Western Context

Trudeau wants a free media except with China, low turnout in BC’s referendum causes hypocrisy, and two unidentified Alberta NDP MLAs are accused of sexual misconduct. Also, a taxpayer funded government flight turns into Mardi Gras, but the media deflects.

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Duration: 45:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Attacks on the media are a threat to democracy, Trudeau says
• Elections B.C. says 18 per cent of electoral reform ballots returned, but changes how it counts them
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• Two NDP MLAs accused of sexual misconduct kept confidential to protect complainants: Premier
• Sajjan, Deputy Minister dig a deeper hole for themselves on $337,000 “party flight”
• Word of the Week: Misconduct

Chrystia Freeland takes a break from lying on the floor to negotiate metal tariffs, the NDP hypocritically believe Kenney is dropping his mask, and allegations surface of vote buying in Vancouver. Also, Jihadi Jack wants to return to Canada.

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Duration: 53:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• She’s way out of her league’: Steel exec slams Freeland’s handling of tariff fight
• UCP leader finally dropping the mask on his true beliefs, NDP minister says
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• Officials investigating alleged vote buying in Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby
• Jihadi Jack wants to live in Canada. Here’s what officials are doing for ISIS fighters in Syria
• Word of the Week: Jihadi

A 21 hour Parliament session protests the Atwal cover-up by the PMO, Alberta’s budget draws criticism for its rising debt, protests at Trans Mountain result in MPs’ arrests and work delays, and an important look at data-mining on social media.

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Duration: 49:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• I think we made our point’: Conservatives end their nearly 21-hour-long House of Commons voting marathon
• Alberta Budget 2018 met with mixed reaction
• B.C. MPs Elizabeth May, Kennedy Stewart arrested at Kinder Morgan facility
• Chris Wylie says he’ll testify in U.S., U.K. about Cambridge Analytica
• Word of the Week: filibuster

The Alberta NDP sets aside 1.4B of taxpayer money for industry to reduce emissions, we cover Dianne Watts and the BC Liberal leadership race, free trade and Trudeau’s failed trip to China, as well as callous remarks from the Minister of Disabilities.

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Duration: 46:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta sets aside $1.4 billion for industry to reduce carbon emissions
• Liberal leadership candidate Dianne Watts could have an uphill battle ahead
• Trudeau’s failed free trade trip to China
• Everyone … has a sob story’: Thalidomide survivors say they were belittled by disabilities minister>
• Word of the Week: Free trade

Terrorism comes to Edmonton. Also, electoral reform in BC, an AB NDP MLA leaves caucus, Jagmeet Singh wins the federal NDP race, Energy East is now dead, Ottawa spends too much on legal fees, and the BBC notes our Holocaust memorial’s Jewish omission.

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Duration: 1:04:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Edmonton Police Officers and Pedestrians Struck in Edmonton Terrorist Attack
• NDP announces B.C. referendum on proportional representation
• Karen McPherson Leaves NDP Caucus
• Jagmeet Singh wins NDP leadership race
• TransCanada terminates plan for Energy East pipeline
• Ottawa spent $110K in legal fees fighting First Nations girl over $6K dental procedure
• Canada forgets to mention Jewish people at Holocaust memorial
• Word of the Week: terrorism

A First Nations band in BC refused to evacuate, the Alberta Finance Minister isn’t concerned with an interest rate hike, a survey finds 71% of Canadians disagree with the Khadr settlement, and the media ignores NDP candidates extreme views on capitalism.

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Duration: 36:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘We’re not leaving’: Tempers flare between First Nation, RCMP amid wildfire evacuation order
• Interest rate hike not good for Alberta right now: Ceci
• Khadr’s Compensation: 71% of Canadians say government made wrong call by settling out of court
• NDP leadership candidates’ extremism ignored by Media Party
• Word of the Week: reconciliation

Plunging approval ratings for Premier Notley, and a surprising shift to the left in the BC Liberal’s throne speech. Meanwhile, there are questions of accountability in the Senate, and bad journalism leads to misplaced anger over the Syrian Refugee plan.

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Duration: 42:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Premier Rachel Notley tied for second as Canada’s least popular premier: Poll
• B.C. legislature hears Throne Speech / Clark’s left turn worries her party’s conservatives, could endanger Liberals free-enterprise coalition
• Tie vote defeats Senate motion to split infrastructure bank from budget bill
• Kellie Leitch criticized over tweet attacking Syrian refugee program
• Word of the Week: Accountable

Poor government planning led to a delayed response to the Fort McMurray wildfire, no one wants to be Speaker in BC, and a look at the UK election. Plus, how should media report terrorism at home after an attack in Toronto?

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Duration: 34:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poor co-ordination and communication hindered battle with Fort McMurray wildfire, says leaked report
• B.C. politics in ‘uncharted territory’ as legislature poised to tussle over Speaker appointment
• June 8th 2017 UK Election
• Toronto woman charged with assault at Scarborough mall
• Word of the Week: Speaker

Did the Trudeau government do its research on the Paris deal and a carbon tax? A so called “strong stable minority” in BC, Rachel Notley appeals to conservatives, and the media hit job on Andrew Scheer.

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Duration: 48:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trump dumps climate and Trudeau says we’ll always have Paris
• BC Greens strike deal to force end of Liberal era, support NDP government
• Rachel Notley makes appeal to conservatives turned off by potential merger between Wildrose and PCs
• The Hit Job on Andrew Scheer
• Word of the Week: Smear

The long Conservative leadership race is finally over with a surprise victor: Andrew Scheer! Also, reforming the social studies curriculum in Alberta, continued uncertainty in BC, and foreign campaigning and financing in the 2015 federal election.

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Duration: 45:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Andrew Scheer wins Conservative Party of Canada Leadership race
• New Social Studies curriculum pushes social change, not history
• BC Liberals denied majority as final election count leaves government in danger
• Andrew Weaver sought a $30,000 big money donation from a member of a Vancouver development company
• New report alleges outside influence in Canada’s 2015 federal election
• Word of the Week: Unity