Western Context

Government plans have stalled Lytton’s rebuild, the Trudeau Liberals refuse to lift the gas tax, and the Chinese state maybe interfered in the 2021 election. Also, the RCMP commissioner tried to compromise the 2020 Nova Scotia shooting investigation.

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“To rebuild to all these standards, it just didn’t fit with our community. We keep hearing that Lytton is going to be rebuilt as a model community. We don’t want to hear that anymore. We just want to go home.” – Lytton resident Denise O’Connor on the lack of progress 1 year after the Lytton wildfire.

Duration: 1:01:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Long road home: Frustration in Lytton one year after devastating fire
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• Gas tax break ‘would be irresponsible’ now, federal minister says, as Liberals focus on other priorities
• China may have tried to discourage Canadians from voting Conservative
• RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki tried to ‘jeopardize’ mass murder investigation to advance Trudeau’s gun control efforts
• Word of the Week: Frustration

Canada bans Huawei and ZTE from 5G networks, BC will spend $800m to replace the Royal BC Museum, and Jason Kenney will resign after a new UCP leader is chosen. Also, the media and Pierre Poilievre go to war.

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“There’s a small yet spirited minority of grassroot conservatives who’ve come to define their politics in solely oppositional terms. It derives from a position of perceived weakness in modern society. They see mainstream institutions (including corporations, universities, and the media) succumbing to an assertive form of progressivism and feel increasingly embattled in a culture that at times can be quite hostile to their ideas and values.” – The Hub, Editor-at-Large Sean Speer.

Duration: 1:08:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei, ZTE from 5G networks
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• B.C. to spend $789 million to replace Royal BC Museum
• A lament for conservatism
• The danger Pierre Poilievre’s corrosive campaign poses to Canada
• Word of the Week: Dog-Whistle

David Lametti relied on fake news to invoke the Emergencies Act, a BC committee agrees to replace the RCMP, and the Winnipeg lab scandal documents are redacted. Also, the RCMP decided not to charge Trudeau with fraud because he is the Prime Minister.

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“It is unclear whether Mr. Trudeau can be prosecuted under section 121(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, since the section has a provision which allows officials to accept benefits from individuals with government dealings, provided the official has the written consent of the head of their branch of government. An investigation and prosecution under this section may not be in the public interest if it cannot be definitely determined whether or not Mr. Trudeau can simply provide consent to himself.” RCMP Corporal Michael Kiperchuk, in a briefing note to his superiors on the conclusion of his investigation into Prime Minister Trudeau’s alleged fraud during the Aga Khan scandal.

Duration: 1:06:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ministers provide few details to committee probing Liberals’ use of Emergencies Act
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• B.C. should ditch RCMP and form its own police force, committee says
• Bloc warns Liberals against ‘creating parallel Parliament with its own rules’ on Winnipeg lab documents
• RCMP considered whether to charge Justin Trudeau over Aga Khan trip, documents show
• Word of the Week: Rule of Law

A Canadian lithium company is being bought by China, Edmonton city council struggles with transit designs, and a Victoria biologist just wants us to think about the birds. Also, millions are required to renovate 24 Sussex Drive.

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“I could probably make a passable hat using my socks but I’d much rather wear a hat.” – Liberal MP Andy Fillmore on Neo Lithium mining lithium carbonate, not lithium hydroxide, and why it’s ok for a Chinese state-owned company to buy out Neo Lithium.

Duration: 54:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservative party leader O’Toole calls for security review of Chinese takeover of Neo Lithium
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• Edmonton working to address bus network redesign concerns
• New 11-storey building in downtown Victoria could harm birds, biologist says
• The problem with Justin Trudeau’s house: Canadian taxpayers have spent millions on PM’s lodgings, while official residence sits in dire straits
• Word of the Week: Security

BC has completely missed the boat on public rapid tests, Brian Jean wins a UCP nomination contest in Fort McMurray, and Trudeau continues to ignore the economy and inflation. Also, we discuss foreign interference in Canada’s elections.

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“The response from the provincial government and the public health teams with respect to rapid antigen tests does not make a lot of sense and it also seems that the answers shift in terms of why we’re not using them. It is not very consistent.” Dr. Victor Leung, an infectious diseases physician and medical microbiologist in the Lower Mainland, on the BC government’s stance on rapid COVID tests.

