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Madeline Smith

@meksmith.bsky.social

6.5K followers 302 following 102 posts

Justice reporter at CBC Edmonton, on maternity leave until Feb 2027. Past life in newspapers (Journal, Herald, StarMetro). Fighting for my life on uncomfortable courthouse gallery benches. she/her madeline.smith@cbc.ca

Posts Replies Media

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

"learning"

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

The foster father accused in the death of a 5-year-old boy in his care was acquitted yesterday after a trial: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta foster father found not guilty in death of 5-year-old child | CBC News

The young boy, who had significant physical disabilities, was found dead in the passenger seat footwell of his foster mother’s vehicle on June 14, 2022, at a rural property south of Edmonton.

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Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

More on the new "immunity" against law society complaints for Alberta's attorney-general, from @joeldryden.bsky.social: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Immunity for Alberta attorney general necessary to ward off ‘political activism,’ attorney general says | CBC News

Alberta’s justice minister, who is also the attorney general, says new rules that would grant anyone who’s in his job general immunity from law society sanctions are necessary to ward off “political a...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Full story, which has been updated several times today, in its final version here: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Judge says referendum proposal on Alberta independence would be unconstitutional | CBC News

An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced ...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Just received a gov statement: "Justice Feasby’s decision includes comments that are critical of a bill currently before the Legislative Assembly. ... Judicial statements about the merits of a proposed bill before the legislative branch interfere with well-established democratic processes."

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Justice Colin Feasby was not pleased: "Changing legislation to circumvent a valid legal process commenced by the independent officer of the Legislative Assembly ... is the antithesis of the stable, predictable, and ordered society that the rule of law contemplates, and democracy demands."

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

After the province tabled Bill 14 yesterday, which would have stopped the court proceedings on whether a proposed Alberta separation question contravenes the Constitution, the judge came out at a previously scheduled appearance today and just... dropped his decision. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Judge says proposed referendum on Alberta independence would be unconstitutional | CBC News

An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introdu...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I have yet to be able to ask this question to the minister, but I don't understand where moving Law Society conduct appeals to CKB came from. What kind of court capacity is there for appeals of law society matters? Criminal trials are scheduling into 2027 at the moment.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

There is a LOT in this legislation, to the point that big changes for Alberta's legal regulator are all the way at the bottom, including: -Law Society of Alberta can't mandate training/education beyond a specific scope -Conduct decision appeals go to Court of King's Bench www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta legislation would change citizen referendum rules, restrict political party names | CBC News

Bill 14, introduced Thursday by Justice Minister Mickey Amery, transfers powers from the chief electoral officer to the minister when deciding whether citizen petition initiatives should proceed. It a...

Reposted by Madeline Smith

Jason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

BREAKING: Alberta Health Services CEO who took over after a controversial firing in January is now himself out. AHS confirms Andre Tremblay on leave. Minister Matt Jones has appointed a new CEO and chair. Tremblay was named CEO after Athana Mentzelopoulos was fired earlier this year.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Really, really difficult case in Wetaskiwin court this week about the death of an extremely vulnerable young child who was in foster care: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Trial begins for Alberta man accused in foster child's death | CBC News

The young boy, who can't be named due to a court-ordered publication ban, was found dead on the floor of a vehicle on a rural property in June 2022. The man caring for him at the time has pleaded not ...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Hey folks, if you'd like to cover Edmonton courts and justice/crime issues at CBC, now is your chance because I'll be on maternity leave shortly into the new year. Applications due before midnight on Dec. 1! cbcrc.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/CBC_Radio-Ca...

cbcrc.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com

Reporter/Editor (On-Site) (English Services)

Position Title: Reporter/Editor (On-Site) (English Services) Status of Employment: Temporary Long-Term (Fixed Term) Position Language Requirement: Language Skills: Work at CBC/Radio-Canada At CBC/Radi...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Minister Amery says the acting assistant deputy minister of justice "has a vision for the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, and she's putting that vision into effect." Meanwhile, the AACP says they need employment protections to protect prosecutors from being dismissed "for improper reasons."

