Ricardo Acuña

Political Choices: Why Can’t the Alberta Government Stop Punching Itself in the Face? Alberta's Budget 2026 brings deficits, instability, and strained infrastructure and services despite obvious solutions. Why do we keep punching ourselves in the face?

New from me, on the Parkland Institute blog: Alberta's Budget 2026 brings deficits, instability, and strained infrastructure and services despite obvious solutions. Why does the Alberta government keep punching itself in the face?

Today!

As with examples from the US and other jurisdictions, the inevitable result will be longer waits and reduced access, as well as a lower quality of care.

The End of Canadian Medicare? Alberta Legislation Opens the Door to U.S. Health Care The End of Canadian Medicare? Alberta Legislation Opens the Door to U.S. Health Care A seismic shift in Canadian health care: Alberta’s Bill 11 sets a precedent with national consequences. Read the fu...

Private payment for health care doesn’t shorten wait times.
Decades of evidence show the opposite: when care can be bought, public queues grow longer.
Alberta's Bill 11 follows a well-worn and damaging path.
www.parklandinstitute.ca/end_of_medic...

A well-being economy reimagines the purpose of our economy and society to place quality of life for everyone and the sustainability of our planet at the centre.
Learn more and register for Parkland Institute’s free webinar: ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

It’s that (festive) time of the year again: Parkland Institute's Annual Gala Dinner & Silent Auction is back! Our most important fundraising event will be held on February 26, at the Faculty Club, U of A. Register at www.parklandinstitute.ca/2026_gala

19th Annual Gala Dinner and Silent Auction Join us for Parkland Institute's 19th Annual Gala Dinner & Silent Auction. A great evening of food, friends, and music to celebrate and support the work of Parkland Institute.

Registration is now open for Parkland Institute’s 19th Annual Gala Dinner & Silent Auction. Buy your tickets and reserve a table for your favourite fundraiser of the year.
Find out more and register at www.parklandinstitute.ca/2026_gala.

Thanks so much to the Parkland Institute for inviting me to participate in this conference. I learned a great deal and found the conversations really inspiring. Huge thanks to the organizers, speakers, and participants. Till next year!

Democracy Under Siege We are living through extraordinary times — times that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Around the world, autocracy is on the rise. The new U.S. regime threatens the sovereignty of ...

The Parkland conference kicks off tonight, and goes all weekend at #ualberta, with @peggynash.bsky.social, @profsmithsask.bsky.social, @harshawalia.bsky.social, @rachelgilmore.bsky.social, @floralashes.bsky.social, @carlapeck.bsky.social and so many others! Tickets available at the door.

Democracy Under Siege We are living through extraordinary times — times that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Around the world, autocracy is on the rise. The new U.S. regime threatens the sovereignty of these lands currently called Canada. Here at home, misinformation and corruption have taken hold in Alberta’s government. The pillars of liberal democracy are crumbling under the strain of growing authoritarianism. This year’s Parkland Institute conference confronts these urgent threats head-on. We’ll take a hard look at the political institutions meant to act as guardrails against autocracy and ask how well they are faring in this role. More importantly, we’ll start a conversation about how we can strengthen those institutions, defend our struggling democracy, repel the current threat, and create a future that is built on the foundations of equality, justice, and solidarity.

One week to go! “Democracy Under Siege” opens next Friday, Nov. 21, at the University of Alberta.

Register today to join the discussion on how we can confront the new face of fascism and strengthen democratic power.

Learn more at parklandconference.ca

Ripple Effects: The Drug Toxicity Crisis and Its Impact on Frontline Health Workers As deaths due to the province’s poisoned drug supply climb, a new report by Parkland Institute shows how this crisis affects the frontline health workers struggling to manage patient care, as well as ...

Drug poisonings are on the rise and Alberta’s healthcare workers are facing a crisis. A new Parkland Institute report finds an ineffective government plan, inadequate funding, and high levels of job-related stress among front-line health care workers: www.parklandinstitute.ca/ripple_effects

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Health and Social Care in the Toxic Drugs Crisis: Learning from Workers’ Experiences. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining... A free webinar to launch “Ripple Effects: The Drug Toxicity Crisis and Its Impact on Frontline Health Workers,” Parkland Institute's new report about how health care workers in Alberta are being affec...

Join Parkland Institute this Thursday for an in-depth look at our new report "Ripple Effects: The Drug Toxicity Crisis and Its Impact on Frontline Health Workers,” about how health workers are being impacted by the poisoned drug crisis. Register at: ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A couple of us are heading to the Parkland Inst conference in November. Given what's happening in Alberta right now, this conversation on how fascism "seeps into policy, culture, and everyday institutions" couldn't be more timely. #ABpoli

Democracy Under Siege We are living through extraordinary times — times that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Around the world, autocracy is on the rise. The new U.S. regime threatens the sovereignty of these lands currently called Canada. Here at home, misinformation and corruption have taken hold in Alberta’s government. The pillars of liberal democracy are crumbling under the strain of growing authoritarianism. This year’s Parkland Institute conference confronts these urgent threats head-on. We’ll take a hard look at the political institutions meant to act as guardrails against autocracy and ask how well they are faring in this role. More importantly, we’ll start a conversation about how we can strengthen those institutions, defend our struggling democracy, repel the current threat, and create a future that is built on the foundations of equality, justice, and solidarity.

