Western Context

Trudeau releases his 2022 budget, BC experiences an increase in crime, and the UCP makes healthcare changes. Also, the Newfoundland offshore oil project Bay du Nord has been approved.

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

“The headline policy, a two-year ban on residential property purchases by foreigners, will have a negligible impact on home prices… We know from the pandemic period, when home prices escalated with virtually no foreign money, that our problem is made-in-Canada.” – Phil Soper, chief executive at Royal LePage on the housing affordability crisis.

Duration: 57:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada Speeds Up Deficit Reduction in 2022 Budget: Key Takeaways
• Support us on Patreon
• ‘Every excuse in the book’: Eby under fire over B.C.’s handling of prolific offenders
• NDP calls on Alberta government to stop the push to ‘Americanize’ public health care
• Federal government approves controversial Bay du Nord oil project
• Word of the Week: Prolific

Trudeau releases a plan to cut carbon emissions, the BC government gives back a gas rebate through ICBC, and four provinces are going ahead with nuclear SMRs. Also, the renovation cost on federal government residences continues to skyrocket.

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

“This follows a long history of the NCC running up a huge tab on the taxpayers’ expense. It’s coming at the worst possible time as the government is already a trillion dollars in debt. Every single expense should be under the microscope.” – Federal director of the National Taxpayers’ Federation Franco Terrazzano on the mounting costs of the federal residence renovations.

Duration: 54:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada releases plan for a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2030
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. government announces gas relief rebate of $110 for ICBC customers
• 4 provinces push ahead with plan to build small nuclear reactors to supply power
• Inside the $11M renovations to the prime minister’s official country home
• Word of the Week: Skyrocket

The UCP April convention expands voting options, the BC government sprays herbicides on BC forests, and Canada’s oil export capacity is severely limited. Also, Jagmeet Singh will support Trudeau’s government until 2025 in return for dental and pharmacare.

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

“The Bloc will keep doing exactly the same thing: if it’s good for Quebec, we will vote in favour. If it’s bad for Quebec, we will vote against.” – Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet on his party’s attitude towards government policy.

Duration: 1:01:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• I don’t need this job’: Kenney says he has to stay to keep ‘lunatics’ from ‘trying to take over the asylum’
• Support us on Patreon
• Outcry grows as B.C. government agency plans widespread South Coast herbicide spray
• Canada to hike oil, gas output by 300,000 barrels a day to help displace Russian fuel
• Liberals, NDP leadership have tentative deal to support Trudeau government to 2025
• Word of the Week: Coalition

Alberta increases funding for charter schools, BC ties its minimum wage increase to inflation, and Quebec is forcing Ukrainian refugees into French schools. Also, the census data shows that Trudeau’s immigration plan negatively impacts the housing crisis.

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

Duration: 1:01:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta earmarks $72 million for charter schools, plans for possible new ‘collegiate’ model
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C.’s minimum wage, now tied to inflation, up 45 cents to $15.65 an hour
• Quebec won’t allow Ukrainian refugee children to attend English schools
• Canada’s population jumped by nearly half a million in 2021
• Word of the Week: Mandamus

Trudeau engages in photo-ops across Europe, Albertan oil becomes an elixir of freedom, and BC lifts its mandates while a convoy heads to Victoria. Also, Jean Charest and Patrick Brown enter the Conservative leadership race.

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

Duration: 58:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian parliament asked to approve Zelenskyy address next Tuesday
• Support us on Patreon
• Nelson: Alberta’s dirty oil is suddenly an elixir of freedom
• COVID-19: B.C. to drop mask mandate Friday for indoor public spaces, vaccine card in April
• Charest’s path to the Conservative leadership is rocky, narrow and hostile
• Word of the Week: Elixir

The Alberta UCP stops municipalities from overstepping their boundaries, Canada’s military is not equipped to defend our Arctic sovereignty, and we debunk the idea of the Great Reset. Also, Canada’s energy infrastructure can’t export what we need it to.

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

“Under my leadership, taxes will only ever go down. I believe $1 in the hands of the person who earned it will always be better than $1 in the hands of the politician who taxed it,” – Conservative MP and leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre on his tax strategy.

Duration: 1:08:00
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Kenney vows to change law to stop municipalities from imposing their own public health restrictions
• Support us on Patreon
• Canada’s troop commitment to Eastern Europe is exposing weak points in its military
• Brian Jean’s ‘Great Reset,’ ‘globalist’ tweet an appeal to the far right: expert
• Pierre Poilievre promises to scrap ‘anti-energy laws’ during CPC leadership campaign stop in Sask.
• Word of the Week: Readiness

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.

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

“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.

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

“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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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.

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

“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.

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

“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