Jared Wesley

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Gil McGowan, the Alberta Federation of Labour president, speaks on behalf of the Alberta labour movement in response to Bill 2 and the invocation of the notwithstanding clause by the provincial government in Edmonton on Oct. 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Team work and power plays: What Alberta’s Bill 2 says about Canadian democracy

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta; Alex Marland, Acadia University, and Mireille Lalancette, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)

Message discipline is an increasing feature of Canadian politics. Canadians across the country should pay attention to what just happened in Alberta, where teachers were ordered back to work.
Le premier ministre Mark Carney accompagne le député Chris d'Entremont, qui a quitté le caucus conservateur pour rejoindre les libéraux, à une réunion du caucus libéral sur la Colline du Parlement à Ottawa, le 5 novembre 2025. La Presse canadienne | Justin Tang

Partir ou bien rester ? Quand la loyauté politique est mise en péril

Mireille Lalancette, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR); Alex Marland, Acadia University, and Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

Des départs en série secouent la CAQ. Entre loyauté et désillusion, plusieurs élus tournent le dos à François Legault, révélant les fragilités de la discipline partisane.
Voters in Medicine Hat, Alta. line up to cast their ballots. The provincial government’s legislation outlawing vouching risks disenfranchising many eligible voters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta’s voter ID law is a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta and Alex Ballos, University of Alberta

Canadians should watch events in Alberta very carefully because voter ID laws are often the first step of many in restricting the voting rights of eligible citizens. They spread and escalate quickly.
Crowds attend Family Day at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary in July 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Albertans have more in common than recent elections suggest

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

Ongoing research suggests the average Albertan is far less conservative than it appears, especially on social issues like health care and inclusion.
A health-care worker appears to give the middle finger as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces a public health guarantee in Sherwood Park, Alta. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Democracy itself is on the ballot in Alberta’s upcoming election

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

The 2023 Alberta election is about far more than left versus right. The UCP’s record in office means the votes of Albertans on May 29 are about choosing province over party.
Edmonton demonstrators gather to protest against COVID-19 measures and support the ‘freedom convoy’ in February 2022. Research suggests Alberta separatist sentiments have as much to do with antipathy about the federal government and Justin Trudeau as actually leaving Confederation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

What the spectre of Alberta separatism means for Canada

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta and Lisa Young, University of Calgary

Even though they lack the profile of Québec sovereigntists, Alberta separatists are positioned to exert significant political influence on intergovernmental relations in the years to come.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton in September 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Why Alberta lacks a mandate to reopen Canada’s Constitution

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

Given low levels of turnout and high levels of “no” support in urban areas, Alberta lacks a clear mandate to press for changes to Canada’s Constitution after its equalization referendum.
Even if Alberta was motivated to increase vaccination rates through direct government intervention, the measures may not succeed given conservatives’ lack of faith in the province, the premier and the cabinet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Financial insecurity and right‑wing beliefs drive COVID‑19 vaccine hesitancy among Albertans

Michelle Maroto, University of Alberta; Feo Snagovsky, University of Alberta, and Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

We surveyed Albertans, and while most were vaccinated, we found certain groups were less likely to be vaccinated than others. Those being people facing economic hardship and political affiliation.
By portraying himself as Guardian of Alberta, Jason Kenney easily moved from opposition leader to premier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Jason Kenney won by portraying himself as the Guardian of Alberta

Jared Wesley, University of Alberta

Jason Kenney took a well-worn path to the premiership by portraying himself as the Guardian of Alberta. But remarkably, he played this role successfully when he was opposition leader.

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