Western Context

A potential rift in the BC Conservatives is overblown by the media, The UCP want to strengthen power generation, and 30,000 people are unaccounted for by CBSA. Also, Alberta makes plans to secure the border.

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“All members of the caucus have the right to say things, and the right to be able to bring forward issues, and I look forward to the discussions. We don’t whip our people to say what they want to say. I look at it from the perspective (that) the NDP would be whipping everybody. They would make sure that they all say the same thing.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on the importance of diverse opinions in a party caucus.

Duration: 56:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC Conservatives present united front after messy caucus dispute goes public
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• Alberta’s government wants reliable electrical system, proposes market changes to get there
• CBSA lost track of nearly 30,000 people wanted for deportation orders
• A plan to secure Alberta’s southern border
• Word of the Week: Retaliatory

Air Canada will now charge for carry-on bags, Alberta is scaling back photo radar, and the police no longer support decriminalization in BC. Also, former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz says we may be in an actual recession.

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“It’s not transparent until you’ve gotten a certain depth into the booking: ‘Oh, here’s the seat selection fee. Oh, here’s the baggage fee. Oh, here’s the carry-on fee.’ And watch out if you don’t check in online, there’s a massive penalty if you don’t. It’s kind of drip, drip, drip, drip. And it works. It’s a troublesome trend.” – Richard Vanderlubbe, founder of Hamilton, Ont.-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca, on Air Canada’s new carry-on charges.

Duration: 54:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Transport minister to summon airline CEOs as Air Canada set to charge carry-on fees for some passengers
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• Alberta announces end of photo radar ‘cash cow’ in province: ‘This is a historic day’
• Police support crumbles for B.C.’s decriminalization experiment
• We’re in a recession,’ says former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz
• Word of the Week: Fare

The Trudeau Liberals give Canadians a 2 month GST holiday, Alberta is looking at a different auto insurance approach, and BC Ferries is looking to raise fares by 30%. Also, Trump tariffs cause chaos in the Canadian media.

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“President Trump has the right to put his workers and his nation’s security first. I will put Canada’s workers and Canada’s security first. We need a Prime Minister with the brains and backbone to stand up for this country.” – Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on a Canada First plan.

Duration: 1:05:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals to cut GST on beer, children’s toys and Christmas trees
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• Rate hikes, no-fault claims in new rules pitched for Alberta auto insurance
• BC Ferries warns of potential 30% fare hike as costs rise
• Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat?
• Word of the Week: Vibecession

Former BC Premier John Horgan passes away from cancer, Edmonton asks for feedback on a single use plastics bylaw, and Canada Post workers go on strike. Also, Steven Guilbeault proposes a global shipping carbon tax.

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“Canadians discovered that Justin Trudeau’s radical Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, wants to create a new global carbon tax on international shipping. This tax money would then be sent abroad to other countries… This new tax on maritime transportation would undoubtedly drive investment and business away from our already struggling port system, putting strong union jobs at risk.” – Pierre Poilievre on a potential new international shipping carbon tax.

Duration: 58:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• John from Langford’ was one of the most popular premiers in B.C. history
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• City of Edmonton asking for feedback on single-use bylaw
• Canada Post workers go on strike causing postal delays ahead of holiday season
• Global shipping carbon tax
• Word of the Week: Strike

Canada bans TikTok operations but not the app, Alberta slams Trudeau’s deranged emissions cap, and BC’s forestry sector faces new challenges. Also, Donald Trump’s election win will make things interesting for Canada.

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“Trump’s a deal-maker. Hopefully it gives us an opportunity to do a deal with the Americans, and I think that should be a priority for our government. We have to be looking at how we protect our forest sector, and I think both federally and provincially, they’ve ignored it.” – Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad on BC’s forestry sector.

