In the news today: Alberta teachers set to begin strike today

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

Classes suspended in Alberta as provincewide teachers strike set to begin today

Some 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers Association are poised to begin a strike today. The labour action, if it goes ahead, will impact more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. Most school boards — including those in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge — have sent notices telling families that barring an 11th-hour deal, classes would be paused beginning Monday. Teachers rejected the government’s latest offer late last month, which included a 12 per cent pay raise over four years, a government promise to hire 3,000 more teachers to address class sizes and money to cover the cost of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Poilievre pushes Carney for results from U.S. trip

Pierre Poilievre is wishing Mark Carney well in Washington this week but the Conservative leader wants the prime minister to return from his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump with results for Canadians. Carney is headed to Washington today ahead of planned meetings with Trump on Tuesday where trade and security are expected to be high on the agenda. Poilievre accuses Carney of breaking his promises made during the federal election campaign in a letter the Conservatives plan to send to the prime minister this morning. He points out that U.S. tariffs are still in place on Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, autos and softwood lumber despite Carney’s pledge to negotiate a deal with Trump.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Champagne off to finance committee as budget looms

MPs will be pressing for details about Canada’s fiscal position today as Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is set to appear at a parliamentary committee. Champagne was summoned last month to make an appearance at the House of Commons finance committee to answer questions about the federal government’s budget cycle. The Liberals will table their first fiscal update under Prime Minister Mark Carney on Nov. 4 after the government opted to forgo the traditional spring budget. Carney has promised to balance the operating side of the government’s books in three years but capital spending is expected to rise amid plans to ramp up defence and infrastructure investments.

Legault, Ford, U.S. governors speak in Quebec City

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers Leadership Summit is wrapping up today in Quebec City with participants taking part in a closing news conference. Québec Premier François Legault has been hosting Ontario Premier Doug Ford as well as the governors of New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania and heads of delegation from Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota. At the outset of the meeting, Legault said the discussions would aim to strengthen economic partnerships, with discussions focused on the economy, defence, critical minerals and tariffs.

Member seat changes in start of B.C. legislature

The provincial legislature resumes sitting today with four official parties, two independents, and the expectation of searing political debate. The One BC party will join New Democrats, Conservatives and Greens as the latest official party, and interim Leader Dallas Brodie says the session is going to be “fiery” as she and her colleague Tara Armstrong ask questions that other politicians are afraid to ask. House Leader Mike Farnworth says the government plans to table and pass 18 pieces of legislation focused on growing the economy and protecting health care between now and Nov. 27, when the session wraps up.

Israelis, Palestinians mark two years of Gaza war

Two years into the war in Gaza, the conflict continues to spread anger, frustration and pain across Canada. Tuesday will mark two years since Hamas militants and affiliates attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 240 people hostage. Israel responded by bombarding the Gaza Strip, attempting to neutralize Hamas and more than 65,000 militants and civilians have been killed in the months since. Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed says the response in Canada has escalated into a torrent of antisemitic crimes and attacks on Canadian Jews.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2025.