Edmonton Journal

While the Progressive Conservative party works to recover from its leadership upheaval, what have Alberta’s three opposition parties been doing to capitalize on this political opportunity? This week, columnist Paula Simons, political columnist Graham Thomson and provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss talk with host Sarah O’Donnell in The Press Gallery about how the Wildrose, Liberal and NDP parties have performed. The politics podcast also talks about Premier Dave Hancock’s first week with the Legis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, columnist Paula Simons and senior reporter Sheila Pratt join The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell this week to talk about the issues that have raised a stink in Alberta politics over the last seven days. The show starts with a briefing on the Alberta Energy Regulator’s tough report into oil sands emissions in the Peace River area. The group then talks about the optics and mysteries of the Federal Building’s now defunct penthouse plans, and picks thr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One week after Alison Redford’s abrupt resignation as premier, The Press Gallery takes stock of how the ground is shifting in Alberta politics. Host Sarah O’Donnell talked with provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and columnist Paula Simons on Thursday about the ground rules for the Progressive Conservative leadership race, who might be interested in the job permanently, and what the first few days of Premier Dave Hancock’s temporary reign was like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unable to quell the infighting within caucus and quiet swelling complaints about her leadership, Premier Alison Redford resigned Wednesday after two and a half years in the post. Progressive Conservative MLAs tapped veteran cabinet minister Dave Hancock to take over as interim premier on Sunday as the party sorts out when to hold the leadership contest. Legislature columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join podcast host Sarah O’Donnell to ta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Faced with an angry Progressive Conservative caucus, Premier Alison Redford finally repaid nearly $45,000 for her controversial trip to South Africa trip. But neither the cheque nor a major funding announcement for Edmonton’s LRT expansion were enough to stop the drama at the Alberta legislature. This week on the Journal’s politics podcast, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and politics reporter Mariam Ibrahim talk with host Sarah O’Donnell about the premier’s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s all about Alberta’s 2014-15 provincial budget in this week’s episode of the The Press Gallery, with a brief side trip into Premier Alison Redford’s latest trouble with travel expenses. Journal opinion page editor Kathy Kerr kicks off the podcast with a budget primer. Then host Sarah O’Donnell talks with columnists Paula Simons and David Staples about why Finance Minister Doug Horner’s “good news budget” with record revenue, an operating surplus and plenty of construction plans made som Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Speech from the Throne in almost two years and a provincial budget will kick off the new session of the Alberta legislature, which begins Monday. Press Gallery regulars Paula Simons, Sheila Pratt and Karen Kleiss look ahead with podcast host Sarah O’Donnell about what Albertans might see from the Progressive Conservative government in the coming week, and offer up their suggestions on what they would put in the budget and throne speech. Good Stuff from the Gallery caps the show and includes anot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Progressive Conservative MLA Steve Young held onto his caucus membership this week after telling Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid that Premier Alison Redford’s $45,000 South Africa travel bill did not reflect “Alberta values.” But his comments certainly caused a stir. Journal politics watchers Paula Simons, Graham Thomson and Mariam Ibrahim joined host Sarah O’Donnell on The Press Gallery this week to talk about why the costs of attending Nelson Mandela’s funeral continue to haunt the premier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are the new schools announced by the Redford government this week enough to fulfill the Progressive Conservative’s 2012 election promises to build 50 new schools and modernize 70 more? What’s in the 2014 federal budget for Alberta? And should Alberta politicians from any parties be attacking the work of independent officers of the Legislature? Press Gallery host Sarah O’Donnell, columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson tackle these three issues this week, before offering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A December trip to attend South African leader Nelson Mandela's funeral has become a political liability for Alberta Premier Alison Redford. Press Gallery host Sarah O’Donnell talks with her Journal colleagues Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Mariam Ibrahim about the controversy and why the $45,000 expense is causing an uproar. Then, the group talks about the province’s new salary sunshine list and why it is still contentious a week after it was published. Good Stuff from the Gallery recommendations run Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few subjects invoke more emotion than matters that deal with children and people’s homes. The Press Gallery starts this week with reporter Karen Kleiss telling us about the two-day roundtable on Alberta’s child welfare system, focused on what happens when children die in government care. Then reporter Sheila Pratt updates listeners on the Alberta Energy Regulator’s first public inquiry, which is exploring complaints from residents in the Peace River area about heavy oil emissions they believe are maki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Albertans, including Health minister Fred Horne, were upset to learn about a laptop that went missing with the personal information of more than 600,000 Medicentre clients. Journal columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim sit down with podcast host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about the theft and why it is an issue that concerns provincial politicians, as well as nearly one in six Albertans potentially affected by the privacy breach. Then the panel branches into federal polit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a lot of love for actuaries and economists in this week’s episode of The Press Gallery, but don’t let that scare you off because it all revolves around politics. This week, podcast host Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs columnists Graham Thomson, columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim. The quartet look at the labour relations board hearing underway challenging a piece of Alberta’s controversial new labour laws (1 minute mark), public sector pensi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Press Gallery panelists were amped up this week, with plenty to say about Alberta Health’s influenza vaccine balancing act and the stunning numbers released by Human Services minister Manmeet Bhullar that show 741 children known to child welfare authorities have died since 1999. Columnist Paula Simons, health reporter Keith Gerein and provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss join host Sarah O’Donnell for a slightly extended length podcast talking about flu (45-second-mark), the future of Alberta’s chi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery gets ahead of itself this week looking at the big stories on the horizon for Alberta politics in 2014. It’s a full house as eight Journal reporters join host Sarah O’Donnell for this look ahead episode, including columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim, health reporter Keith Gerein, education reporter Andrea Sands, northern development reporter Marty Klinkenberg, provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss, data journalist Lucas Timmons and senior reporter Sheil Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, wraps up 2013 with a pop quiz. Assignment editor Mark Suits faces off against provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and city columnist Paula Simons for a lot of laughs and bragging rights in a fun quiz that looks back on the year in Alberta politics. Who will reign supreme in trivia? And will host Sarah O’Donnell be able to stump any of these smart cookies? You’ll have to listen to find out. Guests on the show also review what they Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices