Don Braid

Braid: Separatists had the stage but now face battle-hardened federalists Some of the nation's top pro-Canada battlers against separatism are finally joining the fight in Alberta, writes columnist Don Braid.

Alberta separatists finally face the battle-hardened federalist fighters. Plus, I tell a really old story. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #AlbertaIndependence #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: Is the UCP still a pro-Canada party? They might take a vote on it At the top level of the UCP they're pondering whether to hold a vote on the party turning separatist

Top UCP people talk openly about converting party to separatism. They might take a vote on it. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #canpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: Is the UCP still a pro-Canada party? They might take a vote on it At the top level of the UCP they're pondering whether to hold a vote on the party turning separatist

Braid: Is the UCP still a pro-Canada party? They might take a vote on it. Just listen to the president. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #canpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: Despite punch of bad birthday poll, Nenshi challenges Smith to bring it on Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi brushes off bad poll, says Smith is rattled by separatism split in her own caucus.

Nenshi says weak poll is meaningless and urges Smith to bring on the election. Column.
calgaryherald.com/news/despite... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #canpoli

Braid: New-look Pierre Poilievre could be a lot more trouble than the Liberals expect Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, revived after crushing loss, could be a much more difficult foe than the Liberals expect

iberals, beware - the new-look Poilievre could be a tougher opponent than you expect. column.
calgaryherald.com/news/pierre-... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #canpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: Farkas says fast pipeline build will shake up Calgary and dazzle Canada Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas says the Bearspaw project isn't just about a pipe — it's about restoring pride after decades of stalled projects

Farkas says lightning-fast pipeline build will dazzle the country and jolt Calgary out of its slow zone. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc #yeg

Braid: Poilievre hopes to hold Conservative leadership with old pitch that could be new again Pierre Poilievre hopes to keep Conservative leadership with an old pitch that could be new again. He calls for the teardown of Liberalism.

The Perils of Pierre - will Poilievre survive Conservative leadership review in Calgary Friday? He's sticking with his old pitch, still confident it can win party and election Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #canpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: Keep bragging about your U.S. ties and dreams, Alberta separatists. You're saving Canada Alberta separatists are killing their own cause by courting Americans and welcoming invitation to join the U.S., writes columnist Don Braid.

Keep boasting about your American contacts, dreams and funding, separatists. You're saving Canada. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #aboli #cdpoli #yyc #yeg

Trump threatens 100% retaliatory tariffs against Canada over China deal China will eat Canada alive, including "the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life,” Trump said.

Okay, so Trump slaps 100% tariffs on Canada. Cost to U.S. buyers of all daily imports jumps from $3.5 billion to $7 billion. Oil suddenly costs more than $100 USD per barrel. How's that going to work?
nationalpost.com/news/canada/... #abpoli #trump #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #ableg

Braid: Carney sounds like a leader heading for an election. Would he dare? Prime Minister Mark Carney sounds like a leader headed for an election, but would he dare call one, asks columnist Don Braid.

Carney sounds very much like a leader heading for an election. Should he? Would he dare?
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: While government talks up more spaces, docs describe daily ER horrors shrouded in privacy Alberta emergency ward doctors are blasting the government, calling for help and urging people to speak up, writes columnist Don Braid.

Government talks about new ER space while docs describe horrors on the wards, privacy rules that restrain them. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #yyc #yeg #yyccc #cdnpoli

Braid: Doctors crack secrecy on wave of emergency ward deaths across Alberta A doctors report on emergency ward deaths in Alberta finally begins to crack the shell of secrecy around these tragedies.

Doctors finally crack the shell of secrecy around deaths from long ED waits. These tragedies say hidden unless families speak out, as one did in the Edmonton case. Now docs test privacy limits. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abhealth #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyccc #yeg

Braid: How a foolish council ended up with a water pipeline overlord from La Crete hamlet Braid: Premier Danielle Smith's government assumes full water pipe oversight, in slapdown of council that refused to change city leadership.

Calgary's new provincial water pipe overlord is from La Crete, population 4,000, which is closer to the Arctic Circle than Calgary. He'll probably do a better job. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc

Braid: Duckworth stays on, but new councillors won't take bull from administration Braid: Calgary city council went into revolt against secretive administration Tuesday; boss David Duckworth's job hangs in the balance.

UPDATED COLUMN: With explanation of the weird happenings at that meeting last night that left David Duckworth in the top job. There's nothing that can't get lost in procedural muddle at city hall.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #yyc #yyccc #yegccc

Braid: Duckworth stays on, but new councillors won't take bull from administration Braid: Calgary city council went into revolt against secretive administration Tuesday; boss David Duckworth's job hangs in the balance.

UPDATED COLUMN: Council decided not to fire Duckworth but subject him to much more oversight. Some new councillors gave him a hard time Tuesday - these people won't be snowed.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #yyc #yyccc #yegccc

Braid: Most new councillors aren't taking any more bull or secrecy from administration Braid: Calgary city council went into revolt against secretive administration Tuesday; boss David Duckworth's job hangs in the balance.

New councillors are refusing to take bull from city admin. "Well, you were wrong," one said to Duckworth in a rare direct rebuke. More of that, please.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #yyc #yyccc #yegcc

Braid: City boss Duckworth deflects blame but shields city employees from mental stress Calgary's CAO, David Duckworth, offered mental health help to city employees as the pipeline report was about to be released.

