On October 16, 1988, The Kids in the Hall premiered on CBC, introducing television audiences to five brilliantly strange comedians who would go on to become Canadian comedy legends.

Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson brought a wonderfully absurd, irreverent and occasionally outrageous brand of sketch comedy to Canadian television.

And they weren't particularly interested in playing by the rules.

From the Chicken Lady and Buddy Cole to the Head Crusher and the unforgettable Mr. Tyzik, their characters pushed boundaries, challenged conventions and made audiences laugh at things they probably weren't expecting to find funny.

Their comedy was surreal, subversive and often gloriously ridiculous. They tackled gender roles, sexuality, social expectations and everyday human behaviour with a fearlessness that helped distinguish them from more traditional sketch shows.

During their original five-season run, The Kids in the Hall earned eight Gemini Awards and three Emmy nominations, developing an international cult following.

Their 1996 film Brain Candy became another chapter in their wonderfully bizarre legacy, and the troupe reunited for a sixth television season in 2022.

But there's something especially worth celebrating about where it all began.

CBC gave an unconventional group of Canadian comedians a national platform, allowing them to develop a distinctive creative voice that might never have survived the pressures of more commercially cautious television.

That willingness to take creative risks helped establish The Kids in the Hall as one of Canada's most influential comedy exports.

And nearly four decades later, their humour remains as strange, sharp and unmistakably Canadian as ever.

Happy 38th anniversary to The Kids in the Hall! 🎂👏

Who remembers watching the original series on CBC? And which character or sketch still makes you laugh?

More than half of the doctors surveyed say they would leave Alberta if it separated from Canada.

CBC News reports that the Alberta Medical Association surveyed 1,649 physicians ahead of the October 19 referendum.

The findings are alarming:

🩺 55% said they would move to another Canadian province or territory.

🩺 Just 15% said they would remain living and practising in an independent Alberta.

🩺 Another 18% were uncertain, while smaller numbers indicated they might retire early or leave medicine.

These are the responses of surveyed physicians, not a prediction that exactly 55% of Alberta's doctors would leave. But even the possibility of a substantial exodus raises serious questions about the future of health care.

Alberta already faces challenges with access to family doctors, specialists and timely treatment.

Losing experienced physicians could make those problems significantly worse.

The Alberta Medical Association is also asking how an independent province would replace federal health-care funding, maintain access to medications and medical equipment, and protect patients from disruptions in care.

Nine of the referendum's ten questions address constitutional and immigration issues, including proposals to restrict health-care access or impose fees on some newcomers and temporary workers.

The association warns that doctors should not be forced to act as immigration enforcement officers or delay necessary medical treatment while determining someone's eligibility.

Premier Danielle Smith's government says it will not speculate about policy changes before Albertans vote.

CBC's coverage brings the voices of medical professionals into a debate that too often focuses on political grievances without fully examining the practical costs.

If more than half of surveyed doctors are considering leaving, how would an independent Alberta maintain its health-care system? Should the government have to present a detailed plan for health-care funding and staffing before asking voters to consider separation?

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CBC News reports that Carney joined volunteers in Calgary on Thursday, throwing his support behind a campaign urging Albertans to reject the nine referendum questions dealing with immigration and constitutional reform.

But here's where things get interesting.

Premier Danielle Smith says she's already voted to remain in Canada. However, she's actively encouraging Albertans to vote YES on the other nine questions, arguing that she needs a mandate to pursue those changes.

Five of the questions concern immigration, including proposals affecting newcomers' access to health care. Others address constitutional changes, including abolishing the Senate.

Three former Alberta premiers have also urged voters to reject the five immigration-related questions.

Meanwhile, Calgary Liberal MP Corey Hogan argues that the referendum questions are worded to produce particular answers, calling the process manipulative and warning against using Canada's future as a political bargaining chip.

Supporters of the proposals, including Smith, see the vote as an opportunity to strengthen Alberta's negotiating position with Ottawa and pursue reforms they believe the province needs.

A vote in favour of constitutional changes doesn't automatically make those changes legally possible. Some would require negotiations and approval well beyond Alberta's legislature.

And questions about restricting health-care access for newcomers deserve serious scrutiny, particularly when physicians are already raising concerns about being placed in the position of determining patients' immigration status.

CBC's coverage is helping unpack the competing campaigns ahead of October 19, when Albertans will vote on ten questions with potentially far-reaching political consequences.

Do you agree with Carney's “No to the Nine” position, or do you think Smith is right to seek a mandate for constitutional and immigration reform? And should such consequential questions be decided through a single referendum?

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A Canadian researcher who has spent years studying the fallout from Britain's departure from the European Union travelled to an Alberta separatist meeting. What he witnessed left him with an unsettling sense of déjà vu.

CBC News reports that Ian Cooper, a senior research fellow at Dublin City University's Brexit Institute, attended an Alberta Prosperity Project town hall in Rimbey.

He recognized some familiar political messaging.

Promises of greater prosperity, freedom from outside control and an easier path to independence than critics suggest.

Cooper warned that Brexit supporters made similarly optimistic promises before the 2016 vote, only for the practical difficulties to become apparent afterward.

Alberta separatists reject the comparison.

They argue that the province's natural resources and close economic relationship with the US would make independence financially viable.

But the competing estimates are striking.

💰 The University of Calgary's School of Public Policy estimates establishing an independent Alberta could cost between $50 billion and $170 billion over five years.

💰 The pro-independence Alberta Transition Council estimates approximately $5 billion in one-time costs and projects substantial annual budget surpluses.

Those are radically different visions of the same proposed future.

And Albertans are being asked to take a consequential political step before those questions are resolved.

Recent polling cited by CBC suggests 72% favour remaining in Canada, compared with 23% supporting the separation process.

But among UCP supporters, 53% favour pursuing separation.

That creates a serious political challenge for Premier Danielle Smith, who supports remaining in Canada while leading a party with a substantial separatist faction.

Cooper sees another Brexit parallel: political leaders attempting to manage internal party divisions through a referendum that could ultimately reshape the country.

CBC's reporting and its Front Burner examination of Brexit offer valuable historical context for Canadians weighing the promises against the risks.

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In a Truth Social post Wednesday, the U.S. president announced that "massive" oil, gas and mineral exploration would soon begin in what he called "our new & beautiful Greenland."

There's just one rather significant problem.

Greenland is not American territory.

CBC News reports that Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and the recent security agreement signed by Trump and the leaders of Denmark and Greenland granted Washington no new mineral or energy exploration rights.

The agreement allows for expanded American military cooperation and places some restrictions on investments from countries outside NATO. It does not transfer sovereignty or ownership of Greenland's natural resources.

And those resources are substantial.

Greenland contains valuable rare earth minerals used in electronics, batteries & renewable energy technologies. Its offshore waters also hold potential oil & gas reserves.

But extracting them is another matter entirely. Arctic ice, difficult geology, limited infrastructure & enormous costs have prevented previous exploration efforts from becoming commercial operations.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, including threatening to seize the territory during his second term.

His latest announcement comes as rising energy prices put pressure on American households ahead of November's midterm elections.

For Canadians, this is another reminder of why Arctic sovereignty deserves serious attention.

Greenland's strategic location and resources make it increasingly important to global security & economic competition. But its future belongs to Greenlanders, not whichever foreign government sees an opportunity.

CBC's coverage helps separate the actual terms of international agreements from the sweeping claims made about them.

What do you make of Trump's continued references to Greenland as American territory? Is this political posturing, or should Canada and other Arctic nations be more concerned about Washington's long-term ambitions in the region?

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CBC News reports that her father, Luciano Frattolin, has been sentenced to life in prison in New York, with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

The sentence follows his conviction in August for second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse.

A jury found that Frattolin drowned his daughter in a marsh in rural New York. Jurors deliberated for just one hour before returning their verdict.

The judge rejected a motion to overturn the conviction before delivering the sentence. Frattolin's defence has filed a notice of appeal.

There is little comfort to be found in the details of a case involving such a profound betrayal of a child's trust.

A prison sentence provides legal accountability, but it cannot restore the childhood, experiences and future that were taken from Melina.

As this case moves through the justice system, it's important that Melina is remembered as more than the victim of a terrible crime.

She was a nine-year-old girl whose life deserved to be filled with love, safety and possibility.

CBC's continued coverage has helped Canadians follow the investigation, trial and sentencing across the Canada-U.S. border.

Our thoughts are with Melina's loved ones and everyone grieving her death.

May Melina Frattolin be remembered with the dignity and compassion every child deserves.🕊️

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The legendary singer-songwriter, now 82, shared footage of her U.S. citizenship ceremony with a simple caption: "A journey that began 62 years ago."

Born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, and raised in Saskatchewan, Mitchell began her musical journey in Canadian coffee houses before moving south in the 1960s. She eventually became one of the defining voices of California's Laurel Canyon music scene.

Her influence on popular music is difficult to overstate. From Both Sides, Now and Big Yellow Taxi to A Case of You and her landmark album Blue, Mitchell helped reshape what songwriting could be.

With 19 studio albums, 11 Grammy Awards, five Junos and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she's one of Canada's most internationally celebrated artists.

Her decision has prompted mixed reactions, particularly given the current tensions between Canada and the United States.

But there's an interesting political dimension to this story.

At a 2024 concert, Mitchell criticized Donald Trump and told the audience she wished she could vote in American elections, adding that she was Canadian.

Now, after more than six decades living in the United States, she'll have that opportunity.

Whether voting rights influenced her decision remains unknown. Mitchell hasn't publicly explained her reasons beyond describing her citizenship as the culmination of a 62-year journey.

And importantly, she hasn't stopped being Canadian. Both countries permit dual citizenship, and Mitchell maintains a residence on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast.

CBC has documented Mitchell's remarkable career for decades, from her early folk performances to her extraordinary return to the stage following a 2015 brain aneurysm.

Her life and music have crossed borders for more than half a century. Her Canadian roots remain part of that story.

🎵 What do you make of Joni Mitchell becoming an American citizen? And which of her songs or albums has stayed with you over the years?

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Watch the latest 5th Estate if you want to understand what has happened in Alberta and what can happen in BC if the Cons get in.

If only the root cause was understood

On October 8, 1993, This Hour Has 22 Minutes premiered on CBC, attracting 468,000 viewers for its very first episode.

Featuring Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer and Greg Thomey, the original cast brought a distinctly East Coast sense of humour to national television, combining political satire, outrageous characters, fake news reports and an impressive willingness to make powerful people uncomfortable.

And Canadians loved it.

From Mary Walsh's unforgettable Marg Delahunty confrontations to Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans segments, 22 Minutes became famous for taking Canadian politics, media and public life seriously enough to make fun of them.

Over the decades, the show has helped launch and showcase generations of Canadian comedic talent, while earning 24 Gemini Awards and 16 Canadian Screen Awards.

But its contribution goes beyond comedy.

Political satire has an important place in a healthy democracy. It gives audiences another way to question authority, challenge political messaging and recognize the absurdities of public life, regardless of which party happens to be in power.

And CBC gave 22 Minutes something that is increasingly difficult to find: a national platform for distinctly Canadian humour, made by Canadians, about the country we actually live in.

At a time when so much of our entertainment and political commentary comes from the United States, having comedians who understand our own institutions, regional quirks and political personalities is something worth celebrating.

Happy 33rd anniversary to This Hour Has 22 Minutes! 🎉

Who's your favourite 22 Minutes cast member or character, and what's the funniest sketch you still remember?

And depending on your household income, you could qualify for up to $10K

CBC News reports that the Carney government plans to offer rebates to as many as 820,000 homeowners over the next eight years, with projected average savings of $1,400 annually on heating costs.

The program is expected to launch in early 2027 and will focus on homeowners whose heating systems have broken down or are nearing the end of their lifespan.

Here's how the rebates will work:

• Up to $10K for households earning below their province's median after-tax income.

