Western Context

The Liberals spend billions on a secure food strategy, Poilievre positions himself as Captain Unity in Alberta, and BC allows drivers knowledge tests to be taken online. Also, the teenager social media ban will have a lot more consequences for everyone.

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“The answer therefore for Albertans is not to pull away from our friends in other provinces, but to lock arms with them to make Canada affordable, safe, self-reliant, and united here at home.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Canadian unity.

Duration: 1:06:42
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM Carney unveils multibillion-dollar food strategy meant to lower prices
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• Poilievre promotes Canadian unity, accuses federal government of stoking Alberta separatism, in Calgary speech
• New B.C. drivers can now take learner’s licence knowledge test online
• Canada proposes teen social media ban – with workaround for tech firms
• Word of the Week: foment

Alberta looks at airport to downtown train corridors, the BC Conservatives elect Kerry-Lynne Findlay as their new leader, and Alberta rolls out a new surgery funding model for hospitals. Also, Carney addresses antisemitism with a new advisory council.

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“In our national anthem, we cry out to God to make our land glorious and free. Faith, family and freedom. That’s what it’s all about. God bless British Columbia and God bless all of you.” – new BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay after winning leadership.

Duration: 1:05:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta eyes downtown-to-airport trains as first key project of passenger rail plan
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• For new B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, it’s about ‘faith, family and freedom’
• Alberta partially rolls out new surgery funding model for public hospitals
• Carney admits antisemitism ‘crisis,’ but won’t do much about it
• Word of the Week: Social Conservatism

Canada makes a deal to export LNG to Germany, Carney’s inflight meals incur huge costs, and the Supreme Court decides Aboriginal title does not apply to private property. Also, Carney wants to help make America great again.

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“That is mutual strength. Canada Strong will help make America great again. The examples are legion where we should work together and compete with the world together.” – Prime Minister Mark Carney on the mutual strength of Canada and America.

Duration: 1:05:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada Strikes Landmark Deal to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Germany
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• Carney’s in-flight menu includes fine wine, braised beef and ‘luxury’ butter
• Aboriginal title can’t apply to private land, Supreme Court of Canada decides
• Carney seeks new US-Canada partnership as world undergoes ‘rupture’
• Word of the Week: rupture

Liberal MPs are unhappy with Carney’s environmental policies, the CRTC is forcing streamers to pay even more tax, and the BC Conservative leadership race concludes soon to little fanfare. Also, Danielle Smith will bring her own referendum to Albertans.

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“I wish to speak with those of you who already agree with me that Alberta should remain in Canada. Let us guard against the trap of using division and demonization tactics against our fellow Albertans with whom we disagree on this matter. The vast majority of those advocating for separation love our province profoundly. Many are also proud Canadians that have simply lost hope that their families can flourish within Canada. So instead of attacking these loyal Albertans, let’s work together to restore hope in their country again.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on what those looking to remain in Canada need to do.

Duration: 1:02:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 14 Liberal MPs pen letter to Carney raising concerns over environmental backslide
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• CRTC to require online streamers to pay 15% of annual revenues to support Canadian content
• Secrecy, allegations cloud B.C. Conservative leadership race ahead of vote
• Danielle Smith says she will put her own separation-related referendum question to Albertans in October
• Word of the Week: nuance

Alberta and Ottawa continue to advance a west coast pipeline, VPNs could leave Canada over Bill C-22, and a judge quashes the Alberta separatist petition. Also, a CBC funded comedy show fakes interviews over residential schools.

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“Every member of Parliament in the country uses Signal, precisely because they believe it is safe (confidential) to use. No one wants Gary reading their messages.” Conservative MP Jacob Mantle on the proposed lawful access bill C22 by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.

Duration: 1:03:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Advancing an oil pipeline to the west coast
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• Major VPN provider says it could leave Canada over lawful access bill
• Judge quashes Alberta separation petition in favour of First Nations
• CBC called out for role in prank interviews of Kamloops residential school grave critics
• Word of the Week: quash

Louise Arbour will be Canada’s new governor general, Chinese officials wanted to stop Vancouver’s Shen Yun performances, and Alberta’s electors list sees a data breach. Also, US Indigenous tribes are using BC’s DRIPA legislation to halt resource projects.

