Just finished reading this engaging book. I admired Catherine when she was in Cabinet, one of a few Canadian politicians who came across as smart, serious, and committed to making Canada a better place to live. Knowing all the hurdles she faced just trying to do her job increased my admiration.

Other places tried “enhanced” licences and walked away over cost and low value. Without clear benefits and strong safeguards, this looks like “risk stacking” — more data on more cards seen by more people — and a premier-knows-best, performative style of policymaking. It won't last.

It is a mistake to shrug this off as simply "getting teachers back to work" or "getting kids back in the classroom." While that is certainly the government's justification, the implications of what the government just did are far more troubling than solving this (extremely) complex issue.

In short, the Smith government has virtually destroyed meaningful collective bargaining in the province. Has done nothing to protect public education (arguably making it worse) has shielded itself from legal accountability and has reinforced an authoritarian approach to workers and work in AB.