menu_open Columnists

Calgary Herald

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Opinion: Calgary is the city I mistakenly vowed never to call home

Opinion: Calgary is the city I mistakenly vowed never to call home

How do you end up loving a city you once vowed never to live in? For me, the answer lies in the unlikely journey that eventually brought me to...

yesterday 10

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Bell: Alberta separatist leader takes on Smith, says pro-Canada side is stalling

Bell: Alberta separatist leader takes on Smith, says pro-Canada side is stalling

The Alberta independence movement believes they are gaining ground in Oct. 19 referendum fight

previous day 3

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Braid: Carney steps up as pro-Canada champion in face of Smith's muddled federalism

Braid: Carney steps up as pro-Canada champion in face of Smith's muddled federalism

With Smith in the background Mark Carney is suddenly more active as a federalist campaigner

previous day 1

Calgary Herald

Don Braid

Opinion: We're fast-tracking projects, but slow-walking engineers

Opinion: We're fast-tracking projects, but slow-walking engineers

Alberta is undergoing an economic transformation, evolving from an energy powerhouse into a global hub for infrastructure, mega-energy projects and...

previous day 10

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Varcoe: 'Wind at their backs': As oil jumps above $100, public support grows for Canada exporting more oil and gas

Varcoe: 'Wind at their backs': As oil jumps above $100, public support grows for Canada exporting more oil and gas

As oil prices top US$100 a barrel, two new reports hammer home one powerful point — Canadian oil production is primed for growth over the next...

previous day 10

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Bell: Albertans to pay less for auto insurance — now there's a twist to the story

Bell: Albertans to pay less for auto insurance — now there's a twist to the story

There's more to this story than meets the eye

previous day 20

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Braid: Carney gives big boost to Ukraine, links Canada's sovereignty fight with theirs

Braid: Carney gives big boost to Ukraine, links Canada's sovereignty fight with theirs

The prime minister plans to quickly boost Canada into an important drone power

thursday 1

Calgary Herald

Don Braid

Nelson: City council's Blue Sky thinking will cost Calgarians big time

Nelson: City council's Blue Sky thinking will cost Calgarians big time

In the end Calgarians will indeed face a lower hike. Let’s say nine per cent

thursday 20

Calgary Herald

Chris Nelson

Bell: Big savings on auto insurance for Alberta drivers — the numbers

Bell: Big savings on auto insurance for Alberta drivers — the numbers

Your auto insurance premium is likely coming down come January. Read on

09.09.2026 5

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Opinion: It's time to end the annual property tax charade

Opinion: It's time to end the annual property tax charade

Every fall, Calgary taxpayers are treated to the same theatrics.

09.09.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Bell: Riled up Farkas, Calgary city hall want Smith UCP to spank tax fighter councillor

Bell: Riled up Farkas, Calgary city hall want Smith UCP to spank tax fighter councillor

Mayor Farkas vs Coun. Landon Johnston. The pull-no-punches councillor still believes Calgarians should know about a possible big tax hike right now

08.09.2026 6

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Braid: Top Smith official plugs extremist German party that shocked Europe

Braid: Top Smith official plugs extremist German party that shocked Europe

Well, this puts Premier Danielle Smith’s immigration referendum questions in a harsh new light. The executive director of her office, Bruce...

08.09.2026 7

Calgary Herald

Don Braid

Varcoe: From small junior to 'big-boy' company: Tamarack acquiring Headwater in $3.2B deal

Varcoe: From small junior to 'big-boy' company: Tamarack acquiring Headwater in $3.2B deal

'It's pretty staggering to see Tamarack Valley, that were 5,000 barrels a day, go to 80,000 barrels a day'

08.09.2026 6

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Breakenridge: Elections Alberta's limitations cast cloud over referendum

Breakenridge: Elections Alberta's limitations cast cloud over referendum

Concern over Elections Alberta's ability to oversee vote coincides with apparent high voter interest

08.09.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Rob Breakenridge

Alberta Voices — Donald Barry: As Alberta decides in referendum, what will Trump do?

