In the Toronto Star, I argue that the most dangerous part of Alberta’s series of October referendums isn’t the question on whether to have a future binding referendum on independence; it’s the five questions on restricting immigration, which are likely to pass and will have a material impact on some of the most vulnerable Albertans.
For Forward Weekly, I looked at the Alberta Transition Council’s plans for the oil and gas industry in an independent Alberta.
Edmonton and Calgary Book Events
My new book, Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle Smith, comes out in a week.
I’ll be celebrating its release at the Aviary in Edmonton alongside my friend Dani Paradis on Oct. 13. Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door and include a copy of the book.
I’ll also be in Calgary next month for a very special event at High Line Brewing with my friends at Alberta Advantage. We’ll be doing a live podcast recording, followed by a book signing and social. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free.
If you live elsewhere or can’t make it to either event, please consider preordering the book, which will help contribute to first week sales, signalling to media and booksellers that this is a book worth promoting.
I recommend shopping local, but Amazon and Indigo do have 25% off sales for preorders.
Blogroll
Story of the Week
DULF Wins Constitutional Challenge, Judge Applauds Their Work, Michelle Gamage, The Tyee (Sept. 29)
[Eris] Nyx and [Jeremy] Kalicum argued that the law that convicted them both of three counts of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin was unconstitutional.
Because the pair had been selling drugs to compassion club members to reduce harms and fatalities caused by the unregulated drug supply, DULF’s lawyers Tim Dickson, Stephanie Dickson and Kaelan Unrau contended that shutting down the club violated Section 7 and Section 15 of its members’ Charter rights.
[Justice Catherine] Murray delivered a judgment today that aligned with this argument.
Murray agreed that a non-medicalized safer supply program is urgently needed to save lives and found that DULF had been reducing the harms associated with the toxic drug crisis while having no negative impact on the community or public safety.
She also agreed there was no way for a compassion club or non-medical safer supply program to source legal drugs and no legally and practically available safety valves in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to support such a program.
She also said Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was unconstitutional because it prevented a non-medicalized safer supply program from operating during the ongoing toxic drug crisis.
This infringed on DULF compassion club members’ rights to life, liberty and security of the person and their right to be treated equally under the law, which are guaranteed under Sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“It’s people like you who make a difference,” Murray told Nyx and Kalicum. “And you just did. So go out and do great things. I have no doubt that you will.”
Alberta
Alberta moves forward with Calgary-Edmonton high-speed rail plan, Daniel Gonzalez, Calgary Herald (Sept. 28)
Victim in Edmonton Corn Maze stabbing tried to recruit accused to Nazi group, trial hears, Jonny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal (Sept. 29)
50-storey towers, new security approach part of developer’s plans for Edmonton City Centre, Madeline Cummings, CBC News (Sept. 29)
Data centre campus proposed in northeast Edmonton, Stephanie Swensrude, Taproot Edmonton (Sept. 30)
We must call Alberta separation what it is, Patrick Lennox, Globe and Mail (Sept. 30)
UCP MLA says he’s voted in favour of Alberta holding binding referendum on independence, Lina Elsaadi, CBC News (Sept. 30)
Ottawa designates West Coast pipeline a project of national interest, Emma Graney, Marieke Walsh and Jeffrey Jones, Globe and Mail (Oct. 1)
Alberta Is Going Backwards On Reconciliation, Kelly Allard, Medicine Hat Owl (Oct. 1)
Former deans of medicine call on Ottawa to intervene in Alberta’s dual-practice health care model, Alanna Smith, Globe and Mail (Oct. 1)
It’s the biggest Alberta separatist account on the internet. It has links to a movement leader, Alex Boyd and Jeff Yates, CBC News (Oct. 2)
Elephant in the room, Carrie Tait, Grant Robertson and Nathan VanderKlippe, Globe and Mail (Oct. 3)
Canada
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford’s campaign appears to have breached its own privacy policy, Rory White, Canada’s National Observer (Sept. 28)
Carney’s Push to Fund Industry Imperils Canada’s Nature Promises, Sarah Cox, The Tyee (Sept. 28)
How Pro-Israel Voices Warped The Belleville Shooting Narrative, Alex Cosh, The Maple (Sept. 29)
Fake AI columnist dupes Canadian press to target Moroccan dissidents, and a Turkish ‘middleman’, Ilker Sezer, Türkiye Today (Sept. 29)
Saskatchewan mayor stepping down now that ‘Queen of Canada’ cult is gone, Halyna Mihalik, CBC News (Sept. 30)
Indigenous groups given just two months to consult on pipeline project designation, Alessia Passafiume, Canadian Press (Oct. 1)
Former soldier exposes how Canadian white supremacist group recruits members, Eric Szeto, Jordan Pearson, Christian Paas-Lang and Ivan Angelovski, CBC Investigates (Oct. 1)
U.S.
US datacenter discharged large amounts of pollution for almost a year with no permits, Evan Simon, Floodlight (Oct. 1)
Florida weighs ditching property taxes and sticking Canadians with the bill, John Paul Tasker, CBC News (Oct. 4)
World
Burkina Faso opens $19 million gold refinery as Traoré pushes to keep mining wealth at home, Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider (Sept. 29)
Bolivia arrests top prosecutor and 13 others accused by US of protecting drug traffickers, Associated Press (Oct. 1)
After Trump’s Venezuelan oil deal, those living on polluted lake in oil country wait for change, Cody Weddle, CBC News (Oct. 3)
Middle East
More than 100 Israelis go on rampage in Palestinian town, James Shotter, Financial Times (Sept. 29)
U.S. ends ISIS-fighting mission in Iraq as regional security fears mount, Alexander Smith and Helen Graham, NBC News (Sept. 30)
Netanyahu is flying freely over Canada as his international arrest warrant remains in place, Evan Dyer, CBC News (Oct. 3)
Tech
Surveillance Company Tells Cops It Wants to Add Facial Recognition to Flock Cameras, Jason Koebler, 404 Media (Sept. 29)
How Cities Are Forced to Funnel License Plate Data to a Massive Federal Surveillance Program, Jason Koebler, 404 Media (Sept. 30)
