Western Context

BC’s 2023 budget returns to deficit spending, while Alberta sticks to surpluses. The media misrepresents a BC company’s controlled substance license, and we uncover more of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in Canadian politics.

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“One of the things we’ve seen unfortunately over the past years is a rise in anti-Asian racism linked to the pandemic, and concerns being raised around people’s loyalties. I want to make everyone understand fully: Han Dong is an outstanding member of our team, and suggestions that he is somehow not loyal to Canada should not be entertained.” – Justin Trudeau on why anti-Asian racism is the true concern this week.

Duration: 1:02:27
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. Budget 2023 bets focus on tax credits and rebates will work amid continued housing uncertainty
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• Alberta government projects $2.4-billion surplus for 2023-24 in pre-election budget
• B.C. premier ‘astonished’ firm got Health Canada approval to make and sell cocaine
• Justin Trudeau blames racism for allegation that China helped Liberal MP get elected
• Word of the Week: Influence

Google responds to Bill C-18 by blocking some Canadians from accessing news, Alberta’s inflation slows as prices rise, and BC’s potential provincial police force is on the backburner. Also, we now know of at least 1 MP allegedly compromised by China.

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“Playing ‘political games’ to get a partisan advantage will undermine people’s trust in their institutions, and will only assist the efforts of countries like Russia and China that attempt to make democracies unstable.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier in the week on commenting on election interference by China.

Duration: 57:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Google blocking news content for some Canadians in response to government bill
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• Calgarians grapple with high food prices even as overall inflation rate slows
• Last year B.C. politicians recommended a provincewide police force — but no action is being taken
• Liberals ignored CSIS warning on 2019 candidate accused in Chinese interference probe
• Word of the Week: Backburner

The Emergencies Act commission report has been released, the DFO is shutting down 15 BC coastal salmon farms, and an Edmonton councillor proposes a mansion tax. Also, CSIS confirms that China has interfered in our elections.

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“First Nations from the coast are trying to find their feet when it comes to reclaiming what was taken away from them by the federal government…[C]oastal Nations are trying to take back their inherent rights to manage their traditional waters. This was about the sovereignty of the Laich-kwil-tach Nations and their right to decide for themselves whether salmon farming, or any other resource, is the right fit for their marine plans. Unfortunately, the decision was once again taken away from them by a government located 5,000 kilometres away.” – Coalition of First Nations Finfish Stewardship spokesman Dallas Smith on the federal government’s decision to not renew 15 salmon farm licenses.

Duration: 1:09:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau met threshold to invoke Emergencies Act, commission finds
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• Fisheries Department to shut 15 salmon farms off B.C.’s coast to protect wild fish
• Janz’s mansion tax idea dies in Edmonton, lower taxes for apartments possible
• CSIS documents reveal Chinese strategy to influence 2021 election
• Word of the Week: Sovereignty

Trudeau announces new funding towards health care transfers, Alberta campaign funding coverage shows double standards, and David Eby announces funding for BC’s municipalities. Also, the Roxham road issue continues to get worse.

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“The military gave me and my family free bus tickets. I am going to Canada for a better quality of life for my family.” – Migrant Raymond Peña on his free trip to Canada and eventual entry at Roxham Road.

Duration: 1:06:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM Trudeau presents premiers $196B health-care funding deal, including $46B in new funding
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• ‘Huge concern’: Opposition says Alberta premier should come clean on campaign funding
• Premier David Eby announces $1 billion in grants for municipalities
• NYC now paying for bus fare if migrants head north to Roxham Road
• Word of the Week: Crisis

The Trudeau government contracts with McKinsey until 2100, Freeland tries to maintain competitiveness with the US, and millions were spent on unused quarantine hotels. Also, a Chinese aircraft drifting over North America shows gaps in our defences.

