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Brett McKay

@brettmckay.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.3K following 165 posts

Reporter for the Investigative Journalism Foundation Email: brett.mckay@theijf.org Signal: brettmckay.23

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Brett McKay
Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 01/10/2026
Bill C-39 doubles down on habitat offsets, in which companies can "build" new habitat elsewhere to compensate for what they destroy in building a mine, a port, a pipeline or other project. The practice is highly contested by scientists. “This is our worst fear,” said biologist Misty MacDuffee.
nationalobserver.com
Offsetting for habitat loss almost never works. Ottawa wants more of it
New policy proposed in Bill C-39 will allow developers to buy credits or pay fees to compensate for the habitats they destroy.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 29/09/2026
Canada’s drug policy violates its Charter, BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray ruled on Tuesday, by making it de facto illegal to run a compassion club providing tested illicit drugs. Read the full breakdown of her decision, by @godfrey.work: www.defactomedia.ca/breaking-dul...
defactomedia.ca
BREAKING: DULF founders’ trafficking charges thrown out in BC Supreme Court ruling on constitutional challenge
Justice Catherine Murray applauds Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum, declares a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act unconstitutional
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 29/09/2026
“As Canada scrambles to adopt and control AI, dozens of data centre projects have been proposed across the country — especially in small and rural areas.” @isaacphannay.bsky.social reports on the BC municipal politicians facing big changes in their communities. thetyee.ca/News/2026/09...
thetyee.ca
BC’s Local Governments Call for Higher Taxes for AI Data Centres | The Tyee
Currently, data centres pay the same rate as small businesses like cafés and stores.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The Weather Network @weathernetwork.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
New peer-reviewed research published in Atmospheric Pollution Research shows that Fort Mckay faces disproportionately high levels of dust pollution, with levels frequently exceeding regulatory guidelines for air quality. ow.ly/ZHwE50ZSjTB
ow.ly
Severe dust pollution blowing into Alberta community downwind of the oilsands, study warns - The Weather Network
A new study warns that continuing to rely on standard air monitoring measures will leave the true impact of dustfall pollution on Fort McKay — and other communities downwind of intensive resource development — uncertain.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Unicorn Riot @unicornriot.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Canadian Oil Giant Enbridge Builds Unauthorized Pipeline Bypass Following 1.3 Million Gallon Spill unicornriot.ninja/2026/canadia...
unicornriot.ninja
Canadian Oil Giant Enbridge Builds Unauthorized Pipeline Bypass Following 1.3 Million Gallon Spill - UNICORN RIOT
After the largest oil and gas spill in Wisconsin's history, Enbridge's defiance of legal requests raise serious questions about the state’s ability to regulate large, multinational corporations and it...
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 23/09/2026
Political insiders have dismissed @rorywh.bsky.social's investigation of the creepy AI propaganda app being used by the Brad Bradford campaign. They say it's "inevitable." It's not.
nationalobserver.com
No, cyborg propaganda is not 'inevitable.' None of this is.
After Rory White revealed a Toronto mayoral campaign is putting AI-written comments in its supporters' mouths, political insiders were quick to dismiss it as run-of-the-mill politicking. So why does i...
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 25/09/2026
How a web of institutes and academics — with ties to a U.S. non-profit and outsized influence on the United Conservative Party government — helped turn separatism from fringe idea to the mainstream. thetyee.ca/News/2026/09...
thetyee.ca
How the US Atlas Network Built Alberta Separatism | The Tyee
A global cabal of libertarian and right-wing organizations has fuelled the province’s independence movement.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 24/09/2026
Public health initiatives around alcohol consumption are being opposed by Big Alcohol — and by small alcohol lobby groups too. Some breweries think that’s wrong. thetyee.ca/News/2026/09...
