Western Context

Justin Trudeau announces his resignation while proroguing Parliament, the University of Alberta is moving away from DEI, and John Rustad highlights problems with the BC election. Also, Donald Trump’s remarks cause Canadians to reflect inward.

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“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election. As you all know, I’m a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight… I care deeply about this country. I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months.” – Justin Trudeau upon announcing his pending resignation as Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:03:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Justin Trudeau resigning, prorogues Parliament
• Support us on Patreon
• Why the U of A is moving from EDI to access, community and belonging
• Elections BC to probe election complaint lodged by BC Conservatives
• Trump said Tuesday he’d be willing to use ‘economic force’ to join countries
• Word of the Week: Resignation

We look at 2024’s news stories, including a BC election, the arrival of Alberta municipal parties, and Justin Trudeau’s purposeful immigration policies. We also go over our favourite pictures, quotes, words and episodes of the year.

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Duration: 1:22:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Story of the Year
• BC Story of the Year
• 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
• Quote of the Year
• Picture of the Year

Canada proposes a new border plan, a BC lawsuit highlights the problems with assisted death, and Alberta delivers a new Green line plan for Calgary’s LRT. Also, Chrystia Freeland resigns from cabinet before the economic statement showed a $61.9B deficit.

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“On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the cabinet. To be effective, a Minister must speak on behalf of the Prime Minister and with his full confidence. In making your decision, you made clear that I no longer credibly enjoy that confidence and possess the authority that comes with it. For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.” – Chrystia Freeland, on resigning from Trudeau’s cabinet.

Duration: 1:00:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada proposes joint police force with US to tackle Trump’s border concerns
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. family alleging wrongful death after man euthanized while on day pass from psychiatric ward
• Province delivers new Green Line plan for Calgary
• Feds deliver fall economic statement with $61.9B deficit for 2023-24, amid political turmoil
• Word of the Week: Turmoil

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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