Western Context

Alberta implements a ‘restriction exemption program’, the BC government isn’t overseeing the safety of 1900 dams in the province, and General Vance can’t face justice because he’s too highly ranked. Also, China’s influence in our elections continues.

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“Why is it that our only national Level 4 lab does not work through proper security protocols and actively monitor what was going on there, given the consequences of going astray? The fact that we have failed to properly vet scientists who go in there is mind-boggling.” – Retired lieutenant-general Michael Day on the lack of PHAC security measures in place at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.

Duration: 1:09:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Restriction Exemption Program and Restrictions
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• B.C. isn’t effectively overseeing safety of dams, auditor general finds
• Vance will not face military service charges; source cites his four-star rank
• Chinese PLA general collaborated with fired scientist at Canada’s top infectious disease lab
• Word of the Week: Audit

We look at how polls work and why they can’t be trusted, the BC NDP releases ICU info to get people vaccinated, and the Alberta NDP are influencing local municipal candidates. Also, Trudeau’s record on housing affordability is in question.

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Duration: 44:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Your 2021 Reminder on Why You Should be Skeptical of Polls
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• All COVID-19 patients under age 50 in B.C. ICUs are unvaccinated, health minister says
• Alberta NDP-connected group sought to influence Edmonton’s municipal election by limiting number of progressive candidates
• IT’S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO’: Liberal candidate says housing tax is coming
• Word of the Week: Flipping

Alberta’s economy rebounds as mask mandates reappear, thousands protest the BC NDP’s vaccine passport system outside hospitals, and yet another Trudeau ethics scandal gets buried. Also, a Liberal MP is allowed to run again amid sexual harassment claims.

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Duration: 58:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“I remember being incredibly stressed out, feeling completely helpless. I felt like he had shown he could do pretty much anything he wanted to do to me. I felt like there was nowhere for me to turn.” – A former staffer for Liberal MP Raj Saini, speaking her truth on how she felt about his alleged sexual harassment.

• A ‘startling’ $10B turnaround in Alberta’s deficit
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• Reports of assault, harassment as thousands protest vaccine passports outside hospitals across B.C.
• Conservatives push for Trudeau ethics probe, claim ‘troubling’ ties between PM and foundation
• Liberal candidate allowed to run for re-election despite past claims of inappropriate behaviour
• Word of Week: Harassment

Maryam Monsef refers to the Taliban as ‘our brothers’, A Chinese shipyard is building Canadian ships, and BC institutes a vaccine passport and mandatory masks. Also, Twitter labels a Chrystia Freeland tweet of O’Toole as being ‘manipulated media’.

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Duration: 53:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“I want to take this opportunity to speak with our brothers, the Taliban. We call on you to ensure the safe and secure passage of any individual in Afghanistan out of the country. We call on you to immediately stop the violence, the genocide, the femicide, the destruction of infrastructure, including heritage buildings” – Liberal Minister of Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef on the crisis in Afghanistan.

• Maryam Monsef called the Taliban ‘brothers.’ Here’s what you need to know
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• Chinese state-owned shipbuilder tapped to supply ferry for Crown corporation as Canadians remain jailed
• B.C. becomes second province to require proof of vaccination, starting Sept. 13
• Twitter adds ‘manipulated’ warning label to tweet from Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland
• Word of the Week: Brother

The PCs win in the Nova Scotia election, Erin O’Toole’s Conservative platform is thoughtful and moderate, and Horgan and Kenney decide to take vacations. Also Canada’s inflation rate continues to inflate.

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Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election
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• Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives target suburban voters in election platform of thoughtful populism
• Premier John Horgan drawing heat for taking vacation while B.C. burns
• Canadian inflation jumps to 3.7%, creating trouble for Trudeau
• Word of the Week: Unnecessary

The upcoming election spurs a need for Canadian innovation, a Calgary doctor donating to the NDP organized anti-government protests, and China sentences Michael Spavor to 11 years. Also, concerns over vaccine passports go unheard.

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Duration: 51:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Justin Trudeau’s planning an election in the middle of a pandemic because he’s focused on politics. It’s time we had a prime minister planning an economic recovery focused on Canadians. We’re ready.” – Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on his priority in the coming unnecessary election.

