How harsh are the penalties for using your phone while driving over there?

Very very light.

9. What is the fine for distracted driving? The fine is $172 for this offence. This amount includes a fine of $150 plus the 15 percent victims’ surcharge. This fine is in keeping with the fines for other traffic violations.
10. Are there demerit points for this offence? No. It is felt that the dollar fine will encourage drivers to focus on driving. Drivers that exhibit what is deemed to be more serious or risky behaviors could be charged with ‘driving carelessly’ under the Traffic Safety Act. The penalty for the existing ‘driving carelessly’ offence carries six demerit points and a fine of $402. If a driver does commit a moving violation while engaged in one of these activities, or any other deemed as a distraction, they could receive two tickets - one for distracted driving, and one for the moving violation.

https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType3679/Production/FAQ.pdf

Demerit points

(I am not American, but I have had the displeasure of seeing one up here)

I’ve hauled more with my bike.

Source (Deviantart)

Source (Bluesky)

Oh wholeheartedly agree, I live in Alberta and the number of pavement princesses that have effectively vestigial beds here is absolutely ridiculous. I have even seen quite a few of these very normal limousines here:

It looks even more ridiculous in person, nowhere close to the one Swastidumpster I have had the misfortune of seeing, but still ridiculous.

Also:

The Kei truck has the longer bed.

It is not a flex to carry less than I can on my cargo bike.

I would also like to point out that they avoided the driven pole at the end of the fence.