Aaron Wherry
@aaronwherry.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, author.
Ajuinata.
Ajuinata.
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Aaron Wherry
@aaronwherry.bsky.social
· Nov 18
A few thoughts on political journalism
"You need a lot of context to seriously consider anything"
aaronwherry.substack.com
A few thoughts on political journalism.
aaronwherry.substack.com/p/a-few-thou...
aaronwherry.substack.com/p/a-few-thou...
I remain confused as to why Pathways is now contingent on a pipeline.
Before yesterday, had Pathways ever said a new pipeline was necessary to move forward?
Before yesterday, had Pathways ever said a new pipeline was necessary to move forward?
November 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I remain confused as to why Pathways is now contingent on a pipeline.
Before yesterday, had Pathways ever said a new pipeline was necessary to move forward?
Before yesterday, had Pathways ever said a new pipeline was necessary to move forward?
My gut feeling is that trying to legislate for this would just lead to endless (and often tedious) debates about what constitutes a "lie."
bsky.app/profile/alex...
bsky.app/profile/alex...
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My gut feeling is that trying to legislate for this would just lead to endless (and often tedious) debates about what constitutes a "lie."
bsky.app/profile/alex...
bsky.app/profile/alex...
I write about this a bit in a piece that's going up tomorrow, but Steven Guilbeault really is a fascinating character in this whole national debate.
Among environmentalists, he was considered a pragmatist.
To the Trudeau government's critics, he was an anti-oil zealot.
Among environmentalists, he was considered a pragmatist.
To the Trudeau government's critics, he was an anti-oil zealot.
November 28, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I write about this a bit in a piece that's going up tomorrow, but Steven Guilbeault really is a fascinating character in this whole national debate.
Among environmentalists, he was considered a pragmatist.
To the Trudeau government's critics, he was an anti-oil zealot.
Among environmentalists, he was considered a pragmatist.
To the Trudeau government's critics, he was an anti-oil zealot.
If I have hot takes on the MOU itself, I guess they are:
-This maybe solidifies the industrial price, but was the cost too high?
-The pipeline question still looms and I don't know how it resolves itself
-This is a big reminder of how hard it is to hold things together
-This maybe solidifies the industrial price, but was the cost too high?
-The pipeline question still looms and I don't know how it resolves itself
-This is a big reminder of how hard it is to hold things together
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 AM
If I have hot takes on the MOU itself, I guess they are:
-This maybe solidifies the industrial price, but was the cost too high?
-The pipeline question still looms and I don't know how it resolves itself
-This is a big reminder of how hard it is to hold things together
-This maybe solidifies the industrial price, but was the cost too high?
-The pipeline question still looms and I don't know how it resolves itself
-This is a big reminder of how hard it is to hold things together
Aside from the very, very big policy questions raised by the MOU, one curious subplot that intrigues me is that the Alberta premier and the federal Conservative leader are talking very differently about this agreement.
I'm not sure how that plays out.
I'm not sure how that plays out.
November 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Aside from the very, very big policy questions raised by the MOU, one curious subplot that intrigues me is that the Alberta premier and the federal Conservative leader are talking very differently about this agreement.
I'm not sure how that plays out.
I'm not sure how that plays out.
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
The main thing I’ve taken away from a pipeline (which will probably never get built) dominating the discourse again, in a year that was supposed to be all about Canada doing things differently from in the past, is that federal politics is a flat circle.
November 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The main thing I’ve taken away from a pipeline (which will probably never get built) dominating the discourse again, in a year that was supposed to be all about Canada doing things differently from in the past, is that federal politics is a flat circle.
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Here’s my take on the policy substance of today’s events. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Carney’s new bargain: An end to Trudeau-era climate policies, and a big bet on industrial carbon pricing
New energy deal with Alberta brings Prime Minister’s approach to fighting climate change into full view
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Here’s my take on the policy substance of today’s events. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
November 27, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Today’s MOU between the federal government and Alberta risks unravelling Canada’s climate policy. Read our full statement ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/mou-alb...
climateinstitute.ca/news/mou-alb...
Federal-Alberta MOU risks unravelling Canada’s climate policy
While promised improvements to industrial carbon pricing are positive and important, other aspects of Alberta-Canada MOU will undermine policy effectiveness across the country.
climateinstitute.ca
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Today’s MOU between the federal government and Alberta risks unravelling Canada’s climate policy. Read our full statement ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/mou-alb...
climateinstitute.ca/news/mou-alb...
Happy takesgiving to all who celebrate.
November 27, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Happy takesgiving to all who celebrate.
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
The details of the Northern Gateway debate may have faded from our memories. (They certainly did from mine, I realized, while working on this article!)
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
ANALYSIS | Spills, spies and Tim Hortons boycotts: A look back at the 'fight for Canada's soul' over Northern Gateway | CBC News
The details of the decade-long, fractious debate over the Northern Gateway pipeline may have faded in memory, but that fight takes on a renewed relevance today, as Ottawa and Alberta come together wit...
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The details of the Northern Gateway debate may have faded from our memories. (They certainly did from mine, I realized, while working on this article!)
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
So here's a little refresher on what the country went through the last time an MOU was signed on a pipeline from Alberta's oilsands to BC's coast:
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
Charter
Ken Danby
1978
Ken Danby
1978
November 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Charter
Ken Danby
1978
Ken Danby
1978
Cynics like to say Canada lacks a distinct national identity, but then how would they explain this?
defector.com/how-a-campy-...
defector.com/how-a-campy-...
