Brett McKay
LightNews LightNews
banner
brettmckay.bsky.social
Brett McKay
@brettmckay.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.3K following 170 posts
Reporter for the Investigative Journalism Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Signal: brettmckay.23
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Brett McKay
brettmckay.bsky.social
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat:

Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible

theijf.org/article/how-...
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat
Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible
theijf.org
September 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
maxfawcett.bsky.social
BC is getting very close to re-claiming its crown as "nuttiest political province" in Canada.

I look forward to Alberta's inevitable response. #cdnpoli

cheknews.ca/bc-conservat...
B.C. Conservatives hire private investigator to investigate CHEK’s Rob Shaw along with current, former MLAs
B.C.’s Opposition Conservative party hired a private investigator to target its critics, including current and former MLAs, as well as CHEK News’ political correspondent.
cheknews.ca
September 17, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
lucyham.bsky.social
Outstanding reporting from #Canada on how deeply embedded Atlas Network partners & people are in trying to get #Alberta to be a separated US pawn. (Note Gina Rinehart is part of the problem there too.) The Atlas Network’s ppl want profit for donors, not your good. See #NZpol links. #Auspol #Cdnpoli
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION Before immigrating to Canada, Alberta Institute founder McCaffrey was president of the youth wing of New Zealand's right-wing ACT Party. McCaffrey said he was introduced to Atlas partner Frontier Centre for Public Policy by David Seymour, who directed the think tank's Saskatchewan office before returning to New Zealand to resume his political career with ACT. Since being elected to the New Zealand parliament in 2014, Seymour has denied his links to Atlas Network, calling questions about his connections to the group a "conspiracy theory." McCaffrey replaced Seymour at the Frontier Centre's Saskatchewan office in early 2012, went through the Atlas Network's leadership academy program in 2013, and worked for the Manning Centre from 2014 until establishing the Alberta Institute. McCaffrey has also been active in the UCP since its founding, including as a member of the party's 2018 policy committee. INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION Separatism has gone from an idea on the margins of the conservative movement to one at the centre of Alberta's government. Over the last decade, a cadre of libertarian think tanks has been instrumental in bringing Alberta separatism into the mainstream, promoting the idea through research, conferences, social media and the press. They've helped craft government policy to prepare Alberta for independence, and to make the threat of secession a powerful "or else" in the province's stand-off with Ottawa. Connecting this web of institutes and academics are their ties to the U.S.-based Atlas Network, and the revolving door relationship between members of the network and the administration of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Atlas Network is a U.S. non-profit that acts as the hub connecting a global network of about 500 libertarian think tanks in more than 100 countries.
September 17, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
jvipondmd.bsky.social
this is chilling.
From Univ of Calgary prof Barry Cooper
September 17, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
geoffdembicki.bsky.social
Excited to be recognized by @coveringclimatenow.org for my investigation into how Exxon helped spread climate denial across the Global South.

Also thrilled that @desmog.com won two additional awards this year for investigative reporting.
September 17, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
theijf.org
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat.
zurl.co/MKrCk
September 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat:

Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible

theijf.org/article/how-...
How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat
Inside the long campaign to legitimize separatism, and the legislative strategy to make it possible
theijf.org
September 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
drewanderson.bsky.social
According to a leaked document, the government of Alberta is considering a massive overhaul of natural gas pipelines in the province, and billions in spending, to help drive an AI data centre boom. #abpoli #cdnpoli

thenarwhal.ca/alberta-ai-d...
Leaked doc suggests Alberta has sprawling plans to pave the way for AI data centres, more oil production
Rewriting laws, creating Crown corporations that could rival TC Energy, building new natural gas pipelines and increasing prices for consumers: what a leaked document says about Alberta’s AI data centre and oil push
thenarwhal.ca
September 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
thealbertan.bsky.social
NEWS: Municipal Affairs minister suggests stock, bond sales to make up for lost revenue
Municipal Affairs minister suggests stock, bond sales to make up for lost revenue
Mayor Dan Daley says Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams told mayors in mid-sized towns like Olds that they can cope with funding cuts and increase their income by selling stocks or bonds
dlvr.it
September 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
brettmckay.bsky.social
The Asper Foundation paused a $50K donation to the human rights museum because of its Nakba exhibit and its trustee called for an assessment of museum policy. The foundation has also given more than $4.8M to charities later sanctioned for sending funds to the IDF or illegal Israeli settlements.
theijf.org Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 14d
A prominent charity at the heart of backlash against the human rights museum’s Nakba exhibit has given more than $4.8 million to groups the CRA later flagged for supporting illegal Israeli settlements, displacement of Palestinians or the Israeli military.
zurl.co/2lMsk
September 4, 2026 at 2:56 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
Edmonton police quietly kept CCTV cameras after 2020 pilot
edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonto...
Edmonton police quietly kept CCTV cameras after 2020 pilot
The device and others like it have been credited with helping police solve crimes.
edmontonjournal.com
September 5, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
rorywh.bsky.social
New investigation from me. The 23 websites are designed to influence the answers that AI chatbots give to voters in Alberta, targeting farmers, young people, veterans, mothers and oil industry workers.

