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.
Sigh. I took down my Senate Instagram account a few months ago. A mistake, perhaps, since there is now a fake Insta account pretending to be me - and well meaning but confused folks are tagging it. If you are still on Instagram, could you please do me a favour and report it as a fraud?
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Sigh. I took down my Senate Instagram account a few months ago. A mistake, perhaps, since there is now a fake Insta account pretending to be me - and well meaning but confused folks are tagging it. If you are still on Instagram, could you please do me a favour and report it as a fraud?
Interesting thread. I grew up in 1970s Edmonton in an affluent neighbourhood. But in the winter, everyone ate canned fruit, because fresh fruit wasn’t readily available. Mandarin oranges at Christmas were a huge treat.
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Interesting thread. I grew up in 1970s Edmonton in an affluent neighbourhood. But in the winter, everyone ate canned fruit, because fresh fruit wasn’t readily available. Mandarin oranges at Christmas were a huge treat.
Yesterday, I had the honour of visiting Guthrie School, at CFB Edmonton. I spoke to a class of Grade 6 students about the Senate - and then laid a wreath at a Remembrance Day assembly. Pretty much every child at the school has at least one parent in the CAF; Remembrance Day hits differently here.
November 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Yesterday, I had the honour of visiting Guthrie School, at CFB Edmonton. I spoke to a class of Grade 6 students about the Senate - and then laid a wreath at a Remembrance Day assembly. Pretty much every child at the school has at least one parent in the CAF; Remembrance Day hits differently here.
Bravo, @paulisci.bsky.social
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Bravo, @paulisci.bsky.social
Yeah, we did. We ruined it for misogynists and sexual predators and office lotharios and drunks and lazy loafers who had their secretaries and assistants do their actual work.
November 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Yeah, we did. We ruined it for misogynists and sexual predators and office lotharios and drunks and lazy loafers who had their secretaries and assistants do their actual work.
November 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today, Dr. David Wishart, a professor of biology AND computer science at University of Alberta won Canada’s highest honour for science & engineering, the Herzberg Gold Medal, for his work in metabolomics. I had the joy of being there with Dr. Wishart and his family. #yeg #UAlberta #Edmonton #NSERC
November 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
My latest column for @albertaviews.bsky.social - on why we need a made-in-Canada verified traveller program. #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #abpoli
Verified Travellers - Big Donald is Watching You - Alberta Views
The Canada Border Services Agency says applications for Verified travellers NEXUS cards started dropping noticeably after Trump’s election.
albertaviews.ca
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My latest column for @albertaviews.bsky.social - on why we need a made-in-Canada verified traveller program. #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #abpoli
My latest column for @albertaviews.bsky.social - on why we need a made-in-Canada verified traveller program. #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #abpoli
Verified Travellers - Big Donald is Watching You - Alberta Views
The Canada Border Services Agency says applications for Verified travellers NEXUS cards started dropping noticeably after Trump’s election.
albertaviews.ca
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My latest column for @albertaviews.bsky.social - on why we need a made-in-Canada verified traveller program. #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #abpoli
Well. I was asked - on rather short notice - to speak at a public event this morning. Being a good sport, I agreed. I prepared a 45 minute presentation, as requested. When I showed up, there was no one there. I guess I’m not much of a draw! I hope this afternoon’s speakers attract a better house.
November 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Well. I was asked - on rather short notice - to speak at a public event this morning. Being a good sport, I agreed. I prepared a 45 minute presentation, as requested. When I showed up, there was no one there. I guess I’m not much of a draw! I hope this afternoon’s speakers attract a better house.
CanCon Candy - standing ready to welcome ghouls and goblins and princesses and superheroes with two Canadian classics: Wagon Wheels and Old Dutch potatoes chips! #Halloween #yeg
October 31, 2025 at 11:45 PM
CanCon Candy - standing ready to welcome ghouls and goblins and princesses and superheroes with two Canadian classics: Wagon Wheels and Old Dutch potatoes chips! #Halloween #yeg
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
The Senate passed a resolution aimed at ending President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, with four Republicans joining Democrats to rebuke the administration's trade policies a day after they voted to terminate tariffs on Brazil. https://cnn.it/3WuHEKo
October 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The Senate passed a resolution aimed at ending President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, with four Republicans joining Democrats to rebuke the administration's trade policies a day after they voted to terminate tariffs on Brazil. https://cnn.it/3WuHEKo
Behind a paywall - but if you subscribe to The Logic, here is their story on my efforts to create a domestic sovereign “fast pass” for verified Canadian travellers. thelogic.co/news/senator... #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #yeg
Senators want Canada to get its own Nexus-style program for domestic travel - The Logic
For flights within Canada, a Nexus card is a ticket to the airport fast line. But getting one means answering to Uncle Sam.
thelogic.co
October 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Behind a paywall - but if you subscribe to The Logic, here is their story on my efforts to create a domestic sovereign “fast pass” for verified Canadian travellers. thelogic.co/news/senator... #cdnpoli #NEXUS #SenateofCanada #yeg
Oh - and also remove the Westminster parliamentary system of government, the Royal Family and public health care! So there’s that.
“In order to turn the page to become a new and free country, Alberta has to ditch the things that are Canadian that exist in Alberta right now,” said Bruce Pardy, the exec director for Rights Probe, at a right-wing political conference in Calgary. 🚫🇨🇦 #abpoli
Alberta Separatist Pushes for End of Indigenous Rights at ‘Unity’ Conference | The Tyee
‘In a free Alberta, Aboriginal rights should not exist,’ argues We Unify panellist Bruce Pardy.
thetyee.ca
October 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Oh - and also remove the Westminster parliamentary system of government, the Royal Family and public health care! So there’s that.