Alberta Voices — Donald Barry: As Alberta decides in referendum, what will Trump do?

In October, Albertans will be asked in a referendum whether they want the province to remain in Canada or move toward a second independence...

06.09.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Braid: Referendum chaos could help the separatists elude defeat

Braid: Referendum chaos could help the separatists elude defeat

The mad complexity of this Oct. 19 referendum is becoming obvious. With it comes a worry for the federalist side. What if the voting is so badly...

04.09.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Don Braid

Bell: Alberta law cracking down on bike lanes rolls out in November

Bell: Alberta law cracking down on bike lanes rolls out in November

The Alberta government is serious. Some bike lanes will be removed. Some planned bike lanes will not happen. Soon

04.09.2026 6

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Bell: Mayor Farkas is rattled as nasty Calgary tax hike numbers go public

Bell: Mayor Farkas is rattled as nasty Calgary tax hike numbers go public

20 per cent property tax hike, 15 per cent tax hike. The numbers are leaked and Mayor Farkas feels the scorching heat

03.09.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Nelson: Calgary byelection a test of Nenshi's NDP leadership

Nelson: Calgary byelection a test of Nenshi's NDP leadership

The latest poll gives the UCP a 51 to 41 percentage lead in popularity and, more importantly, a seven point lead in Calgary

03.09.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Nelson

Varcoe: 'Death by 1,000 cuts': Alberta businesses await counter-tariffs amid widening trade clash

Varcoe: 'Death by 1,000 cuts': Alberta businesses await counter-tariffs amid widening trade clash

'It's disproportionately going to hit small- and medium-sized enterprises, because they have fewer options in responding to an increase in their input...

03.09.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Bell: 20.2 per cent Calgary property tax hike. What the heck is going on?

Bell: 20.2 per cent Calgary property tax hike. What the heck is going on?

Calgary's possible tax hikes for the next four years are from outer space, city hall is downright astounding

02.09.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Braid: Canada has priceless allies in struggle with Trump — regular Americans

Braid: Canada has priceless allies in struggle with Trump — regular Americans

We have a crucial advantage at a touchy moment — Canada is popular and Trump isn’t

02.09.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Don Braid

Bell: Danielle Smith, Alberta won't rule out hitting U.S. booze with a big tax

Bell: Danielle Smith, Alberta won't rule out hitting U.S. booze with a big tax

Will Alberta slap a tax on U.S. booze coming into Alberta? Stay tuned

02.09.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Varcoe: 'Significant competitive threat': U.S. oil deal with Venezuela has ramifications for Alberta oilsands

Varcoe: 'Significant competitive threat': U.S. oil deal with Venezuela has ramifications for Alberta oilsands

'For Canada, we should be doubling down on our pipeline to the West Coast, because it could create some challenge long term. I don't see any challenge...

01.09.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Breakenridge: Alberta referendum can't be wished away, but the outcome is within our control

As much as this separation vote seems ill-advised amid a trade war, this could ultimately benefit the federalist cause. There is one large caveat,...

01.09.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Rob Breakenridge

Bell: Smith on fire, warns of Trump counter-attack if Canada plays oil card

Premier Danielle Smith explains how Trump will rain down fury on Canada if the country plays politics with oil

01.09.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Rick Bell

Leong: Unrealized promises about Cowboys Park plain for all to see

The failed promises surrounding community access to what was previously known as Millennium Park can be plainly seen on its expanded basketball...

31.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Ricky Leong

Varcoe: Trans Mountain files pitch for new pipeline expansion, as Canada aims to boost oil exports to Asia

If the project proceeds it would boost Trans Mountain’s capacity by 210,000 barrels per day

28.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Opinion: The climate crisis keeps affecting our lives

Let’s face up to reality sooner rather than later; fossil fuels are reaching their sunset years.

