Western Context

Trudeau’s small business subsidy actually went to large corporations, Alberta’s budget forecasts a surplus and investment, while BC’s budget forecasts a deficit and more taxes. Also, Trudeau’s new digital services tax faces backlash from the US.

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“Can we take what we’ve learned from the past two years to make policies that aren’t devastating for small businesses? We need to find a new way forward. We can’t be asked to sacrifice and take on more debt again.” – Hannah Kovacs, a Halifax fitness gym owner, on the possibility of continuing COVID restrictions.

Duration: 55:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Parliament’s $100B small business relief program mostly went to large corporations: Report
• Support us on Patreon
• Budget 2022: Moving forward
• B.C. budget’s tax increases affect used vehicle sales, tobacco
• U.S. Urges Canada to Abandon Digital Service Tax
• Word of the Week: Discord

Inflation hits a 30 year high as Trudeau plans to bring in 400k immigrants per year, Edmonton’s police force owns a plane, and the Coastal Gaslink project is under attack. Also, Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act to freeze protestors’ bank accounts.

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“If we’re not ready to significantly increase our ambition when it comes to immigration, we are going to be in a position where our economy will suffer, and it could put into jeopardy so many of the public services and social supports that make me very proud to be Canadian.” – Liberal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, on justifying his government’s plan to bring in 1.3M immigrants over the next 3 years.

Duration: 1:03:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s inflation rate rises to 5.1% — highest since 1991
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• Edmonton police insist airplane is not secret — it’s just not publicized
• Violent overnight attack at Coastal GasLink site leaves workers shaken, millions in damage
• Trudeau vows to freeze anti-mandate protesters’ bank accounts
• Word of the Week: Attack

Alberta moves to lift COVID restrictions, the BC Liberals elect Kevin Falcon as leader, and Trudeau’s own MP’s are questioning their pandemic strategies. Also, Pierre Poilievre shows us the power of social media.

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“From a positive and unifying approach, a decision was made to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize. I fear that this politicization of the pandemic risks undermining the public’s trust in our public health institutions. This is not a risk we ought to be taking lightly.” – Liberal MP Joël Lightbound on his government’s approach to vaccine mandates.

Duration: 1:03:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta takes steps to safely return to normal
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. Liberals elect former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon as next leader
• Trudeau’s own party is starting to turn on him over Covid restrictions
• Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre says he is running for prime minister
• Word of the Week: Intransigence

Alberta could return to balanced budgets very soon, BC’s milk container deposit impacts inflation, and Elections Canada says that 200,000 mail in ballots from 2021 were not counted. Also, Erin O’Toole is ousted as Conservative leader.

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“There are two roads open to the Conservative Party of Canada. One is the road of Randy Hillier and Derek Sloan. It is angry, negative, and extreme. It is a dead-end; one that would see the party of Confederation become the NDP of the right. The other road is to better reflect the Canada of 2022. To recognize that conservatism is organic not static and that a winning message is one of inclusion, optimism, ideas and hope.” – Outgoing Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on his vision for the Conservative Party of Canada.

Duration: 53:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Back in black? Alberta set to table budget reflecting ‘improving fiscal situation’
• Support us on Patreon
• Deposit for milk and milk-substitute containers starts Feb. 1 in B.C.
• Elections Canada: 205,000 mail-in ballots were not counted
• Canada’s Conservative Leader Is Ousted
• Word of the Week: Oust

The Freedom convoy arrives in Ottawa, remains are found at another BC residential school, and the Conservatives election post mortem has been released. Also, we detail Trudeau’s broken promises on the housing crisis.

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“This journey has led our investigation team into the darkest recesses of human behaviour.” – Williams Lake First Nations Chief Willie Sellars on the search for residential school remains.

Duration: 52:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau uses trucker protests as political weapon
• Support us on Patreon
• Williams Lake First Nation identifies 93 potential burial sites at former residential school
• Conservative post-election report says O’Toole was ‘over-managed’ during the campaign
• Trudeau’s housing promises still not materializing
• Word of the Week: Disparage

A Canadian lithium company is being bought by China, Edmonton city council struggles with transit designs, and a Victoria biologist just wants us to think about the birds. Also, millions are required to renovate 24 Sussex Drive.

