The Smith Referenda In October
Albertans face a daunting prospect on October 19 - not one, but 10 referendum questions that they will vote on. On the agenda are a passel of manufactured issues ranging…
Canadian Constitution
No, The SCC Won’t Rule Along The Lines Alberta Wants
I've seen a few people arguing that the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) is obliged to rule in favour of the Provinces like Alberta (the ones that want to use…
The SCC Ruling On Quebec’s Secularism Law Will Be More Profound Than You Think
We've had a few weeks now since the hearings at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) in the matter of Montreal English School Board, et al v. Quebec Attorney General,…
Now She Wants To Amend The Constitution
So, having had her public temper tantrum over appointing judges, Smith now wants to amend the Constitution so that the decision about who gets to sit as a judge is…
Unjust Laws and Restricting Rights Unnecessarily
Alberta has already begun restricting transgender rights, and in the wake of the shooting in Tumbler Ridge this week, I fully expect that the UCP government will move to further…
We Are In A Constitutional Crisis
We Are In A Constitutional CrisisLots of people are arguing that if the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) rules to restrict the Notwithstanding Clause (S33) or the Governor General dusts…
May I Introduce The Phrase "Ultra Vires"?
Alberta plans to invoke its "Sovereign Alberta" legislation as part of "fighting back" against federal firearms legislation that bans firearms that are commonly seen as "military-style". As the first application…
Deep Dive: Intervenor Arguments Regarding S33
With some 60 or more intervenors in English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al. before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC), there is a…
Replacing to Sovereignty Act so soon? Danielle Smith’s belligerent statement vows new attack on federal power
VICTORIA, B.C. – Is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party Government now planning to introduce a new, tougher Sovereignty Act to fight Ottawa’s proposed emissions regulations? Alberta Environment Minister…
What Is The Goal of the Alberta Sovereignty Act?
Since Danielle Smith first started advocating for the so-called “Alberta Sovereignty Act”, much digital ink has been spilled over how it’s unconstitutional, if not downright illegal under Canada’s laws today.…
It’s a big deal when a judge rules that if cabinet secrecy isn’t in the public interest it can be tossed aside
The British North America Act of 1867 said Canada would have “a constitution similar in principle to that of the United Kingdom,” and cabinet confidentiality is part of the bedrock…
On the 40th anniversary of proclamation of the Constitution Act, Conservative distrust of the Charter still runs deep
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982 – including, importantly, our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The English-language version of…
Bill C4 – Conversion Therapy Passed – Now What?
To my surprise, Bill C4 made it through parliament in record time. Personally, I think this is a good thing. However, I also know that Social Conservatives and Gender Critical…
Why Conservatives love the monarchy, and how without a Canadian monarch real republicans could be democrats
It’s been more than a week since the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, but his pale blue eyes still stare resolutely from the home page of the…
Happy Canada Day! Or, as the UCP would have it in some corners of rural Alberta, Grumpy Dominion Day
Happy Canada Day! Alberta is the only place in Canada, I’d wager, where someone who was barely out of diapers when our country’s national holiday was renamed Canada Day would…
Referenda are ‘a device for dictators and demagogues’ — but never mind about that, Alberta, or who said it …
Referenda, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher once observed, “are a device for dictators and demagogues.” I mention this in light of of Alberta’s new referendum legislation — Bill 26, the…
Parole boards! Rodeo! Guns! The U.S. may be in flames while the world goes viral, but Alberta’s legislators cut to the chase!
The great republic to our south is in flames, led by an American Nero and seemingly teetering on the brink of martial law. At the same moment, the world is…
Kenney to Trudeau: Adopt Andrew Scheer’s energy platform or Alberta will hold a meaningless equalization referendum!
If you concluded as New Brunswick’s Conservative premier just did that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s somewhat reduced victory in Monday’s federal election indicates a certain level of support for carbon…
Alberta Government opts to use sophomoric sarcastic tweets to counter visit by teenaged environmental activist
Apparently uncertain how to respond to news Greta Thunberg will soon visit Alberta, the Kenney Government seems to have opted for adolescent sarcasm as an appropriate counter to the 16-year-Old…