Western Context

A BC college loses its credentials, Danielle Smith speaks candidly about immigration, and the happiness of Canada’s youth plummets. Also, a US trade deal is not on the horizon.

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“[there’s] a very large number of people coming into our province who don’t have the rudimentary basics of the language.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on what many Albertans feel regarding immigration.

Duration: 1:03:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. private college shut down for misleading international students
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• Danielle Smith speaks out on immigration — the Alberta premier is not holding back
• How did Canada’s young people become its unhappiest generation?
• U.S. lists demands Canada must meet to extend CUSMA
• Word of the Week: unhappiness

David Eby backtracks on indigenous reconciliation, Alberta’s job creation lowers unemployment, and the CRA spends $18M on a chatbot that doesn’t work. Also, another floor crossing shows the importance of foreign interference coverage.

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“Without regard to party lines—to safeguard the democratic election system we cherish and respect. Even if existing laws permit party-switching, the world is watching—especially countries that, under authoritarian rule, are denied democratic elections. They are observing whether Canada still has the resolve to defend democracy.” – Joe Tay, former Conservative candidate for Don Valley North on foreign interference and floor crossings.

Duration: 1:10:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Eby plans $150 million in loan guarantees for Cowichan land owners
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• Three month job-creation spree drives significant plunge in Alberta unemployment rate
• The CRA spent $18M on ‘Charlie,’ a new tax information chatbot that is wrong most of the time
• Ex-Conservative MP Michael Ma crosses floor to join Carney Liberals
• Word of the Week: must

John Rustad eventually resigns as BC Conservative Leader, the UCP AGM reaffirms Danielle Smith’s opposition to federal overreach, and Canada steps into the EU tent on defence. Also, a Canadian company sells military APCs to ICE.

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“I was not prepared to go forward and have that civil war. In terms of what my future is going to be, I know my wife is very much looking forward to me being home, I’m sure my bird will be happy.” – Now former BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on his resignation as leader.

Duration: 1:02:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• John Rustad resigns as leader of B.C. Conservative Party, Trevor Halford takes on interim role
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• Alberta unveils plan to resist enforcement of Ottawa’s firearm buyback program
• Europe says Canada must pay 10M euros to join EU defence deal
• ICE ordering fleet of 20 armoured vehicles from Brampton, Ont., firm
• Word of the Week: Incapacitated

Nutrien decides to export through Washington instead of BC, more UCP MLAs are facing recall campaigns, and the Dakota Nations sue for title over southwest Manitoba. Also, a memorandum sets the conditions for a west coast pipeline.

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“Investing in the United States is going to make some American governor and American officials happy that a Canadian firm is investing in their country. Good for Nutrien. And not so bad for Canada, too, that a company trying to do the best for itself and its shareholders does something that shows Americans that we really are friends and allies.” – Joel Bruneau, department head of economics at the University of Saskatchewan, on the decision for Nutrien to export through Washington rather than BC.

Duration: 1:01:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Saskatchewan firm’s plan to export through Washington state instead of B.C. has David Eby fuming
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• 6 more UCP legislature members facing recall petitions, including 5 from Calgary area
• Dakota Nations claim title to mineral-rich corner of Manitoba valued at $1.3B annually
• Carney signs major energy agreement with Alberta, laying out conditions for new oil pipeline
• Word of the Week: Memorandum

The gun buyback pilot in Cape Breton produces only 22 guns, the notwithstanding clause gets misinterpreted by the media in Alberta, and BC cancels its EV mandate and rebate. Also, Canada looks at the Saab Gripen instead of the F-35.

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“The gun buyback program is something that the federal government feels is important to do and the general public might not understand, but it’s like any other rules. We still have to stop at stop signs, whether we want to or not.” – Cape Breton Councillor Glenn Paruch on the gun buyback pilot program.

Duration: 1:03:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Some guns turned in to buyback program, Cape Breton police commissioner says
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• Alberta invokes notwithstanding clause on trio of transgender laws
• B.C. redrawing EV sales mandate, scraps goal of 100% by 2035, leaves rebates to feds
• Sweden’s Saab offers to build entire GlobalEye military surveillance plane in Canada
• Word of the Week: Target

The media ignores internal Liberal infighting, Carney approves more major projects, and the Alberta NDP turns to Americans for public relations. Also, a DND directive that would see public service members trained by the military quietly gets scrapped.

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“The gut instinct, still, of most senior CAF leaders is to blame everyone but themselves, usually to scapegoat the media, for military-related coverage they do not like, for whatever reason, even if embarrassment is well and truly deserved. It’s a curious feature of, and sad commentary about, a seriously dated institutional mindset toward the public communications function.” – Retired Colonel Brett Boudreau on the public servant mobilization plan being leaked by the media.

Duration: 1:10:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney’s Liberals have their own internal drama happening
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• Carney refers one strategy, six initiatives to Major Projects Office
• Nenshi’s NDP relaunch gets big outside help: NYC mayor’s ad agency and Ottawa Liberals
• Canadian military will rely on an army of public servants to boost its ranks by 300,000
• Word of the Week: Project

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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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