TS Howell

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has no business holding a referendum Danielle Smith is risking the economic and psychological well-being of the province and potentially the unity and sovereignty of the entire nation on a gamble to keep her own fractious

Danielle Smith is "risking the economic and psychological well-being of the province... on a gamble to keep her own fractious party together." www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-has-no-business-holding-a-referendum/article_77bfcc08-fd2e-4f47-8897-e26c245d19b0.html

Braid: Is the UCP still a pro-Canada party? They might take a vote on it At the top level of the UCP they're pondering whether to hold a vote on the party turning separatist

The UCP was elected as a federalist conservative party.

Its president has now outlined how it could officially become a separatist party and committed to let party members vote on it if the numbers line up.

Normal stuff.

#abpoli #cdnpoli calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Bessent pushes Albertan independence from Canada: "Albertans are very independent people. There's a rumor they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not. People are talking. People want sovereignty. They want what the US has got."

Former AHS CEO Calls Out Premier Danielle Smith YouTube video by Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Premier Danielle Smith is shirking responsibility for Alberta's health care woes, says Athana Mentzelopoulos. Link below to our full interview with the former Alberta Health Services CEO.

👀 FULL: rtrj.info/010826Athana

🎧 FULL: rtrj.info/010826 #abhealth #ableg #RealTalkRJ

youtu.be/PEfEdv4yXUU?...

Another Building Purchase by Sam Mraiche Raises Questions | The Tyee Not long after Addiction Ministry representatives toured the property, Mraiche bought it. Now it’s a detox centre leased to Métis Nation of Alberta.

Four months after senior government officials toured the building, Sam Mraiche bought it through a numbered company and now leases it to the Métis Nation of Alberta. Hard not to notice the timing. #ableg #abpoli

thetyee.ca/News/2026/01...

This Numpty taking a victory lap on anything #yyccc does is hilarious. He didn't mention his stupid idea he proposed to the committee for eliminating all of the software licences that #YYC has with various software vendors. Reply to the idea: "um... that would effective shut down the city" #ableg

Who is Sam Mraiche? Inside Alberta’s health care controversy A Globe investigation into the provincial health agency’s dealings with a company whose contracts have come under scrutiny

A banger of a Saturday morning read from @carrietait.bsky.social on the man central to the ongoing health care scandal plaguing the Smith government. I'm dying to know who in the premier's inner circle is leaking info (personal calendars!). #abpoli #ableg www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Remember when Danielle Smith condemned the "arrogance" of a government for passing laws in a matter of days?

Now she's rammed through a law stripping teachers' charter rights in a single day.

Seems the "democratic process" no longer matters to her now that she's in power.

#ableg #abpoli

Alberta’s New Democrats urge Danielle Smith to call off this back-to-work legislation, denounce any potential use of the notwithstanding clause, and actually do the hard work to make classrooms better for teachers and students.

Read my full statement here: www.albertandpcaucus.ca/news/post/ne...

Straight (progressive) talk about municipal parties:

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy | CBC News About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause and placards.

June 1976: Alberta 'Coal Development Policy' adopted

June 2020: UCP government rescinds it

Feb. 2021: UCP reinstates it

June 2021: AER rejects Grassy Mountain project

March 2022: UCP orders "no new applications" for coal

Sept. 2023: AER accepts new applications for Grassy Mtn

June 2025:

Naheed Nenshi Your Alberta NDP candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona

On June 23rd, we can choose better for our province.

I'm proud to run as your Alberta NDP candidate to fight for the strong, competent, and ethical leadership that we deserve.

Together, let's build a province where #BetterIsPossible.

For Edmonton-Strathcona. For Alberta. For all of us.

#alberta just passed bill 54

The Chiefs told the #UCP they needed to amend it to address risk to Treaty

The UCP proposed an amendment; Chiefs advised the words were legally empty & offered a version that would stand up.

Chiefs were ignored.
Bill passed with words not legally binding.

Neat

Ousted UCP MLA Accuses Premier’s Husband of Secret Lobbying | The Tyee A fiery exchange in the legislature raises questions about David Moretta’s role in rail project discussions.

“...when confronted with legitimate questions about clear conflicts of interest, (the UCP) respond with hostility and threats," Independent MLA Peter Guthrie told the Tyee. #ableg #abpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/05/14/Ousted-UCP-MLA-Alleges-Secret-Rail-Lobbying-David-Moretta/

Separatists release potential Alberta referendum question, expect Danielle Smith to join cause | CBC News An Alberta separatist group released a referendum question on independence from Canada that it will petition to get in front of provincial voters later in 2025.

They suggested… residents of a breakaway Alberta republic would still keep their Canadian passports and Canada Pension Plan entitlements.

Hahahaha. OK.

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

Hundreds rally at Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada Premier Smith earlier this week proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum

“Hundreds” out of 5 million. 🙄
There’s just as many flat-earthers in Alberta too. In fact the Venn diagram of both groups is a perfect circle.
Stop giving oxygen to this blaze of stupidity.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Better Starts Now YouTube video by Naheed Nenshi

WATCH LIVE: Leader Naheed Nenshi's speech from #ANDPCon2025 as he delivers his vision for building a strong Alberta economy with good jobs, great public services, and unifying our country: youtube.com/live/qmzAZBx...
#BetterisPossible #BetterStartsNOW

Quote: "Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica has said that it still does not know the exact cause of the outage. Chief executive Beatriz Corredor denied that renewables “made the system more vulnerable” in an interview with El País on Wednesday."

Alberta Premier Smith should read the full article.1/

Meanwhile, dog bites man.

Alberta MLA Peter Guthrie, representing Airdrie-Cochrane, has been removed from the United Conservative Party caucus by those MLAs.

This is days after he voted in favour of an NDP motion in the legislature supporting a public inquiry into procurement and contracting allegations. #AbLeg

While no rules were violated, the current municipal donation laws fail to prevent this kind of secrecy. It’s unacceptable that citizens must pay out of pocket just to see who’s bankrolling local politics. #yyccc #ableg

Disappointingly, Alberta's municipal campaign finance laws, again, allow donors to hide their contributions behind numbered companies. Dan McLean's 2025 disclosures reveal he received $5K from 1144365 Alberta Ltd. A $20 registry search reveals... #yyccc #ableg

Hi @gregmcleanyyc.bsky.social, on September 25, 2024 you voted against a private member's bill to reduce food insecurity. (M-110 (National strategy to reduce food waste and combat food insecurity)).
www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/a...

The bill passed but would you please explain your disagreement?🗳

He’ll be back on board next week.

👀

Worst kept secret in Calgary municipal politics? #yyccc

Coun. Sonya Sharp, who chaired city council's event centre committee and is expected to announce her mayoral campaign today, says "the narrative could have been explained a little bit better."

Patrons of new downtown arena will help pay CSEC's obligations, via CBC

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

Not unusual for a small business.

Interesting. Donations to Calgary municipal political party Communities First can be made to... the same address as local polling firm ThinkHQ. #yyccc #yyc