Good morning. Organizers behind Minnesota's anti-ICE protests have a new cause: training for possible disruption at the polls. We'll take you inside a "democracy defender" session ahead of a tight midterm race. Plus, Canadian women look to Mexico for endometriosis treatment and Albertans feel economic anguish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEATURED STORIES
|
|
|
|
(Katie Nicholson/CBC)
|
|
|
How the ICE surge in Minnesota could impact the midterms
|
|
|
Nine months after federal immigration officers flooded Minnesota, arresting thousands and killing two U.S. citizens, residents are now preparing for potential disruption at the polls.
What's happening: The Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to assert control over aspects of voting. Though it failed to limit mail-in ballots, it has continued to sow seeds of doubt about election integrity. U.S. President Donalt Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out sending federal officers to the polls. Community groups are holding "democracy defender" training sessions to protect the polls from federal interference.
Why it matters: In a midterm election where the balance of power in Congress is at stake, University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs says "Minnesota could be the decider." The Somali community in particular — targeted by ICE crackdowns and frequently insulted by the U.S. president — typically turns out in high numbers. Former NFL sideline reporter and Republican candidate Michele Tafoya is neck-and-neck in the polls with the state's Lieutenant Governor and Democrat Peggy Flanagan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'We can’t deal with it in Canada': Some women turn to Mexico for endometriosis care
|
|
|
While many women wait years to see specialists and book surgeries related to endometriosis, some Canadians are seeking treatment at a private clinic in Tijuana, Mexico.
What's happening: Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects one in 10 women. It causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow and spread to other parts of the body. Noelle Menu, 37, has faced debilitating endometriosis pain for a decade, and recently went into debt to seek surgical treatment at EndoGlobal in Tijuana. She says doctors there found a large mass that threatened to block her bowels and send her into septic shock.
Why it matters: It can take an average of five years to be diagnosed with endometriosis in Canada. After that, it can take, on average, between six to 18 months to see a specialist and up to 24 months for surgery. Menu says her wait for a specialist appointment in Canada was 30 to 40 months. "It makes me so mad," she said. Dr. Nicholas Leyland, president of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, says that there are not enough specially trained gynecologists in Canada to deal with "the complex surgical issues."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic frustration fuels Alberta separatism — but is independence worth the cost?
|
|
|
Separatists are getting a boost from Albertans who are frustrated with Ottawa over economic conditions of the last decade. But leaving Canada comes with its own financial risks.
What's happening: Unstable oil prices, cancelled pipeline projects and unemployment over the last decade have fuelled economic frustration in Alberta. Alberta's unemployment rate has tracked above the national average since 2016, according to Statistics Canada, while average weekly earnings have struggled to keep pace with inflation over the same time. Retired engineer Morad Rizkalla says he plans to vote for the next step toward Alberta separation, hoping it will pressure Ottawa to address the province's economic grievances.
Cost of independence: The Alberta Transition Council has estimated one-time transition expenses at $5 billion, while predicting an independent Alberta would have a potential budget surplus of between $22.2 to $32.1 billion each year. But a University of Calgary report commissioned by the Alberta government predicts the cost of establishing a new country could range between $50 to $170 billion over a five-year period. The report found total provincial debt could skyrocket to between $324.1 billion to $442.3 billion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
