iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

That means that the whole thing can't be "mail-in."

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Reposted by Chris

Steve Ricketts @stevericketts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

this 👇 everyone, esp the separatists, are twisting the wording to suit their purpose. don't fall for it

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thanks for sharing this, Steve.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Apparently I’m going to keep saying this until October 19: Read the ballot. Not the sales pitch. And don’t tell somebody else what their vote “really” means when the words are sitting right there in front of all of us. #ableg #abpoli 9/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The ballot says “remain a province of Canada.” Others hear “I’m happy with everything Ottawa does.” Neither is what the ballot says. Maybe the hardest thing in politics is reading the question in front of us instead of the question we wish we’d been asked. 8/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This keeps bringing me back to goal-protective reasoning. Once we want an outcome badly enough, we can start bending the evidence around it. The ballot says “binding referendum on separation.” Some people hear “leverage.” 7/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I want Alberta to defend its jurisdiction, negotiate hard, challenge Ottawa when necessary and use its influence to help build a stronger Canada. I don’t believe we need to threaten to dismantle the country Alberta helped build in order to demand better from it. 6/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Part of the Alberta status quo I’m exhausted by is grievance politics itself. Every fight with Ottawa becomes proof Confederation is broken. Every disagreement becomes another reason to threaten separation. I want better than that. 5/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There is nothing there about “leverage.” Nothing about “sending Ottawa a message.” And please stop telling people why they’re voting Option 1. I’m not choosing Option 1 because I’m happy with the status quo. Quite the opposite. 4/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Option 1 says Alberta should remain a province of Canada. Option 2 says the Alberta government should begin the legal process required to hold a binding referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. That’s the choice. 3/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Lately I keep hearing two things: “Option 2 is leverage.” And now, increasingly: “Quebec did it.” Maybe those arguments have simply caught on. Fine. But neither changes what Question 10 actually says. 2/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I’m tired. Not of disagreement. Disagreement is fine. I’m tired of watching people rewrite this referendum into something more comfortable than what is actually on the ballot. The Order in Council is attached. Read it. #ableg #abpoli 1/9

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thank you for reading and answering my question tonight, @carterab.bsky.social. I got in just under the wire. Cheers!

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

There are many of us encouraging many others to get out and vote. Can't sleep on this one!! Have a great evening.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hi John. Because this referendum is non-binding, I don't trust Smith to follow through WITH NOT proceeding with a legally binding referendum in the spring — regardless of outcome on October 19.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Yes. The EA rep couldn't tell me who, but a contractor was hired to assemble the packages that were mailed out.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The single ballot did smell a little like Turkish Tylenol, now that you mention it. /S 🤣🤣🤣

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Thanks for sharing that, Ritz.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

🚨 My Alberta referendum mail ballot arrived. It contained ONE of 10 ballots. I called Elections Alberta. The rep confirmed this wasn't the first complaint and said a third-party contractor handling ballots “messed up on their side too.” Check your package. #ableg #abpoli

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Thank you for the space to speak, and thank you for sharing. ✌🏻

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Reposted by Chris

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

“I’m voting for the Alberta I want to live in.” “An Alberta that attracts people, protects democracy, respects independent courts and understands that being part of a federation occasionally means compromise.” #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli thebreakdownab.substack.com/p/how-im-vot...

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

"Hello Fellow Worker" may need an encore. Lol.

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I bumped my donation up. You're definitely worth supporting, Kim! When are the next batch of shirts coming? 🤣 I'm in!

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I can be fiercely Albertan and proudly Canadian. 🍁 Alberta stays in Canada. So... OPTION 1. And NO to the nine. Full version, with the official wording and Orders in Council is on Substack. DM for a link. Thanks for your time. #ableg #abpoli 31/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I'm not voting against Alberta. I'm voting for the Alberta I want to live in: confident enough to lead Canada instead of threatening to leave it. I can be frustrated with my country and still love it. I can demand better from Canada without wanting to break Canada. 30/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Alberta is landlocked. Our prosperity depends on pipelines, railways, goods and trade crossing provincial borders. I believe in strong provinces and provincial jurisdiction. Canada has to function too. Ten competing versions of legal supremacy don't get us there. NO. 29/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

...by giving provincial laws priority over federal laws in shared jurisdiction when they conflict? I'm voting NO. Today, valid provincial and federal laws can coexist until they conflict. Federal paramountcy resolves that conflict. This proposal flips that. 28/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

⚖️ BALLOT 10 — Q9 Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference... 27/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Some federal transfers come with conditions so Canadians can expect basic standards across provinces. Argue about overreach. Negotiate better agreements. But if we want independence from an agreement, we should be ready to discuss independence from the cheque. NO. 26/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

...such as health care, education and social services, while keeping the associated federal funding. I'm voting NO. If Alberta rejects conditions attached to federal funding, it can't automatically expect the same cheque with no strings attached. 25/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

💰 BALLOT 9 — Q8 Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction... 24/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The Supreme Court has already said Senate abolition requires unanimous federal-provincial consent. Before deleting an entire chamber of Parliament, I'd like to know what replaces its role. "What if we just delete the Senate?" isn't much of a constitutional plan. NO. 23/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🏛️ BALLOT 8 — Q7 Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate? I'm voting NO. Senate reform? I'd listen. Abolition? Different animal. 22/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Federal appointments don't remove politics, but they keep some distance between Alberta's government and the judges hearing cases involving it. Courts need enough independence to tell governments NO when the law requires it. More provincial control isn't my solution. 21/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

...select the justices appointed to provincial King's Bench and Appeal courts? I'm voting NO. I don't want Alberta's government choosing judges who may later decide whether Alberta's government acted lawfully. 20/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

⚖️ BALLOT 7 — Q6 Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, 19/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Canadian citizenship is already required to vote provincially. Before making every eligible voter produce more documents, show me the problem. If there's evidence of non-citizen voting at a scale that threatens Alberta elections, deal with it. Otherwise, NO. 18/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🗳️ BALLOT 6 — Q5 Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election? I'm voting NO. 17/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Many temporary residents work here, pay taxes here, raise families here and fill jobs Alberta needs. I'm not authorizing an undefined new health or education charge and trusting government to decide what "reasonable" means later. Show me the policy first. NO. 16/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

...to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family's use of the healthcare and education systems? I'm voting NO. First, define "reasonable." $5? $500? $5,000? Per person? Family? Year? Visit? 15/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🩺 BALLOT 5 — Q4 Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium... 14/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

People lose jobs. Families hit emergencies. Workers get injured. Circumstances change. If a particular program is being abused, identify it, show us the evidence and fix it. Don't impose a blanket one-year wall and figure out the human consequences later. NO. 13/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

...requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs? I'm voting NO. Life doesn't wait 12 months before going sideways. 12/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🧰 BALLOT 4 — Q3 Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law... 11/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

If government wants authority this broad, write the legislation, tell Albertans what it intends to do, and defend it publicly. Immigration policy can have rules. Public programs can have eligibility requirements. I'm not approving the blank space first. NO. 10/31

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Chris @skipischris.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

"...such as health care, education and other social services?" I'm voting NO. "Alberta-approved immigration status" needs a definition before I approve it as a gatekeeper for essential services. Who qualifies? Who doesn't? What services disappear? 9/31

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