Duration: 1:00:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau government bans TikTok from operating in Canada — but Canadians can still use it
• ‘I’m pissed’: Alberta premier, oil and gas industry slam Ottawa’s new emissions cap
• B.C. forest sector prognosis becoming progressively grim
• Donald Trump has a long enemies list, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on it
• Word of the Week: Derangement

Alberta amends the Bill of Rights, BC’s election result shows a tenuous NDP majority, and the Trudeau Liberals spent $2M on podcasts. Also, several elected officials get named as beneficiaries of foreign interference.

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“All the way through the campaign, David Eby, quite frankly, was a habitual liar about who we are, about what we did, about our platform. I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, it’s okay, that’s who he is, that’s his personality.’ I’ll certainly be looking to call him out in the legislature.” – John Rustad on how contentious the next BC Legislature will be following October’s election.

Duration: 1:00:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Bill of Rights Amendments
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• The counting still isn’t done in B.C.’s election. Here’s what happens next
• Federal Liberals spent nearly $2M to produce podcasts
• MP Kevin Vuong Discusses Foreign Interference
• Word of the Week: Recount

The BC election results are still in limbo, the Alberta Pathways Alliance has high hopes for carbon capture, and Trudeau laments that he didn’t get the balance quite right on immigration.

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“Sonia is not obviously a big fan of democracy. The people of various ridings have spoken as to who should be elected and who shouldn’t be elected.” – Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad on unelected Green Leader Sonia Furstenau’s criticism of elected candidates.

Duration: 1:05:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. election results: Mail-in ballots favouring NDP as recounts begin in 2 ridings
• Massive oilsands carbon capture project gains ‘hope’ after Wilkinson, Freeland meet with Pathways Alliance
• Trudeau says drastic immigration cuts are because ‘we didn’t get the balance quite right’
• Word of the Week: Statistical Tie

Alberta launches a national ad campaign, the BC Conservatives released their platform just days before the election, and Trudeau says he knows who is involved in foreign interference. Also, Canada expels Indian diplomats.

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“Once again, Ottawa is attempting to set policies that are shortsighted and reckless. We’re challenging proposed policy that would stifle our energy industry, kill jobs and ruin economies by launching a national campaign that tells Ottawa to ‘scrap the cap’.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on why the province is introducing a new ad campaign against Ottawa.

Duration: 59:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta launches national ad campaign to ‘scrap the cap’
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• Cost of BC Conservatives’ promises announced just days before election
• Trudeau tells inquiry some Conservative parliamentarians are involved in foreign interference
• How Indian government agents in Canada targeted Modi’s opponents
• Word of the Week: cap

A misleading article defends Eby’s crime record, capital gains tax increases yield less revenue than expected, and TD bank is fined billions in the US for money laundering. Also, Canadian doctors now have to be on the lookout for scurvy.

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“Really, if you’re not thinking about scurvy, then there’s no way that you’re going to be able to diagnose it … the case presents a complex example of food insecurity manifesting as an uncommon diagnosis.” – Dr. Sally Engelhart on diagnosing scurvy in Canada.

Duration: 58:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. Election Fact Check: Conservatives say NDP soft on crime
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• Capital gains tax hike to yield less than 40% of revenue forecast by Liberals
• TD Bank fined $3B US after pleading guilty in historic U.S. money-laundering case
• Canadian doctors warned to be on the lookout for scurvy
• Word of the Week: Archaic

Reusable bags aren’t actually helping the environment, Edmonton looks at 15 minute cities, and John Rustad wants to end ICBC’s monopoly. Also, the House of Commons stalls over the Liberal’s money mismanagement.

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“The ban on plastic straws has been nothing but a nuisance for families and businesses across B.C. It hasn’t achieved any significant environmental goals, but it has certainly made life worse for people.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on single use plastics.

Duration: 1:00:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• We’re drowning in reusable bags. Are bag profits preventing big grocers from adopting solutions?
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• New district policy, plans including 15-minute cities concept OK’d by Edmonton city council
• John Rustad Announces Plan to End ICBC Monopoly and Bring Fair, Competitive Car Insurance to BC
• RCMP says there are ongoing investigations into ‘green slush fund’ as House is ‘ground to a halt’
• Word of the Week: Slush fund