Matthew Black
@matthewblack.ca
📰 Postmedia Alberta legislature reporter (Edmonton Journal/Sun) | Works with 📊 data & 📃 documents | 🎓 UBC & UAlberta (2x) | Profile pic by my 3 y/o daughter
MatthewBlack.ca
MatthewBlack.ca
Reposted by Matthew Black
An adjudicator's ruling merely confirms what was already obvious. The UCP gov't broke its own laws and went to great lengths to avoid disclosing politically unfavourable public records. Taxpayers paid for these records; they do not belong to a party. #ableg
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
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 11:46 PM
An adjudicator's ruling merely confirms what was already obvious. The UCP gov't broke its own laws and went to great lengths to avoid disclosing politically unfavourable public records. Taxpayers paid for these records; they do not belong to a party. #ableg
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Thanks!
The order gives GOA 50 (business) days to get me the records but it's already processed them so it may be sooner than that.
I also filed a new ATI asking for the same last month (30 biz days). Hoping to get by month's end.
Will write a news story and post publicly somehow
#ableg #abpoli
The order gives GOA 50 (business) days to get me the records but it's already processed them so it may be sooner than that.
I also filed a new ATI asking for the same last month (30 biz days). Hoping to get by month's end.
Will write a news story and post publicly somehow
#ableg #abpoli
Grateful. Where will you publish?
February 10, 2026 at 11:20 PM
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 Matthew Black
Latest from @matthewblack.ca — Province broke its own access to information laws in withholding Alberta Next survey results #ableg #abpoli
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
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 9:41 PM
Latest from @matthewblack.ca — Province broke its own access to information laws in withholding Alberta Next survey results #ableg #abpoli
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
“This decision was not made lightly, it comes from a firm belief that my responsibilities first and foremost are to the people of Northern Alberta"
Sinclair has also spoken out about the proposed elimination of his Lesser Slave Lake riding in the new electoral map
#ableg #abpoli
Sinclair has also spoken out about the proposed elimination of his Lesser Slave Lake riding in the new electoral map
#ableg #abpoli
Sinclair to remain as independent MLA, not joining Progressive Tory Party
Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair says he will continue to sit in the Alberta legislative assembly as an independent member.
edmontonjournal.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Matthew Black
The leader of the separatist citizen initiative campaign is a UCP constituency president and a large number UCP members support Alberta separatism. This is a big part of Smith’s political base.
Premier Danielle Smith declined to denounce her province’s separatist movement just hours after B.C. Premier David Eby accused of treason those Albertans who claim to have travelled to Washington to seek political and financial backing for an independent Alberta.
#ableg #abpoli
#ableg #abpoli
Smith declines to 'demonize' separatists despite Eby's 'treason' remarks
Premier Danielle Smith declined to denounce her province's separatist movement just hours after B.C. Premier David Eby accused of treason.
edmontonjournal.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:27 PM
The leader of the separatist citizen initiative campaign is a UCP constituency president and a large number UCP members support Alberta separatism. This is a big part of Smith’s political base.
Premier Danielle Smith declined to denounce her province’s separatist movement just hours after B.C. Premier David Eby accused of treason those Albertans who claim to have travelled to Washington to seek political and financial backing for an independent Alberta.
#ableg #abpoli
#ableg #abpoli
Smith declines to 'demonize' separatists despite Eby's 'treason' remarks
Premier Danielle Smith declined to denounce her province's separatist movement just hours after B.C. Premier David Eby accused of treason.
edmontonjournal.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:23 PM
"A properly functioning democracy requires three separate branches of government that exercises their power and authority independently"
Alberta chief justices issue rare public statement on the court's role within our democracy
#abpoli #ableg
Alberta chief justices issue rare public statement on the court's role within our democracy
#abpoli #ableg
Alberta chief justices issue rare public statement on the court's role within our democracy
Alberta's top judges issued a rare public statement Tuesday on the role of the courts in our democracy.
calgaryherald.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:53 PM
"The remarks hit many of us at the Herald like a physical punch. Our dear friend Michelle Lang, a wonderful person and one of the best reporters ever to walk into that newsroom, was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb"
by @donbraid.bsky.social
#ableg #abpoli
by @donbraid.bsky.social
#ableg #abpoli
Braid: Trump lies about Canada's role in Afghanistan; our troops were in the thick of battle
Afghanistan combat killed 158 Canadians. Many hundreds more were wounded
calgaryherald.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:42 PM
"The remarks hit many of us at the Herald like a physical punch. Our dear friend Michelle Lang, a wonderful person and one of the best reporters ever to walk into that newsroom, was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb"
by @donbraid.bsky.social
#ableg #abpoli
by @donbraid.bsky.social
#ableg #abpoli
"Emergency doctors have said for years that people are dying because of long waits, but this is the first time they have released details."
