Western Context

CTV amplifies leader polls about Poilievre, Hatley Castle could be transferred to First Nations control, and a Calgary student protest reveals dozens noncompliant with visas. Also, a Liberal MP resigns due to health issues despite travelling to China.

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“This is only the beginning. There will be nothing left of B.C. by the time the NDP are finished with their plan to give away land that rightfully belongs to the people of British Columbia.” – BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay on the proposed BC government land transfers to First Nations.

Duration: 53:27
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservative MPs worried about losing their seats privately question Poilievre’s leadership, ability to defeat PM Carney
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• B.C.’s Hatley Castle, parcels of downtown Victoria among lands earmarked for transfer to First Nations
• 12 international students at Calgary protest referred to CBSA office after status check
• Liberal MP Shaun Chen says he’s resigning over ‘significant’ health issues
• Word of the Week: masquerade

BC Hydro buys a natural gas power plant, flags are becoming divisive in Alberta, and Carney looks to appoint a business person to head the Beijing embassy. Also, Canada restores some health coverage to refugees.

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“You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn’t matter. Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn’t keep the lights on. It’s a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-wide ban on natural gas under CleanBC.” – Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy for the BC Conservatives, on BC’s reversal on natural gas plants.

Duration: 1:06:31
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. Hydro to buy gas-fired power generation facility in Campbell River
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• Alberta, Canada flags creating division ahead of referendum
• Carney looks to influential outsiders to head Canada’s embassy in Beijing
• Carney government restores some health coverage it had cut for refugees
• Word of the Week: Tribalism

Press Progress lays off staff amid a defamation lawsuit, Jagmeet Singh is considered for a cushy tourism CEO job, and an arrested Canadian NATO intern is accused of spying for China. Also, BC Premier David Eby manufactures opposition to his own LNG policy.

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“For months, I have listened to safety concerns from people in my community. I raised those issues with government at every opportunity. I am disappointed with FortisBC’s decision, as I know many of those I represent will be. My position on this project has remained unchanged since before being elected to the legislature. As the representative for Richmond-Steveston, I will never stop lifting the voices of my constituents and never stop fighting for a better future.” – BC NDP MLA and Cabinet Minister Kelly Greene on her opposition to her own government’s decision.

Duration: 1:00:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Press Progress lays off staff amid financial fallout from Caylan Ford defamation lawsuit
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• Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh being considered for Destination Canada’s top job
• Arrested Canadian NATO intern suspected of spying for China
• Province bypasses Utilities Commission on key certificate for Tilbury LNG project
• Word of the Week: Manufactured

Louise Arbour will be Canada’s new governor general, Chinese officials wanted to stop Vancouver’s Shen Yun performances, and Alberta’s electors list sees a data breach. Also, US Indigenous tribes are using BC’s DRIPA legislation to halt resource projects.

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“I have never seen anything like this… over six terms of governments, working for the provincial government. I have never seen this level of ineptitude and incompetence.” – Geoffrey Moyse former legal counsel in the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General’s Office, on Premier Eby’s troubles with DRIPA.

Duration: 1:14:17
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM Carney names Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general
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• Chinese consulate met Vancouver official in bid to stop event critical of communist rule
• Elections Alberta alerted to improper use of voters’ information in late March, journalist says
• U.S. tribes demand a say in key B.C. economic decisions
• Word of the Week: Pejorative

Carney avoids talking about forced labour in China, the Alberta government wants to remove politics from education, and a Vancouver Canucks reporter gets barred from the arena due to an unflattering article. Also, Avi Lewis is elected NDP leader.

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“He looks like a hero, because he took me on as a critic of the motherland. He is supporting the motherland and that makes him look very good and makes me look terrible … I think he thought it would be well-received by the Chinese embassy, which it was.” – Margaret McCuaig-Johnston on being grilled by Liberal MP Michael Ma.

Duration: 1:05:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney avoids describing China’s treatment of Uyghurs as genocide
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• Alberta government says new bill intended to remove politics, ideology from schools
• Canucks’ decision to revoke credential of reporter alarms colleagues
• Who is Avi Lewis, the new leader of the NDP?
• Word of the Week: Selective

The CBC leaves out important information on the Toronto protests, Calgary sees infrastructure problems with its water pipes, and BC ends its failed decriminalization pilot. Also, Mark Carney makes a deal with China on canola and EVs.

