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Rebecca Graff-McRae

@poliscirish.bsky.social
922 followers 567 following 1.3K posts

Political researcher. Deconstructor of discourses. Dancer of jigs. Spectator of spectres. Herder of hooligans. PhD in Irish political history. QUB alum. Research manager at Parkland Institute

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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The Alberta government keeps vaguely pointing to "European" health care to try to support their claim that a two-tier system will fix things. But Europe isn't a panacea & their privatization hasn't come without problems. Enough cherry-picking! Get the facts from @onthealthcoalition.bsky.social
ontariohealthcoalition.ca
MYTH BUSTER: European Health Care Models - Ontario Health Coalition
(July 22, 2026) Pro-privatization groups, some of which are funded by or linked to right-wing American organizations and corporate interests, have turned
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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Canada ranks 28 out of 35 OECD countries for its lower share of public spending on health care, behind 27 other countries with universal health care systems’ @alonghurst.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
policyalternatives.ca
Public versus private health care spending in Canada | CCPA
Canada already sees a higher portion of private health care spending than a lot of countries, and it needs to change
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 28/07/2026
Independent museums have always been at the centre of public debate. Interference by foreign governments & our own government ministers should concern all Canadians. An important piece from Nir Hagigi & @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social . www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
policyalternatives.ca
Museum independence cannot be conditional in Canada | CCPA
The campaign against the Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ Nakba exhibition shows why arm’s-length cultural institutions must be protected.
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Important under-the-radar story Via Zoe Mason - Essentially, the UCP are eliminating citizen-involved boards that might criticize the govt's anti-environmental agenda. The UCP Is Killing a Key Part of Alberta's Environmental Protection via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...
thetyee.ca
The UCP Is Killing a Key Part of Alberta’s Environmental Protection | The Tyee
For two decades, government advisory groups have forged consensus. Now they’re being shut down.
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Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Groups across Canada call on premiers to protect public health care reddeeradvocate.com/2026/07/22/g...
reddeeradvocate.com
Groups across Canada call on premiers to protect public health care - Red Deer Advocate
Health care advocates from across Canada stood shoulder to shoulder in Prince Edward Island, where premiers met on Wednesday, to demand that premiers stop the spread of American-style health care […]
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Ottawa is not riding out on a white horse to save our public healthcare. Albertans need to take to the streets, before there's nothing left to save.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Albertans, we are in new and unstable territory now. We no longer have equitable access to healthcare under universal conditions in our province, no longer have the same guarantees under the Canada Health Act as our fellow Canadians. 1/
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Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Did Alberta Premier Danielle Smith hand out a government contract worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – one that deals with the referendum – to her recent political staff? Yes. Today, I’m teaming up with my friends at @nationalobserver.com to tell you all about @rorywh.bsky.social's huge story:
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Imagine, if you will, that Brexit and Jan6 produced a monstrous offspring ... They will name it "Democracy" and those of us who object will be "terrorists." Good night and good luck, fellow Albertans.
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Siobhán McElduff @siobhanmcelduff.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
If anyone ever wants to argue that local history and historians are not important, then this should put that to rest. But for Catherine Corless and her labour none of these would have been searched for.
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Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
As Canada's premiers meet for the Council of the Federation in Charlottetown today, Friends of Medicare is joining health coalitions from across the country in calling for an end to the spread of U.S. style, two-tier health care. Read our joint statement: www.friendsofmedicare.org/health_coali...
A red-filtered photo of the flags of Canada and the provinces and territories on high flagposts. Text reads, "Health Coalitions Call on Premiers to protect Public  Health Care in the Face of Two-Tier Threat. Read our joint statement: friendsofmedicare.org/news"
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
After two separate investigations into procurement corruption, and an ongoing RCMP criminal investigation of procurement, the UCP govt of Danielle Smith still awards a $300K contract to her former campaign advisor's company, claiming it was an open competition when there is no evidence of that.
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Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
The @cdnhealthcoalition.bsky.social, provincial health coalitions & researchers are gathering in Charlottetown to call out Alberta & say No Two-Tier Health Care Public health care is critical to Canadian sovereignty, healthy communities & our economic advantage www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
thestar.com
Pipelines and separatist threats testing Canada’s national unity as premiers meet in Charlottetown
Health care, affordability, public safety, economic growth, sovereignty and national security are also on the agenda at the annual conference this week.
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Via @rorywh.bsky.social Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
nationalobserver.com
