Which candidate did the United Conservative Party parachute into the Edmonton-Meadows riding for the spring provincial election? What government bills prompted the NDP to mount filibusters, and how many hours did the longest marathon debate take? Who bragged about laying pipe during the televised leaders' debate? Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and National Post Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson as host Janet French tests their knowledge of the wacky y...
Dec 13, 2019•31 min•Ep. 302
Thank goodness that’s over. Hansard scribes, security guards, clerks, press gallery members and, likely, many others are in for some relief after an intense fall sitting of the 30th legislature ended at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Join reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, legislature columnist Keith Gerein and host Janet French as they review a jammed eight-week sitting, stuffed with 16 pieces of government legislation, one private members' bill, and a bunch of motions and gov...
Dec 07, 2019•39 min•Ep. 301
Cupcake, anyone? We're celebrating an unbelievable 300th episode of the Press Gallery today, which adds up to at least 6,000 hours of Alberta politics analysis since this podcast began in 2013. Profuse thanks to all the listeners who have stuck with us through these whiplash-inducing six years in the legislature and beyond. This week, join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, business columnist David Staples, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they chat about the continuin...
Nov 30, 2019•45 min•Ep. 300
It had a benign-sounding name: the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions and Government Enterprises Act. But Bill 22 caused a real ruckus this week, including allegations of government corruption and orations about threats to democracy. Among the reforms in this omnibus bill of administrative changes meant to save the government money was the termination of Alberta’s election commissioner. Regular podcast listeners will know that since his position was created in July 2018, election commiss...
Nov 23, 2019•46 min•Ep. 299
It may have been constituency week at the legislature, but things didn’t slow down for a moment in politics. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, National Post Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they dissect Premier Jason Kenney’s announcement of a panel that will test Albertans’ appetites for more autonomy, including ideas like an Alberta pension plan or independent provincial police force. The gang will also assess the fallout fro...
Nov 15, 2019•34 min•Ep. 298
It was another breakneck week in Alberta provincial politics, and Premier Jason Kenney hit some turbulence on Thursday when the opposition revealed Albertans had paid more than $16,000 to fly him, three other "like-minded premiers," and some of their wives and staff on a charter plane from a Calgary meeting to the Council of the Federation gathering in Saskatoon last July. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as t...
Nov 09, 2019•43 min•Ep. 297
It's been a trying week for Alberta's public sector unions. The United Conservative Party government wants to make changes to their pension plans, amend the law to allow replacement workers, and cut 7.7 per cent of the public service by 2023. Then on Tuesday, Finance Minister Travis said public sector employers like Alberta Health Services and the government would be seeking wage cuts of two-to-five per cent when heading into arbitration hearings. Join reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave...
Nov 01, 2019•44 min•Ep. 296
There was practically no news in Alberta this week: A little federal election here, a long-awaited provincial budget there. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, reporter Moira Wyton, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they catch their breath from a week of sprinting between political news events. They'll talk about what Edmonton and Alberta voters chose in Monday's federal election, touch on highlights of the United Conservative Party government's first provincial bud...
Oct 25, 2019•38 min•Ep. 295
A packed week in Alberta politics culminated with a huge climate protest at the Alberta legislature as international figure and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg came to speak about the science of climate change. Join reporters Anna Junker and Jason Herring, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they discuss the politics behind the climate protest, the latest local twist in the federal election campaign. They also look at a difficult day at the legislature when grievin...
Oct 20, 2019•38 min•Ep. 294
The Alberta legislature grounds had a back-to-school feel this week as MLAs returned to the capital for the fall sitting of the government’s first session. As colourful leaves fluttered down, so did a few new pieces of legislation, with House Leader Jason Nixon pledging to introduce between 14 and 17 bills during the next nine weeks. Join reporter Moira Wyton, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, National Post reporter Tyler Dawson and host Janet French as they break down some political highlights...
Oct 11, 2019•37 min•Ep. 293
With Alberta's budget now confirmed for Oct. 24, the government this week floated a couple of snippets at the AUMA convention about what we might see in the UCP's first set of complete fiscal plans. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and guests Moira Wyton, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about what else happened at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association convention in Edmonton. The team also takes you to what might be the oddest political press conference of 2019 thus far, and ...
Sep 28, 2019•37 min•Ep. 292
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney recently visited New York hoping to sell Alberta to investors. Join Dave Breakenridge, Janet French and Keith Gerein as they talk about Kenney's American travels. The team also talks about rural policing, and news that a lawsuit over gay-straight alliances has been dropped. Regular host Emma Graney was busy chasing elephants this week, but will hopefully return soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2019•35 min
This week, Alberta premier Jason Kenney got into a war of words with Amnesty International. Kenney's colourful letter made full use of his thesaurus. Our regular host Emma Graney is away this week. Join Dave Breakenridge, Janet French, Clare Clancy in Edmonton and Chris Varcoe in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2019•31 min
The big news out of Alberta politics this week was, of course, the MacKinnon panel report, which is slated to guide the UCP's spending over the party's four-year mandate as government. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and the Calgary Herald's Chris Varcoe to unpack the 26 recommendations, what it means for Alberta, provincial policy and the path to balance. The team also takes a look at transparency, possible legislation out of the report and the po...
Sep 06, 2019•38 min•Ep. 289
Two flimsy, stapled pages formed the entirety of the province's first-quarter fiscal update this week, leading Alberta politics watchers to wonder — where's the rest? Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein and Clare Clancy to dive into what that was such an odd turn of events, and what it means for Alberta. The team also tackles two new auditor reports released this week, and drags education reporter Janet French into the studio to talk seclusion rooms and school funding ch...