thetyee.ca
Does Your Local Craft Brewer Want to Hide Alcohol Risks? | The Tyee
Their major industry association is lobbying against new drinking guidelines and warning labels. Its members are split.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Mark Follman @markfollman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEWS: My new investigation uncovers the horrific ChatGPT history of the Tumbler Ridge school shooter. OpenAI’s chatbot fueled the shooter's violent fantasies and plans up to the day of the massacre. Chats about guns, timing of attacks, becoming infamous, and more. www.motherjones.com/media/2026/0...
motherjones.com
ChatGPT helped the Tumbler Ridge school shooter focus on guns, tactics, and terror, our investigation reveals
OpenAI’s chatbot fed the shooter’s violent fantasies and planning up to the massacre.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 15/09/2026
University of Saskatchewan’s attempt to block an access to information request is overturned. zurl.co/6nBjC
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 21/09/2026
Many so-called crisis pregnancy charities claim to offer a full range of services for pregnant women while hiding their anti-abortion views. Justin Trudeau’s government promised to crack down — so what happened?zurl.co/N932q
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat: Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible theijf.org/article/how-...
theijf.org
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat
Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
BC is getting very close to re-claiming its crown as "nuttiest political province" in Canada. I look forward to Alberta's inevitable response. #cdnpoli cheknews.ca/bc-conservat...
cheknews.ca
B.C. Conservatives hire private investigator to investigate CHEK’s Rob Shaw along with current, former MLAs
B.C.’s Opposition Conservative party hired a private investigator to target its critics, including current and former MLAs, as well as CHEK News’ political correspondent.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Outstanding reporting from #Canada on how deeply embedded Atlas Network partners & people are in trying to get #Alberta to be a separated US pawn. (Note Gina Rinehart is part of the problem there too.) The Atlas Network’s ppl want profit for donors, not your good. See #NZpol links. #Auspol #Cdnpoli
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION
Before immigrating to Canada, Alberta Institute founder McCaffrey was president of the youth wing of New Zealand's right-wing ACT Party.
McCaffrey said he was introduced to Atlas partner Frontier Centre for Public Policy by David Seymour, who directed the think tank's Saskatchewan office before returning to New Zealand to resume his political career with ACT.
Since being elected to the New Zealand parliament in 2014, Seymour has denied his links to Atlas Network, calling questions about his connections to the group a "conspiracy theory."
McCaffrey replaced Seymour at the Frontier Centre's Saskatchewan office in early 2012, went
through the Atlas Network's leadership academy program in 2013, and worked for the Manning Centre from 2014 until establishing the Alberta Institute.
McCaffrey has also been active in the UCP since its founding, including as a member of the party's 2018 policy committee.INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION
Separatism has gone from an idea on the margins of the conservative movement to one at the centre of Alberta's government.
Over the last decade, a cadre of libertarian think tanks has been instrumental in bringing Alberta separatism into the mainstream, promoting the idea through research, conferences, social media and the press. They've helped craft government policy to prepare Alberta for independence, and to make the threat of secession a powerful "or else" in the province's stand-off with Ottawa.
Connecting this web of institutes and academics are their ties to the U.S.-based Atlas Network, and the revolving door relationship between members of the network and the administration of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Atlas Network is a U.S. non-profit that acts as the hub connecting a global network of about 500
libertarian think tanks in more than 100 countries.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
🇨🇦Joe Vipond🇨🇦 @jvipondmd.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
this is chilling. From Univ of Calgary prof Barry Cooper
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Geoff Dembicki @geoffdembicki.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Excited to be recognized by @coveringclimatenow.org for my investigation into how Exxon helped spread climate denial across the Global South. Also thrilled that @desmog.com won two additional awards this year for investigative reporting.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 17/09/2026
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat. zurl.co/MKrCk
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat: Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible theijf.org/article/how-...
theijf.org
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat
Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible
01010
Reposted by Brett McKay
Drew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
According to a leaked document, the government of Alberta is considering a massive overhaul of natural gas pipelines in the province, and billions in spending, to help drive an AI data centre boom. #abpoli #cdnpoli thenarwhal.ca/alberta-ai-d...
