Western Context

The BC Coastal Gaslink pipeline undergoes more disruptions, the federal carbon tax will not save Albertans money, and Trudeau’s facial hair dominates the media. Also, we discuss the tragedy of UIA Flight 752, and the leadup to the deadly aviation disaster.

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Duration: 47:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Work must stop on Trans Mountain, Site C, LNG pipeline until First Nations approval, UN committee says
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• Alberta gets a new carbon tax Jan. 1 — but that could be good news for your wallet
• Statesman, ‘daddy’ or dud: Justin Trudeau’s new beard ignites social media
• Iran plane crash: Western powers suggest missile downed jet
• Word of the Week: Crash

We look at all the important stories of 2019, including the Alberta and federal elections, the SNC scandal, China, and western separatism. Also, our words of the year, and expenses ranging from billion dollar jets to a $13,000 wood splitter.

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Duration: 1:15:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Best Covered Story by the MSM
• Worst Covered Story by the MSM
• Most Important Story
• Alberta Story of the Year
• BC Story of the Year
• 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
• Our Most Absurd Story
• Worst Government Expense of the Year
• Favourite Western Context Episode
• Newsmaker of the Year
• Word of the Year

Trudeau’s fall fiscal update shows deeper deficits than expected, the terrorist in the 2017 Edmonton van attack gets 28 years, and a BC retirement home sale to China raises major issues. Also, the media covers Trudeau’s mandate letters, but misses key parts.

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Duration: 45:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Begins 2nd Term Much Deeper in the Red Than Expected
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• Man who tried to kill Edmonton police officer sentenced to 28 years
• Third China-owned senior care facility in B.C. placed under government management amid concerns over health, safety of residents
• 5 takeaways from Trudeau’s ‘mandate letters’ to his cabinet
• Word of Week: Mandate

Canada signs the new NAFTA deal, a 5 month forestry strike leaves BC communities in limbo, and a Greenpeace video shown in an Alberta class sparks a social media firestorm. Also, Andrew Scheer’s resignation as leader prompts crazy theories from the media.

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Duration: 52:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada signs revised North American trade deal, clearing way for ratification
• Companies, contractors and communities caught in middle of forestry strike
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• Alberta school lesson on oil sands prompts threats from parents amid sensitivity over industry’s image + Energy War Room
• Exasperated Scheer leaves on his own terms
• Word of Week: Fog of war

The premiers meeting showcases provincial unity, a provincial plan for new nuclear technology is ignored by the media, and Trudeau’s throne speech says a lot and nothing at all. Also, we detail Trudeau’s delinquent behaviour at the NATO summit.

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Duration: 57:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• With national unity under stress, premiers back a budget fix to help oil-rich provinces
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• Group of premiers band together to develop nuclear reactor technology
• A Throne Speech that intentionally left much unsaid
• What are you at?’ Trump presses Trudeau over NATO defence spending
• Word of the Week: Delinquent

The CBC notes that the new Minister of Environment is not a woman, Rachel Notley blames the UCP for her alcohol purchases, BC’s economic machine starts to slow down, and an effort by the media to smear Andrew Scheer is rebuffed by Conservative members.

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Duration: 50:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Will Jonathan Wilkinson’s gender give him an easier time in the environment ministry?
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• Notley accuses Tories of “corruption” in liquor purchase, before revelation it was made under her watch
• B.C. budget surplus projection continues to shrink
• I am staying on to fight the fight’ says Scheer amid more calls for resignation
• Word of the Week: Histrionics

Alberta’s Bill 22 draws nationwide criticism for an invalid reason, BC wants to spy on farmers with American satellites, and the CN Rail strike will have a massive impact on the Canadian economy. Also, Trudeau’s new cabinet: same as the old cabinet.

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Duration: 54:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Rachel Notley asks Lieutenant-Governor to block removal of election commissioner
• B.C. government looking at satellite technology to monitor farms for breaking ALR rules
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• ‘It is so critical to the economy’: Industry leaders urge Trudeau to end CN Rail strike
• Trudeau’s New Cabinet
• Word of the Week: Loyalty

We look at how Alberta pays Quebec’s bills, the mystery of markups in BC gas prices, and Alberta taking steps to take care of themselves. Also, we look at the firing of Don Cherry on Remembrance Day, and the attack on our Canadian culture.

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Duration: 57:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How Alberta pays Quebec’s bills: Four charts that show Alberta picks up the tab
• Horgan to offer ‘ideas’ to crack mystery of pumped-up B.C. gas prices
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• Alberta addresses separatist sentiment by studying measures that would give province more autonomy
• Don Cherry fired by Sportsnet over ‘you people’ rant on Coach’s Corner
• Word of the Week: Double standard

A new group in the senate sparks calls for reform, China resumes Canadian meat imports to curb inflation, and Alberta starts to enact tougher castle doctrine laws. Also, testing has revealed lead in Canada’s drinking water, while our government is on vacation.

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Duration: 48:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 11 Canadian senators form new group to represent regional interests
• China to resume importing beef and pork from Canada
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• Eddie Maurice and it sounds like good news
• ‘This is not a joke’: High levels of lead found in water at Canadian daycares, schools
• Word of the Week: Independent

We have a look at post-election polls to explain why voters chose what they did, Trudeau endorses the Quebec immigrant values test, and Alberta reduces pollution through a new UCP program. Also, Peter MacKay leads the media astray with hockey analogies.

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Duration: 52:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poll suggests plenty of Canadians voted strategically to stop a party from winning
• Quebec to impose values test for new immigrants
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• New Alberta industrial carbon tax sets different standards for different emitters
• MacKay compares Scheer election loss to missing an open net on a breakaway
• Word of the Week: Values