Western Context

The Premiers’ meeting delivers a united message to Trudeau, the public service has grown far faster than Canada’s population, and John Rustad has a plan to fix BC’s healthcare crisis. Also, Randy Boissonnault is in hot water again.

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“[Trudeau] is delivering worse service.You can’t get anyone on the phone at CRA. Incredible delays just to get a passport. And the federal government is not delivering any services that it wasn’t delivering before. In other words, after nine years of Trudeau, Canadians are paying more for bureaucracy to get less in service.” – Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on the decay of services in Canada.

Duration: 48:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Premiers gather in Halifax with a message for Trudeau: stick to your lane
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• Under Trudeau, the civil service has grown twice as fast as Canada’s population
• B.C. Conservatives pitch health-care changes, more private clinics
• Multiple texts about ‘other Randy’ blamed on ‘auto-correct’ by Boissonnault’s former business partner
• Word of the Week: Delivery

Another Trudeau cabinet minister has a conflict of interest, the BC NDP wants to recriminalize drugs in public spaces, and the UCP looks to expand train service. Also, anti-Israel encampments spring up at Canadian universities.

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“I’ve watched in horror what is happening at Columbia University, where it seemed that university administrations were incapable of acting when their codes of conduct were being violated and where other students were denied the right to feel safe on campuses. Having peaceful demonstrations is a protected Charter right in Canada, but setting up encampments on college campuses is a violation of pretty much every code of conduct, including that of McGill University.” – Liberal MP Anthony Housefather on the anti-Israel encampment at McGill.

Duration: 54:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Federal minister’s ties to lobbyist raise ethical concerns
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• British Columbia to recriminalize use of drugs in public spaces
• Alberta government announces master plan to expand rail passenger service
• McGill protesters set up first anti-Israel encampment in Canada
• Word of the Week: Encampment

Trudeau’s Jamaica vacation causes a conflict of interest, Canada’s immigration isn’t helping the job market, and Banff’s pedestrian zone gets nixed by the National Park. Also, a Victoria theatre cancels a play set in Israel after being vandalized.

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“We thank those of you who have expressed your convictions, and we are listening. We value and respect these conversations in our community. We have been having many complex conversations about the production, its content, and its impact on the community. We are taking time to reflect on how best to move forward and will make an announcement in the new year.” – The Belfry Theatre on cancelling a play set in Israel and Gaza

Duration: 58:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Conservatives call for ethics probe into Justin Trudeau’s free Jamaican holiday stay
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• Labour Force Survey, December 2023
• Parks Canada letter forces Banff to pause pedestrian zone decision
• Belfry Theatre vandalized in protest over play set in Israel
• Word of the Week: Conversation

Chrystia Freeland’s budget includes $43b in new spending, 2023 sees an increase in unprovoked violence, and Danielle Smith speaks with a controversial pastor. Also, Dominic Leblanc’s sister-in-law is appointed as interim ethics commissioner.

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“The public has to believe that ethics are taken seriously, and they have yet to have any big evidence of that since 2018. The (Conflict of Interest) Act has been there for 17 years for God’s sake, so maybe the time has come to do something different so that we don’t keep repeating the same errors. After 17 years, maybe we should realize that something is not working,” – Retiring Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion on the Trudeau government’s repeated ethical transgressions

Duration: 57:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• In Budget 2023, Liberals eye inflation relief ‘without having to write a big cheque’
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• Random murders and police killings, once exceedingly rare, now becoming regular part of Canadian crime landscape
• Danielle Smith her own worst enemy on COVID court cases but that doesn’t make her guilty
• Opposition cries foul after minister’s in-law appointed interim ethics commissioner
• Word of the Week: Unprovoked

Canada could send tanks to Ukraine, but are they operational? We detail the problems with Canada’s catch and release criminal justice system, and phantom emails from the UCP create controversy. Also, yet another Liberal minister has ethics problems.

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“I would say that catch and release works well when you’re fishing. It doesn’t work so well when you’re dealing with serious offenders.” – Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe on the differences between fish and criminals.

