Western Context

UCP policy intends to bring power to the grassroots, BC commits to UNDRIP legislation, and most Canadians worry about fake news and distrust their media. Also, new details emerge on the SNC Lavalin scandal that cause Trudeau to change his story.

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Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• UCP would ban easy floor crossing, introduce recall legislation
• B.C. makes ambitious commitment to UNDRIP in throne speech
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• Most Canadians trust media, but a similar share worry about fake news being weaponized: survey
• Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from Trudeau’s cabinet, retains counsel amid SNC-Lavalin affair
• Word of the Week: Grassroots

A BC NDP MP mulls retirement to mediate a pipeline dispute, Rachel Notley loans $440M to an invisible company, and the feds spent $12.7M on renting cars for the G7 summit. Also, corruption in the Canadian justice system questions the rule of law.

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Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP facing an election without a quarter of its caucus as Rankin ponders retirement
• Notley promised $440M to oilsands company that defaulted on $507M loan, has no plans for construction
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• Government spent $12.7 million on car rentals, on top of $23 million in new cars for the G7 summit
• PMO pressed Wilson-Raybould to abandon prosecution of SNC-Lavalin
• Word of the Week: Quid pro quo

Albertans feel the economy is worse than it is, a poll on the Nanaimo by-election is wrong by 22%, and the federal government overpaid for the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, we talk about the evolution of fake news on social media.

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Duration: 45:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians think economy is worse than it really is: study
• BC Liberals have 13-point lead ahead Nanaimo byelection: Mainstreet Research poll
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• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says
• Fury over Google listing Khadr as a ‘Canadian soldier’
• Word of the Week: Psychology

Jason Kenney’s MP living expenses are under fire from disgruntled opponents, BC speaker Plecas reports on rampant legislature corruption, the media rushes to judgement on the Covington standoff, and ambassador to China John McCallum embarrasses Canada.

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Duration: 43:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals push for investigation into alleged expense misuse by UCP Leader Jason Kenney while MP
• Legislature speaker produces report of alleged wrongdoing
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• Rush to judgment on Covington school standoff should be a wake-up call for media: Robyn Urback
• McCallum has put Canada in an impossible situation with China
• Word of the Week: Investigation

A criminally accused Saudi national disappears from Canada, the BC government forces 1.6M homeowners to opt out of a new tax, the Alberta NDP predicts a nasty election, and a Chinese Liberal candidate uses WeChat to ethnically discount Jagmeet Singh.

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Duration: 44:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Saudi embassy suspected of helping man facing sex assault charge in Nova Scotia flee Canada
• B.C. NDP’s negative-option approach to a speculation tax redefines inept
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• Phillips predicts nasty election
• Liberal candidate’s WeChat post draws criticism for singling out race of byelection opponent Jagmeet Singh
• Word of the Week: Racism

A BC Liberal candidate is subject to a witch-hunt ahead of a crucial by-election, bullying concerns stop a consultation for a proposed park in Alberta, and a First Nation blockades a natural gas pipeline. Also, the media tries to tell us right from wrong.

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Duration: 47:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. byelection candidate called out for once wearing a Trump hat
• After vague allegations of bullying, province cancels Bighorn meetings
• Support us on Patreon
• The Wet’suwet’en and B.C.’s gas-pipeline battle: A guide to the story so far
• Trudeau responds to fears about immigration, refugees
• Word of the Week: Belief

A special year end episode for all peoplekind where we cover all of the best, worst, and most interesting stories of the year, plus more! Featuring pipelines, trade agreements, elections, fake news, torn down statues, and Trudeau language difficulties.

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Duration: 1:10:25
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

BC’s referendum is complete as 61.3% vote to stick with FPTP, the federal government loans $1.6B to Alberta’s oil sector, and we look at Trudeau’s foreign policy failures. Also, pure fake news on the Chamber of Commerce’s support for the carbon tax.

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Duration: 43:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No change: B.C. voters back first-past-the-post system in electoral reform referendum
• Alberta critical of Ottawa’s $1.6B package for ailing energy sector
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• Out in the cold: Canada’s year in foreign policy
• Statement on Carbon Pricing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Word of the Week: Reform

A First Nations group rejects Trudeau’s tanker ban, Victoria councillors want to curtail Christmas decorations for diversity, and Alberta jobs get hit by a wild StatsCan margin of error. Also, we detail the censorship scandal of Baby It’s Cold Outside.

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Duration: 46:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• First Nations coalition calls for rejection of Trudeau tanker ban, plans to file UN complaint
• Victoria councillors look to reduce Christmas decorations, broaden diversity
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• The federal fantasy of 23,700 new Alberta jobs
• After #MeToo, a culture war crescendos over ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’
• Word of the Week: progressive

Huawei’s CFO was arrested and we look at the further impacts on Canada’s economy and 5G networks. Alberta curtailing oil production and BC’s climate plan show the contrast of the two NDP governments. Also, Trudeau tweets away $50M to impress celebrities.

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Duration: 50:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS director warns of state-sponsored espionage threat to 5G networks
• Protecting the value of our resources
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. climate plan targets cleaner industry and transportation to hit emission targets
• Trudeau tweets $50M pledge for girls’ education around the world during Mandela festival
• Word of the Week: Glut