Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 13d

“I encourage you to look up what puberty is," says the premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith.

🫡

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Alberta Premier Smith dismisses critics who say she's misleading public on trans law

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told critics of a law restricting health care for transgender youth Wednesday they need to read up on puberty, while Alberta doctors say she's

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 13d

Interim report on Alberta health contract scandal not finished, won't be made public

From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/inter...

Interim report on Alberta health contract scandal not finished, won't be made public

EDMONTON - Alberta's government says it has yet to receive an interim report on the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts, but that it should be finished in

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 14d

SCOOP: A consultant advising Alberta Health Services on private surgical facilities simultaneously negotiated with AHS on behalf of a company vying to open such a clinic, according to a confidential report obtained by The Globe.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

Adviser on Alberta’s use of private clinics was also working for company vying for contract, confidential report says

Potential conflicts of interest outlined in document at centre of health procurement controversy

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 14d

Saskatchewan is hoping the Supreme Court of Canada will quickly hear its appeal to a ruling on the province's school pronoun law, citing the legal case as one of national importance. Lawyers opposing the law also want to see the case heard alongside a challenge of Quebec's religious-symbols law.

Jeremy Simes @jeremysimes.bsky.social · 15d

Saskatchewan's government is hoping the Supreme Court of Canada will quickly hear its appeal to a ruling on the province's school pronoun law, citing the legal case as one of national importance. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/... #skpoli

Saskatchewan requests Supreme Court of Canada hear its appeal to pronoun law quickly

REGINA - Saskatchewan's government is hoping the Supreme Court of Canada will quickly hear its appeal to a ruling on the province's school pronoun law, citing the legal case as

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 15d

"Her interest in using the Constitution's so-called nuclear option to do so comes after a political lifetime believing in the protection of people's fundamental rights and freedoms."

Jason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 16d

The Premier With the Liberty Tattoo: Danielle Smith readies the notwithstanding clause to protect her transgender laws against Charter rights rulings. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

ANALYSIS | Why rights champion Danielle Smith is eyeing notwithstanding clause for trans laws | CBC News

A proudly libertarian premier is preparing to wield the notwithstanding clause this fall, after expanding her own province's rights protections last year.

www.cbc.ca

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 18d

“How do you counter Goliath?” www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/notwi...

Notwithstanding clause won't stop court challenges of Alberta trans laws: groups

EDMONTON - Doctors and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups challenging Alberta laws affecting transgender people say they aren't backing down after learning the province plans to invoke the Charter's notwithstandi...

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Canadian Medical Association @cmadocs.bsky.social · 19d

Political interference in health care sets a dangerous precedent.

The CMA is calling on the Alberta government to refrain from using the notwithstanding clause to enact legislation that threatens patient care.

CMA calls on Alberta government to refrain from using notwithstanding clause to interfere with patient care

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) calls on the Alberta government to refrain from invoking the notwithstanding clause to enact legislation that directly interferes in the clinical care of patient...

bit.ly

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 19d

I wrote this column for @albertaviews.bsky.social two years ago. But tonight’s news inspired me to share it here. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta looks to use notwithstanding clause on its 3 transgender laws: memo | CBC News

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has directed officials to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause in amending three laws that affect transgender people, says a leaked government memo obtai...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Drew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 19d

Alberta planning to use the notwithstanding clause. Some solid sleuthing by @reportrix.bsky.social #ableg #cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta looks to use notwithstanding clause on its 3 transgender laws: memo | CBC News

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has directed officials to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause in amending three laws that affect transgender people, says a leaked government memo obtai...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 20d

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she doesn't need to hold referenda on some of the Alberta Next panel ideas to bring them to fruition:

By @reportrix.bsky.social #AbLeg #FMM #RMWB

Packed Alberta Next Panel town hall met with praise in Grande Prairie, Alta. | CBC News

Premier Danielle Smith's Alberta Next panel, aimed at wrenching more political control from Ottawa, was spurred to take action in Grande Prairie Wednesday.

www.cbc.ca

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 21d

Anywhoo, some detailed answers from Diane, including: "It is unclear from the government announcement as to what purpose the inclusion of this information on Albertans' driver's licenses will serve. It's also unclear what the benefit for Albertans would be." Updated: tinyurl.com/bdz6eztk

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 21d

Didn't get any responses today to my questions this morning to Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally's office, but I'm told they're working on it. Nally did appear on the radio today on this topic. "Because we live in Canada, there will be no discrimination." Behold: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 21d

Here's what the Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod said today in response to Premier Danielle Smith's announcement yesterday that she's making citizenship markers mandatory for driver's licenses. Statement from McLeod in full: #ableg

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 22d

Critics are questioning what problem adding mandatory citizenship markers to provincial identification aims to solve, and say it opens the door to potential privacy breaches and discrimination. Bonus sarcastic late night ad hominem attack from Alberta PO: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 22d

Citizens, permanent residents, and refugees are eligible to apply for provincial social programs. But only citizenship status is being targeted here. Elections Alberta says 3 people have been flagged for ineligible voting since the 2023 provincial election, among more than 1.77 million votes cast

Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 22d

Alberta to add citizenship to ID cards to streamline service, protect elections

From me and @reportrix.bsky.social today:

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Alberta to add citizenship to ID cards to streamline service, protect elections

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is adding mandatory proof of citizenship markers to driver's licences and other forms of identification to streamline services and prevent...