Duration: 53:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Is Canada not sending its tanks to Ukraine because they’re broken?
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• How B.C.’s ‘catch and release’ system is failing victims of random assaults and repeat offenders
• Smith responds to allegations staff member emailed Alberta Crown Prosecution Service over Coutts blockade
• Hussen’s office gave $93k in PR work to senior staffer’s sister’s foodie firm
• Word of the Week: Foodie

We uncover more about foreign influence in Canada, Edmonton city council votes to increase property taxes, and yet another Trudeau cabinet minister breaks ethics rules. Also, Canada is banning single use plastics, but will it really help the environment?

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“There is simply no excuse for contracting with a friend’s company. Ministers are expected to uphold the highest standards of accountability, including those set out in the Conflict of Interest Act. Complying with the act is a condition of appointment and employment for all public office holders.” – Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion on International Trade Minister Mary Ng’s ethics violation.

Duration: 58:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Ottawa hears of ‘active foreign interference network’ in secret Privy Council Office memo
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• Edmonton passes 5% tax increases; Cartmell calls it ‘very dangerous’ for affordability
• Trade Minister Mary Ng broke ethics rules over contract to friend, commissioner rules
• Phase 1 of Canada’s single-use plastics ban comes into effect this month. These are the products on the list
• Word of the Week: Waste

David Lametti relied on fake news to invoke the Emergencies Act, a BC committee agrees to replace the RCMP, and the Winnipeg lab scandal documents are redacted. Also, the RCMP decided not to charge Trudeau with fraud because he is the Prime Minister.

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“It is unclear whether Mr. Trudeau can be prosecuted under section 121(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, since the section has a provision which allows officials to accept benefits from individuals with government dealings, provided the official has the written consent of the head of their branch of government. An investigation and prosecution under this section may not be in the public interest if it cannot be definitely determined whether or not Mr. Trudeau can simply provide consent to himself.” RCMP Corporal Michael Kiperchuk, in a briefing note to his superiors on the conclusion of his investigation into Prime Minister Trudeau’s alleged fraud during the Aga Khan scandal.

Duration: 1:06:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ministers provide few details to committee probing Liberals’ use of Emergencies Act
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• B.C. should ditch RCMP and form its own police force, committee says
• Bloc warns Liberals against ‘creating parallel Parliament with its own rules’ on Winnipeg lab documents
• RCMP considered whether to charge Justin Trudeau over Aga Khan trip, documents show
• Word of the Week: Rule of Law

Alberta’s economy rebounds as mask mandates reappear, thousands protest the BC NDP’s vaccine passport system outside hospitals, and yet another Trudeau ethics scandal gets buried. Also, a Liberal MP is allowed to run again amid sexual harassment claims.

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Duration: 58:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“I remember being incredibly stressed out, feeling completely helpless. I felt like he had shown he could do pretty much anything he wanted to do to me. I felt like there was nowhere for me to turn.” – A former staffer for Liberal MP Raj Saini, speaking her truth on how she felt about his alleged sexual harassment.

• A ‘startling’ $10B turnaround in Alberta’s deficit
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• Reports of assault, harassment as thousands protest vaccine passports outside hospitals across B.C.
• Conservatives push for Trudeau ethics probe, claim ‘troubling’ ties between PM and foundation
• Liberal candidate allowed to run for re-election despite past claims of inappropriate behaviour
• Word of Week: Harassment

The Chinese government’s influence is growing in Canada, Freeland won’t release any spending numbers, and governments threaten us with unnecessary lockdowns. Also, a Toronto Liberal MP resigns after hiring her sister with public funds in conflict of interest.

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Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS warns China’s Operation Fox Hunt is targeting Canada’s Chinese community
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• Freeland grilled over cost of pandemic aid as Commons fast-tracks rent relief bill
• Alberta physicians call for ‘sharp’ two-week lockdown to curb spread of COVID-19
• Toronto MP resigns from Liberal caucus after employing sister at constituency office
• Word of the Week: Error

John Horgan suggests Alberta build refineries to help BC, while Trudeau killing the TMP expansion is a possibility, and food and alcohol on federal government flights costs millions. Also, Trudeau is making our Supreme Court more partisan in his favour.

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Duration: 44:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Horgan suggests Alberta could build new refineries to serve B.C.
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• Killing TransMountain Pipeline expansion could be Trudeau’s path to victory
• Trudeau rang up $384K in food, liquor on only FIVE flights
• PMO vets potential judges with private Liberal database
• Word of the Week: Gouging