S Hempel 🇨🇦🍁

Is it time? Every now and then, my long-suffering spouse will look up from reading the news and say “is it time?” This is shorthand for “is it time to sell the house and get the heck out of this province?”

Lisa Young: "Premier Smith maintains that it’s essential that the 30% of Albertans who would or might vote to leave have an opportunity to “blow off steam.” The other 70% are expected to stand by and watch this display indulgently. It’s a pity the Premier isn’t as concerned about them."

“Rhetoric that she used around it — talking about Alberta values, & in other public statements saying that federally appointed judges are not legitimate gatekeepers to democracy and so on — suggests that it's a real concerted effort to delegitimize the role of the courts in policymaking in Alberta”

The only in-depth follow I've seen in Alberta on this. This kind of journalistic work takes weeks and the impact of these government decisions will span decades. #abed #ableg

Smith says Alberta will withhold funding for judges without more input on selection EDMONTON - Premier Danielle Smith says her government will withhold funding to support new judicial appointments in Alberta if the federal government doesn't give the province a say on who

The Alberta government didn't volunteer a timeline for its ultimatum, released today but sent more than a week ago, and the federal justice ministry's statement focused almost entirely on the general importance of an independent judiciary. From me today: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Nate Horner publishes perennial Alberta poverty plea, warns of ‘tough choices’ - Alberta Politics The poor little rich kid of Confederation is pleading poverty again. But take note, it’s not Alberta’s fault! (It’s never Alberta’s fault.)  In an announcement yesterday that the next Alberta Budget w...

Nate Horner publishes perennial Alberta poverty plea, warns of ‘tough choices’ albertapolitics.ca/2026/02/nate...

Just so everyone is clear: the valve here releases pressure that would otherwise build on her leadership from within her party.

She would rather lose the country than her own job.

And now judges are weighing in.

This is an extraordinary letter.

Glad to see the judiciary standing up for democracy.

Alberta's economy-first government strikes again.

YouTube video by Naheed Nenshi Albertans deserve better than a Premier who is willing to sell us out to save her own skin.

Danielle Smith needs to unequivocally denounce separatism and stand united with Team Canada.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Webe...

I don't know if people understand just how conservative Camrose is
You know it's bad for these lawyers to speak up
They have my respect
#ableg #abpoli

We are now learning of even more patients who have died waiting for care. Yet the UCP still refuses to take responsibility or acknowledge the crisis.

Albertans deserve better.

Our lives depend on it. /1

Land deal between Mraiche company and Alberta government under auditor general investigation The auditor general launched an investigation in August into the deal that saw a numbered company led by MHCare's founder profit $300,000

“A 2024 Edmonton land deal where the provincial government bought a west-central Edmonton parcel of land from a numbered company led by health care entrepreneur Sam Mraiche is under investigation by the province’s auditor general.”

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...

Alberta education minister's recall bid 10,000 signatures short, two weeks before deadline | CBC News Near the end of a three-month bid to oust Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, the recall organizer has barely one-third of required petition support.

The recall Nicolaides campaign mentioned by CBC News
Hopefully this will get them some much needed publicity

All the recalls are a long-shot but they are the best shot we have
#ableg #ableg

And...

1/2
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Please share. Airdrie E recall campaign will have a table set up! Dr Parks speaks for Albertans, risking his own career. Please attend if you can!

So uh...

Remember yesterday when the NDP revealed yet another sus real estate deal involving Mraiche?

Today they brought it up again, and they brought up Marshall Smith too...

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

Exclusive: Alberta oil regulator stopped enforcing gas flaring limits after government pressure, documents show The regulator in charge of environmental enforcement in Canada's main oil-producing province bent to pressure from the provincial government and oil companies to eliminate a limit on natural gas flari...

Just wow.

www.reuters.com/world/albert...

Never since 1905, when Alberta became a province, was a petition with nearly half a million signatures tabled in the Legislature.

