Max Fawcett

Lead Columnist Calgary

About Max Fawcett

Max Fawcett is Canada's National Observer's lead columnist. His brilliant essays and opinions are read and valued by millions of Canadians.

We're not sure how he finds so much time to write three substantial, searing columns a week and tweet through the day. Yet proof that he can and does is vivid on Twitter, where he engages in intense, irreverent conversations on politics and policy, with a special focus on the Smith government of Alberta.

His Canada's National Observer columns are regularly highlighted on National Newswatch, and he is a frequent guest on leading podcasts and radio shows.

Max's writing has been published in The Globe and Mail, Maclean's, The Walrus and CBC and he has been an executive editor at both Alberta Oil Magazine and Vancouver Magazine.

He lives in Calgary.

415 Articles

Some pundits are arguing that Canada ought to retreat to its most basic functions. Max Fawcett isn't buying it. Photo via Flickr/marke1996 (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

We need more Canada, not less

We keep hearing that Canada "is broken" — and now, that it "needs to be gutted and rebuilt from the ground up." But from climate change to health care and housing, our challenges require more Ottawa, not less. It's time for Justin Trudeau to say as much.

Opinion, Politics | April 18th 2024

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver announce their new "stay out of my backyard" legislation. Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta

Danielle Smith’s latest attempt to own the libs will cost Alberta

Danielle Smith's government has decided to smother every aspect of Ottawa's relationship with her province in red tape and gatekeeping, including the funding of individual post-secondary research grants. And you thought Jason Kenney was bad.

Opinion, Politics | April 16th 2024

So far, the prime minister has rejected calls for a national meeting with premiers on the carbon tax. He might want to reconsider. Photo by Alex Tétreault

Justin Trudeau should say yes to a carbon tax showdown

Pierre Poilievre and the provincial premiers are spoiling for yet another fight over the carbon tax — this time in a nationally televised meeting. Here's why Justin Trudeau should give it to them, and how he can beat them at their own game.

Opinion, Politics | April 11th 2024

The 2022 "Freedom Convoy" has morphed into an anti-carbon tax convoy in 2024 — but the song remains the same. Photo via Flickr/lezumbalaberenjena (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)

The carbon tax convoy hasn’t learned a thing

Two years after they occupied Ottawa and tried to replace the government, the freedom convoy is rallying around opposition to the carbon tax — and still making the same fundamental misunderstandings about how our democracy works.

Opinion, Politics | April 10th 2024

Doug Ford is dumbing down Ontario

Step aside, Danielle Smith. Move over, Scott Moe. Whether it's on housing or education, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is taking his know-nothing brand of politics to new depths lately — and reclaiming the title of Canada's worst premier.

Opinion, Politics | April 9th 2024

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Is it time for a Liberal-NDP merger?

The only thing New Democrats and Liberals dislike more than Conservatives is each other. But if they want to put an end to a future Pierre Poilievre government, they might have to find a way to put it aside and join forces more permanently.

Opinion, Politics | April 4th 2024

Pierre Poilievre keeps promising to "axe the tax." If he does, it could end up being Canada's answer to Brexit. Photo by Megan Albu

Pierre Poilievre’s climate policy is a joke

The endless debate over the carbon tax is missing the forest for the trees — and distracting us from the more important conversation we need to have about the CPC's do-nothing attitude towards climate change.

Opinion, Politics | April 3rd 2024

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a speaker during a housing announcement in Vancouver on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Nobody really cares about renters

Justin Trudeau came to Vancouver to announce a "renters bill of rights" and other pro-affordability measures. But the details are decidedly underwhelming — and might just end up adding insult to the considerable injuries renters have endured.

Opinion, Politics | April 1st 2024

A leaked internal report by the RCMP has caught the attention of right-wing pundits and politicians. As usual, they're missing the forest for the trees. Photo of an RCMP officer taken July 1, 2009. Photo by: Flickr/focusedcapture

Truth, lies, and that RCMP report

An internal report from the RCMP flagged a bunch of key risks facing Canada, from climate change to misinformation and paranoid populism. But we won't be able to address any of them if the right continues to trade in deceit and doom-mongering.

Opinion, Politics | March 28th 2024

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, seen here with CPC Leader Pierre Poilievre last summer, has surrendered to the NIMBYs in his province. Will Poilievre do anything about it? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Pierre Poilievre has a Doug Ford problem

Pierre Poilievre's pledge to crack down on housing gatekeepers has proven to be little more than empty talk. Ironically, it's been Doug Ford and other Conservative politicians — the real housing gatekeepers — who have done the proving here.

Opinion, Politics | March 26th 2024