Jonnette Watson Hamilton
@jwatsonhamilton.bsky.social
Retired prof UCalgaryLaw. 🇨🇦
Still writing about equality rights, residential tenancies, #A2J. History grad student. Adopter of senior cats.
Alt banner text: Snowy mountain slope with 2 snowmobilers in the background.
Still writing about equality rights, residential tenancies, #A2J. History grad student. Adopter of senior cats.
Alt banner text: Snowy mountain slope with 2 snowmobilers in the background.
My latest residential tenancy law post, this one about interest on tenants' security deposits and how Alberta's law ensures that the rich get richer.
New Post: “Money for Nothing”: Landlords Take on Residential Tenants’ Security Deposits
ablawg.ca/2026/01/20...…ecurity-deposits/
ablawg.ca/2026/01/20...…ecurity-deposits/
“Money for Nothing”: Landlords Take on Residential Tenants’ Security Deposits
By: Jonnette Watson Hamilton Legislation Commented On: Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c R-17.1, Part 4 PDF Version: “Money for Nothing”: Landlords Take on Residential Tenants’ Security Deposit…
ablawg.ca
January 20, 2026 at 10:10 PM
My latest residential tenancy law post, this one about interest on tenants' security deposits and how Alberta's law ensures that the rich get richer.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
The full text of Wes Wark's expert opinion is available on the website of O'Kelly Law here okellylaw.ca/news/sturgeo...
A great educational resource..
Thanks to @orlaghokelly.bsky.social and the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation for making this opinion readily available.
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli
A great educational resource..
Thanks to @orlaghokelly.bsky.social and the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation for making this opinion readily available.
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli
January 18, 2026 at 6:39 AM
The full text of Wes Wark's expert opinion is available on the website of O'Kelly Law here okellylaw.ca/news/sturgeo...
A great educational resource..
Thanks to @orlaghokelly.bsky.social and the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation for making this opinion readily available.
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli
A great educational resource..
Thanks to @orlaghokelly.bsky.social and the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation for making this opinion readily available.
#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
As previously pointed out, there is a real risk of foreign interference in the Alberta independence initiative launched by the Alberta Prosperity Project. Counsel for Sturgeon Lake First Nation has commissioned an expert opinion from Wes Wark to document this risk. 1/ #abpoli #cdnpoli #ableg
January 17, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Equality nerds! Joshua Sealy Harrington and I wrote a chapter on s 15 of the Charter for The Canadian Constitutional Law Open Access Casebook, 2nd ed (Richard Moon, Howard Kislowicz, and Asha Kaushal, eds), that is now available on SSRN as a handy reference: ssrn.com/abstract=603....
Equality Rights
<span>This chapter provides an overview of equality rights under s. 15 of the </span><i>Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms</i><span>, including notes
ssrn.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Equality nerds! Joshua Sealy Harrington and I wrote a chapter on s 15 of the Charter for The Canadian Constitutional Law Open Access Casebook, 2nd ed (Richard Moon, Howard Kislowicz, and Asha Kaushal, eds), that is now available on SSRN as a handy reference: ssrn.com/abstract=603....
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
WB Yeats, The 2d Coming - seems apt for Jan 3
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
January 3, 2026 at 11:06 PM
WB Yeats, The 2d Coming - seems apt for Jan 3
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
This year's @ablawg.bsky.social year in review post has lots to say about the state of democracy in Alberta and elsewhere, a major theme on the blog this year. Wishing all our readers a 2026 in which state actors are held to the highest standards of democratic accountability and justice.
Here's ABLawg’s 2025 year in review. I retired several yrs ago but am still an active contributor to the Faculty’s blog on developments on law and policy in Alberta.
ABlawg is an imp bridge betwn the academic and legal practice communities & an important source for media.
#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
ABlawg is an imp bridge betwn the academic and legal practice communities & an important source for media.
#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
ABlawg Year in Review 2025
By: Admin PDF Version: ABlawg Year in Review 2025 As is tradition, ABlawg closes 2025 with a summary of highlights over the past 12 months, including some statistics, examples of ABlawg impact, and…
ablawg.ca
December 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This year's @ablawg.bsky.social year in review post has lots to say about the state of democracy in Alberta and elsewhere, a major theme on the blog this year. Wishing all our readers a 2026 in which state actors are held to the highest standards of democratic accountability and justice.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
David is right.
