🎉 Book Launch + Fireside Chat Join us for the launch of No “I” in Team with a special fireside conversation featuring the Hon. Rachel Notley! @alexmarland.bsky.social & @jaredwesley.ca 🗓️ Friday, Dec. 5 🕓 4:00–5:30pm 📍 Alfred Sorensen Community Hall, Edmonton Free registration: bit.ly/TeamBook25

What's at the root of the UCP's use of the notwithstanding clause? Our @partyloyalty.bsky.social research suggests hyperpartisanship is playing a huge role. The locker room mentality in the UCP caucus is encouraging MLAs to cede even more power to the premier's office. That's bad for democracy.

🧵1/ Chris D’Entremont made headlines this week for leaving the Conservatives to join the Liberals — not over policy, but leadership. He described the party’s culture as “a frat house,” and said he disagreed with its leadership style. www.cbc.ca/news/politic... That’s more common than you think 👇

Usually, parliamentarians who publicly say they are thinking about crossing the floor are quickly shown the door. For research on this, see partyloyalty.ca

D'Entremont's comments are typical of floor crossers: nodding to personal conviction, constituents' interests, and the common good. The next few hours will be a struggle between the Liberals and Conservatives to control the narrative. Learn more in our latest book: partyloyalty.ca.

Party defections are seldom isolated events. In many instances, one departure sets off a chain of events resulting in rumours, more exits, expulsions, and turmoil surrounding the leader. Read more: partyloyalty.ca. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

🧵1/ What happens when your party tells you to “be quiet until everyone else has spoken”? Chuck Porter, former Nova Scotia MLA, said that meant telling 15,000 voters in Hants West to be quiet. So in 2014, he quit the PCs and sat as an Independent 👇

New expert survey on prime ministerial power in 21 parliamentary democracies by @alexmarland.bsky.social Eoin O'Malley & @galapalavicini.bsky.social ‼️Findings challenge assumptions about growing executive centralization and trends toward presidentialism ‼️ doi.org/10.1080/0140...

A lot has changed in Alberta politics over the last year. That’s why the Common Ground team is visiting communities across the province again this summer. We’d love to meet with you in one of our focus groups. Sign up by visiting our website: commongroundpolitics.ca.

In Alberta, it's beginning to look a lot like 1991 Saskatchewan. Like today's UCP, the Devine PCs were embroiled in scandal. And they, too, turned to referendums as both a distraction and attempt to rebrand themselves as a 'party of the people'. It didn't work. Here's some background.🧵

TownSquare isn’t just a game — it’s a dynamic experience where you step into the shoes of activists, politicians, and concerned citizens to navigate real-world discussions. Learn the pitfalls of polarized politicking, and how to disagree without being disagreeable. www.eventbrite.ca/e/common-gro...

Check out our work featured by @futurumcareers.bsky.social!

You know times are weird when being a Westminster system traditionalist gets you coded as a progressive.

In these days it can be easy to talk about polarization, but have you ever heard of false polarization 👀? In this article @evanwalkerpolisci.bsky.social talks about our latest findings and how misjudging public opinion can shape politics. Check it out 📚: cground.substack.com/p/albertans-...

Hot off the presses from my UAlberta colleague, @fsnagovsky.bsky.social: "White consciousness helps explain conspiracy thinking" in the Harvard Misinformation Review. #polisky misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/whit...

🤔 How well do Albertans really understand public opinion in their province? In this article, we use survey data to discuss the gaps between actual vs. perceived support on key policy issues and how these gaps could be stifling bold political action. Read here: cground.substack.com/p/issue-dist...

🚨 Don’t miss out! Catch @drjaredwesley.bsky.social 2024 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture, a thought-provoking exploration of themes like polarization, factionalism, and democratic backsliding in Alberta. 📺 Now on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrQ-...

What is life like in Rocky Mountain House? We’re conducting a series of focus groups in communities across the province to understand more about what it’s like to live here. Sign up today by taking our short survey. Participants are compensated (cash on site): www.commongroundpolitics.ca

What is life like in Caroline? We’re conducting a series of focus groups in communities across the province to understand more about what it’s like to live here. Sign up today by taking our short survey. Participants are compensated (cash on site): www.commongroundpolitics.ca

What is life like in Rocky Mountain House? We’re conducting a series of focus groups in communities across the province to understand more about what it’s like to live here. Sign up today by taking our short survey. Participants are compensated (cash on site): www.commongroundpolitics.ca

What is life like in Caroline? We’re conducting a series of focus groups in communities across the province to understand more about what it’s like to live here. Sign up today by taking our short survey. Participants are compensated (cash on site): www.commongroundpolitics.ca

Did you know 🤔 that according to Census data, the most common Albertans are blue-collar workers in Calgary? Meet Jane and Connor! In this post, we explore the difference between the mythical “Average Joe” Albertan and the most commonly-found Albertans. cground.substack.com/p/who-is-the...;

Shoutout to Common Ground team member @fsnagovsky.bsky.social for his latest publication in Social Science Quarterly📚! His paper explores how we measure conspiracy beliefs and why it matters. Check it out: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Do you identify as a moderate? Or the secret third option, a progressive moderate conservative? You might just be from Alberta! In this post, we challenge the idea that Albertans are deeply polarized, showing instead that there’s plenty of common ground 🤝 cground.substack.com/p/political-...

The latest from @galapalavicini.bsky.social and me: "As we prepare to transition to a new period of Alberta-Ottawa relations, we can all hope for the return of functional federalism and the demise of costly stunts like the equalization referendum." www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

To build common ground, we need a common vocabulary. That’s where our Common Ground Toolkit comes in handy. www.commongroundpolitics.ca/toolkit

Excited to see it published!

Thought my first post should be a picture of my dog. This is Rocco ❤️ and this cute face was all for a tortilla chip.

Did you know our Common Ground team is on Bluesky, too? bsky.app/profile/cgro...