The News Rundown

Alberta to impose restrictions on MAID, limiting it to terminal illness

This week Alberta introduced new legislation to limit access to MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). The changes send a message to the federal government and serve to open the eyes of how liberal the federal program is.
The legislation would prohibit those with mental illness as their “sole underlying condition” from accessing MAID.
Bill 18 with its full name - Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act will be the first type of legislation across the country.
Under the legislation only Track 1 MAID would be allowed in Alberta. Track 1 is where the “natural death” of a person is likely to happen within 12 months.
It would prohibit Track 2 which includes those with mental illness as their only underlying and those whose natural death is not “reasonably forseeable.”
News coverage of Bill 18 this week does not go into the full provisions that it would provide.
One of those provisions is to prohibit MAID for those under 18 years old.
In 2023 a Special Joint Committee on MAID recommended studying or allowing access for "mature minors" (those under 18 deemed capable of informed decisions) in limited cases.
The government has said that they have no intention to lower the age but advocacy groups like Dying with Dignity Canada have been advocating for the age to be lowered.
They argue it would be unfair to deny the same rights to a mature 17 year old dying of a terminal condition that a 70 year old would be able to access no problem.
The Supreme Court when they levied the initial ruling that led to the 2016 assisted dying legislation also mandated that the government study additional circumstances, specifically around mature minors.
So yes, there is a push within parts of Canada’s advocacy ring to lower the age.
The media did highlight the prohibition Bill 18 would provide to those suffering from only mental illness but it also left out the prohibition of MAID for advance requests and individuals without the capacity to make their own healthcare decisions.
The legislation will also require a family member to witness MAID being administered.
Physicians and nurse practitioners will not be able to refer individuals outside of Alberta to receive MAID.
Regulated health professionals will be restricted from providing information about MAID to their patients when they are providing health services to them, unless the patient brings it up.
The public display of MAID information such as posters will be prohibited.
And also that physicians and nurse practitioners have the right to refuse to conduct MAID assessments or provide MAID in Alberta.
Media coverage in general did not go into the detailed provisions of the legislation. Instead a gloss-over of coverage was done on those who wanted to die previously in health care facilities but could not.
And discussions with stakeholders were carried out, both those who support the changes such as Inclusion Alberta and those who the media has called “right-to-die supporters.”
Inclusion Alberta CEO Trish Bowman said, "We know it reinforces incredibly negative and dangerous stereotypes about the value and worth of the lives of people with disabilities. And so we're very pleased to see this legislation today that serves to protect them.”
Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery said, “If it falls within the framework of what the original intention of MAID was and it complies with Bill 18, then that is a conversation that has to happen between a patient, a doctor and perhaps family members. It wouldn’t be my place to say anything in that regard, because it’s assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
The Alberta NDP said that they would need time to review the legislation before commenting.
The one singular angle that we have not talked about yet and did not garner much discussion was what role the federal government had to play.
CBC News featured a statement from the spokeswoman for Justice Minister Sean Fraser. Specifically that the federal government is looking at potential MAID expansion and that the provinces “have the right to develop frameworks around MAID delivery.”
But the single most glaring omission is that no one highlighted what this means for the federal legislation.
The federal legislation does not have Alberta’s provisions. That of course highlights how liberal the federal program is and how much more liberal it could become going forward.
Medical Assistance in Dying is a personal choice but the federal government’s provisions are leaning in such a way that do not protect vulnerable people.
If anything, Alberta’s provisions will highlight the shortcomings of the federal program and bring an eye to changes that should have been made by the federal government.
Supplementals:

