Western Context

We look at 2020’s news stories including pipeline blockades, government overspending, and the end of the rocket launcher in Canada. We also look at the October BC election, our words of the year, as well as the elephant in the room: China’s coronavirus pandemic.

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Duration: 1:23:44
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 Story of the Year
• Local Story of the Year
• Story We Didn’t Get to Cover
• Fake News Story of the Year
• Funniest Story
• Worst Government Expense of the Year
• Favourite Western Context Episode
• Newsmaker of the Year
• Word of the Year

Trudeau quadruples the carbon tax to $170 per tonne by 2030, invests in hydrogen and nuclear energy, while the Alberta government links K-2 music education to history. Also, concerns over appropriation with the Canucks logo can be put to rest.

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Duration: 1:05:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Ottawa to hike federal carbon tax to $170 a tonne by 2030
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• Canada unveils hydrogen strategy to kick-start clean fuel industry
• Songs suggested for early grades by Alberta curriculum advisers have racist roots, teachers say
• Retire the orca’, says Indigenous historian who calls Vancouver Canucks logo cultural appropriation
• Word of the Week: Appropriation

A supposed reformed terrorist is granted day parole, Alberta might become a have-not province, and the Trudeau government is covering up which companies are receiving billions in pandemic aid. Also, Trudeau invites Chinese troops to train at Canadian bases.

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Duration: 1:00:21
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Toronto 18 bomb plotter granted parole after apologizing, insisting he is reformed
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• Alberta likely to be a ‘have-not’ province soon and that’s bad for Canada
• Trudeau government won’t say who got billions of dollars in aid
• Trudeau invited Chinese troops to train at Canadian military bases
• Word of the Week: secrecy

ICU bed totals in Alberta are misreported, a federal decision may put BC Ferries passengers at risk, and Trudeau admits he failed to solve the First Nations boil water advisories. Also, a fiscal update from Freeland leads to more spending and taxes.

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Duration: 1:01:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Leaked Alberta modelling data projects upwards of 775 COVID-19 hospitalizations by mid-December
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• Pandemic or not, passengers face up to $12,000 fine for staying in vehicles on BC Ferries
• Indigenous Services minister acknowledges Liberals won’t meet promised drinking water target
• Liberals to spend $100B to jolt post-pandemic economy after posting record $381B deficit
• Word of the Week: Fiscal

The BC NDP government fails to protect old growth forests, Alberta’s restrictions aim to not harm businesses, and a Canadian government arts grant goes to the partner of Elon Musk. Also, Trudeau’s promise of an early vaccine for Canadians gets broken.

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Duration: 1:30:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC should finance old-growth protections, advocates say
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• Kenney’s lockdown is severe but holds out hope for businesses to survive
• A $90,000 Canadian arts subsidy for Grimes, who lives in California with Elon Musk
• COVID-19 vaccines won’t ship to Canada until they are approved for use here
• Word of the Week: Old Growth

Vancouver’s mayor advocates drug decriminalization, Alberta’s first black justice minister bans police carding, and BC orders mandatory masks for all public spaces. Also, we look into Trudeau’s Great Reset that the media has labelled a conspiracy.

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Duration: 47:59
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Vancouver mayor wants feds to decriminalize simple drug possession
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• Alberta government bans police ‘carding,’ a practice that many found humiliating
• B.C. brings in sweeping new measures to control COVID-19, including mandatory masks
• Trudeau has eyes set on a great reset for Canada
• Word of the Week: Reset

The Chinese government’s influence is growing in Canada, Freeland won’t release any spending numbers, and governments threaten us with unnecessary lockdowns. Also, a Toronto Liberal MP resigns after hiring her sister with public funds in conflict of interest.

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Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS warns China’s Operation Fox Hunt is targeting Canada’s Chinese community
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• Freeland grilled over cost of pandemic aid as Commons fast-tracks rent relief bill
• Alberta physicians call for ‘sharp’ two-week lockdown to curb spread of COVID-19
• Toronto MP resigns from Liberal caucus after employing sister at constituency office
• Word of the Week: Error

The Alberta independence debate flares up again, the City of Victoria twice approves divisive messaging in a BLM mural, and illegal migrants are still crossing at Roxham Road. Also, the Canadian military wants to use propaganda on Canadian citizens.

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Duration: 54:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• UCP vote to kill debate on independence
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• Victoria artists remove ACAB from mural, add new message
• ROXHAM ROAD: Refugees STILL WELCOME at illegal Canada/U.S. border crossing
• Canadian military wants to establish new organization to use propaganda, other techniques to influence Canadians
• Word of the Week: Propaganda

The BC election sees a majority for Horgan and disaster for Wilkinson, an Alberta health strike gets miscovered, and Trudeau gets scrutinized on his pandemic response. Also, expensive waffles, ice and newspapers are a few of the items Trudeau splurged on.

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Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The Autopsy of Dr. Andrew Wilkinson’s Leadership of the BC Liberals
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• Health-care workers walk off the job in wildcat strikes across Alberta
• Trudeau loses motion — a reminder he leads a minority government
• $285 waffles, $412 hot towels, $23,000 catering on Trudeau’s luxurious private jet
• Word of the Week: Alienation

The Liberals threaten to call an election to keep their skeletons hidden, the UCP AGM shows the importance of grassroots democracy, and the China-funded Confucius Institute is defended by universities. Also, Trudeau overpaid $100M for ventilators.

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Duration: 44:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Liberals threaten election to keep things hidden
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• Two-tier health care system policy resolution gets lukewarm response at UCP AGM
• Universities, school boards across Canada defend ties with China’s Confucius Institute
• Trudeau government overpaid $100 MILLION for ventilators, gifted contract to former Liberal MP
• Word of the Week: Shell corporation