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Scoop! After years of the UCP making it out that there was o specific budget for "Your Province, Your Premier", it turns out that Albertans are paying A LOT! Like almost $10,000 a month a LOT! #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli open.substack.com/pub/thebreak...
open.substack.com
The cost of "Your Province, Your Premier"
Albertans are paying almost $10,000 a month for Danielle Smith's radio show...
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Obligatory:
static.klipy.com
Sister Michael: Is This My Wake? (Derry Girls)
Alt: Sister Michael: Is This My Wake? (Derry Girls)
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Sen. Pumpkin Gogurt @ugarles.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Making Count von Count watch a 0-0 half is rude.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Can I get a "Fuck your fascist vineyards!" for the people at the back?
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Kerri Hoven (she/her) 🇨🇦 @kerrihoven.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Hot off the press care of Lisa Johnson @reportrix.bsky.social www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/alber...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Alberta auditor expects to complete health-contract investigation by end of year
EDMONTON - Alberta's new auditor general, Phil Peters, says he expects his investigation into a health-care contracting scandal to be complete by the end of this year.
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
📢 Amplify our call on the Feds to STOP two tier health care: www.friendsofmedicare.org/enforcethecha 📺 Watch today's press conference with FOM, @cdnhealthcoalition.bsky.social, @cdndrsformedicare.bsky.social, @actioncanadashr.bsky.social & @gpllp.bsky.social : www.cpac.ca/headline-pol...
cpac.ca
Public Health-Care Advocates Discuss Alberta’s Bill 11
In Ottawa, a group of public health-care advocates hold a news conference related to Alberta’s Bill 11. The provincial law allows for doctors in Alberta to perform some medical services in both the pu...
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Excellent but devastating 🧵from Dr Parks on the continued overwhelm in AB ERs. I wrote about the damage these policies are wreaking on our healthcare system during my hours in the waiting room with my child, who was experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. www.parklandinstitute.ca/patient_or_n...
parklandinstitute.ca
A Patient or Just Another Number? How UCP Policies Exacerbate the Crises in Health Care
In a healthcare emergency, wait times can be a matter of life or death. A recent visit to the emergency room highlighted the degree to which the Alberta government's policies - meant to fix health car...
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Andrew Longhurst 🇨🇦 🍉 @alonghurst.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
www.sasktoday.ca/opinion/opin...
sasktoday.ca
Opinion: Alberta’s Bill 11 undermines the foundation of public health care
Allowing surgeons to work in both public and private care could leave patients reliant on the public system waiting longer for surgery.
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 07/07/2026
“Government has frozen the minimum wage for a long time in Alberta. That tends to impact low-wage workers, the most disproportionately female.” @kjscott.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #canfem www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
ctvnews.ca
Alberta leads Canada in gender pay gap
Women in Alberta earn 64 cents for every dollar men make annually, according to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘The contours of the struggle ahead are taking shape more clearly every day. The old order is, indeed, gone. What comes next is up to us.’ @policyalternatives.ca
policyalternatives.ca
Editorial: A time of monsters | CCPA
The world order we have known all our lives is gone, and it is time to stop pretending otherwise. What will replace it?
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Edmonds Scanner @edmondsscanner.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Today's a good day to explore haunted castles. If you don't have castles in your area, try visiting some spirits at an old bookstore, the abandoned docks by the harbor, or a shopping mall that is half closed and barely holding on. Ghosts get lonely too, just like we all do.
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Joanne Hammond @joannehammond.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
“Stability and national unity” on a planet on fire
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Hang on while I try to pick the best "unsurprised by this bullshit" face: 🙄 Or 😒 The UCP is running the same playbook on education as they have been on healthcare - and the goal is as much about breaking universal public services as it is about grift.
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Canadian Bar Association @cba-news.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
What happens when governments challenge the rule of law and the legal profession stays quiet? In this op-ed, Orlagh O'Kelly argues the profession faces a choice: defend the rule of law, or become agents in its dismantling. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4gMhMVq
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CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 24/06/2026
Alberta’s Continuing Care Capital Program purports to be an expansion for seniors care—but it is a motor to shovel public dollars into private real estate By @alonghurst.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #abpoli www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
policyalternatives.ca
Alberta's senior care expansion program is a real estate subsidy | CCPA
Alberta’s Continuing Care Capital Program: is shovelling public dollars into private real estate
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
www.parklandinstitute.ca/patient_or_n... We rely on our govt to make decisions informed by evidence & the desire to not repeat failures of the past. Instead of improving access to vital healthcare, the Smith govt's policies have had disastrous - and potentially deadly - consequences for Albertans.
parklandinstitute.ca
A Patient or Just Another Number? How UCP Policies Exacerbate the Crises in Health Care
In a healthcare emergency, wait times can be a matter of life or death. A recent visit to the emergency room highlighted the degree to which the Alberta government's policies - meant to fix health car...
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Today in Not-the-Beaverton:
Today's headline from CTV news: Alberta separation question to be atop stack of 10 colour-coded ballots in fall vote.

Image shows Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at a blue lectern, in front of 3 Alberta flags flanked by a Canadian flag at each end.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Congratulations to @carrietait.bsky.social but also inexpressible amounts of gratitude for the work she and @alannasmith.bsky.social have been doing on behalf of Albertans.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
This one is especially for @domsball.bsky.social 😂 www.cbc.ca/news/world/w...
cbc.ca
District of Columbia swaps out Australian flags for British ones before King's arrival | CBC News
The District of Columbia mistakenly placed several Australian flags instead of British flags ‌near the White House ahead of King Charles's U.S. visit, although the error was ​quickly corrected, a D.C....
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Absolute *dream* to be able to attend these talks and learn from such a brilliant array of writers. While I keep checking my lottery ticket, if you find your self in Beal Feirste the first week of June, please treat yourself to this incredible opportunity.
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Sinéad Gleeson @sineadgleeson.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
I have an essay in @dauntbookspub.bsky.social's Over the Water: Essays on Islands. It features real, imaginary and islands from art; Sylvia Plath's on Inisbofin, Napoleon and how working with Alice Maher had a spooky echo of Hagstone. New substack about it here: open.substack.com/pub/momentso...
open.substack.com
On islands & creative overlap
I have an essay in Over the Water: Essays on Islands which is published this week by Daunt Books. My piece features real, imagined and islands from art but also examines how no piece of writing is an ...
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Hull Libraries @hulllibraries.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Last week, a gentleman returned this rather dilapidated copy of this famous book to us after 50 years. He had found it in his attic! Presumably this means there is a pristine copy somewhere in our libraries....
A picture of a rather dilapidated copy of "The picture of Dorian Gray" There is visible water damage to the cover and the plastic cover is yellowing. Obviously, not evident from the picture but there is a truly foul musty smell emanating from it!
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David Macdonald @davidmaccdn.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Do you want to work at @policyalternatives.ca ? We've partnered with the School for Moral Ambition to offer an incredible Tax Fairness Fellowship. Its a 6 month paid position to put you on the front line of the debate. Apply now: www.moralambition.org/fellowships/...
moralambition.org
Tax Fairness Fellowship | The School for Moral Ambition
Our Moral Ambition Fellowships offer a transformative journey — one that demands your full commitment as you pivot your career alongside a cohort of ambitious peers. ‍ In response to rising inequality...
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
‘Bill 11’s ambitions are anything but modest. It will “fundamentally reshape the AB health care system,” massively opening the scope of private health insurance & for-profit health care in ways no other province has yet tried’ @alonghurst.bsky.social @poliscirish.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
The door to 2-tier healthcare is open, the horses are racing through it, and no one in the UCP government has any intention of bolting the door.
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Parksy @pfparks.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
It's been almost 4 months since the tragic WR death at the GNH, and over a week since a stabbing in the RAH WR... and nothing is improving. There has been a lot of talk, but no action. A thread🧵: 1/10
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Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Albertans deserve health care based on need, NOT ability to pay. But the government's new scheme will let people pay out of pocket for diagnostic services. Put simply: it's legislated queue jumping that puts private profits over patients' care needs. www.friendsofmedicare.org/privatepay_d...
Green-filtered photo of an MRI machine with the text: "Private-Pay Diagnostics Will Only Make Wait Times Worse for Majority of Albertans. Read FOM's response: friendsofmedicare.org/news"
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Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
FOM & @pfparks.bsky.social have been touring Alberta with our Urgent Conversation townhalls. We've talked to THOUSANDS of Albertans in 19 communities about our public health care—and we want to talk to YOU too! Join us for our ONLINE townhall this April 19! www.friendsofmedicare.org/virtualtownh...
Red graphic with a fingerprint in the shape of Alberta, and a hovering cursor point. White and black text reads: "Virtual townhall. An Urgent Conversation with Friends of Medicare & Dr. Paul Parks: Your voice. Your community. Your health care. April 19 | 5:00 pm MT | Zoom. Register: freindsofmedicare.org/VirtualTownhall."
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Albertans, we rejected this under Ralph Klein. We pushed back. We protested in the streets and at the Ledge. We knew then that two-tier health care creates a priority lane for those who can afford it - and it came only do so by siphoning staff and resources away from the public system. 1/
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
😂😭
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
William B. Fuckley @opinionhaver.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Orbanned. Orbannished.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
My eldest child texted me today from beneath a desk in a random classroom at their school, telling me they were on lockdown and there was a student with a weapon. There are places where this is a frequent occurrence. Here it just felt surreal. Already the fearful demanding to securitize our schools.
A text exchange sent today at 12:05pm

S: unscheduled lockdown
Mom: Drill?
S: No
Mom: Stay safe, keep phone silent. We love you
A: Please don't worry, I'm a little scared but it'll be okay
Love you
Someone got stabbed in period one
Mom: My god.
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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
It is hard to capture what a sweeping strategic defeat the war in Iran has been for the United States. I’m going to thread here some of the posts today that try to capture those effects. Here’s the first:
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Today we are all haunted by portents, threats, and what-ifs. Don't let this moment become normalized. Fight to hold onto the possibility of a better world.
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
Ruth Ben-Ghiat @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Disaster Fascism: two frames for considering Trump's threat to annihilate Iran. open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/...
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