Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
@senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social
I am an independent Senator, representing Alberta in the Senate of Canada. I live on Treaty Six Territory. Host of the podcast Alberta Unbound. She/her Vive le Canada.
I had the opportunity to rise during Senate Question Period this week, to ask about the Canadian government's continued commitment to using X for official communications - and about their failure to use sites such as Bluesky and Mastodon. What do you think? #cdnpoli #Canada #Grok #X #Bluesky
It's time to make an X-it: Senator Simons questions the Canadian government's continued use of X
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 5:56 PM
We are back for round two, with an absolutely amazing panel. You should watch - it will be like a great privacy rights podcast. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #privacy #C4 #BillC4
Ok, privacy and politics nerds. The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has just begun 6 hours of hearings on the parts of Bill C-4 that deal with privacy regulations for political parties - or lack thereof. Follow along here! #cdnpoli #C4 #Canada #LCJC #privacy #SenateofCanada
LCJC meeting no. 25
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
senparlvu.parl.gc.ca
February 12, 2026 at 6:32 PM
We are back for round two, with an absolutely amazing panel. You should watch - it will be like a great privacy rights podcast. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #privacy #C4 #BillC4
Ok, privacy and politics nerds. The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has just begun 6 hours of hearings on the parts of Bill C-4 that deal with privacy regulations for political parties - or lack thereof. Follow along here! #cdnpoli #C4 #Canada #LCJC #privacy #SenateofCanada
LCJC meeting no. 25
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
senparlvu.parl.gc.ca
February 12, 2026 at 3:39 PM
This will be considered an official day of mourning by Canada's Parliament. The Senate will only sit for statements on the Tumbler Ridge tragedy, and then adjourn. All Senate hearings this afternoon will be cancelled. And flags will fly at half mast.
February 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM
This will be considered an official day of mourning by Canada's Parliament. The Senate will only sit for statements on the Tumbler Ridge tragedy, and then adjourn. All Senate hearings this afternoon will be cancelled. And flags will fly at half mast.
I fell asleep in Ottawa last night, just as the news from Tumbler Ridge was breaking. I woke up this morning, to learn the nightmare was even worse than I had feared. What a heartbreaking tragedy for Tumbler Ridge, for British Columbia, and for all Canadians.
February 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I fell asleep in Ottawa last night, just as the news from Tumbler Ridge was breaking. I woke up this morning, to learn the nightmare was even worse than I had feared. What a heartbreaking tragedy for Tumbler Ridge, for British Columbia, and for all Canadians.
During Senate Question Period last Thursday, I asked again about my suggestion that Canada create a domestic sovereign verified traveller program - especially in light of a recent PBO report which suggested the costs would be negligible. The response was actually promising. A bit. #cdnpoli #Canada
Asking again for a domestic verified travellers program for Canadians. Once more, with feeling!
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Thank you so much to the University of Alberta for hosting a live taping of Alberta Unbound before a warm and generous audience tonight. And thank you to my amazing panelists, Rickey Yada, Charlie Mballa and Anne McLellan. #yeg #Edmonton #ualberta #AlbertaUnbound #cdnpoli #abpoli #Alberta #Canada
February 7, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
Looking for a great way to round off this wild week? Join me and three amazing Albertan experts, for a live taping of Alberta Unbound! It’s a free event, hosting by the University of Alberta. Come join our discussion of Alberta’s role in the new world (dis)order. #yeg #Edmonton #ualberta #abpoli
Alberta Unbound live taping at I-Week
Join Senator Paula Simons for a special live recording of the Alberta Unbound podcast. In an era of shifting geopolitical tides and economic...
www.ualberta.ca
February 6, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Looking for a great way to round off this wild week? Join me and three amazing Albertan experts, for a live taping of Alberta Unbound! It’s a free event, hosting by the University of Alberta. Come join our discussion of Alberta’s role in the new world (dis)order. #yeg #Edmonton #ualberta #abpoli
Alberta Unbound live taping at I-Week
Join Senator Paula Simons for a special live recording of the Alberta Unbound podcast. In an era of shifting geopolitical tides and economic...
www.ualberta.ca
February 6, 2026 at 5:50 PM
ICYMI - my speech yesterday evening on Bill C-12, and the dangers of trying to placate xenophobes. #SenateofCanada #SenCa #Alberta #immigration
Human rights groups across the country have condemned the portions of Bill C-12 that 'reform' Canada's immigration & refugee system. I rose in the Senate today, with my own words of warning. We can't undermine our system to appease MAGA - or Maple MAGA. #cdnpoli #abpoli #ableg #C12 #BillC12 #Canada
Don’t undermine immigration policy by appeasing xenophobia: Senator Paula Simons critiques Bill C-12
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
ICYMI - my speech yesterday evening on Bill C-12, and the dangers of trying to placate xenophobes. #SenateofCanada #SenCa #Alberta #immigration
Human rights groups across the country have condemned the portions of Bill C-12 that 'reform' Canada's immigration & refugee system. I rose in the Senate today, with my own words of warning. We can't undermine our system to appease MAGA - or Maple MAGA. #cdnpoli #abpoli #ableg #C12 #BillC12 #Canada
Don’t undermine immigration policy by appeasing xenophobia: Senator Paula Simons critiques Bill C-12
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Debate in the Senate on C-12 began this afternoon. You can follow the debate and my own upcoming speech here: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/P...