28.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Varcoe: One oil price spike, two Alberta surpluses and an improved economic outlook amid global turbulence

Finance Minister Jason Nixon is also predicting a surplus for 2025-26

27.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Opinion: Calgary’s AI training push needs a workplace test

Calgary is putting serious energy behind artificial intelligence. Alberta’s refreshed Technology and Innovation Strategy aims to create 20,000...

27.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Nelson: Danielle Smith faces Canada's wrath over Trump tariff fight

Yes, the oil belongs to Alberta but cross border trade is Ottawa’s responsibility

27.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Chris Nelson

Opinion: Canada’s human trafficking crisis is reaching across provinces

The recent human‑trafficking arrests in Ontario should force Canadians to confront the systemic failures — jurisdictional, legal and cultural —...

26.08.2026 40

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Varcoe: Don't do anything 'dumb': Using energy as weapon in trade war should be a 'non-starter,' says Smith

Smith says the Americans have a bigger stick when it comes to placing tariffs or cutting off energy exports

26.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Opinion: Northback’s miracle Grassy Mountain coal mine

Northback says 2.5 million tonnes of steelmaking coal will be produced each year by reopening operations at old mines on Grassy Mountain. This would...

25.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Varcoe: 'Nobody wins here': Energy in clear, but Alberta businesses will take hits in trade brawl with U.S.

Construction and honey industries expect financial impacts

24.08.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Varcoe: Alberta suffered a $1.3 billion hit on KXL – should it factor into Trump's call to bring back the pipeline?

"It was the United States government that really dealt a blow to its trading relationship with Canada by blocking that project,” said former Alberta...

22.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Opinion: A tale of two neighbourhoods - Bridgeland and Parkhill

Article content A battle has been waged in recent months between the residents of Erlton, Parkhill, Rideau and Roxboro and the developer behind a...

21.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Brookman: Time to address downtown issues

We all know that an apple rots from the core outward, but perhaps we need to consider if that applies to our city as well.

21.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

George Brookman

Premier Smith risks UCP's rural support with AI data centre push

Anger small town Alberta and it could bring the curtain down on Tory rule come the next election

20.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Nelson

Varcoe: Trump wants Keystone XL revived, Canada wants lower tariffs – while a trade deal looms

Keystone XL resurrection talk comes as Alberta and Canada propose new oil pipeline to the West Coast

19.08.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Ford: New generation needs to step up to save lives

It started at the University of Alberta when the Red Cross launched a blood donor clinic for the students.

19.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Catherine Ford

Varcoe: 'Pretty incredible' - Calgary sees tech sector employment top 80,000, has fastest job growth in North America for 3rd year in row

CBRE report has Calgary moving up to 15th spot across North America in its annual tech talent study

18.08.2026 10

Calgary Herald

Chris Varcoe

Breakenridge: Time to accommodate all modes of transportation on our roads

Last Friday’s decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal on bike lanes doesn’t have any direct bearing on the debate around or the future of bike...

18.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Rob Breakenridge

Opinion: The strike is over; Alberta's aviation access problem is not

Calgary’s airport is having a record run. In 2025, YYC handled 19.4 million travellers and offered 108 non-stop destinations. That growth...

18.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Canada can build major projects faster without sacrificing nature protections

Wildfires raging in Canada this summer not only underscore the severe threat that climate change poses to the country’s ecosystems, but also...

15.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Opinion: Status quo the greatest threat to Canadian health care

If there’s one thing we don’t need, it’s more of the same. In 2025, patients endured a median wait of 28.6 weeks from referral to treatment, and...

15.08.2026 20

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

The Northern Advantage: Why Canada needs a second gateway beyond Lower Mainland

The announcement in early July from the Prime Minister’s Office — confirming that Canada and Alberta will advance a new West Coast pipeline...

15.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Opinion: We survived the fire. Who will help us survive the recovery?

“No one is coming to save you. You have to save yourself.”

14.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

Nelson: Alberta separated long ago, it's time Canada caught up

One fine morning, the rest of Canada might wake up, grab a coffee and suddenly realize Alberta’s already separated. Calm down. It didn’t quietly...

13.08.2026 30

Calgary Herald

Chris Nelson