Western Context

The Federal Court overturns the single use plastics ban, Trudeau and Eby’s battery plant announcement may cost more than expected, and Alberta calls for a balance between health and rights. Also, Iranian agents are operating in Canada with impunity.

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“We have about 700 names right now that either have temporary residence, permanent residence or citizenship that are in Canada and that are somehow regime affiliates. We are still counting. So it’s going to be closer to 1,000. They have impunity … to operate in Canada, engaging in financial and violent crimes. They will not be prosecuted. That’s just a fact.” – Immigration Lawyer Ramin Joubin on potential people in Canada linked to the Iran Islamic theocratic regime.

Duration: 1:02:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The Federal Court just overturned Ottawa’s single-use plastic ban
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• Real cost of EV battery plant subsidies $5 billion higher than government estimates: PBO
• Alberta COVID-19 report calls for ‘better balance’ between health and rights during future emergencies
• ‘Far worse than you can imagine’: How Iran’s regime has ‘spread its tentacles’ in Canada
• Word of the Week: Impunity

The Trudeau government contracts with McKinsey until 2100, Freeland tries to maintain competitiveness with the US, and millions were spent on unused quarantine hotels. Also, a Chinese aircraft drifting over North America shows gaps in our defences.

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“Government waste is always a problem, but waste of this magnitude when deficit spending needs to be reined in due to inflationary pressures shows that Trudeau doesn’t have the capacity or willingness to get things under control.” – Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner on Trudeau’s wasteful pandemic spending.

Duration: 54:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The federal government has signed an open contract until the year 2100 with McKinsey for computer services
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• Freeland to call for joint federal-provincial effort to counter Biden’s tax credits
• New hotel expense makes Trudeau’s $6000 night in London seem like little potatoes
• US fighter jets shoot down Chinese spy balloon off East Coast
• Word of the Week: Airship

Danielle Smith takes a trip to the recent past, Canada finally replaces the army’s WW2-era sidearms, and Saskatchewan asserts its economic autonomy. Also, MPs visit Taiwan while China continues to infiltrate Canadian society.

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“Russia and China are not just looking at regime survival but regime expansion. They consider themselves to be at war with the West. They strive to destroy the social cohesion of liberal democracies and the credibility of our own institutions to ensure our model of government is seen as a failure.” – Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre on the dangers of 21st century geopolitics.

Duration: 59:52
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Pandemic politics ended Jason Kenney’s leadership. Will it also take out Danielle Smith?
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• Canada inks deal to replace army’s Second World War-era sidearms
• Federal Policies Could Cost Saskatchewan $111 Billion By 2035
• Delegation of Canadian MPs visits Taiwan in move that incenses China
• Word of the Week: Friendship

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

Trudeau engages in photo-ops across Europe, Albertan oil becomes an elixir of freedom, and BC lifts its mandates while a convoy heads to Victoria. Also, Jean Charest and Patrick Brown enter the Conservative leadership race.

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Duration: 58:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian parliament asked to approve Zelenskyy address next Tuesday
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• Nelson: Alberta’s dirty oil is suddenly an elixir of freedom
• COVID-19: B.C. to drop mask mandate Friday for indoor public spaces, vaccine card in April
• Charest’s path to the Conservative leadership is rocky, narrow and hostile
• Word of the Week: Elixir

Alberta moves to lift COVID restrictions, the BC Liberals elect Kevin Falcon as leader, and Trudeau’s own MP’s are questioning their pandemic strategies. Also, Pierre Poilievre shows us the power of social media.

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“From a positive and unifying approach, a decision was made to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize. I fear that this politicization of the pandemic risks undermining the public’s trust in our public health institutions. This is not a risk we ought to be taking lightly.” – Liberal MP Joël Lightbound on his government’s approach to vaccine mandates.

Duration: 1:03:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta takes steps to safely return to normal
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• B.C. Liberals elect former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon as next leader
• Trudeau’s own party is starting to turn on him over Covid restrictions
• Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre says he is running for prime minister
• Word of the Week: Intransigence

The feds admit they purchased Canadians’ cell phone data, Alberta looks to attract tech talent through immigration, and the BC Liberal leadership race isn’t short on controversy. Also, unvaccinated truckers will soon be unable to cross the US/CAN border.

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“It’s created a whole disaster. Governments are supposed to provide clarity and calmness, and what has gone on … provided nothing but chaos and confusion.” – Mike Millian, President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada on the Government of Canada’s trucker vaccine mandate.

Duration: 1:01:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s privacy watchdog probing health officials’ use of cellphone location data
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• Alberta looking to attract tech talent with new immigration program
• B.C. Liberals launch review of new memberships ahead of Feb. 5 leadership vote
• COVID-19 vaccines still mandatory for Canadian cross-border truckers, feds say
• Word of the Week: Aggregate

BC decides to warehouse 1.3M unused rapid tests, Trudeau is still undecided on the F-35s, and BC’s 2021 disasters unveil a gap in infrastructure and emergency planning. Also, a former CBC journalist details the problems with the mainstream media.

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“B.C. has a lot of these [rapid] tests in storage. They do have a shelf life, they eventually expire. So we have to make sure we get to use them.” – Mike Klassen with the B.C. Care Providers Association.

Duration: 1:01:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. has 1.3M rapid tests in a warehouse, officials confirm after top doctor called it an ‘urban myth’
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• A tale of two fighter jets — and what it means for Canada’s defence and place in the world
• Cracks in B.C.’s infrastructure revealed by extreme weather events of past 6 months
• Tara Henley: Why I quit the CBC
• Word of the Week: Cognitive Dissonance

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

Trudeau’s dithering hobbles the effectiveness of Parliament, Vancouver explores a 2030 Olympic bid, and Rachel Notley decides to not become a member of the UCP. Also, the auditor general outlines the failures of Trudeau’s quarantine hotel program.

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“Mr. Trudeau is not above Parliament. In a minority government, he only serves as Prime Minister at the pleasure of the House of Commons. It is not his place to choke off the debate and scrutiny that are the oxygen of our democracy, and the fact he continues to get away with doing so should worry all Canadians.” – Globe and Mail Editorial Board on Justin Trudeau’s performance as Prime Minister starting this session of Parliament.

Duration: 55:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• If Justin Trudeau believes in Parliament, he has a funny way of showing it
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• Vancouver and First Nations expected to announce committee to explore possible 2030 Olympic bid
• 3 UCP MLAs vote against Bill 81 over bulk membership purchase issue
• Ottawa has no idea if 75 per cent of air arrivals obeyed hotel quarantine rule: AG report
• Word of the Week: Dither