Western Context

BC’s referendum is complete as 61.3% vote to stick with FPTP, the federal government loans $1.6B to Alberta’s oil sector, and we look at Trudeau’s foreign policy failures. Also, pure fake news on the Chamber of Commerce’s support for the carbon tax.

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Duration: 43:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No change: B.C. voters back first-past-the-post system in electoral reform referendum
• Alberta critical of Ottawa’s $1.6B package for ailing energy sector
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• Out in the cold: Canada’s year in foreign policy
• Statement on Carbon Pricing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Word of the Week: Reform

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

The BC electoral reform debate shows that Horgan wants people to be woke and lit, an Edmonton councillor recommends halting LRT plans, the federal government wastes millions on cars for the G7 summit, and we exercise caution on the validity of polls.

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Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Are you ‘woke’ enough to make sense of John Horgan’s ‘lit’ quip?
• Edmonton Coun. Tim Cartmell calls for halt on west LRT amid funding concerns
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• Federal government spent $23M on 631 new cars for G7 summit. Now, it’s trying to sell most of them off
• Explainer: Polls
• Word of the Week: Regression

StatsCan is attempting to gain our financial info without our consent, the BC electoral referendum kicks off with lingering confusion, and the Alberta NDP try to flip the page on PAC funding. Also, Trudeau tries to brand his carbon tax as anything but.

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Duration: 59:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• EXCLUSIVE: Stats Canada requesting banking information of 500,000 Canadians without their knowledge
• Proportional Representation referendum kicks off as questions about Canada Post strike, partisan ads linger
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• NDP files complaint against UCP, Jason Kenney and third-party advertiser
• How the Liberals hope to escape the ‘Green Shift’ curse in 2019
• Word of the Week: Privacy

The BC Government sets the questions for the electoral referendum, The Ontario PCs win a majority, and BQ leader Martine Ouellet resigns causing uncertainty in Quebec. Also, a lack of information on the military’s supposed shortfall of sleeping bags.

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Duration: 45:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. cabinet confirms format of electoral reform referendum
• We have taken back Ontario’: Doug Ford leads PCs to majority government
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• Embattled Bloc Québécois leader Martine Ouellet resigns
• Soldiers ordered to return sleeping bags, rucksacks due to ‘shortfall of equipment’
• Word of the Week: Majority

Stephen Mandel is running for Alberta Party leadership, unlikely allies want to keep BC’s current political system, and many middle class Canadians are actually paying more in taxes. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s town halls allow the CBC to change the narrative.

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Duration: 44:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Stephen Mandel confirms he’s running to be Alberta Party leader
• ‘It’s a bad system’: unlikely political allies fight proportional representation
• GUNTER: So much for Trudeau’s pledge – middle-class families now pay more taxes
• Trudeau’s town halls offer a master class in changing the narrative
• Word of the Week: Narrative