Alex Boyd

Alex Boyd

@alexboyd.bsky.social

Senior reporter, provincial affairs. CBC Calgary. Formerly: Toronto Star investigations. Interested in: Misinformation, politics, culture. Signal: alexboyd.56 alex.boyd@cbc.ca

9.2K followers573 following1.3K posts

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am talking here about western alienation NOT separation. It’s a mistake to conflate the two.

Defence Scheme Enjoyer 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇬🇱🇲🇽🇵🇸@maxp94.bsky.social

There is no indication whatsoever that Albertans do or have ever felt strongly about separation. What actually happened is that the UCP’s base was radicalized by American media, and this accordingly became policy for the governing party.

Alex Boyd reposted

Maxwell Smith, PhD
@maxwellsmith.bsky.social

An inquiry into alleged COVID‑19 vaccine injuries fails to weigh the ethics and risks of Canada’s response with Kari Pahlman and @dsilvaphd.bsky.social in @ca.theconversation.com theconversation.com/an-inquiry-i...

theconversation.comAn inquiry into alleged COVID-19 vaccine injuries fails to weigh the ethics and risks of Canada’s responseAssessing the legitimacy of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts should include the values at stake, reasonable trade-offs, and what governments can ethically justify in the name of public health.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

🔎 Alberta journo request 🔎: Can anyone think of any immigration experts (academics, lawyers etc.) who can speak to the impact of Alberta going forward with the referendum questions that seem set to pass? Trying to find someone who gets the nuts and bolts of the immigration system.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Pierre Poilievre currently making a more full-throated defense of Canada than we've heard before from him before: being part of Canada makes Alberta more free, keeps us united with people we love: “Canada is more than a government, it’s a people, a land, it’s a promise." www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

cbc.caPierre Poilievre speaks in Calgary ahead of Alberta referendumConservative leader addresses the Canada Strong and Free conference, days before Albertans will vote in the Oct. 19 referendum.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

There's been additional scrutiny on Conservative leaders during this campaign, given how closely separatism is correlated with conservatism. Will be interesting to see what Smith's message is today, as she takes the same stage and later meets with Carney.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Alternative headline: whither the original separatist petition? (Remember that? It feels like ancient history now, but it has not entirely gone away.) www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caDanielle Smith has said no to a second referendum. But that decision might not be hers to make | CBC NewsThe premier's pledge raises questions about the fate of the original citizen’s initiative petition — still mired in litigation — that called for the vote in the first place.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

For the record, since this story says media was denied access, I also tried to attend and as I was waiting in the hallway for an organizer (who said go away) I saw a certain scribbler from this very paper leaving the main room and was told he had an arrangement with the premier to hear her speak.

Jason Markusoff@markusoff.bsky.social

An organization barring media from covering “the most important free speech event of the year” is chef’s [redacted]

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

It was Rick Bell, I don't know why I'm being coy. I look forward to reading his piece! (He apparently had arranged this in advance, said the organizer. I had also emailed a couple of times last week but they "didn't see" my emails, which is why I just showed up.)

Alex Boyd reposted

Dave Cournoyer 🇨🇦
@daveberta.bsky.social

“Unified, we urge you to choose Canada and vote No on all the immigration questions, so we can say once again, proudly, that Alberta is open, welcoming and ready to get on with building big things together.” - Joint op-ed by former Alberta premiers Rachel Notley, Alison Redford and Ed Stelmach.

calgaryherald.comStay open for growth: Former premiers urge 'No' on the immigration questionsStay open for growth: Former premiers urge 'No' on the immigration questions
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

When you see a reporting tactic that is so simple, but so effective 👌

De Facto Journalism Co-op@defactomedia.ca

INVESTIGATION: Victoria denies that its bylaw officers put unhoused people’s new, perfectly good tents in the trash. So we tracked them with AirTags. www.defactomedia.ca/bylaw-office...

defactomedia.caVictoria bylaw officers trashed newly donated tents within days — contrary to city claimsThe city has disputed years of claims that it discards unhoused people's belongings. De Facto reporters tracked new tents and carts to see where they ended up.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Have also asked a couple of researchers about this as it pertains to Alberta separatism, and so far there doesn't seem to be clear evidence... though adding the giant asterisk that people are still looking at this!!

Kate Starbird@katestarbird.bsky.social

Y’all, I hate to rain on the dead bot parade, but the Yandex data center destruction doesn’t seem to have significantly impacted social media bots. I made temporal graphs of X posts about AfD around the time of the attack and there’s no sign of a sudden dip or residual impact on that conversation.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Update from @gregcolgan.bsky.social! The superintendent called getting caught with his dog off leash an "isolated lapse in judgement." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.ca'Isolated, lapse in judgment,' says Banff National Park superintendent who violated National Parks Act | CBC NewsAfter Sal Rasheed was caught walking his dog off-leash on the Tunnel Mountain trail in Banff, he said his “commitment to Parks Canada’s mandate remains unchanged,” and the incident “has reinforced the...

