Aaron Wherry
@aaronwherry.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, author.
Ajuinata.
Ajuinata.
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Aaron Wherry
@aaronwherry.bsky.social
· Nov 18
A few thoughts on political journalism
"You need a lot of context to seriously consider anything"
aaronwherry.substack.com
A few thoughts on political journalism.
aaronwherry.substack.com/p/a-few-thou...
aaronwherry.substack.com/p/a-few-thou...
All of which is to say, if Alberta is looking for a way to deal with misconduct by members, it probably already has one?
November 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
All of which is to say, if Alberta is looking for a way to deal with misconduct by members, it probably already has one?
The House of Commons came close to using that power in 2014, but, as it stands, the last MP to be tossed was Fred Rose in 1947.
macleans.ca/politics/wha...
macleans.ca/politics/wha...
House moves toward suspending Dean Del Mastro - Macleans.ca
Less than a week after he received a guilty verdict, Dean Del Mastro faces suspension from the House of Commons
macleans.ca
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The House of Commons came close to using that power in 2014, but, as it stands, the last MP to be tossed was Fred Rose in 1947.
macleans.ca/politics/wha...
macleans.ca/politics/wha...
I'll put it in my calendar.
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I'll put it in my calendar.
I can't claim to be an expert in the particular rules and laws of the Alberta legislature, but generally speaking (to my limited understanding), parliamentary legislatures have the power to police their own members, up to and including expelling a member and declaring a seat vacant.
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I can't claim to be an expert in the particular rules and laws of the Alberta legislature, but generally speaking (to my limited understanding), parliamentary legislatures have the power to police their own members, up to and including expelling a member and declaring a seat vacant.
The idea that voter-initiated recalls should be reserved for "misconduct" is probably worth parsing though — because the Alberta legislature itself presumably already has the power to police such things?
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The idea that voter-initiated recalls should be reserved for "misconduct" is probably worth parsing though — because the Alberta legislature itself presumably already has the power to police such things?
I wonder if this will end up killing, once and for all, the idea of recall legislation.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
6 more UCP legislature members facing recall petitions, including 5 from Calgary area | CBC News
While reasoning varies, many of the newly approved petitioners said they were upset the UCP government used the Charter's notwithstanding clause last month to end a provincewide teachers strike. Anoth...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I wonder if this will end up killing, once and for all, the idea of recall legislation.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The temporary signs (that were meant to replace the cameras) are too big to be installed, but also they can't be installed until the spring anyway.
Other measures still pending.
Other measures still pending.
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The temporary signs (that were meant to replace the cameras) are too big to be installed, but also they can't be installed until the spring anyway.
Other measures still pending.
Other measures still pending.
See, I read his comments as saying that Trudeau had asked for a plan and didn't get one.
But I guess I can see the logic of maintaining a flexible idea.
But I guess I can see the logic of maintaining a flexible idea.
November 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
See, I read his comments as saying that Trudeau had asked for a plan and didn't get one.
But I guess I can see the logic of maintaining a flexible idea.
But I guess I can see the logic of maintaining a flexible idea.
I assume what people want to say is that a given political act was "performative" or "hollow" or "shallow."
But if so, just say that.
But if so, just say that.
November 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I assume what people want to say is that a given political act was "performative" or "hollow" or "shallow."
But if so, just say that.
But if so, just say that.
On an unrelated point, I struggle with the phrase "virtue signalling."
Is it bad to signal virtues? Don't all political leaders do that (even if they disagree about which virtues to signal)?
Is it bad to signal virtues? Don't all political leaders do that (even if they disagree about which virtues to signal)?
November 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
On an unrelated point, I struggle with the phrase "virtue signalling."
Is it bad to signal virtues? Don't all political leaders do that (even if they disagree about which virtues to signal)?
Is it bad to signal virtues? Don't all political leaders do that (even if they disagree about which virtues to signal)?
I don't know enough about the policy-making process here to judge, but Marc Miller's comments are interesting.
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
November 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I don't know enough about the policy-making process here to judge, but Marc Miller's comments are interesting.
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Hey Ottawa folks: I gave some kids' books to Twice Upon a Time and they said they've receved fewer donations than usual for this time of year. So if you have any kids' books in good condition, or time or money to spare, here's the info:
Donate - Twice Upon a Time
twiceuponatime.ca
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Hey Ottawa folks: I gave some kids' books to Twice Upon a Time and they said they've receved fewer donations than usual for this time of year. So if you have any kids' books in good condition, or time or money to spare, here's the info:
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Nearly one-fifth of United Conservative MLAs are now subject to recall drives. Including the speaker and six cabinet ministers.
And then there were 9.
6 new recall petitions have been approved against UCP MLAs, with the information now posted to the Elections Alberta website
Joining the mix are MLAs Myles McDougall, Ric McIver, Muhammad Yaseen, Rajan Sawhney, RJ Sigurdson +
Dale Nally.
www.elections.ab.ca/recall-initi...
