Western Context

We talk about the rise of precarity in Canada, Edmonton’s mayor Amarjeet Sohi is running for the federal Liberals, and David Eby partially backs down from his undemocratic bill. Also, we look at the relationship between Mark Carney’s assets and China.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“This is a fundamental brutal assault on our constitution, on our way of governing ourselves and it is not warranted by anything I can imagine. It just boggles the mind. I can’t imagine any circumstances under which any government in a democracy should be given these powers in a blank cheque.” – Former BC NDP Premier Ujjal Dosanjh’s remarks on current BC NDP premier David Eby’s undemocratic Bill 7.

Duration: 1:09:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How an emerging precarity mindset is impacting public opinion and the Canadian election
• Support us on Patreon
• Mayor Sohi makes it official, taking leave to run for the federal Liberals in Edmonton Southeast
• David Eby walks back key portion of proposed B.C. tariff response legislation following backlash
• Carney’s green funds at Brookfield used Bermuda tax haven to attract investors
• Word of the Week: Precarity

China is imposing tariffs on Canadian canola, Danielle Smith has a list of national unity demands, and David Eby continues his trade crusade against the US. Also, we look at Canada’s unhappiness and the idea of a lost decade.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“Two can play this game. So, Canada, you don’t want to mess with Alaska. If you do, we’re going to work hard on having our cruise ships bypass your ports, and that’ll help our economy tremendously. It’ll help our tourism industry tremendously, and it’ll really hurt their tourism. They’re playing a dangerous game here. I hope they back down.” – Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan on BC Premier David Eby’s proposal to toll Alaska trucks.

Duration: 1:03:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• China is imposing 100% tariffs on Canadian canola
• Support us on Patreon
• Protecting Alberta from unconstitutional federal overreach
• Alaska senator threatens to halt cruise ships from coming to B.C.
• A lost decade under the Liberals
• Word of the Week: Dumping

Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership race, Alberta makes a deal with Japan on LNG, and David Eby wants to give himself unchecked powers. Also, Carney sets the carbon tax to $0 on day 1.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“We have new ministers with new ideas, ready to respond to new threats and seize new opportunities.” – New Prime Minister Mark Carney on his ‘new’ cabinet consisting of many old faces.

Duration: 1:06:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership by a landslide with 86% of votes
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta inks LNG deal with Japan thwarting Ottawa’s export skepticism
• B.C. legislation would give cabinet sweeping powers amid U.S. tariff threats
• Carney cuts carbon tax rate to zero, neutralizing unpopular policy before possible campaign
• Word of the Week: Follow through

Trudeau announces a high speed rail network right before he resigns, Carney’s financial policies get lambasted by economists, and BC’s throne speech says very little on the future. Also, the Liberals want to double CBC funding.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“The changes at the CBC should be part of a package of measures to protect Canadians from foreign interference, from threats from the Trump administration, and the hegemony and the place that the richest men on the planet occupy in the public space of discussion, debate and information.” – Pascale St-Onge on a blueprint of changes for the CBC.

Duration: 1:04:21
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• High-speed rail line with 300 km/h trains will run between Toronto and Quebec City, Trudeau announces
• Support us on Patreon
• Carney’s budgeting proposal was a ‘disaster’ when Alberta tried it, economists say
• BC throne speech cites war against Nazis to portray province in historic battle
• Liberals want to nearly double CBC funding, as an investment in ‘national security’
• Word of the Week: Lame duck

Poilievre pledges to increase our Arctic footprint, Carney wants to rebrand the carbon tax, and the BC NDP cancels the planned grocery rebate. Also, the anniversary of the flag brings a renewal of Canada first.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“We intended to do this, but the world has changed on us. It’s become much more uncertain.” – BC Finance Brenda Bailey on cancelling the campaign promised $1000 grocery rebate.

Duration: 57:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre pledges Arctic military base, naval icebreakers if party forms government
• Support us on Patreon
• Does Mark Carney want a trade war with Trump over carbon emissions?
• BC NDP blames Trump while axing promise that should never have been made
• CBC host afraid Canadian flag associates him with Freedom Convoy
• Word of the Week: Hijacked

BC’s safe supply is being trafficked, Alberta wants to investigate AHS, and 50,000 international students are unaccounted for. Also, the tariff threat is being used as a political wedge by the Trudeau Liberals and mainstream media.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“There are indications here that this is a program that is exploiting the most vulnerable people in our province by enabling a system whereby people with severe addictions are being used for profit by some bad actors in pharmacies, housing and health care. And frankly, it’s disgusting.” – BC Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko on news of trafficking of BC’s ‘safe supply’ prescription drugs.

