Don Braid
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Don Braid
@donbraid.bsky.social
860 followers 1 following 210 posts
Proud MSM columnist with the Calgary Herald and Postmedia. Covering politics for 50 years and never imagined it could get this crazy.
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It now seems certain that Alberta will vote on separation in 2026. If it passes, where would Premier Smith stand? Column
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: Alberta will vote on separation in 2026. If it passes, where will Smith stand?
2026 will bring a separatist referendum in Alberta and hard choices for the governing NDP. Will Premier Danielle Smith stand for Canada?
calgaryherald.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Alberta's blizzard of recalls is the oddest political story of 2025. It will haunt Smith into 2026. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #RECALL #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: A decision on the blizzard of recall petitions will plague Smith into 2026
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will face a decision of a Canadian oddity — the eruption of recall movements against herself and her MLAs.
calgaryherald.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Disabilities advocate and columnist Cam Tait, one of the most courageous people I know, writes a deeply moving column about love, endurance and friendship that will touch your heart.
edmontonsun.com/opinion/colu... #yeg #yegcc #yyc
TAIT: Meeting a reminder of the power of love and celebration
On a cold, nasty Edmonton evening, Doug Armstrong reminded me what matters most.
edmontonsun.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Must-read from the Herald's @chrisvarcoe
on how the MOU with Ottawa came to be. The full story of a most unlikely deal.
calgaryherald.com/business/dan... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #abgov #yyc #yeg
Varcoe: Making of a 'grand bargain' — how Alberta and Ottawa forged an unlikely energy deal
The inside story of how two governments came to an unlikely agreement on pipelines, carbon capture, emissions reduction and more.
calgaryherald.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Can we trust government numbers on health wait times? Not entirely. Fascinating info in auditor general's latest report. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abhealth #abpoli #abgov #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: Claims about shorter wait times sometimes overblown and wrong, report suggests
The auditor general report shows many claims about reduced wait times didn't match internal numbers and were simply wrong.
calgaryherald.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Premier Smith now faces official recall notice. 20 UCP members under siege. This is no longer just a flashy political stunt. Some UCP members could lose special elections. Rewritten column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #abgov #abpoli #yyc #yeg #cdnpoli
Braid: Recall is heating up; Premier Smith now faces official campaign in her riding
Alberta's recall movement keeps growing. Premier Smith now faces recall. It's no longer just an oddity, but a threat to UCP
calgaryherald.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Recall movement is gaining steam and can no longer be laughed off. For politicians, it's poison. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abrecall #yyc #yeg #cdnpoli #abgov
Braid: The recall movement is political poison but it's no longer just an Alberta oddity
Alberta's recall movement keeps growing. It's no longer just an oddity, even though politicians avoid it like the plague.
calgaryherald.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
UPDATED: Court rules separatist question unconstitutional. Also, UCP levies monster fine, bans words, in effort to control political landscape. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abgov #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: With monster fine and ban on words, UCP locks down political landscape
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and UCP lock down political landscape with threat of $1 million fine and ban on political words.
calgaryherald.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A whopper of a UCP bill makes a separatist referendum likely but leaves the recall movement to rage on. UCP assumes far more power over election rules. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abgov #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: Giant UCP bill enables separatist vote but allows recall to rage on
Braid: Premier Danielle Smith brings in big bill that will make a vote on independence more likely but declines to choke off recall movement
calgaryherald.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Very confusing for people trying to figure out Alberta - Smith signs big Ottawa deal, hits feds with Sovereignty Act five days layer. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdpoli #Sovereignty #abgov #yyc #yeg
Braid: Sovereignty on the hoof: Smith strikes deal with feds, then pushes them out the door
Premier Danielle Smith strikes huge economic deal with Ottawa, then turn around and nullifies federal law. Sovereignty doctrine explains it.
calgaryherald.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Smith waves Ottawa deal at UCP convention, but separatists and recalls still post challenges. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: Smith waves Ottawa deal at UCP convention, but separatists and recalls still challenge
Premier Danielle Smith isn't personally challenged at this UCP convention, but still faces challenges from separatists and recall campaigns.
calgaryherald.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Smith scores a major victory as Ottawa retreats from a decade of meddling. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #pipeline #abgove #yyc #yeg
Braid: Smith scores a major victory as Ottawa retreats from a decade of meddling
Premier Danielle Smith wins many concessions from Prime Minister Mark Carney, but the main one is a federal retreat from meddling in Alberta
calgaryherald.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Braid: With tanker ban on the table it's B.C. Premier Eby's turn to gripe about Ottawa, even though he's just been showered with riches. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abpoli #bcpoli #ableg #yyc #yeg #cdnpoli #carney
Braid: With tanker ban on the table, it's B.C. Premier Eby's turn to gripe about Ottawa
B.C. Premier David Eby takes the place of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to gripe about Ottawa — with far less reason, writes Don Braid.