6 new recall petitions have been approved against UCP MLAs, with the information now posted to the Elections Alberta website
Joining the mix are MLAs Myles McDougall, Ric McIver, Muhammad Yaseen, Rajan Sawhney, RJ Sigurdson +
Dale Nally.
www.elections.ab.ca/recall-initi...
Current Recall Petitions - Elections Alberta
Recall is a process to remove a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from office between elections by collecting sufficient signatures in the Member’s electoral division. The following recall peti...
www.elections.ab.ca
November 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Nearly one-fifth of United Conservative MLAs are now subject to recall drives. Including the speaker and six cabinet ministers.
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
The Liberals outspent the Conservatives on online and radio ads in the last election, but the Conservatives spent more on the TV. I break down the numbers here: www.thewrit.ca/p/weekly-wri...
Weekly Writ 11/20: How the Liberals spent their election money
A look at 2025 election expenses. Plus, is this Parliament built to last at all?
www.thewrit.ca
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Liberals outspent the Conservatives on online and radio ads in the last election, but the Conservatives spent more on the TV. I break down the numbers here: www.thewrit.ca/p/weekly-wri...
A quote from former Alberta premier Ralph Klein I hadn't come across before (in a column @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social wrote in 2024).
albertaviews.ca/stripping-aw...
albertaviews.ca/stripping-aw...
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A quote from former Alberta premier Ralph Klein I hadn't come across before (in a column @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social wrote in 2024).
albertaviews.ca/stripping-aw...
albertaviews.ca/stripping-aw...
If we had the UK's ratio of people to MPs, we would have 392 MPs.
And it might be noted that the UK Parliament is generally credit with having much less party discipline and far more independent MPs than our own.
And it might be noted that the UK Parliament is generally credit with having much less party discipline and far more independent MPs than our own.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
If we had the UK's ratio of people to MPs, we would have 392 MPs.
And it might be noted that the UK Parliament is generally credit with having much less party discipline and far more independent MPs than our own.
And it might be noted that the UK Parliament is generally credit with having much less party discipline and far more independent MPs than our own.
Some quick math, using Wikipedia for population counts.
UK pop: 69,281,437
UK MPs 650
Ratio: 106,587
Australia pop. 27,400,013
Aus MPs 150
Ratio: 182,667
France pop. 68,606,000
French MPs 577
Ratio: 118,901
UK pop: 69,281,437
UK MPs 650
Ratio: 106,587
Australia pop. 27,400,013
Aus MPs 150
Ratio: 182,667
France pop. 68,606,000
French MPs 577
Ratio: 118,901
November 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Some quick math, using Wikipedia for population counts.
UK pop: 69,281,437
UK MPs 650
Ratio: 106,587
Australia pop. 27,400,013
Aus MPs 150
Ratio: 182,667
France pop. 68,606,000
French MPs 577
Ratio: 118,901
UK pop: 69,281,437
UK MPs 650
Ratio: 106,587
Australia pop. 27,400,013
Aus MPs 150
Ratio: 182,667
France pop. 68,606,000
French MPs 577
Ratio: 118,901
It's funny to me that this piece mentions the ratio for Canada and the US, but then doesn't mention it for the UK, France and Australia.
thehub.ca/2025/11/20/o...
thehub.ca/2025/11/20/o...
November 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
It's funny to me that this piece mentions the ratio for Canada and the US, but then doesn't mention it for the UK, France and Australia.
thehub.ca/2025/11/20/o...
thehub.ca/2025/11/20/o...
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
New from me. On this week's oddly dramatic vote and the reality of minority parliaments.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
ANALYSIS | Nobody wants an election. MPs almost voted to have one anyway | CBC News
Taken together, this week's events might simply underline that MPs — and Canada's political culture writ large — are still figuring out this whole minority Parliament thing.
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM
New from me. On this week's oddly dramatic vote and the reality of minority parliaments.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
New from me. On this week's oddly dramatic vote and the reality of minority parliaments.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
ANALYSIS | Nobody wants an election. MPs almost voted to have one anyway | CBC News
Taken together, this week's events might simply underline that MPs — and Canada's political culture writ large — are still figuring out this whole minority Parliament thing.
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM
New from me. On this week's oddly dramatic vote and the reality of minority parliaments.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
BC is not just ceding its leadership on EVs, but arguing against provincial leadership. Passing the buck on incentives (up to the feds) and wrt regulations "there should be one clear, harmonized sales target for the country to provide clarity..."
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/18/n...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/18/n...
BC redrawing EV sales mandate, scraps adoption goal and leaves rebates to Feds
Adrian Dix told reporters on Tuesday that the 100-per-cent mandate in 2035 and a 90-per-cent goal for 2030 were no longer "realistic," and the NDP government would introduce legislation next year to r...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
BC is not just ceding its leadership on EVs, but arguing against provincial leadership. Passing the buck on incentives (up to the feds) and wrt regulations "there should be one clear, harmonized sales target for the country to provide clarity..."
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/18/n...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/18/n...