This descriptive, thoroughly reported and very troubling essay about the separatist movement in Alberta by @marcellodicintio.bsky.social is critical reading for Albertans. Great journalism in the public interest. Among the Separatists via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...

Huge congratulations to @carrietait.bsky.social and the entire team at @theglobeandmail.com for their National Newspaper Award nominations for the ongoing AHS scandal. They driven the news agenda in Alberta for months. nna-ccj.ca/2025-finalis...

SCOOP: RCMP execute search warrants tied to Alberta's health procurement controversy; at least a dozen officers were at MHCare Medical Corp.'s headquarters on Wednesday www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

I was surprised to see the reference to a role for family members. Not something I have heard of before. And yes, on its face, it appears to give families a veto if no one agrees to witness. We know from organ donation debates that a role for families will reduce the number of people who get MAID.

The Smith government isn’t just narrowing the criteria for eligibility for MAID. It’s also requiring a family member to witness the request in person (so your spouse or adult child has veto power??). And if I’m reading it correctly, doesn’t allow for advance requests.

Then read what Loleen Berdahl, Bianca Jamal and I have to say about regionalism!!

SCOOP: Two companies involved in building some of Alberta's addiction recovery centres are mired in litigation, including accusations of forgery on one side and allegations of intimidation involving Sam Mraiche, of MHCare www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tomcardoso.bsky.social and friend

The must-listen-to companion podcast to the Alberta Budget is CBC's West of Centre [https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/407-west-of-centre] with @kathleenpetty.bsky.social @jlisayoung.bsky.social @markusoff.bsky.social @trevortombe.bsky.social They dig, delve, and divine the deficit dollars.

Gen Xers watching this week’s episode of The Pitt

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

Without the free public education my mother received in Barrhead, I would never have grown up to win the gold medal in English Literature at the University of Alberta! I would never have grown up to be a professional writer. Because my mother never could have shared her love of literature with me.

On the big, loaded questions that referendums will pose to Albertans. By me. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

I’m scheduled to teach Alberta politics next fall. It’s gonna look like this:

If you don't live in Alberta, let me explain Alberta politics to you. 1. *long sigh* 2. *incoherent mumbling* 3. *muffled tears* 4. *long sigh* Thank you for listening.

It’s wild to think that two years ago Smith was openly talking about Alberta reaching a population of 10 million and demanding the federal government direct more immigration to Alberta.

"In fact, we've gotten some reports that some people are receiving services FROM THE CRADLE. Like, as soon as they arrive, people expect we give them a tax-funded little bed."

In Alberta we literally burn money because of our inept Premier and her government. Later today, Premier Smith with all the racism and xenophobia she can muster, will blame immigrants and newcomers for Alberta's fiscal challenges. And the RCMP seems to be so behind on their investigations? Hmm.

To prebunk what we can expect to hear tomorrow: 🔴 Immigrants pay provincial taxes. 🔴 Many non-immigrants don't. Cutting off immigrants' access to public services isn't about protecting taxpayers. It's about picking and choosing who is worthy of healthcare and education.

"Smith has shown no appreciation for the distinct nature of the judicial role. She believes appointments are nothing more than proxies for federal politics. It is an attitude [that] could undermine one of our main bulwarks of democracy": @emmettmacfarlane.com. open.substack.com/pub/emmettma...

Better yet, we could have an election and demand that Ottawa appoint our ‘Supreme Court Justice Elect’ to the bench, or else! www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

From someone who clamours a lot about governments staying in their own lane, this is equivalent to jumping the middle meridian on the highway: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... #ableg #cdnpoli

“communist Ottawa” tells you all you need to know about the Alberta separatist movement

brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis

Donald Trump's America is coming for Alberta. Canada can't afford to ignore that. thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

At this meeting, Dennis Modry claimed that Premier Danielle Smith said she prefers the title 'Prime Minister' over 'President,' in a discussion about her possible leadership in an independent Alberta. 1/5 #abpoli #AlbertaIndependence

The doddering old fool is just threatening us with a good time. A 100% tariff on our oil, potash and so many other goods and commodities tanks the American economy pretty well overnight.

The Alberta separatists don’t want to join the US. They want to be Belarus (a nice vassal state). www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Here it comes. The US administration is intervening directly in Canada's internal politics to try and bring about the breakup of the country. This demands a forceful response.

Trump demands Carney give him his standing ovation from Davos

For no particular reason, I'm reposting this piece in The Atlantic about why America would not survive an attempt to conquer Canada. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

While the eye of Sauron may have recently averted its gaze, a good reminder it is always only one post away. There can be no more normal. No more “but my kids like Disney” vacations. No more “but it’s such a good conference”. No more appeasement.

The Prime Minister of Belgium speaks:

If I was prime minister, I’d have a few experts on abnormal psychology on speed dial to advise on foreign policy.

As previously pointed out, there is a real risk of foreign interference in the Alberta independence initiative launched by the Alberta Prosperity Project. Counsel for Sturgeon Lake First Nation has commissioned an expert opinion from Wes Wark to document this risk. 1/ #abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg

New at Can We Still Govern? "I am writing as an ordinary citizen of Minneapolis/St Paul...to share with the outside world what is really going on ─ the terror being inflicted upon a U.S. city and state by our federal government." Please read, share, help. 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...

Of course. A cosmetics billionaire who looks like Mr Smithers got Trump thinking about Greenland. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

R you a recent graduate with a passion for politics? Apply to this transformative internship inside Ontario's legislature. 👉🏽👉🏽https://www.olipinterns.ca/apply-to-olip ⏰Deadline: January 31st! @queenspols.bsky.social @westernupolisci.bsky.social @jlisayoung.bsky.social @matthewlebo.bsky.social

Instead of lecturing in Intro to Political Science, maybe I’ll just show mafia movies.

The Globe and Mail (Canada’s sober, establishment, slightly centre-right paper): Trump plans to treat Canada as Athens treated Melos—“the strong do what they please; the weak suffer what they must”—and Canada must regard itself as in a “national emergency.” www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/f9f7c04...

Best take I’ve heard, IRL: “This operation looks like it was designed by the same people who did the East Wing.”

Wait. What! Katherine Graham was a force in policy circles. I am very sad to read this www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

It was released four days early, but this is clearly the 2025 Alberta Festivus Report: An Airing of Grievances open.alberta.ca/dataset/2919...

Every day, I get letters demanding that the federal govt or the GG or the LG “do something” to change or save Alberta. But the only people who can “fix” Alberta are Albertans. There is no magic constitutional genie. The responsibility is on all of us.

Janet Brown’s Holiday card never disappoints!

I’ve reached the point in my end of term grading that has me trying to remember the password for my pension statement.

Political scientists like to talk about dialogue between legislatures and courts. This is more of a shouting match. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Thanks to the Treasury Board of Canada for inviting me to serve as a panelist on yesterday's CCO Day of Learning, which was broadcast to thousands of government communicators across the country. Here are 12 of my comments, which I will attempt to weave into a paper at a later date: Thread [1/13]

Canada, and the whole world, rely on U.S. flu data, which is used to produce effective vaccines As US data begins to go dark, we will see more vaccine mismatches and worse flu outbreaks macleans.ca/society/heal...

Feels like a good time to re-up this: lisayoung.substack.com/p/help-wanted

Seven new AHS CEOs have been fired and replaced by seven others who have also been fired. Recall petitions have been issued against all MLAs, as well as several non-MLAs. The Notwithstanding Clause has been used to overturn Santa. Every MLA has crossed the floor twice. Welcome to #ableg.