In our final episode of 2025, we’re joined by Ryan Jespersen of Real Talk for a deeper conversation about what’s really driving political division in Canada. We start with the latest floor crossing from the Conservatives to the Liberals and what it means for parliamentary math, stability, and the way political “inside baseball” often matters a lot more to partisan circles than it does to people outside them. Then we zoom out to the bigger forces underneath the headlines: the Liberal move toward the centre under Mark Carney, what that opens up for the NDP, and how labels like “conservative” and “progressive” have shifted in meaning. We also get into the real-world stakes behind ideological debates on health care and public services, then close with practical advice for navigating political conversations over the holidays.

Danielle Smith gets booed at her own victory lap. This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika unpack the UCP AGM drama: the pipeline MOU that was supposed to unite the party, the organized but noisy independence faction, and what the board results actually say about Smith’s grip on her base. Erika talks about being in the room and how Mark Carney’s pipeline deal has even her backing away from independence talk. Then they dive into the resolutions and red meat: abortion and public funding in the third trimester, flag bans dressed up as “neutrality,” fights over fluoride, a revolt against the government’s own no-fault insurance plan, and the UCP’s apparent obsession with stopping the Progressive Conservative Party resurection. Cheryl rants about Smith’s new two-tier healthcare model as the beginning of the end of Canadian medicare, and the two clash over the government’s latest “stand your ground”-style gun motion under the Sovereignty Act. It’s one part governance nerd, one part convention gossip, and one part very real warning about where Alberta politics is headed next.

Alberta finally got its “grand bargain” on energy, but not the way anyone expected. In this episode, Cheryl and Erika break down the new Alberta–Ottawa MOU that scraps the federal oil and gas emissions cap, suspends clean electricity regs, speeds up project approvals to two years, and gives a potential pipeline to Asia a fast-track “national interest” stamp. They unpack how Danielle Smith turned a nine-point ultimatum into seven big-ticket concessions, what Mark Carney gets in return on industrial carbon pricing and net-zero by 2050, and why a Calgary Chamber crowd gave a Liberal prime minister a standing ovation for an energy deal. If you keep hearing “pipeline deal” but don’t really know what’s in it, this is your crib sheet. But this isn’t just about Alberta’s vibes. Cheryl walks through why coastal First Nations and BC’s NDP government still hold the real veto power, how this changes separatist politics on the Prairies, and what it means for the federal Liberals, Conservatives and NDP heading into the next election. Plus, the back half gets spicy: the UCP’s second use of the notwithstanding clause, the new two-tier health care experiment, and what all of it says about where Alberta politics is headed next.  

Winnipeg is getting ready for the Grey Cup, but the real game this week is between Mark Carney and Danielle Smith. We break down Carney’s $116 billion “national interest” project list, why it’s full of LNG, mines, and transmission lines, but still no new pipeline to the West Coast, and what that actually means for Alberta’s leverage. Is this bold economic strategy or risk-free choreography from Ottawa? We unpack the so-called grand bargain on industrial carbon pricing, emissions caps, and CCUS, and ask whether Alberta and Saskatchewan are doing the hard work they say they want from the feds. Then we shift to the home front: where the NDP is attempting to capitalize on the UCP’s brutal few weeks with a slick new ad. Plus, the UCP faces a recall campaign against its own MLAs. Cheryl explains why the NDP spot is exactly the kind of contrast piece their base has been waiting for, while Erika tears into the government’s recall communications strategy and asks why anyone thought this law was a good idea in the first place. 

Mark Carney drops his first budget and we’re split: Cheryl gives it a 7/10 for a disciplined comms rollout and “build-through-the-downturn” strategy; Erika fires back with a 4/10 over record debt, fuzzy capital/operating splits, and weak relief for real people. We unpack what the naysayers actually mean, why “we’re building houses” lands better than tax tinkering, and how this budget boxes in both the CPC and NDP on cuts, immigration, and social programs. Then: the Ottawa plot twist—Chris Dontermont crosses the floor as rumours swirl of more MPs ahead of Polievre’s leadership review. Plus a brutal week in Alberta: an education bill dropped while the Premier’s abroad, and the Auditor General won’t be renewed mid-AHS probe. We argue over Bill 6’s literacy testing, the optics of the AG timing, and why the first stab at boundary redistribution has both of us grinding our teeth.