Alex Boyd reposted

Marisa Kabas
@marisakabas.bsky.social

NEW: When Christa Pike became the first person to survive multiple lethal injections, witnesses at the prison that day suddenly became a part of history. I spoke with @iamstevenhale.bsky.social of Nashville Banner about the things he saw in the execution chamber—and the things he could only hear:

thehandbasket.coWhat it's like to witness a botched executionQ+A with Steven Hale of The Nashville Banner, who watched as Christa Pike survived two lethal injections.

Alex Boyd reposted

Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social

Turning state violence into a public spectacle is a very fascist move BTW.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social

WASHINGTON (AP) - Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in December.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

I drove down to Coutts to see the Forever Canadian bus roll through recently, and while I would have guessed there was overlap between those who supported the blockade and separatism, I didn't expect quite this much. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caFirst came the blockade. Then came separatism. Old tensions revived in Coutts | CBC NewsThis tiny town made international headlines when truckers angry at COVID-19 vaccine mandates blocked the border with the U.S. Many of those frustrated by how the convoy ended have found new purpose in...
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Tyler Dawson, author of a recent book on the history of separation, columnizing in the Globe about this story: www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

theglobeandmail.comOpinion: Alberta’s separatists would sell us out to the AmericansNew reporting by The Globe and Mail detail the influence of Republican-aligned interests on the referendum campaign
Alex Boyd@alexboyd.bsky.social

Multiple people had texted this to me before I even looked at my phone this morning; always a good sign. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

theglobeandmail.comThe elephant in the roomAlberta separatists have gone to D.C. offering fresh water and oil in exchange for American support – and Republican operatives have provided tactical assistance inside the province
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

One of the things this makes me think about is how largely America looms in the minds of many Alberta separatists, but the reverse is not true. This is based on an admittedly small sample size...

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

... but I spent a couple of days at the border last week and had to actively search to find a Montanan who had *any* idea what I was talking about.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

This story, about the links between the top Alberta independence social media account and a well known separatist leader that I did with @jeffyates.bsky.social, has been pretty well read today. There have also been some common questions, so I'm going to add my 2 cents! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caIt’s the biggest Alberta separatist account on the internet. It shares DNA with a movement leader | CBC NewsThe account Rise of Alberta is anonymous and drives four times as much engagement as the next most popular account.
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Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Q: I don't use X, who cares about any of this? Because the separatism movement is distrustful of institutions, including media, many have constructed an online world with podcasts, influencers, pages which is where much of this convo is happening. Maybe you don't pay attention to this, but they do.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Q: Who cares that it's Keith Wilson? ROA is arguably playing a campaign role for him, which I think is notable. The Alberta independence campaign is unusual in that political parties are not involved, so the power has shifted to influencers, who are hard to scrutinize. (See question 1.)

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

This story, about the links between the top Alberta independence social media account and a well known separatist leader that I did with @jeffyates.bsky.social, has been pretty well read today. There have also been some common questions, so I'm going to add my 2 cents! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caIt’s the biggest Alberta separatist account on the internet. It shares DNA with a movement leader | CBC NewsThe account Rise of Alberta is anonymous and drives four times as much engagement as the next most popular account.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Q: Who cares that the account is anonymous? No one is forced to use their name on the internet, but this account has a massive influence on a conversation that will have very serious implications for Alberta and for Canada. I think it's a valid to ask who is shaping and sharing this information.

Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Q: Why isn't the CBC looking at (insert account you don't like here)? The Media Ecosystem Observatory did a report on the online independence convo and found that RiseOfAlberta is *by far* the most influential account. Like, 4x the engagement of anyone else. With big attention comes big scrutiny.

Alex Boyd reposted

Jason Markusoff
@markusoff.bsky.social

Rise of Alberta, the brash social media account-cum-swag retailer, has direct ties to a more mild-toned separatist group leader, @alexboyd.bsky.social and @jeffyates.bsky.social report: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caIt’s the biggest Alberta separatist account on the internet. It shares DNA with a movement leader | CBC NewsThe account Rise of Alberta is anonymous and drives four times as much engagement as the next most popular account.
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social

Hello, fellow Albertans: this is such a handy guide to the reporting CBC has done on all *ten* referendum questions, all compiled in one place by @joeldryden.bsky.social and Rukhsar Ali. (Alt headline: one link to send those who don't know there are other Qs on the ballot) www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.caA guide to the 10 questions in Alberta's Oct. 19 referendum | CBC NewsCBC News breaks down each of the referendum questions to help voters prepare to mark the 10 ballots.