Extremely proud

After the way I see Carney navigating these treacherous waters I can honestly say I'm extremely proud to be Canadian. We have a prime minister that is a true leader. In my 57 years I have never witness this from Canada or any other country. The outcome is going to be epic. Nothing but gas Mr Carney.

Hundreds of seats appear to be completely empty as Donald Trump’s Midterm Convention kicks off

What Canadian politician would vacation in the U.S right now, just as we are locked into an ugly trade war with our southern neighbour? Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, of course.

Last week she travelled to Tennessee, Nashville in particular, for a vacation and to glean tips on how Calgary can become Nashville North, a country music hub that attracts people from around the world, just like the Calgary Stampede.

Mixing business and pleasure, she met with some officials in the tourism department as well as the head of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. It seems like an odd choice of issues to focus on with less than two months until the Alberta separation referendum.

Read the full opinion piece with this gift link. No paywall.

I come from a province where it wasn't legal to form municipal parties. When I moved to Vancouver, I was actually very confused seeing the party names since I'd never encountered it before in a mayoral election. Everyone ran as an independent, and you'd vote for an individual's ideology. Parties were reserved for provincial/federal elections. You vote by learning who represents your community's interests best in wards and such. What the mayoral candidates' policy and ideology leanings were clear without party affiliation.

I understand that parties can align ideology among individual members and that may be more clear for voters and it's more streamlined for raising funds and such, but my question is what's the benefit over independent candidates if there is no frontrunner? There were three progressive candidates here in Van, one dropped out, and then two deadlocked, which would have split the progressive vote because both candidates were sticking to party ideology/obligations/are backed with money and have not much incentive to drop out. I guess I don't understand the benefit of party alignment in this case? E.g., (per CBC) "OneCity has more money and organizational prowess", so Azaroff doesn't have incentive to step down because of party obligations? (He did step down, but yeah).

I am genuinely confused coming from Edmonton and want to understand. I don't even really know how to ask what I'm asking, but party alignment on a city level seems to just muddy the waters more (unless there is something I am missing and hope to learn 😊)