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 23d

"If this gets to a ballot, there will be marriages that will break up over it. There will be wives and husbands who just can't tolerate each other over their opinions on this. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... from @billgraveland.bsky.social

Jason Kenney warns of 'deeply divisive' impact of a sovereignty referendum in Alberta | CBC News

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney says Alberta separation represents a historically discredited concept driven by a pocket of malcontents, guaranteed to shred the social fabric of the province it pu...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 23d

Alberta’s oil and gas well problem is a “giant stinking pile of shit,” the premier’s special advisor — who wrote the province’s strategy to address the issue — told a frustrated crowd in rural Alberta. @drewanderson.bsky.social was there.
thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oil-...

Alberta’s oil and gas legacy is a ‘gigantic problem’: top political staffer | The Narwhal

Alberta’s Mature Asset Strategy aims to deal with the oil and gas industry’s unpaid taxes and orphaned wells. A pitch in Warburg didn’t go as planned

thenarwhal.ca

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 27d

“We face a dangerous shortage of health care professionals in our province, a shortage that is felt by every Albertan who endures longer response times, longer wait times in emergency rooms, delayed surgeries therapy and the prolonged agony of waiting.” edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...

'There's no rush here': Health care union members vote to reject tentative agreement with Alberta government

The union representing more than 22,000 health care professionals across Alberta said its members have voted to reject the labour deal.

edmontonjournal.com

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 27d

"Teachers’ patience has run out," Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, told reporters Wednesday.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Alberta teachers plan provincewide strike starting Oct. 6, as talks hit stalemate

EDMONTON - Alberta teachers have officially started the countdown clock toward an Oct. 6 provincewide strike, with the union's head and the government accusing the other of failing students.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 27d

Global News laid off 26 journalists in B.C. and Alberta today.

In B.C. the layoffs include virtually all of the online team, along with many others.

The business is increasingly cruel, and the hollowing out of newsrooms providing fair and reliable information continues to suck.

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Brittany Hobson @bhobs22.bsky.social · 28d

Squabbling aside, an eight-year-old girl has died a horrific death. She and her family deserve justice.

ca.news.yahoo.com/cp-newsalert... via @reportrix.bsky.social

Woman pleads to manslaughter in child death as Crown, Edmonton police at odds

EDMONTON — An Edmonton woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to manslaughter in the killing of an eight-year-old girl in a case that has seen police publicly challenge Crown prosecutors.

ca.news.yahoo.com

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Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social · 28d

Tuesday, in Alberta: Head of Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association likens Edmonton police's threat to release details of its investigation of the case to extortion.

Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 28d

Edmonton police publicly challenging proposed plea deal from Crown prosecutors

From @reportrix.bsky.social and I today:

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Edmonton police publicly challenging proposed plea deal from Crown prosecutors

EDMONTON - Edmonton police are publicly calling out Alberta Crown prosecutors and demanding a possible plea deal be scrapped in a move criminal trial lawyers liken to extortion.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Jonny Wakefield @jonnywakefield.bsky.social · 29d

SCOOP: Edmonton police have sent a letter to the provincial minister in charge of prosecutions objecting to a plea deal in the case of a woman charged with murdering an 8-year-old Indigenous girl.

Never seen anything like this before.

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

In rare move, Edmonton police object to Crown accepting manslaughter plea in Indigenous girl's homicide

Edmonton police object to the Crown prosecution service's planned plea deal in the case of a mother charged with murdering her young daughter.

edmontonjournal.com

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · Sep 4

“Julie King-Yerex, co-owner of Magpie Books in Edmonton, said people have come into the shop ‘asking for our vicious compliance section.’ “

(By CP’s Aaron Souza) #Ableg #AbEd

Shopping the 'vicious compliance section': Stores see sales spike after Alberta book ban | CBC News

An Alberta government order banning some books from school libraries doesn't appear to be deterring people from reading them, say managers at several bookstores.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Lisa Johnson

Don Braid @donbraid.bsky.social · Sep 3

The Smith government's AISH upheaval, combined with cash clawback, is deeply traumatic to Alberta's most vulnerable people. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abgov #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg

Braid: UCP government's cash clawback and AISH upheaval seem heartless

Danielle Smith's UCP government is imposing draconian change on benefits for disabled, at the same time they claw back cash.

calgaryherald.com

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