Roundup: Danielle Smith’s weapon of mass distraction

Alberta premier Danielle Smith continues to be in increasing hot water—and oh, look, her justice minister is related by marriage to someone at the centre of the healthcare procurement scandal—so she has decided to go full-bore into her weapon of mass distraction, which is to attack the federal government and to try and call out Mark Carney for…reasons. She’s asking Carney for a “reset” of relations with Alberta (translation: Give me everything I want), because of course she is. One of the things she announced was a new court challenge of the clean electricity regulations, because of course she is. Nothing like making the lawyers a bunch more money.

https://twitter.com/maxfawcett/status/1917945085674791322

Throughout this, Smith insists she’s not stoking separatism *cough* and that these are just “hypotheticals” about the group of loons in the province itching to trigger a plebiscite by starting to gather signatures (before the bill has even passed), but the fact that she is lowering the threshold for just this eventually is a sign that she knows she’s doing it deliberately. And hey, she even says that there’s no appetite in the province for their own separate pension plan after all (because she got spanked by the reality that she couldn’t raid the majority of the CPP on the way out), so that must mean she’s serious about not stoking separatism, right? Does she think we’re all stupid and can’t see through her transparent bullshit?

https://bsky.app/profile/emmettmacfarlane.com/post/3lo4edxbfjs2l

https://bsky.app/profile/emmettmacfarlane.com/post/3lo4eimwtas2l

https://bsky.app/profile/emmettmacfarlane.com/post/3lo4ekdqy2s2l

https://bsky.app/profile/emmettmacfarlane.com/post/3lo4en275nc2l

Of course, because Scott Moe can’t help himself, he said that he’s a “true Canadian” but wouldn’t stop a public vote on separation if they triggered a plebiscite under provincial legislation. So…as premier he’s willing to also drive out investment and opportunity from companies that have no interest in dealing with this kind of nonsense? Wow, that’s some smart politicking!

Conservatives in the three westernmost provinces have veered into increasingly radical anti-reality spaces, and are toying with separation in their own ways. An absolute abdication of their patriotic duty, at a critical time in our history. https://t.co/kxNX58pOnq

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) May 2, 2025

Ukraine Dispatch

A Russian drone attack late Thursday set houses ablaze in Zaporizhzhia and injured 14, but didn’t cause any deaths.

In Odesa, debris is still being cleared at the residential building hit by a Russian drone. Numerous fires broke out in the city overnight. In total, Odesa was attacked by 21 drones. Tragically, there have been fatalities. My condolences to the families and loved ones. All those… pic.twitter.com/zGsRIUl0X8

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 1, 2025

⚡️ 2 killed, 33 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 170 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones, and 5 Iskander-M ballistic missiles overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.https://t.co/KV8txaj3sx

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 1, 2025

Good reads:

The Liberals have lost the Terrebonne riding after an Elections Canada validation showed that the Bloc actually won it with 44 votes. (Judicial recount to come).
Mark Carney is set to move into Rideau Cottage for security considerations (while nobody makes any decisions about 24 Sussex).
The King had a video audience with Carney, while other world leaders are also lining up to call Carney and congratulate him.
There are rumours the King has been invited to open Parliament and read the Speech from the Throne. (I am skeptical given the logistical considerations).
The RCMP have identified the Fort Erie train bridge as a place migrants are trying to enter into Canada over, and have staffed it 24/7 since.
A hack of FINTRAC’s online reporting portal meant that Ontario casinos and online gaming pretty much didn’t report suspicious transactions for the past year.
The Assembly of First Nations wants Hudson’s Bay to return ceremonial items to Indigenous communities rather than put their archives up for sale.
The Conservatives are set to hold their first post-election caucus meeting on Tuesday, where one of the first orders of business will be the (garbage) Reform Act.
Jamil Jivani says he’s “open” to talking to his best friend, JD Vance, if the government requests it. (Seriously?)
Former NDP MP Charlie Angus unloads on the disastrous campaign the party just ran, and castigates them for becoming too focused on the leader.
The Ford government is set to study the use of involuntary drug treatment (while they continue to underfund voluntary drug treatment).
BC has tabled legislation intended to speed up project approvals (but you can expect this will mostly just lead to more litigation).
Philippe Lagassé looks at the challenge Carney faces with a military that may not want to start disentangling themselves from the Americans.
Andrew MacDougall offers five lessons for Poilievre to take from his election loss.
Paul Wells contemplates the choice Carney has with respect to Poilievre and the likely by-election for him to get a new seat in the Commons.
My column looks at some of the thinking that the NDP and the Conservatives need to engage in about the future directions of their parties.

Odds and ends:

Ontario chief justice, superior court chief justice and court of justice chief justice issued a joint statement on judicial independence and constitutional democracy in wake of premier Ford's comments on judges. #onlaw #onpoli www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/files/Tr…

— Legal Affairs Canada (@lawscribes.bsky.social) 2025-05-01T16:35:54.915Z

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