Doctors finally crack the shell of secrecy around deaths from long ED waits. These tragedies say hidden unless families speak out, as one did in the Edmonton case. Now docs test privacy limits. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abhealth #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyccc #yeg
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abhealth #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyccc #yeg
Braid: Doctors crack secrecy on wave of emergency ward deaths across Alberta
A doctors report on emergency ward deaths in Alberta finally begins to crack the shell of secrecy around these tragedies.
calgaryherald.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:02 PM
"Emergency doctors have said for years that people are dying because of long waits, but this is the first time they have released details."
Reposted by Matthew Black
Another First Nation is taking legal action against the Alberta government for its role in an anticipated separation referendum, the second to file this week edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Second First Nation files suit against Alberta independence referendum
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation contends a separatism vote contravenes the Constitution Act
edmontonjournal.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Another First Nation is taking legal action against the Alberta government for its role in an anticipated separation referendum, the second to file this week edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Matthew Black
Alberta's Smith calls on Carney to speed up major project approvals
Smith wants 6 months, Poilievre says it should be 2 months — all before a route is determined for Alberta’s pipeline (which also awaits a builder).
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Smith wants 6 months, Poilievre says it should be 2 months — all before a route is determined for Alberta’s pipeline (which also awaits a builder).
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Alberta's Smith calls on Carney to speed up major project approvals
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on Ottawa to further speed up its approval process for major projects, saying she wants to see applications green-lit within six months.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
January 10, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Alberta's Smith calls on Carney to speed up major project approvals
Smith wants 6 months, Poilievre says it should be 2 months — all before a route is determined for Alberta’s pipeline (which also awaits a builder).
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Smith wants 6 months, Poilievre says it should be 2 months — all before a route is determined for Alberta’s pipeline (which also awaits a builder).
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Reposted by Matthew Black
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 Matthew Black
Beautiful, beautiful piece - what a love letter to local journalism and gorgeous meditation on the passage of time
Dan Zakreski has covered Saskatoon since 1981. Today he is retiring. In his own words he says farewell.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A long, strange trip: Reporting the news, from rotary dial phones to Reddit | CBC News
Dan Zakreski began reporting in Saskatoon in 1981. Four decades later, he returns to his very first story and asks: What's up with wall calendars?
www.cbc.ca
January 9, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Beautiful, beautiful piece - what a love letter to local journalism and gorgeous meditation on the passage of time
Reposted by Matthew Black
In an interview, Parker told Postmedia he has no intention of paying those fines and believes the charges against him will ultimately be dropped. #ableg
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
'Endless war': Take Back Alberta's David Parker vows prolonged fight with Elections Alberta
Take Back Alberta and its founder David Parker were fined over $110K by Elections Alberta for breaches of election advertising rules
edmontonjournal.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
In an interview, Parker told Postmedia he has no intention of paying those fines and believes the charges against him will ultimately be dropped. #ableg
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Matthew Black
News: among the Alberta gov's changes to AISH is a requirement recipients be assessed by a medical review panel, which will decide whether to move them to a program that pays less.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
Why some Alberta AISH recipients fear incoming medical review panels
Many disabled Albertans are waiting for details of the Alberta UCP government's plan to reform its flagship AISH income assistance program.
edmontonjournal.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:27 PM
News: among the Alberta gov's changes to AISH is a requirement recipients be assessed by a medical review panel, which will decide whether to move them to a program that pays less.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
Reposted by Matthew Black
New documents show while the University of Alberta was under mass budget cuts that resulted in layoffs and a 100% cut to child care funding, the president was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Expenses have doubled since he took office
U of A president's expenses higher than previous president and other institutions - The Gateway
President and Vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan spent $506,901.01 on travel and hospitality in his first term, higher than other presidents.