www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/04/i...
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
www.nationalobserver.com
September 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
nationalnewswatch.com
Changes to Canada's climate now 'irreversible,' federal report says nationalnewswatch.com/2026/09/04/c...
Changes to Canada's climate now 'irreversible,' federal report says
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
September 4, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
theijf.org
A prominent charity at the heart of backlash against the human rights museum’s Nakba exhibit has given more than $4.8 million to groups the CRA later flagged for supporting illegal Israeli settlements, displacement of Palestinians or the Israeli military.
zurl.co/2lMsk
September 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
readtheorchard.org
The IJF has been crushing it on this beat lately theijf.org/article/phil...
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military
CRA alleges groups carried out or served as conduits for ineligible activities
theijf.org
September 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
Windflower's director donated thousands to the UCP last year while lobbying the government on private health/surgical clinics.
theijf.org/article/how-...
The IJF previously reported that PR firms and corporations actively lobbying the provincial government donated approximately $90,000 to the province’s governing party last year. One of these donors was Red Deer anaesthesiologist Dr. Arun Anand, who is lobbying the province about opening a private “fee-for-service” surgical facility, according to Alberta’s lobbyist registry. Anand donated $5,000 to the UCP in 2025, and the A. Anand Medical Professional Corporation also gave more than $1,000 to the party. Anand is also named in a separate lobbyist filing as a director of Windflower Health Inc. Windflower Health is lobbying various government health ministries and agencies, as well as the premier’s office to discuss “innovations regarding the delivery of healthcare within Alberta.”
September 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
The Asper Foundation paused a $50K donation to the human rights museum because of its Nakba exhibit and its trustee called for an assessment of museum policy. The foundation has also given more than $4.8M to charities later sanctioned for sending funds to the IDF or illegal Israeli settlements.
theijf.org Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 14d
A prominent charity at the heart of backlash against the human rights museum’s Nakba exhibit has given more than $4.8 million to groups the CRA later flagged for supporting illegal Israeli settlements, displacement of Palestinians or the Israeli military.
zurl.co/2lMsk
September 4, 2026 at 2:56 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
American weapons and tech firm Axon has Canadian police in a chokehold
theijf.org Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 16d
Axon products walk, drive and fly in Canada, at the risk of eroding citizens’ civil liberties, critics warn. Read our investigation on the American vendor that has Canadian police in a chokehold.
zurl.co/Q3NHv
September 4, 2026 at 2:45 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
Manitoba officers charged in just 2% of all police-involved deaths since 2015
theijf.org Investigative Journalism Foundation @theijf.org · 15d
Manitoba’s police watchdog rarely charges officers with wrongdoing, doesn’t publish timely annual reports and hasn’t had a permanent civilian director since 2024. Read our investigation.

zurl.co/Neo06
September 4, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
charlesrusnell.bsky.social
Via @brettmckay.bsky.social
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military: theijf.org/article/phil...
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military
CRA alleges groups carried out or served as conduits for ineligible activities
theijf.org
September 4, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
ijfunion.bsky.social
At @theijf.org our mission is to strengthen democracy by holding power to account and ​getting behind closed doors.​ Today, we’re bringing that transparency home: The workers of the IJF have voted to form a union with @cmglaguilde.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/3jt4yh8s
#InvestigativeJournalism
September 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
ctheriault.bsky.social
Interesting revision on a statement from Premier Danielle Smith on Alberta Day.

The first version made direct reference to Indigenous people.

An updated version was sent out removing the Indigenous acknowledgment, and replacing with recognition of Alberta energy and refenced "many backgrounds."
September 1, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
theijf.org
An advocacy group is lobbying the Saskatchewan government to implement a policy for universities, expanding the definition of antisemitism to include “undue criticism of Israel,” “opposition to Zionism” and “colonial narratives.”
zurl.co/BKhkE
September 1, 2026 at 1:47 PM
brettmckay.bsky.social
In a shockingly fast change of course, Recovery Alberta said Fri. it's committing to reopen the voluntary addiction treatment program at Henwood after renovations. Staff were told Aug. 20 they were being laid off, redeployed. We broke the story on Tuesday.

www.recoveryalberta.ca/news/Page141...
August 29, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Brett McKay
brettmckay.bsky.social
NEW: Former Edmonton mayor is lobbying for the Oilers Entertainment Group seeking federal funding for housing in the Village at Ice District, the urban development component of last year's $400 million deal between Edmonton, the province and OEG.

theijf.org/article/form...
Former Edmonton mayor lobbying for Oilers Entertainment Group
OEG seeking funding from federal housing ministry, DND for Village at Ice District housing
theijf.org
August 28, 2026 at 2:34 PM