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

With the Alberta Crown Attorneys' Association going public about their concerns and questions over Edmonton's chief and assistant chief Crown suddenly out of their jobs, Justice Minister Mickey Amery says there was "no government involvement whatsoever" in the move. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta prosecutors' group concerned over sudden departure of senior Edmonton Crown lawyers | CBC News

The Alberta Crown Attorneys’ Association (AACA) says it doesn’t know the reasons for the “unexpected” departures of Edmonton's chief Crown and assistant chief, but said there has been a “significant d...

Reposted by Madeline Smith

Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Alberta's justice minister has tabled a bill to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield a suite of legislation from legal challenges. The laws in question restrict the rights of transgender people in access to health care and sports, and affect K-12 education of all students. #AbLeg #Abed

Alberta to invoke notwithstanding clause to shield 3 transgender bills from court challenges | CBC News

The Alberta government has tabled legislation that seeks to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield a suite of bills that affects transgender youth and adults from legal challenges.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

It's been a long road for court cases from the 2022 Ertale Lounge mass shooting, but one man has been found guilty of 1st-degree murder. There were 4 shooters total — 1 going to trial in 2027, 1 still wanted on Canada-wide warrants, 1 has never been identified to this day. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton man gets life sentence for role in 2022 lounge shooting | CBC News

After a trial, a judge finds Samatar Mohiadin, 28, was the first of four gunmen to open fire outside the north-central Edmonton nightclub on March 12, 2022, just outside a fenced patio where about a d...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

It's actually more like 600 people between the current repayment queue and currently active life leases.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

And it's been two years since I wrote the first story on this whole situation: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta seniors waiting for payments after ending life leases for housing frustrated by delays | CBC News

Former residents of several Christenson Group of Companies retirement buildings have been waiting in queues — in some cases up to two years — to be repaid hundreds of thousands of dollars they put int...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

There were more than 200 people in the Christenson Group life lease payment queue at the end of 2024. That's now up to 300, and there are 301 more active life leases with payments that will become due when the lease is terminated: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

More than 200 Albertans owed hundreds of thousands of dollars for life lease repayment | CBC News

As a growing number of seniors and their families wait for an Edmonton property developer to repay the money it owes under life-lease contracts, the company says provincial regulations are a new stumb...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Belatedly sharing from last week: this is a story I started following when I was a business reporter, and I'm still dealing with it as a court reporter: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton developer Christenson Group files for creditor protection | CBC News

Facing mounting debt, more than a dozen lawsuits and the possibility of receivership action from secured lenders, a court filing prepared by a lawyer for the Christenson Group says the aim is to marke...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

And in another ASIRT report released today, despite recommending charges against RCMP officers who killed a man after firing at him at least 20 times, Crown prosecutors will not be pursuing a case: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Crown won't prosecute RCMP officers who killed Siksika man despite ASIRT recommendations | CBC News

Alberta prosecutors have rejected the recommendation made by the province’s police watchdog that two officers face charges for the fatal Christmas Day shooting of an intoxicated Siksika man who was wi...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

ASIRT says there are no grounds to charge four Edmonton police officers involved in an arrest where a man died after he was restrained, handcuffed and briefly hogtied while lying face down on the ground: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

EPS officers cleared in man's death after 2023 arrest | CBC News

Alberta's police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to charge the Edmonton police officers involved in an arrest where a man died after he was handcuffed and hogtied.

Reposted by Madeline Smith

Jen Lee @jenleecbc.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Pregnant Albertans ARE eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine this fall... But doctors say the messaging has not been clear and they worry people don't know this is the case Latest from me👇 #abhealth www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

COVID-19 vaccine free for pregnant Albertans but many don't know that, doctors warn | CBC News

Pregnant Albertans are eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine this fall, but doctors say they are not aware of any clear messaging from the provincial government to either patients or health-care provid...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Full list of books on the chopping block in Edmonton public schools — more than what was going around the internet yesterday — here, courtesy of reporting from @jantafrench.bsky.social and Emily Williams: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The Handmaid's Tale among more than 200 books to be pulled at Edmonton public schools | CBC News

A list confirmed by CBC News shows titles like The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World are among books to be pulled. The development comes after a policy from Alberta's education minister outlines new...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

This story on the Saskatoon Police Service is crazy. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Saskatoon officers break silence on house party that led to 5 suspensions | CBC News

