@Paulatics@mstdn.ca
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Paulatics

@Paulatics@mstdn.ca

Independent senator from Alberta. Host of Alberta Unbound. I live on Treaty Six Territory.

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vsp, (edited ) to random
@vsp@mastodon.world avatar

Oh, this is neat.

A year later, a podcast I cohosted (with my friend Omar Masood) is still up there in the rankings.

Feedspot says we're ranked 29th out of all of the podcasts coming out of Alberta. (Of course, we're beaten by the likes of Nate Pike, Alberta Health Services, and Senator @Paulatics' Alberta Unbound.)

Link: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/alberta_podcasts/?feedid=5701361

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

@vsp @Paulatics We are each in good company.

Paulatics, to Alberta
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I had a lovely opportunity in the Senate yesterday to welcome and celebrate award-winning Alberta ranchers and environmentalists Doug and Linda Wray. https://youtu.be/pjjfFfpYbf8?si=vr14MoDIhTV-28Nq

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

And here I am after my speech, with Linda and Doug Wray to my right, and their friend and colleague Duane Thompson to my left. #Alberta #SenateofCanada

Paulatics, to Canada
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Breaking news from the Senate. After all kinds of stalling tactic from the Conservatives, we just passed Bill C-57, the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, 73-14. All four AB Senators, Scott Tannas, @SenKarenAb and @MSPLB voted in favour of the deal. (All Conservative senators voted against.) This deal isn't a magic solution to Ukraine's military woe, but will be an important tool in rebuilding the nation's economy.

Paulatics,
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And we have just received word from the Governor General’s office that C-57 has received Assent! #SenateofCanada #Canada #Ukraine

Paulatics, to Canada
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

We recorded this great panel on the future of Canada’s municipalities in January. Lisa Raitt and Naheed Nenshi were among our panelists. And since they’re both back in the news - it seemed a great time to repost it! Raitt’s report on Canada’s housing crisis came out last week. And Nenshi’s NDP leadership press conference will be at 1 pm MDT. Will he? Or won’t he? https://youtu.be/qSblwQ79ZSQ?si=Gt2VzRDLkMr7Z_Yw

Paulatics, to Canada
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Monday night, the Senate sat for debate on the second reading of Bill C-62, which would "delay" the extension of MAID to patients with severe, irremediable psychiatric illness until after the next election. (Which, cynically, likely means never.) I had a few things to say. You can read (or watch) my speech here: https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/simons-paula/interventions/630725/18#hID #MAID #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #Canada #Alberta #abpoli #ableg #BillC62 #C62

Paulatics,
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If you prefer, you can also watch my impassioned speech on the right to MAID - drawing parallels with the fight for abortion rights and the fight for the right to gender affirming care, via my YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/dCtkpnNtD2U?si=p1jseRs0TcveCqkB #MAID #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #Canada #Alberta #abpoli #ableg #TransRightsareHumanRights

Paulatics, to Canada
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This is amazing news - for reproductive choice, bodily autonomy AND management of one of the most common serious chronic health problems, diabetes. https://www.cp24.com/news/ndp-liberals-strike-deal-to-cover-cost-of-diabetes-medicines-birth-control-1.6781059

Paulatics,
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If any country should have free insulin, it should surely be Canada! (Also gratifying to see other diabetes meds and gear would be covered.) Free birth control? Including long lasting reliable methods like IUDs? Game changing for so many women and families.

Paulatics, to Alberta
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Today, Alberta’s brilliant Corb Lund dropped his new album, El Viejo, named in tribute of Ian Tyson. Here’s my conversation with Corb about Alberta identity, telling the stories of the West, and his fight to save the eastern slopes of the Rockies. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3McuSdH4S3OXPOlj6oE7mX?si=1fIdD0znS3ipCJwhnfZFuA #AlbertaUnbound #CorbLund #ElViejo #Alberta #abpoli #Canada #SenateofCanada

Paulatics, to oklahoma
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I can't get the beautiful face of this child out of my mind. I wish I could make Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre read this story. I wish I thought that it would make a difference if they did. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2499332.html

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

@tofugolem I would have a lot of hard questions for the school administrators who allowed this bullying to continue and seemingly did very little to address the level of violence. And I have to wonder about the hospital to discharged a minor with a brain bleed. Was there a CT scan? An MRI? This poor queer Indigenous child seems to have been failed at every turn.

Paulatics, to Ottawa
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Spent 4 hours last night in a plane at YOW - a Porter flight that never left. No one available to load the luggage. Waited almost 2 hours for the bags to get stowed. Waited so long, the pilots “timed out.” Then, stranded on the tarmac for an hour and a half, because all the ground crews had gone home for the night, and there was no one to let us off the plane. Hoping for better luck today. New rescheduled flight already delayed by 40 minutes. But hope springs eternal!

