Brett McKay
@brettmckay.bsky.social
📤 3753
📥 1309
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Reporter for the Investigative Journalism Foundation Email:
[email protected]
Signal: brettmckay.23
reposted by
Brett McKay
The Beaverton
1 day ago
Local woman looking forward to 23 days between harsh winter and uncontrollable wildfires
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Local woman looking forward to 23 days between harsh winter and uncontrollable wildfires
GRAND PRAIRIE - With spring finally underway, 34-year-old resident Inna Bondaruk reports she is looking forward to enjoying the approximately 23 days of tolerable weather between the end of a harsh, u...
https://www.thebeaverton.com/2026/05/local-woman-looking-forward-to-23-days-between-harsh-winter-and-uncontrollable-wildfires/
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Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
9 days ago
In the first three months of 2026 alone, the CRA revoked the registrations of five charities with connections to retired Vancouver lawyer Blake Bromley and his firm, the Benefic Group. Another four were revoked last year.
zurl.co/YLlhJ
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Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
3 days ago
The company picked to expand private surgical services in Saskatchewan gave $5,000 to the province’s governing party in 2025, and has contributed more than $35,500 since first being contracted.
zurl.co/3vb3Z
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Brett McKay
8 days ago
Edmonton City Coun.
@aaronpaquette.bsky.social
— "The state should not be stepping in to act as the universal gatekeeper for families who are perfectly capable of making those choices."
#yeg
#yegcc
#ableg
#abpoli
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
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Edmonton city council opposing UCP library book vetting for youth
'The state should not be stepping in to act as the universal gatekeeper for families who are perfectly capable of making those choices."
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-city-council-opposing-ucp-library-book-vetting-for-youth
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Canada's National Observer
9 days ago
The Canadian Mining Journal retracted a lengthy article that quoted made-up people and cited made-up facts about deep-sea mining. Observers aren't surprised.
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How a false deep-sea mining claim fooled a prominent magazine
"I was puzzled when first reading through it — how could a journal have published a complete article around an academic study that does not seem to exist?" said Greenpeace deep-sea mining campaigner S...
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/05/news/deep-sea-mining-article-misinformation
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Brett McKay
PressProgress
8 days ago
In several provinces, international students have access to public healthcare at no additional cost. In BC, however, they have to pay. And those fees have amounted to more than $400 million since 2020.
pressprogress.ca/internationa...
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Here’s How Much International Students Have Been Paying for BC Healthcare
Despite federal study-permit caps, the contributions have continued to grow
https://pressprogress.ca/international-students-paying-for-bc-healthcare/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Charles Rusnell
11 days ago
This would be a good time for a pollster to ask Albertans whether they would prefer the RCMP, or the UCP govt's proposed provincial police service, to be investigating the voter list privacy breach, and the massive ongoing procurement scheme scandal. Which police service would you trust more?
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Brett McKay
Rory White
11 days ago
My latest investigation is out. A well-known Canadian digital strategy firm has begun openly selling "surrogate online communities" of social media users to undisclosed clients. The users come for the viral content and are pushed up an "activation ladder."
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/i...
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Car crashes, crime memes and hidden clients: How a PR firm farms Canadian users for political influence
A Canadian public relations firm has designed several so-called "surrogate online communities" that don't disclose their funders and are often used to generate public pressure for political ends.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/investigations/pr-firm-canada-online-communities-political-influence
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Jack Farrell
13 days ago
Alberta's privacy commissioner calls for law changes after alleged voter list breach by separatists Updates to come:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
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Alberta's privacy commissioner calls for law changes after alleged voter list breach
EDMONTON - Alberta's privacy watchdog is calling for law changes in light of claims that a separatist group obtained and illegally used the province's official voter list.
https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/alberta/albertas-privacy-commissioner-calls-for-law-changes-after-alleged-voter-list-breach/article_8ef38cef-5cf1-5fae-9ec1-81ca17c6488e.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Jared Wesley
14 days ago
Important new information on who knew what when.
substack.com/@jengerson/n...
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SCOOP: Jen Gerson: Elections Alberta's massive failure could have put people in danger. I tried to warn them.
The most unhinged people in the province may now have access to the personal information of everybody who lives here, and there's nothing we can do about it
https://substack.com/@jengerson/note/p-196062144?r=evscl
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Brett McKay
Jason Markusoff
14 days ago
Wiiiiild *Elections Alberta gets court injunction for separatist group to pull down its searchable voter list *Court told the list was provided by Republican Party of Alberta, an upstart separatist party *Unauthorized use of voter list: Really, really illegal!
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
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Elections Alberta granted injunction for separatist group to pull down electoral list | CBC
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/livestory/elections-alberta-electors-list-9.7182971
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Drew Anderson
14 days ago
Chuffed to say I've been nominated for a National Magazine Award for investigative reporting, for this look into who owns delinquent oil and gas wells in Alberta.
#ableg
thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oilp...
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The prominent Albertans behind delinquent oil and gas companies | The Narwhal
A former prime minister, a major philanthropist and a host of developers emerge from a tangled web of corporate ownership in the oilpatch
https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oilpatch-delinquent-companies/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Jeremy Appel 🍉
15 days ago
SCOOP: I attended the launch of David Parker’s Centurion Project last night. I happened to step outside when an Elections Alberta investigator and the cops arrived.
open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
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SCOOP: Elections Alberta investigating separatists for accessing electors list
An elections watchdog investigator showed up with police to the April 29 launch of David Parker's Centurion Project to follow up on a cease-and-desist letter.
https://open.substack.com/pub/theorchard/p/scoop-elections-alberta-investigating?r=223k9&utm_medium=ios
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reposted by
Brett McKay
The Narwhal
16 days ago
The Narwhal has learned Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner is among the ranchers who receive taxpayer dollars for oil and gas operations on public grazing lands.
thenarwhal.ca/alberta-nath...
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Alberta’s finance minister, also a rancher, earns taxpayer dollars off public lands | The Narwhal
It’s a unique way the government allows ‘personal financial benefits’ from public assets. One of the recipients is Finance Minister Nate Horner
https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-nathan-horner-grazing-leases/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
The Tyee
16 days ago
Dozens of Alberta school divisions have pulled more than 170 books from libraries this year to comply with a provincial book ban order, including award-winning graphic novels, a sex-ed comic book and the film and graphic novel adaptations of George Orwell’s “1984.”
@brettmckay.bsky.social
reports.
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Here Are the Books Banned from Alberta School Libraries | The Tyee
Most school districts pulled books after the UCP government’s order, FOI reveals.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/28/Here-Are-The-Books-Banned-From-Alberta-School-Libraries/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Canada's National Observer
16 days ago
NEW: The Canadian government has unveiled two new oil and gas subsidies as part of its Spring Economic Update, including a carbon capture tax credit that aims to boost production from the Alberta oil patch.
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Carney government issues new oil and gas subsidies in spring mini-budget
The Canadian government has unveiled two new oil and gas subsidies as part of its Spring Economic Update, including a carbon capture tax credit that aims to boost production from the Alberta oil patch...
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/28/news/carney-oil-gas-subsidies-mini-budget
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reposted by
Brett McKay
David William
17 days ago
"Canadian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur’s books have sold millions of copies and been translated into 43 languages. They have also now been banned by four school divisions in Alberta."
#abpoli
#cdnpoli
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41 Alberta school divisions banned books to comply with provincial order
Documents reveal how the book ban has been applied in the province’s schools
https://theijf.org/article/41-alberta-school-divisions-banned-books-to-comply-with-provincial-order
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reposted by
Brett McKay
andrea bennett (they/them)
20 days ago
For
@thetyee.ca
's Weekender edition, I wrote about the politics of fitness (and about learning how to deadlift):
thetyee.ca/Culture/2026...
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Gym Culture Has Always Been Political | The Tyee
And MAHA has been taking over. But progressives can push back.
https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2026/04/24/Gym-Culture-Always-Political/
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Search Alberta's most banned books (so far) from the 2025-2026 school year.
theijf.org/article/sear...
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Search Alberta's banned books
Public service journalism
https://theijf.org/article/search-albertas-banned-books
17 days ago
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
18 days ago
Dozens of school districts have removed books to comply with Alberta’s book ban order. Our latest story takes a look at which titles were taken off library shelves and how the ban has been implemented in schools throughout the province.
zurl.co/UbSsJ
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Kathy Ishizuka
18 days ago
Over 28,000 young people signed on for a Seattle Public Library card, which enables access to e-books even if they don't live in Seattle. The program was started by Brooklyn Public Library to expand service in communities impacted by censorship.
