Western Context

Carney’s budget promises capital spending and a huge deficit, David Eby declares BC wants no pipeline to the north coast, and Alberta faces rural redistricting issues. Also, a Nova Scotia MP crosses the floor to the Liberals.

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“This government is the most expensive in Canadian history. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians – the more they spend, the more things cost… Today, the Liberals have introduced the most costly and largest budget deficit in history outside of COVID. The cost of this Liberal budget will drive up the cost of food, housing, and everything else that Canadians buy.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Budget 2025.

Duration: 1:09:48
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Budget 2025
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. gov’t, Coastal First Nations sign declaration to uphold oil tanker ban
• Northern Alberta MLAs criticize ‘unacceptable’ proposed electoral boundary redraw
• MP Chris d’Entremont says he joined Liberals because of Poilievre’s leadership style
• Word of the Week: Defection

Mark Carney threatens an election if his budget doesn’t pass, Alberta uses the notwithstanding clause to end the teacher’s strike, and David Eby continues to force his reconciliation policies through. Also, Carney thaws Canada’s relationship with China.

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“Distance is not the way to solve problems, not the way to serve our people.” – Prime Minister Mark Carney on rebooting the relationship with China.

Duration: 1:08:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal House leader ‘starting to worry’ about support for upcoming budget
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• Alberta uses Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to work
• B.C. premier prepared to call early election if bill for North Coast Transmission Line voted down
• Canada’s Carney to visit Xi in China, marking ‘turning point’ in relations
• Word of the Week: Negotiable

Alberta conducts its municipal elections, a BC ostrich farm fights a cull order, and GM is ending electric van production in Ontario. Also, Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ad elicits a strong US response.

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“Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses. We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.” – Ontario Premier Doug Ford on the ‘success’ of his government’s US ad campaign.

Duration: 1:01:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta municipal elections 2025
• Support us on Patreon
• Third arrest made in connection with B.C. ostrich farm
• GM to end electric van production at CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont.
• Trump calls off trade talks with Canada over Ontario’s anti-tariff ad
• Word of the Week: Cull

Poilievre says the RCMP helped cover up Trudeau scandals, the BCGEU strike requires mediation, and Alberta is modernizing their license plates. Also, Trudeau’s relationship with Katy Perry unnecessarily dominates the headlines.

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“These would normally have led to criminal charges but of course the RCMP covered it all up and the leadership of the RCMP is just despicable when it comes to enforcing laws against the Liberal government.” – Pierre Poilievre on the potential re-opening of the SNC-Lavalin case by the RCMP.

Duration: 56:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre says RCMP covered up Trudeau-era scandals
• Support us on Patreon
• After seven weeks of job action, BCGEU and province agree to mediation
• Alberta licence plate slogan to change to ‘Strong and Free’
• Justin Trudeau ‘just too vanilla’ for Katy Perry, says Canadian ‘super fan’ who voted Conservative
• Word of the Week: Tabloid

The Liberals split their border bill into two, Alberta continues its health care reforms, and Vancouver apologizes for hosting a Harry Potter event. Also, Carney meets with Trump but returns with no trade deal.

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“I think they’re going to walk away very happy. We’re going to especially treat Canada fairly. The people of Canada will love us again, most of them still do, I think — they love us.” – US President Donald Trump on the future Canada/US relationship.

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservatives won’t support Liberal border bill without major changes
• Support us on Patreon
• Premier Danielle Smith instructs health ministers to improve wait times, transition non-acute patients out of hospital
• ‘This will not happen again’: Vancouver Park Board apologizes for hosting Harry Potter event
• Trump says ‘Canada will love us again’ — but there’s still no deal on tariffs after Carney meeting
• Word of the Week: Outrage

Mark Carney says Canada Post needs to change to be viable, Danielle Smith proposes an oil pipeline to northwest BC, and the Edmonton municipal election draws near. Also, Pierre Poilievre says Christians are the #1 target for hate crimes.

