Monday, March 24: Premier Danielle Smith vehemently denied accusations that she asked the US to interfere in Canadian federal politics. In an earlier Breitbart interview, Smith had said she told US officials she hoped “we could put [tariffs] on pause,” so Canada could get through an election, because Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is more aligned with the Trump administration’s agenda.
Tuesday, March 25: Long-time (2015– 2023) NDP MLA Rod Loyola resigned his seat in Edmonton-Ellerslie.
Wednesday, March 26: Former NDP MLA Rod Loyola announced he is running for the federal Liberals in Edmonton Gateway.
March 26: Former Medicine Hat MP LaVar Payne, former Calgary West MP Rob Anders and others launched the “Delegation to Washington” project to determine the level of support in Washington, D.C. for an economic union or statehood for an independent Alberta. According to a Leger poll from March, president Trump’s suggestion that Canada become the “51st state” is supported by only 9 per cent of Canadians and 15 per cent of Albertans.
March 26: The Parkland Institute released a report titled Operation Profit: Private Surgical Contracts Deliver Higher Costs and Longer Waits, which shows that since the province started contracting with for-profit surgical facilities, the average cost per outsourced procedure has risen by 79 per cent compared to those performed in public hospitals. Funding of for-profit facilities has increased by 66 per cent, while funding for public operating rooms increased 12 per cent.
Thursday, March 27: Premier Danielle Smith spoke at a fundraiser in Florida for PragerU (not a university but a far-right propaganda machine) with commentator Ben Shapiro. They discussed how to help Canada elect “solid allies” to the Trump administration. Alberta is paying for her trip and the four staff accompanying her. Shapiro had told outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “When we take Canada, you will be expelled to Panama to work the canal.”
Friday, March 28: Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, travelled to Germany to meet with companies, potential investors and government officials to promote trade opportunities with Alberta. A delegation of 50 Alberta companies, organizations and post-secondary institutions will join him at Hannover Messe, an industrial trade show. In 2024 Alberta imported $770-million worth of goods from Germany and exported $95-million worth, mostly canola, carbon and pet food.