Senate sitting no. 48
Senate sitting no. 48
senparlvu.parl.gc.ca
February 5, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Debate in the Senate on C-12 began this afternoon. You can follow the debate and my own upcoming speech here: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/P...
fYI - My exchange in committee yesterday with Justice Minister Sean Fraser about Premier Danielle Smith’s threat to withhold funding for new Alberta judges unless the province is given more input into federal appointments. #cdnpoli #LCJC #Alberta #ableg #abpoli #SenateofCanada
45th legislature/45e legislature - YouTube
youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Have you registered yet to be a part of our Alberta Unbound live audience? Come join us this Friday! #Edmonton #yeg #ualberta #Alberta #cdnpoli #SenateOfCanada #ALES
Alberta Unbound live taping at I-Week
Join Senator Paula Simons for a special live recording of the Alberta Unbound podcast. In an era of shifting geopolitical tides and economic...
www.ualberta.ca
February 4, 2026 at 1:25 AM
My father, of blessed memory, was a lawyer. He loved a well-written punchy judgement, and read the best bits aloud at the dinner table, with glee and dramatic effect. I miss him often. But today, I so wish I could share this with him. How he would have enjoyed it - in both form and content.
Even if you don't have time to read all 83 pages of Judge Reyes's opinion barring the Trump administration from rescinding Temporary Protected Status for 350,000+ Haitians, please at least check out the four-page introduction.
It's a tour de force:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
It's a tour de force:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
!["On December 2, 1783, then-Commander-in-Chief George Washington penned: “America is open to receive not only the Opulent & respected Stranger, but the oppressed & persecuted of all Nations & Religions.”1
More than two centuries later, Congress reaffirmed President Washington’s vision by establishing the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. See 8 U.S.C. § 1254a (TPS statute). It provides humanitarian relief to foreign nationals in the United States who come from disaster-stricken countries. It also brings in substantial revenue, with TPS holders generating $5.2 billion in taxes annually. See Part VI.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has a different take. [screenshot of tweet].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nwnlnixtjh3qhkwpz2uy5uwv/bafkreicrroq5taft777rmau2ffjlsphbcatlxnwwigf2yekoke533yycim@jpeg)
![has terminated every TPS country designation to have reached her desk—twelve countries up,
twelve countries down. See Section IV.A.2. Her conclusion that Haiti (a majority nonwhite
country) faces merely “concerning” conditions cannot be squared with the “perfect storm of
suffering” and “staggering” “humanitarian toll” described in page-after-page of the Certified
Administrative Record (CAR). See Section IV.A.3.a. She ignored Congress’s requirement that
she “review the conditions” in Haiti only “after” consulting “with appropriate agencies.” 8
U.S.C. § 1254a(b)(3)(A); see Section IV.A.1. Indeed, she did not consult other agencies at all.
See id. Her “national interest” analysis focuses on Haitians outside the United States or here
illegally, ignoring that Haitian TPS holders already live here, and legally so. See Section
IV.A.3.b. And though she states that the analysis must include “economic considerations,” she
ignores altogether the billions Haitian TPS holders contribute to the economy. See id.
The Government’s primary response is that the TPS statute gives the Secretary
unbounded discretion to make whatever determination she wants, any way she wants. And, yes,
the statute does grant her some discretion. But not unbounded discretion. To the contrary,
Congress passed the TPS statute to standardize the then ad hoc temporary protection system—to
replace executive whim with statutory predictability. See Section I.A.
As to irreparable harm, the Government contends that, at most, the harms to Haitian TPS
holders are speculative. But the Department of State (State) warns [screenshot]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nwnlnixtjh3qhkwpz2uy5uwv/bafkreid3cmawech25ummuj2tjvgxsrvufma2kmrijlfpglalwddd3qkikq@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 3:42 PM
My father, of blessed memory, was a lawyer. He loved a well-written punchy judgement, and read the best bits aloud at the dinner table, with glee and dramatic effect. I miss him often. But today, I so wish I could share this with him. How he would have enjoyed it - in both form and content.