When a government magics up new legislation (Bill 14) to sidestep the courts and enable the separatists' (un)constitutional citizen initiative, there is only one conclusion.
Smith, the UCP & their fellow travellers are separatists.
Govern yourself accordingly.
#ableg #aboli #cdnpoli
When a government magics up new legislation (Bill 14) to sidestep the courts and enable the separatists' (un)constitutional citizen initiative, there is only one conclusion.
Smith, the UCP & their fellow travellers are separatists.
Govern yourself accordingly.
#ableg #aboli #cdnpoli
With a new year almost upon us, everyone paying attention now understands Danielle Smith is a separatist. albertapolitics.ca/2025/12/with...
With a new year almost upon us, everyone paying attention now understands Danielle Smith is a separatist - Alberta Politics
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is a separatist. Well, not quite universally acknowledged, as we shall see. And only recently. But still, this recognition w...
albertapolitics.ca
December 29, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
David Frum thinks recognizing Aboriginal title - i.e. Indigenous sovereignty over land - was a thing "invented" by today's Canadian courts. As opposed to, y'know, a thing recognized by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, over a century before the country of Canada existed.
Moving into David Frum’s house to start an open-pit mine in his living room. Confident he won’t stand for “the country’s courts…inventing new obstacles to development.”
December 29, 2025 at 8:50 PM
David Frum thinks recognizing Aboriginal title - i.e. Indigenous sovereignty over land - was a thing "invented" by today's Canadian courts. As opposed to, y'know, a thing recognized by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, over a century before the country of Canada existed.
Apt title for a don't-miss blog about the UCP's irresponsible / indefensible handling of Grassy Mountain and Corb Lund's petition.
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 6:36 PM
Apt title for a don't-miss blog about the UCP's irresponsible / indefensible handling of Grassy Mountain and Corb Lund's petition.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
My thoughts on the imp BCCA's Gitxaala decision dealing with BC's UNDRIP implementation legislation.
The bottom line? The sky has not fallen in. Premier Eby shd not accede to (or lead) demands for amendments to (or worse still, repeal of) this co-developed contribution to reconciliation.
#cdnpoli
The bottom line? The sky has not fallen in. Premier Eby shd not accede to (or lead) demands for amendments to (or worse still, repeal of) this co-developed contribution to reconciliation.
#cdnpoli
Gitxaala and the Conundrum of UNDRIP Implementing Legislation: The Sky Has Not Fallen In
Gitxaala and the Conundrum of UNDRIP Implementing Legislation: The Sky Has Not Fallen In By: Nigel Bankes Case Commented On: Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2025 BCCA 430 (C…
ablawg.ca
December 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
My thoughts on the imp BCCA's Gitxaala decision dealing with BC's UNDRIP implementation legislation.
The bottom line? The sky has not fallen in. Premier Eby shd not accede to (or lead) demands for amendments to (or worse still, repeal of) this co-developed contribution to reconciliation.
#cdnpoli
The bottom line? The sky has not fallen in. Premier Eby shd not accede to (or lead) demands for amendments to (or worse still, repeal of) this co-developed contribution to reconciliation.
#cdnpoli
Glad to see this re-filing by Corb Lund.
Also happy to note the application fee change from $500 to $25,000 by the Citizen Initiative Amendment Regulation on December 17th does not apply to this citizen initiative. Such a punitive amount by the petty UCP. And money better spent elsewhere.
#abpoli
Also happy to note the application fee change from $500 to $25,000 by the Citizen Initiative Amendment Regulation on December 17th does not apply to this citizen initiative. Such a punitive amount by the petty UCP. And money better spent elsewhere.
#abpoli
December 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Glad to see this re-filing by Corb Lund.
Also happy to note the application fee change from $500 to $25,000 by the Citizen Initiative Amendment Regulation on December 17th does not apply to this citizen initiative. Such a punitive amount by the petty UCP. And money better spent elsewhere.
#abpoli
Also happy to note the application fee change from $500 to $25,000 by the Citizen Initiative Amendment Regulation on December 17th does not apply to this citizen initiative. Such a punitive amount by the petty UCP. And money better spent elsewhere.
