Alberta’s premier has been derailed from positive news on the vaccine rollout and forced to explain himself dining al fresco at the notorious “Sky Palace.” Jason Kenney and key cabinet ministers were photographed maskless and less than socially distanced eating takeout in apparent contravention of COVID-19 rules. This in a week where the premier turned a question about residential schools into a commentary against cancel culture. Meanwhile, the NDP is going into its convention riding high in the polls. Guest host Jim Brown in for Kathleen Petty looks at Alberta’s latest political events with University of Alberta political scientist Julian Castro-Rea, Globe and Mail columnist Kelly Cryderman and Jen Gerson, cofounder of The Line.

Alberta’s premier is selling his ambitious “open for summer” three-stage plan to end pandemic restrictions. Jason Kenney says if Alberta meets vaccine and hospital targets all COVID-19 measures could be lifted by the end of June. That means no limits on indoor social gatherings and sports activities, and the return of the Calgary Stampede. Businesses are hopeful. But some doctors are calling the plan risky and reckless because it moves too fast. And what about the Allan inquiry? Guest host Jim Brown looks at the politics and the premier’s efforts to get ahead of the pandemic with communications specialist Corey Hogan of The Strategists podcast, former director of communications for Rachel Notley, Leah Ward of Metric Strategies, and former UCP president Erika Barootes of Enterprise Canada.

Premier Jason Kenney may need more than “baboon’s blood” to cool the simmering trouble in Alberta and his UCP caucus. COVID-19 cases are still high, and the premier’s popularity is low. The caucus voted to expel two troublemakers, but trust remains at a premium. Kathleen Petty takes a closer look at another dramatic week in Alberta politics with three people who’ve been on the inside when “toil and trouble” were at full boil: former Alberta cabinet minister and member of the Fair Deal Panel Donna Kennedy-Glans, former senior adviser to prime minister Stephen Harper Ken Boessenkool and Stephen Carter, former chief of staff to premier Alison Redford.

Monty Python’s Black Knight was a doomed fictional character, but Premier Jason Kenney’s fight with members of his own UCP caucus is very real. Kenney’s caucus has voted to kick out two high profile members, after their public denunciations of Kenney’s leadership, with one even calling for the premier’s resignation. This follows weeks of public dissent by UCP MLAs over Kenney’s pandemic response, and constituency chiefs demanding a leadership review. The question is how much more can Kenney’s leadership withstand? Is he “invincible” like the Black Knight? Kathleen Petty looks at what’s going on with Katy Merrifield, Kenney’s former director of communications, Globe and Mail columnist Kelly Cryderman and columnist Rick Bell of the Calgary Sun.

What the heck is going on in Alberta? Host Kathleen Petty and her guests hunt for the reasons behind political upheaval in the province during this CBC Calgary Facebook Live event. Whether it’s protest rodeos or vaccine debates, political infighting and polarization are leading to exhaustion. Is it COVID fatigue, or is something else going on? Kathleen breaks it down with Janet Brown and John Santos of Janet Brown Opinion Research, Duane Bratt from Mount Royal University, Melanee Thomas at the University of Calgary, and Jen Gerson, editor of The Line.

Alberta’s premier says we can get back to normal this summer with outdoor events, including the Calgary Stampede if vaccines beat the COVID-19 variants. But expectations are waning in the face of a brutal third wave. Jason Kenney has responded to demands from concerned Indigenous leaders and others calling for help with more vaccine eligibility and mandatory restrictions, including curfews. Meanwhile outspoken protesters rail against the prospect of tighter pandemic measures, even calling for Kenney’s resignation. Kathleen Petty looks at how the premier is managing it all with columnist Kelly Cryderman of The Globe and Mail, columnist Jason Markusoff of Macleans and independent columnist Graham Thomson.

Premier Jason Kenney is learning how hard it can be to dance with the ones who brought him to power. A new in-depth and wide-ranging CBC poll from Janet Brown Opinion Research shows Alberta voters are fickle and not reliable for Kenney, or his federal Conservative counterpart. Kathleen Petty teases out what’s driving public opinion as politicians lead and follow through the pandemic, economic crisis and the challenges for oil and gas, the country’s biggest industry. And what’s with that swath of undecided wall flowers? Her guests are lead pollster Janet Brown, political scientists Melanee Thomas of the University of Calgary and Duane Bratt of Mount Royal University.

The federal government’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has people in the energy sector worried. The natural resources minister says creative approaches such as developing hydrogen and even SMRs (small modular nuclear reactors) can help meet that goal. Seamus O’Regan insists achieving net zero must include pipelines and leave no one behind. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have released their climate change plan and it includes a price on carbon. Kathleen Petty sits down with Minister O’Regan, and then looks at the impact and politics for Alberta, the country’s biggest oil and gas producer. Her guests are University of Alberta economist Andrew Leach and columnist Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail.

The Alberta NDP is gaining political advantage as the UCP fights a giant political dumpster fire. Rachel Notley’s poll numbers are on the rise while Jason Kenney’s are tanking. The premier is fighting a caucus rebellion spurred on by his pandemic response. Meanwhile, Notley is a headline speaker following Jagmeet Singh at this weekend’s federal NDP convention - an interesting lineup given their past disagreements. Kathleen Petty looks at the many political fires burning with her guest, Brian Topp, Notley’s former chief of staff, and this week’s panel - University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley, conservative strategist Erika Barootes of Enterprise Canada, and National Observer columnist, Max Fawcett.

Alberta’s premier is facing pressure to open up the economy while doctors call for more pandemic restrictions. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are rising again, and the contract deal with the doctors has crashed. Add to that, new strategies on coal and the proposed school curriculum have sparked criticism. Alberta MLAs are getting an earful during their Easter break. And some are getting an ear worm because of a song that surfaced from Jason Kenney’s grandfather, who is part of the new curriculum. Kathleen Petty breaks it down and sings a few bars with University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young, Macleans western columnist Jason Markusoff and Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell.