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Presents brief reports on business as of January 25, 1999, of interest to persons in Alberta, Canada. Alberta as Canada's richest province in 1998, according to the report `Provincial Economic Freedom in Canada 1981-1998,' by the Fraser Institute; View of Montana's Republican Governor Marc Racicot, that the United States state needs a general sales tax; Alberta's grants to the provincial film industry; The home market in Calgary, Alberta. INSET: Ottawa misplaces a dam, by Philip Hope.

Reports on an independent tribunal's suggestion in summer of 1998 that Alberta's Provincial Court judges get a pay raise. Rejection of the suggestion by Justice Minister Jon Havelock and the Alberta cabinet; Reason the Provincial Court judges mocked the rejection; Calgary Judge John James' reaction; Comment of Mark Milke, Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Discusses the decision by the Supreme Court of Canada about whether Quebec may legally and unilaterally declare independence. How other provinces benefit from this decision; Need for the federal government to establish negotiating rules regarding Quebec; Factor of the 1995 Quebec referendum; Summary of the court's decision; Pressure for the provinces to be given more power; Views of Reform Party leader Preston Manning.

Discusses plans of the Canadian federal government to give provinces control of social housing. Response of the provinces; Views of federal Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano; Why the government is taking this action; Social housing units and funding in Alberta; Aspects of such units; Subdividing units; Role of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada; Possible housing squeeze in urban areas.

Discusses the view that Canadian provinces should be independent. The lack of action behind the view; The belief that the best way to ensure their remain quiet would be to devalue the powers to the provinces; The revival of the issue by British Columbia Senator Pat Carney, a former Conservative cabinet minister; The results of a poll of Albertans and British Columbians as to whether they believe they would be better off outside independent.

Presents the idea of Ashley O'Kurley to reorganize Canada into six provinces with equal population and economic power. Description of plan; Why the Two Nations and the ten-province federation ideas are outdated; O'Kurley's background; Idea politically problematic but more efficient; Canadian economic imbalances; Popularity of amalgamation among Canadians.

Reports on elections for public office that are either underway or imminent in Canada. How deficit elimination tops the political agenda in these races; Tax cut issues in Saskatchewan; Fiscal issues in Manitoba's elections.

Comments on two provincial referendums in Quebec. How the initiatives show a division in political direction; Reasons why the author views Quebec province as an adolescent in Canada.

Reports that Canadian federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan has publicly stated that the province of Alberta is within its constitutional rights to decline to accept the ruling of the Canadian Supreme Court regarding a redefinition of marriage to include homosexuals. Questions about whether Alberta Premier Ralph Klein will fight the court if it changes the definition of marriage.

Reports the results from the 39th annual Premier's Conference in Saskatoon, Canada. Attendance of Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard; What the premiers agreed upon, especially in relation to the federal government; Plans for future talks; Bouchard's strategic position; Consideration of the federal budget surplus; Federal government set on unilateralism regarding the provinces; Views of Roger Gibbins of the Canada West Foundation in Calgary.

Opinion. Comments on the proposal from the Canadian federal government to give distinction to the province of Quebec above and beyond other provinces; How the Reform Party believes that all the provinces must be equal; The provincial inequality built into the Canadian constitution; How the provincial premiers reacted to the proposal; Concern that the premiers may not be accurately representing the public.

Editorial. Examines the timing for the formation of provincial Reform parties in Canada. Why 1997 is a good year to begin the process; Reform leader Preston Manning's reversal in position and current support of the idea; Tory and Liberal politics in Canada creating the proper climate for Reform provincial politics; Provincial power.

Looks at friction between rich and poor provinces in Canada, relating to federal subsidies to the poor provinces. The fact that these come largely from taxes on the three rich provinces of British Columbia (BC), Alberta, and Ontario; The friction between New Brunswick and BC, regarding United Parcel Service jobs which New Brunswick took from BC.

Reports on a CIBC Wood Gundy Securities study which argued that Canada would be economically stronger without Quebec, because the federal government runs operating deficits only in that province. Advantages to Canada from letting Quebec leave.