mayor describes aftermath of raid

Sewage water continues to seep into a large puddle near the entrance of a purple-coloured school-turned-compound that housed members of a cult in the southwest Saskatchewan village of Richmound for the last two years.

  • 2025-09-24
  • — Canadian Press
Dozens of Alberta students play hooky, rally for teachers as strike deadline looms

Dozens of Alberta students play hooky, rally for teachers as strike deadline looms

EDMONTON -- Dozens of students played hooky from school Monday to rally for teachers at Alberta's legislature as a provincewide strike deadline nears.

  • 2025-09-22
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta to launch ad campaign as strike looms in contract standoff with teachers

Alberta to launch ad campaign as strike looms in contract standoff with teachers

EDMONTON -- A nasty standoff between the Alberta government and its 51,000 teachers - with each side accusing the other of lying -- is set to turn into an all-out advertising war.

  • 2025-09-18
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Ripple effects of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the United States continue to be felt across Canada. The University of Alberta says it has temporarily put a law professor on non-disciplinary leave, as it looks into online comments and threats surrounding comments on the shooting of Kirk earlier this month. The university in Edmonton says in a...

  • 2025-09-18
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

Alberta professor put on leave as ripple effects of Charlie Kirk's death continue

EDMONTON -- The ripple effects of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk's killing continued to be felt across Canada as an Alberta university confirmed it was facing threats, and a major TV network rejigged its programming after the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

  • 2025-09-18
  • — Canadian Press
Experts say Alberta's impending ad campaign against teachers escalating standoff

Experts say Alberta's impending ad campaign against teachers escalating standoff

EDMONTON -- A nasty standoff between the Alberta government and its 51,000 teachers - with each side accusing the other of lying -- is set to turn into an all-out advertising war.

  • 2025-09-18
  • — Canadian Press
Looming Alberta teachers' strike puts spotlight on overcrowded schools

Looming Alberta teachers' strike puts spotlight on overcrowded schools

EDMONTON -- As the clock ticks toward a potential provincewide strike by Alberta's teachers, parents say classroom overcrowding is having a disastrous domino effect on learning with tutors being hired to fill in the gaps.

  • 2025-09-17
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta teachers plan provincewide strike starting Oct. 6, as talks hit stalemate

Alberta teachers plan provincewide strike starting Oct. 6, as talks hit stalemate

EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta's 51,000 teachers says they're planning to walk off the job starting Oct. 6.

  • 2025-09-10
  • — Canadian Press
Premier Danielle Smith defends new COVID shot administration fee during radio show

Premier Danielle Smith defends new COVID shot administration fee during radio show

EDMONTON -- Alberta's wasteful purchase of children's pain and fever medicine three years ago helped inform the province's decision to charge some people $100 for a COVID-19 vaccine shot this fall, Premier Danielle Smith said Saturday.

  • 2025-08-23
  • — Canadian Press
Pierre Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, regains seat in House of Commons

Pierre Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, regains seat in House of Commons

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre secured a seat in the House of Commons late Monday with a crushing byelection win in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot.

  • 2025-08-19
  • — Canadian Press
Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and 213 others vying for a seat in the House of Commons will be in the spotlight Monday, as voters in a rural Alberta riding head to the polls. Two political science professors say Poilievre is expected to handily win the byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, a sprawling eastern Alberta riding stretching from Edmonton to Calgary...

  • 2025-08-17
  • — Canadian Press
Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

Byelection day in Alberta nears for vote with 214 candidates, including Poilievre

EDMONTON -- Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and 213 others vying for a seat in the House of Commons will be in the spotlight Monday, as voters in a rural Alberta riding head to the polls.

  • 2025-08-17
  • — Canadian Press
Effort underway to get Afghan women at risk of deportation to University of Regina

Effort underway to get Afghan women at risk of deportation to University of Regina

Parissa Ahmadi says the least worst thing that could happen if she doesn't make it to Saskatchewan this summer, and is deported to Afghanistan, is that she's jailed and tortured.

  • 2025-08-15
  • — Canadian Press
Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls in a historic federal byelection for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot open today. For the first time ever, Elections Canada says voters must fill out a blank ballot. The agency lists a record 214 candidates running in the rural riding, with voting day on Aug. 18. The majority are part of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group calling for...

  • 2025-08-08
  • — Canadian Press
Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

Advance polls open in Alberta byelection with 214 candidates, historic blank ballots

CAMROSE -- Advance polls in a historic federal byelection for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot open today.

  • 2025-08-08
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients. As debates unfold over Canada's immigration system, those who provide help to newcomers in Alberta say there has been an uptick of hostility toward immigrants. "I hear from people in my...

  • 2025-07-26
  • — Canadian Press
Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

Alberta immigrants say seeing an uptick in anger, rise of racist narratives

EDMONTON -- Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients.

  • 2025-07-26
  • — Canadian Press
Rural Alberta byelection has some conservative voters questioning party loyalty

Rural Alberta byelection has some conservative voters questioning party loyalty

The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory. Fossen is the president of the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce. In the April federal election, it held a candidate forum. Only one nominee showed up to speak to a half empty room. Three months later, Fossen is hosting another candidate forum, this time in a...

  • 2025-07-24
  • — Canadian Press
'It's fantastic to see': Rural Alberta riding in spotlight ahead of August byelection

'It's fantastic to see': Rural Alberta riding in spotlight ahead of August byelection

CAMROSE -- The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory.

  • 2025-07-24
  • — Canadian Press
Long-ballot protest group signs up more in Alberta byelection featuring Poilievre

Long-ballot protest group signs up more in Alberta byelection featuring Poilievre

EDMONTON -- An advocacy-protest group that broke its own record last week for putting the most candidates on an election ballot is now up to 132 for the federal Battle River-Crowfoot byelection in Alberta.

  • 2025-07-21
  • — Canadian Press
Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

EDMONTON -- An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats.

  • 2025-07-17
  • — Canadian Press
Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States. A University of Toronto research group that has been monitoring the meetings of world leaders since 1998 says its analysis shows Canadian protests are more peaceful and smaller. But similar to the recent demonstrations...

  • 2025-06-12
  • — Canadian Press
Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies

EDMONTON -- Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States.

  • 2025-06-12
  • — Canadian Press
'General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms

'General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms

EDMONTON -- Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year.

  • 2025-06-09
  • — Canadian Press