It's been no secret that the BC NDP government is out of money. Following the release of last month's awful budget that projects over 10 billion dollars of debt in the next year, it's been clear that there is no room for extra spending on pretty much anything. This is making it very hard for the NDP to follow through on their plans and promises, and it's looking like next on the chopping block is public transport expansion, which has been one of the NDP's signature promises, in lockstep with increased housing opportunities.
Now, dozens of British Columbia communities have shelved plans to expand their bus services, with officials at BC Transit, the provincially funded arm’s-length agency that provides public transport outside of Metro Vancouver, blaming a lack of funding in the recent provincial budget. BC Transit had already been unable to keep up with local governments’ requests for improved transit projects in recent years, providing money for only about one-third of requested bus expansions. Now, all expansions for 2027 are on hold. In letters sent to local governments around the province, BC Transit officials wrote that “the 2026/27 operating budget will not provide the opportunity for service expansion.”
That has left local politicians concerned that local transit won’t get necessary improvements any time soon — and that any future expansions might have to be accompanied by matching cuts to other transit routes and services.
In Squamish, plans are also in limbo — despite the fact that the municipality signed a memorandum of understanding last fall with BC Transit on a three-year plan to bolster transit options. Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said: “It is really frustrating when we’ve been advocating for longer-term guaranteed funding. It’s difficult to have a three-year plan and [for the province] to just say, ‘Oh it’s not funded now and it’s unlikely to be funded next year.’”
Last year, municipalities committed to operation funding for 119 buses, but BC Transit had money to approve only 56 new buses. BC Transit’s impact on the provincial budget is relatively minor, and the money needed to operate a new bus is comparatively modest. Last year’s BC Transit matching commitment for those 56 buses was expected to cost $2.4 million — about $42,000 per bus. This year, the province plans to contribute a total of $195 million to BC Transit operations. It has projected a government-wide deficit of $13.3 billion. All in all, transit is a small piece of the pie, but it's getting squeezed hard by the government.
Improvements to BC Transit’s new service plan suggest the province is not planning to fund more buses outside of Metro Vancouver any time soon. Twelve months ago, BC Transit’s service plan named expanded services and key infrastructure projects as the two targeted strategies that would enable it to grow ridership across the province.
New BC Green Leader Emily Lowan, Canada's first major Gen Z party leader, was also in the news this week, suggesting that BC should invest in a massive passenger rail network across the province, saying the project could create jobs, ease congestion and boost local economies.
Emily Lowan suggested trains could run on routes like Victoria to Campbell River, Vancouver to Whistler, and the Lower Mainland to the Kootenays and beyond. Her plan would see trains carrying both residents and tourists in a transportation network similar to those in Europe and Asia, with Lowan adding the project could create thousands of jobs while boosting the construction, energy and tourism industries.
However, while this may seem like a good idea in theory, if we can't even fund provincial transit expansion between smaller communities, we have no hope of funding a massive passenger train expansion across the whole province.
Reviving passenger rail across the province would also face major hurdles. Some rail lines are in poor condition, and others are not built to handle modern passenger service. The B.C. government has already invested millions of dollars studying the future of the Vancouver Island rail corridor, adding that the population does not yet justify the cost—while acknowledging the island’s population is growing rapidly.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has been giving boilerplate responses to the story while not giving any substantial promises or updates: “We’re committed to looking for solutions that will maintain and strengthen existing passenger transportation connections that support British Columbians, and aligning transportation services with regional needs related to population density and travel demand.”
Regardless, the cancellation of transit options is not a good look for the government, amidst the push for more housing starts and population increases. The media outside of left-wing The Tyee has been silent on the issue, and that's a shame because transit isn't specifically a left wing issue. It's something that benefits everyone, and can bring the province together, as it did during the 2010 Winter Olympics. We should aim to get back to that time again.
Supplementals:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/all-aboard-the-train-to-whistler-or-campbell-river-bc-green-leader-proposes-province-wide-rail-network/

Edmonton mayor 'disappointed' in police chief and commission over visit to Israel

