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Rebecca Graff-McRae

@poliscirish.bsky.social
926 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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
If you should happen to need firsthand accounts of 20th century anxious goths, I am at your service 🖤
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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
Did you vote for this? To be taken out of universal healthcare while the system is dismantled around us? If so - shame for what you have condemned your neighbours to. If not - fight like hell to get it back. 3/3
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Alberta's healthcare system is henceforth not rooted in access based on medical need, but quicker access to some based on ability to pay, based on the profitability of their procedures, based on the business case for making the waits in our public hospitals as deadly as they dare. 2/
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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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Could we please get a Thanos snap that only makes this shower of gobshites disappear?
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
So I live in a province that has bought into this version of "oppression" as "any intervention that promotes collective wellbeing at the expense of whatever-the-fuck-I-want" and it is absolutely exhausting. Traffic signs are not a constraint on your "liberty", Danielle 🙄
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
It's all vibes and post-truth alternate realities. Truly "turtles all the way down."
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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
May this be the only time I have to co-sign that statement.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Gorgeous cover.
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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
Trump: WE LOVE YOU SCOTLAND! Scotland: we think you're a cunt.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Per Rob Smyth's live feed for the Guardian:
78 mins: Spain have had 10 shots, seven on target. Argentina: zilch. Nada. Bugger all.
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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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Outside History, by Eavan Boland.
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
And there's this helpful and catchy wee tune to guide you as you put one together 😁 youtu.be/hFO1B1rKGxg?...
youtu.be
How To Build A Corsi-Rosenthal Box
YouTube video by GEOFF BERNER
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
With 4 ministers, they can ignore us 4 times as hard while doing 4 times the damage! 🙃
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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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Hail all ye theydies & gentlethems!
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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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
But Nora! There simply must be a magical number of pipelines that will exorcise the spectre of Alberta separatism and preserve national unity!
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Rebecca Graff-McRae @poliscirish.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
A cousin-in-law named their child Jenessa via the same logic - Jennifer/Vanessa
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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
And 3 of them were identical triplets!
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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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Reposted by Rebecca Graff-McRae
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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