Western Context

A couple by-elections show the challenges for BC United’s rebranding, Google is set to remove Canadian news links in search, and BC’s children’s minister faces calls to resign. Also, a senate report shows the underfunded Arctic region’s importance.

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“Canada’s armed forces are highly skilled and fiercely dedicated, but they remain below complement, under-resourced and stretched to the limit.” – Senator Tony Dean on the state of Canada’s military.

Duration: 1:00:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• What does BC United’s poor byelection showing mean for the party?
• Support us on Patreon
• Google set to remove news links in Canada
• First Nations in B.C. call on minister to resign over horrific child abuse case
• Lack of resources hurting Canada’s Arctic defence, says senate report
• Word of the Week: Incomprehensible

Google responds to Bill C-18 by blocking some Canadians from accessing news, Alberta’s inflation slows as prices rise, and BC’s potential provincial police force is on the backburner. Also, we now know of at least 1 MP allegedly compromised by China.

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“Playing ‘political games’ to get a partisan advantage will undermine people’s trust in their institutions, and will only assist the efforts of countries like Russia and China that attempt to make democracies unstable.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier in the week on commenting on election interference by China.

Duration: 57:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Google blocking news content for some Canadians in response to government bill
• Support us on Patreon
• Calgarians grapple with high food prices even as overall inflation rate slows
• Last year B.C. politicians recommended a provincewide police force — but no action is being taken
• Liberals ignored CSIS warning on 2019 candidate accused in Chinese interference probe
• Word of the Week: Backburner

Alberta wraps up a successful spring session, CBC is turning off Facebook comments, and Trudeau paid more for less in buying vaccines. Also, our Public Health Agency is held in contempt of Parliament as the Trudeau government covers up more and more.

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Duration: 48:31
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s one thing for our journalists to deal with toxicity on these platforms. It’s another for our audience members who try to engage with and discuss our journalism to encounter it on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where they are almost guaranteed to be confronted by hate, racism and abuse.” – CBC editor in Chief Brodie Fenlon on the fabricated dangers of free speech

• Alberta legislature wraps tumultuous spring sitting, likely to call new session in the fall
• Support us on Patreon
• Why CBC is turning off Facebook comments on news posts for a month
• Canada paid a premium to get doses from Pfizer earlier than planned
• Handing over Winnipeg lab documents has ‘national security’ implications
• Word of the Week: Contempt

Canadian media companies get outwitted by tech companies, shortsighted mayors welcome Trudeau’s gun ban, and Albertan economists want a sales tax. Also, Trudeau is willingly complicit in China’s technological takeover of Canada.

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Duration: 52:43
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Ironic, isn’t it, that the prime minister is prepared to accuse his own country of genocide…but unwilling to accuse China of genocide when it’s clearly taking place.” – Garnett Genuis, Conservative Critic for Human Rights

• Facebook blocks Australian users from viewing or sharing news
• Support us on Patreon
• Trudeau unveils details of ‘assault-style’ gun buyback program, municipal gun ban
• Trajectory is bad’: Expert calls for Alberta to consider introduction of sales tax, carbon tax
• Huawei Canada won’t condemn detention of 2 Michaels in China
• Bedazzle

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

A 21 hour Parliament session protests the Atwal cover-up by the PMO, Alberta’s budget draws criticism for its rising debt, protests at Trans Mountain result in MPs’ arrests and work delays, and an important look at data-mining on social media.

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Duration: 49:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• I think we made our point’: Conservatives end their nearly 21-hour-long House of Commons voting marathon
• Alberta Budget 2018 met with mixed reaction
• B.C. MPs Elizabeth May, Kennedy Stewart arrested at Kinder Morgan facility
• Chris Wylie says he’ll testify in U.S., U.K. about Cambridge Analytica
• Word of the Week: filibuster