Writer/researcher | Former journalist (Torstar, Calgary Herald, FFWD) | Love/Hate relationship with FOIP, ATI, and FOIA | Check out my political donation transparency project: https://trevorscotthowell.com/calgary-municipal-campaign-finance-database/https://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3muhtwqnk522rDanielle Smith didn't mention that her wholesome "backyard gathering" was a $500-a-ticket UCP fundraiser open to corporate buyers. Apparently "speaking directly with neighbours" now means speaking with whoever can afford admission.01 Sep 2026 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhtwqnk522rhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mufnygr4xc23Rest easy, Canada. Premier Smith is jetting off to defend our sovereignty with high-stakes meetings alongside... checks notes... the head of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Statecraft at its finest. [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Aug 2026 19:41 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufnygr4xc23https://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mpqwobjclc2nBREAKING: Elections Alberta has ruled the Eastern Slopes coal mining citizen initiative unsuccessful. Following statistical verification, the petition was estimated to have 172,088 verified signatures, falling short of the 177,732 required to advance. #abpoli #ableg03 Jul 2026 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqwobjclc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mjfnhdub5s2gUCP getting routed in Edmonton and slipping in Calgary... and suddenly they want to mash rural and urban ridings together. Totally normal. Nothing to see here. www.pollara.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Alberta_Spotlight-Apr-2026-media-v2.pdf13 Apr 2026 19:54 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjfnhdub5s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mhcgwlrrfs2wSmith weakened Alberta’s ethics rules & now we’re seeing the result: a private, undisclosed flight from a foreign government that wouldn’t pass the federal standard. www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/alberta-legislature/article/albertas-smith-says-she-took-private-flight-on-behalf-of-saudi-government/ https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/alberta-legislature/article/albertas-smith-says-she-took-private-flight-on-behalf-of-saudi-government/18 Mar 2026 02:29 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhcgwlrrfs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mhbgxo7xcc2tFollow the money. www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson-who-gave-the-alberta-prosperity https://www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson-who-gave-the-alberta-prosperity17 Mar 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbgxo7xcc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3meoidp43ac2kDanielle Smith is "risking the economic and psychological well-being of the province... on a gamble to keep her own fractious party together." www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-has-no-business-holding-a-referendum/article_77bfcc08-fd2e-4f47-8897-e26c245d19b0.html https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-has-no-business-holding-a-referendum/article_77bfcc08-fd2e-4f47-8897-e26c245d19b0.html12 Feb 2026 17:11 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3meoidp43ac2khttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3me7ym5jawk2vThe UCP was elected as a federalist conservative party. Its president has now outlined how it could officially become a separatist party and committed to let party members vote on it if the numbers line up. Normal stuff. #abpoli #cdnpoli https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-is-the-ucp-still-a-pro-canada-party-they-might-take-a-vote-on-it06 Feb 2026 22:52 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7ym5jawk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3mbwg4nhnkk2jFour months after senior government officials toured the building, Sam Mraiche bought it through a numbered company and now leases it to the Métis Nation of Alberta. Hard not to notice the timing. #ableg #abpoli https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/01/08/Another-Building-Purchase-Sam-Mraiche-Questions/08 Jan 2026 16:37 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbwg4nhnkk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3m6rokg2xu22cA banger of a Saturday morning read from @carrietait.bsky.social on the man central to the ongoing health care scandal plaguing the Smith government. I'm dying to know who in the premier's inner circle is leaking info (personal calendars!). #abpoli #ableg https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-alberta-health-care-procurement-controversy-sam-mraiche-mhcare/29 Nov 2025 15:09 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6rokg2xu22chttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3lp5yzxzdz22l“...when confronted with legitimate questions about clear conflicts of interest, (the UCP) respond with hostility and threats," Independent MLA Peter Guthrie told the Tyee. #ableg #abpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/05/14/Ousted-UCP-MLA-Alleges-Secret-Rail-Lobbying-David-Moretta/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/05/14/Ousted-UCP-MLA-Alleges-Secret-Rail-Lobbying-David-Moretta/14 May 2025 22:05 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp5yzxzdz22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3loz2o4duyk2xThey suggested… residents of a breakaway Alberta republic would still keep their Canadian passports and Canada Pension Plan entitlements. Hahahaha. OK. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-alberta-prosperity-project-referendum-question-1.753289012 May 2025 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3loz2o4duyk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3lnji5bao2k2kMeanwhile, dog bites man.24 Apr 2025 00:44 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnji5bao2k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/tshowell.bsky.social/post/3lmv5iqdhwk2zDisappointingly, Alberta's municipal campaign finance laws, again, allow donors to hide their contributions behind numbered companies. Dan McLean's 2025 disclosures reveal he received $5K from 1144365 Alberta Ltd. A $20 registry search reveals... #yyccc #ableg15 Apr 2025 22:41 +0000at://did:plc:hnn7ud4ozgsyvcox3cla4u4p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmv5iqdhwk2z