Western Context

Tumbler Ridge, BC experiences tragedy, the University of Alberta moves to remove DEI policies, and the Supreme Court overturns Elections Canada’s result in Terrebonne. Also, Canada is on track to miss every climate target possible.

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“I’d like to take this opportunity to ask British Columbians, to ask all Canadians, to wrap the people of Tumbler Ridge, wrap these families with love—not just tonight but tomorrow and into the future. This is something that will reverberate for years to come.” – BC Premier David Eby on the Tumbler Ridge shooting tragedy

Duration: 1:01:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Unity must come before politics in wake of Tumbler Ridge shooting
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• U of A staff, students speak out against move to axe EDI from hiring policy
• Supreme Court nullifies Liberal single-vote election win in Montreal-area riding
• Canada not on track to hit net-zero by 2050, or meet any climate targets: study
• Word of the Week: Unity

King Charles reads the throne speech, the federal recounts are finally done, and Alberta is ensuring age appropriate material in school libraries. Also, BC’s drug crisis is getting even worse.

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“Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.” – King Charles III on the need for Canada’s government to defend freedom.

Duration: 55:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada
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• Judge rejected ballots marked in rectangular box containing candidates’ name in N.L. recount: report
• Ensuring age-appropriate books in school libraries
• How fentanyl transformed Victoria’s Pandora Avenue from downtown hub to open-air drug market
• Word of the Week: Values

We discuss Mark Carney’s cabinet picks, controversies, and regional representation. We also look at BC’s faltering union negotiations and Canada’s silent removal of US tariffs. Also, the one vote difference in Terrebonne could have lasting impacts.

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“These numbers are real. This is not a short-term financial crisis. We have a systemic deficit that we have to adjust. If we don’t adjust, it will go on in perpetuity.” – BC’s Deputy Finance Minister Douglas Scott on the province’s debt ballooning to over $100 billion.

Duration: 56:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney’s Cabinet Controversies
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• Contract talks stalled as B.C. pleads poverty with its main union
• Canada’s new tariffs on U.S. drop to ‘nearly zero’ with exemptions
• Liberals won Terrebonne, Que., riding by 1 vote — but this woman’s Bloc ballot wasn’t counted
• Word of the Week: Perpetuity

The federal NDP are asking for official party status, the Alberta UCP are navigating an independence movement, and the BC NDP’s fast tracking legislation hits some hurdles. Also Parkland Fuels may be bought by an American company.

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“Right now, we don’t actually have very many tools to reach in and take greater responsibility for moving projects along when something goes wrong. Let’s make sure we understand what we’re referring to when we talk about permitting processes. Although each of them is very well meaning, they end up kind of being spaghetti.” – BC Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma on reducing regulation by giving more power to the cabinet.

Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals putting out ‘feelers’ for NDP MPs to cross floor: Davies
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• Smith repeats demands, creates ‘Alberta Next’ panel ahead of likely independence vote in 2026
• Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet
• Proposed US$9-billion acquisition of Parkland to go to shareholder vote in June
• Word of the Week: Clarity

We discuss the federal election results including the NDP’s woes, Conservative’s gains and Carney’s eventual win. We look at how the results matter for BC and Alberta, and also Niagara Falls’ unchecked immigration problems.

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“As we come here after this consequential election, let’s put an end to the division and anger of the past. We are all Canadian, and my government will work for and with everyone. I began with humility, but Canadians are ambitious. And now more than ever, it is a time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming positive force of a united Canada, because we are going to build. Build baby build.” – Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney on his government’s plan for Canada.

Duration: 1:03:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Election 2025: Overview
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• B.C. Premier sees room for bigger role in Ottawa despite federal NDP election losses
• Premier Danielle Smith calls on PM Mark Carney to ‘reset’ Ottawa-Alberta relationship
• Niagara Falls ‘at breaking point’ after surge in migrants
• Word of the Week: Realignment

Another report details repressive foreign interference in Canada, an Alberta farmer is arrested for overselling eggs, and the Conservatives release their 100 day platform. Also Mark Carney changes his story on Trump’s phone call.

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“This morning, my dad Henk Van Essen was arrested because of chickens and because of eggs. More specifically, he was arrested because the Egg Farmers of Alberta don’t like that he can sell inspected eggs to people without paying millions into their quota system.” – Lyndsay van Essen on her father’s arrest after he sold eggs.

Duration: 1:02:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Federal officials report ‘repression’ operation targeting Conservative candidate
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• Small-scale Alberta egg farmer arrested for selling eggs outside quota system
• Poilievre lays out plan for first 100 days of a Conservative government
• Carney says Trump raised ’51st state’ during their call but ‘the president says a lot of things’
• Word of the Week: Tradecraft

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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