Western Context

The immigration ministry lets fraud go uninvestigated, the Pathways carbon capture project is being protested, and the BC NDP fail their own targets on approving mineral claims. Also, a tragic Air Canada crash gets pivoted to bilingualism by the Liberals.

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“We proudly live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages.” – Mark Carney on the Air Canada CEO’s inability to speak French.

Duration: 59:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Only a fraction of 153,000 flagged international students were investigated
• Support us on Patreon
• Coalition of First Nations, rural landowners demands review of proposed Pathways carbon capture project
• B.C. NDP misses own target for processing mineral claims
• Air Canada CEO summoned to Ottawa over English-only condolence message after plane crash
• Word of the Week: Bilingualism

The Air Canada strike has been resolved, Pierre Poilievre is easily elected in rural Alberta, and a popular BC provincial park is closed to non-First Nations for a month. Also, Mark Carney drops retaliatory tariffs on the US.

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“You drop the gloves in the first period — when you’re late in the game, dropping the gloves and taking the extra penalty might not be the best thing to do.” – Mark Carney’s hockey metaphor on the recent trade developments with the US.

Duration: 1:04:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Air Canada operations remain suspended amid federal government intervention
• Support us on Patreon
• Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, securing return to House of Commons
• First Nations say 1-month closure of Joffre Lakes Park not long enough
• Canada to drop many retaliatory tariffs in olive branch to Trump
• Word of the Week: Penalty

Air Canada will now charge for carry-on bags, Alberta is scaling back photo radar, and the police no longer support decriminalization in BC. Also, former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz says we may be in an actual recession.

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“It’s not transparent until you’ve gotten a certain depth into the booking: ‘Oh, here’s the seat selection fee. Oh, here’s the baggage fee. Oh, here’s the carry-on fee.’ And watch out if you don’t check in online, there’s a massive penalty if you don’t. It’s kind of drip, drip, drip, drip. And it works. It’s a troublesome trend.” – Richard Vanderlubbe, founder of Hamilton, Ont.-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca, on Air Canada’s new carry-on charges.

Duration: 54:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Transport minister to summon airline CEOs as Air Canada set to charge carry-on fees for some passengers
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta announces end of photo radar ‘cash cow’ in province: ‘This is a historic day’
• Police support crumbles for B.C.’s decriminalization experiment
• We’re in a recession,’ says former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz
• Word of the Week: Fare