• Episode 6.71 - Navigating Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories with Timothy Caulfield!
    Nov 25 2024

    With so many conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation being shared both intentionally and unintentionally, how are Albertans supposed to navigate the minefield that our information ecosystem has become?


    In this episode we sit down with renowned expert in navigating that minefield, Timothy Caulfield to try and figure exactly that out!


    From his Univeristy of Alberta bio...


    "Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy for over 20 years (2002 - 2023). His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and public health policy has allowed him to publish almost 400 academic articles. He has won numerous academic, science communication, and writing awards, and is a Member of the Order Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry."


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Blue Sky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Episode 6.70 - Janis Irwin & Rakhi Pancholi
    Nov 21 2024

    Welcome to our new episode, a conversation with NDP MLA's Janis Irwin and Rakhi Pancholi!


    In this episode we get into the sweeping changes that the UCP are introducing to Alberta's political landscape, including the changes to electoral boundaries, the Freedom Of Information Act, changes to the conflict of interest act, anti trans policies and more!


    We also take some time to talk about what issues the NDP would like to see government pursuing instead of making government more opaque and less accountable to Albertans!


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    59 mins
  • Episode 6.69 - Parental Rights with Legal Scholar Florence Ashley!
    Nov 15 2024

    What are parental rights?


    With Danielle Smith and the UCP using parental rights as a justification for pushing forward policies that many legal scholars are condemning as being gross violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we wanted to get a better understanding of what "parental rights" even mean and where they start and stop.


    In order to do that, we're sitting down with legal scholar and award winning advoacte, Florence Ashley!


    Florence served as a clerk in the Supreme Court of Canada under Justice Sheilah Martin and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, so she's more than qualified to walk us not only through "parental rights" but also the reality of what the "notwithstanding clause" actually is!


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads and now BlueSky!

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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Episode 6.68 - November 11, 2024 Alberta Politics Roundup!
    Nov 12 2024

    Time for another Alberta politics roundup!


    In this episode we take a look at the onslaught of ABPoli news, including the UCP's reaction to emission reduction regulations, the introduction of halal mortagages to crown corporations, the changes to FOIP laws, the UCP adding two seats to the legislature, the redrawing of electoral maps, and a whole lot more!


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • Episode 6.67 - The UCP’s changes to curriculum and education with Dr. Carla Peck!
    Nov 11 2024

    Remember all that curriculum kerfuffle?


    Jason Kenney campaigned on running the ready to be implemented curriculum through the shredder, but what the UCP brought forward initially was the dumpster fire to end all dumpster fires. The UCP took the social studies curriculum back and rewrote it, but how does that new curriculum measure up?


    To find out we're super excited to welcome back to the program none other than curriculum expert, Dr. Carla Peck!


    Plus, we get into what Danielle Smith's new changes to education and education delivery mean for how education can be developed and implemented going forward!


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Episode 6.66 - The legal reality of the UCP's Anti-Trans Legislation with Dr. Lorian Hardcastle
    Nov 7 2024

    With the Danielle Smith bringing forward her new Bill of Rights and her long feared anti-Trans, anti-parental choice legislation, we sat down with lawyer and legal scholar Dr. Lorian Hardcastle to get a sense of what the legal implications of this legislation is and perhaps most importantly, how can it be challenged!


    You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfund


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • Episode 6.65 - Jagmeet Singh and Leah Gazan!
    Nov 4 2024

    Betcha didn't see this coming!


    (we sure didn't)


    With Alberta rolling back human rights and access to abortion increasingly on the table, we sat down with Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Federal NDP MP Leah Gazan to hear what the federal NDP are planning to try and ensure that access to healthcare doesn't fall victim to the agenda of social regressives!


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    21 mins
  • Episode 6.64 - Alberta Politics Roundup UCP AGM Special!
    Nov 4 2024

    We're back with another Live Alberta Politics Roundup!


    With the confluence of Danielle Smith's leadership review, the UCP AGM and the Legislature returning to session, there's no shortage of things to talk about!


    We start with our regular look at the events of the week before we do a deep dive on several of the new pieces of legislation, including the Bill(s) of Rights and the three anti-trans pieces of legislation. From there we take a look at a sampling of the policies passed at the UCP AGM before we follow up on last weeks Skybox episode with a new FOIP and...


    A correction?


    Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!


    As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!


    If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

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    2 hrs and 11 mins