#abpoli
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
The Wirring decison is out. The Alberta Court of Appeal held that the requirement that candidates for enrolment with the Law Society of Alberta take an Oath of Allegiance infringes the appellant’s religious freedom under s 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. www.canlii.org/en/ab/abca/d... 👏
www.canlii.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The Wirring decison is out. The Alberta Court of Appeal held that the requirement that candidates for enrolment with the Law Society of Alberta take an Oath of Allegiance infringes the appellant’s religious freedom under s 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. www.canlii.org/en/ab/abca/d... 👏
This is a complete, plain language summary of the devastating changes being made to supports for disabled Albertans by the UCP's blandly named Bill 12: The Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, including ideas helping to resist these attacks.
#abpoli
www.zacharyweeks.ca/blog/bill-12...
#abpoli
www.zacharyweeks.ca/blog/bill-12...
Bill 12 and ADAP: What Alberta’s New Disability Law Means for AISH Recipients and Disabled Albertans — Zachary Weeks
Bill 12 introduces major changes to AISH and creates the new ADAP program. This plain-language breakdown explains how Bill 12 affects disability benefits, appeal rights, and the everyday lives of disa...
www.zacharyweeks.ca
December 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
This is a complete, plain language summary of the devastating changes being made to supports for disabled Albertans by the UCP's blandly named Bill 12: The Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, including ideas helping to resist these attacks.
#abpoli
www.zacharyweeks.ca/blog/bill-12...
#abpoli
www.zacharyweeks.ca/blog/bill-12...
The UCP's latest attacks on vulnerable Albertans -- on trans youth in Bill 9 and on disabled Albertans in Bill 12 -- are despicable.
Using their majority to ram through this law that destroys human rights in the middle of the night with minimum discussion suggest they know how bad they are. #abpoli
Using their majority to ram through this law that destroys human rights in the middle of the night with minimum discussion suggest they know how bad they are. #abpoli
December 10 is International Human Rights Day, and only last night the UCP rammed through Bill 9, which adds the notwithstanding clause to three statutes that limit the rights of trans youth. Hansard isn't available yet, but the NDP reports that those in the government caucus joked while doing so.
Welcome to Alberta (where maybe your rights are next)!
#UCPcorruption #TransRightsAreHumanRights #FiretheUCP #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnmedia
#UCPcorruption #TransRightsAreHumanRights #FiretheUCP #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnmedia
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The UCP's latest attacks on vulnerable Albertans -- on trans youth in Bill 9 and on disabled Albertans in Bill 12 -- are despicable.
Using their majority to ram through this law that destroys human rights in the middle of the night with minimum discussion suggest they know how bad they are. #abpoli
Using their majority to ram through this law that destroys human rights in the middle of the night with minimum discussion suggest they know how bad they are. #abpoli
Smith's latest abusive use of the notwithstanding clause: "Alberta’s most recent use, the fourth in two months, employs the clause to shield a transphobic, anti-science, anti-evidence, anti-autonomy assault on rights."
She's also showing such ignorance of what a constitutional democracy is.
#abpoli
She's also showing such ignorance of what a constitutional democracy is.
#abpoli
NEW POST: The parallels between Trump's pardons and Danielle Smith's use of the notwithstanding clause emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/the-parall...
The parallels between Trump's pardons and Danielle Smith's use of the notwithstanding clause
I was reading about yet another round of Trump pardons and it is blazingly apparent the extent to which Trump has exercised this presidential power in a way that fundamentally strips away the importan...
emmettmacfarlane.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Smith's latest abusive use of the notwithstanding clause: "Alberta’s most recent use, the fourth in two months, employs the clause to shield a transphobic, anti-science, anti-evidence, anti-autonomy assault on rights."
She's also showing such ignorance of what a constitutional democracy is.
#abpoli
She's also showing such ignorance of what a constitutional democracy is.
#abpoli
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Elections Alberta has just issued a press release confirming that Corb Lund's coal petition meets the requirements of the Act.
"The GoA shall prohibit by law any and all new coal mining activities, including new approvals and permits, within the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains."
#ableg #abpoli
"The GoA shall prohibit by law any and all new coal mining activities, including new approvals and permits, within the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains."
#ableg #abpoli
Citizen Initiative Application Approved, Notice of Initiative Petition Issued - Elections Alberta
EDMONTON – Today, Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, issued a Notice of Initiative Petition. This confirms a citizen initiative petition application has been received and the Chief Ele...
www.elections.ab.ca
December 8, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
"low emissions Albertan bitumen"
Charlatans always always think other people are stupid.
