Edmonton Journal

After a week of controversies, the former United Conservative Party member for Strathmore-Brooks, Derek Fildebrandt, resigned from caucus Tuesday night, leaving him all by himself as an independent MLA. Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Graham Thomson, Dave Breakenridge and Clare Clancy about what it means for the new party and the 31-year-old politician.  The team also takes a look at provincial drunk driving laws the government is taking its sweet time to change, despite the fact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The title of this week's Press Gallery podcast is, of course, an homage to the Airbnb listing for the apartment of United Conservative Party MLA Derek Fildebrandt, following revelations he rented it out while claiming an accommodation allowance from taxpayers. Join host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the latest expense controversy in Alberta politics, as well as Premier Rachel Notley's pipeline tour and B.C. doubling down on its pledge this week to fight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The days after the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties voted to merge last weekend have been filled with policies, a leadership bid, and "no" voters threatening to shard off and create their own parties. Naturally, the Press Gallery team will tell you all about it in this week's podcast. Join host Emma Graney with guests Sarah O'Donnell, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk the vote, and what happens now in Alberta politics. Good stuff from the gallery Sarah's pick: These Toronto Star stori Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the clock ticks down to the vote that could unite Alberta's conservative parties, the Press Gallery team weighs in on the outcome (while safely hedging their bets, of course). Join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Janet French and Graham Thomson as they talk unity, the million-dollar Progressive Conservative leadership race, and the outcome of this week's premiers' meeting in Edmonton. Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: Not far from home this week, Graham Thomson's look at unity a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer in Alberta means it's time for Calgary Stampede — and the government just can't seem to get enough of it. Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Janet French to talk about another week in Alberta politics, including why so many NDP MLAs are flipping pancakes and milking cows.  Speaking of sunshine, the province's sunshine list was updated recently, but the podcast team explains why it remains oh-so-very cloudy. Also, there ain't no sunshine when Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uniting conservatives, combating hate — so many things were worked on this week in Alberta politics.  Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Janet French as they talk unity, racism, and a review about the Workers' Compensation Board that was more than one year in the making.  Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: This piece from the National Post taking a look back at the Jordan decision, one year on.  Paula's pick: Also from the National Pos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a brief summer hiatus, the Press Gallery is back to talk about another couple of weeks in Alberta politics.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Sarah O'Donnell and Graham Thomson to talk Alberta's $10.8-billion deficit, and how a movement to unite the centre of Alberta's politics is coming along. After yet more developments in politics in B.C., the team also takes a brief look at what on earth is going on over there. Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: Janet French's feature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta politics nerds commiserate — the spring sitting of the legislature is, after three months, over. Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Dave Breakenridge and Paula Simons to discuss the session that was.  The team also takes a look at the Fort McMurray wildfire report, released in haste this week after it was leaked to media. Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: The fantastic American epic The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane.  Paula's pick: This speech by Ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week in Alberta politics and another squabble about pipelines. This week, as British Columbia tries to sort out who's going to run the province, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley doubled down on her commitment to getting the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion built. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson  to talk about the implications of the B.C. election, and an unemployed oil worker protest this week that had some interesting political asides. The team also Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From labour law to electoral boundaries, Alberta politics saw a whole range of change thrown at it this week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Keith Gerein to take a look at a swath of updates to Alberta's labour legislation, the Auditor General's report outlining overhauls for the health system, and how voting might change in the next election. Good stuff from the gallery Stuart's pick: This profile about political reporter Maggie Haberman, in Elle Magazin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery team sticks to just one topic this week — the formation of the United Conservative Party. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson as they discuss what's in the agreement, what it means for Alberta, and what made them all start snickering like eight-year-olds. Good stuff from the gallery Stuart's pick: This piece in The Atlantic called McMaster's Dilemma, about the U.S. national-security adviser and latest well-regarded official to risk his cr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With an election right next door this week, the Press Gallery team couldn't resist looking to British Columbia going to the polls, and what the outcome means for Alberta. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk elections, a possible break for Alberta MLAs and what's happening in the house where Serenity lived before her death. Good stuff from the gallery Stuart's pick: This blow-by-blow account of Trump firing FBI director James Comey. Paula's pick: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been two years since Albertans shook up the province by voting the NDP into government with a hefty majority and the Press Gallery looks back at how they've performed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Alberta marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating Fort McMurray wildfire, the Press Gallery takes a look at what it means for the province. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Janet French and Graham Thomson to talk about the fire nicknamed The Beast, as well as Agriculture Finance Services Corporation (AFSC), a Crown rising from the ashes after its board and top executives were shown the door last June. The team also takes a look at a tentative agreement between the province and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a punching threat in the hallowed halls of the legislative building to the opposition throwing shade at the government's labour legislation review, the press gallery team looks back at another week in Alberta politics. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the verbal fisticuffs between Derek Fildebrandt and Michael Connolly that apparently grew into a nearly-fight, a new rebate program to make homes more energy efficient, and the province's la Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between an expanded school nutrition program and more affordable day care, Premier Rachel Notley was all about the kids this week in Alberta politics. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about those announcements, as well as changes to Alberta's $1.2-billion AISH program. The team also takes a look at the political implications of the impending flood of collective bargaining facing the NDP government. Good stuff from the Gallery Stuart's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Progressive Conservative leader Jason Kenney stirred controversy this week with his comments about Gay Straight Alliances in high schools. The Press Gallery podcast team talks about the political fallout from that, as well as the latest kerfuffle between the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Sarah O'Donnell to take a look back at those issues, and the amazing shrinking Alberta Liberal leadership race. Good Stuff from the Gallery S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dust has settled on the Progressive Conservative leadership race, but the work is just beginning to unite Alberta's conservatives. The Press Gallery team take a look at the weekend's very strange leadership convention — complete with an assault charge, booing and expensive beers — and what Jason Kenney's victory means for Alberta politics. Join host Emma Graney with regular guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk everything PC leadership, and take brief look at how Saskatche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Budget 2017 was the big news in Alberta politics this week, released by Finance Minister Joe Ceci on Thursday. The good news is the deficit dropped a little, to $10.3 billion, the bad news is the province will be drowning in red ink for the foreseeable future. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to chat about what that means for Alberta. The team will also take a look at the Progressive Conservative leadership vote taking place Saturday, and the sewer rats com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Press Gallery team takes a look back at the first full week of Alberta's legislative session for 2017, which was eerily reminiscent of the last weeks of 2016. The big issue this time, though, was the huge backlog in the courts and the government's use of a new case triage system. Join host Emma Graney and guests Stuart Thomson, legislative reporter, city columnist Paula Simons and legislative columnist Graham Thomson to talk about question period this week, university politics, and how issue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices