Western Context

Trudeau’s throne speech promises more of the same, BC brings in 5 days of sick leave for workers, and the Alberta NDP condemns BC’s Coastal Gaslink pipeline. Also, we discuss and condemn the infiltration of the QAnon cult into Canada.

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“There is just an assemblage of 24 pages of completely empty words. Even read slowly, the throne speech is short so that prompts me to conclude, unfortunately, that I have absolutely no reason to vote in favour of the throne speech. I have no reason to vote against the throne speech.” – BQ leader Yves-François Blanchet on Trudeau’s Throne speech.

Duration: 48:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals promise to control pandemic, fight climate change and rebuild economy in throne speech
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• B.C. becomes first province to introduce five days of permanent paid sick leave
• Downtown Edmonton march shows solidarity with Wet’suwet’en Nation opposition to Coastal GasLink pipeline
• QAnon’s ‘Queen of Canada’ Calls for Followers to ‘Kill’ People Vaccinating Children
• Word of the Week: Cult

Heavy rainfall causes massive flooding and mudslides in BC, a new national park in Edmonton may cause federal intrusions, and the disaster in BC unearths vulnerabilities in our infrastructure. Also, Trudeau meets with Biden, but gets nothing from it.

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“One has to think about where we’re planning our highways, where we put our wastewater treatment plants (and) pumps … the lower mainland of B.C. needs to be pumped out because it’s at risk of flooding. If we just rebuild what’s there without understanding that we need to essentially revisit how we build things, then we’re just going to have this problem in the future.” – University of Toronto professor Kent Moore on the BC flooding disaster.

Duration: 52:30
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. floods: Gas to be rationed in some areas, some highways to be essential travel only
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• Could Edmonton be home to a new national park?
• B.C. floods put spotlight on Canada’s infrastructures. Improve them now, experts say
• Justin Trudeau has an auto agenda, but Joe Biden is in the driver’s seat
• Word of the Week: Disaster

Saskatchewan strives to be a nation within a nation, young Canadians are feeling disillusioned and unattached to Canada, and Alberta unveils its hydrogen roadmap. Also, the Trudeau government has created an immigration and refugee housing crisis.

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“I think we are seeing a period of time in this country where younger generations are feeling incredible frustration over a number of things that are gripping society today…. They see nothing but problems, nothing but challenge, nothing but lack of equity and fairness. And they’re very angry about that.” – Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, on young people’s disposition towards Canada.

Duration: 47:52
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Scott Moe and Saskatchewan deserve respect and understanding, not ridicule
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• The generation ‘chasm’: Young Canadians feel unlucky, unattached to the country
• Alberta Hydrogen Roadmap & Building a future for critical and rare earth minerals in Alberta
• Afghan refugees in GTA frustrated by multiple, abrupt moves between hotels
• Word of the Week: Chasm

Alberta continues to implement democratic reform, The Royal BC Museum is decolonizing its exhibits, and the Canadian flag will emulate a yoyo over the next week. Also, we discuss the impacts of the COP26 summit, as Trudeau continues to hobble oil and gas.

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“Decolonization of the museum’s galleries is important and long overdue. This is necessary to begin the long-term work of creating new narratives that include under-represented voices and reflect the lived experiences and contemporary stories of the people in B.C.” – Acting Royal BC Museum CEO Daniel Muzyka on the changes to the museum.

Duration: 52:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta bill would let political parties spend more, end some quarterly financial reporting and ‘AFL loophole’
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• Royal BC Museum closing 3rd floor for ‘decolonization’ effort that will remove Old Town, settler displays, ship
• Feds expected to announce plans to raise, re-lower flags for Remembrance Day
• Canada will put a cap on oil and gas sector emissions, Trudeau tells COP26 summit
• Word of the Week: Decolonization

Alberta rejects permanent summer time and equalization, Margaret Trudeau speaks at an event by a company lobbying the government, and Saskatchewan approves of Regeneron to treat COVID. Also, we look at just how money laundering affects BC real estate.

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“A clear majority of Albertans have sent a powerful, democratic message: They want a fair deal in the federation. These results have given Alberta’s government a powerful mandate to secure changes to equalization and other federal transfers that have treated Albertans unfairly for so long. Our message is clear: Ottawa must respect Alberta and the huge role we play in Canada’s economic prosperity.” — Premier Jason Kenney reacting to the results of Alberta’s Equalization Referendum.

