Western Context

The Liberals’ new online harms act includes heavy punishments, Alberta’s 2024 budget contains surprises, and the new pharmacare plan covers very little medications. Also, new documents reveal more on the Winnipeg lab scientist firings.

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“There’s a genuine fear of an escalation, then an individual or group could come forward and seek a peace bond against them and to prevent them from doing certain things. [The pre-emptive house arrest] would help to deradicalize people who are learning things online and acting out in the real world violently – sometimes fatally.” – Liberal Justice Minister Arif Virani on his government’s plan to house arrest people before they commit crimes.

Duration: 1:03:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals’ “online hate” bill contains $20K fines for speech and life imprisonment for hate crimes
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta 2024 Budget
• Pharmacare cornerstone has been laid but where are the blueprints and budget?
• Censored documents about Winnipeg scientists reveal threat to Canada’s security
• Word of the Week: Pharmacare

Trudeau and Singh reach a deal on pharmacare, BC’s budget introduces a flipping tax and lots of spending, and Danielle Smith wants to build up the Heritage fund. Also, the BC NDP wants us to stop using the term British Columbians.

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“The term ‘British Columbians’ is often used to reference people living in B.C. This term excludes Indigenous Peoples who may not identify with it. For many, they identify as members of their own sovereign nations and do not consider themselves part of one that has actively worked to assimilate their people.” – the BC NDP government’s writing guide on Indigenous topics.

Duration: 57:52
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Pharmacare deal to help affordability, bring down inflation
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. Budget 2024 includes new ‘flipping tax’ on homes
• One last shot’ — Smith vows to build up Heritage Fund, move Alberta off royalty roller-coaster
• BC instructs people to stop saying “British Columbians” because it’s offensive
• Word of the Week: Guide

Steven Guilbeault says the feds will stop investing in roads, the Alberta government improves the childcare system, and BC suspends the license of a company that drives into highway overpasses. Also, ArriveCan costs even more money than we thought before.

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“The astonishing part is that the company thinks that they should still be able to operate. My only hope is that on the way to court, they don’t run into a bridge. I encourage them to take the bus or some other form of public transit on the way to the courthouse.” – BC Premier David Eby on the suspended trucking company Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. appealing the decision by the provincial government to suspend their license after numerous highway overpass impacts.

Duration: 56:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Feds will stop investing in ‘large’ road projects, environment minister says
• Support us on Patreon
• Operators welcome Alberta government’s changes to child-care system
• B.C. cancels company’s operating licence after 6 overpass strikes
• We paid too much’: Canada’s AG blasts CBSA over ArriveCan app
• Word of the Week: Infrastructure

Bell lays off more workers and asks for more money, a recall petition starts for Calgary’s mayor Jyoti Gondek, and Selina Robinson is removed from the BC NDP’s cabinet. Also, suspicious HSBC mortgages are fuelling the real estate crisis.

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“This is a radical change. With these proposed amendments, they are moving to give actual rights of First Nations governance over non-First Nations parties. That’s different than Indigenous self-government and to my knowledge, it’s the first time it has been contemplated anywhere in Canada.” – Robin Junger, a lawyer specializing in indigenous law with McMillan LLP in response to the BC government’s plan to reform the Lands Act.

Duration: 56:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau calls Bell layoffs a ‘garbage decision’: ‘I’m pretty pissed off’
• Support us on Patreon
• Calgary receives notice of recall petition for Mayor Jyoti Gondek
• Selina Robinson steps down as B.C. minister following controversial comments
• “Fake Chinese income” mortgages fuel Toronto Real Estate Bubble: HSBC Bank Leaks
• Word of the Week: Mortgage

Danielle Smith debuts Alberta’s parental rights policy, the BC NDP quietly makes changes to the Lands Act, and the Trudeau Liberals give $48M to UNRWA. Also, segregation is on the rise in Canadian universities.

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“This is a radical change. With these proposed amendments, they are moving to give actual rights of First Nations governance over non-First Nations parties. That’s different than Indigenous self-government and to my knowledge, it’s the first time it has been contemplated anywhere in Canada.” – Robin Junger, a lawyer specializing in indigenous law with McMillan LLP in response to the BC government’s plan to reform the Lands Act.

Duration: 1:03:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta to require parental consent for name, pronoun changes at school
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. NDP quietly consult on sweeping changes to managing public lands
• Canada had already sent UNRWA $48M when pause announced, GAC confirms
• Black-only swim times, Black-only lounges: The rise of race segregation on Canadian universities
• Word of the Week: Segregation

A terrorist shoots up Edmonton City Hall, car thefts spike in Canada, and a federal court judge finds the use of the Emergencies Act unjustified. Also, a paper mill closing on Vancouver Island leads to investigation into a Chinese funded forestry giant.

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“The harassment of residents, workers and business owners in downtown Ottawa and the general infringement of the right to peaceful enjoyment of public spaces there, while highly objectionable, did not amount to serious violence or threats of serious violence.” – Justice Richard Mosley on the legal assessment of the 2022 Freedom Convoy in Downtown Ottawa.

Duration: 1:07:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alleged Edmonton City Hall shooter takes aim at “genocide” in Gaza in video: report
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• Trudeau Calls National Summit as Canada Auto Thefts Spike
• Court Finds Trudeau Overreached by Using Emergency Law to End Blockade
• Paper operations indefinitely halted at Vancouver Island mill, company says
• Word of the Week: Manifesto

Canada’s cold snap raises questions of BC Hydro’s future, Rachel Notley is stepping down as Alberta’s NDP leader, and even Liberal ministers agree that immigration is out of control. Also, an opinion piece questions Poilievre’s commitment to queer issues.

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“I’m a bit of a polarizing figure in the province.” – Outgoing Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley on part of the reason why she is leaving.

Duration: 1:10:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC experiences record-breaking electricity demand amid cold snap, says BC Hydro
• Support us on Patreon
• Notley says she’ll step down from Alberta NDP helm to make way for fresh voices
• Elements of immigration system ‘out of control,’ says federal minister as pressure to make changes increases
• Concern about queer rights under a Poilievre-led government keeps me up at night
• Word of the Week: Import

Trudeau’s Jamaica vacation causes a conflict of interest, Canada’s immigration isn’t helping the job market, and Banff’s pedestrian zone gets nixed by the National Park. Also, a Victoria theatre cancels a play set in Israel after being vandalized.

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“We thank those of you who have expressed your convictions, and we are listening. We value and respect these conversations in our community. We have been having many complex conversations about the production, its content, and its impact on the community. We are taking time to reflect on how best to move forward and will make an announcement in the new year.” – The Belfry Theatre on cancelling a play set in Israel and Gaza

Duration: 58:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservatives call for ethics probe into Justin Trudeau’s free Jamaican holiday stay
• Support us on Patreon
• Labour Force Survey, December 2023
• Parks Canada letter forces Banff to pause pedestrian zone decision
• Belfry Theatre vandalized in protest over play set in Israel
• Word of the Week: Conversation

We look at 2023’s news stories, including an Alberta election, changing BC political landscapes, and multiple crises like healthcare, housing and affordability getting worse. We also go over our favourite pictures, quotes, words and episodes of the year.

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Duration: 54:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Story of the Year
• BC Story of the Year
• Most Important Story
• Firing Line of the Year
• Local Story of the Year
• Story We Didn’t Get to Cover
• Fake News Story of the Year
• Worst Government Expense of the Year
• Funniest Story
• Newsmaker of the Year
• Word of the Year
• Favourite Western Context Episode
• Favourite Western Context Show Title
• Quote of the Year
• Picture of the Year

Canada’s population increases like never before, the CBC writes fake news about Deena Hinshaw, and the Trudeau Liberals phase out gas car sales by 2035. Also, an investigation into Yuen Pau Woo reveals our cabinet may be compromised.

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“Yes, we’ve seen some people leave the province in their inter-provincial migration but overall, the growth in population that we’ve seen in the last quarter but [also] over the last two years is history-making given that the growth is driven by people coming from outside Canada. People are coming, they see opportunity here [and] they’re coming.” – BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon on immigration to BC.

Duration: 54:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s population booms by 430K over 3 months. What’s behind the spike?
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta ethics commissioner ends investigation into Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s dismissal from Indigenous health job
• Canada lays out plan to phase out sales of gas-powered cars, trucks by 2035
• Canadian Senator promised to support members in CCP’s United Front
• Word of the Week: Intervenor