Late to the party - but I just have to say that in my Jewish family, we always called my dad’s first cousins -and he had oodles - Aunt and Uncle. What else would you call them??
October 29, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Late to the party - but I just have to say that in my Jewish family, we always called my dad’s first cousins -and he had oodles - Aunt and Uncle. What else would you call them??
Today, the Senate transport and communications committee heard from two leading experts in labour law and strikes, Ian Lee of the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University and labour lawyer Paul Champ. Given the news from Alberta, I had questions. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #ableg #abpoli
Democratic or not? Governments ordering strikers back to work
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Today, the Senate transport and communications committee heard from two leading experts in labour law and strikes, Ian Lee of the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University and labour lawyer Paul Champ. Given the news from Alberta, I had questions. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #ableg #abpoli
Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦
Oh wow.
Organizers of Alberta's 'Forever Canadian' petition say they collected 456,365 signatures.
Organizers of Alberta's 'Forever Canadian' petition say they collected 456,365 signatures.
October 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Oh wow.
Organizers of Alberta's 'Forever Canadian' petition say they collected 456,365 signatures.
Organizers of Alberta's 'Forever Canadian' petition say they collected 456,365 signatures.
The first (and until today only) time Alberta invoked the notwithstanding clause - in 1998
- the public outcry was so great that Premier Ralph Klein reversed his decision in less than 24 hours. FWIW.
- the public outcry was so great that Premier Ralph Klein reversed his decision in less than 24 hours. FWIW.
The UCP government has invoked time allocation and on a bill removing Albertans' Charter rights.
And they're using the notwithstanding clause to do it.
Here's why that is a dangerous precedent. And why real conservatives need to stand up against it.
open.substack.com/pub/drjaredw...
And they're using the notwithstanding clause to do it.
Here's why that is a dangerous precedent. And why real conservatives need to stand up against it.
open.substack.com/pub/drjaredw...
Alberta Strong and Free, Notwithstanding
The UCP's Bill 2 skirts the legislature and the courts, leaving it up to the public to push back swiftly
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:03 AM
The first (and until today only) time Alberta invoked the notwithstanding clause - in 1998
- the public outcry was so great that Premier Ralph Klein reversed his decision in less than 24 hours. FWIW.
- the public outcry was so great that Premier Ralph Klein reversed his decision in less than 24 hours. FWIW.
As the @lukaszukab.bsky.social Forever Canadian petition campaign heads into the home stretch, I thought I should re-post our Alberta Unbound conversation from earlier this month. #Alberta #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #ForeverCanadian #Canada
Forever Canadian
Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · S4 E1 · 22m
podcasts.apple.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
As the @lukaszukab.bsky.social Forever Canadian petition campaign heads into the home stretch, I thought I should re-post our Alberta Unbound conversation from earlier this month. #Alberta #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #ForeverCanadian #Canada
Assaults on health workers & first responders are a real & urgent problem. But will Bill S-233 - which would allow judges to impose harsher sentences on those convicted of such assault - actually solve anything? #Canada #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #BillS233
Protecting health service providers and first responders needs to be pro-active, no retroactive
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Assaults on health workers & first responders are a real & urgent problem. But will Bill S-233 - which would allow judges to impose harsher sentences on those convicted of such assault - actually solve anything? #Canada #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #BillS233
Obviously people on Bluesky have strong opinions about being on Bluesky! Come for the clip, stay for the comments.
The CBC maintains an account on X - but not on Bluesky (nor on Mastodon.) Why? I asked CE0 Marie-Philippe Bouchard and Editor-in-Chief @brodiefenlon.bsky.social when they appeared at the Senate Transport and Communications Committee this morning. #CBC #SRC #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #X #Bluesky #TRCM
CBC stays on X to reach audiences despite hate speech concerns - but isn't on Bluesky or Mastodon.
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
October 22, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Obviously people on Bluesky have strong opinions about being on Bluesky! Come for the clip, stay for the comments.
The CBC maintains an account on X - but not on Bluesky (nor on Mastodon.) Why? I asked CE0 Marie-Philippe Bouchard and Editor-in-Chief @brodiefenlon.bsky.social when they appeared at the Senate Transport and Communications Committee this morning. #CBC #SRC #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #X #Bluesky #TRCM
CBC stays on X to reach audiences despite hate speech concerns - but isn't on Bluesky or Mastodon.
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The CBC maintains an account on X - but not on Bluesky (nor on Mastodon.) Why? I asked CE0 Marie-Philippe Bouchard and Editor-in-Chief @brodiefenlon.bsky.social when they appeared at the Senate Transport and Communications Committee this morning. #CBC #SRC #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #X #Bluesky #TRCM
Five years ago, I made a video essay for Persons Day, exploring the problematic, complicated and vital legacy of the Famous 5. I haven’t shared it on Bluesky before. So on this Persons Day, here it is from my archives! #PersonsDay #FamousFive #yeg #yow #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #Alberta #Vriend
Persons Day 2020 greetings from Alberta Sen. Paula Simons
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Five years ago, I made a video essay for Persons Day, exploring the problematic, complicated and vital legacy of the Famous 5. I haven’t shared it on Bluesky before. So on this Persons Day, here it is from my archives! #PersonsDay #FamousFive #yeg #yow #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #Alberta #Vriend
Last night, I had the great joy of interviewing @emmadonoghue.bsky.social about her new Giller-nominated novel, The Paris Express, at STARFest, the fabulous annual literary festival hosted by the St. Albert Public Library. #STARFest #StAlbert
October 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Last night, I had the great joy of interviewing @emmadonoghue.bsky.social about her new Giller-nominated novel, The Paris Express, at STARFest, the fabulous annual literary festival hosted by the St. Albert Public Library. #STARFest #StAlbert