Which candidate did the United Conservative Party parachute into the Edmonton-Meadows riding for the spring provincial election? What government bills prompted the NDP to mount filibusters, and how many hours did the longest marathon debate take? Who bragged about laying pipe during the televised leaders' debate? Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and National Post Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson as host Janet French tests their knowledge of the wacky year in provincial politics that was 2019. Good stuff from the Gallery Keith recommends Paul Wells’ take on the end of Andrew Scheer’s tenure as leader of the federal Conservatives, the tensions within the party and where the movement goes from here. Dave recommends a New York times interactive piece about how the opioid crisis affected people who came of age at the turn of the millennium. Janet wants you to listen to an emotional episode of the NPR podcast Hidden Brain, which explores choices about end-of-life care through the eyes of one family. Tyler enjoyed a ProPublica investigation into a lifelong con artist whose jailhouse snitching could lead to a man's execution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank goodness that’s over. Hansard scribes, security guards, clerks, press gallery members and, likely, many others are in for some relief after an intense fall sitting of the 30th legislature ended at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Join reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, legislature columnist Keith Gerein and host Janet French as they review a jammed eight-week sitting, stuffed with 16 pieces of government legislation, one private members' bill, and a bunch of motions and government announcements. The crew also discuss the tension between parties inside and outside the legislative chamber and some strained relationships between the provincial government and local governments, like city councils and school boards. Good stuff from the gallery Lisa was captivated by the recently published story, "Why some Muslim women take off the hijab," by Haneen Al-Hassoun. It's a "taboo and sensitive topic in the Muslim community — but it's a reality that can't be ignored," Al-Hassoun tweeted about the story. Dave recommends everyone watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which turns 30 this year, and have a read about why it’s an enduring Christmas classic. Janet, who misses interviewing non-politicians, recommends the first part of a Financial Post series by Geoffrey Morgan about the effects on small town Alberta of changes in the energy industry. Keith recommends a feature on how the federal government has been failing Afghan-Canadians who played a dangerous and vital role during our 10-year war against the Taliban. jfrench@postmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cupcake, anyone? We're celebrating an unbelievable 300th episode of the Press Gallery today, which adds up to at least 6,000 hours of Alberta politics analysis since this podcast began in 2013. Profuse thanks to all the listeners who have stuck with us through these whiplash-inducing six years in the legislature and beyond. This week, join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, business columnist David Staples, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they chat about the continuing fallout from government's firing of election commissioner Lorne Gibson and what that means for future investigations into people who break election law. They also tackle a newly announced freeze on new photo radar equipment and locations in Alberta while the province requests cities to conduct a standardized study to collect safety data. Finally, the panelists look at a few potentially awkward moves this week from the Opposition NDP. Then they stuff their faces with carrot cake cupcakes and some cookies thoughtfully sent along by recently departed host Emma Graney. The Press Gallery podcast was the brainchild of our brilliant former colleague, Sarah O'Donnell, who came up with the idea before podcasts were A Big Thing. Talented and delightful photojournalist Ryan Jackson initially set us up with the equipment to record the podcast back in 2013. Since then, our weekly gabfest had also been hosted by the formidable Mariam Ibrahim, then unforgettable Australian, Emma Graney. Our oft-suffering producer is Carson Jerema. Thank you to everyone who has appeared on, filmed or edited The Press Gallery over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It had a benign-sounding name: the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions and Government Enterprises Act. But Bill 22 caused a real ruckus this week, including allegations of government corruption and orations about threats to democracy. Among the reforms in this omnibus bill of administrative changes meant to save the government money was the termination of Alberta’s election commissioner. Regular podcast listeners will know that since his position was created in July 2018, election commissioner Lorne Gibson has-been investigating and penalizing dozens of election financing violations, many of them connected to the 2017 United Conservative Party leadership race. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, reporter Lisa Johnson and host Janet French as they review the fallout. The crew also also follows the latest developments on Bill 207, a controversial private members’ bill about health care workers’ conscience rights that could have implications for patient access to medical care. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also appointed his federal cabinet this week, and the panel reviews what his choices mean for Alberta. Good stuff from the gallery Lisa is excited after watching this trailer for the Mr. Rogers movie, Won't You Be My Neighbor (American spelling alert!), which is streaming on Netflix in Canada. Along with this great New York Times long read about Fred Rogers, it ought to restore a little bit of your faith in humanity — and get you primed for the Tom Hanks feature film A Beautiful Day. Dave recommends the HBO series Watchmen, which is a sort-of sequel to the original 1986 graphic novel. It's available on Crave in Canada, and the Journal's Fish Griwkowsky offered a write-up about what makes the series so good. One of the questions raised in Alberta politics this week was, can the lieutenant-governor refuse to grant a bill royal assent? Is it a thing that's done? National Post columnist Colby Cosh says, pffft — no. Janet wants you to read his column, A letter that should not exist: On Notley's obnoxious viceregal fantasy. Keith recommends a Washington Post feature on how the United States is attempting to combat a rural physician shortage using digital and video technology in a way that seems somewhat extreme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It may have been constituency week at the legislature, but things didn’t slow down for a moment in politics. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, National Post Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they dissect Premier Jason Kenney’s announcement of a panel that will test Albertans’ appetites for more autonomy, including ideas like an Alberta pension plan or independent provincial police force. The gang will also assess the fallout from another revelation of travel expenses by one of the premier’s senior advisers and dig into why Jason Kenney is trading barbs with the leader of the Bloc Quebecois. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was another breakneck week in Alberta provincial politics, and Premier Jason Kenney hit some turbulence on Thursday when the opposition revealed Albertans had paid more than $16,000 to fly him, three other "like-minded premiers," and some of their wives and staff on a charter plane from a Calgary meeting to the Council of the Federation gathering in Saskatoon last July. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they discuss the flight fallout, as well as more revelations trickling out from the provincial budget and a controversial new private members' bill that examines doctors' conscience rights. Good stuff from the gallery Lisa may have described this book, Trick Mirror, as being "about the internet," but it only uses social media as a jumping-off point for some engaging and ingenious essays. Maybe it's about how we see ourselves in the middle of a tornado of terrifying and distorted information bouncing and refracting all around us? Anyway, it's been touted as "an instant classic of the worst decade yet." Dave recommends a piece by Jen Gerson in Macleans magazine on why some Albertans are fed up with Canada. For this week's finest political theatre, Janet insists you watch the Thursday committee meeting in which Opposition leader Rachel Notley grills Premier Jason Kenney on the aforementioned flights and other executive council hires and expenses, and Kenney deftly lobs back some zingers. For the parents, Janet also recommends the Chicken Squad books by Doreen Cronin. They are short, yellow, fuzzy, and sharply humorous for the delight of both adults and kids. Keith is recommending two informative articles speculating on the political and economic implications of a radical idea gaining more traction in Alberta: pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan and establishing our own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a trying week for Alberta's public sector unions. The United Conservative Party government wants to make changes to their pension plans, amend the law to allow replacement workers, and cut 7.7 per cent of the public service by 2023. Then on Tuesday, Finance Minister Travis said public sector employers like Alberta Health Services and the government would be seeking wage cuts of two-to-five per cent when heading into arbitration hearings. Join reporter Lisa Johnson, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, legislature columnist Keith Gerein and host Janet French as they dive into the tension between unions and government, two omnibus bills that were tabled on Monday containing a laundry list of proposed tweaks and the government's new plan for Alberta's carbon tax on heavy industrial emitters. Good stuff from the gallery Season 5 of sitcom Schitt's Creek was recently released on Netflix, and Lisa has been watching it "with the vigour of a wartime radio operator" — to use a turn-of-phrase from the show's Moira Rose, played by the inimitable Catherine O'Hara. Good clean CanCon fun. Dave recommends Season 3 of Slate’s Slow Burn podcast, which focuses on the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. Janet recommends a masterful work of literary journalism from the 1990s she recently finished reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt. It explores the zany characters of Savannah, Georgia, and high-profile murder of an unsavoury chap. Keith is recommending an unusual whodunnit that also serves as a cautionary tale for anyone who books short-term accommodation rentals online. The Vice story tracks one woman’s investigation to discover how she was scammed on a trip to Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was practically no news in Alberta this week: A little federal election here, a long-awaited provincial budget there. Join legislature columnist Keith Gerein, reporter Moira Wyton, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they catch their breath from a week of sprinting between political news events. They'll talk about what Edmonton and Alberta voters chose in Monday's federal election, touch on highlights of the United Conservative Party government's first provincial budget and look more closely at some of the changes coming to Alberta post-secondary education as a result of that budget. As always, they've got Good Stuff from the Gallery recommendations: -Dave says people should check out the trailer for Postmedia's new true crime podcast, The Dark North, which launches Nov. 4, and focuses on the gangs of Montreal. Dave interviewed host and reporter Paul Cherry about the podcast and the most recent killing in Montreal's simmering mob war. -Keith recommends an eye-opening piece about how climate change, paired with political dysfunction, has the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in serious peril from rising sea levels. -Janet enjoyed a podcast from BBC Radio 4 called You're Dead to Me, described as "the history podcast for people who don't like history ... and those who do." A comedian and a historian pair up to deliver a crash course in a historical character or topic in a funny and engaging way. -Moira points to an urgent piece in the Star by Omar Mosleh about the atrocities and ongoing harm caused by one of the most deadly residential schools in Canada, right here in Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A packed week in Alberta politics culminated with a huge climate protest at the Alberta legislature as international figure and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg came to speak about the science of climate change. Join reporters Anna Junker and Jason Herring, managing editor Dave Breakenridge and host Janet French as they discuss the politics behind the climate protest, the latest local twist in the federal election campaign. They also look at a difficult day at the legislature when grieving families of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team pushed for an end to truck driver training exemptions. This week’s good stuff from the gallery should delight many of your senses. Jason recommends Two Hands, a new album by Brooklyn folk rock band, Big Thief. You can watch their first single, “Not,” on YouTube.  In the world of playlists and shuffled tracks, Dave makes a heartfelt pitch for the resurgence of the album, sparked by this blog post on A Journey of Musical Things. Janet recommends Jason Markusoff’s piece, Scrubbing the Oilsands Record, in Maclean’s magazine, which challenges the narrative that Alberta’s oil and gas are the cleanest in the world.  Anna thinks politics watchers will love The Politician, a Netflix comedy-drama satirical show starring Ben Platt and Gwyneth Paltrow.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta legislature grounds had a back-to-school feel this week as MLAs returned to the capital for the fall sitting of the government’s first session. As colourful leaves fluttered down, so did a few new pieces of legislation, with House Leader Jason Nixon pledging to introduce between 14 and 17 bills during the next nine weeks. Join reporter Moira Wyton, managing editor Dave Breakenridge, National Post reporter Tyler Dawson and host Janet French as they break down some political highlights from the week, including an unexpected piece of legislation to fire the board of Alberta’s real estate regulator.  We’ll also dive into the federal election's televised leadership debates — in English and French — to suss out if any of the contenders spared a thought Alberta’s way.  Finally, the UCP government now has a name for its promised war room, which is meant to combat what they say are unfair characterizations of Alberta’s oil and gas industry. We’ll talk about how the Canadian Energy Centre has been set up, who’s at the helm and what the government says it will do. Good Stuff from the Gallery. -Moira brings the ear candy with Pitchfork’s list of the 200 best songs of the 2010s  -Dave: The new season of Broken Record is out.  -If climate change is a major issue for you as you mull your federal election vote, Janet recommends this Maclean’s piece by energy economist Andrew Leach and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, who rated the major parties’ climate plans for ambition and feasibility. -If you're a fan of fantasy, you'll want to check out the latest in the Philip Pullman His Dark Materials canon. The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass came out ages ago. Last year, a new novel came out. Last week, The Secret Commonwealth came out. It's set after The Amber Spyglass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Alberta's budget now confirmed for Oct. 24, the government this week floated a couple of snippets at the AUMA convention about what we might see in the UCP's first set of complete fiscal plans. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and guests Moira Wyton, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about what else happened at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association convention in Edmonton. The team also takes you to what might be the oddest political press conference of 2019 thus far, and visits the court decision that granted B.C. a temporary injunction against Alberta's so-called turn-off-the-taps legislation. Good Stuff from the Gallery Dave's pick: Listen Up, a new podcast with the lads from Oasis. Keith's pick: This excellent piece on the Burnaby North-Seymour riding in Vancouver, the epicentre of the Trans Mountain pipeline battle. Emma's pick: Emma suggests you go visit Chobe National Park in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zambia. Failing that, she'd like you to read How The West Was Lost by Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo. Moira's pick: Moira has a couple of intertwined recommendations for you this week, both revolving around the film Hustlers — this 2015 piece from The Cut called The Hustlers At Scores, and this read on HuffPost about how Canadian sex workers felt about the movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney recently visited New York hoping to sell Alberta to investors. Join Dave Breakenridge, Janet French and Keith Gerein as they talk about Kenney's American travels. The team also talks about rural policing, and news that a lawsuit over gay-straight alliances has been dropped. Regular host Emma Graney was busy chasing elephants this week, but will hopefully return soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Alberta premier Jason Kenney got into a war of words with Amnesty International. Kenney's colourful letter made full use of his thesaurus. Our regular host Emma Graney is away this week. Join Dave Breakenridge, Janet French, Clare Clancy in Edmonton and Chris Varcoe in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big news out of Alberta politics this week was, of course, the MacKinnon panel report, which is slated to guide the UCP's spending over the party's four-year mandate as government. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and the Calgary Herald's Chris Varcoe to unpack the 26 recommendations, what it means for Alberta, provincial policy and the path to balance. The team also takes a look at transparency, possible legislation out of the report and the political fallout. The Press Gallery also farewells a very special podcast pal (we're not crying, you're crying). Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: With the death of former Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe, Clare recommends you read When a Crocodile Eats the Sun, a memoir of Africa by journalist Peter Godwin. Emma's pick: Emma recommends you dive into the excellent multi-part series from The Walrus, which details seven cases of corruption around the world. Dave's pick: Dave recommends a disturbing but important read from The Atlantic, called Why Don’t Police Catch Serial Rapists? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two flimsy, stapled pages formed the entirety of the province's first-quarter fiscal update this week, leading Alberta politics watchers to wonder — where's the rest? Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein and Clare Clancy to dive into what that was such an odd turn of events, and what it means for Alberta. The team also tackles two new auditor reports released this week, and drags education reporter Janet French into the studio to talk seclusion rooms and school funding challenges. Good stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This incredible long read from Elle magazine about two sisters and the terrorist that came between them. Emma's pick: For the science nerds among us, Emma recommends the excellent Washington Post Moonrise podcast, which tells the tale of nuclear brinkmanship, backroom politics, and science fiction — all thanks to mankind's race to the moon. Keith's pick: This fascinating long read out of the UK about folks who are decidedly ungrateful for their social worker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs for short) have undergone an overhaul by the UCP government, with 61 new appointments all at once. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney (who apologizes for her singing) and guests Clare Clancy and Keith Gerein to talk about what the thwack of changes means for Alberta politics. The team also takes a look at developments on the education file around the curriculum, and a potential change to property tax laws for cannabis producers. Good stuffy from the gallery Clare's pick: This is one of the best podcast episodes Clare has ever heard — so you know it's good. Called 'The right to be forgotten,' by Radiolab, it takes a look at why some journalists are unpublishing stories from the internet. Emma's pick: This excellent read from Drew Anderson at CBC Calgary, who used court documents to fully explain the allegations around Jeff Callaway's UCP leadership campaign. Keith's pick: This fascinating piece in Esquire about a detective who only finds missing million-dollar cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minimum wage gets a panel! Alberta's finances get a panel! You ALLLLLL get a panel! Such was the case in Alberta politics this week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about panels galore, and take a brief look at what legislation is ahead for the UCP government. Good stuff from the gallery Clare's pick: Clare wants you to listen to the Reply All podcast. Specifcially, this awesome episode called The Crime Machine. Emma's pick: Emma recommends this excellent and relevant deep dive by Journal reporter Liane Faulder about conversion therapy in Alberta. Dave's pick: Dave thinks you should go and check out as many Edmonton Fringe Festival shows as you possibly can. You can find the Journal team's swath of show reviews online here at the edmontonjournal.com, and maybe find your next favourite act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure, it was a four-day week in the middle of summer, but that didn't stop MLAs from giving themselves a five per cent pay cut and Premier Jason Kenney from celebrating his first 100 days in office. Join host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk all things Alberta politics, and find out why former U.S. president Roosevelt ended up in the discussion this week. We also have a very special interview with departing editor Sarah O'Donnell (*Emma starts crying*), without whom The Press Gallery wouldn't even exist. Good Stuff from the Gallery Keith's pick: Keith would like you to read the editorials that earned Sarah O'Donnell a national newspaper award. Emma's pick: Off the back of a recent recommendation by Press Gallery regular Clare Clancy about young women becoming Catholic nuns, Emma's pick is along a similar vein but takes us to India where more young people are becoming Jain monks. Dave's pick: Dave recommends you drive across Canada and check out all the awesome stuff our wonderful country has to offer. Here are some tips from Culture Trip if you need them. Sarah's (final) pick: Keep on reading the Edmonton Journal (we're not crying YOU'RE crying). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It might be summer, but that doesn't mean Alberta politics is taking time off. Instead, it headed to court this week where Justice Eric Macklin granted an injunction against Bill 9, the UCP government's controversial labour law. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Sarah O'Donnell to dive into why, and what that means for unions waiting in the wings. The team also takes on recent developments in the Chicago Principles kerfuffle and an appointment to the war room. Good Stuff from the Gallery Janet's pick: This disturbing read from Toronto Life about greed, betrayal and medical misconduct. Sarah's pick: Sarah would like you to listen to these two awesome Planet Money podcast instalments about recycling, episodes 925 and 926. And if it's not going to leave you awake at night, she also recommends the Amazon TV series The Man In The High Castle. Emma's pick: On a lighter note, Emma recommends you all delight in the new Wigan Athletic football team mascot — Crusty, the giant pie. You can read about Crusty and his creators Caydenm (8) and Neve (9) here on Wigan Today, and about fan reactions to the mascot here on The Sun. Clare's pick: This jaw-dropping read from The Cut about a Harvard law professor, titled The Most Gullible Man in Cambridge. egraney@postmedia.com twitter.com/EmmaLGraney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new UCP government this week reversed an NDP decision around Alberta's electricity market, announcing the province will stick with an energy-only market. Confused as to what that means? You're not alone. It's outrageously complex. Join host Emma Graney who tries to explain it all with the help of guests Sarah O'Donnell and Clare Clancy. The team also takes a look at Alberta's sunshine list and the latest in party fundraising totals. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Clare recommends two things this week. First up, Emma Graney's deep dive into the work of Janice MacKinnon who is overseeing a panel about Alberta's finances ("Thanks, Clancy!" - Emma.) She also recommends this horrifying read from The Guardian about the rise of domestic killings using the defense of a "sex game gone wrong." Emma's pick: Not to be outdone, Emma also recommends two things this week. Firstly, this amusing Washington Post interview with the graphic designer behind a parody presidential seal mistakenly used at a Trump speech this week. Also, she thinks you should absolutely go watch the Good Omens television series on Amazon. Sarah's pick: Sarah also jumps aboard the multiple recommendations train this week, but wins with three. She recommends the This Sounds Serious podcast, Elise Stolte's column about Edmonton drawing a line on urban sprawl, and — for the power geeks — the AESO real-time electricity tracker. egraney@postmedia.com twitter.com/EmmaLGraney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigations into the 2017 UCP leadership race continued to make headlines in Alberta politics this week, with the elections commissioner slapping one-time candidate Jeff Callaway with $70,000 in fines for his campaign. The Journal also revealed two more UCP MLAs interviewed by police in the RCMP investigation into alleged voting irregularities in the 2017 race. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Sarah O'Donnell to talk about those developments. The team also delves into the syphilis outbreak declared this week in Alberta, and developments in the Persons with Developmental Disabilities file. Good Stuff from the Gallery Keith's pick: This deep dive explainer in Maclean's about the Jeff Callaway campaign donations. Clare's pick: A fun recommendation from Clare this week is the podcast The Moment, from Wondery. It's a podcast about love. Clare particularly recommends the Taylor Swift episode. Emma's pick: Emma recommends the book 'Minding the Public Purse.' It's by Janice MacKinnon, the former finance minister currently reviewing Alberta's finances. Oh, and check out the highlights from the cricket world cup final, too. Sarah's pick: Sarah has a whole series from the Toronto Star she'd love you to read. They all dive into the highest-billing doctors in Ontario. You can find them here, here and here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yahoo, another set of politicians played dress up at Calgary Stampede this week ahead of the premiers meeting in Saskatoon. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to discuss everything pancake-related, and what Premier Jason Kenney brought to the table when premiers hung out in Calgary and later in Saskatchewan. The team also takes a look at the latest in pre-election stumping by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, and gives a rundown of what happened in the spring session. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: An astounding read from HuffPost about how more young women want to become Catholic nuns. Keith's pick: This excellent long read called Searching for Keith (no, not our Keith, but a guy who went missing off a sailing vessel). Emma's pick: This intriguing read from BBC News about how Norway's approach to jails and criminals is reducing recidivism at an impressive rate. Dave's pick: This story about the Bowie classic Space Oddity, about how the song became a cultural icon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hating on oil? Premier Jason Kenney will not be putting up with that, thank you very much, announcing this week his government will conduct an inquiry into alleged foreign-funded attacks on Alberta's energy industry. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to delve into why that inquiry is happening and what it means for Alberta. The team also takes a look at Alberta's longest-ever sitting day via NDP concerns with education Bill 8 (or "Bill H8," as the opposition likes to call it), the kerfuffle over the true state of Alberta's finances and what's happening with Kenney's promised 10 per cent pay cut. Good Stuff from the Gallery Keith's pick: Keith has two interesting reads for you this week. The first is from Macleans, about the recent Hong Kong protests. The other piece is a gobsmacking read from the Washington Post about Florida's iguana infestation. Clare's pick: This super interesting read in the New Yorker about what medical science is doing to try and cure phantom itches. Emma's pick: The fascinating Netflix documentary called Sour Grapes, about a high-priced wine scam. Dave's pick: The excellent album Lux Prima.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jason Kenney wants Albertans to elect their senators again, no matter what the federal government thinks. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keioth Gerein and Dave Breakridge to chat about what that means and why it's a whole... thing. The team also takes on the Western Premiers' meeting and changes to the oil industry this week. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This awesome episode of the excellent podcast Reply All, called Dark Pattern, about the invisible maze, designed to trick millions of people out of their money. Keith's pick: This fascinating read about a massive nuclear waste site being developed in Finland. Emma's pick: This fantastic documentary about the Australian cricket ball-tempering scandal, called Crossing the Line. Dave's pick: The disturbing podcast about the Golden State Killer called Man in the Window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fourth and final chapter of our special series on the Alberta election, Emma explains how Jason Kenney was able to win so convincingly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government approved the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (again) this week, but Premier Jason Kenney was not jumping for joy. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and guests Keith Gerein, Janet French and Dave Breakenridge to talk about why. The team also takes a look at this week's passage of Bill 9 and why the government didn't want to hear about it (very literally), and a new immigration office announced by the UCP. Good Stuff from the Gallery Keith's pick: Keith's digging on another John Ivison column this week, this time on the Scheer climate plan giving voters expressions of concern with no actual cost. Janet's pick: This fascinating article on Toronto's Stronach family and their $500-million family feud. Emma's pick: Getting far away from Alberta politics, Emma recommends the YA novel Cinder by Marissa Meyer — a retelling of Cinderella featuring cyborgs, robots and a handsome prince. Dave's pick: This gob-smacking read in The Atlantic, What Really Happened to Malaysia’s Missing Airplane.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money, money, money was on the mind of the Alberta legislature this week as the United Conservative government introduced its interim supply bill. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk numbers and go over exactly why unions are unimpressed with the government this week. The team also takes a look at a couple of backbencher bills and the committee that oversees them. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This project from the LA Times called The man in the window, about the golden state serial killer. Keith's pick: This piece from John Ivison in the National Post about some of the exciting goings-on in Ottawa. Emma's pick: This fascinating read in Washingtonian magazine by a mom whose 13-year-old son joined the alt-right movement. Dave's pick: This heartbreaking piece from the New York Times, The Day the Music Burned, about the biggest disaster in the history of the music business — the 2008 Universal fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta legislature broke a record for the longest Wednesday sitting in provincial history this week, and Press Gallery host Emma Graney was there watching... for some of it, anyway. Join Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Sarah O'Donnell to discuss why on earth Alberta MLAs were in the house for a full 24 hours. The team also dives into changes around the Education Act and what the report on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls means for Alberta. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Season 4 of the awesome podcast series called Ear Hustle, which is recorded in prison. Janet's pick: This fascinating piece from The Star on something called atmospheric rivers, and how they're changing . Emma's pick: This book by former Obama advisor Dan Pfeiffer called Yes we (still) can, about journalism and social media in the age of Trump. Sarah's pick: This series on sexual violence and policing in remote Alaska, called Lawless. It's a partnership between ProPublica and Anchorage Daily News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kenney was elected premier of Alberta on April 16 after a bitterly fought campaign. But the journey started nearly three years ago. This special series from the Press Gallery, the Edmonton Journal’s long-running politics podcast, will give listeners a deep dive into Alberta’s 2019 election. Chapter 3 focuses on the NDP campaign and whether or not the election was lost before the writ was even dropped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the wildfire situation in Northern Alberta worsens, the United Conservative Party is fighting political fires of its own. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to take a dive into the appointment of a special prosecutor in the RCMP investigation into the UCP leadership race, and the new elections commissioner investigation facing UCP MLA Peter Singh. The team also looks at the fires Health Minister Tyler Shandro tried to put out this week — and why the phrase "In due course" was trending on Twitter. Good Stuff from the Gallery Janet's pick: The wonderful children's book series about families (comes with bonus magic tricks!) called Magic misfits, by Neil Patrick Harris. Keith's pick: This piece in the Globe and Mail by economist Trevor Tombe, about why Alberta's carbon tax is not, in fact, dead. Emma's pick: Not at all political, this Netflix documentary about body building, called Generation Iron 3. Dave's pick: This awesome new podcast called Defence Watch, which takes us behind the curtain of Canada’s special forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kenney was elected premier of Alberta on April 16 after a bitterly fought campaign. But the journey started nearly three years ago. This special series from the Press Gallery, the Edmonton Journal’s long-running politics podcast, will give listeners a deep dive into Alberta’s 2019 election. Chapter 2 focuses on the UCP leadership campaign, the surrounding controversies and the role it played in the election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your dragon show has ended but the 30th legislature of Alberta has just begun, kicking off this week with the speech from the throne. Join host Emma Graney with guests Janet French, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to take a look at what was in that speech, what we can expect and what that means for Alberta. The team also visits new standing orders that will change some of the rules that govern the house. Desk-thumping? Yeah, you won't hear that anymore if the UCP gets its way. Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: This excellent and completely bananas podcast called The Shrink Next Door. But before you get to that, give this piece about Middle Eastern representation in Hollywood on The Ringer a read, and listen to Vampire Weekend's new album Father of the Bride. Keith's pick: This profile on Ed Whittingham, the former Alberta Energy Regulator director Jason Kenney promised to fire. Emma's pick: This super interesting read from Mosaic about how Iceland solved its teen substance abuse problem. Janet's pick: Channeling the spirit of regular Press Gallery guest Clare Clancy and her own education reporter role, Janet recommends this NPR podcast about the overlooked factors that lead to success in education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kenney was elected premier of Alberta on April 16 after a bitterly fought campaign. But the journey started nearly three years ago. This special series from the Press Gallery, the Edmonton Journal's long-running politics podcast, will give listeners a deep dive into Alberta's 2019 election. Host Emma Graney and others from the Edmonton Journal politics team will delve into how Kenney was able to cobble together an agreement that unified the Progressive Conservative and the Wildrose parties, before eventually leading the United Conservatives to a landslide victory. We will explore some of the major themes and controversies of the election, including the RCMP investigation into the UCP leadership race that saw Kenney win, the central place GSAs and LGBTQ issues played in the campaign and the importance of renewing Alberta's oil dependent economy in the minds of voters. We will also discuss what, if anything, the NDP could have done differently to stave off the UCP machine. Chapter 1 focuses on Kenney's arrival in Alberta and his ultimately successful pitch to lead the Progressive Conservative party in August 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Alberta heads into the May long weekend, the UCP lifted restrictions around booze consumption in provincial parks. