The Discourse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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