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“Government waste is always a problem, but waste of this magnitude when deficit spending needs to be reined in due to inflationary pressures shows that Trudeau doesn’t have the capacity or willingness to get things under control.” – Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner on Trudeau’s wasteful pandemic spending.

Duration: 54:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The federal government has signed an open contract until the year 2100 with McKinsey for computer services
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• Freeland to call for joint federal-provincial effort to counter Biden’s tax credits
• New hotel expense makes Trudeau’s $6000 night in London seem like little potatoes
• US fighter jets shoot down Chinese spy balloon off East Coast
• Word of the Week: Airship

Trudeau’s first envoy to combat Islamophobia is criticized in Quebec, Alberta’s credit rating gets upgraded, and a BC councillor wants to tie traffic fines to income. Also, the CRA refuses to investigate billions in unaccounted COVID spending.

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“The Government of Quebec and Quebecers are not racists. There may be racists in Quebec, as there are in the rest of Canada and as there are in the rest of the world. There may be people who are anti-Muslim and I regret that. […] But to call Quebecers anti-Muslims, to say that the law on secularism reflects anti-Muslim sentiment, is to show a great misunderstanding of who Quebeckers are and what the law is.” – Jean-François Roberge, the Quebec Minister of the French Language and Canadian Relations on the comments by Canada’s first special representative on combating Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby.

Duration: 48:03
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau wants Amira Elghawaby to clarify remarks about Quebeckers
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• Moody’s upgrades Alberta government’s credit profile
• B.C. councillor proposes tying traffic fines to offenders’ incomes
• Review of billions of COVID-19 wage benefits not worth the effort, CRA head says
• Word of the Week: Benefit

Canada could send tanks to Ukraine, but are they operational? We detail the problems with Canada’s catch and release criminal justice system, and phantom emails from the UCP create controversy. Also, yet another Liberal minister has ethics problems.

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“I would say that catch and release works well when you’re fishing. It doesn’t work so well when you’re dealing with serious offenders.” – Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe on the differences between fish and criminals.

Duration: 53:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Is Canada not sending its tanks to Ukraine because they’re broken?
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• How B.C.’s ‘catch and release’ system is failing victims of random assaults and repeat offenders
• Smith responds to allegations staff member emailed Alberta Crown Prosecution Service over Coutts blockade
• Hussen’s office gave $93k in PR work to senior staffer’s sister’s foodie firm
• Word of the Week: Foodie

The Trudeau Liberals finally decide to buy F-35s, BC residents are fed up with rural property crime, and Trudeau tries wedge politics on Alberta’s climate policy. Also, the media ignores the effects of supply management on grocery inflation.

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“They [being the Conservatives] just talked about it like it was obvious. It was obvious, as we saw through the entire process, that they were particularly, and some might say unreasonably or unhealthily, attached to the F-35 aircraft.” – 2015 Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on the purchase of the F-35 fighter jet.

• Canada finalizes deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets by 2032
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• Fed-up with crime, civilian group starts patrolling the streets in Dawson Creek, B.C.
• Trudeau trash talks Alberta climate change action, draws hot response from Danielle Smith
• The conspiracy to inflate food prices is real. It’s time to rethink supply management
• Word of the Week: Vigilante

The Alberta NDP advocates for higher fuel prices, federal workers resist a partial return to the offices, and Canada adds over 100,000 jobs in December. Also, Canada welcomed a record number of immigrants in 2022.

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Duration: 57:29
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• As Alberta fuel tax paused, expert says prices in line with market
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• Lives have changed’: Federal workers in Greater Victoria resist mandate to return to office
• Canada’s economy added 104,000 jobs in December, blowing well past expectations
• Canadians are right to worry about immigration levels
• Word of the Week: Self-inflicted

We look at 2022’s news stories, including changing BC and Alberta leadership, rising inflation, and gun control and online policies. We also go over our favourite pictures, quotes, words and episodes of the year.

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Duration: 59:52
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
• Quote of the Year
• Picture of the Year