I learned the news of the death of the Hon. Murray Sinclair early this morning, just before my flight left Edmonton for Ottawa. Ever since, I've been thinking about his extraordinary legacy as a lawyer, jurist, Senator and champion of truth and reconciliation. I was so privileged to work alongside him during my early years as a Senator. But I want to say, that is was also a joyous experience. He was so funny, so full of mischief. #SenateofCanada #MurraySinclair #TRC #cdnpoli
Now that the Alberta government has introduced its controversial amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights, I want to reshare my recent conversation with the Hon. Ron Ghitter, one of the architects of Alberta’s ORIGINAL Bill of Rights. His view of this new amendments? “Ludicrous.” #Alberta #ableg #abpoli #BillofRights #SenateofCanada #antisemitism #cdnpoli
When I was 11 years old, a babysitter took me to see All the President’s Men. I think she was in love with Robert Redford. But that afternoon, I fell in love with journalism - and the ideals of the crusading Washington Post. Maybe that was a Hollywood fantasy. But the WaPo remained my ideal all through my own journalism career. What a bathetic end to a legacy of excellence. Democracy dies in cowardice, it would appear. #WashingtonPost #WaPo
In Canada, the police cannot search letters and packages while they are in the hands of Canada Post. Bill S-256 would change that, and allow police the power to open letters and parcels in transit - with a warrant. Some Indigenous leaders say they need police to have those powers, to stem the flood of fentanyl onto reserve. But I have serious misgivings about eliminating very historic privacy rights. #SenateofCanada #CanadaPost #Canada #fentanyl
Everybody these days, it seems, has a podcast. But David Gray, former host of the CBC’s Calgary Eyeopener, has a plodcast - where he interviews his subjects as they walk. We talked about political polarization & radicalization as we rambled along the Rideau Canal. Have a listen! #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #Canada #Alberta #Ottawa #yow #abpoli
I shocked some Senate colleagues, with my speech about the dark history of the eugenics movement in Alberta. Vitally important context, to our debate on Bill S-250, a bill sponsored by my Senate colleague Yvonne Boyer, a Metis human rights lawyer who has spent years drawing attention to the issue of non-consensual sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada. #eugenics #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #Alberta #Canada #ableg #abpoli #Famous5
Yesterday, on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, I had the privilege of attending a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History to unveil the new residential schools monument, created by Kwagu’l master carver Stanley C. Hunt. Taking its inspiration from the traditional west coast totem pole, it is both ominous and inspiring. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation image
Alberta Unbound is back! And we kick off September with a humdinger. Come meet Kris Wells, one of Alberta’s two new Senators, who was sworn in yesterday. The right wing blogosphere has dubbed him Canada’s most dangerous senators. In this episode, I’ll introduce you to the real @npub15evw...0zst, in his own words. #AlbertaUnbound #SenateofCanada #Alberta #Canada #cdnpoli #trans #Edmonton #yeg
Good news - Health Canada has just announced its approval of the new Moderna Covid vaccine, which targets the KP.2 variant. #Covid19 #Covid #vaccine #Canada #HealthCanada #kp2 #Spikevax
And another Senator enters the chat! I had a big walk and talk with @npub15evw...0zst this morning. I mentioned how much I enjoy Mastodon. I guess I made a compelling pitch! So please don’t make a liar out of me - instead, join me in welcoming my new Senate colleague to this wonderful community. #SenateofCanada #Edmonton #yeg #MacEwan #lgbtq #cdnpoli #Alberta #Canada