In the news today: Tories target tanker ban, Ontario votes, OSAP fallout

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

Federal Conservatives pitch bill that would end B.C.’s tanker ban

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to repeal the oil tanker ban on British Columbia’s northern coast months after Canada inked a deal not to change it.

Poilievre was one of several Opposition MPs who signed a letter to Carney as a federal Tory bill to scrap the tanker ban goes for second reading this week.

The group says the tanker ban “effectively donates” billions of dollars to the United States by forcing Canada to sell discounted oil profiting American refineries.

The MPs point to a proposal by Calgary-based Strathcona Resources to ship up to 250,000 barrels of Canadian oil a day on existing railroad tracks through Prince Rupert, B.C., and across the Pacific Ocean.

For the proposal to be considered, the tanker ban would have to be lifted, and the letter says the federal government is the only thing standing in the way.

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Voters across Ontario head to the polls for municipal elections

It’s election day in Ontario, with voters in more than 400 municipalities set to pick their local representatives.

The mayoral races in Toronto, Mississauga and Ottawa will be ones to watch, with recent polls showing all three to be closely fought.

Incumbent Olivia Chow is looking to hold off city councillor Brad Bradford in Toronto, while former Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie appears to be the front-runner to reclaim Mississauga’s top job.

Premier Doug Ford may not be on the ballot but his government’s changes figure prominently in local elections where candidates have sparred over strong mayor powers granted by the province.

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OSAP, affordability questions likely to dominate as Queen’s Park resumes sitting

Ontario’s student loan program is likely to be a hot topic when the legislature resumes sitting on Tuesday. 

Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn has been under fire for the Doug Ford government’s handling of the Ontario Student Assistance Program distributing payments to private career colleges.

On top of an audit and police investigation, Quinn has also paused OSAP payments to students at private schools until 2027 — something critics say only makes matters worse for already cash-strapped students.

The legislative sitting begins Tuesday and it’ll be the first time in 21 weeks that politicos will have sat in the house.

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Record unofficial count of ballots complete after referendum: Elections Alberta

Elections Alberta says it has completed an unofficial hand-count of ballots submitted in the Oct. 19 referendum.

The agency says it has counted more than 20 million ballots, the highest number cast in any Canadian electoral event.

The unofficial results show a majority of Albertans voted “yes” on questions dealing with immigration, and backed staying in Canada on the separation question.

The agency is set to release official results of the historic vote on Thursday. 

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Doerkson won’t rule out shortened fall session after provincial election win

B.C.’s newly minted Conservative government could take its seats in the legislature soon, but the premier-designate is not ruling out a shortened fall session.

Lorne Doerkson told reporters Sunday, just one day after his election victory, that he was keeping the option open to recall the legislature in the fall.

The Conservatives were elected with about two-thirds of the province’s 93 seats in the legislature, giving the party its first majority government in nearly a century.

A statement from the office of the clerk of the legislative assembly said oath ceremonies can’t take place until the election results are certified and provided by the chief electoral officer, which is expected Nov. 18.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2026.