Byron Hackett

338Canada Odds of Winning The Most Seats. A line chart showing the Conservative Party of Canada with a virtually 100% chance and the Liberal Party of Canada a 0% for more than a year, then a sudden collapse in the CPC odds, falling to 15% in the span of 5 weeks, while the LPC odds shoot up to 85%. Two dashed vertical lines indicate the dates of notable events on the chart: 'Trudeau resigns' and 'Carney LPC Leader'

One of the wildest polling-related charts I've seen in my lifetime.

via @338canada.bsky.social:

Braid: Smith and LaGrange steamroll AHS in response to contract scandal Alberta Premier Danielle Smith once again blames health authority for contract scandal triggered by fired CEO of Alberta Health Services.

Braid's not buying what the premier's selling.

"We are asked to believe that two key players mentioned in Mentzelopoulos’ suit will have no influence on the inquiry even though they continue to run both AHS and Alberta Health."

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Holy smokes, the latest in the UCP/AHS story:

“The suit claims…a member of the AHS board told her to ‘be very careful’ about what she was doing and that she needed to potentially be concerned about her personal safety, ‘given some of the people potentially involved behind the scenes.’”

Alberta ousted health services CEO amid probe into medical contracts, document alleges Athana Mentzelopoulos was dismissed two days before a meeting with province’s auditor on her investigation, according to letter

SCOOP: Danielle Smith's government fired the head of Alberta Health Services two days before she was to meet with the Auditor-General to discuss her internal investigation into procurement contracts and deals for private surgical facilities. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... #abpoli #ableg

Alberta ousted health services CEO amid probe into medical contracts, document alleges Athana Mentzelopoulos was dismissed two days before a meeting with province’s auditor on her investigation, according to letter

This is an absolute bombshell read. My jaw is on the floor.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

Bracing for Poilievre Canada’s likely next prime minister threatens to gut the country’s press.

It's hard to understate how valuable the Local Journalism Initiative has been to Canadian newsrooms and the rural communities they cover. If/when Poilievre scraps it, entire regions will become news deserts.

Danielle Smith wants Alberta border patrol?
FACTS!
Along Montana border (with Alberta and Sask):
3 lb fentanyl last year, 1 lb meth.
Fewer than dozen individual (including migrants) "encounters" per month.
"urgent" provincial sheriff patrols, for this?
(US Customs/Border Protection stats)

You wonder why the NHL struggles to grow its fan base? Literally one game on tonight and I can’t watch it. No other league in the world would do this.

Hackett: Springsteen brings the joy to Alberta The power of music is real

Every so often you have an experience that allows you to see the world in a different light. Didn’t expect that from a Bruce Springsteen concert, but here we are.

www.reddeeradvocate.com/opinion/hack...

This is just a classic no loyalty, Atkins regime move. The guy was lights out more often than not and just casting him off like that isn’t right.

Alberta car insurance average premiums 2023: $1,636
After 3yrs of rate caps of 3.7%, 7.5%, 7.5%: $1,960
$324 =
-$400 = suggested premium drop in no-fault system

Steps forward, steps back

Here are my dogs, Goose (left) and Bruce (right). At least 50 per cent of my phone pics are of them.

Goose is a rescue, we got her in 2020. She is still nervous around people she doesn’t know, but is fiercely loyal to the people she likes.

Bruce, the golden, loves everyone.

Hackett: Remembrance Day will forever remain important The eerieness still sends shivers down my back.

In honour of Remembrance Day, here’s my column from 2022 on the value of still honouring the sacrifices of those who fought.

www.reddeeradvocate.com/columns/hack...

Still trying to figure out this app, was a long time X guy.

Jobs I’ve had other than a reporter:

-Pond builder/ cleaner
-Gym membership sales consultant
-Dish washer
-Baseball umpire
-Data entry specialist for Elections Canada