Fascism doesn't arrive waving flags: it seeps into policy, culture, and everyday institutions. Parkland Institute’s fall conference brings together scholars, artists, and activists to discuss the growing threat of authoritarianism. Register now at parklandconference.ca

TONIGHT! Poilievre built his brand on anger over inequality — then served it to the billionaires on a silver platter. Join Martin Lukacs and Ricardo Acuña to discuss the playbook that propelled Poilievre’s rise. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...

As Albertans brace for the first teacher strike in nearly 25 years, a new opinion piece on Parkland Institute's blog gives a frontline perspective on the government’s long war against public education.
parklandinstitute.ca/disrespect

Western separatism: An age-old story entering a new chapter - CCPA Why then, if there has been no real growth in separatism as a threat in Alberta and Saskatchewan, has there been so much handwringing and teeth-gnashing about it since the federal election? Albertans ...

My piece on western separatism in the latest edition of the CCPA Monitor (out today).
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Of course. 🙄

Some seriously disturbing behaviour from @ualberta.bsky.social
Where's @aasua.bsky.social in all of this?

Parkland Institute is thrilled to be co-hosting this event, which will feature co-editor Rob Kristofferson, and contributors Don Bouzek, Donna Coombs-Montrose, and Maria Dunn.

Challenging 'Parental Rights': A Primer for Parents, Students, Educators, and Advocates When “parental rights” means banning books and gutting protections for LGBTQ+ kids — and “school choice” means privatization — we need to ask: whose rights, and at whose expense?

“Parental rights” is being used to roll back inclusive education and justify diverting public funds to private schools. Read Parkland Institute's new report to learn how this movement took hold in Alberta — and why trustee elections matter now more than ever.
www.parklandinstitute.ca/parental_rig...

Alberta teachers are compiling lists of the books in their classrooms so the #ABGov can tell them which ones to toss. On a related note, Parkland Institute will be releasing a new report on the "Parental Rights" movement in AB next week. ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Opinion: Extending downtown CRL comes at too high a cost for Edmonton This deal reeks of the backroom dealing and sketchy arrangements that have come to define Danielle Smith and the UCP.

"By chronically starving the city, then dangling a few tainted scraps in front of the council, Smith can ensure that the city does her bidding." My piece in the Journal on #yegcc's proposal to extend the CRL and hand over millions of tax dollars to a billionaire.
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Over 80% of allied health-care workers in Alberta report facing discrimination at work. For 13%, discrimination is just “part of the job.” What does that say about their working conditions? Join our webinar on this urgent new research.
ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Similarly, if you don't agree with either statement A, or the misrepresentation of CPP premiums in statement B, then you can't move on to the rest of the survey on an AB Pension Plan. #ABGov #ABNext #NotRealEngagement

This is what the #ABGov thinks engagement looks like. In the first question in the #ABNext survey on policing, if you don't pick one of these statements to like, you cannot continue the survey. Even after watching the four minute propaganda video! #NotRealEngagement

Most Albertans Will Soon Have to Get Out Their Wallets for COVID Shots Experts and advocates sound the alarm about the new policy, which will see even health care workers have to pay up for protection

In the 2023 election, Danielle Smith declared that "under no circumstances will any Albertan ever have to pay out of pocket for access to their family doctor or to get the medical treatment that they need."

Starting soon, Albertans will have to pay for COVID shots.

pressprogress.ca/alberta-will...

Migrant Rights Network Condemns Bill C-2's Anti-Refugee & Mass Deportation Provisions - Migrant Rights Network TORONTO — The Migrant Rights Network strongly condemns Bill C-2, which fundamentally undermines Canada’s refugee and immigration system in violation of international obligations and basic human rights...

"We’re witnessing the deliberate expansion of a mass deportation machine designed to tear apart families and communities."

Hear me out.

In a better world we wouldn’t have to watch fascist billionaires get into pissy fights or be pressured to side between a Nazi oligarch and a pedophile president.

In a better world these people would be in prison or kept from seizing power and hoarding resources.

Carney's Capitulation The Safe Borders Act is a total betrayal of the Liberals' pledge to stand up to Trump.

"Bill C-2 ... would give law enforcement the ability to search your mail, make it easier for authorities to pause or cancel immigration applications en masse and give spy agencies more power to collect data and share it with the U.S. authorities."