Last year in politics: so many words

Going back through this year in politics, I’m both reminded of and impressed by human resilience. While I initially felt that I was far more stressed out by events at the beginning of the year, I don’t think I’m less stressed about any of it; I’ve just adapted to the new level. It’s what we do.

Canada

The election of Donald Trump near the end of 2024 brought me into 2025 with a focus on the U.S., Canadian federal politics, and— because we elected a pick me girl as our premier in 2023— a ridiculous amount of time and space on whether the latter was helping or hindering Canada’s position with this new threat.

Those who had the power to do something, however, did.

The Prime Minister stepped down, giving Canadians the early election we desperately needed. They say that leaders are not born, they are made by the circumstances they rise to meet. In 2015, Justin Trudeau was the leader a majority of Canadians wanted. In 2020, he was the leader Canadians deserved; the one who prioritized the well-being of Canadians. The political considerations were great for a Liberal leadership race. It wasn’t a regular election. By 2025, we needed someone to put Canadians first in a different way— to broaden our economic horizons and deal with the fallout from a new administration that became hostile to our prosperity as a nation, and as Canadians.

At the end of a whirlwind leadership campaign and general election, Mark Carney pulled off what seemed impossible in January; a minority government. Danielle Smith couldn’t be bothered to share the spotlight and had to leave the continent to give Pierre Poilievre some breathing room; it may not have helped, but it certainly couldn’t have been worse for him to have her gone.

Pierre Poilievre squandered a 30 point lead in the polls, and lost his own seat. As any anti-EDI and merit-based loyalist would, he had someone who could never lose their seat in rural Alberta step down so he could “run” in a byelection and get back into parliament.

The King flew over to give the Speech from the Throne. Elbows were up. With good reason.

Canada-US relations

Donald Trump. Unthinking unleashed. Not only did he decide that he wanted to annex Canada, he’s obsessed with tariffs. If you’re still shopping at U.S.-owned stores, it’s likely you’re helping shield some of the effects of his tariffs from U.S. residents. I expect U.S.-owned giants like Wal-Mart are pushing tariff costs to Canadians as they pretend to shoulder the increases down south; even if we’re buying Canadian there. I wish I could look at Canadian-owned and say there’s a difference but they’re also making out like bandits right now. And no, profits don’t increase if their costs go up because they’d be paying more for product and their profit margins would remain steady; they have steadily increased.

The Canada U.S. Mexico Agreement (actually USMCA but we like our acronyms to be easier to say and CUSMA does the trick) was never going to be easy when one side has no intention of negotiating in good faith. To be clear, these agreements have always benefitted the U.S. more than it did anyone else. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has its sights on a lot more than a trade deal this time. So, when Doug Ford aired an old recording of a speech from Ronald Reagan, the Administration used it as an excuse to end trade talks.

I’m not expecting that to go easier in 2026 when CUSMA actually ends. Prime Minister Mark Carney has been focused on building our relationships with E.U. countries. Canadians have cut down on spending on U.S.-made products, and in U.S. regions in person. Sure, they can force an agreement to accept their products on the shelves but they can’t actually force us to buy them. As they continue to hollow out their regulatory processes, it might be a good thing we don’t, for that matter.

UCP still united on cronyism and corruption

Speaking of “hollowing out”, let’s talk healthcare.

Danielle Smith’s government wasn’t about to let a good international crisis go to waste, beginning with the release their $2 million “report” recommending elected officials speak their truth to public health professionals, among other fact-free nods to the keyboard warriors who googled their way to edging out actual science and medicine opinion.

By February, the UCP came under intense and sustained scrutiny over tens of millions, potentially hundreds of millions, in questionable healthcare contracts (that cost her party a Minister, and had me question what became of those who used to stand up against cronyism and corruption).

It sparked a year of lies, more lies, and excuses, that basically amounted to Danielle Smith trying to cover her ass. From saying she saw nothing and knew nothing, but threatened to sue anyone who said otherwise, to admitting she knew others suspected a scam, to Albertans finding out that she, as a leadership candidate back in 2022, met with the beneficiary of those same contracts and the alleged inside guy who made it all possible before handing over $70 million shortly after she was elected. The UCP’s judge-led inquiry into procurement was completed in October, and showed us that three years later $49 million has just evaporated and the Alberta government has no recourse. 42 days after Judge Wyant’s report was publicly released, and three days after Ms. Smith’s pre-election ties to the procurement scandal’s alleged beneficiaries were revealed, the Alberta government finally canceled future contracts worth almost another half billion to companies and staff of the same dude… and then extended the contract that first brought the whole sordid business to light.

They were just getting started reminding Albertans who holds the purse strings. A few days before New Year's, Matt Jones, one of Alberta’s four Health Ministers, announced that another sweetheart contract was available at the inflated rates they were offering the allegedly well-connected businessman they’d been funneling money to in the first place. It can’t be cronyism and fraud if they’re going to shovel funds to just anyone, right?

So far, the “competition brings costs down” mantra has seen our costs double from $4400 per surgery in hospitals to a whopping $8500 for select bidders. Originally, it was just for private centres whose “investors” had ties to the UCP government, but now those inflated rates are being offered to every private centre in Edmonton.

Since this government has proven itself to be incredibly short-sighted, I have to think they think they’re covering their own asses yet again. If the premium rates are offered to everyone in Edmonton, no one can claim there were “special” rates at all— the fiscal capacity is just better in Edmonton and we can pay almost three times as much as we pay in Calgary for the same procedures!

Sure, Jan; and some people thought the UCP was breaking the system to save money.

The separatist problem

Thanks to Danielle Smith’s cold reception at her party’s AGM in November and a flurry of legislative amendments at the end of 2025, not even Danielle Smith can deny she and and her Cabinet are doing the bidding of separatists. Ms. Smith has tried to hide behind the party’s founding principles that state members support Alberta within a united Canada but the party has done nothing to rid itself of the extremely vocal separatist faction within. We only know it’s a choice because they’re not above refusing memberships, or taking them away.

After having to listen to Pierre Poilievre call our country broken for two years, and then Donald Trump greedily thinking about grabbing our country, the separatists— thanks to Danielle Smith’s help— were itching to make themselves bigger, again.

In response to the Liberals forming government after a fourth election, the UCP tabled legislation to make it easier for the separatists to get a referendum in front of Albertans. Former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk wasn’t going to sit around and wait for that to happen and filed his own petition asking for official policy to keep Alberta within Canada ahead of the changes. He received approval from Elections Alberta and, under the old rules, and amassed volunteers around the province who helped collect almost half a million signatures.

Ms. Smith launched the umpteenth separatist schmooze-fest with her Alberta Next Panel to ask yet again, if the people who want socialism just for them would like to duplicate services and drive up provincial costs to own the libs. A majority of 1,052 people who think they’re already over-taxed said “do it”.

Of course, the separatists have other plans. When we don’t pay federal taxes, or anything associated with running a country, we’ll be rich; because we’re going to finally nationalize oil, apparently.

The separatist’s question was deemed unconstitutional in accordance with the legislation they’d revised in April, so the UCP had to repeal the parts which stated the government would not to put people’s rights to referendum and instead add that outcomes wouldn’t bind a government to act on unconstitutional questions. Because the government that used the notwithstanding clause four times in a single session isn’t one that gives a damn about rights. It’s basically just ideological slop masquerading as a serious government.

Corb Lund’s water not coal petition was re-approved after the UCP’s Bill 14 cancelled it, as was the separation question in the dying days of 2025. News of the latter’s approval was was swiftly followed by a response from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.

I’ll just reiterate that the amendments in Bill 14 gave the separatists the green light to ask an unconstitutional question, however, they also added a clause that states the outcome of a referendum asking an unconstitutional question is not binding on the government. Of course, that doesn’t mean they would not act, it just means they have the option not to. Do with that what you will.

Political musical chairs

The UCP lost two caucus members in the first six months of 2025. Former Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie resigned from cabinet after being the only one to call Danielle Smith out for lying about what was going on with the procurement scandal, the removal of former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopolous, as well as the AHS Board at the beginning of the year. He was removed from caucus after voting with the opposition in favour of a public inquiry into the procurement scandal. Scott Sinclair was removed from caucus earlier, after saying he wouldn’t support the Budget.

The two went on to incur further wrath from the UCP by announcing their plans to resurrect the PC party. The UCA sent them cease and desist letters, then sued them, and the Alberta Party for reputational damage. As none of that seemed to stop the hype, the governing UCP legislated that no other party could use “conservative” in a party name. Undeterred, ish, they went with Progressive Tory. Then Peter Guthrie became the leader. That was just in mid-December.

With only hours to spare in 2025, Danielle Smith lost a second Cabinet Minister. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz announced her resignation from Cabinet on social media New Year’s Eve. As of January 2, she will no longer be Minister and at some point in May, she will resign her seat as MLA for Calgary-Shaw to “seek new opportunities”.

Rumour has it that the former Environment and Protected Areas minister didn’t want to risk “net zero” or an industrial carbon tax (that the province has had in place since 2007) sticking to her and getting in the way of her future political aspirations. Albertans wouldn’t have a difficult time digesting this as it was often difficult to tell who, between Energy Minister Brian Jean and herself, was the bigger advocate for fossil fuels. Spoiler: it was Rebecca Schulz. Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner, will be her replacement and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright will move into the role of Chief Government Whip.

Despite losing the election, Mr. Poilievre’s party has continued to poll well; at least in the immediate aftermath. Mr. Poilievre himself has continued to be as popular as a day-old egg salad sandwich and he’s facing a leadership review in January.

His popularity is still high within his party and he isn’t expected to be pushed out by the membership at least. With that being said, Mr. Poilievre has lost three MPs since April and those MPs tend toward a more PC-type of conservative. Chris d’Entremont (Acadie-Annapolis, Nova Scotia) crossed the floor first and rumours swirled that Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton-Centre, Alberta) was going to be next. He resigned instead.

Then Michael Ma (Markham-Unionville, Ontario) crossed the floor. The membership might not be worried about it, but I have a feeling some interested individuals outside of the party have picked up on the scent of blood in the water and are starting to circle.

Honourable mentions

The ABNDP had a strangely rocky start to 2025. While they seem to have taken a step back and carefully chosen which battles to fight, I felt like they missed some opportunities early on. They ended the year stronger by far.

Naheed Nenshi got himself a seat in the Legislature in June and adjusted quickly enough in his first session. I thought he and the NDs did a good job holding the government to account but I also thought they backed off earlier than I would have liked in some areas, and took the bait too easily in others. They had strong positioning on procurement, healthcare, education, and individual rights but didn’t seem to have staying power. I’m not sure if they felt they had to give more time to issues that weren’t making headlines but I felt like they could have kept up pressure on things people were talking about.

I think they did a great job pushing for a public inquiry, and asking for an election over too many decisions the UCP is making that they waved off during the campaign. It’s one thing to have the latitude to govern, it’s entirely another to claim a mandate for things you refused to talk about during the campaign. Of course, that’s what recall would be for, if those petitions could get traction.

Speaking of which, there are 24 active recall petitions, including the one against Rebecca Schulz which is now moot. Two of those are for NDP MLAs, Peggy Wright in Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview and Amanda Chapman in Calgary-Beddington.

I know it’s not anything we can count on in any way but in a press conference Friday, Danielle Smith said they were sticking to the “fixed election dates” her party already changed with ease from spring to fall of 2027. Basically we can count on the fact that an election will not be called January 2, 2026 and that’s as much weight as her word carries. Ms. Schulz’ resignation also invited additional speculation about an early election but it also holds opportunity; to see where Alberta sentiment lies.

With Republican leader Cam Davies (apparently a dual citizen who wants to be part of the U.S. but not enough to live there) demanding action on separation, Alberta Tories ready to jump onto the scene, and the NDP ready for a fight… it’ll be a by-election to watch.

While I don’t think the Premier has any confidence she’d be returned to power if an election were held on her epic trail of mismanagement, I think she’s entirely capable of deluding herself into believing she could convince Albertans they want one.

On the other hand, the UCP needs time. They need a longer runway (read: more difficult to fix) on privatizing health services, more time to pressure public education into greater crisis, and she promised her base a separation referendum.

Alberta politics is usually the focus but there were a few other topics that sprouted up this year; like a debate over mandatory military training (which has popped up here and there since, with the closest being the U.K.’s “gap year”), and in support of the role of the judiciary, a shout out to Scott Gilmore and that time he did a cross-Canada tour in search of federal PCs (maybe they’d have found their own Mark Carney), and the kids in parliament had their fun, too.

All that is to say that a lot happened in 2025 and there’s a wicked foundation for some real mischief in 2026—not even including the fact that Trump wants to replace Alberta oil with Venezuelan oil and just captured President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, receiving great praise from the leader of the Official Opposition to Canada. I mean “of” Canada.

On the starting line of a new year, here’s to thoughtful words and action, family, community, and the much needed laugh whenever and wherever it may strike the funny bone. Cheers :)