Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 2d

The question is which one is best. Stiff competition in this category. My vote goes to Zadie Smith’s On Beauty.

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Reposted by Jennifer Koshan

Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 3d

I ❤️ AB teachers!

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Thousands rally at Alberta Legislature for public education as teachers' strike looms | CBC News

Thousands of people gathered at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton Sunday morning to rally for public education, as a potentially historic teachers’ strike looms.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Jennifer Koshan

Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 8d

Better late than never: our 18 pp (!) analysis of #ableg's so-called Mature Asset Strategy (w/ Shaun Fluker and @drewyewchuk.bsky.social). TLDR: the MAS is a thinly disguised attempt to rewrite the origin story of Alberta's O&G closure liability crisis and to push more gov't support & deregulation.

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 8d

New Post: The Mature Asset Strategy for Alberta’s Oil and Gas Closure Liability Crisis: Where there is Smoke [and Mirrors], there is Fire.

ablawg.ca/2025/09/30...…rs-there-is-fire/

The Mature Asset Strategy for Alberta’s Oil and Gas Closure Liability Crisis: Where there is Smoke [and Mirrors], there is Fire

By: Martin Olszynski, Drew Yewchuk, and Shaun Fluker Matter Commented On: Alberta’s Mature Asset Strategy: What we Heard and Recommendations Report, April 3, 2025 PDF Version: The Mature Asset Stra…

ablawg.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 8d

Solidarity from law profs down highway 2. That this reprehensible and dangerous action by U of A was apparently triggered by conservative media is appalling. The “protection” rationale trotted out by U of A (see also: forceful takedown of campus protests) is baseless and must be challenged.

Florence Ashley @floralashes.bsky.social · 9d

"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."

What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression

I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...

cfe.torontomu.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 12d

And not only this. Anyone who saw the Premier try to defend the ban on trans health care the other day heard her say “babies” over and over, as if creating more Albertans should be every youth’s life goal and purpose. The Handmaids Tale was not just a banned book, it’s our reality here now. #abpoli

Dr Lindsay Tedds @lindsaytedds.bsky.social · 12d

For anyone not in Alberta or not paying attention, girls playing sports in school now have to prove they were born female to play sports. And can be challenged by anyone at anytime and must prove they are female to keep playing. This doesn’t apply to boys. What a dystopian hellscape

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 14d

This is the 4th and final post in our series on the Dickson case; this one examines the dissent on ss 25 and 15 of the Charter. While it appears to flow from concerns about gender equality, @roberthamilton.bsky.social, @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social and I are critical of the dissent's approach.

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 14d

New Post: The Dissent in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation: Failing to Accommodate Legal Pluralism

ablawg.ca/2025/09/24...…-legal-pluralism/

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 17d

Saw a great film today, Mr Nobody Against Putin. It was hard not to draw parallels between the propaganda the Russian government is imposing on its schools and the Alberta government's intrusion in school curricula & libraries on sexuality, gender & more. Enough!
www.ciffcalgary.ca/films/2025/m...

MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN » CIFF

A brave and resilient teacher secretly exposes Putin's aggressive militarization of Russia's primary schools at the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

www.ciffcalgary.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 19d

The AB gov’t appealed the injunction against trans health care bans, but is now bypassing its opportunity to argue the reasonableness of *all* its anti-trans laws via the notwithstanding clause. This reveals a lack of confidence in its claim that it is “protecting” trans and gender diverse youth.

Naheed Nenshi @naheednenshi.bsky.social · 19d

For the first time in Alberta history, Danielle Smith will use the notwithstanding clause preemptively to shield her bills targeting vulnerable trans children from legal scrutiny.

Her actions are simply cruel and wrong.

Read my full statement below:

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 20d

So much for the UCP’s argument that their anti-trans surveillance law is all about protecting girls in sports. Young women’s participation in sports has dropped off, no surprise. #ableg

Dr. Kristopher Wells @drkristopherwells.bsky.social · 20d

Keep refusing to sign the forms. This legislation is not only unnecessary, it is sexist and discriminatory.

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

edmontonjournal.com

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Reposted by Jennifer Koshan

Ghouly Hoye 🇨🇦 👻 @hollyhoye.bsky.social · 20d

I think we all know why Alberta and Saskatchewan are arguing against changes to the notwithstanding clause: they want to violate the rights of transgender people.👇🏼

Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 20d

Not surprisingly, AB, SK, and ON side with QB in the Bill 21 case. “Alberta is against “any form of substantive judicial review” of governments’ use of the notwithstanding clause” and argued “that “creative arguments” that call for restrictions “should be rejected.” apple.news/AcH5w2n3YSEO...

Ottawa calls on Supreme Court to clarify the law around use of Charter’s notwithstanding clause — The Globe and Mail

Filing propels Ottawa towards a clash with the provinces, including Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, on core Constitutional questions at the top court

apple.news

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 20d

Not surprisingly, AB, SK, and ON side with QB in the Bill 21 case. “Alberta is against “any form of substantive judicial review” of governments’ use of the notwithstanding clause” and argued “that “creative arguments” that call for restrictions “should be rejected.” apple.news/AcH5w2n3YSEO...