Paulatics, to random
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Canada's cities & towns are "creatures" of the provinces - a dependence that often leaves municipalities struggling to do their jobs with available funding. In December, the Senate concluded an inquiry into municipal/federal relations, which I had myself instigated. We'll be publishing a report of those proceedings later this spring. But as a complement to our work in the Chamber, I wanted to convene a series of round-table conversations about key challenge facing our municipalities.....

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

HERE is the first of my conversations with smart Canadians about the future of city building. In this panel, I'm joined by 5 guests: Former CPC cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, the mayor of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, David Mitchell, Dr. Zac Spicer, a professor of urban studies at York University, and Vancouver urban planner Amina Yasin, talking about INFRASTRUCTURE....from housing to public transit to adapting to climate change Do watch! https://youtu.be/qSblwQ79ZSQ?si=wS0mf7vj71SAqXW0

Paulatics, to random
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

The Senate doesn't often sit on Monday. But we've recall ourselves to sit this evening, to deal with Bill C-62, the bill delaying adoption of MAID for people suffering from serious mental illness. The government would like us to push the bill right through, before the March sunset clause kicks in. Many in the Senate, though, might prefer to give the bill more thorough study. You can watch the debate live here - after Question Period. https://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony #MAID #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

@kevinlovestech @Paulatics Hypothetically. Yes.

Paulatics, to edmonton
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Then I joined a march to Churchill Square, in support of trans rights. It was organized by a group of Edmonton choirs - and the singing was truly beautiful . (Until my dog tried to join in!)

Protestors in Churchill Square at dusk, with Canada Place and Chancery Hall behind them.
Issa, a black Portuguese Water Dog, stands in front of a pink and blue banner reading Kill the BillThe
The back of a protester, whose jean jacket reads, “No place for racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia

Paulatics, to Ottawa
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Weeks ago, I was invited to attend a reception in Ottawa for Premier Danielle Smith, which took place Monday evening. I had originally RSVP’d yes. Instead, last night I made a decision to stand in solidarity with the trans rights protesters outside the event. As a representative of Albertans and Edmontonians, that’s where I felt I should be.

A blue and pink banner reading “Trans is Beautiful.”
Protesters gathered outside the Sir John A. Macdonald building, across from Parliament, hoist a large flag with rainbow and trans blue and pink stripes.
Minister Randy Boissonault, MP for Edmonton Centre, in a black parka, put his arm over the shoulder of Senator Paula Simons, who wears a brown cloth coat.

Paulatics,
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@johnefrancis @Paulatics

Paulatics, to edmonton
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

If you missed the two Edmonton rallies this weekend, here’s another event planned for next Sunday: a choral concert at Robertson-Wesley United Church designed to turn into a march to Churchill Square. https://facebook.com/events/s/sing-with-love-concert-communa/1145204376892033/

Paulatics, to edmonton
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

I went down to led my support to the trans rights protest in Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park. A remarkable group turned out - There were grannies and mums and young families, and city councillors, MLAs, and MPs, too. And signs. So many brave, clever, defiant signs. I curated the best of them for you here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/944145887048366

Paulatics, to edmonton
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Some of you (in Edmonton and elsewhere) may have been following the story of Brandi Morin, the Indigenous reporter who was arrested by Edmonton police last month, as she covered the efforts of officers to clear a homeless encampment. This week, press freedom groups from across Canada and around the world rallied to her support: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/indigenous-reporters-charge-must-be-dropped-amnesty-international-press-freedom-organizations (to be continued....)

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Last year, when now-arrested journalist Brandi Morin released her powerful memoir, Our Voice of Fire, she was a guest on my podcast, Alberta Unbound. I was re-listening to Part One, and was struck again by Morin's raw honesty and her gift as a story-teller. If you missed it last year, or would like to relisten, I invite you to do so. But be warned - we discuss child abuse, rape, and other trauma. https://senatorpaulasimons.podbean.com/e/s4-episode-1-her-voice-of-fire-part-1/

Paulatics,
@Paulatics@mstdn.ca avatar

Here is the second part of my Alberta Unbound interview with crusading Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin, where she explains how and why she became a reporter, and talks about some of the major stories she has covered in the last few years, including Papal tour of Canada, and the future of Wood Buffalo Park. I think this helps to give context to the story of Morin's arrest and prosecution for allegedly obstructing police clearing a homeless encampment. https://senatorpaulasimons.podbean.com/e/s4-episode-2-her-voice-of-fire-part-2/

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