In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge takes a closer look at the Alberta government’s decision to introduce back-to-work legislation. Alberta teachers went on strike over three weeks ago and after virtually no progress was made at the bargaining table, the Alberta government has taken the opportunity with the fall sitting of the Legislature underway to use the metaphorical hammer to end the strike. Bill 2, the Back to School Act, was tabled in the Legis...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge takes a closer look at the controversy surrounding procurement at Alberta Health Services and what we learned last week with the release of a major report into the matter. Retired Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant was brought in by the province to conduct a third-party investigation into the contract for the 2022 purchase of children’s pain medication, as well as contracts to conduct publicly-funded surgeries at private clinic...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge takes a closer look at the debate around education funding in Alberta. The province-wide teachers’ strike has helped to illustrate some of the challenges and frustrations that have been building up in the public school system. Alberta’s population has risen rapidly in recent years, and it’s been a challenge for the system to keep up with sufficient space and teacher levels, leading to crowded classrooms and stressed out edu...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge takes a closer look at the big pipeline announcement last week from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Basically, the Alberta government intends on acting as the main proponent in a pipeline application in the hopes that Ottawa will pick up the ball and green light such a project through the Major Projects Office. But there are a lot of specific details lacking here and a lot of questions as to how this will all work. ...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge explores the politics and economics of the province’s minimum wage policy. Effective October 1st, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage rises to $15.35 per hour, leaving Alberta with the lowest minimum wage in the country. In fact, Alberta’s rate has been unchanged since 2018, when the Notley NDP completed their rapid push to $15 per hour. This roller coaster has seen Alberta quickly rise to having the highest minimum wage in...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge takes a closer look at a case in Edmonton that has made national headlines: the horrific murder of an eight-year-old girl and the very public - and controversial - opposition from Edmonton Police to a possible plea deal for the accused killer. To some, including Alberta’s premier, it’s a welcome jolt to the system and an expression of the frustration that many are feeling about perceived leniency for serious crimes. To othe...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge is joined by Heather Exner-Pirot, a Calgary-based senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the Institute’s Director of Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment. We begin the conversation with some analysis of the recent announcement of five projects identified as being in the national interest and will now be advanced by the federal government’s new Major Projects Office. Does the inclusion of a major LN...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge sits down for a wide-ranging conversation with Calgary Confederation Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Corey Hogan. Despite hopes for a Liberal breakthrough in the recent federal election, Hogan was the only Liberal to prevail amid the blue Conservative sea that is Calgary and was one of only two Liberals elected in the province of Alberta. We discuss his decision to ente...

In this week’s episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge highlights a couple of unique perspectives on the question of Alberta’s nuclear future. Alberta's premier has launched a new process to explore the possibility of adding nuclear capacity to Alberta's power mix. Between a growing population and expanding electrification, Alberta’s power demand is growing. But with the province’s ambition to be a hub for AI data centres - and with Ottawa’s Clean Electricity Regulations...

In this episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge is joined by Dr. Kent Fellows, assistant professor of economics at the University of Calgary and fellow-in-residence at the C.D. Howe Institute. Sagging oil prices have once again highlighted the perils of Alberta’s over-reliance on energy revenues, even if the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has helped to provide a revenue boost. This fiscal uncertainty comes at a time when Alberta is hoping Ottawa can deliver on some maj...

In this episode of The Line: Alberta Podcast, Rob Breakenridge delves into the future of policing in Alberta and whether that will - or should - involve the creation of an Alberta Provincial Police Force. The RCMP contract for community policing ends in 2032, and we may see the RCMP exit community policing altogether in favour of a more focused, national mandate. At the same time, however, the idea of Alberta shedding a federal institution in favour of something Alberta-made and Alberta...

In this episode of The Line: Alberta, Rob Breakenridge and Bonnie Critchley discuss the byelection campaign in the Alberta riding of Battle River - Crowfoot. Bonnie is a resident of the riding and a 22-year veteran of the Canadian Forces. She has stepped forward as an independent candidate in this byelection, and has made quite an impact on the race. Critchley shares her thoughts on how voters feel about going back to the polls so soon, how they feel about Conservative Leader Pierre Poi...

In this conversation, Rob Breakenridge and Martin Belanger delve into the complexities surrounding Alberta's push for separation from Canada. They explore the historical context, personal experiences, and the evolving political landscape that has led to a growing sentiment for independence among Albertans. Belanger shares his journey from being an outsider to embracing Alberta's culture, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the separatist movement. The con...

In this conversation, Rob Breakenridge and Trevor Tombe discuss Alberta's current fiscal challenges, including the pressures from fluctuating oil prices and the implications of potential independence from Canada. They explore the motivations behind the independence movement, particularly economic factors, and clarify misconceptions about the equalization system. The discussion also covers the financial responsibilities that would come with separation, the impact on trade, and the importance o...

Hear Jen Gerson and Rob Breakenridge, the host of The Line: Alberta Podcast, talk about this exciting new expansion for The Line.