This week from AB: May 25, 2025

Lots o' legal; referendums, AHS scandal, CPC fundraising tactics, and federal by-elections.

Alberta

Referendum happy

On May 17, S. Todd Beasley held a speaking event in Brooks on Alberta separation. I watched the three-hour long Facebook video, breaking it up into two speakers each for part I, II, and III, so I could use more digestible reference points than linking to a three-hour long Facebook video. I wanted to consider whether their arguments would appeal to larger audiences, but I also wanted to determine whether there was a cohesive message, or any coordination between them. The answer to the former is “probably”, but a definitive “no” to the latter.

TL:DR; These guys are very much stuck in the past, the average age of this group was about 70, and youth should be worried their future will be taken away by people who won’t be alive long enough to be blamed. Some of them think they’ll have advisory roles or better bestowed upon them in the new republic, others expect to fight for the right to rule. They all think billions will miraculously appear either through a refund from Canada or simply having more provincial dollars because all that money we pay to the feds will stay here, yet they all claim Albertans will not be asked to pay it provincially either. It’s a jumbled mess.

News arrived on May 21st that Former Progressive Conservative Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk had already registered his intent to petition for a citizen-led referendum confirming Alberta’s place in confederation the week prior, and Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of Alberta Prosperity Project and UCP constituency association president in a northern riding filed registration of the APP’s question on Friday, May 23 in abeyance (awaiting proclamation to get the lower threshold of 10 per cent and additional 30 days to collect signatures). Essentially, it’s asking Elections Alberta to accept the registration once the new rules are in place, and they don’t have to watch for the Order in Council.

I spoke with Ken Chapman, a retired lawyer who, along with Mr. Lukaszuk is one of the Core Four of FOREVER CANADIANS. Mr. Chapman confirmed that their registration was intentionally put forward under the old rules which require signatures from 20 per cent of eligible electors — around 600,000 Albertans — to be completed within 90 days, and they will have to ensure they meet the requirement of 20 per cent each in at least two of three electoral districts; Calgary, Edmonton, and rural.

On a recent Patreon episode of The Strategists, Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips discussed the pitfalls of a “status quo” question noting that people will get up early in the morning to say “fuck you”, but not to say “I agree with you”.

While the separatists can pin their hate and victimization on the Ottawa/east donkey, FOREVER CANADIAN is stuck between maintaining positive messaging throughout their three month campaign, or fighting against Alberta separatists; which is only a hop, skip, and a jump to “Albertans”. If there’s one thing Alberta conservatives are absolutely stellar at, it’s convincing other Alberta conservatives they’re the real victims.

What to watch for

The UCP could, since they are likely aware the pro-Canada question has been received, hold off on proclaiming Bill 54 until they know whether FOREVER CANADIAN’s petition is successful in being added to the UCP’s collection of referenda that Danielle Smith is supposedly scheduling for 2026.

The benefit would be allowing them to bypass enforcement of the amendment that subsequent questions deemed similar by Elections Alberta cannot be brought forward via citizen initiatives within at least five years of the first.

Auditor General granted intervenor status in Mentzelopolous’ wrongful dismissal suit

Kathleen Smith a.k.a KikkiPlanet on BlueSky, CTV News article, Decision re Intervenor Status for AG, Decision re GoA Emergency Application

To say some eyebrows were raised over this would be an understatement. If there’s any chance you’re just tuning in to this debacle, the brief history is this: Athana Mentzelopolous was fired from her role as CEO of Alberta Health Services on January 8, 2025, two days before she was scheduled to meet with the Auditor General regarding an investigation she was undertaking into procurement peculiarities.

Before the end of January, she filed a wrongful dismissal claim against AHS and then-Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, alleging political interference by the Premier’s former Chief of Staff, as well as the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health, into both procurement and her investigation. Premier Danielle Smith allegedly omitted information from the committee who approved authority to then fire the AHS Board. Some details of that statement of claim were released by the Globe and Mail on February 5. Much denial ensued, much of which was then disproven with another G&M article.

Neither Ms. Mentzelopolous’ allegations, nor the government’s response have been tested in court.

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