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28K youths got a Seattle library card in campaign against book bans
The program allows youths to receive a free library card to access e-books, even if they don't live in Seattle.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/28k-youths-got-a-seattle-library-card-in-campaign-against-book-bans/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Jeremy Appel 🍉
17 days ago
V for Vendetta is the most banned book in Alberta schools
theijf.org/article/41-a...
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41 Alberta school divisions banned books to comply with provincial order
Documents reveal how the book ban has been applied in the province’s schools
https://theijf.org/article/41-alberta-school-divisions-banned-books-to-comply-with-provincial-order?utm_source=Investigative+Journalism+Foundation&utm_campaign=cfdc8dacd2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_03_12_07_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-19e97f4bcb-9993
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41 Alberta school divisions banned books to comply with provincial order:
theijf.org/article/41-a...
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41 Alberta school divisions banned books to comply with provincial order
Documents reveal how the book ban has been applied in the province’s schools
https://theijf.org/article/41-alberta-school-divisions-banned-books-to-comply-with-provincial-order?utm_medium=share
18 days ago
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
25 days ago
How much can you donate to a political party in Alberta? It depends. Here’s how some people in the province are using personal and corporate contributions to maximize their political spending.
zurl.co/QYUMF
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Brett McKay
The Breach
28 days ago
Danielle Smith has a plan to destroy public health care in Alberta—and she’s not doing it alone. Documents and lobbying records reveal the government is consulting directly with Canada’s private insurance giants on how to implement two-tier health care, reports @nikbarryshaw.bsky.social
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‘Pandora’s box’: Danielle Smith and insurance giants unleash attack on healthcare ⋆ The Breach
Danielle Smith is working hand-in-glove with private insurers to push health privatization in Alberta—and it could spread across Canada
https://breachmedia.ca/pandoras-box-danielle-smith-and-insurance-giants-unleash-attack-on-healthcare/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
The Tyee
28 days ago
After the
@theijf.org
found Edmonton paramedics’ overtime jumped 81% in three years, staff from Premier Danielle Smith’s office messaged reporters and editors, claiming data was omitted and asking the story be rewritten or deleted. At least one news outlet complied.
@brettmckay.bsky.social
reports.
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The UCP Tried to Kill a Health Story with Claims That Didn’t Stand Up | The Tyee
The government cited numbers that its own data contradicted.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/16/UCP-Tried-Kill-Health-Story/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Brishti Basu
28 days ago
I'm quoted in this for signing & sharing a testimonial about an incident in which Vancouver Police edited their press release after I'd published an article about it to make it look like I had lied. Anyway, long live the Wayback Machine!
www.niemanlab.org/2026/04/jour...
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Journalists champion Wayback Machine after news publishers limit article archiving
In January, Hanaa’ Tameez and I broke the story that The New York Times, The Guardian, and USA Today Co. had begun limiting the Wayback Machine’s access to their news articles. Our reporting showed th...
https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/04/journalists-champion-wayback-machine-after-news-publishers-limit-article-archiving/
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Matthew Black
28 days ago
The UCP govt is rejecting the electoral map proposed 3 weeks ago. A govt motion that could come as soon as this morning outlines the new process which will be overseen by a UCP-led committee, will not allow for public input, and grow the number of MLAs from 87 to 91
#ableg
#abpoli
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Alberta to scrap new electoral map, launch expedited redraw with more MLAs
A government motion calls for a redrawn map from the one presented three weeks ago; the number of MLAs would rise to 91.
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/alberta-new-electoral-map-launch-mlas
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Brett McKay
Alexander Quon
29 days ago
Nurses' union says Saskatoon hospitals dealing with more overdoses after PHR closure
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
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Nurses' union says Saskatoon hospitals dealing with more overdoses after PHR closure | CBC News
"(Nurses) are having to adjust and focus more on this patient population, which also takes away patient care for many of the others experiencing emergencies," said Saskatchewan Union of Nurses preside...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-hospitals-more-overdoses-after-phr-closure-nurses-union-9.7165201
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Stats cited by Danielle Smith’s office to kill story on EMS overtime contradicted by government’s own data
add a skeleton here at some point
29 days ago
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Brett McKay
Matthew Segal
29 days ago
MONTANA SUPREME COURT: “Transgender discrimination is, by its very nature, sex discrimination,” and is subject to strict scrutiny under the Montana Constitution.
