Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 1d

Join us & Dr. Paul Parks on our Alberta tour to talk public health care issues & solutions!

➕ Lethbridge: TODAY
➕ Medicine Hat: Tuesday, Nov. 4

& many more coming soon! Find an event near you & RSVP: www.friendsofmedicare.org/UrgentConver...

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Edmonds Scanner @edmondsscanner.bsky.social · 1d

We’re sorry, but The Void is full of screams today, so please try these alternatives:
- headbutt the sea
- have a dance battle with squirrels
- write a bad Yelp review of the moon
- mutter obscenities into your soup bowl

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

David Moscrop @davidmoscrop.com · 2d

The budget is coming up next week, and it's amidst all the nation-building talk, it's great time to ask what kind of country we want to be.

My vote is one that invests heavily in social supports and worker control of the economy.

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: With their long-awaited budget, Liberals must answer the question: What do we want Canada to be about?

Mark Carney ought to put an expansion of the welfare state at the centre of his nation-building strategy

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 2d

I'll have to look out for that, thank you. I was looking forward to hearing him speak at a conference here in Canada, but unfortunately he had to cancel. It must be a great burden to see history repeating and have your warnings unheeded.

Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 5d

*please just don’t remember we’re the ones who shut this down a few years back… oopsie!

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 5d

Is there a way to specifically order a far left copy?

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 5d

Where?! I need to send a guy with a trombone.

A hand holding up a bumper sticker in front of the rear end of a Toyota, which is already covered in bumper stickers.

It reads: Keep honking! I'm listening to ska and you're in the band now

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Lisa @lisab0923.bsky.social · 5d

Stand up. Fight back. Get loud.

#alberta #union #ucp

youtu.be/z0sfd-DGgvg?...

Stand up. Fight back. Get loud. #alberta #unions #notwithstanding #firetheucp

YouTube video by Lisab0923

youtu.be

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 6d

“Alberta’s use of the notwithstanding clause continues an alarming trend of provincial governments putting political expediency ahead of people’s human rights.”

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli #abed

amnesty.ca/press-releas...

Amnesty International Canada condemns Alberta government’s use of notwithstanding clause in Bill 2

Alberta's use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 2 means that courts won’t be able to strike down the law even if it violates the Charter.

amnesty.ca

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 6d

In 2021, waiting in the queue to access Covid-19 vaccinations felt like agency.

In 2025, waiting in the queue to possibly, perhaps get an opportunity to pre-book a vaccine for $100 feels like powerlessness.

Challenging the claims of the new AB vax policy:

www.parklandinstitute.ca/sabotaging_p...

Sabotaging Prevention: Alberta’s ‘Preventative Health’ Ministry Is Anything But

The Alberta government has justified its new protocols for distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by claiming they will minimize wastage, save money, and prioritize the most vulnerable. In this blog, Parkl...

www.parklandinstitute.ca

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 6d

The paperback edition of #OnFreedom is out today. It preserves a positive argument about how to build a better country and has been updated to account for what has happened in 2025.
timothysnyder.org/on-freedom

Image of book cover. Blank cover with the text: "On Freedom. Timothy Snyder."

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 6d

Reminder to Albertans today, as our teachers are forced back into challenging working conditions to attempt to teach a garbage curriculum:

Danielle Smith was the guest speaker at a PraegerU event mere months ago.

www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Heather Campbell @thatheatherc.bsky.social · 6d

See the cruelty of Premier Danielle Smith & her government. The egregious destruction of Charter rights is appalling. The government spent one year's worth of potential teachers' compensation by paying out coal developers for Alberta government policy changes & errors.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Striking Alberta teachers forced back to work by fast-tracked legislation, notwithstanding clause | CBC News

Bill 2 passed early Tuesday morning after a long night for lawmakers in the provincial legislature. Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced the legislation the day before.

www.cbc.ca

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 6d

So honoured to have been able to contribute alongside some of the best policy researchers in the country - including the legendary Pat Armstrong.

In these turbulent times, it is vital to remember that budgets are political choices. Better is possible - if we fight.

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 6d

AFB 2026 is live! Major public cuts are avoidable. Canadians need supports and services based on equality and solidarity. The CCPA’s Alternative Federal Budget offers just that: Building a True Canadian Sovereignty. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 6d

Former MLA Jon Carson stayed up to bear witness as Smith's UCP steamrollered our Charter Rights - and our public education system.

FB post from former MLA Jon Carson, October 27, 2025:

Thought I'd come witness the UCP dismantling democracy while Albertans sleep.

Update:

It's so ridiculous that it's hard to believe it's even true, but the UCP MLA's were using a meat smoker on their balcony while they were in the legislature trampling on the rights of teachers and all Albertans.

Separate from that, a group of us chanted "shame on you" from outside the legislature loud enough that members in the chamber could hear us while the final vote was being counted. Security drove up within about 10 seconds and told us to stop yelling. 😒

Unfortunately, while Albertans were sleeping, this government rammed through what they themselves know is an unconstitutional piece of legislation that forces teachers back to work with a contract they never agreed on and strips them (and all Albertans) of so many fundamental rights.

The UCP used their majority to put one-hour limits on each stage of the debate, voting and passing the legislation through all three stages in six and a half hours, finishing at 2 AM. Unprecedented and certainly undemocratic.

FB post from former MLA Jon Carson, October 27, 2025:

Nothing has been fixed in our classrooms. The conditions that teachers have been raising alarms about are no closer to being fixed, and the government, through these actions, is showing that it has no intention of trying to make things better at all.

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 7d

Worth re-upping this 2010 Alberta Views story by Maurice Tougas that focuses on Danielle Smith's rocky tenure on the Calgary school board. albertaviews.ca/deconstructi...

Deconstructing Danielle - Alberta Views

The new Wildrose Alliance leader is remembered with mixed feelings by former bosses and colleagues.

albertaviews.ca

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 8d

Looking ahead to next week and the prospect that the UCP will introduce back-to-work legislation to end the teachers' strike...

Rumour has it they are considering invoking both time allocation and the notwithstanding clause.

Here's why that's doubly dubious.+

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 8d

Separately, time allocation & the notwithstanding clause have their place in Canadian democracy.

Combined in the way the UCP is contemplating, they're toxic.

Just like the Sovereignty Act, their combination removes legislative & judicial brakes on the premier's power.

Anything but conservative.

Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 8d

Looking ahead to next week and the prospect that the UCP will introduce back-to-work legislation to end the teachers' strike...

Rumour has it they are considering invoking both time allocation and the notwithstanding clause.

Here's why that's doubly dubious.+

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 7d

"mistake"

a close up of a man 's face with the words oops written on it

Alt: a close up of a man 's face with the words oops written on it

media.tenor.com

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 7d

If this is the state of the actual bill, it will be the most draconian strike-breaking legislation in Canadian History.

Turning point, not just for Albertans, but for every Canadian worker.

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 7d

The legislation is supposed to embargoed until tabled, but if this is accurate…

Smith is invoking the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work.

Which is an admission that she is violating charter rights.

It is a dark day in Alberta.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 7d

Health policy experts say the UCP government's ill-informed and ill-timed policies have created a "perfect storm" for a crisis during this year's inevitable flu and Covid season.

'Pure Chaos': Warnings of an Alberta Health-Care Crisis via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 8d

From the DM’s…

As Danielle Smith and the UCP are focused on violating the charter and bringing in a provincial police force…

This is the state of healthcare in Alberta…

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 7d

When our Charter rights to collective bargaining are superseded by hubris and pettiness, how will we respond?

This is our tipping point, Albertans.

#Bill2 #abpoli

A post by CUPE Alberta president Raj Uppal, 27 October 2025:

Today is a defining moment in Alberta's history.

The UCP is pushing Bill 2 through without even showing Albertans what's in it. No transparency. No debate. No democracy.

This government is showing its true colours - serving the rich and powerful while silencing working people.

Join us at the Legislature this afternoon and stand up for your rights. Because if they use the Notwithstanding Clause, it will strip away your worker protections and your voice.

It's time to wake up, Alberta. Our rights are on the line.

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae

Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 8d

Massive restructuring chaos, overcapacity hospitals and low immunization rates with flu and Covid season approaching creates the "perfect storm" for a crisis in Alberta's healthcare system.

'Pure Chaos': Warnings of an Alberta Health-Care Crisis via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

‘Pure Chaos’: Warnings of an Alberta Health-Care Crisis | The Tyee

Experts say AHS data obtained by The Tyee further indicates the system faces being overwhelmed.

thetyee.ca

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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 8d

The list of qualifying underlying conditions also includes ADHD and ASD, for my fellow NDs.

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