Western Context

The Liberals’ fast track project bill passes with Conservative support, Carney and Trump want a trade deal within 30 days, and another Vancouver housing developer faces layoffs. Also, Canada’s evacuation response in the Middle East faces more criticism.

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“We exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this outcome, including creating efficiencies in our systems and processes, engaging in aggressive cost-reduction measures. This was all in hopes of preserving as many jobs as possible. But despite these efforts, the economic realities left us no choice. We are delivering housing at a cost that people cannot afford to purchase.” – Wesgroup CEO Beau Jarvis on the developer’s recent layoffs.

Duration: 1:04:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals’ major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support
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• Carney and Trump commit to reaching trade deal within 30 days
• Dire straits’: Wesgroup layoffs sign of big downturn in residential construction in B.C.
• Canadians stuck in Israel abandoned by embassy that closes at 4:30 p.m.
• Word of the Week: Naivety

Surprising topics arise during the Alberta NDP convention, Victoria council cancels Canada Day celebrations, and a third of Green MPs cross the floor to the Liberals. Also, Trudeau faces a complicated relationship with both the US and China.

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Duration: 51:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Is Canada prepared to stand up for the Australians who are subject to hostage diplomacy as we expect the Australians to stand up for our Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor? Are we prepared to actually engage in programming which will displease the Chinese government in concert with our allies? Or do we want to leave this to other powers and hope that if Canada stands relatively neutral, that we will be able to protect our market position in China?” – Former Canadian diplomat Charles Burton on dealing with the Chinese government.

• Notley announces plans to move Alberta’s electricity grid to net-zero by 2035 if elected
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• Victoria votes to cancel virtual Canada Day broadcast, will produce reflection event later in summer
• Green MP Jenica Atwin crossing the floor to join the Liberals
• Biden says he wants to ‘confront’ China. Is Trudeau willing to go along?
• Word of the Week: Equity

A BC NDP MP mulls retirement to mediate a pipeline dispute, Rachel Notley loans $440M to an invisible company, and the feds spent $12.7M on renting cars for the G7 summit. Also, corruption in the Canadian justice system questions the rule of law.

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Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP facing an election without a quarter of its caucus as Rankin ponders retirement
• Notley promised $440M to oilsands company that defaulted on $507M loan, has no plans for construction
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• Government spent $12.7 million on car rentals, on top of $23 million in new cars for the G7 summit
• PMO pressed Wilson-Raybould to abandon prosecution of SNC-Lavalin
• Word of the Week: Quid pro quo

The BC electoral reform debate shows that Horgan wants people to be woke and lit, an Edmonton councillor recommends halting LRT plans, the federal government wastes millions on cars for the G7 summit, and we exercise caution on the validity of polls.

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Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Are you ‘woke’ enough to make sense of John Horgan’s ‘lit’ quip?
• Edmonton Coun. Tim Cartmell calls for halt on west LRT amid funding concerns
• Support us on Patreon
• Federal government spent $23M on 631 new cars for G7 summit. Now, it’s trying to sell most of them off
• