The Broadcast is a show about women and politics in Alberta. Hosted by journalists Trisha Estabrooks and Alex Zabjek, the podcast is a place for women to tell their stories about life in and around politics. These women are legislators, candidates, activists, grassroots campaigners, and academics. They are smart, passionate, and opinionated. We believe their…
This is the second part of our interview with MLA Stephanie McLean, and we dive into what it really meant to be the first sitting MLA to have a baby in Alberta. We talk about whether the birth of her son Patrick came to overshadow her political accomplishments — and what it means in the…
Stephanie McLean was the first woman in Alberta to give birth while sitting as an MLA — in 2016. That alone is a tremendous comment on women in politics in Alberta. In this wide-ranging interview, McLean talks about why she decided to accept a position as a cabinet minister, shortly after giving birth to her…
In January, Kristin Raworth wrote on Twitter that MP Kent Hehr — a former Alberta MLA — used sexually inappropriate comments to colleagues and made women in his workplace feel unsafe. Her statements came as Canadian politics was starting to face its own #metoo moments. Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct were emerging in virtually…
In this week’s episode, we step outside the binary, thanks to the help of our intern Danielle. She talks to two members of Edmonton’s trans community, about how to make space for people like them in politics. Francis Nievera is an open trans Grade 11 student at Blessed Oscar Romero High School. He was previously…
This week’s episode comes to you live from the Broadbent Institute’s Progress Summit in Edmonton, where leaders from across the country gathered to discuss the future of Alberta politics. The Broadcast hosted a panel with four amazing female politicians about the barriers they’ve faced in their careers. Listen to hear their stories, their insights,…
Bill 9 caused a stir in the Alberta Legislature last week after members of the UCP walked out of the debate on whether to create abortion clinic safe zones. The bill would enforce a 50 metre buffer zone where pro-life protesters would not be allowed in. UCP members said the heckling was so bad, they…
Hansa Thaleshvar is an immigrant from India who became mayor of the old town of Cold Lake in 1992. It was a small community back then, dominated by the oil-and-gas industry and the military base. When Hansa first ran for school board trustee in the 1980s, her husband said it would be hard to get…
