The Press Gallery podcast is back after a month hiatus, jumping right back into Alberta politics analysis with an NDP private member's bill to ban conversion therapy in the province. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about that bill, due in the fall, as well as the Grande Prairie hospital debacle which has seen a contract cancelled and an almost-complete project put on ice. Finally, the team takes a look at Alberta's long-awaited post-seco...
Sep 14, 2018•35 min
As the sun sets on another Alberta summer, the Press Gallery panel looks back on a highly eventful week that could foreshadow some endings for both politicians and projects. The fate of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is now certainly in doubt following a stunning Federal Court of Appeal decision that quashes the project's approval. That, in turn, could spell goodbye to Premier Rachel Notley's NDP government, which is already facing a difficult road to re-election in 2019 and...
Sep 01, 2018•31 min
You thought the Press Gallery team had finished talking about pipelines? HA! Nope. This week we kick off our Alberta politics podcast with news about the special Indigenous blessing of a site on Enoch Cree Nation that will store Trans Mountain pipe. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about what that means for the project, the government and the 2019 election. The team also dives into the one-year anniversary of the United Conservative Party an...
Jul 27, 2018•33 min
You can take his United Conservative caucus seat, but you'll never take Derek Fildebrandt's Freedom (Conservative Party). Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney for another week of Alberta politics analysis, including Fildebrandt's new project, the Freedom Conservative Party, and the political fallout of a provincial curriculum rewrite. Guests Janet French, Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons also touch on the federal cabinet shuffle that landed Edmonton MP Amarjeet Sohi with the contenti...
Jul 20, 2018•40 min
Alberta was lucky enough to have two byelections this week — there's nothing voters like more in the height of summer, after all — and both were won by United Conservative Party candidates. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Clare Clancy to talk about the UCP victories in Fort McMurray-Conklin and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and what it means for Alberta politics. The team also touches on a UCP investigation into ballot box stuffing and Premier Rachel Not...
Jul 13, 2018•36 min
After a long career in both municipal and provincial politics, NDP Transportation Minister Brian Mason announced this week that he is retiring and won't run for re-election in 2019. The panel discusses the legacy of Mason's career — from transit driver to city councillor to opposition leader to cabinet minister — and also considers the hole he will leave for Rachel Notley's party as it tries to stay in office. The panel also discusses the province's decision this week to release 14 years of clas...
Jul 06, 2018•27 min
Summer may have started but there was no relaxation in the flood of news coming out of the legislature this week. As such, we have a jam-packed edition of The Press Gallery, as the panel discusses the NDP government’s new plan to fix the child intervention system, a long awaited report on how to address racism in Alberta, and the province’s latest fiscal deficit ($8 billion! And that’s a lot better than it could’ve been.) We also delve into the politics around new safety rules for Alberta farmer...
Jun 30, 2018•37 min
A tiny cabinet shuffle and a deep dive into class sizes by our very own Janet French are the focus of this week's Alberta politics Press Gallery podcast. Join host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to delve into the political fallout of all of that, as well as the NDP's new attack ad and a new Indigenous training course for government workers. Good Stuff from the Gallery Graham's pick: This phenomenal political ad by MJ Hegar, called Why am I run...
Jun 22, 2018•40 min
A trade panel ruling about beer, a possible beer battle brewing, and changes to liquor laws thanks to the FIFA World Cup — this week in Alberta politics it was all about beer. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the implications of all that happened on the booze file. The team also takes a look at who's running in the byelections called this week for Fort McMurray-Conklin and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and the ever-growing trade...
Jun 15, 2018•33 min
The spring session of the Alberta legislature wrapped Thursday, so the Press Gallery team couldn't resist taking a look back at the bills, the highlights, the lowlights and what it all means for provincial politics. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to reflect on 2018 spring session memories. The team also talks about Pride Week, related political developments and a touching speech by Alberta Party MLA Rick Fraser. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's...
Jun 08, 2018•38 min
With the federal government buying up the Kinder Morgan pipeline this week, we just couldn't help but use a Kinder Surprise pun in this week's episode. We're only human. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to discuss that giant development on the pipeline file this week. The team also takes a look at the deal the province signed with doctors this week and the long-awaited apology offered by Premier Rachel Notley to Sixties Scoop survivors...
Jun 01, 2018•39 min
Alberta was the party pooper at the Western Premiers' Conference in Yellowknife this week, and it's all thanks to pipelines. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge and Paula Simons to talk about why Premier Rachel Notley dissed the conference and sent her deputy instead, and why Alberta refused to sign onto the meeting's communique to Ottawa. The team also takes a look at why British Columbia is suing Alberta, and a recent NDP government hire that has the opposition se...
May 25, 2018•34 min
Jason Kenney said he wanted to "raise the bar" of political decorum, but apparently that means insulting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — if the opposition leader's comments this week are anything to go by. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about those remarks and this week's head-scratching Alberta visit by the PM. And of course, it wouldn't be Alberta politics if there wasn't something that happened around the Trans Mounta...
May 18, 2018•34 min
The founding United Conservative Party convention drew thousands of partisans to Red Deer last weekend and dominated talk in the Alberta legislature for the rest of the week. Join Press Gallery host and provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Sarah O'Donnell to chat about the resolutions, the vibe and what it all means politically. The team also talks us through the most recent changes being proposed to Alberta's election finance laws. Good Stuff from t...
May 11, 2018•36 min
Join the Press Gallery podcast team to talk about an unusual event in Alberta politics this week, when United Conservative Party MLAs walked out of two votes on a bill that will create protest-free bubble zones around abortion clinics. It wasn't exactly unexpected, but it was quite the sight. Host Emma Graney takes a look at the political implications of that walk out (and sings Jason Aldean's Walking Away very badly) along with podcast guests Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and Graham Thomson. ...
