Jeff Milner

I found this on the Lethbridge subreddit:

Nathan Neudorf says notwithstanding clause “the most democratic action the legislature could do”

Presumably this is an email response to questions about the democratic-ness of using Section 33, the notwithstanding clause, to rob teachers of their rights. It says:

Thank you for your email, I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

The use of the notwithstanding clause is perhaps the most democratically responsive action the legislature could do. The level of public debate, both in support and against, is almost unprecedented. People are talking to each other and to their MLAs everyday about these important issues. And unlike the courts, the MLAs who vote for or against the use of the notwithstanding clause will be held democratically accountable in the next election. People may disagree with the legislature’s decisions but they cannot say that this is contrary to democracy; if anything, this is the most democratic action the legislature could do.

The decision to use the notwithstanding clause is not one that is taken lightly. There is careful consideration that goes into making these decisions and how it will impact Albertans, including the consideration of the lives of those who will be impacted if it is not used.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback on this matter. As we move forward, I will take your view into consideration.

Sincerely,
Nathan Neudorf, MLA
Lethbridge-East
ALBERTA
Honourable Nathan Neudorf
Minister of Affordability and Utilities

Neudorf should know that the notwithstanding part of Section 33 means: notwithstanding that we know this goes against the Charter, we are going to do it anyway. It might be a technically legal loophole, that doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it “the most democratically responsive action the legislature could do.”

From Thomas Lukaszuk on BlueSky:

.@elections.ab.ca .@ElectionsAB Why are Elections Alberta accredited canvassers for the separatists’ petition required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the separatists?

What are their canvassers not to disclose? What are they hiding? Is this not a transparent democratic process? #ableg

[image or embed]

— Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk (@lukaszukab.bsky.social) January 4, 2026 at 9:01 PM

Among the myriad of reasons to oppose the separatist movement in Albeta, the opacity the operation is another red flag.

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit it, but the thought of the US attacking Canada is something that’s been on my mind for the first time in my life.

Not that I think we are in any immediate threat, there will be a lot of other significant moves to make one truly frightened nevertheless the 51st state rhetoric echoes in my mind as the USA kidnapped the president of Venezuela and his wife yesterday, killing dozens, or perhaps hundreds, in this special military operation which the legal implications under US and international law are not immediately clear.

There’s no denying Maduro is a bad actor and the Venezuelan people deserve better, but how this is shaking out has me worried.

I also wonder what my Canadian born US citizen cousins make of it.¹ If nothing else, the lack of congressional oversight is certainly worrisome.

1. I haven’t asked them.[↩]