Alberta

A new poll has gauged whether Albertans would back a referendum on separating from Canada, putting a long-simmering fringe movement back into the provincial conversation. The results arrive amid ongoing frustration in Alberta over federal energy and equalization policies, with commentators divided on whether separation sentiment reflects real momentum or a vocal minority.

Alberta, which has proudly kept itself rat-free for decades through one of the world's most aggressive pest-control programs, is reporting that rats have now been found in the province. The discovery marks the end of a status Alberta has promoted since the 1950s, and people are discussing what the finding means for the province's farms, food storage and pest-control efforts.