Western Context

A leaked memo shows the BC NDP’s inner thoughts, Huawei invests in Alberta AI research, and the Liberals’ fall economic statement gives more money for journalists. Also, Edmonton’s mayor asks Trudeau for support in the battle against hate crimes.

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“This would give us some leverage with companies like Fortescue – You’ll either … pay B.C. Hydro $1 billion under the existing tariff OR agree to scale down [the] size of your project, prioritize hydrogen for domestic supply and build some of your own wind turbines to power the project.” – a leaked BC government memo showcasing advice on how to proceed on energy projects.

Duration: 1:03:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Email shows B.C. energy minister wants ‘big and shiny affordability measure’ linked to climate plan
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• Huawei funds launch of Alberta AI researcher Richard Sutton’s lab after federal restrictions
• Key highlights from the Liberals’ 2023 fall economic statement
• Mayor asks Trudeau for help in battle against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Edmonton
• Word of the Week: Leverage

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

Alberta reviews new renewable energy projects, the source of BC’s wildfires is debated, and Alberta pulls support for the 2030 Commonwealth Games bid. Also, Trudeau and Poilievre trade barbs on housing.

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“After eight years of Justin Trudeau, things are going very badly… Something new is happening in Canada: tent cities in almost every town, village, and metropolitan centre. Something that was almost unheard of eight years ago before Justin Trudeau, but what do you expect people to do? They can’t pay [a] 100 per cent increase in rent.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Trudeau’s housing strategy.

Duration: 53:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta to pause new solar and wind power projects for six months amid review of end-of-life rules
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• Evacuation order issued for parts of Osoyoos as growing wildfire crosses Canada-U.S. border
• Alberta pulls support for 2030 Commonwealth Games, bid efforts cancelled
• Trudeau pans Poilievre’s approach as ‘dangerous for Canadians’
• Word of the Week: Anger

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

BC Hydro is looking for more energy sources, Supreme Court judge Russell Brown retires amid controversy, and a wildfire cuts off Vancouver Island’s west coast. Also, serial killer Paul Bernardo is moved from max to medium security.

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“It is very clear that I should have been briefed at the time, and that is something that I made abundantly clear to my staff. I’ve taken the corrective steps to ensure that that does not happen again. What’s important is that these issues are identified and they’re corrected and so that is what I have done with my team. It is important that I get those briefings in a timely manner.” – Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino

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

• B.C. Hydro set to start first hunt in 15 years for new electricity sources
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• Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown retires, ending judicial review
• Transportation network fragile on Vancouver Island
• Staff in Mendicino’s office knew about Bernardo transfer months before minister did, his office says
• Word of the Week: Hardened

Danielle Smith promises to not raise taxes, the public service strike blocks key infrastructure, and Rachel Notley is silent on nuclear power. Also, the media decides that questioning immigration policy is no longer racist.

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“With a steady and low corporate tax rate that I can bank on, I can plan for the future and make long-term decisions to ensure my business can keep adding to Alberta’s economy, creating jobs, supporting my community, and keeping this province strong for the next generation.” – Ana Zagorac, owner of Sweet Rhapsody Bakery Cafe and Patisserie on the importance of a positive investment climate.

Duration: 49:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Danielle Smith promises to not raise taxes if re-elected
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• Striking public servants block access to government buildings and key infrastructure
• Notley’s NDP might want to pick a lane on energy policy. Right now it’s incoherent
• It’s OK to ask whether immigration is intensifying our housing crisis
• Word of the Week: Escalate

A new economic doctrine emerges from Chrystia Freeland, new changes abound in the BC municipal elections, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith names her new cabinet. Also, Trudeau asserts that demand for Canadian oil will decrease reliance on it.

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“Right now in the coming couple of years, we’re going to need to continue with the mechanisms we have, but the move off of fossil fuels … is going to happen much faster because of Russia.” – Prime Minister Trudeau, on the failure to understand supply and demand.

Duration: 59:19
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Freeland Doctrine’ could set the world on a path to a new trade cold war
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• BC Municipal Election results – Major Changes in Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, Saanich
• Alberta premier’s new cabinet includes familiar faces in prominent roles
• Trudeau says Russian invasion of Ukraine ‘accelerated’ Canada’s move away from oil and gas
• Word of the Week: Turnover

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

A religion poll unintentionally drives a wedge on culture, Alberta energy rates are heavily impacted by the NDP carbon tax, and BC faces a critical shortage of nurses. Also, many MPs owning rental properties could be fueling the housing crisis.

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“Over the past years, we’ve seen a rise in hate crimes, a rise in intolerance and racist acts. Part of it is the pandemic, sure, and the stress and the anxiety that comes from that, but a part of it is a trend toward greater polarization in our politics, greater intolerance in our communities.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s theory on the origin of Canadian hate crimes.

Duration: 58:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadians consider certain religions damaging to society: survey
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• Alberta to shake up energy market by dissolving balancing pool, consumers to pay off $1.34B loan
• We need more nurses now’: B.C. to fast track approval for internationally trained nurses
• Poilievre defends investments in rental properties while campaigning to address housing affordability
• Word of the Week: Extremism

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