Western Context

The CRTC taxes 5% of streaming giants’ revenues, the UCP asks the public for input on auto insurance, and speed limit reductions in BC show the need for careful city planning. Also, Canadian parliamentarians could be compromised by foreign powers.

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“This week’s Bill C-11 streaming ruling acts as if consumers, competition, and affordability are irrelevant issues that are at best someone else’s concern. The result is that Canadians have been largely removed from broadcasting and Internet policy at the regulator, expected to pay up and shut up.” – Michael Geist on this week’s CRTC ruling.

Duration: 52:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Foreign streamers must pay into fund to boost Canadian content, CRTC says
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• Premier says ‘no appetite’ for government-run auto insurance despite savings
• Jogger clipped by fast-moving e-bike on E&N Rail trail
• Some Canadian politicians are ‘wittingly’ participating in foreign interference
• Word of the Week: Wittingly

BC gets another credit downgrade, Alberta battles the federal government over municipal control, and Trudeau’s South-East Asia trip cost $2M. Also, the CSIS director testifies that the Trudeau government did know about foreign interference.

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“I guess one way to beat the high cost of groceries in Canada is to take a government work trip and bill taxpayers for fancy airplane food.” – Canadian Taxpayers Federation Federal Director Franco Terrazzano on Trudeau’s lavish diplomatic trips around the world.

Duration: 51:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• British Columbia Gets Third Credit Downgrade in Three Years
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• Alberta to introduce legislation preventing municipal-federal deals without province’s OK
• PM’s six-day Indo-Pacific trip cost $2M, including $200K in catering
• CSIS director testifies Trudeau government was warned repeatedly about Chinese foreign interference
• Word of the Week: Downgrade

A majority of Canada’s premiers align against Trudeau’s carbon tax, BC sees open drug use in hospitals, and Edmonton’s rolling blackouts show Alberta’s energy vulnerabilities. Also, MP Han Dong’s testimony shows the extent of Chinese foreign interference.

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“I was deeply troubled that I was exposed and the government doesn’t seem to care. And now I have learned they knew all about it. It is almost like I was drowning, and they were watching. In my view the buck stops with the Prime Minister. He let me down.” – Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu on the foreign interference from China that caused him to lose his seat.

Duration: 55:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• N.L.’s Liberal premier calls for emergency meeting with PM as anti-carbon tax protests snarl highways
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• ‘Happening daily’: Vancouver Island nurses raise concerns about open drug use in hospitals
• Tight supply’: 20K in Edmonton hit with rolling blackouts after grid alert
• Canadian Lawmaker Testifies Chinese Students Were Bused In to Elect Him
• Word of the Week: Intelligence

Canada’s population increases like never before, the CBC writes fake news about Deena Hinshaw, and the Trudeau Liberals phase out gas car sales by 2035. Also, an investigation into Yuen Pau Woo reveals our cabinet may be compromised.

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“Yes, we’ve seen some people leave the province in their inter-provincial migration but overall, the growth in population that we’ve seen in the last quarter but [also] over the last two years is history-making given that the growth is driven by people coming from outside Canada. People are coming, they see opportunity here [and] they’re coming.” – BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon on immigration to BC.

Duration: 54:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s population booms by 430K over 3 months. What’s behind the spike?
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• Alberta ethics commissioner ends investigation into Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s dismissal from Indigenous health job
• Canada lays out plan to phase out sales of gas-powered cars, trucks by 2035
• Canadian Senator promised to support members in CCP’s United Front
• Word of the Week: Intervenor

Speaker Greg Fergus’ impartiality is put to question, COP28 highlights the opposition to Canada’s new emissions cap, and the BC NDP finish 2023 with a divided opposition. Also, the mainstream media completely ignores the foreign interference inquiry.

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“Why would you rule out anything in politics? A week can be a long time in politics. Certainly, if the United Party were to reach out and want to have a discussion about how we could bring things together, I think it’s possible. With the [BC] Conservative party, we will not compromise on our principles. We’ll not compromise on the values that we are running on. We’re willing to sit down and have a conversation. I’ve never said we wouldn’t. The challenge would be, of course, they have a very different view in terms of how the world works compared to us.” – BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on possibly working with BC United’s Kevin Falcon to defeat the NDP.

