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Martin Z. Olszynski

@molszyns.bsky.social
8.3K followers 1.7K following 589 posts

Associate Professor & Chair in Energy, Resources & Sustainability @ U of Calgary Faculty of Law. Co-editor @ablawg.bsky.social. Thinking about land-use planning, trade-offs, and muddling through. Calgary, AB/Treaty 7 🇨🇦

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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Some voters alarmed by self-declaration requirement on mail-in ballots for Alberta referendum | CBC News
Some Albertans who received their mail-in ballots for the province's fall referendum say they were surprised and concerned by a self-declaration requirement on the front page of their voting package a...
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FACETS Journal @facetsjournal.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Can a shared global commitment to #ScientificIntegrity help counter misinformation, polarization and the politicization of science? Dr. Mona Nemer / Dre Mona Nemer and C. Scott Findlay make the case for a global scientific integrity covenant ▶️ ow.ly/p0Ne50ZzQvq #AI
Cover of FACETS 10th Anniversary Collection featuring 'Scientific Integrity for a Changing World' with photos of Dr. Mona Nemer and Dr. C. Scott Findlay.
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
🚨Funding for 2yr postdoc w/me & @geocron.bsky.social on landslide-tsunami-jökulhlaup, but (this is the ridiculous part) I need to select someone NOW or I lose the $. If you're NOT in Canada (can be any nationality) & interested email CV & transcripts by midnight MT, June 12. 🧪⚒️ @igs-egg.bsky.social
icebergs in a glacial lake
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
🚨New paper about the second largest tsunami ever recorded, just published in @science.org A short 🧪⚒️🌊 thread #EGU26 @ucalgary.bsky.social @ucalgaryscience.bsky.social doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org
A 481-meter-high landslide-tsunami in a cruise ship–frequented Alaska fjord
Early in the morning of 10 August 2025, a >64 × 106 m3 landslide struck Tracy Arm fjord in Alaska. The landslide was preconditioned by glacial retreat caused by climate change. The resulting 481 m run...
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Blake Shaffer 🇨🇦 @blakeshaffer.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
annual reminder: Alberta's deficit is a choice.
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
NEW: A federal judge in Oregon issued a sweeping rebuke of the Justice Department’s nationwide push to seize state voter rolls, ruling that the department can no longer be presumed to be acting in good faith and warning that its conduct threatens voters and states’ rights.
democracydocket.com
Federal judge rules DOJ can ‘no longer’ be trusted in voter roll crusade
The judge pointed to a letter from Bondi to Minnesota that tied federal immigration enforcement to demands for voter data as the smoking gun.
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ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
New Post: What Are the Implications of the International Court’s Climate Change Advisory Opinion for Provinces? ablawg.ca/2026/01/26...…on-for-provinces/
ablawg.ca
What Are the Implications of the International Court’s Climate Change Advisory Opinion for Provinces?
By: Nigel Bankes Case Commented On: Obligations of States In Respect of Climate Change, Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, July 23, 2025 PDF Version: What Are the Implications …
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
From someone who clamours a lot about governments staying in their own lane, this is equivalent to jumping the middle meridian on the highway: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... #ableg #cdnpoli
theglobeandmail.com
Smith demands more say in Alberta judicial appointments
Premier threatens to withhold funding, says the appointment process needs reform
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Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
My latest: Mark Carney just delivered the most important speech in recent Canadian history. Now, we wait for the fallout. #cdnpoli www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/20/o...
nationalobserver.com
Mark Carney just shook up the world
His speech in Davos might be the most important one ever delivered by a Canadian prime minister. Its consequences will determine his place in history — and ours.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20/01/2026
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
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Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Alberta separatist lawyer threatened 'war crimes,' 'murder' charges over COVID vaccine, law society claims edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com
Alberta separatist lawyer threatened 'war crimes,' 'murder' charges over COVID vaccine, law society claims
Separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath is challenging claims he breached professional conduct rules by writing to government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic — but admits he used "overly aggressive" lan...
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Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
#SCC Justice Sheilah Martin will retire early on May 30th. This will be Carney’s first SCC appointment.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
The Honourable Sheilah L. Martin announces her retirement from the Supreme Court of Canada
 
 
OTTAWA, January 13, 2026 – The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, announces that Justice Sheilah L. Martin has notified the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, of her retirement from the Supreme Court of Canada effective May 30, 2026.
 