The UCP just used the nuclear option: legislating 51,000 Alberta teachers back to work, imposing a four-year deal, and wrapping it all in the notwithstanding clause. Cheryl calls it a slippery slope for Charter rights; Erika argues the government took a high-risk hit to end a stalemate and promises a “reset” on class size and complexity... if they actually deliver. We break down what’s real, what’s rhetoric, fresh polling that shows UCP support slipping, and whether a general strike is a bluff or a live wire. Then: recall politics boomerangs on the UCP as Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides faces a petition under their own looser rules. Plus, Thomas Lukaszuk’s “Forever Canadian” petition accidentally hands separatists the referendum oxygen they craved (yikes). We close on what happens next: task forces vs. caps, data vs. delay, and how both sides can win (or torch) the post-strike moment. 

The Alberta Legislature is back, and Premier Danielle Smith is swinging at everyone in sight. This week, Cheryl and Erika debate the government’s plan to legislate teachers back to work, the unprecedented strike that led here, and what a “work-to-rule” classroom could look like for Alberta families. Plus, they dive into the province’s move toward two-tier healthcare and whether paying privately for MRIs and bloodwork will fix the system or quietly bleed it dry. And: the so-called “Wyant Report” the Premier’s office claims to be cleared of wrongdoing in Alberta’s health procurement scandal — except it wasn't. Cheryl unpacks what the report actually says, why journalists missed the story, and how the government’s spin turned into a masterclass in message control. 

Cheryl and Erika dive into Alberta’s two biggest brawls: Smith’s pipeline push and a teachers’ strike that’s testing parents’ patience (and the UCP’s polling). We unpack the real differences between TMX and the North Coast pipeline idea, what Premier Eby says is at risk in B.C., and why “fighting forever” might be the Alberta Premier’s political sweet spot. Bonus: the Grey Cup “grand bargain,” Keystone as a bargaining chip, and whether Ottawa will blink. Then we pivot to classrooms: hiring promises vs. classroom reality, what the ATA really wants (hint: more than a wage line), and why public sentiment could decide the outcome faster than any bargaining table can. We wrap with Alberta’s new license-plate pageant (Strong and Free meets shiny distraction) and a few spicy one-liners you’ll want to steal for your next dinner debate. 

Classrooms across Alberta could go quiet on October 6 as 50,000 teachers prepare to strike after rejecting a government offer of 12% over four years. We cut through the spin: pay vs. working conditions, class sizes, and what “more teachers and EAs” actually changes for kids. We also unpack the government’s stopgap—$150 per child under 12, per week—and whether that helps real families scrambling for care or just buys political cover. Then we zoom out: how big strikes reshape public opinion, what usually ends them, and why tone matters (including a viral town-hall moment where a moderator told a teen his parents should “spank him”). Finally, we check in on a slow-burning healthcare procurement controversy and why promised “interim reports” rarely see the light of day. 

Alberta wants to stamp “CAN” on your driver’s licence. Is this bold reform or a busywork boondoggle? We rip into the talking points, the "election integrity” spin, and the weird real-world places this could follow you (hotel desks, gym sign-ups, you name it), and does a digital wallet actually fix problems, and a three-letter badge doesn’t? Then we head to Ottawa, where Carney vs. Poilievre returns to center stage: has the tone shifted, is the “austerity + investment” budget a masterstroke or a trap, and is the honeymoon officially dead, or just getting interesting? We finish on Alberta’s municipal elections: parties on the ballot, polls in your feed, and a big shrug from voters. Who wins when nobody’s watching? 

Danielle Smith dropped her “Three Bad Laws” video before even sitting down with PM Mark Carney, then walked out sounding… optimistic. No heavy-oil pipeline on the major projects list, yet the tone flipped. Did she hear real movement on an emissions-cap rethink, EV timelines, or CCUS, and what does “climate competitiveness” actually signal? We unpack the strategy behind the Poilievre-style video, what it mobilizes (and what it doesn’t), and why the post-meeting vibes matter for Alberta. Then we wade into the week’s other bonfire: immigration. We separate math from memes (including that viral “15 million” claim), look at what TFWs actually account for, and ask how Alberta can match labour needs without lighting the culture war. Plus, inside the Alberta Next roadshow—consultation or content factory? If you want sharp, fact-grounded takes without the shouting, this one’s your episode.

