Balance of Power

What happens when a seat everyone assumed was safely Conservative suddenly flips? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down the Calgary-Shaw by-election upset, what actually drove the result, and why everyone seems to be taking a different lesson from the same vote. First: the shock. The NDP wins a seat it had no business winning based on recent history, without an obvious right-wing vote split. Was it candidate quality, ground game, referendum anger, dissatisfaction with the UCP, or some combination of all of it? Then: what the result means for Calgary politics. The panel looks at Kyle Campbell’s appeal, the role of healthcare, schools and affordability, whether the referendum actually moved votes, and why “no safe Conservative seats in Calgary” is suddenly a much more credible political message. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: the campaign mechanics behind the result. Why advance voting is changing how campaigns organize, how parties pull identified supporters to the polls early, and whether the UCP simply got out-organized on the ground. Calgary-Shaw, candidate recruitment, referendum politics, Nenshi momentum, ground game, and what happens when a supposedly safe seat stops looking safe. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended episodes and ad-free listening: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the agency responsible for running Alberta’s referendum is already warning that it is stretched too thin? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips look at growing concerns around Elections Alberta, the referendum process, and what happens when public confidence starts to erode before voting day even arrives. First: referendum watch. With hundreds of thousands of special ballots already requested, confusing paperwork in the mail, and Elections Alberta itself warning about chronic understaffing, does the agency have the resources it needs to administer one of the biggest votes in Canadian history? Then: the trade war enters a new phase as Canadian counter-tariffs take effect. Mark Carney is leaning into a new style of direct-to-camera political communication, while Leah and Shannon argue that Ottawa still has much more work to do to protect workers if the economic pain deepens. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: Calgary city hall erupts over a confidential budget leak, Jeremy Farkas calls bullshit, and the panel asks what happens when politicians decide the rules no longer apply to them. Elections Alberta, special ballots, public trust, tariffs, EI reform, and whether it’s time to pull the fire alarm. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to extended episodes of Balance of Power: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to win a referendum if the result still leaves the separatist movement alive and kicking? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips look ahead to Alberta’s referendum and ask what a decisive federalist victory would actually have to look like. First: turnout. More than 200,000 Albertans have already requested special ballots, but does that tell us anything about who is motivated, which side has the advantage, or how ugly election day could get with ten separate questions on the ballot? Then: Shannon argues that simply winning is not enough: if separatists come out of the referendum with 30 or 35 per cent support, does Alberta really get to move on, or does the issue dominate provincial politics for years to come? Plus, what AOC’s social media series says about reproductive health, political communication and reaching audiences far beyond the usual political conversation. Plus, for everyone: the long-awaited return of the Balance of Power Quarterly Report, with what Annalise, Leah and Shannon have been reading, watching and obsessing over lately. And a reminder that Patreon subscribers get extended episodes and no ads. Turnout, separatism, healthcare, affordability, AOC, books, and why sometimes winning isn’t enough. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca And if you like the show, join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended episodes and no ads: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a crisis becomes an opportunity to make changes governments and business have wanted for years? This week on Balance of Power , Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward dig into the politics of “crisitunity,” the Team Canada response to the trade war, and what Canada risks giving up in the name of competing with the United States. First: the race to the bottom. Environmental protections are being weakened, labour rules are under pressure, and governments are promising to move major projects faster. But if defending Canadian sovereignty means stripping away the things Canadians say make this country different, what exactly are we defending? Then: Saskatchewan NDP MLA Sally Housser joins the show to talk about the Prairie response to the trade war, the politics of AI data centres, the pressure to actually build the workforce needed for major projects, and what opposition parties need to do to look like governments-in-waiting. Plus, what changes when you go from political staffer and pundit to the person whose name is actually on the ballot? Plus, for Patreon subscribers: new Ipsos polling suggests Albertans are far more willing to fight back against the United States than their provincial government is. Shannon and Leah dig into Danielle Smith’s opposition to retaliatory measures, why the UCP may be badly offside with its own voters, and how the Alberta NDP could turn that gap into a political message that actually breaks through. Trade wars, data centres, labour, environmental protections, Prairie politics, polling, and just how much “crisitunity” Canadians are willing to tolerate. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Guest: Sally Housser MLA for Regina University Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a referendum starts to feel less like a vote and more like a warning? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward are joined by political scientist Lisa Young to talk about the strange political fall Alberta is heading into, the separation debate, and what happens when a fringe idea becomes a live political question. First: be careful what you wish for. Lisa explains the thinking behind her recent speculative fiction imagining a future Alberta outside Canada, and why she sees separation as a fundamentally radical leap into the unknown. Then: misinformation, foreign influence, and the widening gap between the information ecosystems shaping the stay and leave sides. What does that mean for the referendum, and how do you have a productive political debate when people are starting from completely different versions of reality? Plus, for Patreon subscribers: the other nine referendum questions, why Lisa is surprised by the lack of organized opposition to them, and what their outcome could mean for politics far beyond Alberta. Separation, misinformation, resentment, turnout, and the weirdest fall in Alberta history? Welcome to Balance of Power . Mentioned in this episode: Lisa Young’s Substack: What now?!? An Alberta Politics newsletter https://lisayoung.substack.com/ Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should politicians actually be doing while everyone else is trying to enjoy August? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips remember Jeff Sloychuk, a longtime labour and NDP organizer whose politics were rooted in working-class people, practical action and getting the job done. First: summer politics. Is August a time to rest, work the barbecue circuit or quietly prepare for the fights coming in the fall? The panel looks at how Pierre Poilievre used summer advertising to reshape his image, what Danielle Smith’s small private fundraisers are really communicating, and why political campaigns should never assume voters have stopped paying attention. Then: labour, influencers and the changing media ecosystem. After CUPE partnered with Alberta content creators to explain the WestJet labour dispute, the panel digs into why audiences, not advertisements, have become the real political asset, and how shifting public attitudes toward unions are changing who gets heard. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: Leah shares lessons from the federal NDP’s experiment with political influencers, the panel debates whether campaign buses and traditional media tours still matter, and they offer direct advice for Alberta’s federalist campaigns on creators, YouTube, ground organizing and putting Canadian flags everywhere. Summer strategy, labour politics, influencer campaigns, Canadian flags and the value of getting politics out of the ether and onto people’s doorsteps. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Jeff Sloychuk. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when politicians and their staff decide the questions are the problem? This week on Balance of Power , Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down two spectacular examples of how not to handle the media, and what competent political communication is supposed to look like when the stakes are high. First: Ontario’s wildfire response. After a ministerial staffer interrupted a live CBC interview to declare that there would be no more questions, Leah and Shannon explain why crisis communication requires more information, more availability, and fewer fights with reporters. Then: Devin Dreeshen’s continuing inability to answer a very simple question. Is Alberta’s transportation minister a separatist, and will he vote to keep Alberta in Canada? If he knows the question is coming, why can’t he answer it? Plus, for Patreon subscribers: what would a genuinely progressive response to tariffs, artificial intelligence and data centres look like? Leah and Shannon talk worker protections, digital sovereignty, public investment, Wab Kinew’s rejection of a proposed hyperscale data centre, and the case for a national electricity grid. Wildfires, media training, separatism, political staffing, worker power, artificial intelligence, and the revolutionary idea that ministers should just answer the Fing questions. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this episode: Request a special ballot for Alberta’s upcoming referendum: https://specialballot.elections.ab.ca/ Alberta’s Voice sign pickup information: https://albertasvoice.ca/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when politics stops being a conversation and becomes an ambush? This week on Balance of Power , Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward dig into the recent political ambush videos in Alberta, the instincts they reveal, and the mistakes politicians make when they forget who is really watching. First: the confrontation. From Naheed Nenshi’s exchange over a photo with the Israeli ambassador to Danielle Smith’s response to questions about appearing on a separatist podcast, Shannon and Leah look at what these moments actually reveal about political character. Then: the camera. When every interaction can become a clip, should politicians engage, walk away, or treat the ambush as an opportunity? And why the person asking the question is rarely the real audience. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: new polling on Alberta separatism, the danger of federalist complacency, the turnout gap, and why the road to the 51st state may be a more powerful political argument than another pipeline announcement. Ambush videos, political instincts, crisis communications, party discipline, separatist polling, and what happens when the unscripted moment becomes the whole story. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it actually take to run for office, and how do you know whether you should? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips offer a practical guide for anyone thinking about putting their name on a ballot, from the first conversation with a riding association to the realities of campaigning, fundraising, vetting, and family life. First: forget the myth of the star candidate. A recognizable name might earn attention, but campaigns are built by people willing to knock doors, raise money, recruit a team, learn from those who came before them, and do the unglamorous work long before election day. Then: candidate, vet thyself. Leah explains what political parties look for when they examine a prospective candidate’s history, why honesty matters more than perfection, and how years of social media posts can become a very expensive problem for a campaign. Plus: why the candidate is not the protagonist, why campaigns are won through money and marks rather than grocery store compliments, and why anyone already imagining themselves in cabinet should probably take a step back. Nominations, door knocking, political ambition, opposition research, lawn signs, campaign strategy, and everything to consider before putting your name on one. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when conservatives pick a fight with someone who knows exactly how to fight back? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil and Shannon Phillips dig into Calgary’s Stampede noise war, Jeromy Farkas’s escalating feud with Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre, and what happens when conservative messaging gets turned back on the people who invented it. First: the fun police. Why did federal and provincial Conservatives decide to go to war over Cowboys, noise bylaws, and late-night Stampede parties? And did they badly misread both Calgary and the mayor they were attacking? Then: the punch back. Farkas names the antagonist, speaks plainly, moves quickly, and refuses to retreat into process language. Annalise and Shannon break down why his response worked, what the left could learn from it, and why there may be more room to oppose Danielle Smith than many politicians seem to think. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: Annalise and Shannon debate the Governor General’s clothing allowance, the gendered expectations placed on women in public life, and whether politicians should get help paying for the uniforms their jobs demand. Producer Haxim joins the conversation to provide the underrepresented white male perspective, and mansplain what female politicians should be wearing. Stampede politics, culture wars, conservative infighting, noise complaints, political uniforms, and the strategic value of punching back. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this Episode: Playboy meets country at the Calgary Stampede https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/playboy-meets-country-at-the-calgary-stampede/article18268605/ Bell: Farkas on fire, Danielle Smith pushes back — the Stampede tent brawl https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/bell-jeromy-farkas-danielle-smith-stampede-tent-noise-brawl Farkas: No, Calgary is not cancelling Stampede. We are standing up for neighbours https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/comments/1ud8j5h/no_calgary_is_not_cancelling_stampede_we_are/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when stepping away from politics creates room to think differently about art, fear, community, and the work still left to do? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips unpack Shannon’s recent trip to Patmos, Greece, where she joined artists, writers, and musicians including Ani DiFranco, Neko Case, Anaïs Mitchell, and Ann Powers for a ten-day creative salon. First: art in dark times. What does it mean to create while authoritarianism is rising, politics feels exhausting, and people are searching for beauty, joy, and respite without simply looking away? Then: finding the side door into a story. Shannon reflects on her own unfinished writing project, the fear that comes with telling political stories, and why image, structure, and metaphor may offer a better path than straightforward journalism. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: fear, cancellation, and the limits of progressive communication. When inclusion becomes a demand to say everything at once, does it make art and politics less effective? The panel digs into plain language, difficult questions, the trans debate, and whether fear of saying the wrong thing is pushing people away instead of bringing them in. Art, politics, rage, religion, long COVID, summer camp for grown-ups, Americans with a lot of feelings, and why sometimes the answer is simply to become a cloud. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many ballots is too many ballots? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward unpack the staggering logistics behind Alberta’s October referendum vote. With Elections Alberta preparing to print 45 million ballots and recruit 60,000 workers, they explore what happens when direct democracy collides with administrative reality. First: the ballot problem. The hosts break down Elections Alberta’s largest recruitment drive ever, the challenge of hand-counting tens of millions of ballots, and why a referendum featuring ten questions — and potentially eleven — could test the limits of the province’s electoral machinery. Then: the federal government’s new Online Harms Act. Can governments protect young people online without cutting them off from community and connection? And are policymakers focusing on the platforms, the algorithms, or the wrong problem entirely? Plus, for Patreon subscribers: environmental politics and persuasion. From Water Not Coal to Don’t Go Breaking My Parks, Annalise and Leah dig into why some campaigns break