Argh. I took down my Senate Instagram account a few months ago, as part of my Meta cleanse. Alas, someone has now made a fake account in my name there. If you are still on Instagram and you happen to to see it, could you please do me a favour and report it as a fraud? It seems to be Senator_paula.simons (Also? Please don’t tag it. It is 100% fake.)

Today, Dr. David Wishart, a professor of biology AND computer science at University of Alberta won Canada’s highest honour for science & engineering, the Herzberg Gold Medal, for his pioneering work in metabolomics. Years ago, I worked with Dr. Wishart’s equally brilliant wife, Debby Waldman, when she wrote a humour column and book reviews for the Edmonton Journal. So it was a double thrill to be at the big NSERC reception, hosted by House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, to cheer on one of Edmonton’s scientific giants. Mazel tov to David and to the University of Alberta.. #yeg #UAlberta #Edmonton #NSERC #metabolomics #ComputationalMetabolomics #cdnpoli

In the wee small hours of the morning, the Alberta legislature passed a bill that preemptively invoked the notwithstanding clause, ordering striking teachers back to work, and imposing on them a contract they had already rejected. Today, by coincidence, the Senate's Transport and Communications committee began a study of strikes in the transport sector. Since we had two great expert witnesses before us - labour lawyer Paul Champ and business professor Ian Lee - I seized the opportunity to ask what precedent Danielle Smith's bill might set. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #ableg #abpoli #ATA #AirCanada #Alberta #DanielleSmith

Today, senior executives from CBC/RadioCanada came to testify before the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications. I had the chance to ask a lot of questions. But I made sure to ask why the CBC is still committed to X - and why they haven't investigated Mastodon (and Bluesky). Here's my exchange with CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard and Editor in Chief @npub1ln3k...h43j. #CBC #Mastodon #X #Bluesky #SRC #Canada #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #TRCM #CanadianBroadcastingCorporation #SocialMedia

Ooo, I've been itching to give this speech for ages. WHY is Canada relying on US Homeland Security to approve Verified Travellers in Canada? Why are we contracting out to a country that discriminates against trans, 2 spirit, gender nonbinary and intersex Canadians and doesn't provide service in French. Here is my RANT calling for the creation of a made-in-Canada verified traveller program, without American oversight. Time to patriate airport security, and give all Canadians the right to apply for life in the fast lane. #Canada #SenateofCanada #NEXUS #HomelandSecurity #ElbowsUp

Canadian Press (CP) is reporting tonight, based on a leaked memo, that the Alberta government is preparing to invoke the notwithstanding clause to strip rights from LGBQT students. It’s time for Albertans to stand up for justice - just as they did the first time Alberta invoked the clause.

Alberta Views

Stripping Away Rights Using the Notwithstanding Clause. - Alberta Views

After a week of rancorous debate, Klein announced he would not invoke the notwithstanding clause on the landmark gay rights decision...

#ableg #abpoli

As Food Day Canada draws to a close, let me tell you how I marked this day, which celebrates Canadian food growers, producers, and chefs, and calls on us to recognize the excellence of Canadian agriculture and cuisine. First, a trip to Edmonton’s downtown farmers market, for the best in Alberta and BC produce. #FoodDayCanada #yeg #yegdt #Edmonton #YEGdtMarket #Canada

Wrote this in January. It seems more timely than ever. We must not let ourselves be worn down by these bait and switch tactics. Nor can we afford to turn against one another. In the face of existential threats to our economy, our sovereignty and our reason, we must not lose our resolve.

Alberta Views

Trump and 51st State Jokes - Quibbling with Quislings - Alberta Views

When Donald Trump first started making “jokes” calling Canada the 51st state and Justin Trudeau, governor, I rolled my eyes.

I quit Twitter two and a half years ago, when the Nazis were still largely organic and free range. Now that X is featuring mass produced AI Nazis, I’m feeling smugly prescient. Thank you, Mastodon, for being here.

Alberta Views

Goodbye to Twitter - Alberta Views

Twitter kept assuming that I was a bot, and putting me in Twitter jail. I had to beg for my verification just so I could stay online.

This afternoon, I rose in the Senate to speak to Bill C-5, particularly the Building Canada Act. In this speech I tried to contextualize my concerns about what this bill, which fast-tracks "projects of national interest" could mean for environmental protection, Indigenous rights, and project certainty. And I tell Albertans bluntly that no one will build a pipeline in the shadow of separatist threats. #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #C5 #C69 #ableg #abpoli #Alberta