Jared Wesley
@jaredwesley.ca
#UAlberta political scientist | Black Faculty Collective | Lead: Common Ground (@cgroundpolitics.bsky.social) | jaredwesley.ca | drjaredwesley.substack.com | co-author: partyloyalty.ca
Pinned
Jared Wesley
@jaredwesley.ca
· Nov 15
Jared Wesley
Political culture & public opinion.
Knowledge & practice.
Politics & policy.
jaredwesley.ca
New to my feed? Welcome! Here, you'll find commentary based on my research on (Western) Canadian politics. Learn more about my work at jaredwesley.ca.
A great morning read. substack.com/@dougfirby/n...
Privatization is no silver bullet to fix health care
Alberta's blind faith in a discredited ideology short-circuits creative solutions
substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A great morning read. substack.com/@dougfirby/n...
Reposted by Jared Wesley
2/8 The logic is seductive: let those who can pay exit the public queue, shortening it for everyone else.
But this fails the laws of physics.
👉 The number of doctor hours is finite. You aren't adding capacity; you're just reshuffling the line based on a wallet biopsy rather than medical need. 👈
But this fails the laws of physics.
👉 The number of doctor hours is finite. You aren't adding capacity; you're just reshuffling the line based on a wallet biopsy rather than medical need. 👈
November 29, 2025 at 9:18 PM
2/8 The logic is seductive: let those who can pay exit the public queue, shortening it for everyone else.
But this fails the laws of physics.
👉 The number of doctor hours is finite. You aren't adding capacity; you're just reshuffling the line based on a wallet biopsy rather than medical need. 👈
But this fails the laws of physics.
👉 The number of doctor hours is finite. You aren't adding capacity; you're just reshuffling the line based on a wallet biopsy rather than medical need. 👈
Seconds after I submitted my chapter for @duanebratt.bsky.social & @jlisayoung.bsky.social 's new book on the Smith govt, @carrietait.bsky.social et al. published their latest piece on the CorruptCare scandal.
Below is a table from my chapter with R. Mendoza. How many conditions do you spot?
Below is a table from my chapter with R. Mendoza. How many conditions do you spot?
November 30, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Seconds after I submitted my chapter for @duanebratt.bsky.social & @jlisayoung.bsky.social 's new book on the Smith govt, @carrietait.bsky.social et al. published their latest piece on the CorruptCare scandal.
Below is a table from my chapter with R. Mendoza. How many conditions do you spot?
Below is a table from my chapter with R. Mendoza. How many conditions do you spot?
Reposted by Jared Wesley
Reposted by Jared Wesley
Back in school, I wrote an essay about how two-tier healthcare would improve access for everyone.
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
Picard’s point on AB’s new “dual practice” plan: evidence shows letting surgeons bill public & private won’t fix wait times, it likely lengthens them, drains staff from public hospitals, adds red tape, and undermines access.
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
Allowing doctors to practise in both public and private systems solves what exactly?
What Alberta is proposing may sound good superficially, but it makes no sense in the Canadian context
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Back in school, I wrote an essay about how two-tier healthcare would improve access for everyone.
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
The parallels with the UCP AGM this weekend are notable.
We can hope!
"There is still plenty of risk for any Republican in defying Trump. But the farther he falls and the more erratic he becomes, the more that calculation shifts toward the place where it’s every Republican for themselves."
Latest in PN from @paulwaldman.bsky.social (and thank you!)
"There is still plenty of risk for any Republican in defying Trump. But the farther he falls and the more erratic he becomes, the more that calculation shifts toward the place where it’s every Republican for themselves."
Latest in PN from @paulwaldman.bsky.social (and thank you!)
Why MAGA is coming apart at the seams
Turns out they're not in it for Trump, they're in it for themselves.
www.publicnotice.co
November 29, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The parallels with the UCP AGM this weekend are notable.
A clear synopsis of the new Alberta-Ottawa MOU from a rare kind of guy who knows both the policy and the politics.
Read the latest from @maxfawcett.bsky.social.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
Read the latest from @maxfawcett.bsky.social.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
The method to Mark Carney’s madness
The memorandum of understanding with Alberta might look like surrender. Look closer
www.nationalobserver.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:43 AM
A clear synopsis of the new Alberta-Ottawa MOU from a rare kind of guy who knows both the policy and the politics.
Read the latest from @maxfawcett.bsky.social.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
Read the latest from @maxfawcett.bsky.social.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
Which event improved Liberal fortunes more in Alberta today: the fed/prov MOU or Guilbeault's resignation?
The former matters to industry.
The latter matters to voters.
The former matters to industry.
The latter matters to voters.
November 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Which event improved Liberal fortunes more in Alberta today: the fed/prov MOU or Guilbeault's resignation?
The former matters to industry.
The latter matters to voters.
The former matters to industry.
The latter matters to voters.
Reposted by Jared Wesley
Politicians leave cabinets and caucuses for a host of reasons.