“Justice Martin is widely respected for the depth of her legal scholarship, her commitment to fairness, and her principled approach to justice,” said Chief Justice Wagner. “She has made remarkable contributions to Canadian jurisprudence and her commitment to education has carried over into her career on the bench. She is the first Supreme Court judge that I swore in as Chief Justice of Canada and I have always appreciated her enthusiasm in supporting initiatives that promote openness, transparency and meaningful engagement with Canadians. Her colleagues and I wish her a very happy retirement.”
 
Born and raised in Montréal, Justice Martin was trained in both common law and civil law before moving to Alberta where her career spanned legal academia, private practice, and the judiciary, including serving as Dean of the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (now the Court of King’s Bench) in 2005 and later to the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, she was elevated to Canada’s highest court on December 18, 2017.“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served Canadians on our nation’s apex court. It has been an honour and a highlight of my professional life,” said Justice Martin. “I am forever thankful for the precious opportunity it provided to better understand the richness and diversity of the people in our country and the laws and institutions that allow us to live together with respect, dignity and equality. I have taken seriously the need for a strong and independent judiciary to address issues of national importance, safeguard the Constitution and promote the rule of law. Over the years, I was always happy to take part in the Court’s many outreach initiatives and to participate in a broad array of educational endeavours.”
 
Under the Judges Act, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada may continue to participate in judgments, with respect to cases they heard, for up to six months after their date of retirement.
 
“Canada’s judicial selection process respects the independence of the judiciary and is anchored in the fundamental values of openness, transparency, and integrity,” added Chief Justice Wagner. “As always, I am confident that these principles will guide the careful and timely appointment of a new justice to the Supreme Court of Canada.”
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
GERMAN PRESIDENT STEINMEIER: “.. the United States has broken with the values that it helped to establish .. “.. we have now moved beyond the stage where we can lament the lack of respect for international law or the erosion of the international order; we are far beyond that, I believe.”
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Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Alberta Health Services' former CEO alleges she has been subject to an intimidation campaign since suing the govt. Athana Mentzelopoulos speaks about it publically for the first time --> www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... By @mattscace.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
Former head of AHS says she faced campaign of intimidation since lawsuit against Alberta government
Athana Mentzelopoulos says she was targeted by the same individuals who were accused of harassing a potential witness in the case
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Mike Hixenbaugh @mikehixenbaugh.com · 08/01/2026
Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.
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Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
NEW: A podcaster accused of harassing a former AHS director said he was hired by an Edmonton lawyer, court docs show. That lawyer has ties to Sam Mraiche, who owns companies at the centre of Alberta's procurement controversy. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
Podcaster accused of harassing former AHS board member says he was hired by Edmonton lawyer, court records show
Legal documents identify Bryan Ward, who has acted for Sam Mraiche on multiple occasions, as the lawyer
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Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Former AHS director alleges he was under surveillance, harassed because he pushed back against Premier Danielle Smith govt and its decision to fire the health agency's CEO www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
Former AHS board member alleges he was harassed for pushing back against Smith government
Affidavit from Sandy Edmonstone details surveillance, threats and reputational attacks
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 06/01/2026
I found this discussion really interesting (and validating of some of the thoughts I’ve been having about certain aspects of politics for a while).
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Jeromy Farkas @jeromyyyc.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Calgary, our water system is in the RED ZONE. We need your help to conserve water! Ways that you can assist: -Keep showers short, three minutes or less. -Flush toilets only when necessary. -Run dishwashers/laundry only when full Thank-you, Calgary! These small actions make a big difference.
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CTV News Kitchener @ctvnewskitchener.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Edmonton looking to reinstate photo radar at several problem intersections - With Edmonton seeing the most traffic fatalities in nearly a decade, the city is looking to reinstate speed enforcement after the province banned photo radar in April.
bit.ly
Edmonton looking to reinstate photo radar at several problem intersections
With Edmonton seeing the most traffic fatalities in nearly a decade, the city is looking to reinstate speed enforcement after the province banned photo radar in April.
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Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 12/12/2025
Alberta country music star Corb Lund says the citizens petition initiative he had filed against coal mining in the Rocky Mountains has been retroactively killed by Alberta’s new legislation:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Corb Lund’s Coal Petition Now Cancelled Retroactively By Newly Introduced Bill 14

LETHBRIDGE, AB - DECEMBER 12, 2025 – Corb Lund announced today that Elections Alberta has notified him that his previously approved citizen petition initiative against coal mining in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains has been cancelled.

