Western Context

Half of small businesses can’t repay their CEBA loans, Danielle Smith negotiates climate targets with the federal government, and the amount paid by BC renters has reached a crisis level. Also, we see just how much McKinsey has affected the opioid crisis.

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“There is near panic on the part of close to half of Canada’s small businesses about the looming deadline that is approaching for CEBA loans. About 43 per cent of small businesses are telling us they just don’t have the money to repay their CEBA loans and they’re gonna have to take some pretty drastic action if they are required to repay them by the end of this year.” – Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, on the looming deadline for small businesses to repay their pandemic CEBA loans.

Duration: 55:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Government’s $50-billion loan program coming due, but many businesses can’t pay
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• Smith unyielding on federal targets for climate, energy sector
• Crisis level’ of B.C. renters spending more than half their income on rent and utilities
• McKinsey pitched Purdue Pharma Canada on plan to boost opioid sales in 2014, memo reveals
• Word of the Week: Due

Irving is hiring foreign workers to build warships, Alberta media tries to change the topic from energy to climate change, and the BC repeat offender expert panel advocates for stronger mental health support. Also, ArriveCAN is no more.

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“We have had government and industry officials repeatedly telling our committee about all the great jobs this program will create for Canadians. I find it very disappointing that after the tens of billions of dollars thrown to Irving for shipbuilding that they are not reaching across our country to recruit workers.” – Conservative MP Kelly McCauley on Irving Shipbuilding hiring foreign workers to build Canadian warships.

Duration: 55:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Irving shipyard recruiting foreign workers to build new warship fleet despite vow of more jobs for Canadians
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• Oil trumps climate change in UCP leadership race to determine Alberta’s next premier
• Experts recommend big boosts to mental health supports to deal with repeat offenders in B.C.
• Blocked at the border no more: Good riddance to the ArriveCAN app
• Word of the Week: Precarious

The cost of Coastal Gaslink rises to $11.2B, Travis Toews highlights economic policy in the UCP leadership race, and a climate activist group deflates SUV tires in Victoria. Also, Toronto and Montreal airports are named the worst in the world for delays.

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“Toronto’s Pearson Airport is a special circle of hell. The worst airport experience ever.” – A random air traveller from Florida, on our Canadian airport effectiveness.

Duration: 48:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Cost of Coastal GasLink pipeline leaps 70% to $11.2B as TC Energy settles dispute
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• Toews touts ‘targeted’ tariffs to defend Alberta as UCP candidates take aim at Ottawa
• Climate activists deflate tires of dozens of SUVs in Greater Victoria
• Toronto’s Pearson airport has a PR problem: It’s known as the worst airport in the world
• Word of the Week: Deflate

Wet’suwet’en blockades at the BC Legislature and the Vancouver Port along with CN and Via Rail shutting down paralyzes our infrastructure and economy. Also, Jason Kenney calls for an Albertan green shift, and Trudeau is abroad campaigning for the UN.

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Duration: 54:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘My thoughts on that individual are not printable:’ Horgan responds after Victoria councillor Ben Isitt accuses VicPD of campaign against protesters
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• In public shift, Kenney says Alberta has to go green over time
• Via Rail cancels most trains nationwide, CN closes Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue
• Trudeau to take UN Security Council pitch to Caribbean next week
• Word of the Week: Blockade

The premiers meeting showcases provincial unity, a provincial plan for new nuclear technology is ignored by the media, and Trudeau’s throne speech says a lot and nothing at all. Also, we detail Trudeau’s delinquent behaviour at the NATO summit.

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Duration: 57:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• With national unity under stress, premiers back a budget fix to help oil-rich provinces
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• Group of premiers band together to develop nuclear reactor technology
• A Throne Speech that intentionally left much unsaid
• What are you at?’ Trump presses Trudeau over NATO defence spending
• Word of the Week: Delinquent

The Liberal spending plan will add $94b to the debt, BC not enacting permanent DST is being blamed on Donald Trump while a BC cabinet minister is under RCMP investigation, and the Alberta NDP wants to fund endless post-secondary bureaucracy. Also, Trudeau uses double the campaign planes.

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Duration: 49:59
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals to boost spending and extend deficits while taxing luxury goods and Internet giants
• Blame the United States’: B.C. to stick with seasonal time changes until 2020
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• Alberta NDP call on UCP government to reverse any potential funding cuts to post-secondary
• Conservatives call Trudeau a ‘hypocrite’ for boasting of environmental creds while flying 2 campaign planes
• Word of the Week: Offset

While declaring a climate emergency, Trudeau reapproves Trans Mountain, at the same time as enforcing legislation attacking Alberta’s energy sector. Also Andrew Scheer unveils his climate plan, and Parliament finishes for the summer.

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Duration: 51:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau cabinet approves Trans Mountain expansion project
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• Kenney says bills C-48, C-69 ‘prejudicial attack on Alberta’; bring referendum on equalization closer
• Scheer’s climate plan puts focus on ‘tech not taxes’ with $2.5B in pledges
• House of Commons session recap + total bills passed by Trudeau since 2015 vs. Harper
• Word of the Week: Emergency

Did the Trudeau government do its research on the Paris deal and a carbon tax? A so called “strong stable minority” in BC, Rachel Notley appeals to conservatives, and the media hit job on Andrew Scheer.

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Duration: 48:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trump dumps climate and Trudeau says we’ll always have Paris
• BC Greens strike deal to force end of Liberal era, support NDP government
• Rachel Notley makes appeal to conservatives turned off by potential merger between Wildrose and PCs
• The Hit Job on Andrew Scheer
• Word of the Week: Smear

Canada is growing but not in the regions one would normally expect. Alberta is diverting more money towards climate education, Christy Clark makes a mountain and then apologizes. And spotty media coverage of a refugee assault in Edmonton.

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Duration: 37:03

• Census shows Conservatives still hold sway in Canada’s fastest growing regions
• Alberta sets aside $600,000 to fund climate change education programs
• Christy Clark apologizes to NDP for hacking claims
• Man charged after ‘multiple sexual assaults’ at West Edmonton Mall waterpark
• Word of the Week: Hack

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