May 04, 2018•32 min
The University of Alberta's decision to award scientist David Suzuki an honorary doctorate caused quite the kerfuffle this week in Alberta politics. For once, Premier Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Jason Kenney were on the same page — neither of them support the appointment. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Dave Breakenridge and Keith Gerein to talk about the honorary degree debate and the political undertones of the whole brouhaha. The team also takes on the latest de...
Apr 27, 2018•32 min
Another week in Alberta politics, and yet more developments in the Trans Mountain pipeline skirmish with British Columbia. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the new oil control legislation introduced in the house Monday, a meeting with the Prime Minister, and the latest comments from Kinder Morgan. OH! And a poll. About pipelines. Because it's all pipelines, all the time. The team also has a chat about a handful of Alberta...
Apr 20, 2018•37 min
This week we discuss the ongoing Trans Mountain pipeline saga, and how Jason Kenney and the rest the United Conservative Party won't be voting on on Bill 9 which would create buffer zones around abortion clinics. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons as they discuss the future of the federation, as Alberta and British Columbia continue fight over bringing bitumen to tidewater. Good stuff from the Gallery Paula's pick: CBC Ideas episode The ...
Apr 13, 2018•31 min
This week was all about bills in Alberta politics, from a bill outlawing demonstrations outside abortion clinics to the real cash money bills partisans threw at their parties in 2017. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons to talk legislative bills and dollar bills, as well as a quick update on Premier Rachel Notley's latest travel plans. Good stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Clancy has yet another outstanding podcast to recommend this w...
Apr 06, 2018•33 min
The legislature is on a constituency break this week, but that hasn't stopped the political news out of Alberta. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the latest recommendations from Alberta's child intervention panel, which were quietly slipped online by government this week. The team also takes a look at United Conservative Party plans to target Edmonton in the 2019 election and Premier Rachel Notley's tour around Alberta to...
Mar 29, 2018•32 min
If you paid attention to Alberta politics at all this week, you'll be well aware about the biggest development — Budget 2018. Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Keith Gerein to talk numbers and debts and deficits and a disappointing lack of surprises. The team also takes a look at the caribou range plan put on hold this week, and some, uh, interesting comments made by Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt. Good stuff from the Gallery Clare...
Mar 23, 2018•36 min
It was an unusually harmonious first week of session in the Alberta Legislature as parties of all stripes came together to pass a unanimous motion in support of the Trans Mountain pipeline. But it wasn't all kumbaya moments with topics like the carbon tax and climate change front and centre. Join The Press Gallery as Sarah O'Donnell, Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson dig into the first rounds of Premier Rachel Notley and UCP leader Jason Kenney squaring off in question period. Janet ...
Mar 17, 2018•35 min
Alberta legislature throne speeches aren't exactly known for being packed with news, but that certainly wasn't the case with the one that kicked off spring session Thursday. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to delve into the throne speech, and the promise from the government that it will invoke Lougheed-era oil throttling if British Columbia keeps blocking the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The team also takes a look at the resigna...
Mar 09, 2018•30 min
It was a bit like ye olde times in Alberta politics this week. First off, there was a third-quarter fiscal update more reminiscent of pre-recession Alberta than anything we've seen in years. Then former Edmonton mayor and former Progressive Conservative health minister Stephen Mandel won leadership of the Alberta Party. Finally, United Conservative Party MLA Grant Hunter had his own blast from the past when he talked about the 2004 Asia tsunami — and related it to the NDP win, to the ire of many...
Mar 02, 2018•37 min
Another week, another battle in the pipeline war — but the whole thing seems to be simmering down after a tiny little backtrack by B.C. on Thursday. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with hosts Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the latest developments and what they mean for Alberta and the NDP government. The team also wades into the Auditor General's report around the failure of Alberta's billion-dollar class size initiative. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick ...
Feb 23, 2018•30 min
That's right, British Columbia — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has had enough of your nonsense about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. It's payback time. Join host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Janet French and Dave Breakridge to talk about Notley's plans and the work ahead of Alberta's market access task force, which met for the first time this week. The team also takes a look at changes to school board superintendent salaries, and money Alberta Party leadership hopeful Stephen Man...
Feb 17, 2018•38 min
With the pipeline spat between Alberta and British Columbia ramping up to a wine boycott this week, join the Press Gallery podcast team to talk about what that means for Canada's two western provinces. Host Emma Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson also weigh in on MLA Derek Fildebrandt's definite non-return to the United Conservative caucus, and the resignation of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Don MacIntyre. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This multimedia projec...
Feb 10, 2018•35 min
Much as this week's politics news centred around pipelines, so too does this week's episode of The Press Gallery podcast. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Graham Thomson to talk British Columbia, pipelines, Rachel Notley's response and a visit to Edmonton by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This piece on Splinter called How Not To Die In America, about the state of health care. Janet's pick: This column about racism by Denis...
Feb 02, 2018•33 min
The title of this week's Press Gallery has nothing to do with the content, but it falls on Jan. 26, Australia's national holiday, and host Emma Graney couldn't resist a very small nod to her other home. Politically, the team takes on Kent Hehr's resignation after an Edmonton women made allegations of sexual harassment during his time in the Alberta legislature, the most recent recommendations from the ministerial panel on child welfare, and the controversy around a pro-life group promoting a Uni...
Jan 26, 2018•36 min
This week in Alberta politics was, in large part, about cold hard cash. Join the Press Gallery team to talk the latest party fundraising figures and the $1.3-million budget for the new election commissioner. Host Emma Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Dave Breakenridge also explore the United Conservative Party's draft policy platform, including more real cash money for private schools and a flat tax. The team also takes a brief look at the government's plan to review Alberta's pe...
Jan 20, 2018•37 min
