Today's #ableg news: The Alberta government has introduced a bill that would grant it sweeping powers over municipalities, including the right to fire councillors, overturn bylaws and postpone elections. From my pal Lisa Johnson. theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

My television piece on a joint investigation with Zak Vescera. Sask. officials knew COVID-19 was spreading at an 'exponential' rate in 2021, but refused restrictions
youtube.com/watch?v=qjTj9O…

Danielle Smith defends appointment of task force led by doctor skeptical of COVID measures, points out there are 'all kinds of rumours on Twitter' about adverse vaccination reactions, so she needed to look into them. Via Alanna Smith theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta… #ableg #cdnpoli

I'll be chatting with Alanna Smith on @630ched Wednesday at 1:17 about her scoop (with GM teammate Carrie Tait) on this return of COVID news to the #ableg landscape.

Calgary judge permits class-action lawsuit over priest’s residential-school remarks via The Globe and Mail theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

Important story from Alanna Smith and Carrie Tait: The UCP gov't is paying $2 million for a report on COVID-19 from a task force led by a doctor who, at the height of the pandemic, claimed the gov't manipulated statistics to usher in restrictions. theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta…

Alberta review of #COVID19 , led by doctors who challenged vaccine policies, expected next month, by Alanna Smith @carrietait 
theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta… via The Globe and Mail

Must-read here from my pals Carrie Tait Alanna Smith. Chair is Gary Davidson, former chief of emerg medicine at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, who claimed gvt had overblown the COVID-19 crisis in hospitals while data showed AB was being crushed by the 4th fourth wave #ableg

SCOOP: Premier Danielle Smith ordered a review of COVID data led by a doctor who said Alberta manipulated stats to justify restrictions. theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta… #abpoli #ableg

'May these pictures be a reminder to us all to love, to take care of one another and to seek help wherever it may be found.' theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…

Updated story: An Alberta jury finds three men guilty of mischief for their roles at the 2022 border blockade near Coutts, Alberta. theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta…

New study out in CMAJ by Tara Gomes + colleagues:

In 2021, about *1 in 2 deaths amongst 20-39 year olds in Alberta were due to toxic drug poisoning.*

When I say this is generational crisis for my province, this is what I mean #ableg #cdnpoli

cmaj.ca/content/196/14……

Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek says #yyc will keep negotiating with Ottawa for federal funding, despite Alberta's incoming legislation requiring the province's consent to strike such a deal

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article… #cndpoli #ableg #abpoli #yyc cc

Calgary’s celebrated Stampede Elm witnessed the city’s transformation from cowtown to boomtown over 125 years. On Monday, it was cut down. Our goodbye piece: theglobeandmail.com/canada/article… The Globe and Mail #yyc

Bill 17, Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act, gets first reading.

Recovery rhetoric: Alberta’s recovery-focused strategy to address record-high drug toxicity deaths. Q+A w/ Alanna Smith Keith Gerein rick bell, by Jason Markusoff cbc.ca/listen/cbc-pod… via West of Centre CBC #addiction #ToxicDrugCrisis

God, more sad media news. The Whitehorse Star — whose motto (Illegitmus non carborundum — don’t let the bastards grind you down) is the best in journalism — is closing.