Western Context

The Prairie provinces join against Trudeau’s gun ban, we compare the opioid crisis approach of BC and Alberta, and people are moving from Ontario to the West. Also, Canada might be in a recession soon.

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

“It’s like a bicycle that’s going really, really slowly. It’s fast enough that it’s still staying upright, but it’s kind of wobbling. If it hits a pebble, it could be knocked over. … And there’s a tonne of pebbles around.” – Stuart Bergman, chief economist at Export Development Canada, describing the Canadian economy at present.

Duration: 56:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta government calls on RCMP to ignore federal firearms ban within province
• Support us on Patreon
• A tale of two provinces: Assessing the opioid crises in BC and Alberta – Geoff Russ for Inside Policy
• Go west, young man: Alberta sees largest wave of interprovincial migration since 2014
• Canada headed for ‘severe’ and ‘inevitable’ recession in 2023: economist
• Word of the Week: Execute

Irving is hiring foreign workers to build warships, Alberta media tries to change the topic from energy to climate change, and the BC repeat offender expert panel advocates for stronger mental health support. Also, ArriveCAN is no more.

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

“We have had government and industry officials repeatedly telling our committee about all the great jobs this program will create for Canadians. I find it very disappointing that after the tens of billions of dollars thrown to Irving for shipbuilding that they are not reaching across our country to recruit workers.” – Conservative MP Kelly McCauley on Irving Shipbuilding hiring foreign workers to build Canadian warships.

Duration: 55:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Irving shipyard recruiting foreign workers to build new warship fleet despite vow of more jobs for Canadians
• Support us on Patreon
• Oil trumps climate change in UCP leadership race to determine Alberta’s next premier
• Experts recommend big boosts to mental health supports to deal with repeat offenders in B.C.
• Blocked at the border no more: Good riddance to the ArriveCAN app
• Word of the Week: Precarious

An NDP MLA crashed the UCP’s vaccine website, a holiday for only some shows division between the public and private sectors, and Trudeau’s inflation relief only furthers the problem. Also, Pierre Poilievre gets heckled by the media during a speech.

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

“First, they hurled obscenities and then started shouting at me. Was it some left-wing protester? Maybe it was a Liberal MP or staffer? No, it was a member of the media. He wasn’t interested in hearing what I had to say, and he certainly wasn’t interested in reporting it in an unbiased way.” – an email from new Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to Conservative supporters.

Duration: 47:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP blamed UCP for vaccine portal crash after NDP MLA hacked the system
• Support us on Patreon
• Holiday for some, not for others, causing hardship, confusion in B.C.
• Trudeau announces $4.5 billion inflation relief package for low earners
• Pierre Poilievre’s callous courting of Canada’s ‘deplorables’
• Word of the Week: Heckler

We talk about what the Queen meant to Canada, UCP candidates denounce Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Act, and Pierre Poilievre becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

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

“We are one party serving one country.” – Pierre Poilievre on the CPC becoming a united Conservative party going forward following his leadership win.

Duration: 46:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• What Canada meant to the Queen
• Support us on Patreon
• UCP leadership candidates unite to take aim at Danielle Smith’s sovereignty act
• Pierre Poilievre elected new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
• Western Context’s 2022 CPC Leadership Analysis
• Word of the Week: Era

Alberta projects a $13.2b surplus, Pierre Poilievre wants to simplify government language, and we discuss the untold economic impacts of cancelled energy projects. Also, the new federal luxury tax may backfire on the Trudeau Liberals.

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

“Alberta’s commitment to fiscal discipline and our unrelenting focus on economic growth has helped bring about an extraordinary turnaround in our financial situation. We promised Albertans we would get our fiscal house in order and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Now, we’re paying down debt so future generations won’t have to, saving more for a rainy day, and putting more money in Albertans’ pockets.” – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on the province’s expected $13.2b surplus.

Duration: 53:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Save it, save it, save it’: Wish list growing as Alberta projects $13.2B surplus
• Support us on Patreon
• Pierre Poilievre promises new law against government jargon
• TC Energy, Indigenous partners fall out after end of Keystone XL pipeline
• Critics warn Ottawa’s new ‘luxury tax’ on pricey cars, planes and boats could backfire
• Word of the Week: Jargon

Russia’s actions show how important Canada’s Arctic is, BC spends $118M to support family doctors, and half of international students are still waiting for their visas. Also, an anti-semite is hired by the Trudeau government to preach anti-racism.

