Western Context

Alberta looks at airport to downtown train corridors, the BC Conservatives elect Kerry-Lynne Findlay as their new leader, and Alberta rolls out a new surgery funding model for hospitals. Also, Carney addresses antisemitism with a new advisory council.

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“In our national anthem, we cry out to God to make our land glorious and free. Faith, family and freedom. That’s what it’s all about. God bless British Columbia and God bless all of you.” – new BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay after winning leadership.

Duration: 1:05:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta eyes downtown-to-airport trains as first key project of passenger rail plan
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• For new B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, it’s about ‘faith, family and freedom’
• Alberta partially rolls out new surgery funding model for public hospitals
• Carney admits antisemitism ‘crisis,’ but won’t do much about it
• Word of the Week: Social Conservatism

Liberal MPs are unhappy with Carney’s environmental policies, the CRTC is forcing streamers to pay even more tax, and the BC Conservative leadership race concludes soon to little fanfare. Also, Danielle Smith will bring her own referendum to Albertans.

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“I wish to speak with those of you who already agree with me that Alberta should remain in Canada. Let us guard against the trap of using division and demonization tactics against our fellow Albertans with whom we disagree on this matter. The vast majority of those advocating for separation love our province profoundly. Many are also proud Canadians that have simply lost hope that their families can flourish within Canada. So instead of attacking these loyal Albertans, let’s work together to restore hope in their country again.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on what those looking to remain in Canada need to do.

Duration: 1:02:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 14 Liberal MPs pen letter to Carney raising concerns over environmental backslide
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• CRTC to require online streamers to pay 15% of annual revenues to support Canadian content
• Secrecy, allegations cloud B.C. Conservative leadership race ahead of vote
• Danielle Smith says she will put her own separation-related referendum question to Albertans in October
• Word of the Week: nuance

John Rustad eventually resigns as BC Conservative Leader, the UCP AGM reaffirms Danielle Smith’s opposition to federal overreach, and Canada steps into the EU tent on defence. Also, a Canadian company sells military APCs to ICE.

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“I was not prepared to go forward and have that civil war. In terms of what my future is going to be, I know my wife is very much looking forward to me being home, I’m sure my bird will be happy.” – Now former BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on his resignation as leader.

Duration: 1:02:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• John Rustad resigns as leader of B.C. Conservative Party, Trevor Halford takes on interim role
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• Alberta unveils plan to resist enforcement of Ottawa’s firearm buyback program
• Europe says Canada must pay 10M euros to join EU defence deal
• ICE ordering fleet of 20 armoured vehicles from Brampton, Ont., firm
• Word of the Week: Incapacitated

Elenore Sturko is booted from the BC Conservatives, natural gas prices dip into the negative, and the gun buyback program starts in Cape Breton. Also, Carney overrides his own conditions to recognize the state of Palestine.

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“I’m going to say, in my opinion, the reason why I’m fired is that John Rustad’s on shaky ground inside his caucus, and that he needs the support right now [from] social conservatives within the caucus in order for him to hang on to the reins of power. Getting rid of me, it was one way to appease some of the people within the group.” – Former BC Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko on her ousting by leader John Rustad.

Duration: 1:06:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No chains’: Elenore Sturko speaks out after ousting from B.C. Conservative caucus
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• Canadian natural gas producers cut output amid record low price
• Gun buyback pilot to launch in Cape Breton, with plans to expand nationwide
• Canada, Britain and Australia recognize state of Palestine
• Word of the Week: Panacea

A potential rift in the BC Conservatives is overblown by the media, The UCP want to strengthen power generation, and 30,000 people are unaccounted for by CBSA. Also, Alberta makes plans to secure the border.

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“All members of the caucus have the right to say things, and the right to be able to bring forward issues, and I look forward to the discussions. We don’t whip our people to say what they want to say. I look at it from the perspective (that) the NDP would be whipping everybody. They would make sure that they all say the same thing.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on the importance of diverse opinions in a party caucus.

Duration: 56:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC Conservatives present united front after messy caucus dispute goes public
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• Alberta’s government wants reliable electrical system, proposes market changes to get there
• CBSA lost track of nearly 30,000 people wanted for deportation orders
• A plan to secure Alberta’s southern border
• Word of the Week: Retaliatory

Kevin Falcon suspends BC United’s election campaign, Trudeau appoints more partisan Liberals to the Senate, and Liberal staffers pull support from the byelection campaigns. Also, Trudeau announces a reduction in temporary foreign workers.

