Alberta politics through the lens of history. Original research, context & analysis. Exploring Alberta’s past to understand our future.
Edmonton, Alberta
Joined December 2008
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In case you haven't heard, I'm running for Vice President of Membership on the UCP Provincial Board! Our membership is way down, and I'm determined to hit the ground running to reverse that decline. I've got a bunch of ideas, but I'd really like to hear yours! Check out my new website: vince4vp.ca
If you're not a UCP member and would like to join, click here: unitedconservative.ca/take-a…
If you're already a member and want to attend the AGM in Calgary, November 27–28, click here:
unitedconservative.ca/agm-20…
And if the cost of attending is holding you back, please contact me. Some constituency associations may be able to help with expenses, and I'll see what we can do!
I'm sure @markusoff meant to provide my complete response but couldn't. Here. Let me help you out, Jason.
CBC Article here (comments disabled):
cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/u… – at Edmonton, Alberta
The media try not to state direct falsehoods, but in this case they left out so much of what I said as to make it to appear as its opposite. This essentially constitutes a lie by omission.
Someone suggested that Alberta consider strengthening its Defamation Act to allow the government to pursue financial penalties against corporations that knowingly publish demonstrably false or misleading statements, including deliberate misrepresentation through omission. The key distinction here is corporations, not individuals, and falsehoods that can be proven to have been deliberate, not honest mistakes or differences of opinion.
This might be one way to hold corporate media accountable for the falsehoods they perpetuate. And perhaps the financial penalties collected could help offset the taxes Albertans are forced to pay, whether they like it or not, to fund the CBC. – at Edmonton, Alberta
Not helpful, Rick Bell (@RickBellwrites). Also not true (as in, that's not what she said). Please do your job accurately. – at Edmonton, Alberta
Waking up this morning what greeted me was this message from Timothy Hawrysh, a friend I came to know through my father’s involvement at St. Herman’s Orthodox Church in West Edmonton:
“You wrote many people to vote Option 2 send a message to Ottawa, not actually to separate. Unless, you were being disingenuous with those Albertans? Are you for Separating Alberta from Canada or not?”
This morning's Substack missive, now narrated on Spotify
vincebyfield.substack.com/p/…
open.spotify.com/episode/3QJ… – at Edmonton, Alberta
Lawyer's maxim: “Never ask a witness a question unless you know what the answer will be.”
Lesson learned: Until we consistently see numbers north of 50 we should not ask the question again.
We've got some educating still to do, especially in our cities. – at Stony Plain 135, Alberta
Vince Byfield retweeted
🚨And we’re off! 🏃 🏃♀️ 🏃🏽♂️
Polls are now officially open across Alberta!🗳️
For the first time in our collective history, Albertans get to vote today on our relationship with Ottawa. 🙌
That relationship which we never got to vote on in the first place has soured dramatically. 😡
That relationship has made an economic subservient colony from a proud and distinct culture in Alberta. 💰
That relationship has limited your freedoms and restricted local decision-making. 🤔
Today you can stand up to Ottawa, and stand up for a brighter future for your friends and family. 🧢
Today is the day to vote Option 2! 💙
You only have 11 hours left... ⏰
Wow! Simply Wow! And this isn't even a regular provincial election.
According to Elections Alberta advance voting increased 10.4%, from 758,637 to 837,791 votes. Special ballots surged 911%, from 51,351 to 519,082. Combined advance and special ballot voting increased 67.5%, from 809,988 to 1,356,873 votes, compared to the 2023 provincial election.
Historically, federal elections tend to attract higher voter turnout in Alberta than provincial elections. Yet Alberta's 2026 referendum has already recorded 1,356,873 advance and special ballots (43.1% of eligible voters), compared with 974,110 (30.1%) in the 2025 federal election, an increase of 39.3% in ballots cast before election day.
Ted Morton has published a piece in the Calgary Herald that includes the following: "To create that political leverage needed for meaningful reforms, the leave vote will need to be in the 30 to 40 per cent range. This will only happen if enough Albertans who oppose separation still vote for Option B — not to separate but to “send a message” — that the status quo must go."
( My earlier Substack article dedicated directly to Ted on this matter a full month before his Herald column is still clickable. Enjoy! vincebyfield.substack.com/..…... )
So it is with utter joy for me discover that Ted has now joined the "Send A Message" ranks, which I believe is very much in keeping with what I believe is not only a possible route forward for both Alberta and Canada, but actually the most probable: Re-Federation.