Duration: 1:04:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. investigating ‘significant’ prescribed opioid diversion
• Support us on Patreon
• NDP demand probes into corruption claims in Alberta health contracts
• 20,000 Indian students didn’t show up to class after arriving in Canada. What happened to them?
• Trudeau and Sheinbaum Took Different Routes to a Tariff Deal
• Word of the Week: Tariff

Trudeau plans to stack the Senate before resigning, a Victoria school board is fired by the BC NDP, and Calgary reluctantly approves the UCP’s Green Line plan. Also, the final report into foreign interference is released by Justice Hogue.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“There are legitimate concerns about parliamentarians potentially having problematic relationships with foreign officials, exercising poor judgment, behaving naively and perhaps displaying questionable ethics. But I did not see evidence of parliamentarians conspiring with foreign states against Canada. While some conduct may be concerning, I did not see evidence of ‘traitors’ in Parliament.” – Justice Marie-Josée Hogue on the contradicting information given in the final report on foreign interference in Canadian Politics.

Duration: 1:01:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau plans on stacking Senate before retiring
• Support us on Patreon
• Entire Victoria School Board fired by B.C. education minister over its ban on police in schools
• Held hostage’: City council reluctantly approves province’s Green Line plan
• Trudeau Government Left Canada Vulnerable to Foreign Interference, Report Finds
• Word of the Week: Traitor

BC forecasts a huge deficit while renegotiating union contracts, Jasper’s rebuild runs into federal red tape, and the RCMP buys unusable Chinese drones for the border. Also, Mark Carney’s climate history may show us his future plans.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“The core will be to electrify everything and simultaneously develop green electricity. Achieving net zero will require moving away from fossil fuels to renewables, decarbonizing transport and reducing emissions from industrial processes. Meaningful carbon prices are a cornerstone of any effective policy framework. To meet the 1.5 C target, more than 80 per cent of current fossil fuel reserves (including three-quarters of coal, half of gas, one-third of oil) would need to stay in the ground, stranding these assets.” – Mark Carney’s book “Values” on carbon pricing.

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. to negotiate public sector contracts for 400,000 workers in 2025 amid fiscal issues
• Support us on Patreon
• We’re going to lose Jasper’: Town pleads with Steven Guilbeault to fast-track recovery
• Canada bought Chinese drones that are unusable at the border
• Mark Carney says he’s started at the top ‘many’ times before as he runs to become prime minister
• Word of the Week: Top

Pierre Poilievre promises to reverse Trudeau’s capital gains tax changes, David Eby has cancelled BC’s promised grocery rebate, and Danielle Smith is vilified in Canada for standing up for Alberta. Also, Canada is somehow importing sanctioned Russian oil.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“It’s very clear that Russian crude is prohibited from being imported into Canada. It’s also very clear that non-crude Russian oil products are prohibited from entering into Canada. What is not clear is … the use of Russian crude imports that then get processed and finished by a third country.” – William Pellerin, international trade lawyer at McMillan LLP on Russian oil imports entering Canada despite sanctions.

Duration: 1:00:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre pledges to reverse Liberals’ capital gains tax changes if elected
• Support us on Patreon
• $1,000 grocery rebate cheques may be on chopping block in efficiency review
• Alberta government’s diplomatic efforts to avert tariffs a high-wire act, political watchers say
• Banned Russian oil is coming to Canada
• Word of the Week: Sadomasochism

Justin Trudeau announces his resignation while proroguing Parliament, the University of Alberta is moving away from DEI, and John Rustad highlights problems with the BC election. Also, Donald Trump’s remarks cause Canadians to reflect inward.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election. As you all know, I’m a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight… I care deeply about this country. I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months.” – Justin Trudeau upon announcing his pending resignation as Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:03:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Justin Trudeau resigning, prorogues Parliament
• Support us on Patreon
• Why the U of A is moving from EDI to access, community and belonging
• Elections BC to probe election complaint lodged by BC Conservatives
• Trump said Tuesday he’d be willing to use ‘economic force’ to join countries
• Word of the Week: Resignation