Duration: 59:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How B.C. missed the boat on rapid testing
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• Brian Jean claims victory in race to represent UCP in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection
• The federal Liberals’ lack of concern about the economy is bound to catch up with them
• Conservatives believe 13 ridings were targeted by foreign interference in 2021 election
• Word of the Week: Rapid

Alberta rejects permanent summer time and equalization, Margaret Trudeau speaks at an event by a company lobbying the government, and Saskatchewan approves of Regeneron to treat COVID. Also, we look at just how money laundering affects BC real estate.

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“A clear majority of Albertans have sent a powerful, democratic message: They want a fair deal in the federation. These results have given Alberta’s government a powerful mandate to secure changes to equalization and other federal transfers that have treated Albertans unfairly for so long. Our message is clear: Ottawa must respect Alberta and the huge role we play in Canada’s economic prosperity.” — Premier Jason Kenney reacting to the results of Alberta’s Equalization Referendum.

Duration: 54:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta barely rejects permanent daylight time; majority supports ending equalization
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• Prime minister’s mother spoke at event hosted by organization that received federal funding for jobs program
• Saskatchewan approves use of monoclonal antibodies to treat high-risk COVID-19 patients
• Man making $40k/year bought $32m in Vancouver real estate via CCP-linked offshore accounts
• Word of the Week: Laundering

Alberta shows us that referendums are not just symbolic, Huawei sponsors a Chinese cultural event in BC, and we look at municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary. Also, inflation on groceries and natural gas is here to stay.

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“A lot of people in finance are learning that the most important word in the English language is ‘transitory,’…How confident are you that [this inflation] really is transitory, because if you took a poll of smart people in finance … you’d probably get 50% saying it probably is and 50% saying it probably isn’t.” – U.S. Council on Foreign Relations member Roger Altman, to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

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

• Why should Saskatchewan pay to heat swimming pools in Quebec?
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• Huawei-sponsored event draws flag-waving B.C. politicians
• Farkas drops bomb, now Calgary mayor’s race is a dogfight
• Natural gas price hikes will fuel inflation and hit low-income Canadians the hardest
• Word of the Week: Transitory

The BC Supreme Court lifts the injunction on Fairy Creek protestors, the Two Michaels return to Canada, and the BC government misleads us on hospital stats. Also, Trudeau spends the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at the beach in Tofino.

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“So now Justin is saying he made a few calls on his way to the beach. Can you imagine any Prime Minister sending out a tweet to explain that he spent Remembrance Day at the beach but called some veterans on his way? This wasn’t meant to be a day off Justin.” – NDP MP Charlie Angus on Justin Trudeau’s trip to the beach.

Duration: 1:02:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Judge ends injunction against Fairy Creek protests, citing ‘substantial infringement of civil liberties’
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• Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China
• Mixed message on COVID-19 patients a blow to credibility of John Horgan’s government
• Trudeau spends 1st Truth and Reconciliation Day in Tofino on vacation, contradicting itinerary
• Word of the Week: Reconciliation

Alberta implements a ‘restriction exemption program’, the BC government isn’t overseeing the safety of 1900 dams in the province, and General Vance can’t face justice because he’s too highly ranked. Also, China’s influence in our elections continues.

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“Why is it that our only national Level 4 lab does not work through proper security protocols and actively monitor what was going on there, given the consequences of going astray? The fact that we have failed to properly vet scientists who go in there is mind-boggling.” – Retired lieutenant-general Michael Day on the lack of PHAC security measures in place at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.

Duration: 1:09:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Restriction Exemption Program and Restrictions
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• B.C. isn’t effectively overseeing safety of dams, auditor general finds
• Vance will not face military service charges; source cites his four-star rank
• Chinese PLA general collaborated with fired scientist at Canada’s top infectious disease lab
• Word of the Week: Audit

Maryam Monsef refers to the Taliban as ‘our brothers’, A Chinese shipyard is building Canadian ships, and BC institutes a vaccine passport and mandatory masks. Also, Twitter labels a Chrystia Freeland tweet of O’Toole as being ‘manipulated media’.

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Duration: 53:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“I want to take this opportunity to speak with our brothers, the Taliban. We call on you to ensure the safe and secure passage of any individual in Afghanistan out of the country. We call on you to immediately stop the violence, the genocide, the femicide, the destruction of infrastructure, including heritage buildings” – Liberal Minister of Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef on the crisis in Afghanistan.

• Maryam Monsef called the Taliban ‘brothers.’ Here’s what you need to know
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• Chinese state-owned shipbuilder tapped to supply ferry for Crown corporation as Canadians remain jailed
• B.C. becomes second province to require proof of vaccination, starting Sept. 13
• Twitter adds ‘manipulated’ warning label to tweet from Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland
• Word of the Week: Brother