Police officers are speaking out about a backyard hot tub and pool party that ultimately led to the suspension of five officers — including three from the tactical unit — and allegations of assault an...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I checked earlier in the summer and it wasn’t finished, but I need to check again. Hopefully there will be an update at some point.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

An EPS officer has pleaded guilty to an assault charge laid after junior officers patrolling with him reported an unwarranted use of force where he hit a man in the head who had been sleeping in an LRT station. The officer's sentence is a six-month conditional discharge: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

EPS officer admits to assault against man found sleeping in downtown LRT station | CBC News

Edmonton Police Service Sgt. Michael Bates was charged in 2024 after junior officers on duty with him raised concerns about his conduct with a man following police instructions.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

One of the men accused in the "Project Gaslight" arson and extortion targeting South Asian homebuilders in Edmonton has pleaded guilty, putting new details about the scheme on the public record for the first time: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton extortion scheme linked to notorious B.C. gang, court records show | CBC News

An extortion scheme that targeted South Asian homebuilders in Edmonton is linked to the B.C.-based gang Brothers Keepers, court records obtained by CBC News show.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Truly a story with so many twists that I never could have anticipated, that just seemed to keep going well past the point I thought there was nothing else to do. And it prompted a fair amount of reform about how council expenses are handled/disclosed in Calgary. calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

calgaryherald.com

City council expense policies need reform, audit report says

A new report examining council members' expenses shows councillors are mostly following city policy, but there are "systemic issues" to fix.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

And then there was the night where council was behind closed doors for like two hours and then they came out at something like 10:30 p.m. and dropped the motion referring the expense investigation to the police: calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

calgaryherald.com

Magliocca banned from business travel; council refers expense audit to police

The results of the forensic audit come nearly six months after questions started to emerge about some of the costs the Ward 2 councillor billed to taxpayers

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I will also never forget the evening I got the email from the city's former integrity commissioner telling me he had to recuse himself from the investigation. I yelled "OH MY GOD" and my husband was very confused but I was totally unable to explain anything to him: calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

calgaryherald.com

Integrity commissioner recuses himself from Magliocca expense probe, citing free meal with councillor

Magliocca expensed a lunch with integrity commissioner Sal LoVecchio in 2019, which he said was a "social lunch" that taxpayers shouldn't have been billed for

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I will never forget listening to Meghan Potkins on the phone talking to the first of what would become many people who were very confused to learn their names were on Magliocca's receipts: calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

calgaryherald.com

Coun. Magliocca calls nonexistent guests on travel expenses a ‘clerical error'

Chestermere Coun. Yvette Kind says she was surprised to learn her name was attached to a $331 bar tab.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Somehow I missed that former Calgary city councillor Joe Magliocca was sentenced last month after being found guilty of fraud: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Former Calgary councillor Joe Magliocca gets house arrest and curfew for expenses fraud | CBC News

Former Calgary councillor Joe Magliocca, who was convicted of fraud for submitting 19 falsified expense claims to the city, has been handed a six-month conditional sentence order.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Ken Porter, a former track coach in Edmonton and Ottawa, was found guilty yesterday of five historical sexual offences — the judge found he used track-side "athletic massages" as a pretense to sexually touch three teenage boys in the 1970s: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Former Edmonton track coach found guilty of historic sexual offences against teen athletes | CBC News

A judge found Ken Porter sexually touched teenage boys for his own gratification under the guise of athletic massages while he was their coach in the 1970s.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

A police officer is on trial for assault charges from a 2019 arrest caught on video from the Royal Alberta Museum — this happened right by the courthouse and down the street from EPS headquarters: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Man injured during 2019 arrest questioned at EPS officer's assault trial | CBC News

Edmonton police Const. Alexander Doduk has pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm against Justin LaFrance.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Yes it's not a long-term care thing, it's used in independent retirement living for the most part. It comes with both the upfront fee and monthly costs, but the monthly fees might be less than a typical rental cost. It's a very unique system that I had no idea about until I did this reporting!

