Western Context

Alberta and BC show differing approaches to the drug crisis and public safety, and the federal government removes GST on rental starts and considers a grocery tax. Also, the Trudeau government gives subsidies to cricket farmers.

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“I grew up eating crickets in my porridge as a kid because they bring so much protein.” – Liberal MP for London West Arielle Kayabaga on the feasibility of cricket farming in Canada.

Duration: 46:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta overhauling prosecution practices in effort to address rise in violent crime
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• B.C. to ban drug possession near playgrounds for duration of decriminalization pilot project
• Ottawa to remove GST on new rental housing, calls on cities to end exclusionary zoning
• Trudeau Liberals handing out millions to help put crickets on menu
• Word of the Week: Housing

Canada finally launches the public inquiry on foreign interference, BC experiences severe drought conditions, and Alberta’s First Nations are grappling with drug-related deaths. Also, we added 40,000 jobs and 100,000 people in August.

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“We’ve lived through [a severe drought] once [before] and we saw the damage it did. We’re hoping the authorities can get on the bandwagon that food and water should be prioritized. As we’re going deeper and deeper in climate change and experiencing those deeper weather changes … it might be a disincentive for future generations coming into [the farming] business, because it will be harder and harder to make a living.” – Sunshine Coast farmer Mel Sylvestre on new water restrictions for everyone, including farmers.

Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian gov’t launches public inquiry into foreign election interference, taps judge as commissioner
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• Sunshine Coast imposes most severe water restrictions on 20,000 residents due to persistent drought
• 5 First Nations in northern Alberta declare state of emergency after spate of drug deaths
• Canada added 40,000 jobs in August — but it added 100,000 more people, too
• Word of the Week: Drought

More Canadians are skeptical of the carbon tax’s effectiveness, Alberta and Ottawa have different timelines on net zero, and federal ministers pay lip service to housing woes. Also, the judicial system is becoming more political.

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“[Guilbeault’s] involvement in the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development has him turning a blind eye to China’s environmental record while they add the equivalent of two new coal-fired electricity plants each week. Conversely, Albertans have cut emissions more than any other province this past decade, spending billions of dollars transitioning almost all electricity generation from coal to natural gas.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on the federal government’s emission plans.

Duration: 52:03
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• What happens when you give 50 homeless people $7,500 each? A B.C. study found out
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• Suncor’s revised focus on oil production proof of need for emissions cap
• Deputy Prime Minister fined $273 for speeding in rental car
• High-level judges may have paid to meet Trudeau before their appointments
• Word of the Week: Excessive

We look at the history of populism, what it means, and how it applies to both the left and right. We delve into both the US and Canada’s very successful populist movements. Also, Pierre Poilievre’s populist ideals are shunned by the mainstream media.

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“Today, CBC’s news service CP wrote a hit piece on me because I dared criticize the World Economic Forum—a group of multinational CEOs and powerful politicians that push their interests. I work for our people in this country and will bring home our democracy—without apology.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the Canadian Press becoming political.

Duration: 57:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• A History of Populism by Western Context
• American Populism
• Canadian Populism
• Poilievre’s Conservative party embracing language of mainstream conspiracy theories
• Word of the Week: Populism

More Canadians are skeptical of the carbon tax’s effectiveness, Alberta and Ottawa have different timelines on net zero, and federal ministers pay lip service to housing woes. Also, the judicial system is becoming more political.

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“If people are asking us to slash, what does that mean? Does that mean slashing the skilled workers that we need to actually build those houses? Slash family reunification, which can be devastating for the mental health and well-being of the families that are already here?” Immigration Minister Marc Miller, responding to questions of reducing immigration to ease housing concerns.

Duration: 52:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadians skeptical about carbon taxes
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• No way to start a conversation’: Alberta fires back as Ottawa mulls tying funding to meeting 2035 net-zero grid deadline
• A little bit of help’: Chrystia Freeland touts home savings account as part of housing crisis solution
• Exclusive data analysis reveals Liberals appoint judges who are party donors
• Word of the Week: Politicization

Alberta reviews new renewable energy projects, the source of BC’s wildfires is debated, and Alberta pulls support for the 2030 Commonwealth Games bid. Also, Trudeau and Poilievre trade barbs on housing.

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“After eight years of Justin Trudeau, things are going very badly… Something new is happening in Canada: tent cities in almost every town, village, and metropolitan centre. Something that was almost unheard of eight years ago before Justin Trudeau, but what do you expect people to do? They can’t pay [a] 100 per cent increase in rent.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Trudeau’s housing strategy.

Duration: 53:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta to pause new solar and wind power projects for six months amid review of end-of-life rules
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• Evacuation order issued for parts of Osoyoos as growing wildfire crosses Canada-U.S. border
• Alberta pulls support for 2030 Commonwealth Games, bid efforts cancelled
• Trudeau pans Poilievre’s approach as ‘dangerous for Canadians’
• Word of the Week: Anger

Trudeau performs a cabinet shuffle, the media highlights private Alberta medical clinics charging member fees, and problems at BC Ferries continue. Also, a TD report shows how immigration is fuelling unaffordability.

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“A cabinet of 39 is not a serious decision-making body. As cabinet gets larger, moreover, the ministers get smaller. In a cabinet of 12, every minister is a player. As you pass 20, they start to blur together. By the time you near 40, they look like ants.” – Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet on the size of Trudeau’s new cabinet.

Duration: 53:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios
• NDP calls for probe into how many medical clinics are charging ‘member’ fees in Alberta
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• B.C. Ferries running out of excuses
• Canada’s Immigration Policy Driving Housing Unaffordability, Higher Rates – TD
• Word of the Week: Shuffle

An ex-RCMP officer is charged with using information to help China, Alberta’s health minister has a mandate to review and reform AHS, and Canada is committed to the digital services tax. Also, Steven Guilbeault continues to attack the oil and gas sector.

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“If it wasn’t clear before, it is now. The Trudeau government doesn’t want to just reduce emissions in our energy sector, they want to completely shut down our energy sector.” – Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on new revelations about a federal emission cap.

Duration: 1:03:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ex-Canadian Mountie charged over alleged China interference
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• Health minister given mandate to review, reform Alberta Health Services
• Canada pushing ahead with tax on Big Tech opposed by U.S., Freeland says
• Western premiers push back as Guilbeault calls for ‘phase-out of unabated fossil fuels’
• Word of the Week: Unabated

The Bank of Canada raises interest rates again, a conference on LNG takes place in Vancouver, and Edmonton’s mayor pleads for bail reform. Also, Toronto’s new mayor Olivia Chow was helped by pro-China groups.

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“We don’t live in a bubble here on the West Coast. What happens in Asia happens to us. We must work with Asian countries to help them reduce their GHG emissions while we build our own decarbonized economy. This means providing them with low to zero-carbon alternatives to the energy they currently depend upon.” – Haisla First Nation Chief Crystal Smith on the need to develop Canadian LNG projects.

Duration: 1:03:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Bank of Canada raises its key interest rate to 5%
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• Alberta and B.C. in talks to expand Canadian LNG reach globally, Danielle Smith says
• Edmonton mayor pleads for ‘immediate action’ on bail reform after stabbing death at LRT station
• Pro-Beijing groups claim credit for helping Olivia Chow win Toronto mayoralty. She says she was unaware
• Word of the Week: Conference

BC’s dockworkers are on strike, CBC retracts the Smith email interference story, and the Liberals and opposition make headway towards a public inquiry. Also, we look at the possible expansion of medical assistance in dying.

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“Since the Liberals finally stopped fighting a public inquiry close to a month ago, we have been engaged with all parties multiple times a week to agree on terms for a public inquiry. Conservatives are ready to accept the latest proposal for terms of reference that was discussed, but neither Dominic LeBlanc nor his office picked up the phone or answered an e-mail in the five days following the last meeting. The Prime Minister should stop his baseless attacks and get his minister to answer our calls.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the previous lack of agreement on the public inquiry into foreign interference.

Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta minister calls for back-to-work legislation to end B.C. port strike
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• CBC News retracts report alleging email interference by Alberta premier’s office
• Conservatives say parties reach agreement on terms for foreign interference inquiry
• Two Trudeau ministers seem awfully uncomfortable with euthanizing the mentally ill
• Word of the Week: Agreement