thenarwhal.ca
Leaked doc suggests Alberta has sprawling plans to pave the way for AI data centres, more oil production
Rewriting laws, creating Crown corporations that could rival TC Energy, building new natural gas pipelines and increasing prices for consumers: what a leaked document says about Alberta’s AI data centre and oil push
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The Albertan @thealbertan.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
NEWS: Municipal Affairs minister suggests stock, bond sales to make up for lost revenue
dlvr.it
Municipal Affairs minister suggests stock, bond sales to make up for lost revenue
Mayor Dan Daley says Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams told mayors in mid-sized towns like Olds that they can cope with funding cuts and increase their income by selling stocks or bonds
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The Asper Foundation paused a $50K donation to the human rights museum because of its Nakba exhibit and its trustee called for an assessment of museum policy. The foundation has also given more than $4.8M to charities later sanctioned for sending funds to the IDF or illegal Israeli settlements.
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Edmonton police quietly kept CCTV cameras after 2020 pilot edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonto...
edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton police quietly kept CCTV cameras after 2020 pilot
The device and others like it have been credited with helping police solve crimes.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Rory White @rorywh.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
New investigation from me. The 23 websites are designed to influence the answers that AI chatbots give to voters in Alberta, targeting farmers, young people, veterans, mothers and oil industry workers. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/04/i...
nationalobserver.com
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
National Newswatch @nationalnewswatch.com · 04/09/2026
Changes to Canada's climate now 'irreversible,' federal report says nationalnewswatch.com/2026/09/04/c...
nationalnewswatch.com
Changes to Canada's climate now 'irreversible,' federal report says
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 04/09/2026
A prominent charity at the heart of backlash against the human rights museum’s Nakba exhibit has given more than $4.8 million to groups the CRA later flagged for supporting illegal Israeli settlements, displacement of Palestinians or the Israeli military. zurl.co/2lMsk
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 04/09/2026
The IJF has been crushing it on this beat lately theijf.org/article/phil...
theijf.org
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military
CRA alleges groups carried out or served as conduits for ineligible activities
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Windflower's director donated thousands to the UCP last year while lobbying the government on private health/surgical clinics. theijf.org/article/how-...
The IJF previously reported that PR firms and corporations actively lobbying the provincial government donated approximately $90,000 to the province’s governing party last year. One of these donors was Red Deer anaesthesiologist Dr. Arun Anand, who is lobbying the province about opening a private “fee-for-service” surgical facility, according to Alberta’s lobbyist registry. Anand donated $5,000 to the UCP in 2025, and the A. Anand Medical Professional Corporation also gave more than $1,000 to the party.

Anand is also named in a separate lobbyist filing as a director of Windflower Health Inc. Windflower Health is lobbying various government health ministries and agencies, as well as the premier’s office to discuss “innovations regarding the delivery of healthcare within Alberta.”
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The Asper Foundation paused a $50K donation to the human rights museum because of its Nakba exhibit and its trustee called for an assessment of museum policy. The foundation has also given more than $4.8M to charities later sanctioned for sending funds to the IDF or illegal Israeli settlements.
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
American weapons and tech firm Axon has Canadian police in a chokehold
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Manitoba officers charged in just 2% of all police-involved deaths since 2015
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Via @brettmckay.bsky.social Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military: theijf.org/article/phil...
theijf.org
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military
CRA alleges groups carried out or served as conduits for ineligible activities
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Reposted by Brett McKay
The IJF Union @ijfunion.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
At @theijf.org our mission is to strengthen democracy by holding power to account and ​getting behind closed doors.​ Today, we’re bringing that transparency home: The workers of the IJF have voted to form a union with @cmglaguilde.bsky.social tinyurl.com/3jt4yh8s #InvestigativeJournalism
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Interesting revision on a statement from Premier Danielle Smith on Alberta Day. The first version made direct reference to Indigenous people. An updated version was sent out removing the Indigenous acknowledgment, and replacing with recognition of Alberta energy and refenced "many backgrounds."
