Other commentators are rightfully pointing out that this information is open public in other jurisdictions, and that Albertans' information is almost certainly already being shared and sold.

I believe the reason why this has become such a large news story is the tension between Alberta (and the west) and the rest of Canada. Alberta has rising separatist sentiment, a premiere who is extremely popular in Alberta and extremely unpopular outside of Alberta, and is on average more right wing compared to the rest of Canada. In both the media coverage and popular sentiment, this incident has been used to show Alberta and its government in a bad light, despite it not having anything to do with the party currently in power.

As long as it makes Alberta look bad it's an excuse to attack Danielle Smith and the UCP, and Albertians in general. Other Canadians eat up negative Alberta news like nothing else, and the media will no doubt provide them with the type of news that they crave. If this happened in any other province it would get 1/10th the coverage and outrage. Instead you have people online calling for Smith to face prison time for something she was not involved in. The media gets their views and the people get their ragebait.

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Tiktaalik 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

> Other Canadians eat up negative Alberta news like nothing else, and the media will no doubt provide them with the type of news that they crave.

The reality is more the complete opposite. People from not-Alberta care about their own provincial governments and issues and don't really think about Alberta at all.

It's the media and government in Alberta that is encouraging this notion that "Alberta is under attack" from others because lazy grievance politics works and it's a good distraction from scrutiny on the failings of the Albertan provincial government. You see the government of Quebec do the same thing, blaming Rest of Canada for all their woes, wrapping themselves up in the provincial flag, etc etc.

Don't fall for this stuff.

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Sprocklem 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

This is my experience as well, as someone who grew up in Alberta and has spent a fair bit of time in other provinces. This narrative that the rest of Canada is anti-Alberta or anti-Quebec (or that the federal government is seeking to undermine those provinces) seems to be invented and pushed by those provinces' governments to drive votes and avoid culpability for their role in their province's problems. It does not seem to be reflective of the opinions of people (or governments) from other provinces.

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slopinthebag 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

That is not my experience at all. Canadians are obsessed with American politics for example, and many people I know follow what's happening in the US closer than their own federal or provincial politics. In general people care more about federal politics than provincial. And hating on Alberta is almost as beloved an activity as hating on the USA.

	▲	thunderfork 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Couldn't disagree more. I know plenty of folks who hate Smith, but none who'd say they hate "Alberta" or Albertans.

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rjrjrjrj 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Smith was friendly with Parker.

Attended his wedding, did softball interviews with his wife who worked for a right wing media site.

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slopinthebag 2 days ago | parent [-]

See this is what I mean. "She was friendly" therefore she must be involved!!!

	▲	rjrjrjrj 2 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Didn't say she was involved. In this case, it seems most likely it was the weirdo separatist party that leaked the info. But she's earned the animus of many Canadians and Albertans by playing footsie with garbage like David Parker, Tucker Carlson, etc.
	▲	dallen33 2 days ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		She is involved.
	▲	thunderfork 2 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I would be more concerned with the legislation passed last year by the UCP which weakened Elections Alberta's ability to respond to this sort of thing vs. "being friendly", yes.