Western Context

We look at some policies we would wish to enact in Canada, including promoting corporate competitiveness, a suite of democratic reforms and developing Canadian energy to project global power. Also, we look at the best way to resolve Western alienation.

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Duration: 52:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Economic and Corporate Competitiveness
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• Democratic Reform
• Energy and Projecting Canadian Power
• Resolving Western Alienation

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

David Johnson resigns as special rapporteur, the Bank of Canada hikes interest rates again, and the Five Eyes countries have a meeting about UFOs. Also, a clash of culture during Pride month shows Canada’s increasing polarization.

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“When I undertook the task of independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, my objective was to help build trust in our democratic institutions. I have concluded that, given the highly partisan atmosphere around my appointment and work, my leadership has had the opposite effect.” – Former Governor General David Johnston on his resignation

Duration: 50:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• David Johnston resigning as special rapporteur on foreign interference
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• Canadian economy loses 17,000 jobs + interest rates
• Canada attends first-of-its-kind UFO briefing at the Pentagon
• You don’t belong here’: Canadian teacher lambastes Muslim student for eschewing Pride
• Word of the Week: Resign

The Alberta NDP advocates for higher fuel prices, federal workers resist a partial return to the offices, and Canada adds over 100,000 jobs in December. Also, Canada welcomed a record number of immigrants in 2022.

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Duration: 57:29
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• As Alberta fuel tax paused, expert says prices in line with market
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• Lives have changed’: Federal workers in Greater Victoria resist mandate to return to office
• Canada’s economy added 104,000 jobs in December, blowing well past expectations
• Canadians are right to worry about immigration levels
• Word of the Week: Self-inflicted

The Prairie provinces join against Trudeau’s gun ban, we compare the opioid crisis approach of BC and Alberta, and people are moving from Ontario to the West. Also, Canada might be in a recession soon.

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“It’s like a bicycle that’s going really, really slowly. It’s fast enough that it’s still staying upright, but it’s kind of wobbling. If it hits a pebble, it could be knocked over. … And there’s a tonne of pebbles around.” – Stuart Bergman, chief economist at Export Development Canada, describing the Canadian economy at present.

Duration: 56:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta government calls on RCMP to ignore federal firearms ban within province
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• A tale of two provinces: Assessing the opioid crises in BC and Alberta – Geoff Russ for Inside Policy
• Go west, young man: Alberta sees largest wave of interprovincial migration since 2014
• Canada headed for ‘severe’ and ‘inevitable’ recession in 2023: economist
• Word of the Week: Execute

Inflation hits a 30 year high as Trudeau plans to bring in 400k immigrants per year, Edmonton’s police force owns a plane, and the Coastal Gaslink project is under attack. Also, Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act to freeze protestors’ bank accounts.

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“If we’re not ready to significantly increase our ambition when it comes to immigration, we are going to be in a position where our economy will suffer, and it could put into jeopardy so many of the public services and social supports that make me very proud to be Canadian.” – Liberal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, on justifying his government’s plan to bring in 1.3M immigrants over the next 3 years.

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

• Canada’s inflation rate rises to 5.1% — highest since 1991
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• Edmonton police insist airplane is not secret — it’s just not publicized
• Violent overnight attack at Coastal GasLink site leaves workers shaken, millions in damage
• Trudeau vows to freeze anti-mandate protesters’ bank accounts
• Word of the Week: Attack

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

Federal politicians say Quebec can amend the constitution, tools to identify old growth are ignored by the BC government, and Alberta’s municipal races heat up. Also, inflation is on the rise once again, while the media and government both ignore it.

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Duration: 58:58
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The PM is fine [with] Que[bec] unilaterally amend[ing] the constitution to declare Quebec a nation and French its official language. So hypothetically speaking – AB and SK can do something like that too? Or would the answer be no….’asymmetrical federalism’ and all?” – Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall on the looming constitutional crisis.

• Quebec can modify part of the Canadian Constitution unilaterally, Trudeau says
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• ‘We don’t have time’: scientists urge B.C. to immediately defer logging in key old-growth forests amid arrests
• Former councillor, MP Amarjeet Sohi announces Edmonton mayoral campaign
• From takeout to gas prices, how to protect yourself from rising inflation
• Word of the Week: Nation

ICBC gives back a rebate average of $190 per driver, the media thinks Jason Kenney enables conspiracies, and saving for a house has never been more difficult. Also Canada’s vaccine rate is falling fast while Trudeau says to trust his plan.

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Duration: 50:05
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“1.8 million British Columbians have received this pandemic benefit. I appreciate that 300,000 people is a lot of people, but again, without a calculator, I think we can all appreciate that 1.8 million is a lot more.” – BC Premier John Horgan

• Horgan takes a risk by overselling ICBC rebates
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• Kenney needs to be ‘crystal clear’ in discrediting COVID-19 conspiracies, says expert
• ‘Saving For A Down Payment Has Never Been Worse,’ Says National Bank Of Canada
• Canada the only G7 country to take vaccines from fund that helps developing countries
• Word of the Week: Jab

New Brunswick’s election holds lessons for BC, Alberta outlines new investment strategies, and multiple cabinet ministers are found to be ethically bankrupt. Also, a secret military operation to censor pandemic information comes to light.

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Duration: 49:42
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Judy Darcy is the 6th B.C. cabinet minister to announce she won’t run for re-election
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• Alberta outlines government-wide strategy for attracting new investment to province
• Freeland, Bains and seven other federal officials barred from official dealings with ex-envoy
• Trudeau gov’t planned to use military to monitor tweets critical of pandemic response
• Word of the Week: Political Censorship