Western Context

Carney announces a further GST rebate, Eby calls Alberta separatists treasonous, while Eby is called the worst fiscal manager in BC history. Also, Poilievre passes his leadership review with 87.4% approval.

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“We must diversify our markets and strengthen our alliances with our NATO partners. We must fight the American tariffs and do all we can to reach a no-tariff agreement with the United States. And yes, the Conservatives are ready to work with Mr. Carney and his government to open up new markets and eliminate the American tariffs.” – Pierre Poilievre on the need to diversify away from and not rely on the United States.

Duration: 1:07:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney announces food affordability measures, including boost to GST rebate
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• B.C. premier says Alberta separatists seeking assistance from U.S. is ‘treason’
• Eby may go down as worst fiscal manager in B.C. history
• Poilievre tells party delegates to have hope in speech that confronts Alberta, Quebec separatism
• Word of the Week: Treason

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

The Premiers meeting shows hope for the future, zoning bylaws divide Edmonton’s council, and David Eby rejects any notion of a second oil pipeline. Also, the Strong Borders Act may be more about internet privacy.

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“[Santa Carney]’s coming, and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now, he’s taken off back to the North Pole. He’s going to sort it out, and then he’s going to call us.” – Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the premier’s meeting with Mark Carney.

Duration: 59:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Premiers heap praise on meeting with Carney, but no specific projects identified
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• ‘No respect for the people’: Edmonton zoning bylaw opponents give city council an earful
• BC communities disappointed as Eby rejects pipeline push from other premiers
• The Strong Borders Act
• Word of the Week: Nation-building

Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership race, Alberta makes a deal with Japan on LNG, and David Eby wants to give himself unchecked powers. Also, Carney sets the carbon tax to $0 on day 1.

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“We have new ministers with new ideas, ready to respond to new threats and seize new opportunities.” – New Prime Minister Mark Carney on his ‘new’ cabinet consisting of many old faces.

Duration: 1:06:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership by a landslide with 86% of votes
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• Alberta inks LNG deal with Japan thwarting Ottawa’s export skepticism
• B.C. legislation would give cabinet sweeping powers amid U.S. tariff threats
• Carney cuts carbon tax rate to zero, neutralizing unpopular policy before possible campaign
• Word of the Week: Follow through

Pierre Poilievre promises to reverse Trudeau’s capital gains tax changes, David Eby has cancelled BC’s promised grocery rebate, and Danielle Smith is vilified in Canada for standing up for Alberta. Also, Canada is somehow importing sanctioned Russian oil.

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“It’s very clear that Russian crude is prohibited from being imported into Canada. It’s also very clear that non-crude Russian oil products are prohibited from entering into Canada. What is not clear is … the use of Russian crude imports that then get processed and finished by a third country.” – William Pellerin, international trade lawyer at McMillan LLP on Russian oil imports entering Canada despite sanctions.

Duration: 1:00:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre pledges to reverse Liberals’ capital gains tax changes if elected
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• $1,000 grocery rebate cheques may be on chopping block in efficiency review
• Alberta government’s diplomatic efforts to avert tariffs a high-wire act, political watchers say
• Banned Russian oil is coming to Canada
• Word of the Week: Sadomasochism

The CBC pays out huge bonuses while cutting jobs, a Victoria firefighter gets suspended for a letter to the BC Premier, and the Alberta NDP broke leadership election financing rules. Also the UN likens Canada’s TFW program to modern slavery.

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“While Canadians struggle to afford basic necessities like food and rent, CBC executives are rewarding themselves with massive bonuses despite their failing performance. End the madness. Recall the committee. Defund the CBC.” – Conservative MP Rachael Thomas on the increasing bonuses of CBC executives.

Duration: 56:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CBC paid more than $18-million in bonuses in 2024 after eliminating hundreds of jobs, documents show
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• Victoria firefighter suspended for letter to B.C. premier criticizing homeless facility plan
• NDP broke election finance rules during leadership race
• ‘Chickens have come home to roost’: Mounting criticism over Canada’s low-wage temporary foreign worker program
• Word of the Week: Bonus

Conservative MP Michael Chong gets targeted by China, David Eby’s actions don’t match his words, and many Alberta ridings could produce surprising results. Also, the single use plastics ban may have papered over our environmental problems.

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“I think everyone is aware of the saying that forests are the lungs of our planet and so this is a really critical moment and we need to take steps to keep forests standing, rather than increase the pressures on them to provide the fibre for bags, pizza boxes, cutlery and straws.” – Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy, an environmental non-profit.

Duration: 1:00:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS report on MP being targeted by China sent to PM’s national-security adviser, Chong says
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• In the next 10 years, B.C. will need to fill 1M job openings’: Premier David Eby
• Riding Profile Edmonton-Decore
• Paper can’t be a solution to plastic waste’: Canadian environmentalists warn about the rise in single-use paper products
• Word of the Week: Straw

Trudeau announces new funding towards health care transfers, Alberta campaign funding coverage shows double standards, and David Eby announces funding for BC’s municipalities. Also, the Roxham road issue continues to get worse.

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“The military gave me and my family free bus tickets. I am going to Canada for a better quality of life for my family.” – Migrant Raymond Peña on his free trip to Canada and eventual entry at Roxham Road.

Duration: 1:06:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM Trudeau presents premiers $196B health-care funding deal, including $46B in new funding
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• ‘Huge concern’: Opposition says Alberta premier should come clean on campaign funding
• Premier David Eby announces $1 billion in grants for municipalities
• NYC now paying for bus fare if migrants head north to Roxham Road
• Word of the Week: Crisis

Federal ministers joked about martial law during convoy protests, new BC Premier David Eby bombards us with announcements, and the Alberta NDP get their news on healthcare from social media. Also, Trudeau denies knowledge of Chinese campaign influence.

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“He is either hiding the truth and knows that China is trying to destabilize our democracy or he’s revealing that he’s diplomatically irresponsible to the point of being dangerous. Either it’s not honest or it’s not very bright. Which one is it?” – Bloc Québécois House Leader Alain Therrien on Trudeau’s limited response to questions of Chinese influence in the 2019 election.

Duration: 1:00:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Attorney-General suggested Emergencies Act in first week of Ottawa protest, texts reveal
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• David Eby’s announcements total $1.2 billion in first week as premier
• Premier Smith attempts to reframe herself as flawed but also real and reasonable
• Justin Trudeau slammed for response after allegations of Chinese interference in 2019 election
• Word of the Week: Announcement

Trudeau invokes Trump rhetoric on carbon tax opponents, the BC Liberals claim David Eby is in a conflict of interest, and a crazy proposal to curb Alberta oil supply. Also, we cover Trudeau’s immigration plan and what could help workers in our economy.

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Duration: 50:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• PM says carbon tax critics like Scheer, Ford want to ‘make pollution free again’
• BC Liberals file conflict of interest complaint against David Eby over recall legislation
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• Varcoe: Alberta faces calls to crimp oil output to resolve price discount
• Canada to increase annual immigration admissions to 350,000 by 2021
• Word of the Week: Fearmongering