Western Context

A Canadian lithium company is being bought by China, Edmonton city council struggles with transit designs, and a Victoria biologist just wants us to think about the birds. Also, millions are required to renovate 24 Sussex Drive.

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“I could probably make a passable hat using my socks but I’d much rather wear a hat.” – Liberal MP Andy Fillmore on Neo Lithium mining lithium carbonate, not lithium hydroxide, and why it’s ok for a Chinese state-owned company to buy out Neo Lithium.

Duration: 54:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservative party leader O’Toole calls for security review of Chinese takeover of Neo Lithium
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• Edmonton working to address bus network redesign concerns
• New 11-storey building in downtown Victoria could harm birds, biologist says
• The problem with Justin Trudeau’s house: Canadian taxpayers have spent millions on PM’s lodgings, while official residence sits in dire straits
• Word of the Week: Security

Alberta shows us that referendums are not just symbolic, Huawei sponsors a Chinese cultural event in BC, and we look at municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary. Also, inflation on groceries and natural gas is here to stay.

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“A lot of people in finance are learning that the most important word in the English language is ‘transitory,’…How confident are you that [this inflation] really is transitory, because if you took a poll of smart people in finance … you’d probably get 50% saying it probably is and 50% saying it probably isn’t.” – U.S. Council on Foreign Relations member Roger Altman, to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

Duration: 1:02:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Why should Saskatchewan pay to heat swimming pools in Quebec?
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• Huawei-sponsored event draws flag-waving B.C. politicians
• Farkas drops bomb, now Calgary mayor’s race is a dogfight
• Natural gas price hikes will fuel inflation and hit low-income Canadians the hardest
• Word of the Week: Transitory

Auditors recommend a sharp reduction in city supervisors to save money, shootings are up despite Trudeau’s gun ban, and Guilbeault wants tech companies to give money to the media. Also, O’Toole unites while Trudeau divides.

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Duration: 44:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Auditor recommends reduction in City of Edmonton supervisors following 21 per cent increase in three years
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• Shootings up as Trudeau’s gun ban fails
• Heritage Minister promises upcoming reforms for web giants
• Trudeau announces cash for loans, support to Black Canadian entrepreneurs
• Word of the Week: Division

The Federal Court of Appeal rejects a native veto on Trans Mountain, Alberta’s unemployment rate continues to rise, and ICBC is changing to a no-fault system. Also, the Trudeau government tries to put more regulations on Canadian media.

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Duration: 52:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• In a major victory for Trans Mountain, Federal Court dismisses Indigenous appeal of project’s approval
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• Edmonton unemployment rises again, now 2nd highest of any Canadian city: StatsCan
• After ruling it out, Horgan goes for no-fault auto insurance
• Licensing for media companies in Canada would likely be proportionate
• Word of the Week: Protest

Trudeau’s government is silent on it’s plan for the Arctic, a Twitter spat over an Edmonton train shows oil hypocrisy, and Trudeau joking about his media bailout provokes outrage. Also, a Liberal candidate was dropped after anti-semetic comments surface.

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Duration: 39:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘It’s a joke’: After 4 years, the Liberals haven’t released their plan for the Arctic
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• What’s going on with Jason Kenney’s Twitter spat over a train in Edmonton?
• Misleading Trudeau ‘joke’ video demonstrates the political power of editing
• Liberals dump Quebec candidate after B’nai Brith, Conservatives allege anti-Semitic comments
• Word of the Week: Joke

The Alberta government is offering tax breaks for municipalities, a Victoria councillor wants to bill the military for Remembrance Day, and we look at the progress of Trudeau’s tanker ban. Also, the MMIWG Inquiry says Canada has engaged in genocide.

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Duration: 54:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta cities, towns will be able to offer tax breaks to businesses under Bill 7
• Victoria councillor suggests billing military for events like Remembrance Day
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• Liberal’s environmental assessment bill, C-69, passes Senate with 180 amendments and now returns to Commons
• The g-word’: Why it matters whether we call Canada’s actions toward Indigenous people a genocide
• Word of the Week: Genocide

We look into the reasoning behind Trudeau’s trade escalations with the US, a by-election with huge ramifications in BC, and over-taxation by Edmonton council on businesses. Also, an unreported bombshell about Trudeau, what is the media not telling us?

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Duration: 45:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau stumbled into a trade war. That isn’t all Trump’s fault
• MLA Leonard Krog ponders move with huge consequences
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• Edmonton business group urges city hall to put the brakes on rising property taxes
• Don’t believe Canada’s media on Me Too stories
• Word of the Week: Backbencher

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

Marijuana health concerns cause the Senate to delay legislation, Edmonton transit budgets soar while ridership stays flat, the new BC NDP employer health tax will raise property taxes, and the CBSA is muzzled as more illegal migrants cross the border.

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Duration: 47:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Senators recommend delaying cannabis bill for a year to address Indigenous issues
• Survey finds Edmontonians’ transportation habits are not changing
• Soaring health costs for B.C. cities when employer health tax replaces premiums: UBCM survey
• Official says CBSA being ‘muzzled’ by Trudeau government
• Word of the Week: Context

Terrorism comes to Edmonton. Also, electoral reform in BC, an AB NDP MLA leaves caucus, Jagmeet Singh wins the federal NDP race, Energy East is now dead, Ottawa spends too much on legal fees, and the BBC notes our Holocaust memorial’s Jewish omission.

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Duration: 1:04:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Edmonton Police Officers and Pedestrians Struck in Edmonton Terrorist Attack
• NDP announces B.C. referendum on proportional representation
• Karen McPherson Leaves NDP Caucus
• Jagmeet Singh wins NDP leadership race
• TransCanada terminates plan for Energy East pipeline
• Ottawa spent $110K in legal fees fighting First Nations girl over $6K dental procedure
• Canada forgets to mention Jewish people at Holocaust memorial
• Word of the Week: terrorism