David Shepherd

Had an amazing day yesterday at @cariwestyeg - the best Caribbean carnival & culture festival in western Canada.

Thanks to all the staff & volunteers who make it possible!

It continues today with amazing music, food & performances until 9 PM at Churchill Square.

Stop by and check it out! #yegdt

The UCP are forcing every Albertan on AISH to pay their doctor $2-300 to fill out a form so the UCP can claw back $200/mo they’ll get from the federal gov’t.

But they say it’s too much red tape to post receipts for how they spend your tax dollars.

Hypocrisy & cruelty - that’s the UCP. #abpoli

Alberta government changes expense disclosure policy, removes eight years of records | CBC News Key changes to Alberta’s expense disclosure policy mean that the receipts of senior government officials, including the premier, will no longer be public.

Just another case of the kind of arrogance & entitlement Danielle Smith used to rail against before she got her hands on the cheque book.

“"All these changes diminish transparency" said a statement from Info & Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod.”

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #ableg

Alberta government changes expense disclosure policy, removes eight years of records | CBC News Key changes to Alberta’s expense disclosure policy mean that the receipts of senior government officials, including the premier, will no longer be public.

Danielle Smith & the UCP have decided you don’t deserve to know how they’re spending your $.

The Friday before a long weekend, they removed the requirement for the Premier, Ministers & senior staff to publicly post their receipts.

They say it’s too much “red tape.”

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta’s loss of 17,000 jobs represents 42% of Canada’s total job losses in July.

This is particularly concerning because Alberta accounts for only 12% of the workforce.

This means job losses here are over three times higher than the national average.

It’s International Cat Day and Sheriff is celebrating with one of his favorite activities- putting my bed to good use when I’m not in it.

Wishing everyone’s feline friends all the best today! #internationalcatday🐱

Danielle Smith and the UCP are actively making our communities less safe.

Deliberately making the lives of our friends, family & neighbors lives harder to try to distract from their own failures.

It’s shameful. Unconscionable.

It’s the UCP.

Albertans - all Albertans - deserve better. #abpoli

Mickey Amery literally has government lawyers in court arguing against the a law he passed 3 months ago in order to better clear the path for Alberta separatists.

That’s not the behaviour of a competent or principled Minister of Justice.

He can’t be trusted. #abpoli

Worth a repeat.

$20,000 to pump the Premier’s ego & prop up the American far right.

It had no effect on tariffs.

There’s no question Albertans deserve better. And better is absolutely possible. #abpoli

We talked about the challenges of policing outside the major cities & the need for more provincial investment to address social issues.

It was clear that these officers are invested in the communities they serve and I was glad to be able to thank them for their work. #abpoli

Had a great chat with RCMP members at the BVJ Kickin’ Country Parade.

Despite the UCP’s claims, many of these officers told me they’re from Alberta and all had spent the majority of their careers working in Alberta. #abpoli

It was a beautiful day for the BVJ Kickin' Country Parade in Camrose! Appreciated the warm welcome from the crowd and had a great time hanging out with our local volunteers.

Thanks to everyone who came out! #abpoli

Pt. 2.2

BREAKING NEWS:

Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer is doing his job Danielle Smith doesn’t like it.

A few thoughts on her misguided demand he rubber-stamp her supporters’ petition to force a referendum on separating Alberta from Canada.

More UCP arrogance, incompetence & corruption.
1/2 #abpoli

“Albertans are right to be skeptical.

Pensions shouldn’t be gambled with, politicized, or controlled by any one premier or party.

Smith may not trust Albertans to make the right choice, but we do. The CPP belongs to us, and we’re not letting it go without a fight.” #abpoli

Crime & Safety Pt. 2/2

Let’s talk crime & safety.

Violent crime is down but social disorder is up, putting pressure on police & leaving our communities feeling less safe.

And that’s on the UCP - a government that loves to credit but refuses to do their job.

Alberta, you deserve better.

Pt 1/2 #ableg

We know Albertans deserve better and that we can build it together.

Join us at one of our townhalls to share your views and talk about how an ethical, competent government can help build safety in your community.

bettertogethersummer.ca

But we have a plan - our Public Safety Blueprint.

A plan to work with police and improve our court system to tackle crime head-on…

…& to work with partners & invest to improve access to resources needed to address the roots of social disorder.

albertandpcaucus.ca/take-action/...

But the UCP have no actual plan for public safety, just a series of reactionary policies that are more about posturing, control, finger-pointing & kicking the can down the road.

And our communities are left to pay the price. #ableg

Meanwhile businesses across Edmonton are left to pay for the UCP's lack of action.

A de facto extra tax as they're forced to hire private security & add other measures to support their customers & employees.

And they're clear about what they want to see:

edmontonchamber.com/2025/06/02/r...

I've been working with leaders in our communities to advocate for them to step up on this for years.

The solutions were identified by the UCP's own task forces & committees years ago.

You can read all about it in my Community Safety Blueprint:
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZawS...

And let's be clear, the issues driving social disorder - lack of housing (transitional & permanent), proper shelter spaces (day & night), quick access to detox & treatment or mental health supports - those are all provincial responsibility.

The responsibility of the UCP. #abpoli

Edmonton crime rates and severity drop but disorder worries public Edmonton's latest crime stats show a drop in both the severity and rate of crime in the city from 2023 to 2024. However, calls about social disorder are up — police say there's more work to do on the ...

Here's what Interim Chief Driechel had to say on that:

"[Residents] don't see the reduction in crime because what they see is what's in front of them day to day, they see the disorder"

Police continue to be caught up addressing increased calls about disorder.

edmonton.citynews.ca/video/2025/0...

The UCP love taking credit for other's work, but what we need is for them to take responsibility for their failures in their own.

Overall crime & violent crime in Edmonton's down, thanks to good work by the Edmonton Police.

But social disorder remains high & that's thanks to the UCP. #abpoli

TL;DR

Alberta's Chief Electoral Officer says he's doing his job and will continue doing his job despite requests from Justice Minister Micky Amery that he not seek court advice on a separation question and just let it go forth.

If the Minister of Justice is counseling the Chief Electoral Officer to disregard the law, it makes you wonder what kind of advice he's offering the premier and the rest of government.

Predictably, the move is sowing further distrust in the democratic system, including elections and courts.

🧵 1/
@brendanboyd.bsky.social and I have a new article in Governance
👇

Populist politicians love to bash bureaucrats.

But does this actually erode public trust in the public service in Canada?

Short answer: Yes.

Link: doi.org/10.1111/gove...

YouTube video by Naheed Nenshi Better Together Summer at the Medicine Hat Stampede

We had an amazing time at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede ❤️🤠

I loved seeing all the Canadian flags waving on the parade route and hearing people tell us why Alberta is such an important part of our country.

We truly are #BetterTogether.

youtube.com/shorts/K1N-U...

“Once again, the Premier is improperly attempting to apply political pressure on an independent decision-maker and interfere with the rule of law"

Alberta NDP raise concerns after Justice Minister Micky Amery suggests Elections Alberta withdraw court action on separation qustion