through with audiences who don’t see themselves as environmentalists, and why “this, not that” can be more powerful than another campaign built around “no.” Referendums, ballot chaos, water politics, online harms, political organizing, and the challenge of governing in an age of overload. Welcome to Balance of Power . Mentioned in this episode: Shannon's thread on Social Media https://bsky.app/profile/sphillipsab.bsky.social/post/3mnwfgkbm4k2f Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, Alberta's separation movement has talked about what it wants. What happens when it has to talk about what it costs? This week on Balance of Powe r, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward look at what it means for a political project built on emotion to encounter a spreadsheet. As new estimates put a price tag on Alberta independence, they ask whether the politics of grievance can survive contact with the math. First: burnout. The hosts discuss political exhaustion, attention scarcity, and what happens when voters are asked to process major constitutional questions while already feeling overwhelmed by work, life, and the endless news cycle. Then: the price tag. As new figures emerge about the potential costs of Alberta independence, the panel digs into the assumptions behind the numbers, the political incentives driving the debate, and whether Albertans are getting a realistic picture of what leaving Canada would actually mean. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: hope versus fear. Is positive campaigning more effective than warning about risks? Why does the promise of separation resonate with some voters? And what can political organizers learn from deep canvassing, healthcare campaigns, and the challenge of changing minds in a polarized environment? Separation, sovereignty, political persuasion, voter fatigue, and the cost of grievance. Welcome to Balance of Power . Mentioned in this episode Canadians aren’t taking their paid vacation days. Can burnout be far behind? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-canadians-arent-taking-their-paid-vacation-days-can-burnout-be-far/ Bell: Danielle Smith drops a $400-billion bomb on Alberta separatism https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/bell-danielle-smith-400-billion-alberta-separatism Fringe to Mainstream: The Movement to Split Alberta From Canada Gets Its Moment https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/world/canada/canada-alberta-separation-referendum-vote.html Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a moment when Prairie politics feels increasingly untethered from reality, what happens when governments start making generational decisions while chasing internal political pressure? This week on Balance of Power , Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips are joined by Saskatchewan NDP MLA Aleana Young to unpack Saskatchewan’s stunning $26 billion coal gamble, the politics driving it, and why the fight over energy policy is becoming a proxy for something much bigger across Western Canada. First: the coal bombshell. Aleana Young walks through the leaked SaskPower documents showing the true cost of rebuilding and operating Saskatchewan’s coal plants, why the government’s numbers kept changing, and how a plan sold as affordability could end up doubling power bills. Then: governing for the base. From separatism to immigration rhetoric to attacks on institutions, the panel digs into what happens when premiers stop trying to persuade the broader public and start managing internal party pressure instead. Plus, for Patreon Subscribers: Danielle Smith’s looming referendum speech. What arguments will she make, who will she blame, and how do governments chip away at trust in courts, institutions, and democratic norms while claiming to defend democracy itself? Coal, courts, separatism, healthcare collapse, Prairie politics, and the risks of governments that seem increasingly adrift. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://patreon.com/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a province where politics increasingly feels like performance, what happens when the people who understand the stage best start talking openly about persuasion, authenticity, and fear? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips unpack the politics of communication, the growing international fascination with Alberta separatism, and why the fight over Canada’s future may already be underway. First: the Wab Kinew factor. Leah reports from the Canadian Labour Congress convention in Winnipeg, where both Naheed Nenshi and Wab Kinew delivered very different kinds of speeches, sparking a conversation about charisma, media training, authenticity, and whether great political communication can actually be taught. Then: Alberta as spectacle. The panel digs into recent coverage from The Guardian, Toronto Star, and other international outlets examining Alberta separatism, voter data controversies, and the rise of grievance politics. Is this necessary scrutiny, dangerous mainstreaming, or another example of Alberta being flattened into caricature for outside audiences? Plus: Jason Kenney’s return to the federalist fight. After a Calgary event on Canadian unity featuring Kenney and MP Cory Hogan, the hosts debate whether conservatives who helped fuel western alienation can now successfully contain it, what responsibility they carry for this moment, and whether fear itself might be necessary to motivate Albertans to act. Media training, separatism, grievance politics, posture discourse, and the uncomfortable question of who still has the power to persuade. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a week where Alberta politics somehow got even messier, what happens when the process itself becomes the problem? This week on Balance of Powe r, Annalise Klingbeil and Shannon Phillips dig into the escalating fallout from the alleged misuse of Alberta’s voters list, the separatist petition, and why a data leak involving nearly three million Albertans is about much more than privacy. First: the list. Elections Alberta has sent hundreds of cease and desist letters, political names are being searched, and people with real safety concerns are left wondering who has their information and what they might do with it. Then: the referendum question. If the petition process was built on allegedly unlawful access to voter data, can any referendum that follows be trusted? And who needs to step up to restore confidence before Albertans are asked to vote? Plus: blame, agency, and the politics of “not my fault.” From Danielle Smith’s response to Arlene Dickinson’s viral post, Annalise and Shannon look at how responsibility gets shifted, how stories break through, and what ordinary Albertans can actually do next. Voters lists, cease and desist letters, separatists, public trust, and what it means when the democratic process gets polluted. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this episode: Arlene Dickinson's Instagram Carousel https://www.instagram.com/p/DYAgKmqEpo0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Balance of Power: Gay Enough? In a moment when trust in democracy feels fragile, what happens when the basic machinery of politics becomes the story? This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips dig into the Elections Alberta investigation, the alleged misuse of the list of electors, and why a story about voter data is not just procedural, but deeply personal. First: the list. Who is supposed to have access to voter information, what is it meant to be used for, and why does alleged misuse by separatist organizers raise such serious questions about privacy, safety, and democratic trust? Then: sport as politics. The federal government is making a major investment in sport, but the conversation quickly turns to something bigger: community, belonging, national identity, and why a playoff crowd might tell us more about unity than another press conference. Plus, for Patreon subscribers: the Alberta NDP’s difficult moment. New polling shows the UCP still riding high and Naheed Nenshi struggling to break through. Is this a leadership problem, a message problem, a Calgary problem, or just the brutal work of opposition in a fractured media environment? Privacy, trust, sports, sovereignty, polling, and what it takes to rebuild political attention when everyone is looking somewhere else. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this episode: Alberta Referendumb https://albertareferendumb2026.ca/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the problems keep getting worse, are we even solving the right one? This week on Balance of Power , Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward take on a set of decisions that feel increasingly out of step with how people actually live. From time changes to family planning to public consultation, they walk through what happens when policy targets miss the mark. First: daylight saving time. Alberta is moving toward making it permanent—but what does that actually mean for winter mornings, daily routines, and how people function? Is this about convenience, or are we ignoring what the research says? Then: fertility in Alberta. A new report lays out the cost, access, and emotional toll of treatment, raising bigger questions about population growth, affordability, and what actually drives people’s decisions to have kids. And finally: the Alberta Next survey. After a long fight to release the data, what do the responses actually show? And what’s the point of consultation if the outcome is already decided? Policy, incentives, and what happens when we keep solving the wrong problem. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a moment where things feel like they’re slipping, what does control even look like? This week on Balance of Power , Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil step into a rough stretch for the Conservatives and unpack what happens when a party starts to wobble. From by-election losses to internal pressure, they walk through how instability takes hold and what it really takes to stop it. First: stopping the bleeding. What actually works when things start to slip? Is this about discipline, tone, or something deeper inside the operation? Then: the reset question. What does a real reset look like and who has to change for it to land? Can you adjust the message without changing the messenger? And finally: the long game. What does opposition look like when there’s no quick path back? How do you rebuild credibility, keep a team together, and plan for three years instead of three months? Strategy, tone, internal pressure, and what it means to lead when things aren’t going your way. Welcome to Balance of Power . Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this episode: Stand Up for Alberta’s Public Libraries https://www.caplibraries.ca/stand-up-for-albertas-public-libraries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Balance of Power: Does Anything Matter? In a political moment where lines are blurring and power is shifting, what actually matters anymore? This week on Balance of Powe r, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil dig into the growing trend of floor crossing. They talk about what it says about political values and whether consistency still counts in modern politics. From party loyalty to power plays, they unpack how decisions are really being made and who they’re serving. Then: a rapid-fire round on housing, space exploration, and the moments shaping the conversation right now. Plus: our new segment, Quarterly Report, where the hosts share the small things keeping them grounded in chaotic times. Welcome to Balance of Powe r. Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.