Western Context

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

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• Ottawa to hike federal carbon tax to $170 a tonne by 2030
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

John Horgan suggests Alberta build refineries to help BC, while Trudeau killing the TMP expansion is a possibility, and food and alcohol on federal government flights costs millions. Also, Trudeau is making our Supreme Court more partisan in his favour.

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Duration: 44:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Horgan suggests Alberta could build new refineries to serve B.C.
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• Killing TransMountain Pipeline expansion could be Trudeau’s path to victory
• Trudeau rang up $384K in food, liquor on only FIVE flights
• PMO vets potential judges with private Liberal database
• Word of the Week: Gouging

The Alberta NDP engages in identity politics, the Trudeau government gives $12M to Loblaws to save the environment, and Trudeau believes there are consequences for lying to Canadians. Also, the media blows up a story on the Winnipeg Jets street parties.

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Duration: 41:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP Edmonton Southwest candidate apologizes for controversial comment on race
• Loblaw receiving $12M in federal funds to retrofit refrigeration systems
• Trudeau threatens Scheer with lawsuit over SNC-Lavalin comments
• Winnipeg Jets’ Whiteout street parties need name change, says black organization
• Word of the Week: Identity Politics

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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