thegatewayonline.ca
January 7, 2026 at 4:34 PM
New documents show while the University of Alberta was under mass budget cuts that resulted in layoffs and a 100% cut to child care funding, the president was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Reposted by Matthew Black
NEW: A podcaster accused of harassing a former AHS director said he was hired by an Edmonton lawyer, court docs show. That lawyer has ties to Sam Mraiche, who owns companies at the centre of Alberta's procurement controversy.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
Podcaster accused of harassing former AHS board member says he was hired by Edmonton lawyer, court records show
Legal documents identify Bryan Ward, who has acted for Sam Mraiche on multiple occasions, as the lawyer
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:24 PM
NEW: A podcaster accused of harassing a former AHS director said he was hired by an Edmonton lawyer, court docs show. That lawyer has ties to Sam Mraiche, who owns companies at the centre of Alberta's procurement controversy.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... By @tuthanhha.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Black
Alberta school boards remove dozens of library books as provincial ban takes effect
Edmonton and Calgary’s public boards didn’t disclose titles to me (or other media I’m assuming), and neither did Edmonton Catholic.
From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Edmonton and Calgary’s public boards didn’t disclose titles to me (or other media I’m assuming), and neither did Edmonton Catholic.
From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Alberta school boards remove dozens of books as new provincial rules in effect
EDMONTON - Alberta's two biggest school divisions say dozens of library books have been taken off the shelves as the province's ban on sexually explicit material officially took effect this
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
January 7, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Alberta school boards remove dozens of library books as provincial ban takes effect
Edmonton and Calgary’s public boards didn’t disclose titles to me (or other media I’m assuming), and neither did Edmonton Catholic.
From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Edmonton and Calgary’s public boards didn’t disclose titles to me (or other media I’m assuming), and neither did Edmonton Catholic.
From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
“I believe I may be the predominant target of these individuals as I openly challenged the minister of health, Adriana LaGrange, and her staff, on a number of matters,” reads the affidavit, noting other board members could also be compelled to testify but have not been mentioned
#ableg #abpoli
#ableg #abpoli
Ex-AHS board member claims he was targeted for supporting Mentzelopoulos: Court documents
Sandy Edmonstone says he's been the target of smear campaign after supporting the former AHS CEO's and refusing to fire her.
edmontonjournal.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Today's my last workday of 2025.
Before the year wraps up, here's my 10 favourite files from the Alberta legislature for @edmontonjournal.com over the past 12 months.
Thread 🧵:
#ableg #abpoli
Before the year wraps up, here's my 10 favourite files from the Alberta legislature for @edmontonjournal.com over the past 12 months.
Thread 🧵:
#ableg #abpoli
December 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Today's my last workday of 2025.
Before the year wraps up, here's my 10 favourite files from the Alberta legislature for @edmontonjournal.com over the past 12 months.
Thread 🧵:
#ableg #abpoli
Before the year wraps up, here's my 10 favourite files from the Alberta legislature for @edmontonjournal.com over the past 12 months.
Thread 🧵:
#ableg #abpoli
Negotiations underway to redevelop Edmonton's old Royal Alberta Museum site
"Alberta Infrastructure contacted all the proponents in late November and entered into an early negotiation phase with the highest-ranked proposal"
#yeg #abpoli
"Alberta Infrastructure contacted all the proponents in late November and entered into an early negotiation phase with the highest-ranked proposal"
#yeg #abpoli
'Encouraging': Negotiations underway to redevelop Edmonton's old Royal Alberta Museum site
Alberta Infrastructure entered negotiations in November with a proponent to redevelop the Glenora site which had been slated for demolition.
edmontonjournal.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Matthew Black
Edmonton Election 2025 live updates: Voters head to the polls
Edmonton Election 2025 live updates: Voters head to the polls
Edmonton Election 2025 live updates: Voters head to the polls
bit.ly
October 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Edmonton Election 2025 live updates: Voters head to the polls
Reposted by Matthew Black
Alberta separatist lawyer reprimanded for second time in four months @matthewblack.ca edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Alberta separatist lawyer reprimanded for second time in four months
Jeffrey Rath represents the Alberta Prosperity Project and was reprimanded on Friday for his role in a near-decade old legal case.
edmontonjournal.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Alberta separatist lawyer reprimanded for second time in four months @matthewblack.ca edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...