Western Context

Carney looks at privatizing Canada’s airports, Trump approves a new pipeline from Alberta to Wyoming, and Vancouver’s Whitecaps may be forced to relocate. Also, Canada’s new sovereign wealth fund is not what the government makes it sound like.

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“We’re in the early stages of a process with airport authorities and other partners to determine the best way forward. The ultimate goal, of course, is to improve the passenger experience, to improve the efficiency of our air transport system. Indeed, [airports] are a public good and I don’t think that spirit or that philosophy will change.” – Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon on the possibility of privatizing Canada’s airports

Duration: 1:10:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada in ‘early stages’ of talks on whether to privatize airports
• Support us on Patreon
• Trump signs order authorizing Bridger’s Canada-Wyoming crude pipeline
• The Whitecaps are a top team in MLS. Why is Vancouver struggling to keep them?
• Carney to announce sovereign wealth fund
• Word of the Week: wealth

We look back at Mark Carney’s first year as Prime Minister, including his policies, governing style, and international trade trips. Also, we highlight the issues that remain in Canada and how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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“Carney only wears dark bespoke suits, white shirts and conservative ties. His socks are as classic and understated as Don Draper’s. Brown shoes are out. Black ones are in. He exudes competence and purpose.” – J.D.M. Stewart in MacLean’s Time Is Ticking for Mark Carney

Duration: 1:19:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The “new CEO” moves Mark Carney made
• Why things have stayed the same
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• The things that drew media attention
• Things that are still problems

Three by-elections result in a new Liberal majority, the Liberals want to ban teens from social media, and David Eby backs down from proposed DRIPA changes. Also, the court system intervenes in Alberta’s independence movement.

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“This is getting ridiculous. A few more of these and we are edging into Italian territory. Floor-crossing is so endemic in the Italian parliament it even has a name: trasformismo. Recent parliaments have seen as many as a quarter to a third of the legislators switch parties, often in pursuit of office of some kind.” – Globe and Mail Columnist Robert Fife on the recent floor crossings.

Duration: 1:07:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘A mandate to get to work:’ Liberals secure majority with Toronto byelection wins
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• Ottawa ‘very seriously’ considering age restrictions for social media, AI chatbots
• NDP government to pause DRIPA amendments amid caucus divisions
• First Nations win initial stay in separatism challenge, temporarily blocking Alberta election boss from certifying petition results
• Word of the Week: Trasformismo

Carney avoids talking about forced labour in China, the Alberta government wants to remove politics from education, and a Vancouver Canucks reporter gets barred from the arena due to an unflattering article. Also, Avi Lewis is elected NDP leader.

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“He looks like a hero, because he took me on as a critic of the motherland. He is supporting the motherland and that makes him look very good and makes me look terrible … I think he thought it would be well-received by the Chinese embassy, which it was.” – Margaret McCuaig-Johnston on being grilled by Liberal MP Michael Ma.

Duration: 1:05:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney avoids describing China’s treatment of Uyghurs as genocide
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• Alberta government says new bill intended to remove politics, ideology from schools
• Canucks’ decision to revoke credential of reporter alarms colleagues
• Who is Avi Lewis, the new leader of the NDP?
• Word of the Week: Selective

The immigration ministry lets fraud go uninvestigated, the Pathways carbon capture project is being protested, and the BC NDP fail their own targets on approving mineral claims. Also, a tragic Air Canada crash gets pivoted to bilingualism by the Liberals.

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“We proudly live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages.” – Mark Carney on the Air Canada CEO’s inability to speak French.

Duration: 59:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Only a fraction of 153,000 flagged international students were investigated
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• Coalition of First Nations, rural landowners demands review of proposed Pathways carbon capture project
• B.C. NDP misses own target for processing mineral claims
• Air Canada CEO summoned to Ottawa over English-only condolence message after plane crash
• Word of the Week: Bilingualism

Alberta introduces limitations to MAID, BC’s public transit plans get curtailed, and Edmonton’s police chief gets flack for a trip to Israel. Also, Poilievre’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast sends shockwaves through the mainstream media.

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“We’re very proudly Canadian so we’re never gonna be the 51st state. I just wish he’d knock that s–t off so that we can get back to talking about the things that we could do as two separate countries that are actually friends.” – Pierre Poilievre on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Duration: 1:08:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta to impose restrictions on MAID, limiting it to terminal illness
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• Public Transit Expansion Plans Shelved Across BC
• Edmonton mayor ‘disappointed’ in police chief and commission over visit to Israel
• Canada’s Conservative leader talks tariffs and martial arts with Joe Rogan
• Word of the Week: exposure

A Nunavut floor crossing accompanies Arctic spending, an Alberta consumption site closure didn’t result in more deaths, and a BC MP is told to chillax on land acknowledgments. Also, Canada has lost 100,000 jobs in 2026 so far.

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“Mark Carney’s shrinking economy is now making international headlines. He has delivered the only shrinking economy and the 2nd highest unemployment in the G7 and now 100,000 jobs have vanished in 2 months. His economic credentials are all an illusion. The results show he is just another Liberal. – Pierre Poilievre on Canada’s shrinking job numbers.

Duration: 56:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP MP Lori Idlout crossing floor to Liberals, PM Carney two seats shy of majority
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• Alberta overdose prevention site closure didn’t result in more deaths, study finds
• B.C. chiefs tell MP Aaron Gunn to ‘chillax’ about land acknowledgments
• Canada sheds more than 100,000 jobs in first two months of year
• Word of the Week: chillax

Carney resets relations with India, an Alberta oilsands giant halts its expansion plans, and a BC First Nation makes a set of deals with the federal government. Also, Carney doesn’t rule out Canadian military participation in the Middle East.

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“Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons.” – Mark Carney’s initial position on Iran strikes.

Duration: 1:01:17
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney signs deals worth billions in diplomatic breakthrough with India’s Modi
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• Oil and gas giant Canadian Natural Resources defers oilsands expansion
• Musqueam sign Aboriginal rights deals with federal government
• Canada won’t rule out military participation in Middle East conflict
• Word of the Week: regime

Canada’s Olympic performance falls short of its target, Alberta’s budget includes a deficit, and the BC NDP try to limit freedom of information requests. Also Eastern Canada imports Australian LNG.

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“It was just a month ago that Prime Minister (Mark) Carney made international headlines with his inspiring speech at Davos. In that speech, he talked in large part about ambition, about the strength of Canada at home and the values we can and should project to the world. Through [the power of] sport, we have a real opportunity, if not a responsibility, to be ambitious about how we want to show up as a nation, both on the world stage and in communities across the country.” – Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive David Shoemaker on Canada’s Olympic future.

Duration: 56:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s Olympic chief calls for sports funding boost as medal target missed
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• Alberta Budget 2026: Province delivers $9.4B deficit that breaks its own fiscal rules
• NDP set to weaken B.C.’s FOI law and keep public in the dark
• Australia ships LNG 25,000 kilometres to Eastern Canada amid Asian slump
• Word of the Week: freedom

Matt Jeneroux crosses the floor to the Liberals, BC’s budget includes tax hikes and high debt, and Alberta looks at a referendum on immigration. Also, Carney’s international trade rebellion is not quite what it seems.

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“I want you to know how confident I am in the judgment of Albertans on these and other delicate issues. Although there are some politicians and commentators that fear direct democracy, such as referendums, I do not. I trust the judgment of Albertans.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on the use of referenda.

Duration: 1:11:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux crosses the floor to the Liberals
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• Tax hikes, record debt leave no winners in B.C. budget
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces fall referendum on immigration, constitutional questions
• Carney constructs a mega anti-Trump trade alliance
• Word of the Week: Rebellion