‘Mass Death on This Scale Is Incomprehensible’ -- Overdose deaths are trending down, but BC is still in the thick of a crisis. Here’s what the data tells us, by @michellegamage.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2026/03... via @thetyee.ca

"This isn’t about constitutional reform. It’s about politics. More specifically, it’s part of a broader and increasingly brazen [UCP] effort to either control the courts or, failing that, convince the public not to trust them. " www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

NEW: Deloitte is being investigated by Newfoundland & Labrador's accounting watchdog over the firm's use of #AI in a $1.6-million government healtcare report that contains at least four fake citations #artificialintelligence #nlpoli theindependent.ca/news/lji/acc...

Smith says she's cutting access to social support programs because she "heard that people were moving here just to be on social programs." This sort of hearsay framing is a dangerous rhetorical device employed by populists. Consider Donald Trump. +

“Alberta is not ready to deal with the threat of online disinformation coming from foreign actors in a possible referendum campaign on separation this fall” #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The authors of a new Perspective warn that emotionally dependent attachments to #AI companions may potentially carry significant risks and argue for proactive clinical, research, and policy responses to anticipate harm and maximize societal benefits. nejm.ai/3YqXczH #MedSky #MLSky

Our new paper led by Javiera Navarrete looks at the state of implementation science research on #harmreduction services delivered by pharmacy staff. 🧪 bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/3...

If you aren’t already following the work of Dr. @hollymathias.bsky.social you should be! www.wchri.org/our-impact/s...

Influenza deaths have soared to new heights in Alberta this year, according to nearly two decades worth of data, prompting concern from health experts Latest from me👇 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Cover of The Lancet: @thelancet.com www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

🧵As proven through an array of studies & folks' lived experiences in the U.S. & abroad, #OverdosePrevention centers ( #OPCs) save lives, improve #PublicHealth outcomes for entire communities, & uplift the well-being of people who use drugs. We'll continue advocating for these... bit.ly/NMOPCs

"Danielle Smith's government is acting as an embassy for the worst we've seen from south of the border, and it's time to say no.” The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs has passed a unanimous vote of non-confidence in the UCP government. #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

Pleased to see this commentary in Policy Options published by @ualberta.bsky.social MPH student Pranav Sabde. This piece started as an assignment in the health policy course I co-taught with @jaredwesley.ca last term. policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/02/inte...

If you watch 2 minutes of video today… Make it this. A masterclass on oratory and personal responsibility is on full display. #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

What do U.S. adults think about the legal use of #psychedelics & other drugs? % supporting legal use: #Cannabis-65% #Psilocybin-23% #LSD-10% #MDMA-9% #Cocaine-8% New @rand.org report does a deep dive, going beyond this simple yes/no/don't know question ⬇️ www.rand.org/pubs/researc...

Big news: Friends of Medicare has a brand new chapter! St. Albert & Sturgeon County residents have come together to organize & advocate for the protection & expansion of public health care in their community and beyond. Read more & get involved: www.friendsofmedicare.org/stalbert_stu...

Danger was flagged, but not reported: What the Tumbler Ridge tragedy reveals about Canada’s AI governance vacuum theconversation.com/danger-was-f...

Maclean's approached me about writing a personal essay on Alberta Secession and my opposition to it. It was published today. macleans.ca/politics/i-d...

Danielle Smith shared a wildly inaccurate claim on federally appointed judges’ Liberal ties. But that also raised the question: what about the judges UCP gov’t picks for Alberta. My deep dive: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

There is so much to unpack from Smith's TV address. It was a firehose of information. But one thing I need to emphasize. A referendum question to introduce an Alberta head tax on immigration!

A new paper shows that less than 2 months of exposure to Twitter’s algorithmic feed significantly shifts people’s political views to the right. Moving from chronological feed to the algorithmic feed also increases engagement. This is one of the most concerning papers I’ve read in awhile.

BC knew that just 0.3% of drugs seized in Vancouver by weight were hydromorphone. "Rather than publicize the evidence to correct loud claims of diversion flooding communities, the BC government opted to sit on the information and retreat from safe supply." @godfrey.bsky.social reports:

Harm reduction services, including syringe service and fentanyl testing programs, are proven to save lives. As a federal court recognized, people with substance use disorder have a right to these services under disability law.

Meanwhile at the University of Calgary #iykyk

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! And yes. Science Communication Should Be a Core Competency in Medical Training www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco... by @drkatiesuleta.bsky.social @funsizeimmuninja.bsky.social

🚨 Canadians recognize that health misinformation does significant harm. 90% (!) believe the government has a responsibility address the issue! via @cmadocs.bsky.social cc @scienceupfirst.bsky.social

Yikes!

The captioning under the photo from the article - ' "Alberta separatist leaders Dr. Dennis Modry (left) and Mitch Sylvestre (right) with Premier Danielle Smith (centre) at the UCP fundraising dinner in Bonnyville in May 2025 (source: Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul UCP / Facebook)". That says a lot.

Alberta asking the federal government for more control over judicial appointments seems ill-timed....

Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.” Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.

First, the UCP said there was an “election integrity crisis," which led to a voter ID law. Then a “national unity crisis” → a sovereignty referendum. Now a “crisis of confidence” in the courts → defunding judges. There is no evidence of these crises. The UCP is trying to manufacture them.

Basic prevention strategies KEY! More than 1/3 of cancer cases are preventable, massive study www.nature.com/articles/d41... "Nearly 40% of new cancer cases worldwide are potentially preventable..." "...tobacco smoking was the leading contributor ... followed by infections & drinking alcohol."

My faculty is hiring for an Associate Director in injury prevention, come work with an excellent team! iaejup.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Really enjoyed speaking to the Edmonton Lifelong Learner's Association last month. My favourite comment from the session feedback form: "Clearly committed and knowledgeable. How is it they all look so young with such depth of experience?" 😌😇

via @evandyer.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

"By the end of the two-year period, 94% of participants reported they were housed." A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends. Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.

Estimated 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Severe COVID-19: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... "COVID vaccines offered protection against hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes..." "...40% against hospitalization & 79% against invasive mechanical ventilation or death."

America is doing this to its children. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/u...

Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition. TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’ www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...

Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe recently criticized B.C.’s drug policies, saying the province’s approach to the ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis is not evidence-based. @michellegamage.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli

'People have said Klein was the high-water mark for mismanaging the health-care system ... But honestly, I think that Premier Smith is giving him a run for his money in terms of failure to address obvious problems, and bringing in reforms that are not evidence based.' thetyee.ca/News/2026/02...

Again and again we see that it’s not actually about being prudent with tax dollars; it’s quite the opposite. “A lot of these misadventures are incredibly costly to the taxpayer and corrosive to a well-functioning public service” thetyee.ca/News/2026/02...

For years MAGA complained about the alleged "silencing" of voices (evidence demos mostly not true, btw). Reality: MAGA the censorship & silencing machine. Republican states are censoring universities www.economist.com/united-state... (Alas, these themes in Alberta too.)

Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...

"A 2-year-old boy was breastfeeding in detention. One 6-year-old boy had leukemia. An 8-year-old girl began wetting the bed. A 14-year-old girl engaged in self-harm...None of these children or their parents had a criminal history anywhere in the world." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...