Graham Thomson

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Graham Thomson.

Danielle Smith will impact the federal election. Who will benefit remains to be seen

Danielle Smith will impact the federal election. Who will benefit remains to be seen

Premier Danielle Smith, the great disrupter of Alberta politics, is now disrupting the federal scene. At least, that’s the perspective of those who don’t know Smith and haven’t followed her career as United Conservative premier the past two years. Smith is in fact all about disruption and even chaos to gain power and influence at both the provincial and federal...

Eight weeks ago, Danielle Smith was on a roll. Now it couldn’t be clearer she’s in deep trouble

Eight weeks ago, Danielle Smith was on a roll. Now it couldn’t be clearer she’s in deep trouble

When Finance Minister Nate Horner tabled Alberta’s provincial budget in the assembly on Thursday afternoon, he and every other government MLA should have been wearing a neck brace. And maybe two for Premier Danielle Smith.

An emboldened Danielle Smith has voters wondering what she’s really up to

An emboldened Danielle Smith has voters wondering what she’s really up to

Alberta’s UCP government never sleeps.It is always up, always moving, always finding new things to chew on.It is the shark of Canadian politics.Just over a week ago, Alberta was fixated on the drama surrounding Premier Danielle Smith’s leadership review at the United Conservative Party’s annual general meeting in Red Deer.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces a leadership review this weekend and she knows who she has to keep happy

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces a leadership review this weekend and she knows who she has to keep happy

To survive a leadership review at this weekend’s United Conservative Party convention, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is relying on two old adages: “dance with the one that brung you”; and “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” That’s why Smith is pandering to the same social conservatives who helped topple Jason Kenney as UCP leader...

Danielle Smith is in control of Alberta, but the fringe forces that sank Jason Kenney are trying to pull the premier further to the right

Danielle Smith is in control of Alberta, but the fringe forces that sank Jason Kenney are trying to pull the premier further to the right

If you were thinking Alberta’s politics is getting particularly crazy these days — you’d be right. I mean, how else to explain why Premier Danielle Smith was recently dabbling in the “chemtrail” conspiracy theory. If you were thinking that’s because Smith has spun out of control — you’d be wrong. Smith is very much in control. She’s just worried about...

Political squabbles and finger pointing abound after the Jasper fire. For some leaders two words get left unsaid

Political squabbles and finger pointing abound after the Jasper fire. For some leaders two words get left unsaid

Too soon?Is it too soon after the devastating fire that ripped through Jasper last week, creating a human tragedy and an ecological disaster, to talk about the fraught politics of wildfires in Alberta?

Naheed Nenshi’s bloodless coup to be crowned Alberta’s NDP leader

Naheed Nenshi’s bloodless coup to be crowned Alberta’s NDP leader

It was a bloodless coup.Alberta’s opposition New Democratic Party is now being led by a man who wasn’t even a member of the party until entering the leadership race in March.

'They are immoral and they are dangerous': Naheed Nenshi comes out swinging at Danielle Smith and UCP in bid for Alberta NDP leadership

'They are immoral and they are dangerous': Naheed Nenshi comes out swinging at Danielle Smith and UCP in bid for Alberta NDP leadership

Into the placid waters of Alberta’s NDP leadership race comes a rogue cannonball.Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi ended weeks of speculation Monday afternoon to announce he has entered the contest to replace New Democratic leader Rachel Notley.

Danielle Smith uses Sovereignty Act in a stroke of theatre — with an eye on her next act

Danielle Smith uses Sovereignty Act in a stroke of theatre — with an eye on her next act

In a show of defiance that is one part sabre rattling and one part constitutional threat, with a large dollop of political theatre tossed in, Premier Danielle Smith has finally pulled the trigger on using Alberta’s Sovereingty Act. Smith is invoking the controversial act, introduced one year ago, to oppose the federal government’s proposed Clean Electricity Regulations, specifically Ottawa’s insistence...

Raising taxes in Alberta is already hard. Danielle Smith will make it (almost) impossible

Raising taxes in Alberta is already hard. Danielle Smith will make it (almost) impossible

To fulfil a reckless election promise, Premier Danielle Smith has slapped a pair of handcuffs on herself, figuratively speaking.She wants to prevent her own government — and any subsequent Alberta government — from raising personal taxes. Ever. (Or at least to make the process so difficult as to be nigh impossible.)