Max Fawcett

Lead Columnist | Calgary

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. He won the 2023 National Newspaper Award for best columnist, and also picked up a National Magazine Award in 2021 for his columns.

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.

465 Articles

How Trudeau can save the carbon tax (and win the next election)

The carbon tax is increasingly unpopular with a growing number of Canadians. If Justin Trudeau wants to save his carbon tax — and his party — from Pierre Poilievre, he'll need to double down on the idea, not walk away from it.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

October 24th 2023

Petulance is the point for Pierre Poilievre

The Conservative Party of Canada leader doesn’t have to behave like a petulant jackass, in other words. But with Poilievre, it seems, petulance is the point.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

Opinion

October 19th 2023

Alberta’s strange love affair with Quebec

That infatuation has reached a new fervour under Premier Danielle Smith, who might not be able to speak much French but is already fluent in Quebec’s unofficial language of grievance politics.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

October 13th 2023

The totally serious case for Alberta independence

Alberta separation is the bad idea that just won't die — and Friday's Supreme Court decision could give it renewed life. Is it finally time to take it seriously?

Opinion

Max Fawcett

October 10th 2023

Wab Kinew wins one for Canada

His win in the Manitoba election shows that U.S.-style culture war politics don't always play well in Canada. Now it's up to progressives in the rest of Canada to keep up the fight — and keep them on the other side of our border.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

October 5th 2023

Mark Carney and how we all win

"Progressives build things that last — health care, infrastructure, schools, opportunity, sustainability and prosperity," Mark Carney told Liberal insiders at the Global Progress Action Summit.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

September 28th 2023

There’s a Nazi in the House — and that’s just the beginning

Speaker Anthony Rota's decision to invite a former Nazi into the House of Commons was an international embarrassment. But as a newly elected MP's performance shows, it's already well on the way to becoming a national one.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

September 27th 2023

Danielle Smith’s pension plan politics could backfire

Alberta thinks it's entitled to more than half of Canada's shared pension fund, and it's apparently willing to make other Canadians pay more to get its hands on the money. Did Danielle Smith just hand Justin Trudeau a lifeline in the process?

Opinion

Max Fawcett

September 25th 2023

Why do Conservatives like Modi so much? Ask Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper may have retired from office, but his influence on Canadian politics remains. What should we make of his friendship with authoritarians like Viktor Orban and Narendra Modi, and why have his fellow conservatives been so quiet about it?

Opinion

Max Fawcett

September 21st 2023

So much for ethical oil

For years, Danielle Smith and other Alberta conservatives have called attention to Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses in order to advance their own economic interests. Now, they're allied in a fight against reality — and our future.

Opinion

Max Fawcett

September 20th 2023