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“The late Premier John Horgan also warned me that his party included a “mud hut wing” of green extremists, which I took to include Eby. Eby’s a lawyer. He knows what the Constitution says. He knows what the top Courts said recently and unanimously on this subject. But he doesn’t care because he is, and always has been, an ideological zealot. For him the Constitution, the rule of law, national unity and prosperity must all be subordinated to his ideology.” – Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s reaction to BC Premier David Eby’s opposition to Alberta pipelines.

Duration: 1:03:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada Post operations not ‘viable,’ Carney says amid strike action
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• Alberta to apply to Major Projects Office for new bitumen pipeline to northern B.C. coast
• Parties have a role in this civic election. Here’s how that’s being viewed in one Edmonton ward
• Poilievre claims Christians ‘may be the number 1’ victims of hate-based violence
• Word of the Week: Proponent

Elenore Sturko is booted from the BC Conservatives, natural gas prices dip into the negative, and the gun buyback program starts in Cape Breton. Also, Carney overrides his own conditions to recognize the state of Palestine.

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“I’m going to say, in my opinion, the reason why I’m fired is that John Rustad’s on shaky ground inside his caucus, and that he needs the support right now [from] social conservatives within the caucus in order for him to hang on to the reins of power. Getting rid of me, it was one way to appease some of the people within the group.” – Former BC Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko on her ousting by leader John Rustad.

Duration: 1:06:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No chains’: Elenore Sturko speaks out after ousting from B.C. Conservative caucus
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• Canadian natural gas producers cut output amid record low price
• Gun buyback pilot to launch in Cape Breton, with plans to expand nationwide
• Canada, Britain and Australia recognize state of Palestine
• Word of the Week: Panacea

Premier Eby’s comedian friend overshadows the province’s finances, Alberta wants more provincial control over immigration, and Sean Fraser unveils new hate crime legislation. Also, Alberta supports Quebec’s usage of the notwithstanding clause.

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“So what we’re going to introduce at the legislature this fall is gradual entry for politicians. I just think it would be better for all parties if we know that their parents will be there to pick them up at lunchtime.” – BC Premier David Eby on treating politicians like schoolchildren.

Duration: 1:00:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• B.C. premier not amused when asked about comedian speech-writing contract
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta premier directs minister to increase provincial control over immigration
• Ottawa hate crime bill would outlaw ‘hateful’ displays of certain symbols
• Ottawa’s request for limits on notwithstanding clause a ‘direct attack’ on Bill 21, Quebec says
• Word of the Week: Notwithstanding

The BC NDP is changing the Heritage Act for reconciliation, Alberta teachers are looking at striking, and the federal government is moving asylum claimants from shelters to apartments. Also, Carney’s nation building projects were already being completed.

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“Although we still have some details to work out over the coming weeks, I am more optimistic than ever that the concerns of Albertans are FINALLY BEING HEARD and I look forward to reaching an agreement that will profoundly benefit the Canadian and Alberta economies.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on recent federal government project developments.

Duration: 1:03:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• Heritage act changes to have sweeping effect on land development in B.C.
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta teachers give strike notice, province says it wants to avoid job action
• Funding to move asylum claimants from homeless shelters into apartments sparks questions about fairness
• Carney’s first five major projects include LNG, span across the country
• Word of the Week: Intangible

The TFW program faces further scrutiny, the BCGEU goes on strike, and the Edmonton School Board bans more books than required. Also, the federal NDP are limiting nominations from straight white males.

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“I think what the NDP has to do is do a really good navel-gazing. Are we talking about the right issues that are affecting kitchen tables in Oshawa or Trois-Rivières or Kamloops? Are we really understanding what working people are going through? I’m looking forward to the discussion in our party to see if we can reorient ourselves so we can tell workers, ‘We get you; we’ve got policies that will make your lives better.’” – Interim NDP leader Don Davies on the NDP’s relationship with the working class.

Duration: 58:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• Poilievre calls for temporary foreign worker program to be scrapped
• Support us on Patreon
• BCGEU issues 72-hour strike notice after 93% vote to back job action
• Danielle Smith is right, the board is wrong in stupid book ban fight…
• The NDP leadership is underway — and the party is limiting signatures from ‘cis’ men
• Word of the Week: Exploitative