Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · 7d

Congrats on selling out this event! It's good to see the interest In closure liabilities.

Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 7d

T-minus 2 days until academics, lawyers, regulators, First Nations, eNGOs & others from Canada, the U.S., Australia & the U.K. gather at UCalgary Law. We’ve maxed out registration. If you weren’t able to register, look for an edited volume next yr & some @ablawg.bsky.social posts next week.

Poster for a conference on closure liabilities in the energy sector with a red stamp that says “sold out”

5

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · 8d

A fascinating (in the details) & depressing post about just how ineffective & captured-by-industry the Alberta Energy Regulator is. Another overwhelming pattern of regulatory failure in the oil & gas sector revealed, failure that Albertans will pay for with their wallets & health for generations.

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/

9 18

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

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

16 24

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

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

3 16 37

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Gillian Calder (she/her) @gcalder.bsky.social · 12d

Hands up to colleagues at UVic and UBC, taking on this troubling narrative. vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Opinion: Who counts as 'real people'? Premier Eby’s comment perpetuates legacy of erasure

Aboriginal title decisions, including the landmark Cowichan decision, are an affirmation of justice long delayed.

vancouversun.com

2 4

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

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/

3 6

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · 18d

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:

5 13

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

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

3 10

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 23d

Glad to see this up on what seems like a fully functional ABlawg site.
This post shd be of wide interest since it deals with how an Australian coal mining company was able to manipulate AER decision-making to shield the company’s expansion project from public review.
#abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 23d

New Post: CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator Denies Public Hearing Rights on a Coal Application

ablawg.ca/2025/09/15...…coal-application/

13 18

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

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

2 5 11

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · 24d

Back to the early 1980s when a husband beating his wife up was only a "civil matter" and a husband could rape his wife with impunity because, after all, she said "I do" at the altar. 🤬

1 4

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 26d

I post a lot on ABlawg. Some of it pretty dry & arcane oil & gas law
But this is far more imp & shd be of wider interest. It deals with how an Aussie coal mining company was able to manipulate AER decision-making to shield the company’s project from public review. #abpoli
ablawg.ca/wp-content/u...

1 13 33

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · 28d

The words that accompany these pictures are better than most at describing the genocide in a very personal way. They are heartfelt and heartbreakingly painful to read. I am sure they will be haunting.

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · Sep 8

Makes you wonder who would have an interest in shutting @ablawg.bsky.social down, even temporarily.

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

Heads up friends: @ablawg.bsky.social experienced a malware attack of some sort and is currently being rebooted. We should have the site back up and running in 24-48 hrs. Apologies for the inconvenience. cc @nigelb.bsky.social #ableg

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · Sep 8

New Post: CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator Denies Public Hearing Rights on a Coal Application

ablawg.ca/2025/09/08...↗

4 5 19

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Drew Yewchuk @drewyewchuk.bsky.social · Sep 5

A great post of the damage to Canadian privacy in Bill C-2.
I would add a smaller complaint: part 15 of Bill C-2 misappropriates the phrase 'Access to Information' in the new 'Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act'. (1/4)

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · Sep 4

New Post: Bill C-2 and the Return of Warrantless Access: Same Fight, New Wrapper

ablawg.ca/2025/09/04...…ight-new-wrapper/

1 3 3

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · Sep 5

I urge you to listen to this. It is disturbing but it is necessary.
Testimony to the Gaza Tribunal from Dr Nick Maynard.
The attacks of the state of Israel on health facilities in Gaza are not self defence but they are evidence of genocide.
Starts at 25.10. #cdnpoli
@mark-carney.bsky.social

The Gaza Tribunal - Day One

YouTube video by Project for Peace & Justice by Jeremy Corbyn

www.youtube.com

12 17

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Gillian Petit @gillianpetit.bsky.social · Sep 3

This is awful. Shame on them! Note that the engagement period for ADAP is still open. The survey is here: your.alberta.ca/adap/surveys... Tell them how disgusting this is. #abpoli #abgov

4 9

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Jeff Horton :canada: @jeffhorton.mstdn.ca.ap.brid.gy · Sep 3

via reddit....

If you are in front of politician ask them to complete this sentence: "Trans rights are..."

#abpoli #cdnpoli

2 2

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · Aug 29

No one could have predicted this.

Actually, my colleague Shaun Fluker did: ablawg.ca/2025/07/15/n... #ableg #cdnpoli

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

'Vicious compliance': Alberta premier decries Edmonton Public Schools' banned book list | CBC News

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith slammed the Edmonton Public School Board Friday morning for its banned book list, which features more than 200 titles.

www.cbc.ca

3 12 49

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · Aug 29

One point to note as we are working on a post about the dissent on the ss 25 & 15 issues: the majority's recognition of the overriding role of gender-based equality in ss 28 &35(4) sharply contrasts with the dissent's reluctance to discuss any role for either, notwithstanding their text & history.

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · Aug 29

New Post: Charter Sections 15 and 25: The Majority Judgment in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and its Application in the Federal Court

ablawg.ca/2025/08/29...…he-federal-court/

Charter Sections 15 and 25: The Majority Judgment in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and its Application in the Federal Court - ABLawg

By: Jonnette Watson Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, and Jennifer Koshan Cases Commented On: Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2024 SCC 10 (CanLII); Houle v Swan River First Nation, 2025 FC 267 (CanLII); Donald-Potskin v Sawridge First Nation, 2025 FC 648 (CanLII); Cunningham v Sucker Creek First Nation 150A, 2025 FC 1174 (CanLII) PDF Version: Charter

ablawg.ca

1 7

Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton

Jennifer Koshan @jenniferkoshan.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is the 3rd in a series of blog posts on Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, including a look at how the SCC majority judgment on ss 25 & 15 of the Charter is being applied by lower courts. Great working with @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social and @roberthamilton.bsky.social on this one!

ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · Aug 29

New Post: Charter Sections 15 and 25: The Majority Judgment in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and its Application in the Federal Court

ablawg.ca/2025/08/29...…he-federal-court/

Charter Sections 15 and 25: The Majority Judgment in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and its Application in the Federal Court - ABLawg

By: Jonnette Watson Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, and Jennifer Koshan Cases Commented On: Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2024 SCC 10 (CanLII); Houle v Swan River First Nation, 2025 FC 267 (CanLII); Donald-Potskin v Sawridge First Nation, 2025 FC 648 (CanLII); Cunningham v Sucker Creek First Nation 150A, 2025 FC 1174 (CanLII) PDF Version: Charter

ablawg.ca

5 6

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · Aug 27

Well, somebody has to rake the leaves so the smoke doesn't bother the US president.

2

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · Aug 27

In the English common law tradition, children were never formally the property of their parents. It was fathers who had legal & financial control over their children, & the mothers of their children, until the early 19th century - a feature, not a flaw, for those right-wing groups, I'm pretty sure.

3

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · Aug 27

Alberta makes the international news again for another harmful attack on its citizens. Action4Canada & Parents for Choice in Education (PCE), take credit for precipitating the UCP’s book ban, a ban based on the idea that "our kids are our property."
#ableg

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Rightwing ‘parents’ rights’ groups gain ground in Canada as Alberta book bans target LGBTQ+ titles

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book ban

www.theguardian.com

1 4 13

Jonnette Watson Hamilton @jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social · Aug 27

The actions and words of the Kool-Aid drinkers participating in this charade are worse than absurd, because they won't be the ones to pay with their lives in the destruction that in all of these ongoing conflicts.

2