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I got more details on the background of the case, and the legal issues Sobotiak's defence team is now raising about a potential re-prosecution, through their written submissions to the court: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Review of Sobotiak murder conviction revealed undisclosed police evidence, court filing says | CBC News

Roy Sobotiak's lawyers filed written arguments in support of his bail application on Friday, which shed light on issues they raised with the investigation and trial that ended in 1991, convicting Sobo...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I had such a busy day with this case I never shared any of the stories, but I got to watch the bail hearing for Roy Sobotiak, who's now released after more than 35 years behind bars for the 1987 murder of Susan Kaminsky. Story from the awesome Wallis Snowdon: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Man convicted of murdering Edmonton woman in 1987 granted bail | CBC News

A man imprisoned for more than three decades for murdering an Edmonton woman has been granted bail, months after his conviction was quashed by the federal justice minister.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

It is a thing in Manitoba but the legislation about how they're handled is actually quite different and has been held up as a good model by people who want more regulation around this type of housing.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Greg Christenson, the president of the Edmonton development company that owes 200+ seniors and their families large sums of money they put into life lease contracts, has been charged under the province's Consumer Protection Act: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta developer faces Consumer Protection Act charges over return of life lease fees | CBC News

Court records show that Greg Christenson, president of Christenson Group of Companies, has been charged with two counts of failing to return a life lease entrance fee within 180 days — alleged violati...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I've been very fired up about how much pricier court searches I need to do on a regular basis just became, but thankfully @jonnywakefield.bsky.social is here with the big-picture story on the potential access-to-justice issues for everyone: edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/a...

edmontonjournal.com

Alberta more than doubles court search fees, raising fears on access to justice

The Alberta government has hiked a raft of court fees — including more than doubling the cost to search public documents.

Reposted by Madeline Smith

Jen Lee @jenleecbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

**Alberta's measles case count has now topped 500** 19 new cases reported today 18 are in south zone, one is in Calgary zone. Total to date = 505 (since the outbreaks began in March) www.alberta.ca/measles

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

The officer was charged with assault in 2021, but the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service stayed the case shortly after. The investigation of this case from @charlesrusnell.bsky.social and Jennie Russell was extensive: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Former B.C. solicitor general says judicial review needed in Alberta police brutality case | CBC News

There should be a judicial review of Alberta Justice’s refusal to prosecute an Edmonton police officer whose violent attack on a handcuffed prisoner was captured on video, a former British Columbia so...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

An EPS officer has been given a formal reprimand almost six years after he was caught on video shoving a handcuffed man's head into a wall, then slamming him against a police car: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton police officer reprimanded for using force on handcuffed man in 2019 arrest | CBC News

Edmonton police Const. Dylan Awid has been reprimanded nearly six years after he kicked a man who was being arrested, then shoved his head into a wall after he was in handcuffs.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

No match for this historic municipal slogan moment: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Okotoks rebrands itself, but will it convince you to go there? | CBC News

What comes to mind when you think of Okotoks? Is it the Dawgs, Drake Landing or The Big Rock?

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

UPDATE: After a couple hours of deliberation, the jury returned a not guilty verdict, and former Edmonton police officer Oli Olason has been acquitted of assault: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Former Edmonton police officer found not guilty of assault in arrest caught on video | CBC News

Oli Olason, a former EPS constable who worked in the tactical unit, was acquitted of an assault charge he faced after he was accused of excessive force in an arrest on March 23, 2021.

Reposted by Madeline Smith

Michelle Bellefontaine @mbellefontaine.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

This is a significant finding from Alberta’s privacy and information commissioner and confirms what many FOIP users have long suspected.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

And Olason himself also got on the stand on Thursday to give evidence about the arrest. The Crown and defence gave closing arguments this morning and the jury is now in deliberations on a verdict. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Former Edmonton police officer gives evidence in his own defence at excessive force trial | CBC News

Oli Olason is on trial for assault over his alleged conduct in the arrest of Lee Van Beaver just after midnight on March 23, 2021.

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Several other officers that were at the scene during and after the arrest testified this week: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton police officers testify at trial for constable accused of excessive force | CBC News

A jury watched security footage of the arrest, which took place in an alley in the Ritchie neighbourhood, several times as witnesses, including police officers who were also at the scene, gave evidenc...

Madeline Smith @meksmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

I've been completely falling down on sharing my work lately, so here: I've been watching the trial of Oli Olason all week, a former EPS officer accused of excessive force in a 2021 arrest that was caught on video: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton man kicked, stomped during arrest despite complying with police, jury hears | CBC News

Edmonton police officer Oli Olason is on trial for assault, accused of excessive force in a 2021 arrest caught on video.