Never was a Premier presented with such clear choice between right and wrong.

Premier, do the right thing. Avoid a divisive referendum. #ableg

However corrupt we think the UCP are, they're probably worse

Tip of the iceberg

#ableg #abpoli

Wait WHAT?!?

Dale Nally somehow audited the voting records of Albertans and is using that as a metric for who can initiate recall?

And now all of the applicant statements and member statements have been removed from Elections Alberta?

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

Danielle Smith dared Eastern Slopes coal mine opponents to start a citizen initiative petition – so Corb Lund did - Alberta Politics Albertan country music icon Corb Lund showed up in Edmonton yesterday to drop off a citizen initiative application at the offices of Elections Alberta for a referendum petition seeking permanent prote...

Danielle Smith dared Eastern Slopes coal mine opponents to start a citizen initiative petition – so Corb Lund did. albertapolitics.ca/2025/11/dani...

Insiders Detail Ways Alberta’s For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing | The Tyee The shift strong-arms doctors but hasn’t saved money or shortened waits for critical operations, sources say. A Tyee investigation.

“I am not working in those facilities because I find it morally inappropriate.”

A Tyee investigation found that Calgary anesthesiologists are being scheduled by managers, in response to government directives, to work in for-profit chartered surgical facilities, sometimes against their will. #abpoli

Alberta doctors call for regular access to vaccines in children's hospitals to combat low immunization rates | CBC News Some Alberta pediatricians say they've got an idea to help improve routine childhood vaccination rates, but they're facing roadblocks. The doctors want the shots, including measles and whooping cough ...

Doctors request vaccinations be given to children at hospitals (when parents are willing to do so); province says no.

Bananas.

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

Alberta MLA accuses school principal of weaponizing position to push recall petition One of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s caucus members went on the attack Wednesday against a constituent trying to get her kicked out of the legislature.

Alberta MLA Angela Pitt accuses school principal of weaponizing position to push recall petition — principal says he’s specifically not been advertising his title, but Pitt has now brought it to the forefront.

From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Revamping COP30: Why Scaling Clean Energy Is the Climate Imperative The energy transition is inevitable, but will it arrive quickly or slowly? COP30 could be the beginning of hastening its arrival

Rethinking COP30: Why Scaling Clean Energy Is the Climate Imperative

The energy transition is inevitable, but will it arrive quickly or slowly? COP30 could be the beginning of hastening its arrival
markhamhislop.substack.com/p/revamping-...

Premier Danielle Smith says courts should be more 'constrained' in making decisions Alberta premier Danielle Smith commented on the justice systems involvement in deciding matters like the use of the not withstanding clause.

I think folks should be making a bigger fucking deal about how our Premier is saying out loud that the judicial branch shouldn’t be a check and balance against the legislative and executive branches. That notion is one of the pillars of modern democracy itself. calgaryherald.com/news/premier...

WOW!

Pete Guthrie has filed legislative FOIP requests and one of them seems to suggest…

Dani’s former Chief of Staff, Marshall Smith is making bank of his government connections?

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

Alberta is calling. 😔

Can we add interference with the AER to that list? www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...

High demand for private COVID-19 shots sparks supply problems, waitlists for Alberta pharmacies | CBC News Some Alberta pharmacists say they've started waitlists for private COVID-19 vaccines because they can't get their hands on stock as frustrated Albertans turn to them for the shots.

The UCP government pretty clearly tried to artificially suppress demand for COVID-19 vaccines by forcing people to pay out of pocket for them.

It didn't work. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Braid: UCP dumps auditor general as he races to finish health scandal report A UCP committee votes to replace auditor general Doug Wylie, the key person investigating the health contract scandal, writes Don Braid.

UCP members vote in committee to replace auditor general Doug Wylie, forcing rush to complete health procurement report. He isn't sure he can finish before a newbie takes over. Column
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #UCP