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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial]

@drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy
17 followers 0 following 94 posts

I write about political culture, public opinion, public policy, and political institutions in Canada. Most of my commentary centres on Alberta […] 🌉 bridged from 🌐 drjaredwesley.substack.com: fed.brid.gy/web/drjaredwesley.subst…

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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 27/09/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Making Sense of Alberta’s Referendums
A Voter’s Guide
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 25/09/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Pandering to Pandora
Why the UCP’s four constitutional questions are threats to provincial autonomy
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 18/09/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
How to lose a referendum in 30 days
And 5 ways to win
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 17/09/2026
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When “leverage” isn’t leverage
Why the separatists’ push for bargaining power is just an empty bluff
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 14/09/2026
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Ten Questions, One Real Decision
Albertans must choose between grievance or governing
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 06/09/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Canada is difficult.
Let’s lead it, not leave our future to the faint of heart.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 14/08/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Don't look away
The racism on display at some separatist town halls is an important part of our provincial discussion.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 11/08/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Universities Are Pillars of Democracy
A guest post from Dr. Marc Spooner (University of Regina)
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 21/07/2026
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Skip the Line, Not the Vote
How advance polls and mail-in ballots are key to mobilization in Alberta this fall
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 22/06/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
One Card, Many Problems
Why the UCP's changes to provincial ID are bound to fail.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 14/06/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
(Be)longing in Alberta
How Canada's most alienated province is also among its most loyal.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 03/06/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Alberta: the jilted lover of Confederation
What federalists in the rest of Canada need to know about Alberta separatism
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 24/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Challenging the 300K Claim
Alberta Separatism and the Politics of Perception
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 22/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
This is Danielle Smith's referendum.
It's her vote to lose. And ours to win.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 16/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Pipeline or referendum: she can't have both
Danielle Smith's dreams of tidewater access and a separation vote cannot both come true.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 14/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Premier Smith is normalizing separatism
Beyond platforming and clearing institutional hurdles, she is dragging separatism into the mainstream.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 07/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Momentum Toward a Public Inquiry is Growing
Dozens of academics issued an open letter to the people and Government of Alberta
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 03/05/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Alberta’s Voters-List Scandal Deserves a Public Inquiry. Now.
This is an egregious breach of privacy and democratic trust. Albertans deserve answers before they cast another single ballot.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 26/04/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
3 Simple Rules
We need to get back to democratic basics, and stop treating the public square like a political science seminar.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 02/04/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Drawing the Line Against Gerrymandering
Why the Alberta Government Should Reject the "Minority Report"
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 27/03/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
ID? Please.
Alberta separatists confront the downsides of draconian voter validation rules
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 02/03/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Governing by Referendum
Populism trumps good policymaking
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 19/01/2026
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Populism, Sovereignty, and Democracy in Alberta
My Address to the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 12/12/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
What Can We Do?
A Holiday Plan for Restoring Alberta’s Democracy
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 07/12/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Real conservatives respect and defend courts
Danielle Smith does not, and that's democratically dangerous.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 18/11/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
There's No "I" in Team
On December 5, join Rachel Notley, Alex Marland, and me for a timely discussion of party (dis)loyalty in Canada.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 16/11/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
What happens when you call your MLA?
An errant voicemail gives us insight into how the UCP is handling the backlash against its use of the notwithstanding clause. They're not doing well.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 15/11/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Why use the notwithstanding clause?
On laziness, impatience, and vengeance.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 09/11/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Defying the Lougheed Doctrine
The UCP's repeated use of the notwithstanding is fundamentally unconservative (and un-Albertan).
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 31/10/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Can they? Must they? Should they?
Three questions to answer about the UCP's use of the notwithstanding clause
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 27/10/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Alberta Strong and Free, Notwithstanding
The UCP's Bill 2 skirts the legislature and the courts, leaving it up to the public to push back swiftly
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 16/10/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Pluralism, Populism and the University
My remarks as part of the UAlberta President's Speaker Series
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 20/09/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
TACO, meet DACO
Why populists like Donald Trump and Danielle Smith keep 'Chickening Out'
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 16/09/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Alberta’s ‘Citizenship Marker’ Plan
Another policy solution in search of a problem
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 12/09/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
A New Way to Relate
Join us in Edmonton, October 4 and 5.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 26/06/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
How's Alberta doing, really?
Join us for a discussion in your community this summer.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 12/06/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
What not to do
3 things to avoid in the event of a separation referendum in Alberta
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 06/06/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
5 Lessons from 1995
What the Quebec referendum tells us about Alberta secession
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 05/05/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Charting Alberta’s Future
A Constructive Look at Premier Smith’s “Alberta Accord”
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 02/05/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Carney's Federalism Dilemma
The prime minister must choose avoidance or engagement
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 29/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Danielle Smith's Electoral Reforms Are Straight from the Trump Playbook
And it's no accident they were released today.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 29/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Stuck at the Crossroads
Two Paths Ahead for the Conservative Movement (and Confederation)
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 27/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Losing Matters
Like all of the elections before it, Monday will test our collective resolve.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 24/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
What's "woke"?
Poilievre's vague promise leaves us guessing about his agenda.
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 15/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Poilievre & the Notwithstanding Clause
The Conservatives have invited us to debate our rights. Will we take it seriously?
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Decoding Politics | Jared Wesley | Substack [Unofficial] @drjaredwesley.substack.com.web.brid.gy · 03/04/2025
drjaredwesley.substack.com
Western Defeatism
A Real Threat to Conservative Fortunes and National Unity
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