“This morning, we were informed that our approved application for our petition to prohibit any new coal mining in the Rockies has been retroactively cancelled. We will now need to reapply under new, more stringent regulations,” says Lund.
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
“It allows companies to use the value of Crown resources as security against a future liability to the Crown. That’s completely backwards,” Prof. Leach said. #ableg #cdnpoli
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 12/12/2025
theglobeandmail.com
Albertans at risk of paying oil sands reclamation costs, Auditor-General says
Funds set aside as security for mine reclamation vastly lower than estimated cleanup costs, report finds
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NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
New auditor general report on AB's Mine Financial Security Program "We assess this recommendation as not implemented because the risk of overstatement remains high, and the department stated it will not make any further substantive changes to the calculation method." #abpoli @molszyns.bsky.social
oag.ab.ca
Mine Financial Security Program Assessment of Implementation - Office of the Auditor General, Alberta
We completed our assessment of implementation of the recommendation from our July 2015 audit related to the systems to ensure sufficient financial security to cover land disturbances from mining. The ...
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Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Alberta government amends bill after chief electoral officer warns it harms trust, independence It’s a pretty scathing letter from the elections head, and my math says gov amended bill no less than 6 hours after every MLA received it. From me today: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alb...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Alberta government amends bill after chief electoral officer warns it harms trust
EDMONTON - Alberta's government has made last-minute changes to a bill after the province's chief electoral officer warned it would impede the independence of his office.
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Michael de Adder @deadder.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
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Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 04/12/2025
So Alberta's latest proposed law would: 👉 Take power over citizen-led referendums from the chief electoral officer & give it to cabinet. 👉 Ban new political parties from using certain words in their names, including: 'conservative,' 'democratic,' 'liberal,' 'Republican,' and 'wild rose.'
cbc.ca
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...
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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.
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Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
On Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Sam Mraiche www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... w/ @tomcardoso.bsky.social @markmackinnon.bsky.social @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
Who is Sam Mraiche? Inside Alberta’s health care controversy
A Globe investigation into the provincial health agency’s dealings with a company whose contracts have come under scrutiny
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/11/2025
Dialing down the use of social media for a week reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia in young adults, according to a study published on Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open.
nyti.ms
Study Finds Mental Health Benefit to One-Week Social Media Break
Young adults who engaged in a social media “detox” reported reductions in depression, anxiety and insomnia, though it was unclear how long the effects would last.
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Lora Kolodny @lorak.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
cnbc.com
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
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Blake Shaffer 🇨🇦 @blakeshaffer.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
🚨 Postdoctoral opportunities! 🚨 Hello #econsky! We are hiring 2 postdocs in the department of economics at UCalgary for those working in *electricity economics* Term: 2 years Pay: $80,000/yr + benefits + $10k research allowance Start: July 2026 Details in next two posts 👇
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
“Albertans don’t agree on a lot these days,” said pollster Janet Brown, “but our research shows they overwhelmingly want the oil and gas industry to pay their bills.” Read more at: reddeeradvocate.com/2025/11/20/a... reddeeradvocate.com/2025/11/20/a...
reddeeradvocate.com
Albertans want oil industry to pay up: poll - Red Deer Advocate
92% say industry should pay cleanup costs
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ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
New Post: The Mess We’re In: Insights from the 1st International Colloquium on Closure Liabilities in the Energy Sector ablawg.ca/2025/11/21...…he-energy-sector/
ablawg.ca
The Mess We’re In: Insights from the 1st International Colloquium on Closure Liabilities in the Energy Sector
By: Kaitlin Schaaf, Kathy Cao, Jessica Farrell, Andrew Simmons, Emilia Yassiri, and Martin Olszynski Matter Commented On: 1st International Colloquium on Closure Liabilities in the Energy Sector PD…
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 21/11/2025
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other. Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
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Blake Shaffer 🇨🇦 @blakeshaffer.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Great piece by my colleague @watershedlab.bsky.social on the risk of landslide tsunamis on BC’s Northwest Coast and what it means for pipelines in the area [gift link] www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/fe4f74c...
