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Max Fawcett

Max Fawcett

The Walrus

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The method to Mark Carney’s madness

The memorandum of understanding with Alberta might look like surrender. Look closer

28.11.2025 20

National Observer

Max Fawcett

We’re not ready for an aging population — and it's going to cost us

Canada's government budgets keep getting squeezed by our aging population. When are we going to do something about it?

26.11.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The energy poverty trap

Will more oil and gas production in Canada help alleviate energy poverty in the developing world? Of course not — but that hasn't prevented...

25.11.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

What the IEA's latest report says about the energy transition — and what it doesn't

What the IEA's latest report says about the energy transition — and what it doesn't

The International Energy Agency's latest landmark report looks like an act of surrender to the Trump administration's fossil fuel agenda. But when you...

21.11.2025 9

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The use of the Notwithstanding Clause is out of control. It’s up to voters to stop it

The architects of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms thought the Notwithstanding Clause would only be used in exceptional circumstances....

20.11.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Alberta’s pipeline math still doesn’t add up

The biggest obstacle standing between Alberta and its premier's repeated pledge to double oil production isn't the tanker ban, the emissions cap, or...

18.11.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Danielle Smith is playing her separatist supporters for fools

Albertans who oppose the idea of separatism should be annoyed by the government's refusal to actually model its impacts. But those who support it...

13.11.2025 30

National Observer

Max Fawcett

In the age of selfishness, let’s rediscover our sense of shared sacrifice 

In the age of selfishness, let’s rediscover our sense of shared sacrifice 

Remembrance Day is a reminder of what we were willing to fight for in the past — and how much it mattered that we fought together.

11.11.2025 3

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Donald Trump's immigration policy is a gift to Canada

Donald Trump's immigration policy is a gift to Canada

Canada’s ability to integrate people from around the world has long been a source of comparative strength. It's all the more important right now.

10.11.2025 40

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney wants results, not rhetoric 

What does his government's decision to eliminate a Trudeau-era luxury tax have to do with climate policy? More than you might think

06.11.2025 7

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The LNG bridge is starting to collapse

Global demand for LNG is supposed to be driven by its role as a so-called "bridge" between coal and renewables. What happens when the shores it's...

04.11.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Bill Gates bends the knee on climate change

The Microsoft mega-billionaire's new letter on climate change claims to tell "tough truths". What it really does is display the same easy cowardice...

01.11.2025 7

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney needs to come clean on climate 

The prime minister has been conspicuously quiet about an issue that seemed to define his politics before he entered the partisan arena. That needs to...

30.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Alberta is the richest province in the country — except where it really counts

How does the province with the highest fiscal capacity in the country also have the lowest per-capita funding for students in its public schools?...

28.10.2025 2

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Danielle Smith’s pipeline still doesn’t have a business case

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of another pipeline to the West Coast isn't the tanker ban or federal climate policies. It's oil...

24.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

What is the Alberta NDP waiting for?

The UCP government continues to flirt with separatists, pander to conspiracy theories and get embroiled in ethical scandals. So why is it still on...

22.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Pierre Poilievre channels his inner JD Vance

Owning the libs is no way to actually govern a country, as Americans keep finding out with each passing day. That's not about to stop Pierre...

21.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Alberta is forgetting the hard-won lessons of Northern Gateway

If Danielle Smith wants to build another pipeline across British Columbia, she might want to spend some time actually trying to understand what makes...

16.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Danielle Smith wants a fight with Canada, not a new pipeline

Alberta's premier has opened the door in her party and province to separatists. Now, she's claiming that other people are the ones...

09.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

How Alberta could actually get its pipeline

If Danielle Smith actually wants to advance the prospects of a new oil pipeline, she needs to do more than just rattle her well-worn sabre at Ottawa.

02.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The political case for rooftop solar

If there’s one lesson progressive politicians should take to heart from the last decade, it’s that the durability of their climate policies is...

02.10.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

It’s time for Mark Carney to draw the line on climate policy

Canada's prime minister has sacrificed a host of climate policies in his pursuit of political power. Now it's time for him to fight for the...

24.09.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Chrystia Freeland is the best prime minister we never had 

She gave Justin Trudeau's Liberal party its first star candidate and most important cabinet minister. Then, more than a decade later, she saved...

18.09.2025 20

National Observer

Max Fawcett

How Canada should respond to Charlie Kirk’s murder

Doing better here in Canada means refusing to import the worst elements of America’s ongoing culture war into our own politics.

