Michelle Bellefontaine
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Michelle Bellefontaine
@mbellefontaine.bsky.social
Provincial affairs reporter for CBC News based in Edmonton
UCP MLA Scott Cyr says Wylie could always reapply for his job.

The five UCP MLAs on the committee pass the motion: Cyr, Lovely, De Jong, Dyck, Petrovic.

The four NDP MLAs on the committee vote it down: Sheppard, Miyashiro, Wright and Chapman.
This morning at the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices...UCP majority introduces a motion starting a search committee for a new auditor general.

NDP MLA David Sheppard says Doug Wylie wants to stay on two more years. Wylie is reviewing the allegations of inappropriate health contracting.
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This morning at the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices...UCP majority introduces a motion starting a search committee for a new auditor general.

NDP MLA David Sheppard says Doug Wylie wants to stay on two more years. Wylie is reviewing the allegations of inappropriate health contracting.
November 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I love this kid. He did well tonight and set the stage for tonight’s blowout against the Dodgers (and no doubt learned a heck of a lot about pitching when the stakes are so high!) x.com/sportsnet/st...
Sportsnet on X: "“It was an insane experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” 🥹 Trey Yesavage reflects on his first career #WorldSeries start 👏 https://t.co/BvcpucdRGA" / X
“It was an insane experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” 🥹 Trey Yesavage reflects on his first career #WorldSeries start 👏 https://t.co/BvcpucdRGA
x.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Excellent thread from Keith about tonight’s mayoral debate.
Tim Cartmell, Rahim Jaffer, Andrew Knack and Michael Walters faced off in another mayoral debate Wednesday night — the second in 5 days — this one hosted by Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations. Here's a thread on the event, since I won't have a column. #yeg #yegelxn 1/19
September 18, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Reposted by Michelle Bellefontaine
I met Ken Dryden once, in Calgary of all places. He was so kind to me, asked after my family, and was just lovely to speak with. I'm still fascinated that he was able to take time away from hockey, to complete his law degree at McGill. Unheard of today.

Rest well. 🇨🇦🙏🏾

www.nhl.com/canadiens/ne...
The Montreal Canadiens mourn the passing of Ken Dryden | Montréal Canadiens
Hall-of-Fame goaltender won six Stanley Cups with the team
www.nhl.com
September 6, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Reposted by Michelle Bellefontaine
Ken Dryden has died.
A Hockey Hall of Famer with the Montreal Canadiens, he won six Stanley Cups, the Conn Smythe, Calder and five Vezinas.
A best-selling author, he also served in Parliament from 2004 to 2011.
September 6, 2025 at 4:57 AM
AISH recipients despair over province’s changes to disability programs.

“It's been made very clear that I'm a burden on this government, that they view disabled people as burdens, that we don't have any worth or value unless we're working. It’s gut-wrenching.”

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
AISH recipient, advocates worry about Alberta's new disability benefit program | CBC News
A new discussion guide about the upcoming Alberta Disability Assistance Program reveals that many Albertans with severe disabilities will receive lower personal benefits after the program launches nex...
www.cbc.ca
August 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Alberta Next panel faced a divided, sometimes hostile crowd in Edmonton last night www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Town hall to debate Alberta's future faces polarized crowd in Edmonton | CBC News
Albertans shouted at each other and at Premier Danielle Smith at the third Alberta Next town hall in Edmonton Thursday night.
www.cbc.ca
August 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Affordable housing operator HomeEd has listed the Riverdale Place townhouses for sale. Tenants are fighting back www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Low-income tenants fight sale of affordable Edmonton townhouses | CBC News
Tenants who live in affordable housing townhouses in a neighbourhood near downtown Edmonton are fighting the sale of their homes by their non-profit provider HomeEd.
www.cbc.ca
August 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Medical providers are getting panicked calls from AISH recipients trying to comply with the province’s directive to apply for the federal Disability Tax Credit www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
AISH recipients panicked over looming provincial deadline: health providers | CBC News
Health provides say people who receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) are calling them in a panic over a letter from the province that threatens to cut their benefits if they don't...
www.cbc.ca
July 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Alberta wanted to create 1,500 affordable housing spots last year. It created a little more than half.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta gov't fell short of its affordable housing goal last year: annual report | CBC News
The provincial government completed fewer new or refurbished affordable housing units last year than the previous three years, according to figures in the Seniors, Community and Social Services Minist...
www.cbc.ca
July 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Alberta politics is never boring.
July 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Matthew Black's persistence (and an intervention by Alberta's privacy and information commissioner) led to this information finally coming to light after nearly two years.
It took 21 months but, this morning I received the results of the Alberta government's pension plan engagement survey:
*63% opposed to Alberta Pension Plan (APP)
*10% pro-APP
*12% undecided/unsure
*15% other responses
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
#ableg #abpoli
Alberta releases its pension survey results, 63% opposed to leaving CPP
After a more than 21-month wait, the Alberta government has released to Postmedia the results of its 2023 provincial pension plan survey.
edmontonjournal.com
June 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Michelle Bellefontaine
“Alberta's measles surge is so dramatic, the last time case counts were higher, Calgary did not have an NHL team, O Canada was not yet the official national anthem and gasoline would set you back 24 cents a litre.”
Alberta's measles outbreaks are now the worst in nearly half a century | CBC News
Alberta's measles surge is so dramatic, the last time case counts were higher Calgary did not have an NHL team, 'O Canada' was not yet the official national anthem and gasoline would set you back 24 c...
www.cbc.ca
June 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
A lovely interview on Power and Politics today with Marc Roy, former chief of staff to Marc Garneau, the groundbreaking astronaut who became a Canadian politician and cabinet minister, who died yesterday www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Marc Garneau died after 'short but very difficult battle' with cancer, former staffer says | CBC News
Marc Garneau died this week after being diagnosed with two types of cancer earlier this year, said his former chief of staff Marc Roy.
www.cbc.ca
June 6, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Premier Danielle Smith has called the byelections in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills for Monday, June 23.
May 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
This is a significant finding from Alberta’s privacy and information commissioner and confirms what many FOIP users have long suspected.
May 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It was an eventful day at the Alberta legislature. My colleague Janet French captures all of it here.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
United Conservative Party expels MLA who pushed for public probe of health contracting | CBC News
An MLA and former minister just removed from the United Conservative Party caucus alleges the health minister — and possibly the premier — withheld information from cabinet ministers who were deciding...
www.cbc.ca
April 17, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Story from CBC colleague Sarah Reid: “Every time I try to get ahead something else happens; my rent increases, utilities get out of hand and everything costs more … there's no breaking even anymore and it's hard to live like that."
-to-move-1.7495043
Rent hikes intended to bring Edmonton units up to market value are forcing some tenants to move | CBC News
Substantial rent increases at a townhouse complex in an Edmonton neighbourhood are forcing some tenants out of their homes and starting a conversation about the reality that many renters are facing.
www.cbc.ca
March 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM