Western Context

BC forecasts a huge deficit while renegotiating union contracts, Jasper’s rebuild runs into federal red tape, and the RCMP buys unusable Chinese drones for the border. Also, Mark Carney’s climate history may show us his future plans.

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“The core will be to electrify everything and simultaneously develop green electricity. Achieving net zero will require moving away from fossil fuels to renewables, decarbonizing transport and reducing emissions from industrial processes. Meaningful carbon prices are a cornerstone of any effective policy framework. To meet the 1.5 C target, more than 80 per cent of current fossil fuel reserves (including three-quarters of coal, half of gas, one-third of oil) would need to stay in the ground, stranding these assets.” – Mark Carney’s book “Values” on carbon pricing.

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. to negotiate public sector contracts for 400,000 workers in 2025 amid fiscal issues
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• We’re going to lose Jasper’: Town pleads with Steven Guilbeault to fast-track recovery
• Canada bought Chinese drones that are unusable at the border
• Mark Carney says he’s started at the top ‘many’ times before as he runs to become prime minister
• Word of the Week: Top

Canada proposes a new border plan, a BC lawsuit highlights the problems with assisted death, and Alberta delivers a new Green line plan for Calgary’s LRT. Also, Chrystia Freeland resigns from cabinet before the economic statement showed a $61.9B deficit.

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“On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the cabinet. To be effective, a Minister must speak on behalf of the Prime Minister and with his full confidence. In making your decision, you made clear that I no longer credibly enjoy that confidence and possess the authority that comes with it. For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.” – Chrystia Freeland, on resigning from Trudeau’s cabinet.

Duration: 1:00:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada proposes joint police force with US to tackle Trump’s border concerns
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• B.C. family alleging wrongful death after man euthanized while on day pass from psychiatric ward
• Province delivers new Green Line plan for Calgary
• Feds deliver fall economic statement with $61.9B deficit for 2023-24, amid political turmoil
• Word of the Week: Turmoil

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

The Trudeau Liberals give Canadians a 2 month GST holiday, Alberta is looking at a different auto insurance approach, and BC Ferries is looking to raise fares by 30%. Also, Trump tariffs cause chaos in the Canadian media.

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“President Trump has the right to put his workers and his nation’s security first. I will put Canada’s workers and Canada’s security first. We need a Prime Minister with the brains and backbone to stand up for this country.” – Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on a Canada First plan.

Duration: 1:05:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals to cut GST on beer, children’s toys and Christmas trees
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• Rate hikes, no-fault claims in new rules pitched for Alberta auto insurance
• BC Ferries warns of potential 30% fare hike as costs rise
• Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat?
• Word of the Week: Vibecession

The RCMP investigates UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway, planted artifacts delay a BC natural gas pipeline, and a government memo reveals the failure of the Safe Third Country agreement. Also, Omar Khadr hides his money in an Edmonton strip mall.

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Duration: 43:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• RCMP following up on questions regarding campaign of UCP leadership candidate
• Report says artifacts found near Coastal Gas Link Pipeline ‘not their original location’
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• Safe Third Country Agreement ‘no longer working as intended,’ memo reveals
• Amid ongoing court battles, Omar Khadr uses $3M of his settlement money to buy Edmonton mall
• Word of the Week: Fraud

Uncertainty in New Brunswick after an election results in a minority, Grande Cache, Alberta votes to dissolve the town, and the federal government can’t do basic math on illegal migrant numbers. Also, we might be coming to an end on the NAFTA debacle.

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Duration: 52:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• New Brunswick Election: Liberals intend to form government despite projected Tory minority
• Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town
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• Minister Bill Blair apologizes for confusion over Canadian asylum seekers facing deportation
• Trump claims he rejected a meeting with Trudeau over NAFTA — but Canada says it never asked to meet
• Word of the Week: Winning