Western Context

The Canadian economy slumps due to coronavirus and protests, Alberta’s education plan cuts down on admin costs, and a blockade outside John Horgan’s home overshadows the BC budget. Also, we look at the foreign funded origins of the debilitating protests.

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Duration: 47:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s no good, very bad fourth quarter might be even worse than we expected
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• Sweeping change aims to drive dollars to Alberta classrooms, while cutting administrative costs
• Canada’s latest blockade? It’s at the end of B.C. Premier John Horgan’s driveway
• Who are the protesters? ‘There’s a lot of people that aren’t from these communities, that aren’t Aboriginal’
• Word of the Week: Bottleneck

The RCMP’s obstruction of justice case into SNC is blocked by Trudeau, the BC economy is slowing down but spending remains up, and Alberta’s war room on oil misinformation gains enemies. Also, Trudeau no shows the first debate, which matters a great deal.

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Duration: 52:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ottawa blocks RCMP on SNC-Lavalin inquiry
• B.C. NDP ramps up capital spending in latest update
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• Amnesty International ‘deeply concerned’ about Alberta’s fight back strategy against oil foes
• Opponents pounce on Liberal record after Trudeau’s no-show at leaders debate
• Word of the Week: Investigation

Albertans feel the economy is worse than it is, a poll on the Nanaimo by-election is wrong by 22%, and the federal government overpaid for the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, we talk about the evolution of fake news on social media.

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Duration: 45:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians think economy is worse than it really is: study
• BC Liberals have 13-point lead ahead Nanaimo byelection: Mainstreet Research poll
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• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says
• Fury over Google listing Khadr as a ‘Canadian soldier’
• Word of the Week: Psychology

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

Uncertainty in New Brunswick after an election results in a minority, Grande Cache, Alberta votes to dissolve the town, and the federal government can’t do basic math on illegal migrant numbers. Also, we might be coming to an end on the NAFTA debacle.

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Duration: 52:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• New Brunswick Election: Liberals intend to form government despite projected Tory minority
• Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town
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• Minister Bill Blair apologizes for confusion over Canadian asylum seekers facing deportation
• Trump claims he rejected a meeting with Trudeau over NAFTA — but Canada says it never asked to meet
• Word of the Week: Winning

Edmonton unemployment numbers drop but not for a good reason, Horgan’s office hypocritically deletes emails, and questions about a former ISIS executioner are called divisive by Trudeau. Also, we explore the media’s latest fascination with Stephen Harper.

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Duration: 40:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Edmonton unemployment numbers dropping for ‘wrong reason’ says economist
• B.C. premier’s office staff improperly mass deleted emails
• Conservatives call for arrest of Canadian who took part in ISIS execution
• Stephen Harper comes in from the cold
• Word of the Week: Distraction

Canadian oil is discounted due to lack of transport, a BC court case reveals immigration loopholes, a far right group attends Trudeau’s town hall to the delight of the CBC, and a fake hijab cutting incident sparks a rapid condemnation of Islamophobia.

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Duration: 43:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian oil selling at a deep discount – and it hurts
• Explosive B.C. court case details seven migration scams
• Members of far-right Storm Alliance attend Trudeau’s town hall in Quebec City
• Toronto police say hijab-cutting attack reported by girl didn’t happen
• Word of the Week: Clickbait

First Nations in BC worry about energy projects, the Alberta NDP interfere with freedom of information requests, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin is retiring, and the terrorist in the Edmonton attack has not been charged with terrorism yet, why not?

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Duration: 46:42
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Sickening’: First Nations left empty-handed as environmentalist pressure kills B.C. energy projects
• Alberta NDP must answer on political interference in Freedom of Information process
• Trudeau’s Supreme Court pick tangled in race, gender politics
• Judge orders psychiatric assessments for accused in Edmonton attacks
• Word of the Week: Responsibility

Canada has strong economic growth; why are there still deficits? Tolls on BC bridges are eliminated shifting costs to taxpayers, a meme from Jason Kenney causes overblown coverage, and the Feds are spending money in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of a by-election.

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Duration: 36:48
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s economy blows away forecasts with 4.5% growth — its strongest start to year since 2002
• Eliminating tolls might be a bridge too far for B.C. taxpayers
• ‘Sexist’ meme tweet by Jason Kenney draws criticism, spokesperson calls outrage ‘contrived’
• Liberals to fund high-speed Internet in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of key by-election
• Word of the Week: Meme

A Majority of Canadians are okay with Liberal deficits? We’ll have the run down on why this is bad and why it may not be true. Also, uneven media coverage in Saskatchewan and a first hand account of why refugees are coming illegally to Canada.

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Duration: 35:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Majority of Canadians okay with Liberal deficits: survey
• The ‘best government money can buy’: How B.C.’s donor system is at odds with most of Canada
• Labour strife continues as hundreds protest proposed government cuts
• Firing Line: This is Canada’: Afghan refugee in Vancouver, fled U.S. to ‘be safe over here’
• Word of the Week: Poll