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
A bunch of great Alberta performers were nominated for Junos this week, across genres. Among them? Stand-up Faris Hytiaa, nominated for best comedy album. I had the delight of hosting Faris on Alberta Unbound this fall. Our convo is as timely - and funny - as ever. #Juno #Junos #AlbertaUnbound #yyc
Home and Laughing, with Faris Hytiaa
Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · S5 E4 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
A bunch of great Alberta performers were nominated for Junos this week, across genres. Among them? Stand-up Faris Hytiaa, nominated for best comedy album. I had the delight of hosting Faris on Alberta Unbound this fall. Our convo is as timely - and funny - as ever. #Juno #Junos #AlbertaUnbound #yyc
A bunch of great Alberta performers were nominated for Junos this week, across genres. Among them? Stand-up Faris Hytiaa, nominated for best comedy album. I had the delight of hosting Faris on Alberta Unbound this fall. Our convo is as timely - and funny - as ever. #Juno #Junos #AlbertaUnbound #yyc
Home and Laughing, with Faris Hytiaa
Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · S5 E4 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
A bunch of great Alberta performers were nominated for Junos this week, across genres. Among them? Stand-up Faris Hytiaa, nominated for best comedy album. I had the delight of hosting Faris on Alberta Unbound this fall. Our convo is as timely - and funny - as ever. #Juno #Junos #AlbertaUnbound #yyc
Agatha Christie wasn’t Tolstoy or Austen - but she knew how to write snappy mystery stories with memorable characters. That’s why she remains one of the world’s best selling authors. So why do so many recent Agatha adaptations keep her titles and bastardize and betray her beloved characters?
February 1, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Agatha Christie wasn’t Tolstoy or Austen - but she knew how to write snappy mystery stories with memorable characters. That’s why she remains one of the world’s best selling authors. So why do so many recent Agatha adaptations keep her titles and bastardize and betray her beloved characters?
Une merveilleuse soirée au Canoë Volant, une célébration hivernale de la culture francophone, métisse et autochtone dans le charmant quartier français d'Edmonton. #Yeg #Edmonton #FlyingCanoe
January 31, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Une merveilleuse soirée au Canoë Volant, une célébration hivernale de la culture francophone, métisse et autochtone dans le charmant quartier français d'Edmonton. #Yeg #Edmonton #FlyingCanoe
I never met Catherine O’Hara. I have no charming Catherine O’Hara anecdote. I can’t even explain why the news of her death hit me so hard. But I know her memory will be a blessing to all who knew and loved her work, and the joy she brought to Canada and the world.
a woman in a black dress is smiling with #schitts creek written in the corner
Alt: A Gif from Schitt’s Creek of Catherine O’Hara as Moira, dressed in black and blowing us a kiss. May her memory be for a blessing.
media.tenor.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:54 PM
I never met Catherine O’Hara. I have no charming Catherine O’Hara anecdote. I can’t even explain why the news of her death hit me so hard. But I know her memory will be a blessing to all who knew and loved her work, and the joy she brought to Canada and the world.
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
Better late than never! Our January episode of Alberta Unbound, an exit interview of sorts with outgoing Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez, on the role of libraries in an age of AI slop, disinformation and book-banning. #yeg #Edmonton #AlbertaUnbound #libraries #EPL #SenateofCanada #abpoli
January 29, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Better late than never! Our January episode of Alberta Unbound, an exit interview of sorts with outgoing Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez, on the role of libraries in an age of AI slop, disinformation and book-banning. #yeg #Edmonton #AlbertaUnbound #libraries #EPL #SenateofCanada #abpoli
Better late than never! Our January episode of Alberta Unbound, an exit interview of sorts with outgoing Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez, on the role of libraries in an age of AI slop, disinformation and book-banning. #yeg #Edmonton #AlbertaUnbound #libraries #EPL #SenateofCanada #abpoli
January 29, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Better late than never! Our January episode of Alberta Unbound, an exit interview of sorts with outgoing Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez, on the role of libraries in an age of AI slop, disinformation and book-banning. #yeg #Edmonton #AlbertaUnbound #libraries #EPL #SenateofCanada #abpoli
Exciting news. Next week, Alberta Unbound will be live! We’re recording a panel in the Tory Breezeway as part of International Week at the University of Alberta - our first live event in 5 years. Free admission. #yeg #Edmonton #ualberta #AlbertaUnbound #Alberta #cdnpoli #Canada #SenateofCanada
Alberta Unbound live taping at I-Week
Join Senator Paula Simons for a special live recording of the Alberta Unbound podcast. In an era of shifting geopolitical tides and economic...
www.ualberta.ca
January 28, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Exciting news. Next week, Alberta Unbound will be live! We’re recording a panel in the Tory Breezeway as part of International Week at the University of Alberta - our first live event in 5 years. Free admission. #yeg #Edmonton #ualberta #AlbertaUnbound #Alberta #cdnpoli #Canada #SenateofCanada