Alberta's premier has a new signature bill that experts say could provoke a constitutional crisis. The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act goes even farther than the recent Saskatchewan First Act to assert provincial rights.This week Kathleen Petty looks at what these new bills mean for the provinces and the country, with University of Alberta Constitutional law professor Eric Adams in Edmonton, Carrie Tait, who covers Alberta for the Globe and Mail in Calgary, and former Saskatchewan premier and constitution architect, Roy Romanow, in Saskatoon.

Alberta is flush with cash and the new premier is spending it. Danielle Smith used her first province-wide TV address to announce direct payments to Albertans coping with inflation. She said she'd changed her mind on past controversial views as a radio host. Even her proposed "Sovereignty Act" is being rebranded. Kathleen Petty looks at whether Smith’s communications strategy is enough to shift her dropping poll numbers. Corey Hogan, who led communications for the Alberta government under two premiers, joins the conversation along with University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young and Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary's analysis and opinion producer.

The board of Alberta Health Services has been fired and an official administrator is overseeing Premier Danielle Smith’s ambitious agenda with just six months until the next election. What could her proposals change in Alberta’s health care system and how will that shape the province’s politics? Guest host Jim Brown is joined by Lorian Hardcastle from the University of Calgary, former Chief Medical Officer of Health James Talbot and CBC’s provincial affairs reporter Janet French.

Premier Danielle Smith will once again be MLA Danielle Smith. The UCP leader won her byelection in Brooks-Medicine Hat this week and we’re about to see exactly what is on Smith’s legislative agenda for the rest of 2022. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail, Melissa Caouette of MC Consulting and freeland columnist Graham Thomson.

A rough start for Alberta's new premier has her challenger in majority territory. CBC has exclusive new polling on the provincial horse race and insights on how Albertans feel about the path the provincial government is on. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research, Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, and Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary’s analysis and opinion producer.

Alberta’s election is still more than half a year away, but the campaign is unofficially on. The final two months of 2022 promise to be busy ones, including a throne speech and the likely introduction of the Sovereignty Act. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Zain Velji, a partner at Northweather, Mandi Johnson from Crestview Strategy, and Alex Boyd with the Toronto Star.

Once a premier, again a premier? That full circle is what NDP leader Rachel Notley is aiming for. This weekend we’ll get some clues about her strategy. The UCP and the NDP are both holding their annual conventions this weekend. What is the path to victory for the opposition as it gets ready for another run at government? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Cheryl Oates, a principal at GT & Company, Keith McLaughlin, a partner at New West Public Affairs, and Leah Ward, the director of campaigns at Metric Strategies.

The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are upping the ante with the federal government. Danielle Smith is preparing her Sovereignty Act. Scott Moe wants more economic autonomy. Are prairie politics now about pushback? This week host Kathleen Petty is joined by Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, Regina Leader-Post Columnist Murray Mandryk, and pollster and political analyst Janet Brown.

Danielle Smith is now the leader of the United Conservative Party and will be the next premier of Alberta. Her victory changes the landscape of the party and the province. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman, a columnist from the Globe and Mail, Corey Hogan, who led communications for Alberta's government under two premiers and CBC Calgary's analysis producer, Jason Markusoff to talk about what comes next for the UCP and for Alberta.

The final stretch is here. We’re less than a week away from the vote that will determine the next United Conservative Party Leader — and Alberta premier. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by three conservative strategists to talk about what we’ve learned from the race and what might happen after the results are announced. Mandi Johnson is with Crestview Strategy, Melissa Caouette runs a private consulting business, and Michael Solberg is a partner at New West Public Affairs.