• PM Trudeau expected to launch federal election on Sunday: sources
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• Member of Alberta premier’s staff questions Calgary doctor’s political motives as others rally to his defence
• Canadian businessman Michael Spavor sentenced by Chinese court to 11 years in prison for spying
• Feds to roll out vaccine passports for foreign travel
• Word of the Week: Arbitrary

Alberta rolls back more COVID restrictions, BC’s drought conditions throw a spotlight on bottled water companies, and Trudeau ignores Alberta’s senate elections. Also, Trudeau condemns the Mailloux draft while the media ignores Trudeau’s past.

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Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“If we say yes to extracting some water now, what’s that going to look like 10, 20, or 100 from now? If they need water, go to the places where the water exists — don’t go to some of the driest places in BC. The ranchers need the water, the First Nations need the water, the animals need the water.” – High Bar First Nation resource manager Greg Crookes on the Clinton bottled water plant proposal.

• Dr. Hinshaw tells CBC News there has been a ‘dramatic shift’ in COVID-19 risk to the general population
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• Report calls for ban on water-bottling plants in increasingly arid B.C. Interior
• Prime minister announces appointment of five new senators
• Pot-kettle scenario as Trudeau calls out Canadiens over NHL draft folly
• Word of the Week: Aquifer

Trudeau faces calls to bring Afghan interpreters to Canada, BC’s 150th anniversary of Confederation is forgotten, and Alberta calls for pepper spray. Also, Carolyn Bennett’s former staff detail the sabotage she has done to Indigenous relations.

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Duration: 1:07:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“When I got there, I quickly realized I was a token. I was there to attend events with her so [Bennett] had a First Nations staffer with her, she wasn’t just bringing her white staff. My voice was never heard … my experience never mattered, it seemed, because they were white and they had been to a First Nation community, they knew more … they had better knowledge.” – A former staffer on their time in the office of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett.

• Blood on Canada’s hands if we don’t save Afghan ‘terps’
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• B.C.’s 150th anniversary in Canada comes and goes with little attention
• Alberta justice minister calls for Criminal Code changes to allow pepper spray for self-defence
• Crown-Indigenous Minister Carolyn Bennett’s office is a ‘toxic’ workplace, ex-staffers claim
• Word of the Week: Arson

Singh and O’Toole battle for BC’s votes, Alberta will vote on equalization and DST in the fall, and the Green Party goes through a civil war. Also, we detail the untold stories of the pandemic: overdoses, comorbidities and more.

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Duration: 55:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Any time we talk about big infrastructure, there has to be a commitment that the infrastructure is made with Canadian products, Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum. The Liberals have talked about a high-speed train. They’ve never mentioned once that they’re going to use Canadian products in a high-speed train,” -NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on his not quite “Buy Canadian” strategy

• Singh promises public infrastructure to be made with ‘Canadian products’ in jobs plan
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• Albertans to vote on daylight saving time, equalization in the fall; pension and police to be further studied
• Green party executive launches membership review of its own leader, Annamie Paul
• Overdoses, alcohol-related deaths increased in Canadians under 65 during pandemic: StatCan
• Word of the Week: Advantage

Canada has its first Indigenous Governor General, pressure mounts from the US to open the border, and federal support for passenger rail lines is announced. Also, Erin O’Toole has lots of ideas to solve the equalization problem once and for all.

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Duration: 57:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“[We will] truly make Alberta prosperous again and take away the limits that the Trudeau Liberal government has put on your growth… Conservatives will treat the energy sector as a key driver of Canada’s economy and leverage our environmental and social governance leadership as a competitive advantage to secure our future.” – Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on his plan to secure a fair deal for Alberta.

• Prime Minister announces The Queen’s approval of Canada’s next Governor General
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• Dozens join with Rep. Brian Higgins as bipartisan pressure builds to reopen border
• Feds set to begin procurement process for Toronto-Quebec City high-frequency rail corridor
• Erin O’Toole pledges changes to Fiscal Stabilization Program and to implement the Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act
• Word of the Week: Electioneering