Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean

Alberta government won't say if promised new triage emergency doctors are on the job | CBC News Nearly a month after Alberta’s hospitals minister said emergency room doctors would “immediately” be working to triage patients in overcrowded waiting rooms, the province and its health agencies will ...

Where are the triage liaison physicians the government announced would help overtaxed ERs starting Feb. 1? The AB govt and health authorities won’t say if any are working. I asked 7 times in two weeks.

#AbLeg #AbHealth

Opinion: Health-care access without quality is an empty promise So, the next time government officials promise to “improve access,” we should all ask: access to what?

"In the recent overhaul of Alberta Health Services, several initiatives were quietly dismantled — including the National Surgery Quality Improvement Program which tracked surgical safety and compared Alberta’s performance to national and international standards."
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

As Tumbler Ridge Mourns, Anti-Trans Misinfo Spreads | The Tyee No good will come from the conservative rush to weaponize the shooter’s identity in this story.

The response to the #TumblerRidgeShooting from far-right media, online commentators and even an elected official in Canada is another dark example of how pervasive anti-trans misinformation has become, even in Canada.

Mel Woods writes. #bcpoli #bced

Wildrose, non-Premier Danielle.

“When you have the premier making political decisions about what gets listed and what gets delisted, that’s what’s destabilizing to our health-care system,” she said.
~Alberta Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith June 12, 2012

globalnews.ca/news/255554/...

Trump threatens bridge to prevent Canadians from visiting country Canadians do not want to visit WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S . President Donald Trump has threatened to halt the opening of a international bridge linking Windsor and Detroit, excluding Canadians from country that they have absolutely no ...

www.thebeaverton.com/2026/02/trum...

To the people of Tumbler Ridge, BC, my most sincere condolences. How can we help? Can we help?

#TumblerRidge

If he doesn’t get a prize in his McHappy Meal he makes everyone’s car ride home miserable.

U.S. House votes against Trump's tariffs on Canada | CBC News The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution against President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, delivering a stinging rebuke to the administration for launching a trade war on its no...

The House voted 219-211 in favour of a resolution seeking to terminate the national emergency that Trump invoked in February 2025 to empower his tariffs on a range of imports from Canada.

Six Republicans defied the White House and joined the Democrats in voting ..

www.cbc.ca/news/world/t...

We are now advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to Cuba. Canadians are urged to leave while commercial flights remain available.

For some reason an old JJ McCullough column has been circulating today. It’s too brain-pickled to link to but this will give you an idea of the gibberish WaPo readers are fed about Canada

My Cartoon for Thursday's Toronto Star

Bright yellow daffodils with the bare branches of trees in the background.

I have nothing to offer this sad and weary country right now except this small sign of hope and renewal. Take care of yourselves, and hug the ones you love. #TumblerRidge

bsky.app/profile/spac...

Conservatism is full of cowards

This will be considered an official day of mourning by Canada's Parliament. The Senate will only sit for statements on the Tumbler Ridge tragedy, and then adjourn. All Senate hearings this afternoon will be cancelled. And flags will fly at half mast.

The collective pressure by Team Canada is bearing fruit, here.

It's only one step, but it does show that parts of the American system remain open to influence (economic, political, rational, or other).

Conservatives built the Alberta separatist movement. Now they have to break it Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney spent years whipping voters into a frenzy against Ottawa. Now, at least, he's doing something to put out the fire he helped start. Will any of his Conservative coll...

“If Conservatives can’t summon the political courage of a guy they spent a decade maligning as one of the worst leaders in Canadian political history, what does that say about them?”
~Max Fawcett
#ableg #abpoli

www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/11/o...

All schools should be sanctuaries of safety and belonging.

We grieve as a nation and extend our support, love, and compassion to everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy.

All of BC is wrapping the families of Tumbler Ridge with love.

Supports are available:

BC Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789

Kids Help Phone: Text “CONNECT” to 686868

Thank you to the emergency responders on the ground for the work they are doing.

Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Ontario and Michigan | CBC News U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, poised to become the newest border crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.

The Canadian government agreed to pay for and operate the Gordie Howe international bridge in 2012 — Michigan Republicans opposed funding it.

At last report, construction costs had reached $6.4 billion.

But the bridge is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan.

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

Oh, like, if rules and laws still mattered? Not a snark at you; I will not wait 30 years for them to catch up this time.

Wonder how this investigation is going? Seems really really quiet.

#abpoli
#Alberta
#corruptcare
#MraicheControversy

"Nearly half the economic growth over the past year has come from the building of data centers. But that's a story about bricks, not about people."

Former Calgary judge pushes back on Alberta premier’s call for more input in federal judicial appointments | CBC News A former Calgary judge is joining Canadian legal experts in criticizing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s threats to withhold funding if the province is not given more input in federal judicial appoint...

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

Alberta separatists might look haphazard and kooky, but they have a path to turn a 20% issue into a real threat.

1 - Normalize separatism so it no longer feels toxic.
2 - Tie it to every grievance.
3 - Find a political dance partner. The U.S.A.

They are now pushing all 3 at once.

I saw that *after*. Also, “Naheed”.

ChatGPT generated caricature with little Easter eggs! A coffee mug that says “I love politics” on my desk. Buttons, including one that says “vote!” Also on the desk is a bunch of papers that say “campaign plan”, and there’s a pen in one hand and a clipboard, with perhaps a to-do list in the other. A little cowgirl is waving from behind the coffee mug, and in the background, a little candidate with a sign. Also on my desk is a microphone and sign that says “on air”. On the wall, some signs made it in; Danielle Smith, Naheed Nenshi, Clinton/Kane, Rachel (Notley), and Jyoti Gondek. Underneath Jyoti’s it added a window and the Calgary tower appears (no I cannot see it from the town I live in 😏). It’s AI so there’s some interesting muck ups. The coffee mug has handles on both sides and I have no idea what’s wound it’s way through one of them. There’s a button with a yellow star on a red and blue background that definitely gives a “PRC” feel. The sign, which is orange, in the little candidate’s hands has reads “Vote DRP”. On the Danielle Smith sign, there’s a woman with brown hair, smiling and waving, and her sign reads “Brooks Medicine Hot” instead of Brooks Medicine Hat. Overall, I think it’s fabulous 😏

I did the caricature. I love it.

Splinter: Trump Crushed U.S. Tourism Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

“There is a blasé attitude on the right about this revanchist inward turn where they are declaring to the world that America is not a friendly nation to outsiders anymore, as if they will suffer no consequences for it.”
www.jezebel.com/trump-crushe...

The Calgary skyline at night, with the Olympic torch burning atop the Calgary Tower

The beacons are lit! 🔥