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 01/09/2026
An advocacy group is lobbying the Saskatchewan government to implement a policy for universities, expanding the definition of antisemitism to include “undue criticism of Israel,” “opposition to Zionism” and “colonial narratives.” zurl.co/BKhkE
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
In a shockingly fast change of course, Recovery Alberta said Fri. it's committing to reopen the voluntary addiction treatment program at Henwood after renovations. Staff were told Aug. 20 they were being laid off, redeployed. We broke the story on Tuesday. www.recoveryalberta.ca/news/Page141...
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
NEW: Former Edmonton mayor is lobbying for the Oilers Entertainment Group seeking federal funding for housing in the Village at Ice District, the urban development component of last year's $400 million deal between Edmonton, the province and OEG. theijf.org/article/form...
theijf.org
Former Edmonton mayor lobbying for Oilers Entertainment Group
OEG seeking funding from federal housing ministry, DND for Village at Ice District housing
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Jonny Wakefield @jonnywakefield.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Former Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is lobbing the federal government on behalf of Oilers Entertainment Group less than a year after leaving office
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Cecil Rosner @rosnerc.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
From mayor to paid lobbyist.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... As Andrew Jeffrey explains, identifying and shelving library material with potentially explicit visuals is a time-consuming and fraught process that has Alberta librarians worried about the implications #AbLeg
cbc.ca
Alberta librarians feeling anxious about complying with new restrictions ahead of Jan. 1 deadline | CBC News
Public libraries in Alberta have until the new year to comply with new restrictions around access to materials in their collection with a visual depiction of a sexual act, but with less than five mont...
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 28/08/2026
Edmonton’s former mayor is lobbying the federal government to get funding for the Oilers Entertainment Group’s Village at Ice District housing project. zurl.co/GWWZN
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
NEW: Former Edmonton mayor is lobbying for the Oilers Entertainment Group seeking federal funding for housing in the Village at Ice District, the urban development component of last year's $400 million deal between Edmonton, the province and OEG. theijf.org/article/form...
theijf.org
Former Edmonton mayor lobbying for Oilers Entertainment Group
OEG seeking funding from federal housing ministry, DND for Village at Ice District housing
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Parksy @pfparks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
theijf.org/article/r... “People are desperate. It takes so long to get treatment,” So many desperate for voluntary treatment in AB - we see them daily in the ED, pleading for help... But our govt spends all its time and resources on COMPULSORY treatment make it make sense!
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Euan Thomson @drugdatadecoded.ca · 26/08/2026
At its core the Alberta Recovery Model means union-busting, disinformation, private theft of public goods, a police state, and a bait-and-switch of “treatment” to confinement. @brettmckay.bsky.social is following all of it ⬇️ theijf.org/article/reco...
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops hundreds from wait list globalnews.ca/news/1203509...
globalnews.ca
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops hundreds from wait list | Globalnews.ca
For hundreds of Albertans on the waiting list at the Henwood Treatment Centre, the loss of the program means they are back to square one in their search for addiction treatment.
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list theijf.org/article/reco...
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 25/08/2026
Alberta is closing a voluntary addiction treatment program in Edmonton, eliminating 62 treatment beds and taking almost 600 people off the centre’s waiting list. zurl.co/uMWl5
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Elaine Hyshka @ehyshka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Sad news about Henwood and a big loss for the #yeg area. My first research project on substance use treatment was at Henwood, 16 years ago. Thinking of all patients and the staff affected by this closure. theijf.org/article/reco...
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Anna Mehler Paperny @mehlerpaperny.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Alberta is closing an addiction treatment program. theijf.org/article/reco...
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list theijf.org/article/reco...
theijf.org
Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
Staff at Henwood Treatment Centre were told last week program ending, future of facility uncertain
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Reposted by Brett McKay
Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 05/08/2026
The company behind a proposed data centre in Olds has hired former government insiders to lobby on its behalf. zurl.co/CbpiC
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