Welcome aboard, Ted!
🤖 Made with AI
Below is a transcript of the speech delivered by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, at the BMO Centre in Calgary, along with my responses to various points he raised.
Mr. Carney’s words appear in pink, while my responses appear in blue below. Each excerpt is marked with a timestamp so readers can follow the speech and consider both what the Prime Minister said and what I have to say in response.
vincebyfield.substack.com/p/… – at Edmonton, Alberta
A healthy and growing UCP membership is not simply nice to have. It is a necessity. We cannot afford to let our guard down and allow our membership to dwindle, especially with the next provincial election less than a year away. That’s why I’ve decided, once again, to run for the UCP Provincial Board, this time as VP of Membership.
WHY I’M CONCERNED: There’s too much at stake
vincebyfield.substack.com/p/… – at Edmonton, Alberta
So this is the question for today: Is the idea of basing a society’s laws from the outset upon a clear set of first principles a new thing? Would we be the first? History reveals it has been done before, with great care, by societies that became some of the most influential the world has known. I found this history fascinating. I hope you agree as we begin our trip together.
vincebyfield.substack.com/p/…
🤖 Made with AI
Not a whit. Option Two is the only real choice for a strong and free Alberta, regardless of whether we achieve full indepence or remain a proud province within a fixed confederation (which can only happen by breaking the current agreements via a successful independence referendum and then negotiating for a new Canadian Confederation that is fairer, stronger, and more free than ever before). It's time once more for Alberta to lead this nation by example. Principles are far more important than pride in a failed state.
vincebyfield.substack.com/p/… – at Edmonton, Alberta
Another pipeline announcement!
Has it changed how you plan to vote in the referendum?
youtu.be/PSVeigYAZSk?si=3v2f…
I greatly respect @AlbertaNumber1 (aka Jason Stephan), but this is absolutely the wrong time for a leadership review, in addition to the fact that our premier @ABDanielleSmith is making headway.
@JeffreyRWRath Jeff, you have significantly moved the independence dial forward and for that I am grateful, but the best leader and premier at this time for our province is still clearly Danielle Smith.
As advocates for an independent Alberta, it is our job to persuade -- at a bare minimum -- 50% of Albertans, not the premier's. The premier's job is to serve the majority will, and she's doing an amazing job at that.
We have yet to win over Calgarians and Edmontonians to the cause.
You're a lawyer, Jeff. Would you rather go to court knowing the the answer you will get from the witness in advance, or just hope they answer the way you want? – at Edmonton, Alberta
ALBERTA ALERT 🚨
I respect Jason Stephan.
He is a lawyer. Unlike Smith he respects democracy and the rights of citizens to vote on fundamental issues. Hopefully he will also respect the wishes of of a super majority of the UCP membership to pursue independence.
He doesn’t necessarily support Alberta’s Independence but at least he understands what leverage is. Jason seems to understand that there is no point in to talking to someone as corrupt as Mark Carney unless you have serious leverage.
Things will get interesting when Smith resigns or is removed in the coming months. Jason Stephan will likely have a big role to play.
Vince Byfield retweeted
I feel like this needs to be said because there is so much tension and division. It feels like every conversation is ready to become an argument.
People are frustrated. Concerns are met with labels instead of answers, and people are pushed out. That will not rebuild trust.
We must ask where public money goes, and expect officials to explain their decisions. Public service is a responsibility, not a favour.
Science develops through questioning. Law develops through challenge. Democracy develops through disagreement.
Instead of discouraging conversations or referendums, let’s encourage them. A strong democracy needs informed citizens who can disagree and still be heard. Progress actually comes from questioning the status quo.
"I was naturally concerned to know (as I’m sure are many other Albertans) exactly how Elections Alberta plans to handle this massive increase in ballots. So there I was Saturday afternoon, learning firsthand how they plan to carry out what will almost certainly be the largest mail-in ballot count in our province’s history — perhaps ten times larger than anything Elections Alberta has ever handled before. Here’s what I discovered."
What Happens After We Send in Our Special Referendum Mail-In Ballot? vincebyfield.substack.com/p/…
🤖 Made with AI