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

“We have provided notice to the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) that their funding has been cut and their project has been suspended. We call on CMAC, an organization claiming to fight racism and hate in Canada to answer to how they came to hire Laith Marouf, and how they plan on rectifying the situation given the nature of his antisemitic and xenophobic comments.” – Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, distancing himself from an anti-racism initiative that he personally endorsed.

Duration: 50:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Russian invasion of Ukraine forces Arctic defence back onto Canada’s agenda
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. commits $118M in short-term funds to help stabilize family physician practices, clinics
• An incredibly big problem’: Visa delays imperil school year for thousands of international students
• Feds cut funding for anti-racism project over ‘vile’ tweets
• Word of the Week: Anti-Racism

Alberta is Calling for people to move to the province, electoral redistricting could see Toronto lose a seat, and the BCGEU strike forces rationing at BC liquor stores. Also, the Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem blames worker wages for inflation.

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

“Don’t build that into longer term contracts. Don’t build that into wage contracts. It is going to take some time, but you can be confident that inflation will come down.” – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on inflation and wages.

Duration: 47:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Is Calling
• Support us on Patreon
• Pressure mounts on B.C. government as public sector strike drags on
• ‘I think it’s outrageous’: Riding redistribution would cut one Toronto MP from the House of Commons
• Union leaders frustrated by Bank of Canada’s advice for companies not to adjust wages to inflation
• Word of the Week: Riding

A BC NDP MLA faces a recall petition, sparse reasons emerge for the Emergencies Act, and Telus wants to charge consumers even more. Also, the RCMP has used spyware for decades to track Canadians.

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

“All three of our telecom providers … have reported increased profits, increased revenue and increased customers for 2021. They are doing better than ever. This is just another way to raise our bills through shady practices and extra fees and adding things on top so that we are paying even more than we already are.” – Rosa Addario, spokesperson for telecom watchdog OpenMedia on Telus’ plan to add a surcharge on cell phone bills paid by credit card.

Duration: 56:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• I will not be intimidated’: B.C. MLA facing recall petition from anti-mandate crowd
• Support us on Patreon
• Cabinet heard of potential ‘breakthrough’ with ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
• Telus asks CRTC permission to add 1.5% credit card surcharge to customer bills
• RCMP has used spyware to access targets’ communications as far back as 2002: Senior Mountie
• Word of the Week: Surcharge

Court documents reveal no basis for Trudeau’s travel ban, Canada bans the importation of handguns, and fake outrage emerges over Alberta’s provincial police future. Also, while Trudeau is on vacation, there are plenty of other things to criticize him for.

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

“[The Trudeau] government’s apparent abandonment of Ukrainian embassy employees ahead of Russia’s invasion in February; its continuing abandonment of Afghans who worked for the Canadian government; its enduring and expensive fidelity to COVID-19 theatre; the lack of clarity surrounding allegations of political interference in the RCMP probe following the 2020 Nova Scotia massacre; the federal government’s failure, months later, to publicly provide persuasive evidence justifying its invocation of the Emergencies Act during the trucker convoy crisis; and Mr. Trudeau’s capitulation in returning natural gas turbines to Germany despite Russian sanctions.” – Globe and Mail columnist Robyn Urback, detailing reasons other than a vacation to be concerned with Trudeau’s government.

Duration: 57:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Court Documents Reveal Canada’s Travel Ban Had No Scientific Basis
• Support us on Patreon
• Canada is banning the importation of handguns, effective Aug. 19
• Alberta NDP criticizes United Conservative Party’s new provincial policing website
• A dangerous rage is sweeping the land
• Word of the Week: Basis

The cost of Coastal Gaslink rises to $11.2B, Travis Toews highlights economic policy in the UCP leadership race, and a climate activist group deflates SUV tires in Victoria. Also, Toronto and Montreal airports are named the worst in the world for delays.

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

“Toronto’s Pearson Airport is a special circle of hell. The worst airport experience ever.” – A random air traveller from Florida, on our Canadian airport effectiveness.

Duration: 48:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Cost of Coastal GasLink pipeline leaps 70% to $11.2B as TC Energy settles dispute
• Support us on Patreon
• Toews touts ‘targeted’ tariffs to defend Alberta as UCP candidates take aim at Ottawa
• Climate activists deflate tires of dozens of SUVs in Greater Victoria
• Toronto’s Pearson airport has a PR problem: It’s known as the worst airport in the world
• Word of the Week: Deflate