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“The world has changed much since that last visit. I believe that the progress we have made and the partnership sets us up for the new world order” – Prime Minister Mark Carney on the need for a relationship with China.

Duration: 1:11:52
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 8 arrests, 29 charges laid at downtown demonstrations
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• Duckworth worried about mental health at city hall when pipeline report came down
• B.C. officially ends decriminalization pilot project after concerns about public drug use
• Canada, China reach initial trade deal on electric vehicles, canola
• Word of the Week: Realpolitik

David Eby backtracks on indigenous reconciliation, Alberta’s job creation lowers unemployment, and the CRA spends $18M on a chatbot that doesn’t work. Also, another floor crossing shows the importance of foreign interference coverage.

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“Without regard to party lines—to safeguard the democratic election system we cherish and respect. Even if existing laws permit party-switching, the world is watching—especially countries that, under authoritarian rule, are denied democratic elections. They are observing whether Canada still has the resolve to defend democracy.” – Joe Tay, former Conservative candidate for Don Valley North on foreign interference and floor crossings.

Duration: 1:10:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Eby plans $150 million in loan guarantees for Cowichan land owners
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• Three month job-creation spree drives significant plunge in Alberta unemployment rate
• The CRA spent $18M on ‘Charlie,’ a new tax information chatbot that is wrong most of the time
• Ex-Conservative MP Michael Ma crosses floor to join Carney Liberals
• Word of the Week: must

Mark Carney threatens an election if his budget doesn’t pass, Alberta uses the notwithstanding clause to end the teacher’s strike, and David Eby continues to force his reconciliation policies through. Also, Carney thaws Canada’s relationship with China.

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“Distance is not the way to solve problems, not the way to serve our people.” – Prime Minister Mark Carney on rebooting the relationship with China.

Duration: 1:08:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal House leader ‘starting to worry’ about support for upcoming budget
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• Alberta uses Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to work
• B.C. premier prepared to call early election if bill for North Coast Transmission Line voted down
• Canada’s Carney to visit Xi in China, marking ‘turning point’ in relations
• Word of the Week: Negotiable

Conservatives say the justice system favours non citizens, China increases tariffs on canola, and the Alberta Next panels see increased media bias. Also, a court decision gives Aboriginal title to a large section of Richmond BC to a Vancouver Island band.

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“We respect the court’s role in our justice system, but given the significant legal issues raised in the recent decision in Cowichan Tribes v. AG Canada et al., we believe it must be reconsidered on appeal. This ruling could have significant unintended consequences for fee simple private property rights in B.C. that must be reconsidered by a higher court.” – Attorney General Niki Sharma on the recent court decision granting Aboriginal Title part of Vancouver to a Vancouver Island based First Nation.

Duration: 1:11:58
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Conservatives say the justice system favours non-citizens. Experts disagree
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• Sask. premier calls for ‘immediate action’ from Ottawa to address massive Chinese canola tariffs
• Tensions high at town hall as Alberta Next Panel faces polarized crowd in Edmonton
• Indigenous group wins land claim over riverbank in metro Vancouver
• Word of the Week: Claim

Another report details repressive foreign interference in Canada, an Alberta farmer is arrested for overselling eggs, and the Conservatives release their 100 day platform. Also Mark Carney changes his story on Trump’s phone call.

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“This morning, my dad Henk Van Essen was arrested because of chickens and because of eggs. More specifically, he was arrested because the Egg Farmers of Alberta don’t like that he can sell inspected eggs to people without paying millions into their quota system.” – Lyndsay van Essen on her father’s arrest after he sold eggs.

Duration: 1:02:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Federal officials report ‘repression’ operation targeting Conservative candidate
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• Small-scale Alberta egg farmer arrested for selling eggs outside quota system
• Poilievre lays out plan for first 100 days of a Conservative government
• Carney says Trump raised ’51st state’ during their call but ‘the president says a lot of things’
• Word of the Week: Tradecraft