It's been a jam-packed political week in Alberta and Ottawa. On this episode of The Discourse: The Book Ban Backlash — Alberta’s new “age-appropriate” policy sparks outrage as Edmonton Public Schools pulls 200 titles, including The Handmaid’s Tale. What’s censorship, what’s politics, and what’s really at stake? Teachers vs. the Government — With a strike looming, we break down what teachers want, what the government has offered, and how parents will be caught in the middle. Pierre Poilievre’s “Stand On Guard” Principle — Is Canada headed for Wild West politics, or is this just the latest Conservative stunt? Expect fireworks: Cheryl calls out government overreach, Erika goes deep on union politics, and the two clash over whether Alberta schools are truly in crisis. Check out Makami College's Applied Politics program here: https://makamicollege.com/programs/

Two former UCP MLAs spill the tea in an explosive conversation about why they ditched Danielle Smith’s party, and why they’re resurrecting the once-mighty Progressive Conservative brand as Alberta’s next political force. From backroom betrayals to policy blunders, they dish on everything the Premier is doing wrong, the skeletons she’d rather keep hidden, and how the Alberta Party is getting a very familiar rebrand. ⚠️ Warning: Pete Guthrie’s Wi-Fi didn’t quite survive the UCP exodus. His choppy video looks like it’s buffering straight out of 2006. (Don’t worry, the tea still pours scalding hot.)

The votes are in!- and while the UCP held ground, are there cracks showing? In this episode, we dig into Alberta’s latest by-elections and what they actually reveal about the political landscape. Nenshi’s landslide may have stolen headlines, but the real story is buried in Edmonton-Ellerslie and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Is the UCP leaking support in key bases? Is the NDP losing its grip on Edmonton? And what should we make of the Republicans pulling 18% in rural Alberta? Cheryl and Erika break it down — the good, the bad, and the quietly alarming for all three major parties. Also in this episode: 🗣️ Danielle Smith’s New Panel: Listening Tour or Soft Separatism?We dive into the latest “public consultation” from the Premier. The questions are leading, the framing is loaded, and the outcomes feel predetermined. Is this a legitimate engagement — or a reheated Fair Deal fantasy? 🧬 Inside Alberta’s Biomanufacturing PlaybookAndrew MacIsaac of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation joins us to explain how Alberta’s chemistry advantage could make us a national health security leader. From Turkish Tylenol to trade tariffs, he lays out the case for why homegrown pharma is the next economic frontier.

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes tackle three of the biggest political stories in Alberta, Canada — and beyond. 🎓 Segment 1: Teachers on the EdgeThe Alberta Teachers' Association delivers a stunning 99% strike vote. Cheryl defends their demands for classroom caps and support funding, while Erika goes off on unions and PD days. It’s heated, it's personal, and it’s the debate Alberta parents are already having. 🌍 Segment 2: G7 Summit BreakdownKananaskis gets the world stage. From Mark Carney’s statesmanlike debut to Danielle Smith's pro-oil charm offensive, we break down who won the global optics game.  📊 Segment 3: By-Election PredictionsWith three Alberta ridings up for grabs, we make bold predictions on whether the UCP can gain ground in Edmonton — and whether the Republican Party of Alberta is a punchline or a potential spoiler. Spoiler alert: Erika promises to shotgun a beer if they break 20%.

Four major pipelines. Billions in lost investment. A decade of political fights. And still, Canada can’t seem to build energy infrastructure. On this episode of The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika unpack why Canada keeps losing the pipeline wars and whether the political landscape may finally be shifting. With premiers suddenly talking about "economic corridors" and Mark Carney promising to fast-track projects, is there a narrow window for national energy projects to succeed? Joining the show is Gitane De Silva — former Deputy Minister in the Alberta government, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator, and someone who’s been inside the rooms where these make-or-break decisions happen. She pulls back the curtain on: Why so many projects (like Northern Gateway and Energy East) failed How First Nations consultation has (and hasn't) evolved What it would take to truly approve a major project in just two years The "chicken-and-egg" problem stopping private sector proponents from stepping up Plus: The political evolution of Wab Kinew, David Eby, and Danielle Smith on energy Cheryl and Erika debate who really "got a pipeline built" Why Alberta keeps demanding pipelines — and why the rest of Canada often tunes them out The famous bitumen bubble that still lives rent-free in Erika's head Advice to premiers ahead of the G7 summit — and how Trump’s temper still looms large