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Brett McKay
Parksy
29 days ago
theijf.org/article/s...
“Fixing the health-care system is hard work, and this government doesn't seem to be overly committed to that. And the response isn't to manipulate the data to make it look like you did succeed.... 1/2
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Stats cited by Danielle Smith’s office to kill story on EMS overtime contradicted by government’s own data
Government attempts to influence story raise concerns about transparency and accountability
https://theijf.org/article/stats-cited-by-danielle-smiths-office-to-kill-story-on-ems-overtime-contradicted-by-governments-own-data
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Brett McKay
Charles Rusnell
30 days ago
This is a very troubling story via
@brettmckay.bsky.social
.
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
30 days ago
Alberta’s government asked media to edit or delete our story on Edmonton EMS overtime. We filed access to information requests and fact-checked them instead.
zurl.co/R8T9Y
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Brett McKay
cm 🇨🇦
about 1 month ago
Alberta’s World Famous Gopher Hole Museum still hasn’t found a place to call home, but its director says the team is making the most of pop-up exhibits while it fights to stay open for the 2026 season.
www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...
#Alberta
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Alberta’s stuffed gopher museum popping up in Calgary as it searches for permanent home
Alberta’s World Famous Gopher Hole Museum still hasn’t found a place to call home, but its director says the team is making the most of pop-up exhibits while it fights to stay open for the 2026 season...
https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/albertas-stuffed-gopher-museum-popping-up-in-calgary-as-it-searches-for-permanent-home/
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Brett McKay
Taylor Lambert
about 1 month ago
SCOOP: New details about the facial recognition bodycam project by Edmonton police — including that the AI model was provided by an Israeli company whose technology has reportedly been used for mass surveillance in Gaza.
www.cbc.ca/9.7157991
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Edmonton police emails, documents provide new information on Canada-first AI facial recognition bodycam pilot | CBC News
Key details include a “critical fault” system outage, possible extension of pilot project and that facial recognition model was supplied by Corsight AI, a company whose technology has reportedly been ...
https://www.cbc.ca/9.7157991
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Brett McKay
Jonny Wakefield
about 1 month ago
From court today: Two more Alberta First Nations ask court to block separatist referendum, citing treaty infringement
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
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Two more Alberta First Nations ask court to block separatist referendum, citing treaty infringement
Athabasca Chipewyan focused on the impact an international border would have on the Treaty 8 nation, which spans Alberta, Saskatchewan, NWT.
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/independent-alberta-border-treaty-8-athabasca-first-nation
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Brett McKay
The Tyee
about 1 month ago
Alberta’s premier and education minister held a private meeting in February to discuss school funding and education policy. Documents released through an access to information request show attendees included a number of right-wing think tanks and groups.
@brettmckay.bsky.social
reports.
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Revealed: Danielle Smith’s Private Meeting with Right-Wing School Groups | The Tyee
Invitation-only event included private and religious schools along with conservative think tanks and parental rights groups.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/08/Danielle-Smith-Private-Meeting-Right-Wing-School-Groups/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial
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reposted by
Brett McKay
Charles Rusnell
about 1 month ago
A judge in this case said Edmonton Police may have crossed the line into criminality by attempting to bully him and the prosecutor on a plea deal. 1 Lawyers Group Wants a Criminal Probe of Edmonton's Top Cop via
@thetyee.ca
thetyee.ca/News/2026/04...
