Western Context

The federal by-elections deal another loss to Trudeau’s Liberals, the BC election campaign officially starts, and Alberta is investing in new schools. Also, involuntary care becomes David Eby’s newest policy reversal.

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“Now, after our party clearly outlined a plan to bring compassion and accountability to addiction treatment, Eby is suddenly pretending to be on board. People of all ages are being abandoned to their addictions, left to suffer and die while this government hands out drug supplies instead of real help.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on David Eby’s reversal on involuntary care.

Duration: 57:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Another Blow to Trudeau: Liberals Lose a Long-Held Seat
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• John Rustad lays out plan if elected as B.C.’s next leader
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces $8.6B in school builds
• B.C. to open ‘highly secure’ involuntary care facilities
• Word of the Week: Involuntary

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

The Conservatives win a by-election in Toronto, Naheed Nenshi is crowned Alberta NDP leader, and William Shatner swears a lot in an attack ad on fish farms. Also, Harjit Sajjan played politics with the Afghanistan evacuation.

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“Sadly, this response from people like Mr. Shatner and Mr. Reynolds is all-to-common in today’s Canada. This is a classic example of … rich, elite, removed, urban white men overriding the wishes of vulnerable Indigenous communities.” – the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship’s statement on Pacific Wild’s attack ad on open net fish farms.

Duration: 50:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul’s in shock byelection result
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• Nenshi crowned new Alberta NDP leader
• B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds
• Sajjan instructed special forces to rescue Afghan Sikhs during fall of Kabul
• Word of the Week: Upset

A couple by-elections show the challenges for BC United’s rebranding, Google is set to remove Canadian news links in search, and BC’s children’s minister faces calls to resign. Also, a senate report shows the underfunded Arctic region’s importance.

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“Canada’s armed forces are highly skilled and fiercely dedicated, but they remain below complement, under-resourced and stretched to the limit.” – Senator Tony Dean on the state of Canada’s military.

Duration: 1:00:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• What does BC United’s poor byelection showing mean for the party?
• Support us on Patreon
• Google set to remove news links in Canada
• First Nations in B.C. call on minister to resign over horrific child abuse case
• Lack of resources hurting Canada’s Arctic defence, says senate report
• Word of the Week: Incomprehensible

The Green Party wins a federal by-election, the Alberta media tries to drive a wedge on abortion, and we find out that money laundering is way worse than we thought. Also, the Mark Norman case reaches an end with implications for the Trudeau government.

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Duration: 44:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Green Party wins federal byelection in Nanaimo-Ladysmith
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• UCP MLA-elect attends anti-abortion rally to ‘support my friends’
• $5 billion laundered through B.C. real estate, inflating home prices: report
• Federal government expected to withdraw breach of trust charge against Mark Norman
• Word of the Week: Green politics

Albertans feel the economy is worse than it is, a poll on the Nanaimo by-election is wrong by 22%, and the federal government overpaid for the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, we talk about the evolution of fake news on social media.

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Duration: 45:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians think economy is worse than it really is: study
• BC Liberals have 13-point lead ahead Nanaimo byelection: Mainstreet Research poll
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• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says
• Fury over Google listing Khadr as a ‘Canadian soldier’
• Word of the Week: Psychology

A BC Liberal candidate is subject to a witch-hunt ahead of a crucial by-election, bullying concerns stop a consultation for a proposed park in Alberta, and a First Nation blockades a natural gas pipeline. Also, the media tries to tell us right from wrong.

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Duration: 47:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. byelection candidate called out for once wearing a Trump hat
• After vague allegations of bullying, province cancels Bighorn meetings
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• The Wet’suwet’en and B.C.’s gas-pipeline battle: A guide to the story so far
• Trudeau responds to fears about immigration, refugees
• Word of the Week: Belief

Unnecessary expenses incurred by Trudeau’s India trip raises questions, BC’s deadline to fish farms could push companies out of Canada, Alberta GSA legislation mishandles parental choice, and a Conservative by-election win receives little coverage.

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Duration: 43:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau India trip included $17K for celebrity chef, $3.6K for hockey jerseys
• B.C. government sets new 2022 deadline for coastal fish farms
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• “Climate of secrecy:” Schools, parents dispute Alberta gay-straight alliance law
• Conservatives steal riding from Trudeau Liberals in first byelection test of Scheer’s Quebec strategy
• Word of the Week: By-election

BC Liberals oppose the rural attack of the NDP’s electoral reform, third party foreign PACs could impact the next Alberta election, the media speculates on the Lac St. Jean by-election, and the American perception of NAFTA and their threat to pull out.

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Duration: 44:05
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal leadership hopefuls united in fighting electoral changes
• Chief electoral officer warns of dangers of third party activities in next Alberta election
• By-election upset victory fuels Liberal hopes in Quebec
• Napping on NAFTA’: Harper blasts Trudeau government for its handling of negotiations
• Word of the week: PAC

Canada has strong economic growth; why are there still deficits? Tolls on BC bridges are eliminated shifting costs to taxpayers, a meme from Jason Kenney causes overblown coverage, and the Feds are spending money in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of a by-election.

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Duration: 36:48
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s economy blows away forecasts with 4.5% growth — its strongest start to year since 2002
• Eliminating tolls might be a bridge too far for B.C. taxpayers
• ‘Sexist’ meme tweet by Jason Kenney draws criticism, spokesperson calls outrage ‘contrived’
• Liberals to fund high-speed Internet in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of key by-election
• Word of the Week: Meme