Edmonton Journal

The biggest story out of Alberta this week was Calgary's bid for the 2026 winter Olympics, and it sure has become political. Join Press Gallery host with guests Dan Barnes, Clare Clancy and Sarah O'Donnell (one of them is even from Calgary!) to talk about the bid and why it's become such a political hot potato. The team also takes a look at the first week of the 2018 fall session and last weekend's NDP convention. You also get to hear Emma refer to November as October. It's the end of a long work week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek Fildebrandt's spectacular fall from grace last year saw him booted from the United Conservative Party he'd been so passionate about getting off the ground. Now the member for Strathmore-Brooks has started the Freedom Conservative Party and plans to run under that banner in the 2019 election. Join Press Gallery host and provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney as she talks with Fildebrandt about his vision for the new party, his fallout with UCP leader Jason Kenney, and whether he still thinks politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in Alberta politics saw an historic agreement between the government and Lubicon Lake First Nation, ending decades of legal wrangling and protests. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Elise Stolte, Keith Gerein and Dave Breaknridge to talk about that deal and what it means for the community. The team also takes on PACs (political action committees or, in the dry tone of Elections Alberta, third-party advertisers), a wrap over the knuckles from the Ethics Commissioner and this weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt stopped by to chat with the Edmonton Journal's legislature columnist Keith Gerein. The two talk about an eagerly anticipated review of Alberta's tuition rates, and the minister's relationship with the University of Alberta following some critical comments earlier this year. Schmidt also offers his take on the priorities of the NDP convention this weekend, and how the party hopes to overcome unfavourable odds to win next year's provincial election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Media coverage of a speech by UCP leader Jason Kenney drew the ire of his office's official Twitter account this week — not because of any mistakes, but because he decided covering his party's policy was "old news." Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Sarah O'Donnell, Keith Gerein and Janet French to talk about what happened when the leader of the official opposition accused media of taking its marching orders from government. The team also talks about the Alberta Party, which dumped a candi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In addition to our regular panel discussion on Fridays, we plan to a have mid-week episode called the Press Galley Interview, in which we will talk with political pundits and personalities from around Alberta. Tune in to hear party leaders, cabinet ministers, MLAs, political scientists, pollsters and others with a role to play in the crazy world of Alberta politics. For our first ever episode of this new segment, legislature columnist Keith Gerein sits down for a discussion with Alberta Party Leader Steph Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All kinds of soldiering happened in Alberta politics this week, from the United Conservative Party-Soldiers of Odin controversy to the provincial government soldiering on with curriculum changes. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Sarah O'Donnell, Janet French and Keith Gerein to take a look at those issues, along with UCP Leader Jason Kenney joining forces with Ontario Premier Doug Ford for a rally in Calgary. The team also talks about the importance of cucumber sandwiches. You really don't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#245: The Paula Simons Says See-ya (feat. TMX & Health) edition by The Press Gallery: Inside Alberta politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between a press secretary shuffle and Premier Rachel Notley signing up to a teachers conference to counter an anti-pipeline message, Alberta politics this week was all about message control. If that wasn't enough messaging for you, provincial cabinet ministers will head to Ottawa to speak to senators ahead of Bill C-69 and UCP Leader Jason Kenney was unimpressed with messages about his party's fiscal plans when it comes to education. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Clare Clan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trip to India by three UCP MLAs, including leader Jason Kenney, has caused quite the kerfuffle this week in Alberta politics. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Janet French to discuss why that junket became a whole *thing* and the possible political ramifications. The team also takes a look at Tzeporah Berman's speaking engagement at an Alberta Teachers Association-associated event, and why Education Minister David Eggen had to apologize for a lesson about residential scho Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery podcast is back after a month hiatus, jumping right back into Alberta politics analysis with an NDP private member's bill to ban conversion therapy in the province. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about that bill, due in the fall, as well as the Grande Prairie hospital debacle which has seen a contract cancelled and an almost-complete project put on ice. Finally, the team takes a look at Alberta's long-awaited post-secondary tuit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the sun sets on another Alberta summer, the Press Gallery panel looks back on a highly eventful week that could foreshadow some endings for both politicians and projects. The fate of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is now certainly in doubt following a stunning Federal Court of Appeal decision that quashes the project's approval. That, in turn, could spell goodbye to Premier Rachel Notley's NDP government, which is already facing a difficult road to re-election in 2019 and staked muc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You thought the Press Gallery team had finished talking about pipelines? HA! Nope. This week we kick off our Alberta politics podcast with news about the special Indigenous blessing of a site on Enoch Cree Nation that will store Trans Mountain pipe. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about what that means for the project, the government and the 2019 election. The team also dives into the one-year anniversary of the United Conservative Party and the late Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can take his United Conservative caucus seat, but you'll never take Derek Fildebrandt's Freedom (Conservative Party). Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney for another week of Alberta politics analysis, including Fildebrandt's new project, the Freedom Conservative Party, and the political fallout of a provincial curriculum rewrite. Guests Janet French, Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons also touch on the federal cabinet shuffle that landed Edmonton MP Amarjeet Sohi with the contentious pipeli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta was lucky enough to have two byelections this week — there's nothing voters like more in the height of summer, after all — and both were won by United Conservative Party candidates. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Clare Clancy to talk about the UCP victories in Fort McMurray-Conklin and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and what it means for Alberta politics. The team also touches on a UCP investigation into ballot box stuffing and Premier Rachel Notley do Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long career in both municipal and provincial politics, NDP Transportation Minister Brian Mason announced this week that he is retiring and won't run for re-election in 2019. The panel discusses the legacy of Mason's career — from transit driver to city councillor to opposition leader to cabinet minister — and also considers the hole he will leave for Rachel Notley's party as it tries to stay in office. The panel also discusses the province's decision this week to release 14 years of class size Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer may have started but there was no relaxation in the flood of news coming out of the legislature this week. As such, we have a jam-packed edition of The Press Gallery, as the panel discusses the NDP government’s new plan to fix the child intervention system, a long awaited report on how to address racism in Alberta, and the province’s latest fiscal deficit ($8 billion! And that’s a lot better than it could’ve been.) We also delve into the politics around new safety rules for Alberta farmers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A tiny cabinet shuffle and a deep dive into class sizes by our very own Janet French are the focus of this week's Alberta politics Press Gallery podcast. Join host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to delve into the political fallout of all of that, as well as the NDP's new attack ad and a new Indigenous training course for government workers. Good Stuff from the Gallery Graham's pick: This phenomenal political ad by MJ Hegar, called Why am I running for Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trade panel ruling about beer, a possible beer battle brewing, and changes to liquor laws thanks to the FIFA World Cup — this week in Alberta politics it was all about beer. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the implications of all that happened on the booze file. The team also takes a look at who's running in the byelections called this week for Fort McMurray-Conklin and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and the ever-growing trade kerfuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The spring session of the Alberta legislature wrapped Thursday, so the Press Gallery team couldn't resist taking a look back at the bills, the highlights, the lowlights and what it all means for provincial politics. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to reflect on 2018 spring session memories. The team also talks about Pride Week, related political developments and a touching speech by Alberta Party MLA Rick Fraser. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices