Western Context

The US, Mexico, and Canada have reached a deal to replace NAFTA, who won? In BC a big $40B LNG project is approved, and journalist Paula Simons is appointed to the Senate. Also, we look at the results of the Quebec election and the effects of nationalism.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:01:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Revamped NAFTA deal, renamed USMCA, will ‘rebalance’ North America trade after Canada reaches 11th hour agreement
• LNG politics ramp up as massive project approval looms
• Support us on Patreon
• Edmonton Journalist Paula Simons amongst others appointed to Senate
• Quebec elects a CAQ majority government
• Word of the Week: Nationalism

A very special episode where we delve into the history of conservatism in Canada, a look at where past and modern conservative parties have taken policies, as well as the leadership team and current policies of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:04:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• History and Notable Leaders
• Current Leadership Team
• Support us on Patreon
• Current Policies of Conservative Party of Canada

Uncertainty in New Brunswick after an election results in a minority, Grande Cache, Alberta votes to dissolve the town, and the federal government can’t do basic math on illegal migrant numbers. Also, we might be coming to an end on the NAFTA debacle.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 52:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• New Brunswick Election: Liberals intend to form government despite projected Tory minority
• Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town
• Support us on Patreon
• Minister Bill Blair apologizes for confusion over Canadian asylum seekers facing deportation
• Trump claims he rejected a meeting with Trudeau over NAFTA — but Canada says it never asked to meet
• Word of the Week: Winning

Liberal MP Leona Alleslev crosses the floor to Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives, Edmonton council wants the city to become a sanctuary city, and we look at a major BC transportation bottleneck. Also, we examine Julie Payette’s role as Governor General.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 51:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal MP Leona Alleslev slams Trudeau, crosses floor to Tories
• Edmonton city council approves ‘sanctuary city’ status to aid undocumented immigrants
• Support us on Patreon
• No easy or cheap fixes for mayhem on Malahat, or other transit horrors
• Failure to launch: Inside Julie Payette’s turbulent first year as Governor General
• Word of the Week: Regal

Bernier’s new party is formed, a Syrian refugee is arrested for a Burnaby teenager’s murder, Jason Kenney strives for merit-based appointments, and the media has a narrative on all these stories. Also, we look at the history of the notwithstanding clause.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:00:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Maxime Bernier forms the People’s Party of Canada’
• Man charged with the murder of Marissa Shen
• Support us on Patreon
• All the Tory Ladies: Inside Kenney’s ‘obsessive’ drive to recruit female candidates for Alberta’s UCP
• Premier Doug Ford to use notwithstanding clause to cut size of Toronto city council
• Word of the Week: Permanent Resident

In BC we learn that improper disposal of cigarettes can cause major issues. Canada lost over 50,000 jobs in August, and the possible implementation of a handgun gun might not solve crime. Also, we correct Trudeau on his definition of the word entropy.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 49:29
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Saanich tent city residents ordered to leave after court grants injunction
• Canadian Economy Loses 51,600 Jobs and Trying to Build Big Projects in Canada
• Support us on Patreon
• Handgun ban would have ‘no impact,’ police union head warns
• Trudeau Mocked For Saying Diversity Is Leading To ‘entropy’
• Word of the Week: Entropy

The Federal Court of Appeal quashes the Trans Mountain Pipeline, what does this mean for Alberta, BC, and the Canadian economy? BC also projects a surprising surplus due to the housing sector, and we go over the current state of NAFTA negotiations.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 57:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trans Mountain defeat threatens Justin Trudeau’s re-election story
• Alberta leaving federal climate plan over Trans Mountain decision
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. maintains budget surplus, despite ICBC losses and wildfire spending
• Trump announces U.S.-Mexico trade deal to replace NAFTA, and says ‘we will see’ if Canada can join
• Word of the Week: Freebie

Maxime Bernier quits the Conservative Party before its convention, Alberta’s sole NDP MP doesn’t consider Trans Mountain to be an issue, Trudeau’s cabinet retreats to wildfire threatened Nanaimo, and Trudeau gets heckled and responds by crying racism.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 51:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• MP Maxime Bernier quits ‘morally corrupt’ Conservatives, plans to start new party
• Alberta’s only NDP MP says Trans Mountain pipeline ‘not the priority issue’ with her voters
• Support us on Patreon
• Trudeau’s cabinet kicks off 2-day retreat focused on trade, wildfire response
• Trudeau unapologetic after telling heckler, ‘Your racism has no place here’
• Word of the Week: Secession

A John A. MacDonald statue is removed in Victoria, a Stats Canada report on Alberta jobs gives conflicting info, diplomatic troubles with Saudi Arabia raises questions of energy independence, and Maxime Bernier raises a discussion about multiculturalism.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 55:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• City of Victoria to remove John A. Macdonald statue from front steps of city hall
• National unemployment rate falls to four-decade low; Alberta’s numbers are less rosy
• Saudi Arabia withdrawing students from Canadian schools, suspending flights
• Maxime Bernier criticizes Liberals for ‘extreme multiculturalism’
• Word of the Week: multiculturalism

A special episode where we rundown major electoral systems in use today. We have a look at first past the post, all the methods of proportional representation, and we cap it off with a primer of the American Electoral College.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3

Duration: 46:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• First Past the Post
• Forms of Proportional Representation
• The Electoral College