Charlatans always always think other people are stupid.
December 9, 2025 at 12:21 AM
"low emissions Albertan bitumen"
Charlatans always always think other people are stupid.
Charlatans always always think other people are stupid.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
When legislation aims to ensure that investments of multiple First Nations in litigation are wasted, aims to silence judges, and shows no regard for the integrity and limited resources of the justice system, I should hope judges in this country will not be mute.
Just received a gov statement: "Justice Feasby’s decision includes comments that are critical of a bill currently before the Legislative Assembly. ... Judicial statements about the merits of a proposed bill before the legislative branch interfere with well-established democratic processes."
December 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
When legislation aims to ensure that investments of multiple First Nations in litigation are wasted, aims to silence judges, and shows no regard for the integrity and limited resources of the justice system, I should hope judges in this country will not be mute.
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Great to see Amy Matychuk back on the @ablawg.bsky.social roster!
New Post: Dorsey v Canada: A Rare and Necessary Advancement for Prisoners’ Rights
ablawg.ca/2025/12/02...…prisoners-rights/
ablawg.ca/2025/12/02...…prisoners-rights/
Dorsey v Canada: A Rare and Necessary Advancement for Prisoners’ Rights
By: Amy Matychuk Case Commented On: Dorsey v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 SCC 38 (CanLII) PDF Version: Dorsey v Canada: A Rare and Necessary Advancement for Prisoners’ Rights The decision in Dor…
ablawg.ca
December 3, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Great to see Amy Matychuk back on the @ablawg.bsky.social roster!
Between UCP Premier Danielle Smith's use of the notwithstanding clause twice this fall and the MOU she signed with PM Carney this past week, this satire is close enough to the truth to really bite.
#abpoli
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/11/dani...
#abpoli
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/11/dani...
Danielle Smith uses notwithstanding clause to declare herself premier of B.C.
Prime Minister Mark Carney disagrees with the concept of a premier of one province unilaterally taking over a different province, but his hands are tied by his unwillingness to do anything about it.
www.thebeaverton.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Between UCP Premier Danielle Smith's use of the notwithstanding clause twice this fall and the MOU she signed with PM Carney this past week, this satire is close enough to the truth to really bite.
#abpoli
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/11/dani...
#abpoli
www.thebeaverton.com/2025/11/dani...
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Good interview. @robbreakenridge.bsky.social does a nice job of introducing citizen initiatives & Corb an equally good job of explaining why we need clear legislation to prohibit coal mining activities in the eastern slopes.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawssab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGm...
#ableg #abpoli @cpawssab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGm...
PODCAST: Corb Lund on why Albertans deserve as say over coal mining along the Eastern Slopes
YouTube video by Rob Breakenridge Show
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Good interview. @robbreakenridge.bsky.social does a nice job of introducing citizen initiatives & Corb an equally good job of explaining why we need clear legislation to prohibit coal mining activities in the eastern slopes.
#ableg #abpoli @cpawssab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGm...
#ableg #abpoli @cpawssab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGm...
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
The UCP’s fall legislative session reveals volumes about what the party really values and what it doesn’t: no rights for teachers and trans folks (Bills 2 and 9) no rights for those who depend on AIMCo investments (Bill 12) but hey, we’ll pay out to aussie coal companies any time. #ableg #abpoli
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Thousands of folks at the MacDougall Centre saying No to Notwithstanding on Trans Day of Remembrance 🩵🩷🤍
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Thousands of folks at the MacDougall Centre saying No to Notwithstanding on Trans Day of Remembrance 🩵🩷🤍
Reposted by Jonnette Watson Hamilton
One of the “activist” groups the premier refers to is the Canadian Medical Assn. The other two, Egale + Skipping Stone, backed up their injunction claim with reams of medical and other evidence. Evidence that the gov’t itself is lacking. The UCP is the real activist here. ablawg.ca/2025/11/19/t...
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
One of the “activist” groups the premier refers to is the Canadian Medical Assn. The other two, Egale + Skipping Stone, backed up their injunction claim with reams of medical and other evidence. Evidence that the gov’t itself is lacking. The UCP is the real activist here. ablawg.ca/2025/11/19/t...