Drew Yewchuk
@drewyewchuk.bsky.social
Phd student researching government information management, public interest lawyer, advocate for access to government information laws, cold war history enthusiast.
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Last week, I learned an adjudicator had sided with me in 5 inquiries re: the province refusing to release results of its Alberta Next surveys
GOA published the multiple choice results in Dec but has been ordered to give me 213 pages of open-answer replies that haven't yet been shared
#ableg #abpoli
GOA published the multiple choice results in Dec but has been ordered to give me 213 pages of open-answer replies that haven't yet been shared
#ableg #abpoli
Province broke its own access to information laws in withholding Alberta Next survey results
The Alberta government wrongly withheld hundreds of pages of results from its Alberta Next surveys an adjudicator has ruled.
edmontonjournal.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Corb Lund's petition for no coal activities on the eastern slopes of the Rockies finally goes live (i.e. actually issued by Elections Alberta) - 120 day window, closes June 10.
#abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg
www.elections.ab.ca/resources/me...
#abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg
www.elections.ab.ca/resources/me...
New Citizen Initiative Petition Issued - Elections Alberta
EDMONTON – Today, Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, issued the citizen initiative petition for the legislative proposal “No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountain...
www.elections.ab.ca
February 11, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Corb Lund's petition for no coal activities on the eastern slopes of the Rockies finally goes live (i.e. actually issued by Elections Alberta) - 120 day window, closes June 10.
#abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg
www.elections.ab.ca/resources/me...
#abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg
www.elections.ab.ca/resources/me...
There is a funny element to Saskatchewan extending their use of coal power is that Alberta natural gas companies have spent years talking about how their gas would replace coal power in China. I never found that very realistic (it relied on their audience not knowing much about China) (1/2)
A citizen-led challenge to Saskatchewan’s continuing use of coal power failed last month when a judge sided with the province. Via @nationalobserver.com: thenarwhal.ca/court-denies...
Saskatchewan court dismisses coal power challenge | The Narwhal
A Saskatchewan judge dismissed an application challenging the province’s decision to extend the use of coal power plants
thenarwhal.ca
February 9, 2026 at 5:17 PM
There is a funny element to Saskatchewan extending their use of coal power is that Alberta natural gas companies have spent years talking about how their gas would replace coal power in China. I never found that very realistic (it relied on their audience not knowing much about China) (1/2)
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
New substack from me: Clashes between Cda's info commissioner and the Liberal gov't
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/horns-lock... #cdnfpoi #cdnpoli
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/horns-lock... #cdnfpoi #cdnpoli
Horns locked over dismal state of access to info
Privy Council Office and info commissioner increasingly at odds
deanbeeby.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:05 PM
New substack from me: Clashes between Cda's info commissioner and the Liberal gov't
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/horns-lock... #cdnfpoi #cdnpoli
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/horns-lock... #cdnfpoi #cdnpoli
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
And this! The ACLRC is part of our law school. Part of the community. Supports access to justice in numerous ways. And now another target of the UCP’s ideological warfare.
February 4, 2026 at 4:56 AM
And this! The ACLRC is part of our law school. Part of the community. Supports access to justice in numerous ways. And now another target of the UCP’s ideological warfare.
Not a lot of surprises in the 2024 AER Liability Management Performance Report. The situation is still bad and the AER is still hoping to sweep it under the rug.
New Post: Grading the 2024 AER Liability Management Performance Report
ablawg.ca/2026/02/05...…rformance-report/
ablawg.ca/2026/02/05...…rformance-report/
February 5, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Not a lot of surprises in the 2024 AER Liability Management Performance Report. The situation is still bad and the AER is still hoping to sweep it under the rug.
After the huge jump around May 2025, the Orphan Well Inventory has continued creeping higher.
The previous high-water mark for orphan wells needing decommissioning was 3,128 wells in 2018. The OWA now has 4,473, after the AER spent 5 years saying they were fixing the system.
The previous high-water mark for orphan wells needing decommissioning was 3,128 wells in 2018. The OWA now has 4,473, after the AER spent 5 years saying they were fixing the system.
February 2, 2026 at 11:37 PM
After the huge jump around May 2025, the Orphan Well Inventory has continued creeping higher.
The previous high-water mark for orphan wells needing decommissioning was 3,128 wells in 2018. The OWA now has 4,473, after the AER spent 5 years saying they were fixing the system.
The previous high-water mark for orphan wells needing decommissioning was 3,128 wells in 2018. The OWA now has 4,473, after the AER spent 5 years saying they were fixing the system.
I never thought the United States actually respected Canadian sovereignty, but I did not think the U.S. would drop the facade unless Canada tried to cut the flow of Canadian resources (oil in particular). The confusing part is the lack of serious provocation.
January 30, 2026 at 1:05 AM
I never thought the United States actually respected Canadian sovereignty, but I did not think the U.S. would drop the facade unless Canada tried to cut the flow of Canadian resources (oil in particular). The confusing part is the lack of serious provocation.