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“I don’t know what metaphor to use here, whether it’s a bandwagon or whether it’s a snowball rolling downhill or what it is, but he jumped on it. John’s got a very successful, emerging, boisterous brand – the Conservative brand – without having to really do anything.” – Former BC Liberal cabinet minister Bill Bennett on the groundswell of support for the BC Conservatives.

Duration: 1:02:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Kevin Falcon to fold BC United Party, suspend campaign
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• Albertans Kristopher Wells and Daryl Fridhandler appointed to Senate
• Liberal staffers pull support for party in Montreal byelection, citing government’s stance on Gaza
• Trudeau announces reduction in temporary foreign workers, suggests more immigration changes to come
• Word of the Week: Moribund

Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs, an unknown group funds BC attack ads, and Bill C-59 reduces advertising transparency from companies. Also, Trudeau racks up a $223k catering bill on the Indo-Pacific trip.

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“It might be tough to connect with the middle class while chowing down on lamb shanks served on fine China and billing taxpayers for it. You shouldn’t need a focus group to recommend telling the prime minister to turn down the baked cheesecake with pistachio brittle when Canadians are lining up around the block at the foodbank.” – Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Franco Terrazzano on Trudeau’s $220k catering bill for the Indo-Pacific trip.

Duration: 59:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs: ‘We risk Ontario and Canadian jobs’
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• Here’s what we know about the ‘secretive’ group targeting B.C. NDP rivals with attack ads
• Pathways Alliance oilsands group removes content from website and social media, citing Bill C-59
• Airplane food cost more than $220K on Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific trip
• Word of the Week: Style

Parks Canada is spending $12M to eradicate deer on a BC island, the Trudeau Liberals want to relax citizenship guidelines, and the BC United and BC Conservatives won’t be making a deal. Also, the CPP has wasted billions of dollars through poor investing.

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“During phase one of the deer cull, snipers were taken around the island in a helicopter while firing on the deer below. The expert marksmen from the U.S. and New Zealand only managed to kill 84 deer, 18 of which were the wrong species of deer. Parks Canada shouldn’t be flying in foreign snipers to shoot deer from a helicopter. And if these ‘marksmen’ were really so elite, why did they keep shooting the wrong kind of deer?” – Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation on the Sidney Island deer eradication operation costing $12M.

Duration: 50:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Sidney Island deer cull will cost taxpayers $12M, CTF says
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• Government bill will allow Canadians to pass citizenship rights to kids born abroad
• No merger: BC Conservatives rejected non-competition deal, BC United says
• Eighteen years and $46-billion later, the CPP admits it could have earned more just by buying index funds
• Word of the Week: Behemoth

Speaker Greg Fergus’ impartiality is put to question, COP28 highlights the opposition to Canada’s new emissions cap, and the BC NDP finish 2023 with a divided opposition. Also, the mainstream media completely ignores the foreign interference inquiry.

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“Why would you rule out anything in politics? A week can be a long time in politics. Certainly, if the United Party were to reach out and want to have a discussion about how we could bring things together, I think it’s possible. With the [BC] Conservative party, we will not compromise on our principles. We’ll not compromise on the values that we are running on. We’re willing to sit down and have a conversation. I’ve never said we wouldn’t. The challenge would be, of course, they have a very different view in terms of how the world works compared to us.” – BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on possibly working with BC United’s Kevin Falcon to defeat the NDP.

Duration: 59:35
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Speaker’s impartiality questioned again over comments made in Washington
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• Albertans will not tolerate it’: Alberta reacts to new federal oil and gas emissions cap
• Political shift underway in B.C., says confident Tory Leader John Rustad
• MP Han Dong, federal Conservatives, NDP to take part in foreign interference inquiry
• Word of the Week: Hamper

Context regarding Jason Kenney and GSA’s in Alberta. Big money hits BC politics and the BC Conservatives face NDP infiltrators. Plus, how high of a carbon tax would be necessary to reach environmental targets?

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Duration: 36:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Jason Kenney slammed for comments about gay-straight alliances
• Socialist takeover continues: NDP ties of two BC Conservative candidates raises questions
• On ‘big money’ politics, John Horgan’s not so subtle himself
• Secret briefing says up to $300-per-tonne federal carbon tax by 2050 required to meet climate targets
• Word of the Week: Quorum