How A Campy 1970s Game Show Became Part Of Canada's National Lexicon | Defector
On tiny Hornby Island northwest of Vancouver, after the Women’s World Cup in the summer of 2015, our bed-and-breakfast host was telling us about the town. The pizza place in the park is terrific, he s...
defector.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Cynics like to say Canada lacks a distinct national identity, but then how would they explain this?
defector.com/how-a-campy-...
defector.com/how-a-campy-...
Apropos of nothing, it's kind of funny how stuff like this just gets completely erased from political memory.
calgaryherald.com/business/ene...
calgaryherald.com/business/ene...
When the oilsands hit pay dirt
It wasn’t in the middle of a farmer’s muddy field or deep in the boreal forest where the Canadian oilsands truly struck pay dirt.
calgaryherald.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Apropos of nothing, it's kind of funny how stuff like this just gets completely erased from political memory.
calgaryherald.com/business/ene...
calgaryherald.com/business/ene...
It's fun to say the constitution gives the federal government jurisdiction over infrastructure that crosses provincial borders.
I imagine it's a bit harder to say that provinces have no say over infrastructure projects that run through their territory.
I imagine it's a bit harder to say that provinces have no say over infrastructure projects that run through their territory.
November 26, 2025 at 7:55 PM
It's fun to say the constitution gives the federal government jurisdiction over infrastructure that crosses provincial borders.
I imagine it's a bit harder to say that provinces have no say over infrastructure projects that run through their territory.
I imagine it's a bit harder to say that provinces have no say over infrastructure projects that run through their territory.
If you got in a time machine, went back to 2015 and told people that by 2025 we would be on course to reduce emissions by 31.5 to 33.5% below 2005 levels, would anyone have complained?
www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publicati...
www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publicati...
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If you got in a time machine, went back to 2015 and told people that by 2025 we would be on course to reduce emissions by 31.5 to 33.5% below 2005 levels, would anyone have complained?
www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publicati...
www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publicati...
As A.I. companies gain political power and prepare to pour cash into the midterm elections, some of those worried about the dangers of an unfettered A.I. industry are setting out to raise tens of millions of dollars to back candidates of their own.
Fears About A.I. Prompt Talks of Super PACs to Rein In the Industry
As artificial intelligence companies prepare to pour money into the midterm elections, some in the A.I. world are hatching plans of their own to curb the industry’s influence.
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The Globe's chart on references to Donald Trump in Hansard sent me down the rabbit hole of checking for pre-2016 references to the future president.
I think the earliest reference comes from Iain Angus, MP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, on May 8, 1990.
I think the earliest reference comes from Iain Angus, MP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, on May 8, 1990.
November 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The Globe's chart on references to Donald Trump in Hansard sent me down the rabbit hole of checking for pre-2016 references to the future president.
I think the earliest reference comes from Iain Angus, MP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, on May 8, 1990.
I think the earliest reference comes from Iain Angus, MP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, on May 8, 1990.
📈📉 One year ago this week, Trump threatened Canada with 25% tariffs. Since then, the country has changed dramatically.
Here, in text and charts, we look at 29 ways that Canada has changed in this very turbulent year.
Here, in text and charts, we look at 29 ways that Canada has changed in this very turbulent year.
Twenty-nine ways that Trump has changed Canada
A year ago, the U.S. President first unleashed his threats of tariffs and territorial expansion. Now, our country is different politically, culturally and economically
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
I feel the need to repeat this, even as suggesting that we not focus so heavily on the pipeline positioning in the imminent MOU feels like an increasingly lonely argument. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Pipeline mania is distracting from what the talks between Ottawa and Alberta could actually achieve
Negotiations should work toward setting clear, predictable policy conditions that open the door to private-sector investment
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I feel the need to repeat this, even as suggesting that we not focus so heavily on the pipeline positioning in the imminent MOU feels like an increasingly lonely argument. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Reposted by Aaron Wherry
In 1894, @governmentofbc.bsky.social asked the Cdn govt to buy Point Roberts, allegedly a haven for unregulated fishing. Spoiler alert: nothing came of the request. (Welcome to Canada, @rubberduckmuseum.bsky.social!) #cdnhist #bchist #cdnpoli
(Images: @library-archives.canada.ca)
(Images: @library-archives.canada.ca)
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In 1894, @governmentofbc.bsky.social asked the Cdn govt to buy Point Roberts, allegedly a haven for unregulated fishing. Spoiler alert: nothing came of the request. (Welcome to Canada, @rubberduckmuseum.bsky.social!) #cdnhist #bchist #cdnpoli
(Images: @library-archives.canada.ca)
(Images: @library-archives.canada.ca)
I wonder if this will end up killing, once and for all, the idea of recall legislation.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
6 more UCP legislature members facing recall petitions, including 5 from Calgary area | CBC News
While reasoning varies, many of the newly approved petitioners said they were upset the UCP government used the Charter's notwithstanding clause last month to end a provincewide teachers strike. Anoth...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I wonder if this will end up killing, once and for all, the idea of recall legislation.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I don't know enough about the policy-making process here to judge, but Marc Miller's comments are interesting.
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
November 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I don't know enough about the policy-making process here to judge, but Marc Miller's comments are interesting.
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...
nationalnewswatch.com/2025/11/24/g...