God willing, mass public outcry like the rallies and school walkouts we’ve seen over the past several days are going to kill Danielle Smith’s anti-trans policy push before it can become law in November.

But whatever happens, it’s time to call an end to something else: Danielle Smith’s ‘maverick libertarian’ brand.

In January, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and city council declared a housing and homelessness emergency. The very first bylaw that city manager Andre Corbould has come back with since then is a Public Spaces Bylaw that not only further criminalizes and punishes the poor and the homeless, but brings in harsh restrictions on political protest.

If you’re wondering who sent you that push-poll on abortion and ‘parental rights’ this week, corporate records have the answer: Alberta Blue Strategies, through their subsidiary, ‘National Public Research Canada.’ Alberta Blue Strategies is a conservative voter contact firm and call center run by Richard Dur. 

Jeremy Appel joins the pod to talk about his newly published book, Kenneyism: Jason Kenney's Pursuit of Power. We discuss how Jason Kenney's ghost continues to haunt us still and the effects his time in politics have wrought at the federal and provincial level. Also, you should buy the book.

Could former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi run for the leadership of the Alberta NDP? One of his closest friends and advisors is telling him to think about it. 

Edmonton libraries could be shut down as early as February 12 due to a strike or lockout. Most inside city of Edmonton workers including 911 operators, recreation centre workers and civilian police workers could be off the job as early as February 15.

Edmonton’s police commission, the body tasked with civilian oversight of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), held their monthly public meeting this Thursday, and the proceedings were tense. Eight different speakers from the public, all critical of Chief Dale McFee, his recent handling of encampment sweeps and his recently announced plans for an encampment crackdown, rose to protest EPS’ recent activities. Many of those same speakers interrupted Chief McFee’s report to the police commission and walked out after an extended verbal confrontation. 

The Edmonton Police Service promised Wednesday to accelerate the sweeps of encampments in the city, saying that they will be sending many of the displaced people to a “navigation and support centre” whose funding the UCP announced at the same press conference. 

Right in the middle of Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s grand speech during a two-day special council meeting he called in order to declare a housing and houseless emergency, Roy Cardinal led a walkout, in which he was joined by about 85 per cent of the public gallery.

As the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) were attempting to sweep the encampment at 95 Street and Rowland Road this week, a worker, hired by the city of Edmonton, took down a large sign on the corner of the property. He had to use a sledgehammer to get it down. The text on the sign: “Affordable Housing For Sale.”