Western Context

A Liberal candidate invited Chinese influence into the campaign, Carney’s platform puts Canada further into debt, and a new Alberta addictions plan looks at involuntary treatment. Also, Liberal staffers spread disinformation buttons.

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“Despite their public claims, it’s clear that it’s the Liberals who are attempting to bring American-style politics to our country. One wonders what other dirty tricks the Liberals are behind as they desperately seek to distract from their disastrous record while seeking a fourth Liberal term.” – Conservative Party of Canada spokesperson Sam Lilly on Liberal operatives leaving inflammatory material in a conservative conference.

Duration: 1:06:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal candidate invited head of suspected secret Chinese police station to campaign event
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• Liberal platform promises $130B in new measures over 4 years, adding $225B to federal debt
• New Alberta addiction model will see some users ordered into treatment
• Liberal operatives planted ‘stop the steal’ buttons at conservative conference
• Word of the Week: Harm

Mark Carney makes a confusing statement about Israel and Hamas, the US is going to hike softwood lumber duties again, and Alberta wants to change healthcare to an activity-based model. Also, the Liberals’ ties to China are growing more concerning.

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“The PRC is trying to assist Carney. If you think that somehow this influencing campaign stays confined to one community—it doesn’t. The point is to mold opinions, have them spread, and be shared with others. It also doesn’t mean [Carney] is complicit in it. But it does signal [the WeChat posts are] meant to influence and help his campaign. You don’t run positive stuff about a candidate that you want to lose.” – Dennis Molinaro, a former Canadian national security analyst, suggesting that Beijing’s information campaign could spread beyond the Chinese diaspora.

Duration: 1:04:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rebukes Mark Carney over Gaza comment at rally
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• U.S. set to significantly hike softwood lumber duties against Canada
• Alberta revamping health-care grants to ‘activity-based’ hospital funding system
• Beijing Intelligence Operation Promotes PM Carney’s Strength Against U.S. to Sway Chinese Canadian Voters, Election Monitor Says
• Word of the Week: Sway

We talk about the reliability of polls, Mark Carney pledges $150M to the CBC, and the Liberals refuse to repeal Bill C-69. Also, BC’s carbon tax is reluctantly scrapped by the NDP at the last minute.

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“I support the policy. I thought it was a good policy. I fought for the policy. Without a doubt, the policy became absolutely toxic with British Columbians, [who] don’t support it; they don’t want it. We listen to the people.” – BC NDP Premier David Eby on reluctantly scrapping BC’s carbon tax.

Duration: 1:02:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Polls in the 2025 Election
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• Carney pledges $150M boost to ‘underfunded’ CBC
• Carney says he will not repeal Liberals’ anti-pipeline Bill C-69
• Word of the Week: Toxic

We talk about the rise of precarity in Canada, Edmonton’s mayor Amarjeet Sohi is running for the federal Liberals, and David Eby partially backs down from his undemocratic bill. Also, we look at the relationship between Mark Carney’s assets and China.

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“This is a fundamental brutal assault on our constitution, on our way of governing ourselves and it is not warranted by anything I can imagine. It just boggles the mind. I can’t imagine any circumstances under which any government in a democracy should be given these powers in a blank cheque.” – Former BC NDP Premier Ujjal Dosanjh’s remarks on current BC NDP premier David Eby’s undemocratic Bill 7.

Duration: 1:09:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How an emerging precarity mindset is impacting public opinion and the Canadian election
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• Mayor Sohi makes it official, taking leave to run for the federal Liberals in Edmonton Southeast
• David Eby walks back key portion of proposed B.C. tariff response legislation following backlash
• Carney’s green funds at Brookfield used Bermuda tax haven to attract investors
• Word of the Week: Precarity