Edmonton’s police chief visited Israel and the mayor and city’s advocacy groups are not pleased. Police Chief Warren Driechel went to Israel to meet with state policing officials.
The trip was paid for by the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the goal of the trip was to learn from Israeli police services.
Reporting from CBC news did not detail what the chief’s meetings were about which leaves it up to the imagination of those concerned.
The Chief’s office released a statement and it was available for anyone to read.
Of note from the statement, Driechel said, “I spent time with police officers from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze faiths representing a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. I also met with Muslim community leaders who shared openly about their concerns and their reasons for working with police.”
He also said, “As police we focus on behavior, not beliefs. Where I have felt challenged this week is in the implication that any community group should have the right to direct where we can learn.”
Overall the trip was about learning to police in complex environments from an organization that manages crime, counter terrorism, community, and crisis response.
Mayor Andrew Knack said that he was “disappointed and frustrated” by the chief’s visit.
Other councillors such as Erin Rutherford met with the Edmonton Palestinian community who told her that they had lost trust in the police force.
She cited the fragile relationships that Edmonton’s refugees have had with police systems and ,military systems.
Councillor Karen Princepe on the other hand who serves on the Edmonton Police Commission said, “What concerns me is the tone this conversation has taken and the strain it is placing on the relationship between council and the Edmonton Police Service. While council operates at arm’s length from policing, we still need a respectful and functional working relationship to serve our city effectively.”
She added, “Trust is immeasurably damaged when the distress, suffering and anxiety of one community are acknowledged to the exclusion of another. Public leadership demands consistency.”
The story kept developing as the week progressed as the Edmonton Police Commission was meeting and the advocacy groups in Edmonton went to the meeting to voice their displeasure.
Over 30 people spoke and only 2 were supportive the Chief’s trip.
What the media has not talked about is the indirect links that are present to what is known as the BDS Israel movement. The movement to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel is something prominent in many progressive circles and is pushed by some palestinian groups.
Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney took note of the coverage from the left on this story.
He compared Mayor Knack’s trip to China with Chief Driechel’s trip to Israel.
Of which he noted Israel being the Middle East’s only real democracy, Israel’s justice system including Arab judges that has sentenced Prime Ministers, Presidents, and IDF officers when found guilty of crimes. The parliamentary system, the founding of Israel by an ancient indigenous group, and the experience of their police agencies when dealing with terrorism.
Compared to China being a dictatorial one party state, oppression of dissidents and ethnic groups, specifically the Uyghur’s, state sanctioned famines, the one child policy, labour camps, and executions.
He said, “Let the record show that Edmonton’s “progressive” Mayor kowtows to the world’s largest dictatorship, but condemns the democratic Jewish homeland.”
We must acknowledge that palestinian groups and some on Canada’s left levy the same claims against Israel. But the key point is that a platform was not provided by the city and media to lambast Knack while it was readily provided and almost served as a trial for Chief Driechel.
The difference in the presentation of both trips should raise concerns by anyone who wants a fair and impartial media and city hall.
If they had done that, this likely would not have become a story.
Supplementals:

