Western Context

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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 58:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian parliament asked to approve Zelenskyy address next Tuesday
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“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?
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

Late government actions have let variants of concern into Canada, BC locks down travel within health regions, and Alberta’s free market leads the way in solar investment. Also, Trudeau’s first budget in two years shows just how much debt we are in.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 57:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The truth is that the tragedy of COVID-19 has created a window of opportunity, which we can open to finally build a system of early learning and child care across our country.” – Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland

• ‘Practically impossible’ to keep COVID-19 variants out, officials say, as flights from hotspots continue
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. to restrict non-essential travel between 3 provincial health zones
• Lots of irony in Alberta leading the country in new solar projects
• Budget vows to build ‘for the long term’ as it promises child care cash, projects massive deficits
• Word of the Week: Debtonation

Trudeau’s fairytale throne speech promises to spend billions, British Columbians will vote on Oct 24th, and Alberta’s media focuses on a load of cow dung. Also, Ford will build EV’s in Ontario while Trudeau’s massive subsidies could blow up in his face.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 53:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau’s Throne Speech reads like a fairy tale. Can he make it reality?
• Support us on Patreon
• British Columbians heading to the polls on Oct. 24 in fall election
• Premier criticized for comments on intersectionality and India
• Ford deal to build electric cars in Oakville comes amid $500M government cash to upgrade plant
• Word of the Week: Competitive

Wet’suwet’en blockades at the BC Legislature and the Vancouver Port along with CN and Via Rail shutting down paralyzes our infrastructure and economy. Also, Jason Kenney calls for an Albertan green shift, and Trudeau is abroad campaigning for the UN.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 54:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘My thoughts on that individual are not printable:’ Horgan responds after Victoria councillor Ben Isitt accuses VicPD of campaign against protesters
• Support us on Patreon
• In public shift, Kenney says Alberta has to go green over time
• Via Rail cancels most trains nationwide, CN closes Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue
• Trudeau to take UN Security Council pitch to Caribbean next week
• Word of the Week: Blockade

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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 52:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ottawa blocks RCMP on SNC-Lavalin inquiry
• B.C. NDP ramps up capital spending in latest update
• Support us on Patreon
• 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