Western Context

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

Tumbler Ridge, BC experiences tragedy, the University of Alberta moves to remove DEI policies, and the Supreme Court overturns Elections Canada’s result in Terrebonne. Also, Canada is on track to miss every climate target possible.

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“I’d like to take this opportunity to ask British Columbians, to ask all Canadians, to wrap the people of Tumbler Ridge, wrap these families with love—not just tonight but tomorrow and into the future. This is something that will reverberate for years to come.” – BC Premier David Eby on the Tumbler Ridge shooting tragedy

Duration: 1:01:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Unity must come before politics in wake of Tumbler Ridge shooting
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• U of A staff, students speak out against move to axe EDI from hiring policy
• Supreme Court nullifies Liberal single-vote election win in Montreal-area riding
• Canada not on track to hit net-zero by 2050, or meet any climate targets: study
• Word of the Week: Unity

Stephen Harper’s portrait unveiling shows a media turnaround, a Canadian heritage website was almost lost entirely, and the people behind Alberta’s recalls are unveiled. Also, some Vancouver councillors want to ban ICE during the FIFA World Cup games.

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“Quite ironic that we’re in this age of renewed nationalism and our Prime Minister is telling our story internationally, and yet we were about to let this beautiful resource of Canadian stories just wither.” – Stephen Taylor on creating a new website for Canadian historical places.

Duration: 1:02:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Stephen Harper says Canada must urgently reduce its dependence on the U.S.
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• Parks Canada planned to delete a heritage website — but one proud Canadian hit ‘Save’
• End the UCP’: AB Resistance’s two-year mission to dethrone Danielle Smith
• Vancouver councillors push for World Cup to ban ICE agents
• Word of the Week: Heritage

Carney announces a further GST rebate, Eby calls Alberta separatists treasonous, while Eby is called the worst fiscal manager in BC history. Also, Poilievre passes his leadership review with 87.4% approval.

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“We must diversify our markets and strengthen our alliances with our NATO partners. We must fight the American tariffs and do all we can to reach a no-tariff agreement with the United States. And yes, the Conservatives are ready to work with Mr. Carney and his government to open up new markets and eliminate the American tariffs.” – Pierre Poilievre on the need to diversify away from and not rely on the United States.

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

• Carney announces food affordability measures, including boost to GST rebate
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• B.C. premier says Alberta separatists seeking assistance from U.S. is ‘treason’
• Eby may go down as worst fiscal manager in B.C. history
• Poilievre tells party delegates to have hope in speech that confronts Alberta, Quebec separatism
• Word of the Week: Treason