Duckworth offered mental health help to city employees the day the report came down. Nothing like a group hug in a crisis. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #yyc #yeg #yyccc #cdnpol

Opinion: Calgary’s water crisis is a warning we must heed 'No essential service should be designed and operated this way,' says head of independent review into 2024 feeder main break.

This excellent opinion piece by the chair of Bearspaw pipe study group pulls no punches, shows what a mess we're in, scolds council for deferring action (which is the whole problem!)
calgaryherald.com/opinion/opin... #yyc #yyccc #ableg #bpoli #cdnpoli

Braid: The secretive, serial bungling that gave Calgary the worst big-city water system Calgary has Canada's worst big-city water problem, thanks to decades of secretive bungling by city officials

Secrecy, incompetence, empire building - how Calgary ended up with Canada's worst big-city water system. Column.
calgaryherald.com/news/braid-t... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #yegcc

Braid: A devastating report shows how city managers failed to prevent water line disaster Calgary's water department knew the water line would break for two decades but failed to stop it, writes columnist Don Braid.

This is a truly devastating pipe report from a panel of experts who actually know when they're talking about. Senior managers wear the failure. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc

Braid: Blame me if you're angry, Farkas says, but failure to cut water use could cost lives Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, desperately worried, is trying to get the public to pay attention to the water crisis, writes Don Braid.

Faskas amps up save-water plea, even saying people could die if system fails. He's desperate for people to finally get the message. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #bpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc

Braid: Farkas says no bureaucrat or politician has touched pipe report that goes public Wednesday Mayor Jeromy Farkas warns that pipeline failures will continue, courting disaster until a new line is built, writes columnist Don Braid.

UPDATED COLUMN: Mayor Farkas insists he hasn't doctored pipe report and neither has any bureaucrat. The report goes public Wednesday as social media allegations fly.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc

Braid: Farkas brings dire warning that pipe failure is a mortal risk to Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas warns that pipeline failures will continue, courting disaster until a new line is built, writes columnist Don Braid.

A new mayor finally tells the whole truth about Calgary's Bearspaw South water pipe. It's a rotting disaster that will menace the city for years. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc #yegcc

Disaster deep below: How Calgary's catastrophic feeder main failure was decades in making What led up to the rupture of Calgary's Bearspaw south feeder main? Experts and a trove of city documents provide some answers.

This superb long explainer is even more relevant today than it was on the first anniversary of the 2024 Bearspaw South pipe eruption. Every problem unearthed by Postmedia's Hiren Mansukhani. (@hirenm1996) A must read.
calgaryherald.com/feature/insi... #yyc #yyccc #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli

Braid: Farkas threatened New Year's Eve council meeting if city boss didn't cough up 2024 pipe explosion report Another burst water main eveals failure in monitoring as well as pipe. Mayor Jeromy Farkas suggest heads will roll this time

That was some New Year's Eve at city hall. Farkas threatened a special meeting if city boss Duckworth failed to show 2024 pipe report. It didn't happen but Farkas made his point about pushback from bureaucrats Column. calgaryherald.com/news/jeromy-... #ableg #yyc #yyccc #abpoli #cdnpoli

Braid: Farkas threatens New Year's Eve council meeting if city boss doesn't cough up 2024 pipe explosion report Another burst water main eveals failure in monitoring as well as pipe. Mayor Jeromy Farkas suggest heads will roll this time

NEW UPDATE. Threat of special meeting on Duckwoarth fades after chair of Bearspaw study promises report within days. But Farkas made his point about resistance from bureaucrat bosses. Column. calgaryherald.com/news/jeromy-... #ableg #yyc #yyccc #abpoli
#cdnpoli

Braid: Oh no, not again! Farkas suggests heads will roll over latest water line fiasco Another burst water main eveals failure in monitoring as well as pipe. Mayor Jeromy Farkas suggest heads will roll this time

Another burst pipe. A high-tech system that couldn't see it coming. A mayor who suggests heads will roll this time. Happy New Year.
calgaryherald.com/news/jeromy-... #ableg #yyc #yyccc #abpoli @cdnpoli

Braid: Nenshi says NDP ready to crush government, dares UCP to call early vote NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said his party is raring to go in an early election, and Premier Danielle Smith's UCP is ripe for defeat.

Bring it on, Nenshi dares UCP, call a snap election early in 2026. He says Smith's party is conflicted and confused. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #yyc #yyccc #ableg #yeg #abpoli #cdnpoli

Braid: Jeromy Farkas takes over city hall with action and a vow to fight antisemitism Mayor Jeromy Farkas starts his term with real achievement on issues, and a fierce pledge to fight antisemitism

Once again - sea change at city hall: Farkas gets off to the best start of any mayor in decades with positive action, promises kept, and fierce condemnation of antisemitism. Column. calgaryherald.com/news/braid-j... #yyc #yyccc #yeg #abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg

Braid: Jeromy Farkas takes over city hall with action and a vow to fight antisemitism Mayor Jeromy Farkas starts his term with real achievement on issues, and a fierce pledge to fight antisemitism

Farkas gets off to the best start of any major in decades with positive action, promises kept, and fierce condemnation of antisemitism. Column.
calgaryherald.com/news/braid-j... #yyc #yyccc #yeg #abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg