Western Context

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?
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

We uncover more about foreign influence in Canada, Edmonton city council votes to increase property taxes, and yet another Trudeau cabinet minister breaks ethics rules. Also, Canada is banning single use plastics, but will it really help the environment?

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“There is simply no excuse for contracting with a friend’s company. Ministers are expected to uphold the highest standards of accountability, including those set out in the Conflict of Interest Act. Complying with the act is a condition of appointment and employment for all public office holders.” – Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion on International Trade Minister Mary Ng’s ethics violation.

Duration: 58:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• Ottawa hears of ‘active foreign interference network’ in secret Privy Council Office memo
• Support us on Patreon
• Edmonton passes 5% tax increases; Cartmell calls it ‘very dangerous’ for affordability
• Trade Minister Mary Ng broke ethics rules over contract to friend, commissioner rules
• Phase 1 of Canada’s single-use plastics ban comes into effect this month. These are the products on the list
• Word of the Week: Waste

A new report uncovers a Chinese ‘police station’ in Vancouver, Alberta secures children’s pain medication, and Veteran Affairs offers medical assistance in dying to veterans. Also, First Nations and northern MPs speak out against Trudeau’s gun ban bill.

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“Our young hunters that are growing up, they just don’t send them up to the bush with a gun. There’s a whole process that has to do with our customs, our values, our traditions… No government has a right to take that away from us and regulate that. That is our job as mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and hunters.“ – Chief Tammy Cook of Lac La Ronge Band in Saskatchewan on Bill C-21 amendments.

Duration: 50:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• ‘Dangerous’: Concerns raised about possible Chinese ‘secret police station’ in Vancouver
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta secures 5 million bottles of children’s pain and fever meds to distribute across province, then country
• Former paralympian tells MPs veterans department offered her assisted death
• ‘Potential culture clash’: Some northerners critical of federal firearms bill
• Word of the Week: Hubris

Alberta’s Sovereignty Act gets a bit more clarity, BC’s economic case for LNG has never been stronger, and Global News lobbies for more government money. Also, Elizabeth May says she takes her marching orders from Palestine leadership.

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“I take my marching orders from the permanent representative of Palestine to Canada” – Green Party Leader MP Elizabeth May in a bizarre speech at the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Duration: 57:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• Nothing off the table when it comes to Alberta sovereignty act
• Support us on Patreon
• Is B.C.’s $6 billion commitment to Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada still economically viable?
• Global News lobbies Canadian government for taxpayer grants
• Canadian MPs attend ‘solidarity’ event with publisher of Holocaust denialism
• Word of the Week: Marching Orders

Federal ministers joked about martial law during convoy protests, new BC Premier David Eby bombards us with announcements, and the Alberta NDP get their news on healthcare from social media. Also, Trudeau denies knowledge of Chinese campaign influence.

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“He is either hiding the truth and knows that China is trying to destabilize our democracy or he’s revealing that he’s diplomatically irresponsible to the point of being dangerous. Either it’s not honest or it’s not very bright. Which one is it?” – Bloc Québécois House Leader Alain Therrien on Trudeau’s limited response to questions of Chinese influence in the 2019 election.

Duration: 1:00:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• Attorney-General suggested Emergencies Act in first week of Ottawa protest, texts reveal
• Support us on Patreon
• David Eby’s announcements total $1.2 billion in first week as premier
• Premier Smith attempts to reframe herself as flawed but also real and reasonable
• Justin Trudeau slammed for response after allegations of Chinese interference in 2019 election
• Word of the Week: Announcement

The Freedom Convoy wasn’t a CSIS threat, Alberta makes changes to AHS, and the BC Liberals vote to change their name to BC United. Also, a confrontation between Xi Jinping and Trudeau overshadows China’s growing influence.

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“In Canada, we believe in free and open and frank dialogue and that is what we will continue to have… We will continue to look to work constructively together, but there will be things we disagree on.” – Justin Trudeau on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s reaction to their conversations being leaked.

Duration: 55:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• CSIS told government Freedom Convoy didn’t pose national security threat day before Emergencies Act invoked
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta announces health-care reform: AHS board fired, administrator appointed
• B.C. Liberal Party set to become B.C. United after members vote to change party name
• Chinese president confronts Trudeau at the G-20
• Word of the Week: Definition