calgaryherald.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Bill 11 - There hasn't be a change to Alberta health care this profound since universal care was introduced more than 50 years ago. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abhealth #abeg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: UCP performing major surgery on Alberta health care
The new legislation introduced Monday is fundamental, monumental, and could directly affect how much patients pay.
calgaryherald.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Whodunit? Government blames ex-AHS boss in case of missing notebooks. She says that's false. This gets uglier by the day. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abhealth #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc #yeg
Braid: Whodunit? Government blames ex-AHS boss in case of missing notebooks
Premier Danielle Smith's attempt to blame ex-AHS boss Athana Mentzelopoulos for destruction of key notebooks doesn't hold up.
calgaryherald.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Auditor general finds stalling, bad planning, big losses in devastating report on Dynalife fiasco. Remember when it took weeks to get a blood test? Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: Auditor general finds stalling, bad planning, big losses in Dynalife report
Auditor General Doug Wylie finds faulting planing, denied evidence, big losses in Dynalife scandal.
calgaryherald.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Council fumbles flag-raising bylaw, delivers a gut-punch to new Mayor Farkas. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #yyccc
Braid: Council fumbles flag-raising, delivers a gut-punch to new Mayor Farkas
Calgary council botches flag-raising bylaw in wake of Palestinian event and delivers a severe blow to the new mayor, writes Don Braid.
calgaryherald.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
UPDATED COLUMN: Eby's BC NDP votes 83% against holding a full leadership review, two days after Carney arrived with OK for 2 more major projects. Obvious who PM wants in power there, and it's not the Conservatives. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #carney #yyc #yeg
Braid: Carney lands in B.C with massive survival plan for the provincial NDP
Prime Minister Mark Carney bestow massive projects on B.C., none for Alberta. The last think he wants is a conservative regime on the coast
calgaryherald.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Carney lands in B.C with massive survival plan for the provincial NDP. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #carney #yyc #yeg
Braid: Carney lands in B.C with massive survival plan for the provincial NDP
Prime Minister Mark Carney bestow massive projects on B.C., none for Alberta. The last think he wants is a conservative regime on the coast
calgaryherald.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Common sense seems to be arriving at city hall after a four-year absence. Long may it reign. Smart staff appointments by Farkas. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yyccc #yeg
Braid: Farkas team signals return to common sense at city hall
Staffing decisions show strong sign of balance, with no ideological favourites.
calgaryherald.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Poilievre's team gets ready for epic leadership review fight in Calgary; Smith faces recall in her riding. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #poilievre #yyc #yeg
Braid: Poilievre's team gets ready for epic leadership review fight in Calgary
Pierre Poilievre will face CPC faithful in Calgary for leadership vote, but site of Stampede Wrestling doesn't come with local advantage.
calgaryherald.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Former PC Education Minister Dave King was at the cabinet table when notwithstanding was devised. His devastating view of what the UCP has done. Don't miss this piece.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abed #abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg #yyc #yeg
Opinion: Notwithstanding clause never meant to be used to benefit the government
Dave King was was there when clause was born in Alberta cabinet. It was never meant to be used for the benefit of the government itself.
calgaryherald.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
UCP MLAs find themselves challenged by their own Recall Act, which allows a petition for any darn thing. They'll have to respond somehow. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abed #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg
Braid: UCP faces mounting challenges from its own Recall Act
Danielle Smith and her Alberta UCP face a wave of recall challenges that could threaten her majority. She could repeal the law.
calgaryherald.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Auditor General Doug Wylie asked for $997,000 to examine health care restructuring. He lost his job instead. Column. calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #UCP
Braid: UCP rejects auditor general as he races to finish health scandal report
A UCP committee votes to replace auditor general Doug Wylie, the key person investigating the health contract scandal, writes Don Braid.
calgaryherald.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
UCP members vote in committee to replace auditor general Doug Wylie, forcing rush to complete health procurement report. He isn't sure he can finish before a newbie takes over. Column
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg #UCP
Braid: UCP dumps auditor general as he races to finish health scandal report
A UCP committee votes to replace auditor general Doug Wylie, the key person investigating the health contract scandal, writes Don Braid.
calgaryherald.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM