Western Context

The PCs win in the Nova Scotia election, Erin O’Toole’s Conservative platform is thoughtful and moderate, and Horgan and Kenney decide to take vacations. Also Canada’s inflation rate continues to inflate.

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

Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election
• Support us on Patreon
• Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives target suburban voters in election platform of thoughtful populism
• Premier John Horgan drawing heat for taking vacation while B.C. burns
• Canadian inflation jumps to 3.7%, creating trouble for Trudeau
• Word of the Week: Unnecessary

The upcoming election spurs a need for Canadian innovation, a Calgary doctor donating to the NDP organized anti-government protests, and China sentences Michael Spavor to 11 years. Also, concerns over vaccine passports go unheard.

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

Duration: 51:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Justin Trudeau’s planning an election in the middle of a pandemic because he’s focused on politics. It’s time we had a prime minister planning an economic recovery focused on Canadians. We’re ready.” – Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on his priority in the coming unnecessary election.

• PM Trudeau expected to launch federal election on Sunday: sources
• Support us on Patreon
• Member of Alberta premier’s staff questions Calgary doctor’s political motives as others rally to his defence
• Canadian businessman Michael Spavor sentenced by Chinese court to 11 years in prison for spying
• Feds to roll out vaccine passports for foreign travel
• Word of the Week: Arbitrary

Canada has its first Indigenous Governor General, pressure mounts from the US to open the border, and federal support for passenger rail lines is announced. Also, Erin O’Toole has lots of ideas to solve the equalization problem once and for all.

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

Duration: 57:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“[We will] truly make Alberta prosperous again and take away the limits that the Trudeau Liberal government has put on your growth… Conservatives will treat the energy sector as a key driver of Canada’s economy and leverage our environmental and social governance leadership as a competitive advantage to secure our future.” – Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on his plan to secure a fair deal for Alberta.

• Prime Minister announces The Queen’s approval of Canada’s next Governor General
• Support us on Patreon
• Dozens join with Rep. Brian Higgins as bipartisan pressure builds to reopen border
• Feds set to begin procurement process for Toronto-Quebec City high-frequency rail corridor
• Erin O’Toole pledges changes to Fiscal Stabilization Program and to implement the Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act
• Word of the Week: Electioneering

The Liberals introduce a hate speech bill that won’t pass, take the House Speaker to court over incriminating documents, and use taxpayer money to fund their re-election. Also, the death of Canadian bilingualism foreshadows the next election.

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

Duration: 50:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The Speaker’s Office will defend the rights of the House. That is something I take very seriously. The legal system does not have any jurisdiction over the operations of the House. We are our own jurisdiction. That is something we will fight tooth and nail to protect and we will continue to do that.” – House Speaker Anthony Rota on being taken to court by the Government of Canada

• Liberals to introduce new hate speech bill, possibly bringing back controversial Section 13
• Support us on Patreon
• Liberals take House Speaker to court to block release of unredacted records
• Liberal MPs’ budgets pay same firms that help run party’s digital campaigns
• Under Justin Trudeau, official bilingualism as we know it is over
• Word of the Week: Parliamentary Supremacy

Alaska pleads for cruises while Trudeau says no, alternative voting methods are being readied for a possible spring election, and SNC gets a sole sourced $150M contract for field hospitals. Also, a 4 month gap between vaccine doses leads to questions.

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

Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

 “British Columbia’s decision to extend to four months the interval between first and second doses of three different vaccines amounts to a ‘population level experiment’.“ — Chief Science Adviser of Canada, Mona Nemer

• U.S. politicians push to revive Alaska cruises, with Victoria as ‘technical’ stop
• Support us on Patreon
• Canadians should be able vote by phone during pandemic
• SNC-Lavalin gets $150 million contract for field hospitals nobody asked for
• Second doses of COVID-19 vaccines can be given up to 4 months after first, NACI now says
• Word of the Week: Experiment

Trudeau shuffles his cabinet while denying he wants an election, politicians are under fire for travel while Canadians do the same, and John Horgan wants to deny inter-provincial travel into BC. Also, Trudeau has put us at the back of the line for vaccines.

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

Duration: 45:03
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

I have lived the Canadian dream; I am the son of a cabinet maker who had the opportunity to serve as a cabinet minister. — Navdeep Bains

• Trudeau says he has no plans to trigger an election as he shuffles key cabinet positions
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta MLA mired in travel scandal ousted from caucus for absenteeism
• B.C. premier seeking legal advice on feasibility of inter-provincial travel ban
• Ottawa chose not to exercise option to buy 16 million more doses of Moderna vaccine