Aug 30, 2019•36 min•Ep. 288
Alberta's agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs for short) have undergone an overhaul by the UCP government, with 61 new appointments all at once. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney (who apologizes for her singing) and guests Clare Clancy and Keith Gerein to talk about what the thwack of changes means for Alberta politics. The team also takes a look at developments on the education file around the curriculum, and a potential change to property tax laws for cannabis producers. Good stuffy from ...
Aug 23, 2019•39 min•Ep. 287
Minimum wage gets a panel! Alberta's finances get a panel! You ALLLLLL get a panel! Such was the case in Alberta politics this week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about panels galore, and take a brief look at what legislation is ahead for the UCP government. Good stuff from the gallery Clare's pick: Clare wants you to listen to the Reply All podcast. Specifcially, this awesome episode called The Crime Machine. Emma's pick: Emma recomme...
Aug 16, 2019•27 min•Ep. 286
Sure, it was a four-day week in the middle of summer, but that didn't stop MLAs from giving themselves a five per cent pay cut and Premier Jason Kenney from celebrating his first 100 days in office. Join host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk all things Alberta politics, and find out why former U.S. president Roosevelt ended up in the discussion this week. We also have a very special interview with departing editor Sarah O'Donnell (*Emma starts crying*), without ...
Aug 09, 2019•41 min•Ep. 285
It might be summer, but that doesn't mean Alberta politics is taking time off. Instead, it headed to court this week where Justice Eric Macklin granted an injunction against Bill 9, the UCP government's controversial labour law. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Sarah O'Donnell to dive into why, and what that means for unions waiting in the wings. The team also takes on recent developments in the Chicago Principles kerfuffle and an appointment to the war room. Good...
Aug 02, 2019•37 min•Ep. 284
The new UCP government this week reversed an NDP decision around Alberta's electricity market, announcing the province will stick with an energy-only market. Confused as to what that means? You're not alone. It's outrageously complex. Join host Emma Graney who tries to explain it all with the help of guests Sarah O'Donnell and Clare Clancy. The team also takes a look at Alberta's sunshine list and the latest in party fundraising totals. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Clare recommends ...
Jul 26, 2019•37 min•Ep. 283
Investigations into the 2017 UCP leadership race continued to make headlines in Alberta politics this week, with the elections commissioner slapping one-time candidate Jeff Callaway with $70,000 in fines for his campaign. The Journal also revealed two more UCP MLAs interviewed by police in the RCMP investigation into alleged voting irregularities in the 2017 race. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Sarah O'Donnell to talk about those developments. The ...
Jul 19, 2019•36 min•Ep. 282
Yahoo, another set of politicians played dress up at Calgary Stampede this week ahead of the premiers meeting in Saskatoon. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to discuss everything pancake-related, and what Premier Jason Kenney brought to the table when premiers hung out in Calgary and later in Saskatchewan. The team also takes a look at the latest in pre-election stumping by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and People's Party of Canada leader Maxime ...
Jul 12, 2019•34 min
Hating on oil? Premier Jason Kenney will not be putting up with that, thank you very much, announcing this week his government will conduct an inquiry into alleged foreign-funded attacks on Alberta's energy industry. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to delve into why that inquiry is happening and what it means for Alberta. The team also takes a look at Alberta's longest-ever sitting day via NDP concerns with education Bill 8 (or "Bi...
Jul 05, 2019•37 min
Premier Jason Kenney wants Albertans to elect their senators again, no matter what the federal government thinks. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keioth Gerein and Dave Breakridge to chat about what that means and why it's a whole... thing. The team also takes on the Western Premiers' meeting and changes to the oil industry this week. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This awesome episode of the excellent podcast Reply All, called Dark Pattern, about the inv...
Jun 28, 2019•34 min•Ep. 279
In the fourth and final chapter of our special series on the Alberta election, Emma explains how Jason Kenney was able to win so convincingly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2019•22 min
The federal government approved the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (again) this week, but Premier Jason Kenney was not jumping for joy. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and guests Keith Gerein, Janet French and Dave Breakenridge to talk about why. The team also takes a look at this week's passage of Bill 9 and why the government didn't want to hear about it (very literally), and a new immigration office announced by the UCP. Good Stuff from the Gallery Keith's pick: Keith's digging on anot...
Jun 21, 2019•37 min•Ep. 278
Money, money, money was on the mind of the Alberta legislature this week as the United Conservative government introduced its interim supply bill. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk numbers and go over exactly why unions are unimpressed with the government this week. The team also takes a look at a couple of backbencher bills and the committee that oversees them. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This project from the LA Times calle...
Jun 14, 2019•37 min
The Alberta legislature broke a record for the longest Wednesday sitting in provincial history this week, and Press Gallery host Emma Graney was there watching... for some of it, anyway. Join Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Sarah O'Donnell to discuss why on earth Alberta MLAs were in the house for a full 24 hours. The team also dives into changes around the Education Act and what the report on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls means for Alberta. Good Stuff from the...
Jun 07, 2019•38 min•Ep. 276
Jason Kenney was elected premier of Alberta on April 16 after a bitterly fought campaign. But the journey started nearly three years ago. This special series from the Press Gallery, the Edmonton Journal’s long-running politics podcast, will give listeners a deep dive into Alberta’s 2019 election. Chapter 3 focuses on the NDP campaign and whether or not the election was lost before the writ was even dropped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 06, 2019•19 min
As the wildfire situation in Northern Alberta worsens, the United Conservative Party is fighting political fires of its own. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to take a dive into the appointment of a special prosecutor in the RCMP investigation into the UCP leadership race, and the new elections commissioner investigation facing UCP MLA Peter Singh. The team also looks at the fires Health Minister Tyler Shandro tried to put out this ...
May 31, 2019•39 min•Ep. 275
