Janet French
@jantafrench.bsky.social
Provincial affairs reporter, CBC Edmonton 📻📺📝👩💻 Mildly obsessive about reporting on education. #AbEd
Bikes. Knitting. Parenting. Books. Plants. Did I mention bikes? 🚴🏽♀️🚲
Bikes. Knitting. Parenting. Books. Plants. Did I mention bikes? 🚴🏽♀️🚲
Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says (at an unrelated news conference) he has asked all Alberta school boards to conduct an audit of school security measures as a result of the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. That means looking at lock systems, intercoms, etc.
#AbLeg #AbEd
#AbLeg #AbEd
February 12, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Where are the triage liaison physicians the government announced would help overtaxed ERs starting Feb. 1? The AB govt and health authorities won’t say if any are working. I asked 7 times in two weeks.
#AbLeg #AbHealth
#AbLeg #AbHealth
Alberta government won't say if promised new triage emergency doctors are on the job | CBC News
Nearly a month after Alberta’s hospitals minister said emergency room doctors would “immediately” be working to triage patients in overcrowded waiting rooms, the province and its health agencies will ...
www.cbc.ca
February 12, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The latest chapter in the unclear situation where temporary foreign workers in Alberta may or may not be eligible for public health coverage www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbLeg #AbHealth
Alberta reconsiders cutting health coverage for some temporary foreign workers after concerns raised | CBC News
Alberta is reviewing a health coverage change that left some temporary foreign workers without provincial care earlier this year. Meanwhile, the government confirms Type 58 visa holders can apply once...
www.cbc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
The latest chapter in the unclear situation where temporary foreign workers in Alberta may or may not be eligible for public health coverage www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbLeg #AbHealth
“Emails obtained by CBC through an access to information request show that Flanagan’s newspaper letter was sent by the university’s government relations department to staff at the Ministry of Advanced Education before it was published.” By @emilyawilliams52.bsky.social #AbPSE #AbLeg
U of A looks to remove EDI from hiring policy | CBC News
The University of Alberta is proposing to eliminate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) from its hiring policy, a year after the school initially said it was moving away from the term.
www.cbc.ca
February 9, 2026 at 2:55 PM
“Emails obtained by CBC through an access to information request show that Flanagan’s newspaper letter was sent by the university’s government relations department to staff at the Ministry of Advanced Education before it was published.” By @emilyawilliams52.bsky.social #AbPSE #AbLeg
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has mused about cutting or limiting public services for temporary residents. It turns out that already happened last month with public health insurance www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbLeg #AbHealth
Alberta cuts access to health care for some temporary workers, raising concerns in the Bow Valley | CBC News
Alberta has stopped offering provincial health coverage to some people on working holiday and young professional visas, a change that came into effect earlier this year without a public announcement. ...
www.cbc.ca
February 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has mused about cutting or limiting public services for temporary residents. It turns out that already happened last month with public health insurance www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbLeg #AbHealth
Is grade inflation - with teachers under pressure to show good transition rates to post-secondary - driving up entry qualifications in Ontario? #AbEd
Ontario high schoolers need higher grades to get into university than ever before, data shows | CBC News
The numbers paint a stark picture of what it’s like to be a graduating student in the province right now, as university admissions ramp up and education experts call for an overhaul of both the high s...
www.cbc.ca
February 4, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Is grade inflation - with teachers under pressure to show good transition rates to post-secondary - driving up entry qualifications in Ontario? #AbEd
I'll be talking about this story on the radio later this afternoon (5:05 p.m. in Edmonton, 5:20 pm in Calgary on CBC Radio 1) about the Alberta government's new approval process for sexual health education resources and outside presenters. #AbEd #AbLeg
Alberta vetting process limits sexual education materials for students, some experts say | CBC News
Some sexual health education experts, advocacy groups and teachers say new provincial approval requirements have left educators with inadequate options to teach Alberta’s health curriculum.
www.cbc.ca
February 2, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Last fall, a new vetting process took effect for sex education resources and presenters in Alberta.
Teachers and sex education experts say what has been approved is limited and has significant gaps. And they’re worried about the effects for students of watered-down sex ed #AbEd #AbLeg
Teachers and sex education experts say what has been approved is limited and has significant gaps. And they’re worried about the effects for students of watered-down sex ed #AbEd #AbLeg
Alberta vetting process limits sexual education materials for students, some experts say | CBC News
Some sexual health education experts, advocacy groups and teachers say new provincial approval requirements have left educators with inadequate options to teach Alberta’s health curriculum.
www.cbc.ca
February 1, 2026 at 5:59 PM
As @jenleecbc.bsky.social reports, many Alberta patients are not getting cardiac or cancer surgery within recommended times, and increasing private surgical capacity hasn’t improved the situation to date #AbLeg #AbHealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta heart, cancer patients waiting too long for critical surgery, health experts warn | CBC News
While a record number of surgeries is being performed in the province, the number of people on Alberta's waitlist is longer than it was two years ago. And the latest provincial data shows less than tw...