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Brett McKay
Carrie Tait
about 1 month ago
SCOOP: Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery curtailed Elections Alberta's power to penalize when Sam Mraiche was under investigation.
www.theglobeandmail.com/appview/cana...
w
@tomcardoso.bsky.social
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Alberta Justice Minister curtailed election regulator when Sam Mraiche was under investigation
Mickey Amery’s legislation shortened watchdog’s window of time to pursue sanctions for alleged political finance violations
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/appview/canada/article-alberta-justice-minister-sam-mraiche-investigation/
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Brett McKay
Justin Ling
about 1 month ago
The Premier of Alberta, who helped usher in a vote to declare independence from Canada, talked up Ivermectin at a Forum obsessed with thinly-veiled antisemitic conspiracy theories about international bankers.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
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Justin Ling: Danielle Smith should be pitching Canadian unity. Instead she’s playing to a crowd of separatists and conspiracy theorists
The Alberta premier did little to contradict some outlandish claims.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/danielle-smith-should-be-pitching-canadian-unity-instead-shes-playing-to-a-crowd-of-separatists-and-conspiracy-theorists/article_0437bde7-90d0-4326-b53d-5b626a4cd417.html
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Brett McKay
Mel Woods
about 1 month ago
Great scoop here, and repeats what's become a pattern of advocacy groups directly leading to restrictive policy in the province.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Brett McKay
NEW: Alberta premier and education minister had private meeting with groups behind push to ‘conservatize’ Alberta school boards and ban LGBTQ books
theijf.org/article/albe...
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Alberta premier and education minister had private meeting with groups behind push to ‘conservatize’ Alberta school boards and ban LGBTQ books
Private and faith-based schools, along with right-wing think tanks and parental rights groups, were invited to discuss education
https://theijf.org/article/alberta-premier-and-education-minister-had-private-meeting-with-groups-behind-push-to-conservatize-alberta-school-boards-and-ban-lgbtq-books
about 1 month ago
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Brett McKay
The Breakdown AB
about 1 month ago
“attendees included a number of right-wing think tanks and groups involved in a campaign to “conservatize” Alberta school boards, as well as private and religious school associations.”
#abpoli
#ableg
#cdnpoli
theijf.org/article/albe...
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Alberta premier and education minister had private meeting with groups behind push to ‘conservatize’ Alberta school boards and ban LGBTQ books
Private and faith-based schools, along with right-wing think tanks and parental rights groups, were invited to discuss education
https://theijf.org/article/alberta-premier-and-education-minister-had-private-meeting-with-groups-behind-push-to-conservatize-alberta-school-boards-and-ban-lgbtq-books
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Brett McKay
Paul Byrne
about 1 month ago
This image of home just came down from the Artemis II crew. Taken after their translunar injection burn, there are aurorae at top right and lower left, and zodiacal light at lower right. Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman
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NEW: Alberta premier and education minister had private meeting with groups behind push to ‘conservatize’ Alberta school boards and ban LGBTQ books
theijf.org/article/albe...
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Alberta premier and education minister had private meeting with groups behind push to ‘conservatize’ Alberta school boards and ban LGBTQ books
Private and faith-based schools, along with right-wing think tanks and parental rights groups, were invited to discuss education
https://theijf.org/article/alberta-premier-and-education-minister-had-private-meeting-with-groups-behind-push-to-conservatize-alberta-school-boards-and-ban-lgbtq-books
about 1 month ago
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Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
about 1 month ago
Right-wing groups and think tanks had a private audience with Alberta's premier and education minister in February to discuss education policy. Check out what our access to information documents show.
zurl.co/P25Fl
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Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
about 2 months ago
The CRA says the main activity of an Alberta charity was providing loans to businesses owned by the charity’s primary director, a lawyer in Edmonton.
zurl.co/Cz9Za
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Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation
about 1 month ago
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck says Avi Lewis’ energy policies don’t reflect the needs of people in her province. But contributions data show nearly half of Sask. residents who donated to NDP leadership campaigns put their money behind him.
zurl.co/dtTME
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Brett McKay
Ricochet Media
about 1 month ago
Access to information: N.L. failed to make public over 1,000 responses in a single year. Province says it’s dealing with an increase in requests, but NDP says problems may be intentional. The latest from our new
#AtlanticCanada
reporter
@justinbrake.bsky.social
:
ricochet.media/politics/pro...
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Access to information: N.L. failed to make public over 1,000 responses in a single year
Province says it’s dealing with an increase in ATIPP requests, but NDP leader is concerned that the mounting problems may be intentional
https://ricochet.media/politics/provinces/atlantic/access-to-information-n-l-failed-to-make-public-over-1000-responses-in-a-single-year
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