Western Context

The Liberals’ fast track project bill passes with Conservative support, Carney and Trump want a trade deal within 30 days, and another Vancouver housing developer faces layoffs. Also, Canada’s evacuation response in the Middle East faces more criticism.

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“We exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this outcome, including creating efficiencies in our systems and processes, engaging in aggressive cost-reduction measures. This was all in hopes of preserving as many jobs as possible. But despite these efforts, the economic realities left us no choice. We are delivering housing at a cost that people cannot afford to purchase.” – Wesgroup CEO Beau Jarvis on the developer’s recent layoffs.

Duration: 1:04:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals’ major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support
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• Carney and Trump commit to reaching trade deal within 30 days
• Dire straits’: Wesgroup layoffs sign of big downturn in residential construction in B.C.
• Canadians stuck in Israel abandoned by embassy that closes at 4:30 p.m.
• Word of the Week: Naivety

Carney promises that Canada will meet NATO’s 2% target, BC Ferries selects a Chinese shipyard to build new vessels, and Danielle Smith says no to new Alberta national parks. Also, CBC’s immigration fraud story sheds light on our still high intake numbers.

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“Our focus is principally on getting the best deal for British Columbians and getting the best deal for BC Ferries. When it comes to things like trade policy, industrial policy, geopolitics, I think we would really defer that to the federal and provincial governments and expect them to manage and work on those issues.” – BC Ferries CEO Nicholas Jimenez on his decision to partner with a Chinese state controlled shipyard to build 4 new vessels.

Duration: 1:08:05
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney says Canada will meet 2% NATO spending target by March
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• BC Ferries selects shipyard to construct four New Major Vessels
• Danielle Smith reignites feud with Guilbeault over his plans for Canada’s national parks
• She came to Canada for university, but she’d never been accepted. The scam cost her $7K
• Word of the Week: Defence

The Premiers meeting shows hope for the future, zoning bylaws divide Edmonton’s council, and David Eby rejects any notion of a second oil pipeline. Also, the Strong Borders Act may be more about internet privacy.

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“[Santa Carney]’s coming, and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now, he’s taken off back to the North Pole. He’s going to sort it out, and then he’s going to call us.” – Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the premier’s meeting with Mark Carney.

Duration: 59:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Premiers heap praise on meeting with Carney, but no specific projects identified
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• ‘No respect for the people’: Edmonton zoning bylaw opponents give city council an earful
• BC communities disappointed as Eby rejects pipeline push from other premiers
• The Strong Borders Act
• Word of the Week: Nation-building

King Charles reads the throne speech, the federal recounts are finally done, and Alberta is ensuring age appropriate material in school libraries. Also, BC’s drug crisis is getting even worse.

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“Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.” – King Charles III on the need for Canada’s government to defend freedom.

Duration: 55:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada
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• Judge rejected ballots marked in rectangular box containing candidates’ name in N.L. recount: report
• Ensuring age-appropriate books in school libraries
• How fentanyl transformed Victoria’s Pandora Avenue from downtown hub to open-air drug market
• Word of the Week: Values

We look back on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s time in office, including his greatest hits, scandals, and all of the dumb things he said or did over the past 10 years.

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Justin Trudeau falls out of a kayak. One of the many embarrassing moments for this Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:07:31
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

Trudeau’s Greatest Hits

1. #WelcomeToCanada -> Roxham Road
2. Chinese foreign interference + Meng Wanzhou and 2 Michaels
3. Appointment of Steven Guilbeault, Bill C-69 (no more pipelines Bill), Bill C-48 and other anti-development policy
4. Budget will balance itself
5. SNC / JWR / Jane Philpott
6. 2018 India trip (Jaspal Atwal)
7. Emergencies Act, Convoy, and vaccine mandates
8. Military missteps: Vice Admiral Mark Norman, General Jonathan Vance, sexual misconduct scandals, procurement woes
9. Weapons ban through Order in Council
10. Black Face

Scandals

• She Experienced It Differently (Kokanee Grope)
• Aga Khan scandal
• Cash for Access scandal
• Forgoing first National Truth and Reconciliation day by vacationing in Tofino instead
• Billions of spending to outside consultants including McKinsey
• Elbowgate
• Bombardier Bailout Scandal
• Omar Khadr
• Appointment of Julie Payette as Governor General

Trudeauisms (Dumb shit he did)

• Admires China’s basic dictatorship
• Because it’s 2015 (gender neutral cabinet) + Sunny Ways my friends
• Costumes and socks
• Losing a confidence vote
• “Speaking Moistly” – Covid response
• Falling down the stairs as a social icebreaker
• Drink Box Water Box Type Things
• Kayak

We discuss Mark Carney’s cabinet picks, controversies, and regional representation. We also look at BC’s faltering union negotiations and Canada’s silent removal of US tariffs. Also, the one vote difference in Terrebonne could have lasting impacts.

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“These numbers are real. This is not a short-term financial crisis. We have a systemic deficit that we have to adjust. If we don’t adjust, it will go on in perpetuity.” – BC’s Deputy Finance Minister Douglas Scott on the province’s debt ballooning to over $100 billion.

Duration: 56:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney’s Cabinet Controversies
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• Contract talks stalled as B.C. pleads poverty with its main union
• Canada’s new tariffs on U.S. drop to ‘nearly zero’ with exemptions
• Liberals won Terrebonne, Que., riding by 1 vote — but this woman’s Bloc ballot wasn’t counted
• Word of the Week: Perpetuity

The federal NDP are asking for official party status, the Alberta UCP are navigating an independence movement, and the BC NDP’s fast tracking legislation hits some hurdles. Also Parkland Fuels may be bought by an American company.

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“Right now, we don’t actually have very many tools to reach in and take greater responsibility for moving projects along when something goes wrong. Let’s make sure we understand what we’re referring to when we talk about permitting processes. Although each of them is very well meaning, they end up kind of being spaghetti.” – BC Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma on reducing regulation by giving more power to the cabinet.

Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals putting out ‘feelers’ for NDP MPs to cross floor: Davies
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• Smith repeats demands, creates ‘Alberta Next’ panel ahead of likely independence vote in 2026
• Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet
• Proposed US$9-billion acquisition of Parkland to go to shareholder vote in June
• Word of the Week: Clarity

We discuss the federal election results including the NDP’s woes, Conservative’s gains and Carney’s eventual win. We look at how the results matter for BC and Alberta, and also Niagara Falls’ unchecked immigration problems.

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“As we come here after this consequential election, let’s put an end to the division and anger of the past. We are all Canadian, and my government will work for and with everyone. I began with humility, but Canadians are ambitious. And now more than ever, it is a time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming positive force of a united Canada, because we are going to build. Build baby build.” – Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney on his government’s plan for Canada.

Duration: 1:03:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Election 2025: Overview
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• B.C. Premier sees room for bigger role in Ottawa despite federal NDP election losses
• Premier Danielle Smith calls on PM Mark Carney to ‘reset’ Ottawa-Alberta relationship
• Niagara Falls ‘at breaking point’ after surge in migrants
• Word of the Week: Realignment

Another report details repressive foreign interference in Canada, an Alberta farmer is arrested for overselling eggs, and the Conservatives release their 100 day platform. Also Mark Carney changes his story on Trump’s phone call.

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“This morning, my dad Henk Van Essen was arrested because of chickens and because of eggs. More specifically, he was arrested because the Egg Farmers of Alberta don’t like that he can sell inspected eggs to people without paying millions into their quota system.” – Lyndsay van Essen on her father’s arrest after he sold eggs.

Duration: 1:02:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Federal officials report ‘repression’ operation targeting Conservative candidate
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• Small-scale Alberta egg farmer arrested for selling eggs outside quota system
• Poilievre lays out plan for first 100 days of a Conservative government
• Carney says Trump raised ’51st state’ during their call but ‘the president says a lot of things’
• Word of the Week: Tradecraft

A Liberal candidate invited Chinese influence into the campaign, Carney’s platform puts Canada further into debt, and a new Alberta addictions plan looks at involuntary treatment. Also, Liberal staffers spread disinformation buttons.

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“Despite their public claims, it’s clear that it’s the Liberals who are attempting to bring American-style politics to our country. One wonders what other dirty tricks the Liberals are behind as they desperately seek to distract from their disastrous record while seeking a fourth Liberal term.” – Conservative Party of Canada spokesperson Sam Lilly on Liberal operatives leaving inflammatory material in a conservative conference.

Duration: 1:06:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal candidate invited head of suspected secret Chinese police station to campaign event
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• Liberal platform promises $130B in new measures over 4 years, adding $225B to federal debt
• New Alberta addiction model will see some users ordered into treatment
• Liberal operatives planted ‘stop the steal’ buttons at conservative conference
• Word of the Week: Harm