www.cbc.ca
January 30, 2026 at 3:29 PM
As @jenleecbc.bsky.social reports, many Alberta patients are not getting cardiac or cancer surgery within recommended times, and increasing private surgical capacity hasn’t improved the situation to date #AbLeg #AbHealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
My colleague, Julia Wong, filed an access to info request to find out how Edmonton Public Schools came up with its first list of books to remove from shelves to comply with new provincial orders (that have since changed). The premier accused the board of "vicious compliance." #AbLeg #AbEd #yeg
New details show vigorous, pricey process to identify explicit books in Edmonton schools | CBC Accessibility
The 329 pages of records, obtained by CBC News, reveal that 11 teachers were hired by Edmonton Public Schools for a four-week summer project to review books for sexually explicit content, at a cost of...
www.cbc.ca
January 27, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Janet French
The front page of Alberta Courts website is now joint statement by chief justices of all three court levels, proclaiming the importance of judicial independence. albertacourts.ca
January 27, 2026 at 5:27 PM
The front page of Alberta Courts website is now joint statement by chief justices of all three court levels, proclaiming the importance of judicial independence. albertacourts.ca
I truly hope you or your loved ones are not among the people who are suffering or experiencing a worse outcome while waiting for care in an Alberta ER and/or hospitals.
However, if you are/were, please consider sharing your experience - use the form at the bottom of this story.
#AbHealth #AbLeg
However, if you are/were, please consider sharing your experience - use the form at the bottom of this story.
#AbHealth #AbLeg
Minister says Alberta emergency room deaths and poor outcomes are exceptions to the norm | CBC News
As Alberta doctors raise red flags about seeing what they say are delays in emergency room care, the province’s hospitals minister says he doesn’t think cases that the doctors have recently highlighte...
www.cbc.ca
January 21, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Janet French
Alberta Health Services' former CEO alleges she has been subject to an intimidation campaign since suing the govt.
Athana Mentzelopoulos speaks about it publically for the first time -->
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... By @mattscace.bsky.social
Athana Mentzelopoulos speaks about it publically for the first time -->
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... By @mattscace.bsky.social
Former head of AHS says she faced campaign of intimidation since lawsuit against Alberta government
Athana Mentzelopoulos says she was targeted by the same individuals who were accused of harassing a potential witness in the case
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Alberta Health Services' former CEO alleges she has been subject to an intimidation campaign since suing the govt.
Athana Mentzelopoulos speaks about it publically for the first time -->
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... By @mattscace.bsky.social
Athana Mentzelopoulos speaks about it publically for the first time -->
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... By @mattscace.bsky.social
Last summer and fall, there was a lot of attention on Alberta's move to screen and limit books in schools after the gov't said people found graphic novels with explicit scenes on school shelves.
Monday was the deadline for schools to follow the new rules. #AbEd #AbLeg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Monday was the deadline for schools to follow the new rules. #AbEd #AbLeg
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 7, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Last summer and fall, there was a lot of attention on Alberta's move to screen and limit books in schools after the gov't said people found graphic novels with explicit scenes on school shelves.
Monday was the deadline for schools to follow the new rules. #AbEd #AbLeg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Monday was the deadline for schools to follow the new rules. #AbEd #AbLeg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
In a year-end interview, Premier Danielle Smith says her government used the notwithstanding clause to impose a new contract onto teachers because gov't worried an arbitrator would impose pupil-teacher ratios, as teachers said they wanted
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbEd #AbLeg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbEd #AbLeg
Q&A: Why Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government imposed a teachers' contract | CBC News
In a year-end interview, Premier Danielle Smith talks about government decisions during the teachers' contract dispute and where she sees public education heading in Alberta.
www.cbc.ca
December 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In a year-end interview, Premier Danielle Smith says her government used the notwithstanding clause to impose a new contract onto teachers because gov't worried an arbitrator would impose pupil-teacher ratios, as teachers said they wanted
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbEd #AbLeg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbEd #AbLeg
After years of rapid growth, Calgary's public school board breathes a sigh of relief when enrolment grew by one net student. By (the Blueskyless) Elise Stolte #yyc #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
After years of challenging growth, Calgary public schools grew by 1 student last year | CBC News
A Calgary Board of Education superintendent calls the slower growth rate "a gift" for its schools after years of challenging population growth. The district has 15 new schools in the works.
www.cbc.ca
December 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
After years of rapid growth, Calgary's public school board breathes a sigh of relief when enrolment grew by one net student. By (the Blueskyless) Elise Stolte #yyc #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Janet French
Advocacy groups apply to keep court case against Alberta trans laws alive
Egale and Skipping Stone say they plan to argue Alberta has effectively developed a criminal law — something outside of its jurisdiction.
News from me this afternoon:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Egale and Skipping Stone say they plan to argue Alberta has effectively developed a criminal law — something outside of its jurisdiction.
News from me this afternoon:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Advocacy groups apply to keep court case against Alberta trans laws alive
EDMONTON - Two advocacy groups fighting the Alberta government on its transgender laws say they're looking to keep one of their challenges alive by changing their argument in court.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
December 12, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Advocacy groups apply to keep court case against Alberta trans laws alive
Egale and Skipping Stone say they plan to argue Alberta has effectively developed a criminal law — something outside of its jurisdiction.
News from me this afternoon:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Egale and Skipping Stone say they plan to argue Alberta has effectively developed a criminal law — something outside of its jurisdiction.
News from me this afternoon:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Awkwardly, the Alberta legislature TV channel has broken in the middle of debate (committee of the whole) for Bill 9, in which the government seeks to use the notwithstanding clause to shield three gender bills from legal challenges.
The YouTube stream IS working www.youtube.com/live/ryA5Lq4...
The YouTube stream IS working www.youtube.com/live/ryA5Lq4...
December 9th, 2025 - Evening Session - Legislative Assembly of Alberta
YouTube video by Legislative Assembly of Alberta
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Awkwardly, the Alberta legislature TV channel has broken in the middle of debate (committee of the whole) for Bill 9, in which the government seeks to use the notwithstanding clause to shield three gender bills from legal challenges.
The YouTube stream IS working www.youtube.com/live/ryA5Lq4...
The YouTube stream IS working www.youtube.com/live/ryA5Lq4...
Reposted by Janet French
I tallied the number of court cases or legal challenges Alberta’s government has recently stepped in to block or pre-empt. Was surprised how long the exercise took - they’re at like a one-per-week clip:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
ANALYSIS | UCP government keeps blocking or nixing Alberta court challenges. Why? | CBC News
From transgender policies to referendums to "conservative" party names, the Alberta UCP has stepped in where others have feared to tread.
www.cbc.ca
December 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I tallied the number of court cases or legal challenges Alberta’s government has recently stepped in to block or pre-empt. Was surprised how long the exercise took - they’re at like a one-per-week clip:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Acute Care Alberta has extended an ortho surgery contract with Alberta Surgical Group - one of the entities tied to health procurement probes #AbHealth #AbLeg
Acute Care Alberta extends contract with Edmonton surgical centre tied to procurement probes | CBC News
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
www.cbc.ca
December 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Janet French
Alberta aims to curtail regulatory bodies from sanctioning workers for after-hours activities www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... by @jantafrench.bsky.social
Me: plays on MYTH that many "brave voices" were "silenced by the overreach of regulators."
"...health misinformation does grave, grave harm..."
Me: plays on MYTH that many "brave voices" were "silenced by the overreach of regulators."
"...health misinformation does grave, grave harm..."
Alberta aims to curtail regulatory bodies from sanctioning workers for after-hours activities | CBC News
Many Alberta workers could no longer be investigated by their licensing bodies for what they say outside of work hours, should the legislature pass a new bill.
www.cbc.ca
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Alberta aims to curtail regulatory bodies from sanctioning workers for after-hours activities www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... by @jantafrench.bsky.social
Me: plays on MYTH that many "brave voices" were "silenced by the overreach of regulators."
"...health misinformation does grave, grave harm..."
Me: plays on MYTH that many "brave voices" were "silenced by the overreach of regulators."
"...health misinformation does grave, grave harm..."
Alberta's justice minister has tabled a bill to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield a suite of legislation from legal challenges. The laws in question restrict the rights of transgender people in access to health care and sports, and affect K-12 education of all students.
#AbLeg #Abed
#AbLeg #Abed
Alberta to invoke notwithstanding clause to shield 3 transgender bills from court challenges | CBC News
The Alberta government has tabled legislation that seeks to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield a suite of bills that affects transgender youth and adults from legal challenges.
www.cbc.ca
November 18, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The Alberta government says it will pay for 3,000 more teachers over three years to ease a classroom crunch.
But the money didn't come as a result of the strike. It was already in last spring's budget before the Alberta teachers' walked off the job. #AbLeg #AbEd
But the money didn't come as a result of the strike. It was already in last spring's budget before the Alberta teachers' walked off the job. #AbLeg #AbEd
The Alberta government promised to pay for 3,000 more teachers. Some educators say the promise is deceptive | CBC News
When the Alberta government legislated a swift end to October’s provincial teachers’ strike, it pledged to pay for 3,000 more teaching positions during the next three school years. But what wasn't mad...
www.cbc.ca
November 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
#YegFunicularStatus lower elevator out of service still, funicular running fine at 9:30 am 🚲 #yeg
November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
#YegFunicularStatus lower elevator out of service still, funicular running fine at 9:30 am 🚲 #yeg
I regret to inform you that it is the second Wednesday of the month.
Feels like there have been a lot of second Wednesdays of months lately.
#YegFunicularStatus
Feels like there have been a lot of second Wednesdays of months lately.
#YegFunicularStatus
November 12, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I regret to inform you that it is the second Wednesday of the month.
Feels like there have been a lot of second Wednesdays of months lately.
#YegFunicularStatus
Feels like there have been a lot of second Wednesdays of months lately.
#YegFunicularStatus