According to our analysis, most do so on matters of conviction (policy and ideology) rather than ambition (votes or office).
Learn more in our new book: partyloyalty.ca.
According to our analysis, most do so on matters of conviction (policy and ideology) rather than ambition (votes or office).
Learn more in our new book: partyloyalty.ca.
One can agree or disagree with the reasons for his decision, but I hope everyone can see the value of politicians standing by their convictions in this way. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Steven Guilbeault resigns from Mark Carney’s cabinet
Before entering elected politics, Guilbeault was a famed environmentalist.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Politicians leave cabinets and caucuses for a host of reasons.
According to our analysis, most do so on matters of conviction (policy and ideology) rather than ambition (votes or office).
Learn more in our new book: partyloyalty.ca.
According to our analysis, most do so on matters of conviction (policy and ideology) rather than ambition (votes or office).
Learn more in our new book: partyloyalty.ca.
Note the UCP's meme 👇.
In this particular case, the government has broken commitments to preserve public healthcare.
More worrisome, they're keeping more promises than they made in their 2023 platform.
From @daveberta.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/davebert...
In this particular case, the government has broken commitments to preserve public healthcare.
More worrisome, they're keeping more promises than they made in their 2023 platform.
From @daveberta.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/davebert...
November 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Note the UCP's meme 👇.
In this particular case, the government has broken commitments to preserve public healthcare.
More worrisome, they're keeping more promises than they made in their 2023 platform.
From @daveberta.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/davebert...
In this particular case, the government has broken commitments to preserve public healthcare.
More worrisome, they're keeping more promises than they made in their 2023 platform.
From @daveberta.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/davebert...
👀
We caught the UCP red-handed.
We asked Public Safety & Emergency Services for any correspondence between Min. Ellis & the Edmonton Police Commission.
They told us - twice - there was none.
We asked the Commission & got 130 pages including 5 letters signed by Ellis. #abpoli
We asked Public Safety & Emergency Services for any correspondence between Min. Ellis & the Edmonton Police Commission.
They told us - twice - there was none.
We asked the Commission & got 130 pages including 5 letters signed by Ellis. #abpoli
November 25, 2025 at 2:59 AM
👀
Reposted by Jared Wesley
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Jared Wesley
A tiny minority of highly active users produce the majority of online political content, while most users consume content passively and remain largely silent.
Toxic comments are more likely to be expressed, even though most people disagree with them, creating false norms.
osf.io/preprints/so...
Toxic comments are more likely to be expressed, even though most people disagree with them, creating false norms.
osf.io/preprints/so...
November 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A tiny minority of highly active users produce the majority of online political content, while most users consume content passively and remain largely silent.
Toxic comments are more likely to be expressed, even though most people disagree with them, creating false norms.
osf.io/preprints/so...
Toxic comments are more likely to be expressed, even though most people disagree with them, creating false norms.
osf.io/preprints/so...
Reposted by Jared Wesley
Allowing physicians to bill patients directly legitimizes a private option for medical care. Combine that with the private surgical facilities and private diagnostic imaging that are now available and indeed encouraged by the Alberta government increases the incentive for physicians to ‘go private’.
November 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Allowing physicians to bill patients directly legitimizes a private option for medical care. Combine that with the private surgical facilities and private diagnostic imaging that are now available and indeed encouraged by the Alberta government increases the incentive for physicians to ‘go private’.
The trouble with the UCP's dual practice model?
Think about a double double.
If the line at Tim’s is long because there’s only one person pouring coffee, opening an “express lane” for people who tip $20 doesn’t speed things up. It means those with more money get the coffee while others wait.
Think about a double double.
If the line at Tim’s is long because there’s only one person pouring coffee, opening an “express lane” for people who tip $20 doesn’t speed things up. It means those with more money get the coffee while others wait.
Back in school, I wrote an essay about how two-tier healthcare would improve access for everyone.
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
Picard’s point on AB’s new “dual practice” plan: evidence shows letting surgeons bill public & private won’t fix wait times, it likely lengthens them, drains staff from public hospitals, adds red tape, and undermines access.
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
November 23, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The trouble with the UCP's dual practice model?
Think about a double double.
If the line at Tim’s is long because there’s only one person pouring coffee, opening an “express lane” for people who tip $20 doesn’t speed things up. It means those with more money get the coffee while others wait.
Think about a double double.
If the line at Tim’s is long because there’s only one person pouring coffee, opening an “express lane” for people who tip $20 doesn’t speed things up. It means those with more money get the coffee while others wait.
Back in school, I wrote an essay about how two-tier healthcare would improve access for everyone.
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
Picard’s point on AB’s new “dual practice” plan: evidence shows letting surgeons bill public & private won’t fix wait times, it likely lengthens them, drains staff from public hospitals, adds red tape, and undermines access.
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
Allowing doctors to practise in both public and private systems solves what exactly?
What Alberta is proposing may sound good superficially, but it makes no sense in the Canadian context
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Back in school, I wrote an essay about how two-tier healthcare would improve access for everyone.
