In the news today: Alberta premier braces for crucial party vote

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Alberta premier braces for crucial party vote

Thousands of members of Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party gather Friday in Red Deer ahead of a crucial weekend vote on the job performance of their leader, Premier Danielle Smith.

READ MORE:

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith braces for crucial vote at weekend party conference
• Ottawa fires back at Alberta’s application for judicial review of carbon price
• Alberta Premier Smith says lower-than-forecast oil prices could mean budget deficit

The party’s rules don’t say what level of support in a leadership review is considered a passing grade. But Smith has said that she’d like to see a higher level of support than the 54 per cent she received when party rank and file picked her to replace then-premier Jason Kenney in 2022.

Earlier that year, Kenney resigned as leader after receiving a lacklustre 51 per cent of the vote at a scheduled party leadership review.

The vote comes at the party’s annual general meeting, and at least 5,500 members are registered to attend.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Smith wouldn’t say what percentage she would like to receive, but said she thought the number of party members attending the event was a sign of support in itself.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

N.S. Tory, Liberal leaders stump outside Halifax

Two of the three main party leaders in Nova Scotia’s Nov. 26 election campaign are scheduled to be at opposite ends of the province today.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston is spending his second consecutive day in Cape Breton, where he will campaign but doesn’t have any announcements planned.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill is scheduled to be in his home riding of Yarmouth in southwestern Nova Scotia, and his party is expected to release a statement on illegal lobster fishing in that part of the province.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender will remain in the Halifax area and has an announcement scheduled in Dartmouth.

On Thursday, Chender promised to protect residential tenants by putting stricter limits on rent increases.

How the U.S. election could affect markets

Whichever candidate wins the U.S. president election next Tuesday, experts say investors will be relieved to shed some uncertainty over what kinds of policies to expect.

But macroeconomic factors like interest rate cuts and geopolitical tensions will be far bigger influences on markets in the coming year than the outcome of the election, they say.

“What we really look at … is looking at which candidate can play a more critical role in shaping economic growth,” said Brianne Gardner, senior wealth manager of Velocity Investment Partners at Raymond James Ltd.

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s promises are focused on domestic competitiveness, particularly among renewables, semiconductors and infrastructure, said Brianne Gardner, senior wealth manager of Velocity Investment Partners at Raymond James Ltd.

On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump is likely to cut taxes, especially corporate tax rates, which will boost profits, Gardner said. Sectors like oil and gas or banks are likely to do well under Trump thanks to tax cuts and deregulation, she said.

Canadians keen to watch combative U.S. election

Canadians engrossed in the drama of the U.S. presidential election expect to gather in bars and living rooms to watch the votes roll in Tuesday, but many say the usual fanfare of watch parties will be muted by anxiety over the especially combative race.

Dustin Herberman of Vaughan, Ont., says he’ll follow the results with his parents, who lean more to the right of the political spectrum than he does. He’s steeling himself for a night of delicate chit-chat meant to avoid squabbles over polarizing candidates Kamala Harris for the Democrats and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The 35-year-old Herberman plans to monitor CNN with occasional flips to Canadian networks but expects there will be “a little bit of a fight for control of the TV” with his dad: “It’s probably going to be flipped at least part of the time to Fox News.”

For poll watchers who prefer a bigger gathering, there are events planned across the country, many of them organized by provincial political associations, non-partisan policy organizations and expat groups.

Meanwhile, pubs, bars and eateries eyeing a chance to spur traffic on a typically slower Tuesday will turn at least some of their screens from sports to the news channels – especially in the border city of Windsor, Ont., where one city councillor hoped “the talk of the town” will drive business.

Uber bans customer over racist rant video

Ride-share giant Uber has banned a customer from its app after one of its drivers posted a social media video showing him enduring a racist tirade.

Mandeep Sehgal says it was important for him to call attention to it because South Asian drivers are increasingly facing racist taunts and Uber was taking too long to hold his belligerent customer accountable.

Sehgal said South Asian Uber drivers are also increasingly installing cameras in their cars for safety due to the hate.

Uber, in an emailed statement this week, confirmed action had been taken.

“We have been in touch with the driver, and have removed the rider from the platform,” the company said.

Uber added it has made it easier to report discrimination on its platform, and reminded users that they are required to follow its guidelines, which state “discriminatory language … vilifying, or asking questions about sensitive topics regarding national origin, race, ethnicity” and “making racial comments or using slurs is never allowed.”

A spokesperson for the app did not answer questions about why it took so long for it to ban the customer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press