Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦

S4 Episode 8: One Just Transition Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · EP24 · 30m

And then, listen to @marnipanas.bsky.social. Really listen. I am honoured that heroines such as Alex and Marni shared their stories with me.

Protecting Trans Kids: a Conversation with Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · EP34 · 45m

Anyway - don’t listen to me about this. Start by listening to Kristy Harcourt and Alex Marshall - who might be able to answer your questions and address your fears.

Well, they probably aren’t hiding in Old Strathcona or Westmount.

Who honestly thinks that schools are full of teenage boys who want to dress up as girls just so they can infiltrate girls’ sports teams? Or bathrooms? In our homophobic misogynist culture, do you think school boys would don drag just to get a competitive edge? That is…just not a thing.

On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.

I don’t think that Klein was more progressive, per se. But he was much more attuned to voter opinion and unafraid of his far right wing. In the end, he didn’t give in to Stockwell day et al - and he let Vriend stand.

Disinformation Contagion

I actually interviewed @caulfieldtim.bsky.social right when he was researching and writing The Certainty Illusion. Here’s that conversation. #ualberta #AlbertaUnbound @irpp.org #irpp

An animated Tim Caulfield, in rolled jeans, striped hipster cardigan, and heavy glasses, stands on a raised stage, his hands forming a circle

Host interviewer Jennifer Ditchburn, left, sits in an armchair, looking onc as Tim Caulfield, in a matching chair, answers a question.

Last night, I had the delight of attending a lecture by Edmonton’s own @caulfieldtim.bsky.social as he spoke to the @irpp.org about his new book, The Certainty Illusion and the dangers of scientific disinformation. #ualberta #IRPP #yow #yeg

Protecting Trans Kids: a Conversation with Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt

Here you go. Please listen and share!

Protecting Trans Kids: a Conversation with Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt

Oops! You can listen here:

From my Alberta Unbound archives - a must-listen for Albertans tonight. Protecting Trans Kids: a Conversation with Alex Marshall and Kristy Harcourt. #ableg #abpoli #NotWithstandingClause #Alberta #AlbertaUnbound

It is the ultimate self-own - an admission of policy failure.

Stripping Away Rights Using the Notwithstanding Clause. - Alberta Views After a week of rancorous debate, Klein announced he would not invoke the notwithstanding clause on the landmark gay rights decision...

Why shouldn’t governments invoke the notwithstanding clause, if there is no political cost or moral hazard? If voters don’t hold them accountable? If we just shrug and turn the page? #ableg #abpoli #abheritage #Alberta #DelwinVriend #LeilaniMuir

Alberta to invoke notwithstanding clause to shield 3 transgender bills from court challenges | CBC News The Alberta government has tabled legislation that seeks to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield a suite of bills that affects transgender youth and adults from legal challenges.

I am pretty sure that when Merv Leitch and Peter Lougheed first created the notwithstanding clause, they didn’t mean it to be deployed to bully and oppress literal school children. #ableg #abpoli #TransRightsAreHumanRights #Alberta #notwithstandingclause

But thank you for live-skeeting the committee. Senate committees don’t always get a lot of media attention, but that’s often where really interesting policy gets hashed out.

Always on call to answer your Senate questions! The bill will next be reported to the Senate and then we’ll have 3rd reading debate. If the bill passes, as amended, it will go back to the Other Place.

But first it comes to the Senate itself. The amendments passed at committee must still be passed by the whole Senate.

I wrote this two years ago. Felt inspired to post it again today. Tomorrow, it may be more relevant than ever. #ableg #abpoli #TransRightsAreHumanRights #cdnpoli #Alberta @albertaviews.bsky.social

Home and Laughing, with Faris Hytiaa

I am SO excited to share this month’s episode of Alberta Unbound: my conversation with Calgary stand up Faris Hytiaa, a Sudanese-Canadian comic who is as insightful as he is funny. (With bits of his comedy woven in.) #AlbertaUnbound #yyc #Calgary #abpoli #cdnpoli #Alberta #Lethbridge #yql #CBC

A reminder:
An under-aged girl = a child
Sex with a child = rape
Hiding behind euphemisms and bureaucratic legalese protects our feelings, but clouds the truth.

If podcast apps aren’t your jam, you can always stream Alberta Unbound from my Senatorial webpage. #AlbertaUnbound #SenateofCanada

Home and Laughing, with Faris Hytiaa

I am SO excited to share this month’s episode of Alberta Unbound: my conversation with Calgary stand up Faris Hytiaa, a Sudanese-Canadian comic who is as insightful as he is funny. (With bits of his comedy woven in.) #AlbertaUnbound #yyc #Calgary #abpoli #cdnpoli #Alberta #Lethbridge #yql #CBC

There appear to be two - but only one seems « active »!

I was struck, again, as always, by the beauty of Edmonton City Hall. It remains an absolute architectural jewel, a numinous luminous space where we practice community together. #yegcc

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment band plays at the top of the marble staircase in the City Room of Edmonton City Hall. Behind them, you can just see the tall fur busby hats of the City of Edmonton pipe band, with their bagpipes. The whole scene is lit by the huge skylight, through which we see a bright blue sky.

Edmonton mayor Andrew Knack stands behind a lectern at the base of the City Hall stairs, flanked by the flags of Canada and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment

A guard of honour stands at the corners of the Edmonton Cenotaph; beside them, a giant video screen shows a mass of soldiers.

The Cenotaph against a bright blue sky, strewn with poppy covered green wreaths.

Images from a moving Remembrance Day service at Edmonton City Hall and the city cenotaph, hosted by the City of Edmonton and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. We shall remember. #RemembranceDay #Edmonton #yeg

Oh that’s a good idea - because of course they have also been scraping and repurposing my photo and other posts!

That’s what my daughter said - that she couldn’t report the fake because I don’t have a real account!

🥰

Oh gracious! You’re right. I found the second fake, but it doesn’t seem to have posted anything. I guess if imitation is the sincerest form of flatter I should be complimented in some weird way?

Thank you!