If you tire of news about things getting worse in North America, try some news about things getting worse in Europe.
(sorry)
(sorry)
New GNHRE blogpost: Fear of the Light: Dimming Accountability Under the Aarhus Convention.
Emily Barritt and Päivi Leino-Sandberg show how recent moves at the MOP to the Aarhus Convention could weaken protections for transparency, participation, and environmental defenders.
gnhre.org?p=18491
Emily Barritt and Päivi Leino-Sandberg show how recent moves at the MOP to the Aarhus Convention could weaken protections for transparency, participation, and environmental defenders.
gnhre.org?p=18491
Fear of the Light: Dimming Accountability Under the Aarhus – GNHRE
gnhre.org
January 29, 2026 at 6:03 PM
If you tire of news about things getting worse in North America, try some news about things getting worse in Europe.
(sorry)
(sorry)
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
New Post: What Are the Implications of the International Court’s Climate Change Advisory Opinion for Provinces?
ablawg.ca/2026/01/26...…on-for-provinces/
ablawg.ca/2026/01/26...…on-for-provinces/
What Are the Implications of the International Court’s Climate Change Advisory Opinion for Provinces?
By: Nigel Bankes Case Commented On: Obligations of States In Respect of Climate Change, Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, July 23, 2025 PDF Version: What Are the Implications …
ablawg.ca
January 26, 2026 at 5:01 PM
New Post: What Are the Implications of the International Court’s Climate Change Advisory Opinion for Provinces?
ablawg.ca/2026/01/26...…on-for-provinces/
ablawg.ca/2026/01/26...…on-for-provinces/
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Floyd Joseph has fond memories of Cassiar, including playing hockey as a kid.
But he also believes the asbestos mine is responsible for his cancer diagnosis.
@amandafollett.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli
But he also believes the asbestos mine is responsible for his cancer diagnosis.
@amandafollett.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli
The Town That Asbestos Built. The Cancer It Left Behind | The Tyee
Former residents of Cassiar say they weren’t warned about the risks. Now, they struggle to find support.
thetyee.ca
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Floyd Joseph has fond memories of Cassiar, including playing hockey as a kid.
But he also believes the asbestos mine is responsible for his cancer diagnosis.
@amandafollett.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli
But he also believes the asbestos mine is responsible for his cancer diagnosis.
@amandafollett.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
New Post: Religious Freedom and the Oath to the Sovereign, Revisited
ablawg.ca/2026/01/16...…ereign-revisited/
ablawg.ca/2026/01/16...…ereign-revisited/
January 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
New Post: Religious Freedom and the Oath to the Sovereign, Revisited
ablawg.ca/2026/01/16...…ereign-revisited/
ablawg.ca/2026/01/16...…ereign-revisited/
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Damien Joly, the chief executive officer of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, is warning a lack of funding for wildlife disease monitoring is undermining Canada’s ability to detect and respond to emerging threats to biodiversity, agriculture and human health.
thenarwhal.ca/wildlife-dis...
thenarwhal.ca/wildlife-dis...
Underfunding threatens Canada’s wildlife disease response | The Narwhal
As bird flu and chronic wasting disease spread, experts say Canada’s wildlife disease monitoring network needs more resources to respond
thenarwhal.ca
January 15, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Damien Joly, the chief executive officer of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, is warning a lack of funding for wildlife disease monitoring is undermining Canada’s ability to detect and respond to emerging threats to biodiversity, agriculture and human health.
thenarwhal.ca/wildlife-dis...
thenarwhal.ca/wildlife-dis...
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
We spoke with seven outdoor guides in B.C. and Alberta about how they are navigating taking people to the places they love as the climate changes. "It’s hard not to get depressed," one guide told us. thenarwhal.ca/outdoor-guid...
Outdoor guides bear witness to a changing climate | The Narwhal
Melting ice, unpredictable weather and wildfires: outdoor guides in Alberta and B.C. reflect on professional life at environmental extremes
thenarwhal.ca
January 13, 2026 at 9:57 PM
We spoke with seven outdoor guides in B.C. and Alberta about how they are navigating taking people to the places they love as the climate changes. "It’s hard not to get depressed," one guide told us. thenarwhal.ca/outdoor-guid...
I see the Canadian federal government decided not to provide species at risk protections for the American eel in December 2025, which COSEWIC found was threatened in 2012.
That decision process is supposed to take 9 months. The government took 13 years - more than three full federal election cycles.
That decision process is supposed to take 9 months. The government took 13 years - more than three full federal election cycles.
January 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM
I see the Canadian federal government decided not to provide species at risk protections for the American eel in December 2025, which COSEWIC found was threatened in 2012.
That decision process is supposed to take 9 months. The government took 13 years - more than three full federal election cycles.
That decision process is supposed to take 9 months. The government took 13 years - more than three full federal election cycles.
This is an embarrassing article by the CBC. The important thing to know is that Pahlavi's father was installed in a 1953 undemocratic coup organized by the Americans and British, and ruled as a dictator and an American puppet. (1/2)
www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...
Iran's last monarch was toppled, but his son Reza Pahlavi wants to lead a transition | CBC News
Reza Pahlavi has sought to speak as an Iranian leader despite living outside the country since protests against the clerical regime erupted late last month. Here is a closer look at the 65-year-old ex...
www.cbc.ca
January 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
This is an embarrassing article by the CBC. The important thing to know is that Pahlavi's father was installed in a 1953 undemocratic coup organized by the Americans and British, and ruled as a dictator and an American puppet. (1/2)
www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...
This is an instance of the problem my LLM thesis discussed: the legislature passes a law and then the executive branch deliberately chooses not comply.
This is a structural problem with the Canadian separation of powers.
www.cbc.ca/news/gopubli...
This is a structural problem with the Canadian separation of powers.
www.cbc.ca/news/gopubli...
Internal documents show Ottawa pushed to delay airline complaint fee — as taxpayers foot $30M for system | CBC News
Over two and a half years ago, Parliament ordered the Canadian Transportation Agency to create a fee airlines would pay to cover some of the roughly $30-million taxpayer cost to process air passenger ...
www.cbc.ca
January 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
This is an instance of the problem my LLM thesis discussed: the legislature passes a law and then the executive branch deliberately chooses not comply.
This is a structural problem with the Canadian separation of powers.
www.cbc.ca/news/gopubli...
This is a structural problem with the Canadian separation of powers.
www.cbc.ca/news/gopubli...
No legal basis for the list of banned books to be withheld under ATIA - a proposed list may be advice, but the list implemented cannot be withheld - (and note 'internal document' is not a type of information exempted from ATIA.)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta school divisions remove handful of titles from shelves as new school library rules take effect | CBC News
A newly enacted provincial order on school literary materials prompted some divisions to remove a couple of dozen books from school shelves, but the names of those titles are secret.
www.cbc.ca
January 9, 2026 at 1:19 AM
No legal basis for the list of banned books to be withheld under ATIA - a proposed list may be advice, but the list implemented cannot be withheld - (and note 'internal document' is not a type of information exempted from ATIA.)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Here is a Lump of Coal, my final ABlawg post of the year with @drewyewchuk.bsky.social dealing with 2 coal law & policy developments in AB. One deals with Alberta’s Phoenix, Northback’s Grassy Mountain project, poised to rise from the ashes while seeking to avoid federal review. 1/2
#ableg #abpoli
#ableg #abpoli
A Final Lump of Coal for 2025
By: Nigel Bankes and Drew Yewchuk Matters Commented On: Notice of Termination of the federal environmental assessment for the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, December 19, 2025 and Bill 14, Justice St…
ablawg.ca
December 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Here is a Lump of Coal, my final ABlawg post of the year with @drewyewchuk.bsky.social dealing with 2 coal law & policy developments in AB. One deals with Alberta’s Phoenix, Northback’s Grassy Mountain project, poised to rise from the ashes while seeking to avoid federal review. 1/2
#ableg #abpoli
#ableg #abpoli
The AER has weakened the protections for mining reclamation surety bonds. They do not provide any reasons for the change or explain who asked for this change. I still think accepting surety bonds instead of cash or letter of credit is a mistake, and this makes it worse.
www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
Bulletin 2025-43
Today, we released revised editions of Specified Enactment Direction 005: Rock-Hosted Mine Liability Process (RMLP) and
www.aer.ca
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The AER has weakened the protections for mining reclamation surety bonds. They do not provide any reasons for the change or explain who asked for this change. I still think accepting surety bonds instead of cash or letter of credit is a mistake, and this makes it worse.
www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
www.aer.ca/about-aer/me...
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
Reposted by Drew Yewchuk
BC developed a new flood strategy after the devastating impacts of the 2021 atmospheric river
But it's still not funded and the province decided against committing new $$ to it in September
Now the Fraser Valley's flooding again #bcpoli
But it's still not funded and the province decided against committing new $$ to it in September
Now the Fraser Valley's flooding again #bcpoli
Roads closed. People and animals evacuated. B.C. is once again grappling with serious flooding in the Fraser Valley, and some experts are asking why more hasn’t been done to mitigate risks. thenarwhal.ca/bc-fraser-va... #bcpoli
Another severe atmospheric river has hit B.C. | The Narwhal
As Fraser Valley grapples with another major flood, some say the province isn’t doing enough
thenarwhal.ca
December 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
BC developed a new flood strategy after the devastating impacts of the 2021 atmospheric river
But it's still not funded and the province decided against committing new $$ to it in September
Now the Fraser Valley's flooding again #bcpoli
But it's still not funded and the province decided against committing new $$ to it in September
Now the Fraser Valley's flooding again #bcpoli