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Alberta constitutional negotiators Merv Leitch and Peter Lougheed, said by some to be the inventors of the Notwithstanding Clause (Photo: Legal Archives Society of Alberta).
Doug Ford achieves the impossible by getting Canadians interested in constitutional reform
David J. Climenhaga | Doug Ford has just given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the villain he needs to win the next federal election.
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Doug Ford and Andrew Scheer. Photo: Andrew Scheer/Flickr
Why won't Andrew Scheer speak up as Doug Ford attacks Canadian rights?
David J. Climenhaga | Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer had an opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and benefit from it by standing up to Doug Ford. He did nothing.
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Rachel Notley. Photo: Premier of Alberta/Flickr
Eleven days from the brink, Rachel Notley's dice roll brings back memories of Mulroney and Meech
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta's premier is more disciplined than the old Irish-Canadian baritone from Baie-Comeau. The words "roll the dice" will never pass her lips. Dice are rolling just the same.
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Alberta Energy Minister Margaret McQuaig-Boyd looks on as Premier Rachel Notley speaks about Bill 12 yesterday (Photo: Government of Alberta/Flickr).
A bill to squeeze B.C. introduced in Alberta Legislature -- but can it pass constitutional muster?
David J. Climenhaga | Overwrought anyone? Rachel Notley threatens to punish British Columbians. UCP, after screaming for something like this, ducks and covers. Send in the army, demands former energy minister.
Columnists
Office towers in downtown Houston. Photo: Roy Luck/Flickr
Texas boardroom sets agenda for Justin Trudeau on Trans Mountain pipeline
Duncan Cameron | The Texas-based company Kinder Morgan has the Canadian government doing its bidding, as it looks to expand its Trans Mountain pipeline.
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Perfidious Pierre, villain of the National Energy Program, as the late prime minister is understood by all good Albertans to have been (Photo: Wikimedia Commons).
Why demanding Ottawa intervene to bend B.C. to Alberta's will is probably a terrible idea, from Alberta's point of view
David J. Climenhaga | It's pretty hard to argue this situation isn't an example of the oil industry's continued domination of the Alberta government.
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Protestors block the gates of the Kinder Morgan Richmond Terminal. Photo: Peg Hunter/flickr
Message to Alberta's chattering classes: Quit misinterpreting 'the rule of law,' already!
David J. Climenhaga | Somebody has done some message testing and determined "the rule of law" is a good talking point to which Alberta audiences will respond favourably. The argument is fatuous.
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Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci (Photo: David J. Climenhaga)
If you're an Albertan who demands low taxes, balanced budgets and pipelines, expect to be told to look in the mirror
David J. Climenhaga | Irony alert! Albertans must brace themselves for a very Albertan response from B.C. to their claim a balanced budget depends on that pipeline to Vancouver. They won't like it.
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Kinder Morgan Richmond Terminal. Photo: Peg Hunter/flickr
Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney find common ground, sort of … on dubious pipeline posturing
David J. Climenhaga | I'm no constitutional lawyer, but I was an agriculture reporter for many years, so I recognize the smell of manure. I'll bet B.C. Premier John Horgan does too.
Columnists
Photo: Adam Scotti/PMO
Trudeau ready to defend constitutional status quo without consulting Indigenous nations
Duncan Cameron | In the 150th year of Confederation, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard wants to talk about how Canada governs itself. Justin Trudeau put him off, saying he did not want to open the Constitution.
Columnists
It's been 150 years of Canadian politics. What comes next?
Duncan Cameron | Whatever the public relations designs for marking this 150th year for Canada, it should also allow for extended critical reflection on what history has to suggest for Canadian politics today.
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Jason Kenney
Pigs will fly before the fantasy that Ottawa's carbon tax 'invades provincial jurisdiction' will ever persuade a court
David J. Climenhaga | PC leadership candidate Jason Kenney is making a promise he knows he can't keep. His legal argument, as he surely knows perfectly well, is a dog that won't hunt.