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“I have never seen anything like this… over six terms of governments, working for the provincial government. I have never seen this level of ineptitude and incompetence.” – Geoffrey Moyse former legal counsel in the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General’s Office, on Premier Eby’s troubles with DRIPA.

Duration: 1:14:17
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM Carney names Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general
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• Chinese consulate met Vancouver official in bid to stop event critical of communist rule
• Elections Alberta alerted to improper use of voters’ information in late March, journalist says
• U.S. tribes demand a say in key B.C. economic decisions
• Word of the Week: Pejorative

Carney looks at privatizing Canada’s airports, Trump approves a new pipeline from Alberta to Wyoming, and Vancouver’s Whitecaps may be forced to relocate. Also, Canada’s new sovereign wealth fund is not what the government makes it sound like.

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“We’re in the early stages of a process with airport authorities and other partners to determine the best way forward. The ultimate goal, of course, is to improve the passenger experience, to improve the efficiency of our air transport system. Indeed, [airports] are a public good and I don’t think that spirit or that philosophy will change.” – Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon on the possibility of privatizing Canada’s airports

Duration: 1:10:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada in ‘early stages’ of talks on whether to privatize airports
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• Trump signs order authorizing Bridger’s Canada-Wyoming crude pipeline
• The Whitecaps are a top team in MLS. Why is Vancouver struggling to keep them?
• Carney to announce sovereign wealth fund
• Word of the Week: wealth

We look back at Mark Carney’s first year as Prime Minister, including his policies, governing style, and international trade trips. Also, we highlight the issues that remain in Canada and how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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“Carney only wears dark bespoke suits, white shirts and conservative ties. His socks are as classic and understated as Don Draper’s. Brown shoes are out. Black ones are in. He exudes competence and purpose.” – J.D.M. Stewart in MacLean’s Time Is Ticking for Mark Carney

Duration: 1:19:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The “new CEO” moves Mark Carney made
• Why things have stayed the same
• Support us on Patreon
• The things that drew media attention
• Things that are still problems

Three by-elections result in a new Liberal majority, the Liberals want to ban teens from social media, and David Eby backs down from proposed DRIPA changes. Also, the court system intervenes in Alberta’s independence movement.

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“This is getting ridiculous. A few more of these and we are edging into Italian territory. Floor-crossing is so endemic in the Italian parliament it even has a name: trasformismo. Recent parliaments have seen as many as a quarter to a third of the legislators switch parties, often in pursuit of office of some kind.” – Globe and Mail Columnist Robert Fife on the recent floor crossings.

Duration: 1:07:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘A mandate to get to work:’ Liberals secure majority with Toronto byelection wins
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• Ottawa ‘very seriously’ considering age restrictions for social media, AI chatbots
• NDP government to pause DRIPA amendments amid caucus divisions
• First Nations win initial stay in separatism challenge, temporarily blocking Alberta election boss from certifying petition results
• Word of the Week: Trasformismo

Carney avoids talking about forced labour in China, the Alberta government wants to remove politics from education, and a Vancouver Canucks reporter gets barred from the arena due to an unflattering article. Also, Avi Lewis is elected NDP leader.

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“He looks like a hero, because he took me on as a critic of the motherland. He is supporting the motherland and that makes him look very good and makes me look terrible … I think he thought it would be well-received by the Chinese embassy, which it was.” – Margaret McCuaig-Johnston on being grilled by Liberal MP Michael Ma.

Duration: 1:05:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney avoids describing China’s treatment of Uyghurs as genocide
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• Alberta government says new bill intended to remove politics, ideology from schools
• Canucks’ decision to revoke credential of reporter alarms colleagues
• Who is Avi Lewis, the new leader of the NDP?
• Word of the Week: Selective