theglobeandmail.com
New northwest pipeline risks hazard of landslide tsunamis
Major Projects Office needs to be wary in its planning for pipeline projects to tidewater
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
I wrote about the under-appreciated hazard of landslide-triggered tsunamis, which need serious consideration in discussions of new pipelines from Alberta 🧪⚒️ @theglobeandmail.com @davidebybc.bsky.social @natural-resources.canada.ca @mark-carney.bsky.social @ucalgaryscience.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
New northwest pipeline risks hazard of landslide tsunamis
Major Projects Office needs to be wary in its planning for pipeline projects to tidewater
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David V. Wright @davevwright.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
PONIs or PHONIs? My latest ABlawg post on the subject of where things stand following yesterday's announcement of the second tranche of "major projects" / PONIs. And an imperfect glossary to try to make sense of the odd mix of terminology circulating.
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Important post from my @ucalgary.bsky.social law colleague David Wright. #cdnpoli
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ABlawg UCalgary @ablawg.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
New Post: Major Projects and the Building Canada Act: New list of PONIs or PHONIs? ablawg.ca/2025/11/14...…-ponis-or-phonis/
ablawg.ca
Major Projects and the Building Canada Act: New list of PONIs or PHONIs?
 By: David V. Wright Matter Commented On: Building Canada Act, SC 2025, c 2, s 4 PDF Version: Major Projects and the Building Canada Act: New list of PONIs or PHONIs? This week, Prime Minister Carn…
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Blake Shaffer 🇨🇦 @blakeshaffer.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
🚨Call for Speakers🚨 ⚡5th Electricity Camp in the Rockies 🗓️May 20-22, 2026 ⛰️Banff, Alberta 👪Academics, policymakers, and practitioners talking about all things electricity (and hiking!) ✉️Email abstracts to: electricity.centre@ucalgary.ca by Dec 15 Past programs here: nzeri.ca/electricity-camp
nzeri.ca
Electricity Camp — Net Zero Electricity Research Initiative
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
It’s really important that #Vancouver’s Downtown Business Association, who were originally against bike-lanes, are now among their most vigourous supporters, because of ACTUAL EVIDENCE that they’re better for downtown business than any street parking they replaced. Safe bike-lanes mean business.
People riding bikes in a downtown Vancouver separated bike-lane
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Brett McKay @brettmckay.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Danielle Smith has repeatedly invoked the idea of Alberta independence during her time in office. But documents obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation suggest it is not an economic scenario the provincial government is seriously studying. theijf.org/alberta-is-f...
theijf.org
Alberta is flirting with separatism. But documents show the province isn’t planning for it
Internal records suggest province hasn’t researched economic impacts of Alberta exiting confederation
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Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 06/11/2025
"Conservative Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux announced Thursday he is resigning from the House of Commons, according to statement shared with CBC News, a decision that comes after rumours swirled this week that he was considering crossing the floor to the Liberals."
cbc.ca
Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux announces resignation from Parliament | CBC News
Conservative Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux announced Thursday he is resigning from the House of Commons, according to statement shared with CBC News, a decision that comes after rumours swirled this week t...
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Some comments from me on the geohazards that could impact an oil pipeline from AB to BC coast, following @davidebybc.bsky.social and First Nations' continued opposition. More thoughts in the below thread from ~6 months ago 🧪⚒️ @ctvnewscalgary.bsky.social www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
ctvnews.ca
Alberta gov’t reaction to B.C. premier, Indigenous leaders calling for oil tanker ban to remain
A coalition of Indigenous leaders and the B.C. premier are demanding the federal moratorium on oil tanker traffic off the province’s north coast be upheld.
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
With a guest appearance from @watershedlab.bsky.social learning us about marine geohazard risks! #cdnpoli #ableg www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
ctvnews.ca
Alberta gov’t reaction to B.C. premier, Indigenous leaders calling for oil tanker ban to remain
A coalition of Indigenous leaders and the B.C. premier are demanding the federal moratorium on oil tanker traffic off the province’s north coast be upheld.
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Martin Z. Olszynski @molszyns.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
👀👀 “Documents related to Summit coal decision raise more questions about Alberta Energy Regulator’s independence”: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... #ableg h/t @nigelb.bsky.social
theglobeandmail.com
Documents related to Summit coal decision raise more questions about Alberta Energy Regulator’s independence
Regulator’s CEO sought ‘input’ from Energy Minister’s chief of staff on a motion to cancel hearings about a proposed mine
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Ben Goldfarb @bengoldfarb.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
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