Western Context

The Liberals introduce a hate speech bill that won’t pass, take the House Speaker to court over incriminating documents, and use taxpayer money to fund their re-election. Also, the death of Canadian bilingualism foreshadows the next election.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 50:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The Speaker’s Office will defend the rights of the House. That is something I take very seriously. The legal system does not have any jurisdiction over the operations of the House. We are our own jurisdiction. That is something we will fight tooth and nail to protect and we will continue to do that.” – House Speaker Anthony Rota on being taken to court by the Government of Canada

• Liberals to introduce new hate speech bill, possibly bringing back controversial Section 13
• Support us on Patreon
• Liberals take House Speaker to court to block release of unredacted records
• Liberal MPs’ budgets pay same firms that help run party’s digital campaigns
• Under Justin Trudeau, official bilingualism as we know it is over
• Word of the Week: Parliamentary Supremacy

Surprising topics arise during the Alberta NDP convention, Victoria council cancels Canada Day celebrations, and a third of Green MPs cross the floor to the Liberals. Also, Trudeau faces a complicated relationship with both the US and China.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 51:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Is Canada prepared to stand up for the Australians who are subject to hostage diplomacy as we expect the Australians to stand up for our Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor? Are we prepared to actually engage in programming which will displease the Chinese government in concert with our allies? Or do we want to leave this to other powers and hope that if Canada stands relatively neutral, that we will be able to protect our market position in China?” – Former Canadian diplomat Charles Burton on dealing with the Chinese government.

• Notley announces plans to move Alberta’s electricity grid to net-zero by 2035 if elected
• Support us on Patreon
• Victoria votes to cancel virtual Canada Day broadcast, will produce reflection event later in summer
• Green MP Jenica Atwin crossing the floor to join the Liberals
• Biden says he wants to ‘confront’ China. Is Trudeau willing to go along?
• Word of the Week: Equity

BC and Alberta outline their re-opening strategies, Alberta orders universities to cut ties with China, and the CRTC deals a crushing blow to internet affordability. Also, Trudeau is on board with Biden’s search for the pandemic origin.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 54:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Are we supposed to lock ourselves into permanent fear and lock ourselves down because of potential worst case scenarios?” Jason Kenney on people who want perpetual lockdowns.

• Open for Summer
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta orders major universities to suspend pursuit of new partnerships with China
• CRTC scraps plan to mandate lower wholesale internet rates
• Trudeau backs Biden effort to identify origin of COVID-19
• Word of the Week: Oligopoly

Alberta brings recall legislation and citizen initiatives, BC’s vaccine schedule moves up with focus on essential workers, and Rogers attempts to buy Shaw for $26b. Also, the Two Michaels receive court dates while Canada gives money to pro-China groups.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 55:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s kind of shocking. They have freedom to express their opinion, whether they support the talking points of the Communist Party or not. The problem is they cannot do that with my tax money. Why should I support with my tax dollars their propaganda?” – Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project

• Alberta government tables legislation that would allow voters to recall elected MLAs plus citizen initiative act
• Support us on Patreon
• Vaccinated people will get flexibility to do more in B.C., premier says
• Rogers’ $16 Billion Bid for Shaw Jolts Canada Wireless Sector
• Michael Spavor’s trial in China ends without a verdict
• Word of the Week: Essential

BC’s vaccine rollout has some setbacks on Day 1, while Alberta looks to mobilize its own vaccine industry, and the situation of the 2 Michaels becomes more dire. Also, it turns out that the federal government knew about the Vance allegations back in 2018.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 43:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. minister blasts Telus performance on 90-plus vaccine appointments
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta asking for proposals to build its own vaccine manufacturing industry
• Feds ‘not aware’ of court date for 2 Michaels as Chinese paper warns they’ll face trial ‘soon’
• Privy Council Office was warned to ‘put some things in writing’ after 2018 Vance complaint
• Word of the Week: Mobilization

A supposed reformed terrorist is granted day parole, Alberta might become a have-not province, and the Trudeau government is covering up which companies are receiving billions in pandemic aid. Also, Trudeau invites Chinese troops to train at Canadian bases.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:00:21
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Toronto 18 bomb plotter granted parole after apologizing, insisting he is reformed
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta likely to be a ‘have-not’ province soon and that’s bad for Canada
• Trudeau government won’t say who got billions of dollars in aid
• Trudeau invited Chinese troops to train at Canadian military bases
• Word of the Week: secrecy

The Chinese government’s influence is growing in Canada, Freeland won’t release any spending numbers, and governments threaten us with unnecessary lockdowns. Also, a Toronto Liberal MP resigns after hiring her sister with public funds in conflict of interest.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS warns China’s Operation Fox Hunt is targeting Canada’s Chinese community
• Support us on Patreon
• Freeland grilled over cost of pandemic aid as Commons fast-tracks rent relief bill
• Alberta physicians call for ‘sharp’ two-week lockdown to curb spread of COVID-19
• Toronto MP resigns from Liberal caucus after employing sister at constituency office
• Word of the Week: Error

The Liberals threaten to call an election to keep their skeletons hidden, the UCP AGM shows the importance of grassroots democracy, and the China-funded Confucius Institute is defended by universities. Also, Trudeau overpaid $100M for ventilators.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 44:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Liberals threaten election to keep things hidden
• Support us on Patreon
• Two-tier health care system policy resolution gets lukewarm response at UCP AGM
• Universities, school boards across Canada defend ties with China’s Confucius Institute
• Trudeau government overpaid $100 MILLION for ventilators, gifted contract to former Liberal MP
• Word of the Week: Shell corporation

Doctors don’t advocate lockdowns yet some provinces do, the media turns the BC election debate into a race debate, and the Trudeau Liberals continue to censor the WE scandal. Also, a BC murder mystery and secret Chinese boot camps raises questions.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 56:04
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The Great Barrington Declaration
• Support us on Patreon
• Beyond ‘I Don’t See Colour.’ The Value of What John Horgan Is Learning
• Libs filibuster two House committees despite opposition’s efforts to reopen WE Charity probe
• How a military-style boot camp on Salt Spring is related to a Surrey murder mystery
• Word of the Week: Intrusion

Vandalized statues prompt a call for change from premiers, Erin O’Toole opens up about his favourable views, and CERB funnels $22b to the rich. Also, Trudeau defends the wasteful spending of the reclusive and abrasive Governor General Julie Payette.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 57:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Protesters in Montreal topple John A. Macdonald statue, demand police defunding
• Support us on Patreon
• Erin O’Toole: As prime minister, I will stand up to China
• Up to $22 billion in COVID aid may have gone to high-income Canadians
• Trudeau calls Payette ‘excellent’ governor general, says no plans to replace her
• Word of the Week: Wasteful