Matthew Black

I went through the results for all 87 Alberta electoral divisions and built a series of maps and interactives to show how the vote varied across the province — and how closely some of those patterns track Alberta’s political geography 📊s, 🗺️s, and more ⬇️ #ableg #abpoli

SCOOP: The RCMP is investigating fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering in connection with Alberta's health care procurement controversy, according to a letter filed in court www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... w @tomcardoso.bsky.social

"You can potentially take out an entire community, and you're cutting off 911 access, emergency services access. So it's a fairly significant public safety concern" by @liamnewbigging.bsky.social #yeg

I remain surprised that Trump’s social media attention never once flitted to Alberta’s unity referendum

I talked with separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre about Premier Smith's edict that those representing the UCP must not espouse separatist views He said it's the UCP board's call, not hers, and that 40-50% of the board are separatists. "There’s going to be a lot of UCP people not happy" #ableg #abpoli

We are not likely to get any referendum results until at least 10 p.m. after voting hours at 106 polling stations were extended past the 8 p.m. closing time after they delayed opening or closed temporarily. Elections rules state results can't be posted until all stations are closed #ableg #abpoli

"Ex-Edmonton journalist Duncan Kinney has admitted to spray painting a controversial Ukrainian monument with the words “actual Nazi” five years ago, acknowledging he then wrote an article about the vandalism claiming an unknown party was responsible."

STORY, updates to come: Edmonton former journalist Duncan Kinney has admitted to spray painting a bust of Ukrainian World War II leader Roman Shukhevych with the words "actual Nazi," then writing about it, claiming he didn't know who did it. edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/d...

Bell: Danielle Smith's message for Alberta separatists on eve of the referendum edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

One of the most vocal Alberta separatist leaders weighs in on Wainwright and let’s see what he says… oh

Final referendum advertiser update before Oct 19: *Separatists enter campaign's final weekend with $360K advantage *Federalists topped contributions this week for 5th straight week after seps won 9 of first 10 *$ totals to date: -Sep: $1,090,121 -Fed: $727,416 #ableg #abpoli

I got a hold of a CSIS threat assessment re: data centres It acknowledges they are of growing importance but can also be vulnerable to not only cyber/physical threats but also to supply chain issues, foreign ownership, & risks associated with 3rd-party vendors & service providers #ableg #abpoli

"True North, a right-wing media organization, promoted the event on social media as 'the most important free speech event of the year' Media outlets were denied access to the event and were unable to hear the premier’s remarks" #ableg #abpoli

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

Snow outside and mosquitoes inside, Alberta contains multitudes.

Braid: 'We are feeling very confident' — Elections Alberta ready for referendum deluge edmontonjournal.com/news/confide...

The Alberta Energy Regulator has brought back a former executive who was among those ousted in 2019 in the wake of what became known as the ICORE scandal #ableg #abpoli

Today's referendum advertiser update: *$249K raised across all advertisers (highest week to date) *Separatists: $1,075,042 (+$80,656) *Federalists: $681,836 (+$143,657) *Federalists top separatists for 4th straight week *Alberta Advantage Immigrant Support Society +$25K (5th highest) #ableg #abpoli

The Alberta NDP has lost its bid to overturn a government order in council that severely limits the information shared with parties ahead of the Oct 19 vote #ableg #abpoli

My latest for @edmontonjournal.com "Taxpayers can't afford for us to keep sprawling — every new suburb needs new roads, pipes, firehalls and bus routes — that lands on your tax bill forever," Knack said Thursday #Edmonton #YegCC #AlbertaPolitics edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonto...

Multiple Edmonton city councillors told Postmedia Muni Affairs Minister Dan Williams called them ahead of today's infill announcement "(He didn’t understand) what engagement and processes we have used and how we made changes,” said Coun. Erin Rutherford" via @ericbowling.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack on the announcement: "Frankly, I'm not entirely convinced the Premier understands what she's doing and what the consequences will be. We should not be having partisan fights over municipal issues that the Premier has no expertise to deliver on" #ableg #abpoli #yeg

All lanes are Alberta provincial government lanes

Bell: If Smith won't cave on UCP insurance plan, lawyers will back Alberta separatists edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

"The federal government has been quietly studying the impact of a possible $18-billion fiscal shock, corporate head office flight and a mass exodus of Albertans to neighbouring provinces if Alberta exits the federation" Great ATI work by my old Donaldson pal @davidthurton.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli

Varcoe: 'A lot of road yet to travel' — past West Coast pipeline projects highlight challenges and solutions for Pacific Link calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Recap of last night's debate at U of A "While the three had some agreements, the discussion eventually boiled over into a debate with Wilson and Kenney clashing over the topic of Alberta separation and First Nations" by @liamnewbigging.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli

Keith Gerein: Inmate dropoffs in Edmonton's Chinatown are a systemic choice, not 'human error' edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Hoo boy. A deep dive on the cross-border effort to sway Alberta’s secession vote, from @carrietait.bsky.social, Nathan VanderKlippe and Grant Robertson www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Stephen Harper has, as we've long awaited, weighed in against Alberta separatism. But man oh man, do I have to strongly quibble with him claiming sentiment was zero when he was PM. Here's a 2014 poll putting belief in separation at 23%, which is where it sits now. nationalpost.com/opinion/step...

Pacific Link is similar (not identical) route to TMX. This means that you can't just start building, you need extensive planning: engineer route/design/schedule, land approvals, consultation, regulatory approvals, construction readiness, etc.

In the type of somewhat odd shared opinion opposing groups come to in politics sometimes: Alberta separatists, environment advocates, and some First Nations all spoke out vs yday's Pacific Line pipeline being designated as being in 🇨🇦's national interest #ableg #abpoli

You can read Elections AB's compliance order in full here: "More recently, at some of these events, the Election Commissioner identified occasions where a speaker made specific reference to the referendum question on Alberta separation and took a position" #ableg #abpoli

Thomas Lukaszuk's Forever Canadian has entered into a compliance agreement with Elections Alberta over 3rd party advertising rules FC general unity messaging was within referendum rules, but 2 recent events changed that No rules have been broken but FC has updated its reporting #ableg #abpoli

"Whether they vote for or against the referendum, most Albertans neither wish to separate nor are happy with their place in the country" Former PM Stephen Harper's Postmedia op/ed calling for Albertans to vote in favour of remaining in 🇨🇦 on Oct 19 #ableg #abpoli #cdnleg #cdnpoli

Today's referendum advertiser update: *Contributions dry up: just $32K *Forever Canadian leads all advertisers again ($25,775) *FC also enters compliance agreement w Elections AB over contribution rules *Margin ≖ seps v feds down to $456K (was $606K at start of Sep) #ableg #abpoli

Opinion: If separation succeeds, take note of what's in the plans for Alberta edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Province wants fines from $10,000 to $1 million for illegal dumping edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta...

With ~43% uptake, Alberta extends $100 energy rebate deadline until Halloween. So far: 1.45M signed up/3.4M eligible Cabinet briefing note warned future rebates could be taxable CRA agrees, depending on how program was structured & frequency/amount of future payments #ableg #abpoli

New West Coast pipeline expected to be designated project of national interest by Thursday via @theglobeandmail.com

Wednesday's letters: UCP steamrolling ahead on data centres edmontonjournal.com/opinion/lett...

Braid: A social media bombardment will tell the world the referendum is rigged calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

"This is not on the radar of a lot of seniors,' said Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre. 'They probably don't need an extra cost at this point'" #ableg #abpoli

Alberta referendum: Here are the latest third-party advertiser figures ahead of Oct. 19 vote edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...

Thank you to @nagwanyyc.bsky.social and @sweetmla.bsky.social , who have both announced that they will not be seeking re-election at the end of their current terms. Their dedication to public service is making a lasting difference in the lives of Albertans, and we are deeply grateful for their work.

This is also true! The reports do not specify exactly when the $ was contributed

Worth noting that Forever Canadian's first non-$0 disclosure spans from March 31 to yesterday efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efOFSRTPAWee... #ableg #abpoli

Weekly referendum advertiser update: *Federalists: $506,483 (+113,550.85) *Separatists: $999,607 (+$42,862.38) *Margin: $488K (-$76K, lowest since mid-July) *Federalists are 4 of the 5 highest increases this week *Forever Canadian logs $48,345, most of all advertisers this week #ableg #abpoli

UCP support has plunged in Calgary and outside major cities www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... and the independence movement is now below 25% support. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... It’s Janet Brown/CBC poll time, folks!

The Alberta government granted the chair of the Alberta Energy Regulator a 14% pay raise, bringing the role's compensation to 2 1/2 times what it was 6 years ago AER $ comes from the industry. Govt says top pay is needed to retain top staff. NDP says AER is a "captured regulator" #ableg #abpoli