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
It makes intuitive sense: create a second line and the original one gets shorter, right?
A better look at the evidence and arguments like Picard's changed my mind. 🧵
Picard’s point on AB’s new “dual practice” plan: evidence shows letting surgeons bill public & private won’t fix wait times, it likely lengthens them, drains staff from public hospitals, adds red tape, and undermines access.
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
Allowing doctors to practise in both public and private systems solves what exactly?
What Alberta is proposing may sound good superficially, but it makes no sense in the Canadian context
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Picard’s point on AB’s new “dual practice” plan: evidence shows letting surgeons bill public & private won’t fix wait times, it likely lengthens them, drains staff from public hospitals, adds red tape, and undermines access.
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
A solution in search of a problem. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/70a7e73...
Danielle Smith has already used the notwithstanding clause to remove workers', parents', and patients' rights to choose.
It's not hard to see where the road is leading. The UCP has given a roadmap, for those who need the help.
It's not hard to see where the road is leading. The UCP has given a roadmap, for those who need the help.
November 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Danielle Smith has already used the notwithstanding clause to remove workers', parents', and patients' rights to choose.
It's not hard to see where the road is leading. The UCP has given a roadmap, for those who need the help.
It's not hard to see where the road is leading. The UCP has given a roadmap, for those who need the help.
Reposted by Jared Wesley
The crux of Alberta's surgical facility scandal is that organizations were taking public money for private gain
Now, allowing physicians and partners to openly accept private money is a way of shielding everyone from this criticism
Hey, it's all above board now. Leave us alone
Now, allowing physicians and partners to openly accept private money is a way of shielding everyone from this criticism
Hey, it's all above board now. Leave us alone
November 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The crux of Alberta's surgical facility scandal is that organizations were taking public money for private gain
Now, allowing physicians and partners to openly accept private money is a way of shielding everyone from this criticism
Hey, it's all above board now. Leave us alone
Now, allowing physicians and partners to openly accept private money is a way of shielding everyone from this criticism
Hey, it's all above board now. Leave us alone
An important read for new/far right leaders in Alberta bent on using the state to control culture and society.
Theirs is not a conservative position.
It's the opposite.
thehub.ca/2025/11/21/s...
Theirs is not a conservative position.
It's the opposite.
thehub.ca/2025/11/21/s...
Six reasons why a state-imposed conservative culture is a terrible idea
thehub.ca
November 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
An important read for new/far right leaders in Alberta bent on using the state to control culture and society.
Theirs is not a conservative position.
It's the opposite.
thehub.ca/2025/11/21/s...
Theirs is not a conservative position.
It's the opposite.
thehub.ca/2025/11/21/s...
Reposted by Jared Wesley
How did D'Entremont's floor crossing compare to others in Canadian history? And what can we do to improve party democracy? Our @alexmarland.bsky.social sat down with David Cochrane on Power & Politics today.
youtu.be/WJqFpwGIy_k?...
youtu.be/WJqFpwGIy_k?...
Should floor-crossers sit as Independents first? | Power & Politics
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
How did D'Entremont's floor crossing compare to others in Canadian history? And what can we do to improve party democracy? Our @alexmarland.bsky.social sat down with David Cochrane on Power & Politics today.
youtu.be/WJqFpwGIy_k?...
youtu.be/WJqFpwGIy_k?...
I'm not a fan of recall, petitions, and referenda.
However, it is entirely predictable that these tools would be used against a government that refuses to consult on policy and a caucus that has put partisanship ahead of listening to constituents.
However, it is entirely predictable that these tools would be used against a government that refuses to consult on policy and a caucus that has put partisanship ahead of listening to constituents.
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I'm not a fan of recall, petitions, and referenda.
However, it is entirely predictable that these tools would be used against a government that refuses to consult on policy and a caucus that has put partisanship ahead of listening to constituents.
However, it is entirely predictable that these tools would be used against a government that refuses to consult on policy and a caucus that has put partisanship ahead of listening to constituents.
What if the UCP operated the way Smith wants regulatory bodies to treat their members?
In our new book (partyloyalty.ca), we discuss the control leaders like the premier have over their own MLAs.
It's considerably more than Jordan Peterson faced.
theconversation.com/team-work-an...
In our new book (partyloyalty.ca), we discuss the control leaders like the premier have over their own MLAs.
It's considerably more than Jordan Peterson faced.
theconversation.com/team-work-an...
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
What if the UCP operated the way Smith wants regulatory bodies to treat their members?
In our new book (partyloyalty.ca), we discuss the control leaders like the premier have over their own MLAs.
It's considerably more than Jordan Peterson faced.
theconversation.com/team-work-an...
In our new book (partyloyalty.ca), we discuss the control leaders like the premier have over their own MLAs.
It's considerably more than Jordan Peterson faced.
theconversation.com/team-work-an...
Reposted by Jared Wesley
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.