Duration: 54:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta barely rejects permanent daylight time; majority supports ending equalization
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• Prime minister’s mother spoke at event hosted by organization that received federal funding for jobs program
• Saskatchewan approves use of monoclonal antibodies to treat high-risk COVID-19 patients
• Man making $40k/year bought $32m in Vancouver real estate via CCP-linked offshore accounts
• Word of the Week: Laundering

Lifelabs healthcare workers go on strike in BC, new mayors are elected in Alberta, and the BC Liberals reject the leadership candidacy of Aaron Gunn. Also, Trudeau meets with the Tk’emlups Nation that he snubbed on Sept 30th, but was he really there?

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“I have never engaged in partisanship politics or have not engaged in personal attacks. And that is what I will absolutely continue to practice. So I look forward to working with the premier and his government.” – Edmonton Mayor Elect Amarjeet Sohi on working with the province.

Duration: 49:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Unionized employees at LifeLabs issue 72-hour strike notice
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• Alberta municipal elections
• BC Liberal Party rejects Aaron Gunn’s leadership bid, he says fight ‘is only just beginning’ 
• Members of Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Nation wonder whether Trudeau was listening during his apologetic visit
• Word of the Week: Partisan

Dr. Hinshaw apologizes for the misreporting of covid deaths, a new OECD agreement puts Trudeau’s big tech tax on hold, and many still trapped in Afghanistan wait for Canadian help. Also, Horgan’s delay of the Massey Tunnel replacement could cost BC.

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“We always said the bridge was a perfect answer and the bridge would be opening literally a year from now if we’d kept the bridge project going. The public in British Columbia need to know where we are going with this, we need to know what the figures are and what taxpayers are going to be paying for this.” – South Delta BC Liberal MLA Ian Paton, one of the main architects of the bridge replacement project for the Massey Tunnel

Duration: 52:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Hinshaw apologizes to Alta. family upset death of boy with inoperable brain tumour reported ‘another COVID case’
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• Canada agrees to delay its own Big Tech tax after OECD sets global 15% rate
• At an Islamabad hotel, Afghans who worked for Canada’s military await a new life
• BC NDP hide the numbers needed to judge tunnel versus bridge
• Word of the Week: Bridge

Alberta shows us that referendums are not just symbolic, Huawei sponsors a Chinese cultural event in BC, and we look at municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary. Also, inflation on groceries and natural gas is here to stay.

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“A lot of people in finance are learning that the most important word in the English language is ‘transitory,’…How confident are you that [this inflation] really is transitory, because if you took a poll of smart people in finance … you’d probably get 50% saying it probably is and 50% saying it probably isn’t.” – U.S. Council on Foreign Relations member Roger Altman, to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

Duration: 1:02:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Why should Saskatchewan pay to heat swimming pools in Quebec?
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• Huawei-sponsored event draws flag-waving B.C. politicians
• Farkas drops bomb, now Calgary mayor’s race is a dogfight
• Natural gas price hikes will fuel inflation and hit low-income Canadians the hardest
• Word of the Week: Transitory

The BC Supreme Court lifts the injunction on Fairy Creek protestors, the Two Michaels return to Canada, and the BC government misleads us on hospital stats. Also, Trudeau spends the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at the beach in Tofino.

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“So now Justin is saying he made a few calls on his way to the beach. Can you imagine any Prime Minister sending out a tweet to explain that he spent Remembrance Day at the beach but called some veterans on his way? This wasn’t meant to be a day off Justin.” – NDP MP Charlie Angus on Justin Trudeau’s trip to the beach.

Duration: 1:02:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Judge ends injunction against Fairy Creek protests, citing ‘substantial infringement of civil liberties’
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• Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China
• Mixed message on COVID-19 patients a blow to credibility of John Horgan’s government
• Trudeau spends 1st Truth and Reconciliation Day in Tofino on vacation, contradicting itinerary
• Word of the Week: Reconciliation

Monday’s federal election doesn’t produce much change in party standings, calls for party leaders to be changed should be weighed carefully, and criticism of CBC’s Rosemary Barton may not be just misogyny. Also, Alberta changed its Health Minister.

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“Five weeks ago, Mr. Trudeau asked for a majority. He said the minority parliament was ‘unworkable.’ But tonight Canadians did not give Mr. Trudeau the majority mandate he wanted. In fact, Canadians sent him back with another minority at the cost of $600 million and deeper divisions in our great country.” – Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, in his post-election speech.

Duration: 1:11:04
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Wins, but Is Diminished by a Futile Election
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• Conservatives divided on what to do about Erin O’Toole after election loss
• Enough already with the demonization of CBC’s Rosemary Barton
• Tyler Shandro loses health portfolio as Premier Jason Kenney shuffles cabinet
• Word of the Week: Inconsequential