16.09.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney's climate hinge point is at hand

Why the prime minister's promise of a "carbon competitiveness strategy" is about more than just reducing emissions — and why it might...

10.09.2025 50

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Pierre Poilievre hasn't learned a thing

The more things change, it seems, the more the leader of the official opposition stays the same. Will his party's members give him the chance to...

04.09.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The ‘de-manning’ of Canada’s oilsands sector

Canada's oil and gas industry has been getting less labour-intensive for more than a decade now. When will our elected officials finally...

29.08.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

How Mark Carney and the baby boomers can save Canada

The prime minister ought to challenge the most self-interested generation in history to step up for their country — elbows and all — and make a...

18.08.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada isn’t losing the trade war — yet

Mark Carney won the April election in large part because Canadians trusted him more to deal with Donald Trump. Now, almost four months on, is their...

13.08.2025 40

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Nova Scotia’s forest ban is a test — just not the one some people think

Tim Houston is trying to prevent the sort of wildfires that caused death and destruction in his province just two years ago. To some people, though,...

08.08.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Nova Scotia’s forest ban is a test — just not the one some people think

Tim Houston is trying to prevent the sort of wildfires that caused death and destruction in his province just two years ago. To some people, though,...

08.08.2025 20

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Solar and wind are conservative punching bags. They're also winning the fight

Conservative politicians in North America love pretending that wind and solar can't possibly compete with fossil fuels. They might want to pay...

01.08.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada’s Conservatives can’t quit their grocery price politicking

Climate change is obviously driving up the cost of food. Why can’t Canada’s Conservatives admit it?

29.07.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada’s premiers should tread more carefully on climate policy

Canada's premiers are spoiling for a fight with Ottawa over climate policy. They just might get it.

24.07.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Pierre Poilievre’s safe seat isn’t so safe after all

The Conservative leader clearly thinks the byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot is going to be a cakewalk. His opponents have other ideas.

17.07.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Alberta will never double its oil production 

Both Danielle Smith and the separatists she keeps enabling want to see Alberta double its oil production. Spoiler: It won't be Mark Carney or the...

10.07.2025 6

National Observer

Max Fawcett

The Conservative war on EVs is bound to fail

It seems almost inevitable now that electric vehicles will become part of the Conservative Party of Canada's ongoing culture war.

04.07.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Danielle Smith is putting out a fire with gasoline

Another day, another panel ostensibly aimed at addressing Alberta's grievances with Ottawa — and putting out the political flames the UCP...

26.06.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Pierre Poilievre might be cooked

The Conservative Party of Canada will reportedly hold a leadership review next January. It's not at all clear that Pierre Poilievre will even...

19.06.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada’s Conservatives still aren’t serious about housing

Housing affordability remains an existential issue for millions of Canadians. So why do Conservative MPs like Jacob Mantle seem so determined to...

12.06.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney’s grand climate bargain comes into view

Danielle Smith clearly wanted a fight with Mark Carney. So far, she’s getting her ass handed to her. 

05.06.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Alberta’s grievances aren’t actually reasonable

The defenders of Canada all seem to agree that Alberta's grievances with the federal government are worth taking seriously. But what if they...

29.05.2025 20

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Pierre Poilievre needs to fight for Canada

Canada’s Conservatives spent years feeding the fantasy of Alberta separatism. Now they have to crush it

22.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Separatists, Silos, and the Battle for Canada's Future

With the federal election behind us and America’s interest in annexing Canada apparently on hold for the time being, it’s tempting to think the...

15.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Gregor Robertson still doesn’t get it 

The Liberals were given one stay of political execution on their poor handling of the housing file, both because of Justin Trudeau’s resignation and...

15.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada’s Conservatives are flirting with danger

The MAGA movement has long defined itself through its willingness to deny the legitimacy of election results. After their recent defeat, Canada's...

14.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Danielle Smith is playing with fire 

As the premier of the province it’s her job to talk the separatists down, not rile them up. But to Smith, her most important job is clearly that of...

07.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney isn’t here to play

By letting his opponents expose the smallness of their politics, Carney’s will start to look bigger by comparison.

06.05.2025 10

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Canada needs a true National Energy Program

It’s time for the Liberals to build another national energy program. Done properly, this one can enhance national unity rather than undermining it.

01.05.2025 20

National Observer

Max Fawcett

Mark Carney needs to depolarize our politics

Under a more proportional system, both parties would be incentivized to compete more aggressively in all parts of the country — and rewarded for...

30.04.2025 30

National Observer

Max Fawcett