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Elise Stolte, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about those changes, the schedule of business tax cuts released this week, and what we can expect when session begins next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has appointed a panel to find ways to balance the budget, but without raising taxes. Join guest host Sarah O'Donnell, Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge as they discuss this, the UCP's plan to encourage free speech on universities, and Derek Fildebrandt's colourful goodbye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta has a new cabinet, sworn in at Government House in Edmonton this week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Don Braid, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about who was appointed and why. The team also delves into Premier Jason Kenney's problems with federal bills C-69 and C-48, and the implications of Alberta's proclamation of Bill 12, known as turn of the taps legislation.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United Conservative Party prepares to govern from next week, head-scratching over the implications of its first promise — to scrap the carbon tax — has already begun. Join host Emma Graney with guests Paige Parsons, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to take a look at what's worrying municipalities and the potential implications for new in-situ oil projects in Alberta. The team also talks new MLAs — and the case of the two Nixon brothers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming April 24: There hasn’t yet been a podcast dedicated to a wide range of Canadian business stories. We want to change that.  Down to Business is a new podcast devoted to what you need to know about Canadian business this week in under 30 minutes. Hosted by the Financial Post's Emily Jackson. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election 2019 is finally done. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney and her equally tired guests Sarah O'Donnell, Clare Clancy and Keith Gerein to discuss what the UCP victory means for Alberta and relationships outside our provincial borders, delve into some cabinet speculation and give a quick update on the Peter Singh file.  Good Stuff from the Gallery is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kenney has led the UCP to a majority government, defeating Rachel Notley's NDP. The Press Gallery team analyzes results from the night and discusses what's next for Alberta's new government. Dave Breakenridge, Clare Clancy and Keith Gerein are in Edmonton. Emma Graney joins the panel from Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the election drags into its final days and Albertans prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, the Press Gallery team takes a look back at the campaign so far. Join host Emma Graney and guests Elise Stolte, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about the highs, the lows, the polls, the vibe in rural Alberta and what the last few days days of the election might look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta election heads into the homestretch. Jason Kenney is still ahead in the polls despite a campaign filled with constant scandal. Emma Graney joined the UCP leader for a few days through southern Alberta. From Calgary she talks to Dave Breakenridge in Edmonton about the state of the UCP campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders debate! More candidate controversies! (This time about bigoted remarks and conversion therapy.) Kamakazie updates! The Independence Party! Election Week 3 has had it all, and the Press Gallery team is here to talk you through it. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about all the goings on from the campaign trail, and hear how Emma's brother used to apologize to her as a kid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both the NDP and UCP have released their full platforms as we reach the halfway mark of the campaign. Dave Breakenridge and Keith Gerein explain the details behind both platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Alberta election now in its second week, the Press Gallery team take a look at the big platform promises, the tone and some of the controversies that have marked the campaign thus far. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Sarah O'Donnell and Keith Gerein to talk about all that and more as Alberta prepares to head to the polls on April 16. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A United Conservative Party government would proclaim a seven-year-old piece of education legislation, turfing some legal protections for Alberta LGBTQ students and school staff introduced by the NDP government, Jason Kenney announced Monday. Join Dave Breakenridge and Janet French as they dive into the details of the far reaching education platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little thing happened in Alberta politics this week. It was called the writ drop — and that means voters head to the polls April 16. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with a table of over-excited political guests to talk about the first few days of the campaign trail. Graney, Keith Gerein, Sarah O'Donnell and Clare Clancy also examine the latest in leaked emails that detail the links between the UCP leadership campaigns of Jason Kenney and Jeff Callaway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Albertans will head to the polls April 16, after Rachel Notley called an election Tuesday. This week regular Press Gallery panelist Dave Breakenridge is sitting in the interviewer's chair.  He is joined by legislative reporter Clare Clancy who gives us an overview of what to expect during the 28 day campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The RCMP is investigating allegations a leadership candidate for the UCP party was illegally funded, according to a report Friday.  It’s been alleged by one-time UCP insiders that party operative Jeff Callaway ran as a so-called kamikaze candidate during the 2017 leadership race to undermine Jason Kenney’s main rival, former Wildrose leader Brian Jean. Join Sarah O'Donnell, Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge as they parse the allegations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With farms across the country marking Canadian Agricultural Safety Week this week, the Press Gallery Interview has a chat with Alberta's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier. Join host Emma Graney as Carlier talks farm safety, the canola conundrum with China and his thoughts on the UCP proposal to scrap Bill 6. You'll also discover how the minister lost some teeth in a farming accident many moons ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Press Gallery host Emma Graney and the Edmonton Journal's Janet French took a deep dive into the provincial carbon tax this week, looking at exactly where all the cash has been spent. Join them and guests Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about the tax, the host of policies unveiled this week in the run-up to the spring election, and a bizarre and somewhat creepy video posted online by Jason Kenney's office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's third-quarter fiscal update this week wasn't as horrible as we imagined, but that didn't exactly make it good news. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Sarah O'Donnell as they dive into those numbers. The team also takes a look at new UCP election promises around immigration, and fines related to an investigation into the Jeff Callaway alleged kamikaze UCP leadership campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Wildrose press secretary Vitor Marciano joins Emma Graney. Marciano gives his take on where the future of Alberta politics is headed, and explains why he doesn't see eye to eye with Jason Kenney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The cash cow being talked about in Alberta politics this week was nothing to do with oil — it was photo radar, and a long-awaited report into the practice that was finally released by government. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Paige Parsons, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to discuss government's plans to have municipalities prove they're using radar to improve safety, not just generate revenues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United Conservative Party deputy leader Leela Aheer talks election strategy and her views, her pro choice views and recruiting more women into politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The spring election hasn't even been called yet, but that didn't stop the NDP unveiling a new website attacking UCP leader Jason Kenney and Kenney unveiling a raft of policy platforms. Take a deep breath, Alberta politics fans, and join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Sarah O'Donnell to talk about those developments. And don't think the Alberta Party manages to miss out — no, no. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta education minister David Eggen joins education reporter Janet French. Eggen explains why he thinks the government's curriculum is necessary. Plus Janet's consults a magic eight ball (app) to look into Eggen's future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the crew talks about Bill C-69, complaints about oil curtailments from Suncor, and, of course, Alberta's Phoney War election period. Sarah O'Donnell is joined in studio by Dave Breakenridge and Clare Clancy and by Chris Varcoe in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legislative reporter Clare Clancy sat down with Culture and Tourism Minister Ricardo Miranda to talk about his experience as Alberta's first openly gay cabinet minister, and issues he's dealt with in the past year such as Calgary's Olympic bid. They also chatted about the upcoming election after two NDP MLAs in Calgary said they wouldn't be running. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's panel discusses the orphan wells supreme court decision and where Alberta needs to go next, the NDP decision to ease back curtailment, and an errant tweet sent by UCP candidate Michaela Glasgo on the size of her church's carbon tax bill. Sarah O'Donnell is once again filling hosting duties, and is joined by Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and Chris Varcoe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NDP Transportation Minister Brian Mason joins Emma Graney on this this week's interview. The long time MLA and for party leader is retiring this spring, and he reflects on years fighting in opposition trenches before capping his career in government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Sarah O'Donnell fills in as host and is helped along the way with Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge. The Gallery tackles the controversy swirling around where UCP leader Jason Kenney lived while a federal MP. The team also looks at party fundraising and high profile NDP MLAs who will not be running in the upcoming election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Jeneroux, the Conservative MP for Edmonton Riverbend, stops by the studio this week for a wide ranging interview to talk about a busy year ahead in the world of federal and provincial politics. What does Jeneroux think of the idea of Alberta separation? How would a Conservative government in Ottawa have the country further ahead on pipelines? What is the party's alternative to a carbon tax when it comes to fighting climate change? Take a listen to the episode to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in Alberta politics saw the release of the 2019 legislature session calendar (there will be a throne speech, mark it down for March 18) and more shenanigans added to the ever-growing list of political intrigue in the lead-up to the election. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein, Clare Clancy and Dave Breakenridge to talk about what the session calendar means for election timing, and go over the four biggest instances of internal party chicanery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edmonton's mayor sat down with city columnist Elise Stolte for this week's The Press Gallery interview, pondering the risks for Edmonton in this upcoming provincial election, explaining the math behind the new provincial city funding deal, and taking a stand on the carbon tax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bighorn Country proposal rocketed into Alberta Politics news this week, starting with Environment Minister Shannon Phillips cancelled public consultations citing security concerns and ending with demands for her resignation. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Elise Stolte to talk about how and why the issue got out of hand. The team also chats about the Case of the Missing Photo Radar Report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regular Press Gallery listeners will recognize this week's interviewee, who sits down to talk with host Emma Graney about being one of Canada's newest senators and what exactly happened with the vote on Bill c-69. Independent Alberta Senator Paula Simons joins us for the first Press Gallery Interview of 2019 to talk about life in the centre block and why Twitter caused her to miss out on sandwiches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of 2019, the Press Gallery podcast team takes a look at the ream of official complaints being filed inside the world of Alberta politics. Over Christmas we had the UCP lodge an official complaint to the Election Commissioner about foreign funding to left-leaning third-party advertiser Progress Alberta, and Freedom Conservative leader Derek Fildebrandt doing the same about a donation in kind he made to Jason Kenney. Then, to kick off the new year, Alberta Party MLA Karen McPherson comp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery’s final episode of 2018 features a chat with a man who is under fire for the struggles of Alberta’s energy industry: Amarjeet Sohi. The Trudeau government’s natural resources minister has been in the spotlight since July, when he was appointed to the role that is overseeing the (delayed) construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Sohi talks about Ottawa’s progress on conducting “meaningful” consultations with Indigenous communities needed to get the pipeline back o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As is the tradition for the final Press Gallery panel podcast of the year, this week the team looks back at 2018 for the annual news quiz. Join host and quizmaster Emma Graney with contestants Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to find out who remembers the most about what happened over the past 12 months in Alberta politics. Play along at home to pit your wits against Edmonton Journal politicos. Merry Christmas and happy new year from all of us in the Press Gallery studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall legislative session is over, but the oil price crash and its impact on Canadian coffers is nowhere near done. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Chris Varcoe, Dave Breakenridge and Keith Gerein to talk about Premier Rachel Notley's decision to curtail oil production, what that means for Alberta and reaction from the oil and gas sector. The team also takes a look at a couple of United Conservative nomination races in Calgary — Peter Singh, who is accused of buying votes with cash an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan joins host Keith Gerein. Leading a party in a fight for its political life, Khan discusses how he hopes to attract Albertans' attention in the next election with a unique platform, the prospects of a merger with the Alberta Party, and his party's relationship with the federal Liberals. The conversation delves into health care issues, particularly wait times for ambulance crews and whether decriminalization could be a solution to the opioid crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between the oil differential and Premier Rachel Notley's commitment to buying rail cars to ship black gold, it was oil, oil, oil in Alberta politics this week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Chris Varcoe, Dave Breakenridge and Keith Gerein to talk about what's happening with the glut and what all this means for the province's coffers. Speaking of oil prices and the hit to the Alberta's books, Edmonton and Calgary will see their funding tied to provincial revenues under a new deal inked th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former backbench NDP MLA Robyn Luff has sparked a debate on the role of parties in Alberta politics. Luff began the fall session by refusing to sit in the legislature, protesting what she called a “culture of fear and intimidation” in the NDP that doesn’t let MLAs properly represent their constituents. In a series of open letters, Luff outlined her complaints against party brass, including Premier Rachel Notley, and said she wouldn’t return until the culture changed. She was booted from the party Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rural crime reports are the hottest new thing in Alberta politics — the NDP has a strategy and the UCP and federal Conservatives each have a report about their planned approaches to tackle rural crime. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein, Dave Breakenridge and Juris Graney to take a closer look at what that means for Albertans. The team also discusses the latest developments in MLA harassment, Robyn Luff's return to the house and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's vis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deputy premier Sarah Hoffman has been an avid listener of the Press Gallery podcast, and so we hoped to have her on as our first ever guest for the new Press Gallery Interview format we launched last month. Scheduling difficulties couldn't make that happen, but she is the first woman to join us on the show. This week she stops by the Edmonton Journal studio to talk about her role as the "attack dog" for the NDP government, concern over rising wait times for some health services and controversy over Covenan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gay-straight alliances in schools, UCP member John Carpay comparing the rainbow flag to the swastika, and yet another crash in oil prices — it's been a strange old week in Alberta politics. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and Sarah O'Donnell to take a look at the week that was, and what it all means for Alberta politics. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Season 3 of Life and Death Row, currently playing on Netflix, which explores the plan to exe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keith Gerein talks with the MLA from Vermilion-Lloydminster — Richard Starke. Starke has seen the legislature from virtually all sides. He was both a backbencher and cabinet minister in the former Progressive Conservative government, was part of an opposition caucus, and now sits as an independent MLA after deciding not to join the United Conservative Party. From those vantage points, Starke has seen a rise in hyper-partisanship in recent years, an issue highlighted this session by former NDP MLA Robyn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta politics this week wasn't dominated by legislation and debate — it was Calgary-East MLA Robyn Luff who captured attention with her protest about treatment at the hands of NDP brass. Luff went public with her complaints about message control, whipped votes and bullying on Monday, and developments continued all week. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Elise Stolte to talk about Luff and changes to municipal election finance laws. The team also takes on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UCP house leader Jason Nixon, the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre joins host Keith Gerein in the studio to cover a variety of topics. Nixon discusses why he's been the only party leader (so far) talking to the media during the fall session, and offers his views on how the UCP is handling people with extreme views who seem to be attracted to the party. Health care wait times are also on the agenda, along with a new legislature drama involving an NDP backbencher who alleges bullying and intimidat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