Duration: 59:35
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Speaker’s impartiality questioned again over comments made in Washington
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• Albertans will not tolerate it’: Alberta reacts to new federal oil and gas emissions cap
• Political shift underway in B.C., says confident Tory Leader John Rustad
• MP Han Dong, federal Conservatives, NDP to take part in foreign interference inquiry
• Word of the Week: Hamper

The Federal Court overturns the single use plastics ban, Trudeau and Eby’s battery plant announcement may cost more than expected, and Alberta calls for a balance between health and rights. Also, Iranian agents are operating in Canada with impunity.

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“We have about 700 names right now that either have temporary residence, permanent residence or citizenship that are in Canada and that are somehow regime affiliates. We are still counting. So it’s going to be closer to 1,000. They have impunity … to operate in Canada, engaging in financial and violent crimes. They will not be prosecuted. That’s just a fact.” – Immigration Lawyer Ramin Joubin on potential people in Canada linked to the Iran Islamic theocratic regime.

Duration: 1:02:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The Federal Court just overturned Ottawa’s single-use plastic ban
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• Real cost of EV battery plant subsidies $5 billion higher than government estimates: PBO
• Alberta COVID-19 report calls for ‘better balance’ between health and rights during future emergencies
• ‘Far worse than you can imagine’: How Iran’s regime has ‘spread its tentacles’ in Canada
• Word of the Week: Impunity

Canada finally launches the public inquiry on foreign interference, BC experiences severe drought conditions, and Alberta’s First Nations are grappling with drug-related deaths. Also, we added 40,000 jobs and 100,000 people in August.

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“We’ve lived through [a severe drought] once [before] and we saw the damage it did. We’re hoping the authorities can get on the bandwagon that food and water should be prioritized. As we’re going deeper and deeper in climate change and experiencing those deeper weather changes … it might be a disincentive for future generations coming into [the farming] business, because it will be harder and harder to make a living.” – Sunshine Coast farmer Mel Sylvestre on new water restrictions for everyone, including farmers.

Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian gov’t launches public inquiry into foreign election interference, taps judge as commissioner
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• Sunshine Coast imposes most severe water restrictions on 20,000 residents due to persistent drought
• 5 First Nations in northern Alberta declare state of emergency after spate of drug deaths
• Canada added 40,000 jobs in August — but it added 100,000 more people, too
• Word of the Week: Drought

An ex-RCMP officer is charged with using information to help China, Alberta’s health minister has a mandate to review and reform AHS, and Canada is committed to the digital services tax. Also, Steven Guilbeault continues to attack the oil and gas sector.

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“If it wasn’t clear before, it is now. The Trudeau government doesn’t want to just reduce emissions in our energy sector, they want to completely shut down our energy sector.” – Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on new revelations about a federal emission cap.

Duration: 1:03:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ex-Canadian Mountie charged over alleged China interference
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• Health minister given mandate to review, reform Alberta Health Services
• Canada pushing ahead with tax on Big Tech opposed by U.S., Freeland says
• Western premiers push back as Guilbeault calls for ‘phase-out of unabated fossil fuels’
• Word of the Week: Unabated

BC’s dockworkers are on strike, CBC retracts the Smith email interference story, and the Liberals and opposition make headway towards a public inquiry. Also, we look at the possible expansion of medical assistance in dying.

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“Since the Liberals finally stopped fighting a public inquiry close to a month ago, we have been engaged with all parties multiple times a week to agree on terms for a public inquiry. Conservatives are ready to accept the latest proposal for terms of reference that was discussed, but neither Dominic LeBlanc nor his office picked up the phone or answered an e-mail in the five days following the last meeting. The Prime Minister should stop his baseless attacks and get his minister to answer our calls.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the previous lack of agreement on the public inquiry into foreign interference.

Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta minister calls for back-to-work legislation to end B.C. port strike
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• CBC News retracts report alleging email interference by Alberta premier’s office
• Conservatives say parties reach agreement on terms for foreign interference inquiry
• Two Trudeau ministers seem awfully uncomfortable with euthanizing the mentally ill
• Word of the Week: Agreement

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

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• 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