Firing Line

Canada's Conservative leader talks tariffs and martial arts with Joe Rogan

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sat down for a more than two-hour-long interview on The Joe Rogan Experience this week. This is a big deal because Rogan's show ranks near or at the top of podcast charts on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts — with over 20 million subscribers on YouTube alone.
This is a big deal, as it means that Poilievre has cast a wide reaching net around the world, and by all accounts, performed admirably, as a capable diplomat of Canadian values. The podcast has already achieved 2 million views on Youtube in just 2 days, surpassing most of the other Joe Rogan podcast episodes in the last several weeks.
Poilievre told reporters that he used his appearance to argue against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods.
"One of the biggest leverage points we have to fight for tariff-free trade, to fight for our auto, steel, aluminum and lumber workers, is the goodwill of the American people," he said on Thursday morning.
While the two did discuss tariffs, they also covered a range of other topics — including Trump's 51st state taunts, Poilievre's relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney and mixed martial arts (MMA).
Early on in the interview, Rogan asked Poilievre about Trump's repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state and whether that had an impact on his chances in last year's election.
Poilievre didn't touch on how Trump's taunts impacted the election (he said he tries to "live in the present"), but did firmly reject the notion that Canada could join the U.S. "We're very proudly Canadian so we're never gonna be the 51st state. I just wish he'd knock that s--t off so that we can get back to talking about the things that we could do as two separate countries that are actually friends."
When asked if he has spoken with Trump, Poilievre said he is leaving those talks to Carney and his government. While that's not out of step with what the Conservative leader has said in the past, Poilievre did say that he's been in touch with Carney while touring the U.S. this week. "Even in my visit down here, I'm sending him text messages to tell him what's going on, to try and support his work because we both want what's best for Canada,"
Later in the interview, Rogan gave Poilievre the chance to criticize Carney for not "stealing" enough Conservative ideas — but Poilievre refused to do so: "I won't criticize him on foreign soil … we have a mutual respect."
The two also discussed medical assistance in dying (MAID) and when it should be administered. Rogan referenced statistics that suggest five per cent of all deaths in Canada are a result of MAID, calling that figure "insane."
Poilievre and the Conservatives voted against the legislation that legalized MAID in 2016. But the party leader told Rogan he thinks "people should have the choice." Poilievre did reiterate his party's stance against incoming changes to Canada's laws that would allow people suffering solely from mental illnesses to request MAID.
"We have to do more to give people hope when they're suffering with mental illness — give people a sense that they can take back control of their lives," Poilievre said, citing the promotion of fitness as a way to combat mental health issues.
At one point Rogan asked Poilievre about his now famous apple-eating interview with a local journalist. In the 2023 interview, Poilievre bats away suggestions about populism and politics by repeatedly questioning the reporter all while chomping down an apple in an orchard. While Poilievre posted the video on his social media platforms, the Conservative leader told Rogan that he wasn't aware he was being filmed at the time.
"I didn't even realize I was being taped. I thought it was a print interview. We dumped this 15-minute video on the internet and no one noticed it. And like three weeks later, my phone blows up and people say, 'Hey, how about that apple?' I'm like, 'What are they talking about this apple thing?'"
Rogan asked Poilievre about some of his policies, including what his first move would be if he became prime minister. Poilievre responded that his first priority would be to "unblock" Canadian resources, including natural gas, critical minerals and fertilizers.
When Rogan asked if environmental concerns hold up such projects, Poilievre said that's the "ostensible" reason before blaming government bureaucracy for delaying resource projects. Rogan pressed the Conservative leader on environmental concerns, specifically pointing to oil extraction.
"If you do have an impact on the environment, that impact is often permanent — and then it's devastating. I've seen some of the oil extraction that they've done up in Alberta, where you look at the area, it looks like scorched earth," Rogan suggested.
Poilievre pushed back on that claim, saying it's "the most responsible oil extraction in the world," dismissing most environmental concerns as "bulls--t."
"At the end of the day, the people who live there are very healthy and very happy. And they're the strongest supporters of the expansion of the oilsands. It's been a really disgusting PR campaign by extremist environmentalists and frankly, some of our competitors, to try and make our industry look bad."
Rogan has been heavily critical of the Canadian government in recent years, specifically when Justin Trudeau was prime minister. The podcaster said on an episode last year he'd rather go to Russia than Canada because of the government.
Early on in the conversation with Poilievre, Rogan repeated a false claim that Trudeau is the son of former Cuban president Fidel Castro, which he called a "great conspiracy theory."
Poilievre was rhyming off some of the books he had read in his youth, including a Castro biography, when Rogan cut in and called him "Justin's dad."
But Poilievre rejected the claim: "No, not Justin's dad," Poilievre said while chuckling, before going on to talk about some of his qualms with the policies of Pierre Trudeau.
The Conservative leader also encouraged Rogan to come to Canada. Throughout the podcast, Rogan complimented Poilievre and his politics and even offered an endorsement near the end of the interview. "Your message resonates with me and I think if I was Canadian I would vote for you 100 per cent," the host said.
Midway through their discussion, Poilievre said he was optimistic about his chances in the next election — whenever it may come. "I will get there. Canadians do things through evolution, not revolution. So I'm just going to keep pushing my ideas and I think overwhelmingly we will win the next election," he said.
Supplementals:

Quote of the Week

"We're very proudly Canadian so we're never gonna be the 51st state. I just wish he'd knock that s--t off so that we can get back to talking about the things that we could do as two separate countries that are actually friends." - Pierre Poilievre on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast

Word of the Week

exposure - to uncover the true nature of something

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Show Data

Episode Title: Exposing the Media
Teaser: Alberta introduces limitations to MAID, BC’s public transit plans get curtailed, and Edmonton’s police chief gets flack for a trip to Israel. Also, Poilievre’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast sends shockwaves through the mainstream media.
Production Code: WC-461-2026-03-21
Recorded Date: March 21, 2026
Release Date: March 22, 2026
Duration: 1:08:26
Edit Notes: None

Podcast Summary Notes

Duration: XX:XX