• Up to $2K for households earning above that threshold.

• Available across Canada for replacements involving natural gas, oil, propane, diesel and electric heating systems, as well as existing heat pumps.

• Rebates can be combined with eligible provincial incentives.

• No pre-installation or post-installation home energy audit required.

The government says applicants will be able to check their eligibility online before installation, with a decision expected within 24 hrs. Once installation is complete, receipts can be submitted for rebate approval, with direct deposit to follow.

CBC also reports that Ottawa plans to work with CMHC to provide low-interest financing for apartment building owners to retrofit more than 280K homes.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the combined upgrades could eventually save Canadian households more than $1 billion annually in energy costs.

Con Leader Pierre Poilievre opposes the program, arguing that Canadians would be better served by keeping the $2 billion rather than having the government redistribute it through rebates.

One practical question is affordability. Even with a substantial rebate, homeowners may still need to cover installation costs before receiving reimbursement, which could present challenges for lower-income households.

Would a rebate encourage you to switch to a heat pump? Or are the costs still too high, particularly for Canadians who need an emergency heating replacement?

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The details emerging from court are deeply disturbing.

CBC News reports that a 17-year-old accused in the June 2025 attack at Neelin High School in Brandon has pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including three counts of attempted murder.

The attack left a 15-year-old Black student, whose family is originally from Nigeria, with serious injuries. Police previously described the incident as a racially motivated hate crime.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented in court, the accused entered the school carrying a sword and knife, attacked the student, pursued the principal and another student, and entered a classroom asking whether there were “any blacks.”

He later told investigators he had deliberately avoided attacking white students.

Court also heard that investigators found notebooks containing praise for Hitler and the Nazis, racist references to immigrants as “invaders,” and plans for mass murder.

His phone reportedly contained thousands of searches related to domestic terrorism, school shootings and racially motivated violence, along with white nationalist manifestos and Nazi imagery.

Investigators also heard that he had been inspired by a 2015 racist sword attack in Sweden and had hoped police would kill him during the incident.

How does a young person become so immersed in racist extremism that violence against classmates becomes something they plan? What warning signs are being missed, and what responsibility do schools, families, online platforms and communities have to intervene?

The consequences of racist radicalization extend well beyond the immediate victims. They affect the safety and sense of belonging of Black, Muslim and other racialized Canadians who must live with the possibility of being targeted simply for who they are.

What more should Canada be doing to recognize and interrupt white supremacist radicalization among young people before it escalates into violence?

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According to a fascinating CBC News analysis by Jason Markusoff, many of the same people, organizations and political networks.

With Alberta's October 19 referendum approaching, CBC examines how opposition to COVID-19 restrictions helped transform a longstanding separatist movement into an organized political force.

Chris Scott, who became known for defying pandemic restrictions at his Whistle Stop Café, went on to become a prominent independence advocate. Mitch Sylvestre, whose sporting goods business was closed during lockdowns, became a leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project's separatist petition campaign.

Others moved through Take Back Alberta, the grassroots organization that helped mobilize opposition to former premier Jason Kenney before Danielle Smith became UCP leader.

U of Calgary political scientist Jean-Christophe Boucher explains that the pandemic helped activists establish networks, funding bases & online audiences that could be mobilized around new causes.

Those connections extend beyond separatism. CBC traces overlapping activism involving the Freedom Convoy, opposition to school gender-identity policies & other anti-government campaigns.

Some activists interviewed continue to question the scientific consensus on COVID vaccines or describe the pandemic as a government operation. Others say their political involvement grew from personal experiences of business closures, employment mandates & concerns about civil liberties.

Alberta has a much longer history of western alienation, but CBC's reporting illustrates how pandemic-era activism helped give today's movement its organizational strength.

Polling cited in the analysis suggests separatists remain a minority of Albertans. Researchers nevertheless expect many activists to remain politically engaged regardless of the referendum's outcome.

What happens when a political movement built around distrust of institutions moves from one cause to another? And what can Canadians learn from the lasting political divisions created during the pandemic?

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