Ottawa calls on Supreme Court to clarify the law around use of Charter’s notwithstanding clause — The Globe and Mail

Filing propels Ottawa towards a clash with the provinces, including Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, on core Constitutional questions at the top court

apple.news

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Reposted by Jennifer Koshan

Equality Now @equalitynow.bsky.social · 20d

Legal inequality is driving the gender pay gap. Women earn ~23% less than men, and are more likely to lack paid leave and pensions.

These are legal failures, and they’re changeable.

🔗 This #EqualPayDay find out more about how you can support our work equalitynow.org/get-involved/

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 20d

More dog whistling about non-citizens from the Alberta premier. This confirms that the new citizenship marker will have wide reaching effects. #abpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta premier directs minister to increase provincial control over immigration | CBC News

Premier Danielle Smith is directing her jobs minister to use all legal means possible to give Alberta more control over immigration.

www.cbc.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 21d

I’ve been assuming that the province will rely on the individuals seeking their license/identity documents (or renewal) to provide proof of citizenship. If this is a yes or no, there would be little interpretation required, no?

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 21d

Fair point.

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 21d

I agree with the concerns about misuse for sure. But I’m not so sure about #1. Much as I think Alberta has not offered good reasons to justify a Charter violation, doesn’t it have jurisdiction to add this marker under its licensing powers? I don’t think it purports to decide who’s a citizen. #abpoli

David TS Fraser @privacylawyer.ca · 21d

I have to note two things: (1) provinces have no role in determining or opining on citizenship; and (2) the emails I've received since this went up support my concern about misuse and discrimination.

David TS Fraser @privacylawyer.ca · 22d

"Alberta adding 'citizenship markers' on driver's licences and IDs" -- I have some thoughts www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

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Reposted by Jennifer Koshan

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 22d

Entire report is utterly damning but p’raps esp the concl that Israel's "widespread and systematic targeting of children is part of a strategy to destroy the biological continuity and future existence of the Palestinian group in Gaza, thus part of the intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.” [219]

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 22d

@mark-carney.bsky.social @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social
#cdnpoli
See esp at para 246 - 250 - obligations of 3rd states incl Canada

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 23d

Shades of Nadon, 2014 SCC 21, although coming from a very different angle.

Liam McHugh-Russell @xntl.bsky.social · 23d

This is depressing. A rights group in Quebec has gone after the judicial appointment of the ex-Dean of the McGill Faculty of Law and the subtext is that they are doing so because he expressed views opposing the province's Charter-violating secularism law

Judicial rights group challenges judge’s appointment to Quebec Superior Court

A judicial rights group is denouncing the recent appointment of judge Robert Leckey to Quebec Superior Court, characterizing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 24d

Alberta too, 1000%

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 24d

1000%. At this point government control over universities (in Ontario, at least) is crystal clear on this point, and any court that failed to find the Charter's application, at least in the section 2(b) context, would be out to lunch.

Tish Ray Romano @chesedgevurah.bsky.social · 24d

The University protests that it did not cave to governmental pressure, but there is clearly more direct involvement in university affairs (esp re regulation of political and academic speech), which should ground a reconsideration of the current presumption that the charter is not engaged on campus

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 24d

Absolutely!

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 24d

So apparently one can walk to a restaurant safely now in DC, but not to one's own kitchen, but the latter doesn't matter because it's just a made up crime anyway. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

White House doubles down on Trump’s claim about domestic violence

‘Things that take place in the home, they call crime,’ Trump said Monday. ‘They’ll do anything they can to find something. If a man has a little fight with the wife, they say, ‘This was a crime scene....

www.independent.co.uk

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 25d

With Nina Simone playing…

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · Sep 5

Spent the last 3 days at the truly excellent European Conference on Domestic Violence in Barcelona. Our panel compared criminal and other responses to coercive control across England and Wales, Australia, France, and Canada.

You can find our forthcoming paper at: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Danielle Smith does not understand that sexually explicit images are not necessarily pornographic images. The former can have important educational rather than harmful impacts. Where is the justice minister in helping her understand the difference? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #abpoli

Alberta premier says new order banning school library books with sexual content coming soon | CBC News

The Alberta government hit pause on its order for the removal of books with explicit sexual content from libraries, but the premier says the pause will be short lived.

www.cbc.ca

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Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · Sep 1

apple.news/Au_OoDS5VQje.... Great piece. Not mentioned is that unions and women workers have also played a key role in fighting for responses to workplace violence and violence that affects the workplace. ✊

Opinion: How Canadian women used unions to shape their lives for the better — The Globe and Mail

Hostile work conditions often only changed when some women took on the extraordinary burden of refusing to leave

apple.news

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