With the federal government buying up the Kinder Morgan pipeline this week, we just couldn't help but use a Kinder Surprise pun in this week's episode. We're only human. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Keith Gerein, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to discuss that giant development on the pipeline file this week. The team also takes a look at the deal the province signed with doctors this week and the long-awaited apology offered by Premier Rachel Notley to Sixties Scoop survivors. Good St Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta was the party pooper at the Western Premiers' Conference in Yellowknife this week, and it's all thanks to pipelines. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge and Paula Simons to talk about why Premier Rachel Notley dissed the conference and sent her deputy instead, and why Alberta refused to sign onto the meeting's communique to Ottawa. The team also takes a look at why British Columbia is suing Alberta, and a recent NDP government hire that has the opposition seeing red. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kenney said he wanted to "raise the bar" of political decorum, but apparently that means insulting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — if the opposition leader's comments this week are anything to go by. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about those remarks and this week's head-scratching Alberta visit by the PM.  And of course, it wouldn't be Alberta politics if there wasn't something that happened around the Trans Mountain pi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The founding United Conservative Party convention drew thousands of partisans to Red Deer last weekend and dominated talk in the Alberta legislature for the rest of the week. Join Press Gallery host and provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Sarah O'Donnell to chat about the resolutions, the vibe and what it all means politically. The team also talks us through the most recent changes being proposed to Alberta's election finance laws.  Good Stuff from the Galle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Press Gallery podcast team to talk about an unusual event in Alberta politics this week, when United Conservative Party MLAs walked out of two votes on a bill that will create protest-free bubble zones around abortion clinics.  It wasn't exactly unexpected, but it was quite the sight. Host Emma Graney takes a look at the political implications of that walk out (and sings Jason Aldean's Walking Away very badly) along with podcast guests Clare Clancy, Dave Breakenridge and Graham Thomson.  The te Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The University of Alberta's decision to award scientist David Suzuki an honorary doctorate caused quite the kerfuffle this week in Alberta politics. For once, Premier Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Jason Kenney were on the same page — neither of them support the appointment.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Dave Breakenridge and Keith Gerein to talk about the honorary degree debate and the political undertones of the whole brouhaha.  The team also takes on the latest devel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week in Alberta politics, and yet more developments in the Trans Mountain pipeline skirmish with British Columbia.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the new oil control legislation introduced in the house Monday, a meeting with the Prime Minister, and the latest comments from Kinder Morgan. OH! And a poll. About pipelines. Because it's all pipelines, all the time. The team also has a chat about a handful of Alberta MLAs wh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we discuss the ongoing Trans Mountain pipeline saga, and how Jason Kenney and the rest the United Conservative Party won't be voting on on Bill 9 which would create buffer zones around abortion clinics. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons as they discuss the future of the federation, as Alberta and British Columbia continue fight over bringing bitumen to tidewater. Good stuff from the Gallery Paula's pick: CBC Ideas episode The 'trial' o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week was all about bills in Alberta politics, from a bill outlawing demonstrations outside abortion clinics to the real cash money bills partisans threw at their parties in 2017. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons to talk legislative bills and dollar bills, as well as a quick update on Premier Rachel Notley's latest travel plans.  Good stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: Clancy has yet another outstanding podcast to recommend this week. Th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legislature is on a constituency break this week, but that hasn't stopped the political news out of Alberta. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the latest recommendations from Alberta's child intervention panel, which were quietly slipped online by government this week.  The team also takes a look at United Conservative Party plans to target Edmonton in the 2019 election and Premier Rachel Notley's tour around Alberta to sell B Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you paid attention to Alberta politics at all this week, you'll be well aware about the biggest development — Budget 2018.  Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Keith Gerein to talk numbers and debts and deficits and a disappointing lack of surprises.  The team also takes a look at the caribou range plan put on hold this week, and some, uh, interesting comments made by Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt.  Good stuff from the Gallery Clare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was an unusually harmonious first week of session in the Alberta Legislature as parties of all stripes came together to pass a unanimous motion in support of the Trans Mountain pipeline. But it wasn't all kumbaya moments with topics like the carbon tax and climate change front and centre. Join The Press Gallery as Sarah O'Donnell, Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson dig into the first rounds of Premier Rachel Notley and UCP leader Jason Kenney squaring off in question period. Janet French als Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta legislature throne speeches aren't exactly known for being packed with news, but that certainly wasn't the case with the one that kicked off spring session Thursday.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to delve into the throne speech, and the promise from the government that it will invoke Lougheed-era oil throttling if British Columbia keeps blocking the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.  The team also takes a look at the resignation t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a bit like ye olde times in Alberta politics this week. First off, there was a third-quarter fiscal update more reminiscent of pre-recession Alberta than anything we've seen in years. Then former Edmonton mayor and former Progressive Conservative health minister Stephen Mandel won leadership of the Alberta Party.  Finally, United Conservative Party MLA Grant Hunter had his own blast from the past when he talked about the 2004 Asia tsunami — and related it to the NDP win, to the ire of many. Joi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another battle in the pipeline war — but the whole thing seems to be simmering down after a tiny little backtrack by B.C. on Thursday.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with hosts Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to talk about the latest developments and what they mean for Alberta and the NDP government.  The team also wades into the Auditor General's report around the failure of Alberta's billion-dollar class size initiative.   Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's right, British Columbia — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has had enough of your nonsense about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. It's payback time.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Janet French and Dave Breakridge to talk about Notley's plans and the work ahead of Alberta's market access task force, which met for the first time this week. The team also takes a look at changes to school board superintendent salaries, and money Alberta Party leadership hopeful Stephen Mandel ha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the pipeline spat between Alberta and British Columbia ramping up to a wine boycott this week, join the Press Gallery podcast team to talk about what that means for Canada's two western provinces.  Host Emma Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson also weigh in on MLA Derek Fildebrandt's definite non-return to the United Conservative caucus, and the resignation of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Don MacIntyre.  Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This multimedia project abo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much as this week's politics news centred around pipelines, so too does this week's episode of The Press Gallery podcast.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Janet French and Graham Thomson to talk British Columbia, pipelines, Rachel Notley's response and a visit to Edmonton by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Good Stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This piece on Splinter called How Not To Die In America, about the state of health care.  Janet's pick: This column about racism by Denise Ba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The title of this week's Press Gallery has nothing to do with the content, but it falls on Jan. 26, Australia's national holiday, and host Emma Graney couldn't resist a very small nod to her other home.  Politically, the team takes on Kent Hehr's resignation after an Edmonton women made allegations of sexual harassment during his time in the Alberta legislature, the most recent recommendations from the ministerial panel on child welfare, and the controversy around a pro-life group promoting a United Conse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in Alberta politics was, in large part, about cold hard cash. Join the Press Gallery team to talk the latest party fundraising figures and the $1.3-million budget for the new election commissioner.  Host Emma Graney and guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Dave Breakenridge also explore the United Conservative Party's draft policy platform, including more real cash money for private schools and a flat tax.  The team also takes a brief look at the government's plan to review Alberta's persons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery podcast is back for another year of weekly Alberta politics analysis, reflection and rumours.  This week, join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Clare Clancy to take a look at the new entrants in the Alberta Party leadership race — including former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel — and how that contest is going.  The team also goes over recent social media gaffes (it might be a new year, but they just keep happening) and makes some predictions for what Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As is tradition on The Press Gallery podcast as each year draws to a close, the team fires up its synapses for its annual Alberta politics news quiz.  Join host Emma Graney as she takes Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson back through some of 2017 biggest (and some of the most obscure) stories, and find out who goes home as ultimate Press Gallery news quiz victor.  The team will be back in January for another year of analysis, hot takes and commentary of everything Alberta politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall 2017 session of the Alberta legislature wrapped up Wednesday — yet it was anything but a quiet week in provincial politics. Before MLAs all said "bye-bye" and headed home to their constituencies, Derek Fildebrandt landed in hot water over saying farewell to a white-tail deer on private land, and Premier Rachel Notley demanded Jason Nixon kiss goodbye to his position as UCP house leader over a sexual harassment case.    There was also a byelection in Calgary-Lougheed, won by UCP leader Jason K Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery team loves a good interprovincial spat, so this week's offering from Saskatchewan banning Alberta licence plates on worksites was an obvious choice for the weekly politics wrap.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons to discuss the great plate debate, as well as new legislation regulating political action committees and movement on the Kinder Morgan pipeline.  Good stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: The Heaven's Gate podcast, about the mass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall 2017 session has seen bill after bill after bill after bill after bill after... well, you get the picture.  In this episode of the weekly Press Gallery podcast, join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson  to discuss two whopping huge bills that were tabled this week. One reforms WCB and OHS, the other includes a swath of new rules to protect consumers and outlaw online ticket bots.  The team also takes a look at another set of bills — the ones facing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pipelines and parties -- what more could you ask for in a week of Alberta politics? Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson — who are sadly all without party hats — as they talk about Alberta Party politics and the premier's cross-country pipeline promotion tour. The team also touches on a private member's bill set to be introduced in the house Monday, to help protect recipients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program. Good stuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Alberta government announcing rules around legal marijuana legislation this week, we finally we get to use this much-awaited pun for the podcast title.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Clare Clancy to talk all things weed, from retail sales plans to new legislation around impaired driving. The team also asks what on earth former Alberta Party leader Greg Clark was smoking when he stood down, and the newly announced byelection (or high-election . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using the term "mansplaining" in the Alberta legislature was ruled just fine on Wednesday, so let the Press Gallery team podsplain this week in Alberta politics.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Graham Thomson and Paula Simons to talk banned words in the house, the ongoing debate on gay-straight alliances in schools, and the province's plans for legal pot.  Good stuff from the Gallery Clare's pick: This new podcast from Gimlet called Uncivil. It takes listeners back to the time America' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday marked the beginning of fall session at the Alberta legislature. But the Press Gallery podcast team heads back in time, two days prior to that, when Jason Kenney was elected United Conservative Party leader.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to discuss a chaotic week in Alberta politics which included the UCP election, a floor crossing, a resignation, applause (or not) in the house, and the Alberta Party asking for official party status.  Education r Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the UCP leadership race to the Sturgeon River-Parkland federal byelection, this week was all about casting votes for some Albertans.  The Press Gallery podcast team takes a look at both those ballots, as well as a flying visit by the Prime Minister, which didn't seem to leave much of a dent in the support for Conservative candidate Dane Lloyd.  The team also mulls over the kerfuffle surrounding a sex ed learning plan proposed by Alberta's catholic schools, and the resulting political fallout. Joi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's all about crossing boundaries in this week's Alberta politics Press Gallery podcast.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Sarah O'Donnell, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson as they take a look at the sexiest report to hit politics this week — The electoral boundaries commission final report, and what it means for Alberta.  Speaking of crossing boundaries, the former PC MLA who crossed over to the NDP was this week promoted to Infrastructure Minister, and the team delves into the crossover between the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition of the podcast, David Staples, Paula Simons, Janet French and Elise Stolte join host Emma Graney for a quick and dirty look at Edmonton's municipal election results as the final tally rolled in late Monday night. From the mayoral race to school board and some upsets on the ground, the team looks at what Monday night's results mean for Edmonton city council — and whether the new councillors will be able to play nicely together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got a fitting episode of the Press Gallery for Friday the 13th, with the panel discussing some scary new polling numbers for the NDP, and how tensions are rising in the leadership contest for the United Conservative Party.  Join guest host Keith Gerein as he chats about those developments with panellists Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson. The group also examines the NDP's dilemma around whether cannabis should be sold through a public agency or private businesses. And Paula weighs in on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the canned Energy East pipeline to politicians carrying policy, join The Press Gallery team for a look at all things conduit-related this week.  That includes former UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway throwing his support behind Jason Kenney, and Calgary NDP MLA Karen McPherson leaving her party to sit as an independent.  The team also talks about the legal cannabis rules proposed by the Alberta government.  Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney with guests Paula Simons, Graham Thomson -- and S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the province in the middle of civic elections, the Press Gallery podcast team takes a departure from its regular programming to zoom in on local politics.  