Today's News: "Albexit" sucks up to Trump, Poilievre flies to Calgary, the Premiers have a laugh, and Carney dials Heated Rivalry up to 11

Today's At Issue panel talks about Albexit and about Poilievre's leadership convention:


TLDW: They talked about how the Alberta separatists compare to Quebec separatists, and this week's revelations that some Albertans have talked to the Trump administration about 51st state. 

Hebert believes Albertans who would like to send a message to Ottawa by voting yes will shy away from this because of the possibility they would become a US state. And Coyne noted that once again Everything Trump Touches Dies.
On the CPC leadership, the panel expects Poilievre will survive as leader on Friday, but he won't win the next election because he still can't find more voters from outside his base. And once again, they express an unfounded hope that Poilievre will become more statesmanlike any day now...
Finally, the panel agrees it may be pointless to worry anymore about renegotiating CUSMA, because America isn't going to be a reliable negotiating partner anyway.

Other interesting posts and comments

On CUSMA:

Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. This summer’s review of CUSMA could trigger negotiations, or not. Even if President Trump decides not to negotiate and to let the treaty lapse, it doesn’t mean that it lapses overnight. It doesn’t actually expire until 2036 - by which time President Trump will be long out of office and Secretary Bessent could very well be in prison. The only way for the U.S. to end CUSMA prior to 2036 would be to unilaterally withdraw, which they can do on six months’ notice - but likely not without Congressional approval - which would be very hard to get. And even if Trump tried to do it without such approval, his decision would immediately be challenged in court which could take years to sort out. And even if they did that, they would also need to withdraw from the original 1989 U.S.-Canada FTA, which they would also need Congressional approval to do. My point - stay calm and don’t listen to anything Scott Bessent says. He’s trying to play the bully, but he is nothing more than a soft-handed investment banker so he isn’t very good at it. Hopefully this Trump administration will be fully neutered by this year’s Midterm elections, and if we’re really lucky some of his more offensive cabinet secretaries (and Ambassador Pete Hoekstra) will be impeached and/or removed. PM Carney is right - the world has changed and we are never going back to “normal,” but at the very least I look forward to the day when Trump and his enablers no longer appear in the news - with one eventual exception. As Clarence Darrow said: “I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-mark-carney-9.7064976?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

- Canadian Centrist

Read on Substack

On Albexit:

View on Threads

The term "sovereign Alberta within Canada" is a carefully crafted lie to normalize a radical idea for mainstream consumption. Conspirators are employing a deliberate campaign of deception promising unattainable separatist goals just to maintain political power. They're dangerous but unserious ppl.

[image or embed]

— Aster Vérité (@aster-verite.bsky.social) January 29, 2026 at 1:48 PM

Finally someone has said it out loud. Treason. Where is the parliamentary investigation into foreign money and support from the US to break up our nation? nationalnewswatch.com/2026/01/29/e...

[image or embed]

— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) January 29, 2026 at 9:13 AM

Doug Ford urges Danielle Smith to denounce Alberta separation: ‘Either you’re with Canada or you’re not

[image or embed]

— Toronto Star (@thestar.com) January 29, 2026 at 8:57 AM

That Toronto Star article (gift link) also reports on the US response, which was basically the usual BS of "nothing to see here, move along, move along":

...News of the meetings with American officials, though previously reported in some Canadian media, made international headlines Thursday. That prompted B.C. Premier David Eby to allege that the separatists who held discussions with American officials had betrayed Canada.
One of those activists, Alberta lawyer Jeffrey Rath, told the Star he participated in meetings with “senior” U.S. officials whom he refused to identify.
Rath described the officials, however, as “very enthusiastic” about their push for Alberta separation. He said they discussed the separatists’ idea of creating a possible “credit facility” to lend up to US$500 billion to help keep a future independent Alberta afloat.
“There’s lots of different options to consider. I mean, everything at this stage is purely hypothetical,” Rath said.
When asked about talks with Alberta separatists, the U.S. State Department confirmed meetings took place but downplayed their significance, and said the American government made no commitments to the activists. The statement did not address Rath’s claim to have discussed a possible credit arrangement.
“The Department regularly meets with civil society types. As is typical in routine meetings such as these, no commitments were made,” a spokesperson confirmed by email.
The White House gave a similar written statement. “Administration officials meet with a number of civil society groups. No support or commitments were conveyed,” it read...

And Dale Smith makes a good point here:

Who could possibly have empowered these assholes when he built his party and kicked out the centrist normies for not being "conservative" enough? Who could have been stupid enough to invite these guys into the tent because you were big mad at Rachel Notley and didn't want to do any soul-searching?

[image or embed]

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 11:57 PM

Another excellent point:

View on Threads

This may be just an hysterical over-reaction - or maybe not:

Pay attention folks. Danielle Smith and the Alberta MAGA machine are using the Donbas playbook. This isn't about "independence" it is about sedition and subservience to Trump.

[image or embed]

— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) January 27, 2026 at 7:05 AM

But in the larger context, Canada needs Alberta and we want her to want to stay. We are #StrongerTogether:

From Calgary’s energy to Edmonton’s innovation, Alberta powers Canada — and Canada strengthens Alberta. My Canada includes Alberta. 🇨🇦 Copy paste if you agree. ❤️ #TogetherWeThrive #AlbertaInCanada

[image or embed]

— 🍁🇨🇦Team Canada Forever🇨🇦🍁 (@teamcanadaforever.bsky.social) January 28, 2026 at 1:09 AM

And yes, I expect this is the case too:

I have a feeling that more American states would vote to join Canada right now than there are provinces keen to head the other way…

— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon.bsky.social) January 29, 2026 at 1:14 PM

In other news, Poilievre continues to not get any respect:

Flying economy to Calgary: $200? Hiring a digital content agency to announce to Facebook that you’re flying to Calgary in an economy-class seat to “brand” yourself as an everyday working joe: $20,000?

[image or embed]

— Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) January 29, 2026 at 7:23 AM

Four hours with no knee room and the jokes still write themselves:

View on Threads

I must say my gag reflex meant I just couldn't watch any of the CPC convention tonight. So I looked for posts from those poor souls who must watch because its how they make their living:

View on Threads

View on Threads

Love to see our Premiers get along

View on Threads

View on Threads

And who doesn't love Wab Kinew?
"Game on"

View on Threads

"Yeah! and Heck, yeah!"

View on Threads

KINEW: "I'm all for protecting us from the threat of the Trump tariffs. But at the same time, I'm not going to put my hand in my pocket to check how much money I have before I say something about what happened to Mr. Pretti or Ms. Good."

- Scott Robertson

Read on Substack

Cheers for Heated Rivalry
And what a great series it is. Today Carney talked HR to the Canadian media summit in Ottawa:


TLDW: Carney praises the series, producer Jacob Tierney, and Bell Media. "Blueberry smoothie sales are skyrocketing."

 
Next, an hilarious interview on Entertainment Tonight with Carney and Hudson Williams

No TLDW for this one, its too short to highlight really, except for the great Spinal Tap reference.

Hmmm....

View on Threads

View on Threads