This week, we delve into the scandal that has rocked Alberta politics for more than a year — and we bring in the reporter who broke the story. The Globe and Mail's Carrie Tait joins us to break down: How the AHS scandal first came to light Why new delays in the government's investigation are raising eyebrows What journalists actually do behind the scenes to get these stories published Why this story still matters, and how far it could still go PLUS: We break down this week's First Ministers meeting in Saskatoon, where Mark Carney continues to rewrite the script on federal-provincial relations. Danielle Smith has pivoted — and looks surprisingly comfortable playing national stateswoman. Can she keep it up? AND: A rare stumble for the Carney Liberals: the government loses a House vote — but does it matter? If you want to understand where Alberta politics is heading — and how Ottawa and Edmonton are suddenly getting along — you won’t want to miss this one.

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika take you inside one of the most politically packed weeks in Canada—from royal pageantry to banned books to the high-stakes First Ministers' Meeting. 🫅 The King Reads the Script. Carney Steals the Show.For the first time since 1977, the monarch delivers Canada's Speech from the Throne. Cheryl and Erika break down the symbolism, the strategy, and whether Carney’s curtain-raising moment can carry him through a budget delay. 📚 Book Bans or Political Spin?Alberta’s government announces it's pulling “sexually explicit” books from schools. Erika says it's about protecting kids. Cheryl says it’s a smokescreen for censorship. Things get spicy. 🗳️ By-Elections Are On: Nenshi, Republicans, and Riding RealitiesThree Alberta by-elections are set. The NDP’s new leader is running. A separatist party is gaining steam. And conservatives are quietly eyeing gains in Edmonton. We name the ridings, the players, and the stakes. 🤝 First Ministers Meeting: Can Unity Survive the Photo Op?Western premiers show surprising alignment on economic corridors—but can that consensus hold in front of the cameras in Ottawa? Cheryl reflects on what’s real, what’s spin, and who’s most likely to break ranks for a soundbite. 💸 Travel Budget BlowbackA million-dollar increase in government travel—Erika wants to see ROI. Cheryl wants accountability. Both agree: this is one story that could snowball if the receipts aren’t tight.

This week on The Discourse, Erika Barootes and Cheryl unpack the two dominant themes in Alberta politics: scandal and separation—with a healthy side of political theater. We start with a deep dive into the UCP health procurement scandal. Alberta Health Services’ former CEO, Athena Mentzelopoulos, dropped a $1.7M lawsuit accusing the government of shady dealings with private surgical contracts. Now, former Chief of Staff Marshall Smith is punching back with a $12M defamation suit against Mentzelopoulos and the Globe and Mail. Is it a desperate move or a dangerous miscalculation? Then it’s on to Alberta’s separatist movement. Between the Republican Party of Alberta, the Alberta Prosperity Project, and Thomas Lukaszuk’s pro-Canada counter-petition, the province’s political fringes are making noise. But are they making sense? Erika and Cheryl discuss public sentiment, the real economic risks, and whether this movement has any legs beyond Facebook pages and town halls. We wrap with some spicy commentary on upcoming by-elections—especially the one in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, where Republican leader Cam Davies is running—and a questionable “MLA Dashboard” that outs politicians as separatists… according to who, exactly? 🔑 Topics Covered: UCP health procurement scandal: who’s suing whom and why Why Marshall Smith’s lawsuit might have backfired Separation anxiety: the rise of Alberta's independence movement Thomas Lukaszuk's surprising re-entry into the chat Political strategy vs. personal brand-building The most awkward "scorecard" in Alberta politics By-election battles that could change the game

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika go deeper into the wildfire of Western alienation that's setting inboxes, headlines, and political panels ablaze. With new separatist parties gaining steam and Danielle Smith refusing to pick a side, the Premier may be running out of room to maneuver—and that could be big trouble for the UCP come election time. The hosts break down: Why Alberta’s political culture is uniquely flammable—and why Danielle Smith keeps adding fuel. How a new federal cabinet and a looming by-election are turning up the heat on Premier Smith to finally pick a side. What the Saskatchewan NDP is doing right by reframing the separation debate—and why Alberta’s NDP should take notes. How government chaos inside the Alberta legislature is being buried by chaos outside it, and what consequential bills are slipping through the cracks. Plus: deputy minister shuffles, federal cabinet reactions, and a very honest trip down memory lane on the 10-year anniversary of Alberta’s NDP win. If you’re trying to keep up with the current pace of Alberta politics… good luck. But start here.