Western Context

BC’s economic future looks unstable, Alberta experiences record population growth, and Justin Trudeau isn’t giving his cabinet ministers mandate letters. Also, a post by Pierre Poilievre about First Nations gets misrepresented by the Liberals and media.

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“I speak for myself as an aboriginal, I’m not a people of pain, we want businesses, we want to own homes, we want to get ahead with our own independence, we don’t want government handouts.” – Elder Manitok Thompson on a positive future for Indigenous People in Canada.

Duration: 52:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. finance report flags deep economic downturn in 2024
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• Alberta’s population is booming, but that comes with challenges for some communities
• Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, two months after majority shuffled
• Pierre Poilievre called out for Truth and Reconciliation Day photos with Inuk elder
• Word of the Week: Truth

Vandalized statues prompt a call for change from premiers, Erin O’Toole opens up about his favourable views, and CERB funnels $22b to the rich. Also, Trudeau defends the wasteful spending of the reclusive and abrasive Governor General Julie Payette.

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Duration: 57:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Protesters in Montreal topple John A. Macdonald statue, demand police defunding
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• Erin O’Toole: As prime minister, I will stand up to China
• Up to $22 billion in COVID aid may have gone to high-income Canadians
• Trudeau calls Payette ‘excellent’ governor general, says no plans to replace her
• Word of the Week: Wasteful

Morneau is replaced by Freeland as Finance Minister amidst financial crisis and the WE scandal, Trudeau unveils CERB changes before he shutters Parliament, and old growth forests are under threat in BC. Also, the Conservatives pick new leader Erin O’Toole.

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Duration: 57:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Freeland replaces Morneau as Trudeau’s finance minister
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• Liberals unveil $37B for CERB transition to new benefits, EI changes
• Activists continue blockade of logging road on Vancouver Island to protect giant cedar
• CPC Leadership Race Results
• Word of the Week: Chaos

The media issues a trigger warning for the Canadian flag, Edmonton City Council wants to defund the police, and Horgan raises a panic in BC over the Alaska border exemption. Also, a Canadian renounces her Canadian citizenship under torture in China.

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Duration: 43:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian newspaper issues trigger warning over printing Canadian flag for Canada Day
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• Edmonton police face $11M budget cut amid calls to defund police
• Go straight home’: B.C. premier concerned Americans abusing border exemption
• Canadian sentenced to eight years in jail by China, renounces citizenship
• Word of the Week: Patriotism

A Dart poll shows overwhelming blame for Trudeau’s government, Alberta’s budget shows a return to competitiveness, and the BC Liberals blame foreign money for the blockades. Also, the Teck Frontier Mine is cancelled while Trudeau is nowhere to be found.

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Duration: 48:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada is broken,’ say majority of Canadians in poll taken in wake of rail blockades
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• Alberta Speech from the throne: February 25, 2020
• Fair Deal Survey
• BC Liberals say US donations to anti-pipeline groups should be condemned
• The $20B Frontier mine shelved amid escalating rail blockades, CEO says Canada must reconcile climate and oil
• Word of the Week: Trojan Horse

Trudeau’s fall fiscal update shows deeper deficits than expected, the terrorist in the 2017 Edmonton van attack gets 28 years, and a BC retirement home sale to China raises major issues. Also, the media covers Trudeau’s mandate letters, but misses key parts.

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Duration: 45:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Begins 2nd Term Much Deeper in the Red Than Expected
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• Man who tried to kill Edmonton police officer sentenced to 28 years
• Third China-owned senior care facility in B.C. placed under government management amid concerns over health, safety of residents
• 5 takeaways from Trudeau’s ‘mandate letters’ to his cabinet
• Word of Week: Mandate

The Liberals quietly cut military health spending, non Canadian citizens end up on the voting list, and a visible cell phone induces distracted driving tickets from police. Also, the CBC sue the Conservatives over copyright, inviting partisan criticisms.

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Duration: 1:02:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Federal government cuts reimbursements for military health care, hospitals on the hook for millions
• Many people who are not Canadian citizens are on voter list
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• Cup holder strikes again: 2nd B.C. driver slapped with distracted driving ticket
• CBC Sues the Conservative Party of Canada for Copyright Infringement Citing Campaign Video, Posting Debate Excerpts on Twitter
• Word of the Week: Honour system

Returning ISIS fighters spark rule of law worries, the Alberta election campaign begins with talk of a referendum, and Victoria mayor Lisa Helps hires the NDP finance minister’s daughter. Also, Trudeau loses a confidence vote but the speaker covers it up.

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Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• All of Canada under threat for Liberals’ refusal to uphold law concerning returning ISIL fighters
• Alberta campaign officially begins and UCP promises referendum on equalization if no pipelines
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• Victoria mayor hires daughter of finance minister as chief of staff
• House of Commons voting marathon ends, after Liberals nearly lost a confidence motion
• Word of the Week: Mainstream

The BQ fractures under poor leadership leaving questions for 2019, Stephen Mandel’s Alberta Party win shifts the party to former PC control, China’s government takes over BC seniors care, and we cover why Trudeau’s budget is not as good as it seems.

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Duration: 47:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Bloc Québécois fractures as seven of 10 MPs quit over Ouellet’s leadership
• Stephen Mandel wins [PC] Alberta Party Leadership
• How the Chinese Government Took Control of BC Seniors’ Homes
• Federal Budget 2018
• Word of the Week: deficit

The Alberta auditor general’s report is missed by the media, BC’s tax and spend budget is praised while ignoring the economy, and faulty logic argues against political party unity. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s India trip is plagued with numerous problems.

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Duration: 49:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• More oversight a general theme of Auditor General report on government
• BC NDP ignores elites and tables budget for those who need help
• Divide and conquer? In Canadian politics, it seems maybe not
• Convicted attempted murderer invited to reception with Trudeau in India
• Word of the Week: conservative