Join host Emma Graney with guests David Staples, Janet French and Paula Simons as they talk mayoral races in Edmonton and Calgary, the big issues for voters in the City of Champions, and what's happening in the race for school board trustees. Good stuff from the gallery David's pick: The Rubin Report podcast, hosted by comedian Dave Rubin. Paul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery podcast team takes its weekly look back at Alberta politics, which this week seemed to include an awful lot of nest-leaving. First off, United Conservative MLA Rick Fraser left the nest of the new party to sit as an independent. Join host Emma Graney as she chats about that development with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson, as well as the political implications of 123 birds that left their nests and ended up dead in a tailings pond in Northern Alberta. The team a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Press Gallery podcast, the team talks rules — the so-called Fildebrandt Rule passed this week, who'll be ruler of the United Conservative Party, and a cabinet meeting that was ruley, ruley far away.  Join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson as they take their weekly look back at all things Alberta politics. You'll also find out which Edmonton building Paula loves and Graham's MLA housing solution.  Good stuff from the gallery Dave's pick: E Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode of the Press Gallery podcast, our pundits pontificate pointedly on the future of pupils plus politics, a poll with a proviso, and a paused pipeline. Join guest host Janet French — who is not-at-all sorry about all those Ps in the last sentence — with guests Clare Clancy, Paula Simons and Dave Breakenridge to discuss what Premier Rachel Notley said at a St. Albert school that set off her political foes, and what a stalled Energy East pipeline to New Brunswick would mean for Alberta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Rachel Notley has lost another chief of staff, this time back to British Columbia, from whence he came. Join the Press Gallery for a chat about John Heaney's departure as the team takes its weekly look back at Alberta politics. Host Emma Graney also chats with guests Janet French, Clare Clancy and Paula Simons about the lack of rules around United Conservative Party's leadership race and the giant whack of cash it's taking to run for the UCP crown.   Also, with Alberta students heading back to sc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not the most original Press Gallery podcast title, we grant you, but it sure is fitting as the team takes a look at the United Conservative Party's looming $337,000 caucus deficit. Join host Emma Graney with guests Clare Clancy, Keith Gerein and Dave Breakenridge to talk about that deficit, and the far larger $10.5 billion one presented by the government this week in its first quarter financial report. Speaking of cash, the team also addresses the free — FREE! — concert tickets kd lang offered to Jaso Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Winter is coming — and so is the federal conservative leadership vote. The race made its way to Edmonton this week, with 13 of the 14 candidates debating policy as one held his own special fireside chat with supporters (sans fireside). Join host Emma Graney along with guests Stuart Thomson, Dave Breakenridge and Graham Thomson to talk about that, along with this week's throne speech and Premier Rachel Notley's trip to Washington D.C. Good stuff from the Gallery Dave's pick: This sad story about an Edmo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's third quarter economic forecast was released by Finance Minister Joe Ceci this week — spoiler alert, the deficit's still pegged for $10.8 billion. Join Press Gallery host Emma Graney along with guests Stuart Thomson and Paula Simons to take a look at what that means for Alberta's coffers, and how one of them almost failed accounting at university. The team also talks transparency — or the lack thereof — at the child intervention panel and in how the Government of Alberta treats freedom of i Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a two-and-a-half-year battle to get the number of threats made against premiers to the current runaway, blazing clown car that is the PC leadership race, the Press Gallery team this week walk through a week of Alberta politics that revolved around the letter T. Host Emma Graney is joined by guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Keith Gerein to talk about those issues, as well as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Europe and Canada, and what that means for Alberta farmers. Good Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the province overhauls Alberta's curriculum, The Press Gallery looks at how that has been politicized and the worries faced by volunteers taking part in the process. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson as they talk learnin' at schools and funding from the government for education about broad climate change issues. The team also address the potential political fallout from the attack of a care worker at Elk Island Child and Youth Ranch. Good stuff from the g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A panel tasked with reforming the child intervention system began in Edmonton this week, but the fact it's not being recorded in Hansard or anywhere else has some folks worried about the veil of secrecy that continues to surround the system. Join Press Gallery podcast host Emma Graney along with guests Sarah O'Donnell, Paula Simons and Stuart Thomson as they talk about the panel, an inquiry into the tragic death of a care worker, and how Alberta politics reacted to the U.S. travel ban and the Quebec mosque Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Progressive Conservative leadership race developed even more twists this week as Wildrose leader Brian Jean threw his weight behind a Jason Kenney plan to unite the right in Alberta politics. On the same day, one leadership hopeful, Stephen Khan, dropped out, and another, Richard Starke, announced a plan to work in a coalition with Wildrose to stamp out vote splitting. Join host Emma Graney who chats with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to discuss what that means for conservativ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From this week's cabinet shuffle to the newly announced child intervention panel and the PC leadership race with more twists and turns than a grand prix race track, The Press Gallery team reviews this week in Alberta politics. Join host Emma Graney with guests Dave Breakenridge, Paula Simons and Stuart Thomson to look back at this week. Good stuff from the gallery Dave's picks: This piece in the Edmonton Journal by Liane Faulder about how kitchen culture can lead to mental illness and addiction, and th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 1980s aerobic star Jane Fonda to Finance Minister Joe Ceci, join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson to take a look at who felt the burn in Alberta politics this week. The team talks oil sands and celebrity, pipelines, not-so-public public consultations and the PC leadership race. Good stuff from the gallery Stuart's pick: The inside story of the Kinder Morgan pipeline approval by Postmedia's Peter O'Neil. Paula's pick: As the Trump administration draws near Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As people ease out of their holidays, the province has already seen a new tax, a ruling about Alberta's largest homeschooling association and an MLA fined by the ethics commissioner. Join host Emma Graney with guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson, and special guest Janet French, to take a look back at the first week of 2017. Good stuff from the gallery Stuart's pick: A New York Times piece on the Afghan War and the evolution of Obama. Paula's pick: A fascinating read titled Nomads no m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Emma Graney to test your 2016 Alberta politics knowledge against panel regulars Sarah O'Donnell, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson, in the Press Gallery podcast's annual year-end quiz. Good stuff from the gallery Paula's pick: A play that's probably not for the whole family, Burning Bluebeard, presented by Edmonton Actors Theatre. It tells the tale of six singed clowns who emerge from the burnt remains of a theatre to perform their spectacular Christmas Pantomime. Sarah's pick: Nieman Journalis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past few weeks, question period in the Alberta Legislature has been dominated by the death of four-year-old Serenity, who died while in government care. It all came to a head this week with more questions around when the RCMP received case files necessary for their investigation. The result was a call for the resignation of Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir — but he's not going anywhere. Join host Emma Graney as she chats with Edmonton Journal columnists Paula Simons and Graham Thomson, and op Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #161: The Pipes, Polls and Perps edition For those who haven’t heard, there was a little announcement out of Ottawa this week that could have a profound impact on Alberta and the fortunes of its political parties. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government has approved two pipeline projects touted to improve Alberta’s economy, raise the price the province can get for its oil and increase production in the oilsands. Trudeau credited the pipeline approvals to Premier Rachel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why you gotta be so mean, Alberta? Now MLA Sandra Jansen has been assigned a security detail. The Press Gallery podcast team Sarah O'Donnell, Paula Simons and Stuart Thomson join host Emma Graney to talk about Jansen's first speech as an NDP MLA this week, and politicians from all sides of the house vowing to do better, as they call for more human interactions on their social media channels. The podcast team also takes a look at the raft of power announcements made by government this week, including elect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It wasn't quite a square dance, but PC MLA Sandra Jansen crossing the floor to the NDP this week certainly had a swing your partner round and round feel to it. Join The Press Gallery podcast team Paula Simons, Sarah O'Donnell, Keith Gerein and host Emma Graney as they talk through the ramifications of Jansen's switch, the kerfuffle around a PC delegate selection meeting on Wednesday night and the NDP's announcement about affordable childcare. Good stuff from the gallery Sarah's pick: NPR's Marketplace po Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the same day that the U.S. failed to elect its first female president, the only two women running for leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party withdrew from the race, one of them citing harassment. Join host, legislative reporter Emma Graney, along with columnists Graham Thomson and Paula Simons, and opinion page editor Sarah O'Donnell, as they talk about the effect that might have on women in politics. The team also discuss a scathing report by the auditor general about Alberta's Assure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's only the first week back for the fall sitting of the Alberta legislature, and we've already seen the government get into trouble in the legislature over its carbon tax ads, and an all-party committee dissolved because members couldn't play nicely with one another. That, Alberta politics, is why you can't have nice things. Join legislative reporter and host Emma Graney as she chats with Edmonton Journal columnists Graham Thomson and Paula Simons, and legislative reporter Stuart Thomson, about highlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #156: The Getting Schooled edition Forget ghosts and goblins, the real scare this week came from a showdown between Alberta Education and a private, home-schooling association accused of misusing public dollars. While some critics say the NDP acted too harshly when it pulled the group’s funding and accreditation, others suggest the private school sector is long overdue for this kind of scrutiny. If that controversy isn’t sufficient to cause a tremble, the state of Edmonton’s dilap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Premier Rachel Notley took to a Calgary stage, in front of an invited audience, for a State of the Province address. The Press Gallery team take a look at what she said and what it means. Join host, legislative reporter Emma Graney, along with guests Sarah O'Donnell, the Journal's opinion page editor, city columnist Paula Simons and reporter Stuart Thomson as they talk speeches, this week's polling numbers, political fundraising in Alberta and a new government initiative called Future Ready. Go Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday morning, we heard about the death of former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice, who was killed, along with three others, in a plane crash in B.C. This week, The Press Gallery podcast team Stuart Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and legislative columnist Graham Thomson join host, politics reporter Emma Graney, to take a look back at Prentice's time in politics and the legacy he left Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta politics seemed to take on the fizzy tingle of a carbonated beverage this week, after the federal government announced a carbon tax and parties here responded — and not positively. Between Rachel Notley saying the Liberal plan would not get support until there's a pipeline and Opposition Leader Brian Jean saying the whole idea stinks, there wasn't a whole lot of love for Ottawa in Alberta. The Edmonton Journal's Press Gallery podcast guests Stuart Thomson, Paula Simons and Graham Thomson join hos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rather than discuss the events of the past week, we will be discussing the events of the past three-and-a-half decades. Today in the Journal newsroom we're saying goodbye to our indomitable deputy editor Kathy Kerr, as she rides off into the bittersweet sunset of retirement. She's covered Grant Notley and Peter Lougheed, and worked in newspapers for most of the decades-long Tory dynasty. While nine months pregnant she chased Don Getty up the legislature stairs. Today, panellists Paula Simons, Graham Thomso Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #151: The Death by Committee edition Sadly, summer is officially over, but the arrival of fall is a signal that Alberta politics is about to heat up again. A legislature committee certainly didn’t disappoint on that score this week. Initially established as an experiment in bringing fairness and ethics to political finance issues, the committee has instead degenerated into a parade of partisanship, pointing and accusations of impropriety. Panellists Paul Simons, Graham Thomson and Sar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week marks the 150th episode of The Press Gallery, the Journal's weekly politics podcast. To celebrate, the Journal's team of reporters and opinion writers talked about all the boards you could possibly want: school boards, school boards, corporate boards and did we mention school boards? Education reporter Janet French, columnist Paula Simons and health reporter Keith Gerein joined opinion editor Sarah O'Donnell to discuss the ongoing struggle between a local, private Baptist school board and Alber Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Move along folks, there's nothing to see this week in Alberta politics. Aside, of course, from the privacy commissioner's investigation into the justice department over a decidedly heel-dragging approach to processing freedom of information requests. Oh, and the official portrait of former Alberta premier Alison Redford, which was quietly hung in the legislative building early Thursday morning with no ceremony - just a stepladder and a level. Join host, legislative reporter Emma Graney, as she chats with g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all learned growing up that you can't always do or say what you want — a lesson that was repeated to some folks in the Alberta politics realm this week. For Opposition Leader Brian Jean, it was in the case of a self-described "joke" about the laws against beating Premier Rachel Notley. For Jason Kenney, who is attempting to win the Progressive Conservative leadership, it was in the form of some new rules being pushed through by the party over the weekend. And two Alberta schools might end up taking a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More bad news for Alberta's coffers this week as Finance Minister Joe Ceci announced a $10.9 billion deficit for the province, thanks to continued low oil prices and the Fort McMurray wildfire. When will the government turn to cuts? Will it? Join host Emma Graney with guests Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Keith Gerein as they weigh in. The team also takes a look at physician pay in the province - the highest in the country - and a speech by Premier Rachel Notley to a friendly union crowd in Ottawa this Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With revelations about changes to Alberta Health Services’ laundry arrangements that will cost the province millions of dollars, this week the Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal's politics podcast, takes a look at what those changes mean – will hospital sheets be cleaner? Or is this an ideological decision by the NDP? Guests Keith Gerein, Paula Simons and Stuart Thomson join host Emma Graney to weigh in on that, as well as temporary foreign workers and leadership race funding limits for political parties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every journalist loves a good information leak, and this week saw one of those, as well as the continued story of a leak from a few years ago. Join host, legislative reporter Emma Graney, as she chats all things Alberta politics with guests Sarah O’Donnell, the Edmonton Journal opinion page editor, health reporter Keith Gerein and, making his Press Gallery podcast debut, Journal/Sun deputy editor Dave Breakenridge. This week, they talk leaks including Enron emails at the heart of the power purchase arra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A short week here in Alberta still left time for some politics. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s podcast, keeps on truckin’ as provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney talks with opinion page editor Sarah O’Donnell, city columnist Paula Simons and legislative columnist Graham Thomson about Jason Kenney’s bid to win over Albertans with his Unite the Right truck tour across the province – and whether or not he should be driving a Dodge or a Ford. We also remember Mel Hurtig, the Edmonton publis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The biggest political story in Alberta this week was the NDP government's move to launch legal action in an effort to stamp out a loophole in the province's power regulations that could cost Albertans as much as $2 billion if the carbon tax proceeds as planned. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal's politics podcast, begins this week's Power Play edition by tackling the many questions raised by the court challenge against Alberta's own power rules. The NDP said Monday those regulations include a provision t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's edition of The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal's weekly politics podcast, looks at political stories of the week from points north, south and right here at home in Alberta. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, in Whitehorse for the premiers' conference, delivered a brief Friday morning update on the first day of the two-day gathering of provincial leaders. City columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney and health reporter Keith Gerein also joined opinion editor Sa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #141: The Something’s Brewing edition To mark the tragic Bastille Day attack in Nice, this week’s episode has a bit of a French theme. The accents are bad, but the debate around the latest developments in Alberta’s affaires politiques can’t be beat. Alas, no baguettes and brie, but the panel gets into the beer, both figuratively and literally, as they discuss the Alberta government’s latest move to try to protect the province’s craft breweries. Emma Graney, Paula Simons and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Galley #140: The Stampede Wrestling edition Just in time for the Calgary Stampede, it’s a rootin’, tootin’, bronco-bustin’ good time in the Press Gallery this week as the panel weighs in on Jason Kenney’s plan to unite the right in Alberta. Can Kenney really ride this bull into the premier’s office in 2019? How hard will progressives push back against the former federal cabinet minister? And should Rachel Notley and NDP be worried? Panellists Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and Emma Gra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Press Gallery, the Journal politics podcast, begins with a Brexit briefing after Britain’s stunning referendum decision to leave the European Union. Business columnist Gary Lamphier, opinion editor Sarah O’Donnell, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney and reporter Stuart Thomson share their reaction to the historic departure decision and discuss its potential global impact. Talk then shifts to “arrivals” and the news that Conservative MP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, reviewed some of the biggest stories out of the Alberta legislature in the last seven days. Premier Rachel came close to a perfect score in her party’s leadership review last weekend, getting the endorsement of 97.8 per cent of the NDP faithful in attendance. The main question out of the convention: Just what were the other 2.2 per cent thinking? The Journal’s opinion editor Sarah O’Donnell discussed that with city col Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An extended edition of the Alberta’s legislature wrapped up this week so it only makes sense for the newest edition of The Press Gallery to talk about whether the 11 weeks of debating, budgeting and law-making ended with a bang or a whimper. The Journal’s provincial affairs reporter Emma Graney and city columnist Paula Simons joined opinion page editor Sarah O’Donnell on Friday, June 10 to discuss how the NDP government ended the session in a strong position while the Wildrose official Opposition suf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Press Gallery #136: The Two Minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct edition There weren't any actual unicorns galloping through the halls of the Alberta Legislature, but it's been a surreal week otherwise. While MLAs debated serious matters, including Alberta's contentious carbon tax and the regulation of medically-assisted dying, the Wildrose party spent much of the week fighting itself, as it dealt with the fall-out over leader Brian Jean's very temporary suspension of party finance critic and social-media g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s NDP government pulled some focus from the Fort McMurray wildfire this week as cabinet ministers rolled out legislation to support key policies such as the new climate leadership implementation plan. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and health reporter Keith Gerein join the Journal’s opinion page editor Sarah O’Donnell for this week’s episode of the Journal’s politics podcast to talk about the Environment Minister Shannon Phillips’ Bill 20, which lays out the details of Albe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Press Gallery focuses on the impact the Fort McMurray wildfire is having on Alberta’s oilsands industry — a linchpin of the provincial economy. City columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and business columnist Gary Lamphier join the Journal’s opinion page editor Sarah O’Donnell to talk about how the fire's recent flare up, and second evacuation of oilsands operations north of Fort McMurray, could affect the bottom line of companies and the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is an all wildfire edition of The Press Gallery this week as the Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast panel convened for the first time since nearly 90,000 people fled Fort McMurray on May 3. City columnist Paula Simons, editor-in-chief Lorne Motley and Fort McMurray Today’s managing editor Olivia Condon joined the Journal’s opinion page editor Sarah O’Donnell on Day 11 of the evacuation to talk about the early days of the disaster and the reaction to the crisis. The panel also talks in this e Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #132: The Everything Old is New Again edition After a few technical difficulties, we are back with a new edition of Alberta’s best politics podcast (as we like to say). Just like old times, Press Gallery founder Sarah O’Donnell is back in the host’s chair this episode, guiding a recap of another interesting week in provincial politics. MLAs were away from the legislature dome for their final constituency break of the spring session, but plenty of action was still happening in Washing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Manitoba NDP going down to defeat this week, Premier Rachel Notley has become the last New Democrat premier standing. What does that mean for Alberta's government and does this increase the pressure on Notley to achieve what her counterparts - and predecessors - couldn't when it comes to pipelines? Then, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman faced some questions this week reports that sick leave and long-term disability among hundreds of Alberta Health Services employees have seen a steady spike over the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta NDP government released its 2016 budget on Thursday, and while the government spilled plenty of secrets before the document was finally made public, it still included a few bombshells: $57 billion in operational and capital debt is expected by 2019 and Finance Minister Joe Ceci says the province won't like get its books back in balance until 2024. All of this, of course, comes amid a prolonged collapse in world oil prices that has had a drastic effect on Alberta's revenue streams. Then, the panell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the economy slumping and oil prices barely improving, Premier Rachel Notley delivered a televised address this week in which she tried to reassure Albertans her government is doing everything it can to create jobs and lift the economy out of this slump. But does this tactic work? Then, an incredible and somewhat disturbing story from The Canadian Press about a man facing charges after he phoned environment Minister Shannon Phillips’ office and allegedly made threats because he disagrees with govern Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The long-awaited deadline for Alberta school boards to submit their LGBTQ guidelines to Education Minister David Eggen arrived this week. Nearly all 61 boards made a submission, making for a large stack of homework for the minister to peruse as he tries to determine how to take the next steps in this sometimes contentious process to ensure no student or teacher is discriminated against at school. Then, the panel look at the issue of gender in politics after a Journal story this week revealed that while Pr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new federal Liberal government released its first budget this week and it makes good on some pledges to extend a helping hand to Alberta as the economy struggles with some infrastructure cash and extended employment insurance benefits. But why was the Edmonton area left on the list? Then, the Progressive Conservative party proved it still holds political relevance in Alberta after it won the Calgary-Greenway byelection this week. What do the results mean for the future of that party and the unite the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta MLAs have been freed from the legislature as they set off on their two-week constituency break, just in time for political parties to make their final push for votes in the Calgary-Greenway byelection on Tuesday. It was pretty uneventful, policy-wise, but that doesn't mean the proceedings were free from controversy. The Edmonton Catholic School Board has passed its diversity policy as the deadline for all Alberta school boards to submit their own fast approaches. We'll discuss the challenges Edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's New Democrat government launched its spring session with a new speech from the throne this week that had a heavy focus on energy, the economy and the need to spur job creation across the province. And as the ceremony unfolded inside the legislature, the long-awaited 'kudatah' anti-NDP rally happened outside. The government found itself in the middle of a chaotic first vote as the New Democrats found themselves nearly outnumbered by opposition members as the legislature voted for a new deputy cha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new legislature session kicks off this Tuesday with a speech from the throne to lay out the government's priorities amid a climate of economic doom and gloom. Meanwhile, candidates in Calgary-Greenway are gearing up for the byelection on March 22. The race has already been punctuated by cries of electioneering from the Wildrose opposition. Premier Rachel Notley was in Vancouver last week to talk about climate change with her counterparts and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and to nobody's surprise, p Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's political scene blew up with cries of government censorship this week after a showdown between Premier Rachel Notley's office and Rebel Media, the perpetual thorn in the NDP's side, over access to legislature press conferences. The government quickly retreated from its position but not before igniting an outcry and sparking a nationwide discussion about journalism and access. The potential of uniting Alberta's right of centre political parties was in the news again, but can the Wildrose and Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's Catholic bishops are making headlines again this week with a strongly worded statement denouncing pending right to die legislation, saying it amounts to "state-sponsored killing." Auditor General Merwan Saher had some criticism for the government in his February report that investigated several government departments, finding — of all things — piles of surplus funds the province seems to have no plans for. And finally, our province's on-again, off-again relationship with British Columbia is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's tiny cabinet grew this week after Premier Rachel Notley appointed six new ministers - and a deputy premier - to her team as the NDP government attempts to tackle a growing mountain of work ahead of this spring's legislative session and budget. All eyes were on the legislature as Justin Trudeau arrived for a meeting with Notley this week to quell growing discontent in the province as the economy tanks. But was it enough? And the NDP government is beginning to see some opposition from some unexp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Rachel Notley first pledge a review of Alberta's royalty system, oil was at $66 a barrel, and Albertans seemed eager and excited about a new kind of government. But this week, Notley's royalty review panel, headed by ATB president Dave Mowat, delivered its long-awaited report into a much different economy and a much different Alberta. What will the political fall-out from Friday's announcement be? In this edition of The Press Gallery, guest host Stuart Thomson asks Edmonton Journal business columni Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta is holding on to its triple-A credit rating, and Albertans are holding on, waiting - and waiting - for the legislature to resume sitting. Meanwhile, the mayors of Metro Montreal are triple-A angry about the prospect of the Energy East pipeline cutting under their turf. And Edmonton's Catholic school trustees are getting a very bad report card - not from Education Minister David Eggen, this time, but from their own Archbishop. In this week's edition of The Press Gallery, triple threats Graham Thoms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The revolution will not be televised, but it’ll definitely be live tweeted. In this week's edition of the Press Gallery, host Brent Wittmeier speaks to provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim and columnist Paula Simons about Kevin O'Leary and Kudatah, the silly meme spawned by a comment board and a badly butchered French expression. The ongoing retreat of oil prices has forced Rachel Notley's NDP government to follow her Progressive Conservative predecess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, this is the podcast you’re looking for. Calgary MLA Deborah Drever has been a lightening rod for public controversy, ever since she was first elected as a New Democrat this spring. Since then, she’s been forced to sit as an independent, waiting for redemption and a chance to rejoin the NDP caucus. In this week’s edition of the The Press Gallery, recording on Thursday morning, January 7, host Brent Wittmeier speaks to senior political reporter Sheila Pratt, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ib Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #116: The Notley and the Ivy Edition A stunning election upset. The end of a political dynasty. New faces in the legislature. A bold direction on climate change. Controversy in the farm sector. It’s been quite an extraordinary year to say the least in Alberta politics, and our group of panellists has some fun looking back at many of the memorable moments from 2015. Guest host Keith Gerein then puts the group through our annual year-end quiz, testing their knowledge on the events and per Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall sitting, the first for the new NDP government, wrapped up on Thursday and it was a session that wasn’t short on storylines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking turkey. Farmers and ranchers descended on the legislature this week to protest the government's proposed farm safety legislation. The farmers say they haven't been adequately consulted and that the new NDP government doesn't understand their way of life. Will Rachel Notley press on with this legislation or is it time for a pause? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Friday has a new meaning in Alberta. On Monday, Calgary-Greenview MLA Manmeet Bhullar was killed while trying to assist a motorist on the shoulder of Highway 2. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join host Brent Wittmeier to talk about Bhullar's work and what his loss means for Alberta politics. Other topics of discussion include the NDP's climate change plans and federal revisions to pla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Fitzpatrick stood up in the Alberta Legislature and told a harrowing story of domestic violence. The Lethbridge MLA's impassioned plea started a busy week, one that saw unanimous support for independent MLA Deborah Drever's bill to allow endangered abuse victims to escape leases. Later on, the NDP proposed protections for farm workers, as well as gender identity and expression. Meanwhile, another 'unite the right' campaign pops up, eager to bring the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winning the election is hard. Governing is much harder. Half a year since Alberta voters tossed out the Tories, the NDP government has run into a bit of trouble. A recent poll has only 27 per cent of Albertans saying Rachel Notley's crew is doing a good job, and places the party at a statistical dead heat with Brian Jean's Wildrose. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and provincial affairs report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somebody check the calendar. Yep. Still 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's temporal argument for gender parity in his cabinet caused a bit of a stir Wednesday, a day when two veteran Alberta politicians -- former Calgary MLA Kent Hehr and former Edmonton councillor Amarjeet Sohi -- were handed two of the most powerful jobs in the country. Back in Alberta, Calgary Varsity MLA Stephanie McLean let it be known that she is the first sitting MLA to be pregnant, a case that exposed a lack of allowances for s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With oil prices bogged down below $50, everybody’s a little scared about Alberta’s prospects. Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP government released their long awaited budget on Tuesday, leading to howls and screams over a $6.1 billion deficit and ongoing deficit spending. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and reporter and editorial writer Dan Barnes join host Brent Wittmeier in a studio lockup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The red tide has risen. Monday’s federal election saw Liberal leader Justin Trudeau topple Stephen Harper’s Conservative regime. The knives are out, the campaigns are being dissected and armchair prime ministers are picking fantasy cabinets. We talk about Premier Rachel Notley’s cabinet adjustment and the appointment of a new Alberta Health Services board. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There could be some seismic shakeups in government in coming days. Or none whatsoever. After another acrimonious debate over the Edmonton Catholic School's gender and sexual orientation and gender identity policy, Education Minister David Eggen has brought in an outside advisor to help the board with governance. Three days before Monday's federal election, we also talk about the prospects of a Liberal government, and whether the NDP's final forays into Alberta, will win any votes. This week on The Press Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something's going on with all those polls. Albertans have a sordid history with polls, and with the federal election winding down into it's final 10 days, there's finally been some major shifts in public opinion polls. But some days, the polls say very different things. We also talk about Education Minister David Eggen's recent announcement that 101 schools are behind schedule. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter J Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Playing politics is a serious allegation these days. With a federal election in full swing, plus some jousting in Alberta over a new NDP government, politicians are accusing other politicians of playing politics. We pick up on Naheed Nenshi's tiff with Jason Kenney over the niqab debate, as well as former CPC MP and Alberta trade envoy Rob Merrifield's accusations of interference from the office of Rachel Notley, who's in eastern Canada and the U.S. this week to discuss pipleines. A final French language Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been talking about the upcoming "shock absorber" budget, which will balance economic concerns with a heavy emphasis on infrastructure spending. Notley will head off this weekend to talk to power brokers in Toronto, Montreal and New York. The federal election continues to roll on into its final weeks, with a French language debate on Thursday and an upcoming debate on Monday. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Journal has rebranded in NDP orange. Well no, that's just the fall colours on our new stylized logo of the North Saskatchewan River valley. The second federal leaders debate was held in Calgary Thursday. Premier Rachel Notley found herself explaining about embarrassing cousins. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, reporter Sheila Pratt and National Post reporter Tristin Hopper join host Brent Wittmeier to talk about the federal debate and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In politics, planning doesn't always translate into success. On the federal level, Stephen Harper has brought in a new fixer to get his message back on track. In Edmonton city politics, general manager Simon Farbrother was fired Thursday. Possibly because of how things might go awry, Rachel Notley’s caucus has been holed up in Banff for a fall retreat. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dog days of summer are over and it's time for back to school. In Alberta politics, things have begun to pick up once again. With a Calgary Foothills by-election victory, the Wildrose won their first urban seat. It’s not even Labour Day, and Rachel Notley’s critics are already accusing her government of prioritizing the civil service over the private sector. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal's politics podcast, reporter Sheila Pratt (@SheilaMPratt), provincial affairs columnist Graha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Duffy's trial is dominating Canada's media landscape, with Nigel Wright and Benjamin Perrin testimony this week fueling speculation about who knew what when. On the campaign trail, Stephen Harper looks increasingly annoyed by the repeated questions about the matter. What will it mean in Alberta? This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join host Brent Wi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There weren’t any knock-out punches in Thursday’s federal leaders debate, but there were certainly interesting moments. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, city columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and provincial affairs reporter Jodie Sinnema join host Brent Wittmeier to talk winners, losers and highlights from the Thursday night fracas. Also discussed this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s comments that Alberta’s provincial go Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal election is heating up while the economy is cooling down. Oil has dipped below $50 per barrel and could drop down to the low forties, while the economy continues to struggle. All this means trouble for the provincial NDP, but could be a mixed blessing for the federal Conservatives, expected to call an election on the Heritage Day long weekend. We talk big infrastructure announcements for Calgary, and the somewhat smaller amounts coming to Edmonton. All that plus Transalta's big fight with the Al Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #97: The Gathering Storm Edition The title of this week’s podcast shares its name with Winston Churchill’s masterful book on the buildup to the Second World War. While we can’t claim the magnificence of Churchill’s literature or oratory, our panellists do an admirable job of setting the stage for what could be a one of the most exciting federal election campaigns in recent memory. We explore how the race is shaping up in Alberta, ask whether Rachel Notley’s big victory in May co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada’s premiers are in Newfoundland, where they've brokered a deal on a national energy strategy, despite some harrumphing from Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. What does the new deal mean? And what are the political games going on behind the scenes? This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, reporter Sheila Pratt and city columnist Paula Simons weigh in. and political affairs columnist Graham Thomson speaks from Newfoundland to host Brent Wittmeier. Good Stuff from the Gal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Stampede time in Cowtown, which means all politicians are in town to flip pancakes and try to win votes. For the first time in Premier Rachel Notley's tenure, she met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and was photographed with her hat on backwards. There was a new report from Auditor General Merwan Saher detailing a host of problems. Notley publicly asked her cabinet to come up with a plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. And in Sherwood Park, there wer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The summer legislative session is over, but a few announcements made big news in Alberta politics. There was a $1.1 billion provincial budget surplus carrying over from last year, the first announced hike to the minimum wage and a Postmedia poll that suggests the Wildrose would form government if an election was held today. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, reporters Sheila Pratt and Mariam Ibrahim join provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and host Brent Wittme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The summer session of the Alberta Legislature wrapped up this week with a few late night sessions. And the Alberta NDP made several announcements related to energy and environment files, including the panel for the royalty review, a climate change panel and the possibility of revisiting the mandate of the Alberta Energy Regulator. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, reporter Sheila Pratt and city columnist Paula Simons join host Brent Wittmeier to talk about energy, enviro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first week of a new session of the Alberta Legislature was a busy one. There was a throne speech and discussion of three new bills, which tackled campaign financing, new taxes and a $624 million injection into the budget, reversing tuition freezes and health cuts. This new look group of representatives had a few difficulties, too. House speaker Bob Wanner had to play referee, PC Interim Leader Ric McIver had some difficulty in carving out a new place for his beleaguered party, and the Wildrose continua Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta Legislature has a new seating plan, a new speaker and a new Lieutenant Governor. Have things changed? NDP Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd seemed to be caught off guard by Wildrose revelation that her new chief of staff was once registered as a lobbyist against the Northern Gateway and other pipeline activity. This comes as there are more rumblings over the upcoming royalty review. The government has geared up for what NDP House Leader Brian Mason called a new "light session," and there's t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s new NDP government started this week to translate some of its campaign promises into policy. Health minister Sarah Hoffmann announced menthol cigarettes will be added to the ban on flavoured tobacco products as of Sept. 1. A couple days earlier, Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour minister Lori Sigurdson announced plans to consult with Albertans about the move to a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2018. This week on The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, provincial affairs reporte Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s government formally changed hands on May 24 as Premier Rachel Notley and her 11-member cabinet recited their oaths of office on the Legislature steps. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, reviews Notley’s choices for Alberta’s first NDP cabinet. Assignment editor Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss, city columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson about the portfolio picks, political pairings and the r Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery 88*: The Cheaper by the Dozen Edition More than two weeks after the provincial election, we now have some idea of what Rachel Notley’s new government is going to look like, and what some of their initial moves will be as they step into the offices of power for the first time. For this episode, we’ll give you the goods on what to expect from Notley’s inaugural cabinet, the names to watch as potential ministers, and what the NDP has to do to handle the mountain of expectations acc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been 10 days since Albertans embraced the idea of an NDP government at the ballot box. This week, The Press Gallery, the Journal’s weekly provincial politics podcast, explores how the transition to Premier-designate Rachel Notley’s team of New Democrats is going and how the different parties have responded to this dramatically reshaped legislature. Host Sarah O’Donnell also talks with provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim, city columnist Paula Simons and senior reporter Sheila Pratt abou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the most momentous election night in Alberta's modern history: After 44 years, the Tory dynasty crumbled, and Rachel Notley and her New Democrats swept to power. In the Crushing It and Shredding It edition of The Press Gallery podcast, Edmonton Journal provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporters Karen Kleiss and Mariam Ibrahim, and city columnist Paula Simons join host Sarah O'Donnell to talk about the biggest surprises of last Tuesday night. The also discuss the challenges ahe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta's 29th general election is mere days away. Voters are casting ballots at advance polls; the big day is Tuesday, May 5th. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, reunites provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons, legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and assignment editor Sarah O’Donnell on day 25 of the campaign. The panellists review the race, the polls and the possibilities after all the votes are counted in this fascinating Alberta electi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leaders of Alberta’s four main political parties squared off Thursday night in the only televised debate of the provincial election campaign. What else is there for The Press Gallery panellists to do the morning after but debate the debate? The Journal’s provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and city columnist Paula Simons sat down with assignment editor Sarah O’Donnell Friday morning to talk about how the four leaders performed on this high pressure st Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s 29th general election campaign has — against all expectations — turned into an exciting horse race. The long-governing Progressive Conservatives, the official opposition Wildrose and the upstart New Democrats are statistically tied in every major poll so far. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s provincial politics podcast convened on Friday, April 17, to look back at this second surprising week on the hustings. Host Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Albertans learned they will head to the polls May 5th for the province’s 29th general election. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast convened Friday -- three days into the campaign -- to talk about Progressive Conservative leader Jim Prentice’s election call, the issues at play and the performance of the new party leaders at the start of their first election at the helm of their parties. Host Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Pa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday’s 2015-16 provincial budget left Albertans with plenty to talk about. Premier Jim Prentice’s much anticipated first budget included a hike to sin taxes on alcohol, tobacco and fuel, higher fees for an assortment of paperwork, increased traffic fines and an end to Alberta’s 10 per cent flat tax for the high income earners. It also imposes a new health tax on most Albertans, while shielding the province’s lowest income earners. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Albertans seeking health care in rural communities will be better served by less centralized decision-making, Health minister Stephen Mandel said this week. Journal health reporter Keith Gerein joins The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell, city columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim to take stock of Alberta’s latest rural healthcare improvement plan, which involves the creation of as many as 10 health districts. Is a system that resembles the to pre-Alberta Health Se Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice and the Progressive Conservative majority returned to the legislature with a changed attitude toward the rules around Gay-Straight Alliances in Alberta schools. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, starts the episode by looking at the dramatic turnaround that saw Education Minister Gordon Dirks amend the controversial Bill 10 so that all students, no matter the school district, are entitled to start the friendship and support groups on school property. Podca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, holds up the mirror to Alberta politics. Assignment editor Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, Legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and city columnist Paula Simons about Alberta’s budget, Premier Jim Prentice’s tough talk on public sector workers and why the premier faced such a backlash after he suggested Albertans take a look in the mirror. The panel also reflects on whether Prentice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s hard to predict the future in Alberta, where warnings of a budget deficit turn in a span of weeks into the promise of budget surplus. The Press Gallery, the Journal’s weekly politics podcast, looks at the week’s surprisingly good news third quarter financial update and the warnings from Alberta Finance minister Robin Campbell about tough times still to come. Provincial affairs reporters Karen Kleiss and Mariam Ibrahim joined host Sarah O’Donnell and city columnist Paula Simons to talk about th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Alberta about to go retro and re-introduce a system of health care premiums to help cover ever-growing costs? Finance minister Robin Campbell raised the possibility this week, though Premier Jim Prentice downplayed the idea. Journal Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and health reporter Keith Gerein join assignment editor Sarah O’Donnell in this week’s edition of The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly provincial politics podcast, to discuss this latest h Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Press Gallery podcast is all about the provincial budget, which might seem strange considering we are still weeks away from the usual 2015-16 budget season. But Alberta’s premier and finance minister delivered a stunning piece of news on Wednesday that the financial plan will include a five per cent cut to account for plunging oil prices. The Journal’s provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and city columnist Paula Simons join host Sarah O’Donn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice was in Washington, D.C., this week, talking up Alberta to an American audience. How’d he do? That’s just one of the topics provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and city columnist Paula Simons talk about on this week’s edition of The Press Gallery, the Journal’s provincial politics podcast, with host Sarah O’Donnell. The quartet also discuss a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against Alberta’s justice minister and four senior ser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are so many moving parts in the Alberta legislature right now it’s easy to lose track of the changes as people swap party allegiances or announce plans to leave provincial politics at a rapid fire pace. City columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and senior reporter Sheila Pratt join host Sarah O’Donnell this week on The Press Gallery podcast to sort through the changes. The weekly provincial politics podcast looks at the veteran Progressive Conservative MLAs leaving, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran Edmonton-area MLA Doug Horner announced suddenly this week that he is leaving politics and calling it quits at the end of the month. The Press Gallery, the Journal’s weekly politics podcast, looks at what Horner’s departure means for the PC party, Premier Jim Prentice’s government and Horner personally. The former finance minister and one-time Progressive Conservative leadership contender said he’d leave it up to the history books to discuss his time in former premier Alison Redford’s ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The plummeting price of oil is dominating all political debate in Alberta this week. The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, followed suit. Business columnist Gary Lamphier, city columnist Paula Simons and join host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about why oil prices are falling and what the impact may be here in Alberta on taxes, spending and the civil service. The panel also talks about the changes already shaking Alberta’s economy. Good Stuff from the Gallery Graham’s picks: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The start of a new year did not reboot Alberta's political scene. That means the first Edmonton Journal politics podcast of 2015 picks up where it left off. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and senior reporter Sheila Pratt join The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about the ongoing fall-out from the mega-defection of nine Wildrose MLAs to the Progressive Conservatives. The panel also review’s ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler’s report on Ed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It still feels weird to say it, but Danielle Smith is a Progressive Conservative MLA. The former leader of the Wildrose party severed ties with the opposition party in spectacular fashion Wednesday along with eight other MLAs elected in 2012 under the Wildrose banner: Rob Anderson, Jeff Wilson, Bruce McAllister, Gary Bikman, Jason Hale, Blake Pedersen, Rob Fox and Bruce Rowe, How did this happen? How did they justify this massive floor-crossing? How did Premier Jim Prentice convince his PC caucus to embra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall sitting of the Legislature concluded this week, with Premier Jim Prentice and the Progressive Conservative caucus pushing through several pieces of legislation in the final day, including new accountability measures and a condominium. Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, The Press Gallery, convened this week to talk about those bills, and the fallout from the previous week’s major missteps on Bill #10, which would have allowed school boards to say “no” to Gay-Straight Alliances withi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice pulled the Progressive Conservative’s controversial Bill #10 off the table, at least temporarily, late Thursday afternoon. What a difference a few hours makes. When The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, convened Thursday morning, it seemed the government would insist on pushing a hastily drafted bill that encouraged school boards to allow gay-straights alliances on school property, but would also give all boards the right to ban them. Host Sarah O’Donne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Alberta still Wild Rose Country? That’s the big question up for debate on The Press Gallery this week, as podcast host Sarah O’Donnell talks with three newsroom colleagues about the abrupt defections by MLAs Kerry Towle and Ian Donovan from the Wildrose party to the Progressive Conservatives. Provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim, legislature columnist Graham Thomson and city columnist Paula Simons look at how the floor crossing unfolded and what it says about the state of the Wildrose party an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Legislature is back in session this week and Premier Jim Prentice and the PCs are working to convince Albertans they are singing a different tune than just a few months earlier. City columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim sat down in the Journal studio with The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell on Thursday to talk about the throne speech, the performance of the party leaders – new and old – in the opening week and what’s at stake for each of the parties. The w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s biggest political parties are gathering for their annual conventions this weekend just before the Legislature prepares to go back into session on Monday. The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell talks with city columnist Paula Simons and senior political reporter Sheila Pratt about the Progressive Conservative and Wildrose annual general meetings underway on Friday and what Albertans might see from those events. Then the trio looks ahead to Monday, when Premier Jim Prentice and his revampe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta is accustomed to riding the oil revenue roller coaster, but at what point will the province start to feel the pinch from the current downward oil price slide? Journal business columnist Gary Lamphier makes his debut this week in The Press Gallery with host Sarah O’Donnell, city columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson to explore what is behind the current worldwide oil price decline and discuss when those lower prices might shave an impact on Alberta’s economy. Th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Progressive Conservatives scored wins in all four of the week’s big city byelections, The Press Gallery convenes to look at the tricks and treats from the campaign. Is it safe to say that Premier Jim Prentice successfully purged the Progressive Conservatives of the ghost of former premier Alison Redford? Will other political parties by haunted by the results? How scary will it be for Danielle Smith to go to a leadership review at the next Wildrose Party annual general meeting? This week, provinc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters in Edmonton-Whitemud, Calgary-West, Calgary-Foothills and Calgary-Elbow will head to the polls in four provincial byelections Monday. The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell, city columnist Paula Simons and provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson devote a healthy portion of the Journal’s weekly politics podcast to those races as they enter their final days. Will Premier Jim Prentice, Health Minister Stephen Mandel and Education Minister Gordon Dirks win seats in the Legislature? How effec Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should Albertans be worried as Premier Jim Prentice preaches messages of “prudence” and “caution” as the world oil prices slide? That’s one of the questions up for debate in this week as The Press Gallery convenes with provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporter Karen Kleiss, city columnist Paula Simons and host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about three meaty subjects. In addition to the latest warnings tied to oil revenue, the Journal’s weekly politics podcast looks at the pl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice was singing a tune many families in fast-growing suburban communities across Alberta will be keen to hear, promising this week his government will, by 2020, build an additional 55 new schools and fund major renovations at another 20. The Press Gallery’s host Sarah O’Donnell sits down this week with provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim and columnist Graham Thomson to talk about that major infrastructure pledge, which comes in the midst of four by-elections and is in addition t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Albertans in four ridings now have a date with a provincial by-election and candidates from all major political parties are coming a-courting. The Press Gallery convenes this week to talk about Premier Jim Prentice’s decision to drop the writ in Edmonton-Whitemud, Calgary-Elbow, Calgary-Foothills and Calgary-West and send voters in those ridings to the polls on October 27th. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim and city columnist Paula Simons join podcast hos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice and his newly formed cabinet have done their best in the last two weeks to woo Albertans. The Press Gallery convenes with host Sarah O’Donnell, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, city columnist Paula Simons and health reporter Keith Gerein to review some of the issues Prentice and his cabinet colleagues have tackled in what is, theoretically at least, their honeymoon phase with voters. The politics podcast includes a look at the Progressive Conservative government’s late Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Jim Prentice moved quickly to put his stamp on the Alberta Legislature this week, as he unveiled his new cabinet team, announced a series of appointments to high profile posts and moved quickly to permanently ground the provincial government’s airplane saga. The Press Gallery podcast’s host Sarah O’Donnell talks with her own cabinet of politics watchers – Journal columnists Graham Thomson and Paula Simons, and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim — about who’s in and who’s out o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta premier’s office is in the midst of an extreme makeover, with new Progressive Conservative leader Jim Prentice’s transition into the top job. Outgoing Premier Dave Hancock just announced he will resign his seat as an Edmonton MLA immediately and pieces of Prentice’s new team are snapping into place. Journal columnist Paula Simons, senior reporter Sheila Pratt and health reporter Keith Gerein join podcast host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about these first few days of the Prentice era. The Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice transitions to his new job as Alberta’s 16th premier, The Press Gallery podcast convened to discuss his Saturday night victory in the PC leadership contest and how the party’s electronic voting experiment worked. Sarah O’Donnell, host of the Journal’s politics podcast, talks with Legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and content editor Kathy Kerr about Prentice’s landslide victory, the party’s pitiful vot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the voting underway in the Progressive Conservative leadership campaign, the four-month race dominates this week’s The Press Gallery. Podcast host Sarah O’Donnell walks through the highs and lows of the last week – and the entire campaign -- with Journal columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss and legislature columnist Graham Thomson. What kind of campaigns did Jim Prentice, Thomas Lukaszuk and Ric McIver run in their attempt to become Alberta’s next premier? And what Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s weekly politics podcast, celebrates its first anniversary on-air this week with a lively debate on roaming charges, brown envelopes and the Progressive Conservative leadership campaign. A $20,000 cell phone bill racked up in 2012 threw a wrench into Thomas Lukaszuk’s campaign for the PC’s top job and very quickly exploded into a problem for the larger PC party, as well as the government. Columnist Paula Simons, political columnist Graham Thomson and provincial af Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it time for term limits in Alberta politics? This week on The Press Gallery podcast, the panel weighs in on Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Jim Prentice’s plan to legislate term limits on Alberta politicians. Host Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim, content editor Kathy Kerr and city editor Mark Iype about why a politician would want to propose capping people’s time in elected office and whether this is the kind of accountability Albertans are looki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #51: O’ Captain, My Captain edition We have a Robin Williams-inspired episode this week in The Press Gallery. Columnist Paula Simons and reporters Mariam Ibrahim and Sheila Pratt join guest host Keith Gerein to discuss the latest developments in the race to become captain of the Alberta Tories’ (sinking?) ship. The panelists also weigh in on Finance Minister Doug Horner’s political future, a new report on pollution in the oilsands region, and a very quiet NDP leadership campaign. As Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery #50: Aura of Power edition Planes, trains, and… well, actually just planes: Press Gallery panelists have a lot to talk about from a very heated week at the legislature. Columnist Paula Simons and reporters Mariam Ibrahim and Sheila Pratt join guest host Keith Gerein to discuss former premier Alison Redford’s final goodbye from provincial politics, and the scathing auditor general’s report that likely helped drive her out the door. The report was one of the most explosive we’ve seen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phantom passengers, pay bumps and protecting Alberta lakes: Press Gallery panelists take on all three hot topics this week. Columnist Paula Simons, reporter Alexandra Zabjek and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join podcast host Sarah O’Donnell to discuss the auditor general’s draft report leaked to CBC news that raises serious questions about former Premier Alison Redford’s use of the government’s planes and the quiet lifting of the three-year pay freeze imposed on senior civil servants i Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s making noise in Alberta politics this week? The Press Gallery, Edmonton Journal’s politics podcast, gets you up to speed on the hot topics when columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and legislature reporter Mariam Ibrahim sit down for a weekly roundtable debate with podcast host Sarah O’Donnell. The controversy over the change to Alberta’s license plates is still brewing; the Wildrose party released a new justice platform that includes a plan to end penalties a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Legal Aid to first aid for Alberta’s hospitals, from sex ed to senate reform, this week’s Press Gallery is a smoking hot episode talking about some of the big issues in Alberta politics this week. Health reporter Keith Gerein, provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim and columnist Paula Simons join podcast host Sarah O’Donnell to talk about the crisis in Legal Aid and why opposition MLAs worry about a backlog of hospital repairs creating a crisis of its own. Good Stuff from the Gallery wraps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Gallery careens into a debate over Alberta’s new licence plate and ends up heading in some surprising directions. Is the great plate debate timed to distract us from the auditor general’s report? Is Wild Rose Country a slogan from the past worth dropping? Are there legitimate reasons to change the plates? And should we even be talking about the licence plate poll? Then, host Sarah O’Donnell leads provincial affairs reporter Karen Kleiss, politics columnist Graham Thomson and columnist Paula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money, money and “meh”: That’s a quick way to sum up the three topics on this week’s The Press Gallery. Columnist Paula Simons, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and politics reporter Mariam Ibrahim kick off the show with host Sarah O’Donnell, talking about the state of Alberta’s finances at the end of the 2013-14 fiscal year and whether Finance Minister Doug Horner had good news for Albertans. Then there’s more money talk, this time in the health sector, as we learn about the size Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Press Gallery podcast is all about new twists on common themes. Another pipeline project is under review. Where the heck did this come from and is it a project that Alberta needs? An election on the horizon causes ripples in the Wildrose camp, with incumbent MLA Joe Anglin facing a challenger for his party’s nomination. And the Progressive Conservative leadership race jumps into the education debate as candidate Jim Prentice makes a big school construction promise. This week, provincial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Northern Gateway pipeline got the nod it needed from Stephen Harper’s Conservatives this week to proceed, albeit with conditions. Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful, Calgary MLA Ric McIver, found his campaign in hot water after participating in a march led by an anti-gay religious group. And NDP MLA Rachel Notley announced she will enter her party’s leadership race, taking on MLA colleague David Eggen. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, columnist Paula Simons and politi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not to be outdone by other parties’ leadership contests, Alberta’s Wildrose Party is now laying out its own new plans for what it would do if elected as government. Last week, leader Danielle Smith unveiled how her party would fund LRT projects in Edmonton and Calgary. This week, she moved to the energy portfolio, making a pitch to a Vancouver audience for a single, dedicated industrial corridor from Northern Ontario to the West Coast. The Press Gallery’s Sarah O’Donnell, Paula Simons and Mariam Ib Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent poll says Edmonton isn’t feeling the love for any of the Progressive Conservative leadership candidates. This week podcast host Sarah O’Donnell talks with columnist Paula Simons, health reporter Keith Gerein and senior reporter Sheila Pratt about why Edmontonians are playing hard to get. The panel also weighs in on the controversy over plans to close Red Deer’s Michener Centre for developmentally disabled adults and the $1.3 million in fines levied this week against a major pipeline company Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The silly season in Alberta leadership politics could easily be called the Selfie season, as the three Progressive Conservative candidates tour the province, taking plenty of “selfies” along the way to share via social media. This week, provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, along with senior reporters Keith Gerein and Sheila Pratt talk with host Sarah O’Donnell about how Jim Prentice, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk are trying to distinguish themselves. Then, the panel talks about a new report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Press Gallery is a quick study on the latest twists and turns in the Progressive Conservative leadership race and the controversies facing Alberta’s education system. Podcast host Sarah O’Donnell talks with provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson and columnist Paula Simons about Jim Prentice’s official campaign kick-off in Edmonton, and Thomas Lukaszuk’s entry into the race one day later. Then, the trio discuss Alberta education system, which has come under the microscope so much Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After two months of lead-up, the Progressive Conservative party’s leadership race officially started on Thursday, when a pair of candidates – Jim Prentice and Ric McIver – picked up their nomination papers in Calgary and put down the first $20,000 deposit needed to enter that race. But in the days leading up to nomination day, there was as much talk about what was taking place behind the scenes as in the public eye. This week, The Press Gallery host Sarah O’Donnell, senior report Sheila Pratt, colu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And suddenly, it was over. The spring session of the Alberta legislature wrapped up this week with a flurry of bill passing, back-tracking, apologies and the return of Alison Redford, who talked directly to reporters in for the first time since her dramatic resignation as premier in March. In an omnibus-style episode of the podcast, columnists Graham Thomson, Paula Simons and provincial affairs reporter Mariam Ibrahim join host Sarah O’Donnell to talk everything from pension reform to zombie skypalaces Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason announced he will hand over the wheel of his party’s leadership in October, just as word came that former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice will enter the race already underway to lead the Progressive Conservatives. As if that wasn’t enough, Premier Dave Hancock announced the government has struck a deal with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees – something that from all outward appearances seemed to be impossible just days earlier. There are plenty of stops o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just how free is information in Alberta? And how much political interference is there in freedom of information requests? There have been plenty of questions on that subject at the Legislature as opposition parties grilled the PC government and minister Thomas Lukaszuk about a memo he wrote as deputy premier about a new policy to track the release of FOIP requests. Provincial affairs columnist Graham Thomson, columnist Paula Simons and legislature reporter Karen Kleiss join host Sarah O’Donnell to debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta’s Progressive Conservative caucus says it will finally scrap parts of the provincial marriage act that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, to get in line with federal legislation and public sentiment that wants the rights of gays, lesbian and bisexual Albertans recognized. Premier Dave Hancock says the government also will introduce changes so transgendered people can change their birth certificates without having to have gender reassignment surgery. Provincial affairs reporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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