Western Context

A rise in BC gang shootings leads to questions about police methods, 2 UCP MLAs leave the party, and the Liberals resurrect a month old gaffe as a distraction. Also, we discuss just what impacts Bill C-10 will have on Canadian internet.

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Duration: 56:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The key thing is they’ve got to stop treating these gangsters like they’re poor, misfit, misunderstood kids. They’re stone-cold killers. They should go to jail.” – Retired Vancouver Const. Doug Spencer on how to solve gang shootings

• Vancouver airport shooting victim was known target. Should police publicly identify high-risk gangsters?
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• Kenney says UCP needs to be ‘on the same team’ after vote to oust dissenters
• Liberal seek answers on naked photo of colleague, demand that Bloc MP testifies at committee
• Bill C-10 doesn’t pose free speech concern despite social media impact, justice minister finds
• Word of the Week: Trust

The BCCDC is withholding information from the public, Alberta’s new restrictions are wildly mischaracterized, and we get no closer to the end of the Vance allegations. Also, the finances of the Trudeau government are much worse than they realize.

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Duration: 53:58
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“We don’t actually have [IT] systems to support the same consistent collection of the same data over time. We are releasing more than what other provinces are releasing.” – Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on why BC is not releasing more COVID-19 stats than other provinces are releasing.

• Leaked reports show B.C. health authorities withholding data from the public
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• Revamped Alberta Restrictions
• PM says his office didn’t know Vance allegations were about sexual misconduct
• Liberal budget underestimates size of federal deficits, will lead to decades of higher debt: PBO
• Word of the Week: Disclosure

A new study tells us what pandemic responses are helpful or not, BC establishes its own sick pay program, and a tale of school violence shows the importance of facts. Also, Trudeau’s Bill C-10 will censor content that isn’t considered Canadian enough.

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Duration: 1:01:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“These politicians in Ottawa really have no clue at all what they are doing. They don’t know what they’re regulating or whose freedoms they’re infringing. I noticed they didn’t have any online content creators at their hearings.” – Journalist and Youtube content creator J.J. McCullough on the Liberal’s controversial Bill C-10 limiting freedom of expression

• Staying 2 metres apart does little to limit indoor spread of COVID-19: study
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• With no help from feds, Premier John Horgan says B.C. working on its own sick-leave program
• Investigators say assault on 14-year-old Black boy was a ‘consensual’ fight that escalated
• Ottawa’s move to regulate video posts on YouTube and social media called ‘assault’ on free speech
• Word of the Week: Censorship

Late government actions have let variants of concern into Canada, BC locks down travel within health regions, and Alberta’s free market leads the way in solar investment. Also, Trudeau’s first budget in two years shows just how much debt we are in.

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Duration: 57:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The truth is that the tragedy of COVID-19 has created a window of opportunity, which we can open to finally build a system of early learning and child care across our country.” – Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland

• ‘Practically impossible’ to keep COVID-19 variants out, officials say, as flights from hotspots continue
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• B.C. to restrict non-essential travel between 3 provincial health zones
• Lots of irony in Alberta leading the country in new solar projects
• Budget vows to build ‘for the long term’ as it promises child care cash, projects massive deficits
• Word of the Week: Debtonation

The Conservatives unveil their climate plan, the Liberal convention shows how far they have shifted, and BC’s throne speech stays the course. Also, the international media tears into Trudeau’s vaccine rollout and coins the term “Tru-Anons”.

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Duration: 56:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s really important we work from facts.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on CNN Jake Tapper’s story criticizing the Canadian government’s vaccine rollout.

• Conservative Climate Plan – Secure the Environment
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• ‘How disconnected do you have to be?’ Trudeau rallies Liberal convention with stinging attacks on Conservatives
• From affordability to vaccinations, here are the priorities outlined in the 2021 B.C. throne speech
• Canada’s vaccine shortage: Covid-19 cases per capita pass U.S. rate as doctors plead for more vaccines
• Word of the Week: Tax

Kenney walks a tightrope with unpopular restrictions, Horgan ignores a major logging protest in his riding, and Trudeau attempts to blame the provinces for poor vaccine rollouts. Also, Trudeau continues to stonewall testimony on the WE Charity scandal.

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Duration: 58:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s disappointing that we find ourselves for a third time experiencing the Liberals’ ‘Choose your own adventure of parliamentary democracy’. We’re now jammed up with shenanigans that leave us unable to complete our report.” – Conservative Ethics Critic Michael Barrett on Liberal stonewalling on WE Charity testimony

• Kenney says he will boot UCP MLAs from caucus if they break COVID-19 rules or encourage others to do so
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• ‘War in the woods’: activists blockade Vancouver Island in bid to save ancient trees
• Hajdu publicizes delivery of 10 million vaccine doses as Ford blames federal rollout for shot delays
• Federal elections watchdog looking into WE Charity, researcher says
• Word of the Week: Revolt

A doctor finds that Canada’s care home response is the worst in the world, BC imposes new taxes on a struggling populace, and Alberta introduces an updated modern education curriculum. Also, John Horgan blames young people for the rise of the 3rd wave.

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

“Education, job loss, our mental health — we’re seeing that it’s young people putting themselves at risk every day to keep our province working. But we’re still getting the blame at the end of the day and being told not to ‘blow it for the rest of us. I think it’s important the Premier apologize, not just because it’s not backed up by data, but because young people have given so, so much.” – UBC New Democrats President Justin Kulik on BC Premier John Horgan’s comments blaming 20-39s for the virus spike.

• Canada’s nursing homes have worst record for COVID-19 deaths among wealthy nations: report
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• B.C. tax increases: From Netflix to gas, here’s what will cost you more on April 1
• New K-6 curriculum gets top grades from educational experts
• Is it young people who need to focus on individual responsibility in B.C.’s pandemic, or is it John Horgan?
• Word of the Week: Wave

CP Rail looks to create a transcontinental rail route, the Supreme Court rules the federal carbon tax to be constitutional, and the auditor general blasts Trudeau’s infrastructure plans. Also, the media calls Conservatives climate deniers.

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Duration: 57:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“We’ve now fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax because voters did not think we were serious about addressing climate change. And I will not allow 338 candidates to defend against the lie from the Liberals that we are a party of climate change deniers. We will have a plan to address climate change.” – Conservative Party of Canada Leader, Erin O’Toole

• CP Rail to buy Kansas City Southern to create first rail network connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico
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• Kenney and Moe slam federal carbon tax after Supreme Court rules it’s constitutional
• Delays plague ‘inconsistent and incomplete’ $188B infrastructure program: auditor general
• I’m in charge’: O’Toole brushes off Conservative grassroots vote on climate change
• Word of the Week: Dissent

Alberta brings recall legislation and citizen initiatives, BC’s vaccine schedule moves up with focus on essential workers, and Rogers attempts to buy Shaw for $26b. Also, the Two Michaels receive court dates while Canada gives money to pro-China groups.

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Duration: 55:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s kind of shocking. They have freedom to express their opinion, whether they support the talking points of the Communist Party or not. The problem is they cannot do that with my tax money. Why should I support with my tax dollars their propaganda?” – Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project

• Alberta government tables legislation that would allow voters to recall elected MLAs plus citizen initiative act
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• Vaccinated people will get flexibility to do more in B.C., premier says
• Rogers’ $16 Billion Bid for Shaw Jolts Canada Wireless Sector
• Michael Spavor’s trial in China ends without a verdict
• Word of the Week: Essential

BC’s vaccine rollout has some setbacks on Day 1, while Alberta looks to mobilize its own vaccine industry, and the situation of the 2 Michaels becomes more dire. Also, it turns out that the federal government knew about the Vance allegations back in 2018.

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Duration: 43:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. minister blasts Telus performance on 90-plus vaccine appointments
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• Alberta asking for proposals to build its own vaccine manufacturing industry
• Feds ‘not aware’ of court date for 2 Michaels as Chinese paper warns they’ll face trial ‘soon’
• Privy Council Office was warned to ‘put some things in writing’ after 2018 Vance complaint
• Word of the Week: Mobilization