Western Context

More Canadians are skeptical of the carbon tax’s effectiveness, Alberta and Ottawa have different timelines on net zero, and federal ministers pay lip service to housing woes. Also, the judicial system is becoming more political.

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“If people are asking us to slash, what does that mean? Does that mean slashing the skilled workers that we need to actually build those houses? Slash family reunification, which can be devastating for the mental health and well-being of the families that are already here?” Immigration Minister Marc Miller, responding to questions of reducing immigration to ease housing concerns.

Duration: 52:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadians skeptical about carbon taxes
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• No way to start a conversation’: Alberta fires back as Ottawa mulls tying funding to meeting 2035 net-zero grid deadline
• A little bit of help’: Chrystia Freeland touts home savings account as part of housing crisis solution
• Exclusive data analysis reveals Liberals appoint judges who are party donors
• Word of the Week: Politicization

The UCP responds to an increase in crime, BC Chinese organizations report to the Chinese consulate, and Canada’s low defence spending benchmark is criticized by NATO. Also, Steven Guilbeault admits the carbon tax will take money from the average Canadian.

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“When both fiscal and economic impacts of the federal fuel charge are considered, we estimate that most households will see a net loss. Based on our analysis, most households will pay more in fuel charges and GST—as well as receiving slightly lower incomes—than they will receive in Climate Action Incentive payments.” – Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux on the Liberal carbon tax plan costing Canadians.

Duration: 53:30
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• In Calgary and Edmonton, Smith deep-sixes Defund the Police
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• Potential leaders of influential B.C. groups undergo Chinese ‘political review,’ recording reveals
• NATO is getting ready to twist Canada’s arm on defence spending
• Liberal MP asks for second look at carbon tax report that shows Canadians will come out behind
• Word of the Week:

The Conservatives unveil their climate plan, the Liberal convention shows how far they have shifted, and BC’s throne speech stays the course. Also, the international media tears into Trudeau’s vaccine rollout and coins the term “Tru-Anons”.

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Duration: 56:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s really important we work from facts.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on CNN Jake Tapper’s story criticizing the Canadian government’s vaccine rollout.

• Conservative Climate Plan – Secure the Environment
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• ‘How disconnected do you have to be?’ Trudeau rallies Liberal convention with stinging attacks on Conservatives
• From affordability to vaccinations, here are the priorities outlined in the 2021 B.C. throne speech
• Canada’s vaccine shortage: Covid-19 cases per capita pass U.S. rate as doctors plead for more vaccines
• Word of the Week: Tax

A doctor finds that Canada’s care home response is the worst in the world, BC imposes new taxes on a struggling populace, and Alberta introduces an updated modern education curriculum. Also, John Horgan blames young people for the rise of the 3rd wave.

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Duration: 1:03:03
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Education, job loss, our mental health — we’re seeing that it’s young people putting themselves at risk every day to keep our province working. But we’re still getting the blame at the end of the day and being told not to ‘blow it for the rest of us. I think it’s important the Premier apologize, not just because it’s not backed up by data, but because young people have given so, so much.” – UBC New Democrats President Justin Kulik on BC Premier John Horgan’s comments blaming 20-39s for the virus spike.

• Canada’s nursing homes have worst record for COVID-19 deaths among wealthy nations: report
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• B.C. tax increases: From Netflix to gas, here’s what will cost you more on April 1
• New K-6 curriculum gets top grades from educational experts
• Is it young people who need to focus on individual responsibility in B.C.’s pandemic, or is it John Horgan?
• Word of the Week: Wave

CP Rail looks to create a transcontinental rail route, the Supreme Court rules the federal carbon tax to be constitutional, and the auditor general blasts Trudeau’s infrastructure plans. Also, the media calls Conservatives climate deniers.

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Duration: 57:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“We’ve now fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax because voters did not think we were serious about addressing climate change. And I will not allow 338 candidates to defend against the lie from the Liberals that we are a party of climate change deniers. We will have a plan to address climate change.” – Conservative Party of Canada Leader, Erin O’Toole

• CP Rail to buy Kansas City Southern to create first rail network connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico
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• Kenney and Moe slam federal carbon tax after Supreme Court rules it’s constitutional
• Delays plague ‘inconsistent and incomplete’ $188B infrastructure program: auditor general
• I’m in charge’: O’Toole brushes off Conservative grassroots vote on climate change
• Word of the Week: Dissent

Trudeau quadruples the carbon tax to $170 per tonne by 2030, invests in hydrogen and nuclear energy, while the Alberta government links K-2 music education to history. Also, concerns over appropriation with the Canucks logo can be put to rest.

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Duration: 1:05:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

via Twitter

• Ottawa to hike federal carbon tax to $170 a tonne by 2030
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• Canada unveils hydrogen strategy to kick-start clean fuel industry
• Songs suggested for early grades by Alberta curriculum advisers have racist roots, teachers say
• Retire the orca’, says Indigenous historian who calls Vancouver Canucks logo cultural appropriation
• Word of the Week: Appropriation

China receives a pass from the Canadian media, the BC government takes over the supply chain, and the federal carbon tax will still go up on April 1st, which is no joke. Also, Trudeau’s power grab to spend whatever he wants is thwarted by the opposition.

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Duration: 44:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Criticism of the Chinese government’s handling of coronavirus is not racism
• B.C. assumes power to take over supply chains amid COVID-19
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• Trudeau refuses to say if planned carbon tax increase still a go amid coronavirus
• COVID-19 bill would give Liberals power to raise taxes without parliamentary approval until end of 2021
• Word of the Week: Power grab

We have a look at post-election polls to explain why voters chose what they did, Trudeau endorses the Quebec immigrant values test, and Alberta reduces pollution through a new UCP program. Also, Peter MacKay leads the media astray with hockey analogies.

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Duration: 52:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poll suggests plenty of Canadians voted strategically to stop a party from winning
• Quebec to impose values test for new immigrants
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• New Alberta industrial carbon tax sets different standards for different emitters
• MacKay compares Scheer election loss to missing an open net on a breakaway
• Word of the Week: Values

BC energy moves forward while prices increase, silence on Bill C-69 shows government apathy for Alberta, Trudeau is committing to billions in spending but not to debates, and a re-elected Trudeau government will double the carbon tax.

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Duration: 46:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Hydro rates on upward swing despite NDP’s best efforts
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• Alberta ministers slam Bill C-69 proclamation, vow legal challenge
• Liberals Undecided If Trudeau Will Be In 1st Leaders’ Debate
• McKenna backs off pledge to freeze carbon tax at $50 a tonne
• Word of the Week: Debate

Canada’s premiers build unity against the carbon tax, Victoria’s plastic bag ban gets thrown in the trash, and Trudeau nominates an anti-pipeline candidate. Also, former Liberal minister John McCallum invites Chinese interference in our elections.

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Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau visits Alberta pipeline site, says national unity is not under threat
• Victoria’s plastic bag ban quashed by B.C. court
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• Trudeau says anti-pipeline candidate helps him hear ‘range of views’ — an absurd argument
• Beijing should avoid ‘punishing’ Canada over Huawei case, cautions Ottawa’s ex-ambassador to China
• Word of the Week: Interference