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“Living Within a Lie”: Canada’s Reconfiguration of Middle Power Rhetoric

Mark Carney’s 2026 Davos speech unsettled established expectations about Canada’s place in the international system, abandoning the language of rules-based international order and reframing how the country positions itself on a global scale. However, this event brings about a familiar question in Canadian foreign policy: can rhetorical honesty produce genuine change, or will it simply renew the practice of performative sovereignty?

Posted On : Published By : Arianne Fouse
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Resurgent Separatism in Alberta Conservatism: A Threat to The Future of the UCP?

Since the beginning of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s term, conversations about Alberta’s role in confederation have come to the forefront of the political discussion. These conversations have been fueled by separatist activists but also by the provincial government itself, which has recently started championing unpopular sovereigntist policy. It is worth asking why the United Conservative Party is so adamant about increased Alberta sovereignty and how it might affect their base of support into the future.

Posted On : Published By : Willa Merer
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The “Nuclear Option”: How the Notwithstanding Clause Became a Constitutional Threat

The Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 9) amends three laws that restrict the rights of transgender youth and adults within healthcare, education, and sports. Alberta has invoked the notwithstanding clause in Bill 9, barring judicial review of the latter. This bill will specifically limit gender-affirming treatment for transgender youth, ban transgender participation in women’s sports, and require parental consent for name and pronoun changes in school. This article will discuss how the notwithstanding clause has evolved over the last forty years, leading to increasingly tyrannical and preemptive uses enabling discrimination towards minorities in Canada.

Posted On : Published By : Sophie Gandell
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New Canada-China Strategic Partnership: The Regional Politics Behind Canada’s Auto and Canola Sectors

On January 16, 2026, PM Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) reached an agreement-in-principle with The People’s Republic of China. This strategic partnership has been successful in reducing import duties on Canadian canola products, but has had some opposition from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) made in China will be reduced. However, this article argues that China may not present as big a threat to Ontario as is portrayed by Mr. Ford.

Posted On : Published By : Charles McKaig
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Protection for Whom? Gender-Based Violence Under Canada’s Asylum Reforms

Canada positions itself as a global leader in refugee protection, emphasizing humanitarian commitment and adherence to international norms. Its asylum system is widely understood as generous and rights-respecting; however, its reputation hides a harsher truth about whom it is ultimately designed to protect. This article argues that Canada’s asylum framework does not simply fall short for women fleeing violence but actively turns survivorship itself into a legal liability. Through stricter procedural timelines and early screening mechanisms, the potential emergence of Bill C-12 treats experiences shaped by trauma and dependency as procedural risk rather than recognized harm. By examining how claims shaped by violence move through Canada’s asylum process, humanitarian leadership is revealed to coexist with policies that quietly reproduce gendered exclusion.

Posted On : Published By : Arianne Fouse
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Pierre Poilievre’s Leadership Review

In late January 2026, Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review. The political test is set to take place in Alberta, where Poilievre’s brand of conservatism is most popular. This locale may strategically favor Mr. Poilievre, as it will stimulate turnout for his core base. Concurrently, certain Conservatives have been publicly critical of his leadership, but since they are mostly based in other parts of the country, convincing them to partake in the leadership vote may prove challenging. However, critics may be favored by the voting system. Thus, although the strategic location of the convention and the lack of a clear successor may advantage Pierre Poilievre, growing discontent may muddy the waters.

Posted On : Published By : Charles McKaig