Supreme Court Hearings on Quebec Bill 21
The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) is holding hearings in the matter English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al. Before you yawn and walk…
Alberta Politics
In Session: Danielle Smith charms rural leaders as secret Saudi side trip raises questions about loose ethics rules
This is the third in a series of Daveberta Podcast episodes I’m calling Daveberta In Session. In these short episodes available to paid subscribers, I’ll sharing a few key things…
With the cat out of the bag, Danielle Smith’s alleged gifts from foreign governments prompt sharp questions
As was famously said by the renowned expert on domestic safety and social order, Tweety Bird: “I tawt I taw a puddy tat!” And this is not just any puddy…
Danielle Smith sure doesn’t look like a suitable person to be privy to Canadian state secrets
When Premier Danielle Smith revealed Wednesday during Question Period in the Alberta Legislature that she is seeking national security clearance from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, she put Canada’s spy…
UCP to rural municipalities: Forget about ever collecting those unpaid O&G property taxes
Monday’s report of the Alberta Government’s so-called Property Tax Accountability Strategy Working Group had lots of big ideas about how to recover unpaid taxes “from companies that are still operating…
No Order of Canada for Cherry? That’s the pits, sour grapes Conservatives insist
Tout le monde MAGA Alberta, apparently anxious to quit Canada as quickly as possible and maybe even join the gong show south of the 49th Parallel, is all of a…
In Session: First Nations Chiefs hit back against Alberta separatism
Challenging Danielle Smith at the Legislature to meeting King Charles III in London. It was a big week. This is the second in a series of Daveberta Podcast episodes I’m…
$90M for private schools is terrible public policy, but it makes political sense for the UCP
Critics say the United Conservative Government’s plan to fund private-school construction projects to the tune of $90 million over three years makes no sense. Alas, the scheme announced by Education…
Despite the misgivings of many progressives, Mark Carney, sworn in as PM a year ago today, is undeniably a political success
Mark Carney was sworn in as prime minister of Canada a year ago today, and surely even his opponents must admit he’s enjoyed considerable success in his first year on…
New Democrats feel the Carney burn as Nunavut MP Lori Idlout crosses floor to Liberals
Like their Conservative counterparts who have already felt the Carney burn three times, federal New Democrats will be none too happy about the not-completely-unexpected news late yesterday that Nunavut MP…
Avi Lewis pulls ahead in fund-raising and the vibe as end of federal NDP leadership race nears
Online voting started yesterday in the NDP leadership contest, which from the start has appeared to be a two-horse race between Avi Lewis and Heather McPherson. The auguries suggest Mr.…
In Session: Jeromy Farkas pushes back against Danielle Smith’s provincial property tax hikes — compares it to equalization
The Daveberta Podcast is back In SessionYou’ve probably noticed I haven’t recorded an episode of the Daveberta Podcast in a while — so if you were missing listening to it,…
Is the Alberta Prosperity Project having trouble finding enough Albertans willing to sign its separation petition?
Is the Alberta Prosperity Project having trouble finding enough Albertans willing to sign its Citizen Initiative Act petition to gets its separation referendum on the ballot next fall? One has…
Mark Carney made ‘terrible mistake’ by parroting Donald Trump’s justification for war on Iran, says historian and security expert
Prime Minister Mark Carney made “a terrible mistake” with his immediate full-throated support of U.S. President Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran, Canadian historian and security-intelligence expert Wesley Wark…
Nobody expected UCP Finance Minister Nate Horner to deliver an NDP budget, but yesterday he did!
Surely nobody expected Finance Minister Nate Horner to stand up in the Alberta Legislature yesterday and table an NDP budget. But that’s pretty much what he did. In the leadup…
Get ready for the ‘Blame-it-all-on Trudeau Budget’ – don’t expect many other surprises either
This afternoon, Finance Minister Nate Horner will rise in the Legislature to read Alberta’s Budget Speech. One hopes Mr. Horner has bought himself a nice new pair of shoes, as…
UCP: We’re making a historic investment in finding doctors! Physicians: Say what? First we heard about it!
Alberta’s United Conservative Party Government hasn’t quite taken to posting unexpected proclamations in ALL CAPS on Truth Social at 2 a.m., but Premier Danielle Smith’s announcement yesterday that Thursday’s budget…
Once more unto the breach with Rakhi Pancholi – the NDP’s deputy leader eviscerates Danielle Smith’s claims
United Conservative Party strategists must be thanking their Judeo-Christian deity that Rakhi Pancholi isn’t the leader of the Opposition. With Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi nowhere to be found Friday…
Danielle Smith announces a raft of referenda, seemingly designed to advance the UCP’s separatist agenda
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith yesterday announced a raft of referendum questions for Oct. 19 demanding provincial intrusion into federal jurisdiction, cutting services to new Canadians and other anti-immigrant measures, and…
Alberta Conservatives fume as Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux jumps ship for the Liberals
As everybody in Canada surely knows by now, Alberta Member of Parliament Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals,…