Paula Simons

Political analysts Shannon Phillips, Anne McLellan and Ken Boessenkool in a very not-boring conversation on the long-term consequences of Alberta’s referendum. This episode was recorded on Monday, October 26, 2026. Here are the previous episodes on…

Chief Justice Ritu Khullar was a great Albertan and a great Canadian, a powerful legal advocate and a deeply respected jurist. On the afternoon after Alberta's fractious referendum, Senator Simons rose in the Senate Chamber to honour her memory.

Patriotism comes with a human cost. Those who push the separatist cause rarely acknowledge Alberta’s role in Canada’s national defence.

As Alberta’s referendum campaign enters its final countdown, Calgary Asian community leaders Teresa Woo-Paw, Julie Alati-it and Anne-Marie Pham talk about the challenges and strategies of getting out the vote.Learn more about Asian Canadians for a…

Senator Paula Simons addresses the threats that Bill C-22, the government's proposed new lawful access bill, poses to Canadian's civil liberties, their privacy rights, and to their online safety. "How ironic would it be, if in an effort to give…

On October 19, Albertans will vote on five referendum questions, specifically designed to scapegoat recent immigrants for Alberta's planning failures. The questions seek to create the illusion that Alberta is suffering from some sort of immigration…

On October 19, Albertans will vote on five referendum questions, specifically designed to scapegoat recent immigrants for Alberta's planning failures. The questions seek to create the illusion that Alberta is suffering from some sort of immigration…

On October 19, Albertans will vote on five referendum questions, specifically designed to scapegoat recent immigrants for Alberta's planning failures. The questions seek to create the illusion that Alberta is suffering from some sort of immigration…

On October 19, Albertans will vote on five referendum questions, specifically designed to scapegoat recent immigrants for Alberta's planning failures. The questions seek to create the illusion that Alberta is suffering from some sort of immigration…

Political strategist Stephen Carter, academic Jared Wesley and human rights lawyer Avnish Nanda on their campaigns to defeat Alberta’s “noxious nine” referendum questions. Need a refresher on the nine questions? Listen to our podcast episode, "Just…

Nine disingenuous, malicious referendum questions, push-polls, designed to incite social division and undermine confidence in the country.

This month's episode takes us out of Alberta bounds and into space. Astronomers Samantha Lawler and Aaron Boley, and political philosopher Daniel Munro, discuss the impacts of satellite debris and satellite congestion.To learn more about Senator…

The 2026 Kreisel lecturers, Richard Van Camp, Shani Mootoo and Lise Gaboury-Diallo, join Paula Simons onstage to discuss place, truth, and story as community medicineYou can listen to Part 1 & 2 of the lecture…

In Part 2 of the Kreisel Lecture, Authors Shani Mootoo and Lise Gaboury-Diallo reflect on place, identity, and the purpose of narrative. You can listen to Part 1 of the lecture…

On Monday, June 29th, during the Joint Parliamentary Q&A Session, Senator Simons questioned the Honourable Glenn Joyal , Chief Justice of Manitoba, and nominee to the Supreme Court, on the impacts of increased self-representing litigants and how he…

I am a proud Albertan. I am a proud Canadian. These two identities are not in conflict. They complement and strengthen one another. On this Canada Day, I want to make that message clear. Canada needs Alberta. Alberta needs Canada. Wishing you a happy…

Every year, the Centre for Literatures in Canada at the University of Alberta hosts the Kreisel Lecture, where authors are invited to deliver a lecture on a topic of their choosing. To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the centre broke the lecture…

It was supposed to be a bill about femicide. But it isn't. On Monday, June 15th, 2026, Senator Simons rose to speak to Bill C-16 at Second Reading. The Senate came under enormous pressure to rush the study of this "tough on crime" bill that purports…

On Thursday, June 4th, Senator Simons rose in the Senate Chamber at Third Reading to speak to C-9: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places). As Senator Simons delivers her speech, she…

Unable to access medical assistance in dying in Canada, the 89-year-old travelled to Switzerland to obtain the care denied to her here.