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“I could probably make a passable hat using my socks but I’d much rather wear a hat.” – Liberal MP Andy Fillmore on Neo Lithium mining lithium carbonate, not lithium hydroxide, and why it’s ok for a Chinese state-owned company to buy out Neo Lithium.

Duration: 54:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservative party leader O’Toole calls for security review of Chinese takeover of Neo Lithium
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• Edmonton working to address bus network redesign concerns
• New 11-storey building in downtown Victoria could harm birds, biologist says
• The problem with Justin Trudeau’s house: Canadian taxpayers have spent millions on PM’s lodgings, while official residence sits in dire straits
• Word of the Week: Security

The feds admit they purchased Canadians’ cell phone data, Alberta looks to attract tech talent through immigration, and the BC Liberal leadership race isn’t short on controversy. Also, unvaccinated truckers will soon be unable to cross the US/CAN border.

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“It’s created a whole disaster. Governments are supposed to provide clarity and calmness, and what has gone on … provided nothing but chaos and confusion.” – Mike Millian, President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada on the Government of Canada’s trucker vaccine mandate.

Duration: 1:01:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s privacy watchdog probing health officials’ use of cellphone location data
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta looking to attract tech talent with new immigration program
• B.C. Liberals launch review of new memberships ahead of Feb. 5 leadership vote
• COVID-19 vaccines still mandatory for Canadian cross-border truckers, feds say
• Word of the Week: Aggregate

BC decides to warehouse 1.3M unused rapid tests, Trudeau is still undecided on the F-35s, and BC’s 2021 disasters unveil a gap in infrastructure and emergency planning. Also, a former CBC journalist details the problems with the mainstream media.

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“B.C. has a lot of these [rapid] tests in storage. They do have a shelf life, they eventually expire. So we have to make sure we get to use them.” – Mike Klassen with the B.C. Care Providers Association.

Duration: 1:01:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. has 1.3M rapid tests in a warehouse, officials confirm after top doctor called it an ‘urban myth’
• Support us on Patreon
• A tale of two fighter jets — and what it means for Canada’s defence and place in the world
• Cracks in B.C.’s infrastructure revealed by extreme weather events of past 6 months
• Tara Henley: Why I quit the CBC
• Word of the Week: Cognitive Dissonance

We look at 2021’s news stories, including BC’s disasters, Alberta’s democracy, and Trudeau’s inflated spending. We also look at September’s federal election, our words of the year, as well as the ongoing trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Duration: 1:18:19
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Story of the Year
• BC Story of the Year
• Worst Covered Story by the MSM
• Most Important Story
• Firing Line of the Year
• Local Story of the Year
• Story We Didn’t Get to Cover
• Fake News Story of the Year
• Worst Government Expense of the Year
• Funniest Story
• Newsmaker of the Year
• Word of the Year
• Favourite Western Context Episode
• Favourite Western Context Show Title
• Picture of the Year

BC has completely missed the boat on public rapid tests, Brian Jean wins a UCP nomination contest in Fort McMurray, and Trudeau continues to ignore the economy and inflation. Also, we discuss foreign interference in Canada’s elections.

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“The response from the provincial government and the public health teams with respect to rapid antigen tests does not make a lot of sense and it also seems that the answers shift in terms of why we’re not using them. It is not very consistent.” Dr. Victor Leung, an infectious diseases physician and medical microbiologist in the Lower Mainland, on the BC government’s stance on rapid COVID tests.

Duration: 59:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How B.C. missed the boat on rapid testing
• Support us on Patreon
• Brian Jean claims victory in race to represent UCP in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection
• The federal Liberals’ lack of concern about the economy is bound to catch up with them
• Conservatives believe 13 ridings were targeted by foreign interference in 2021 election
• Word of the Week: Rapid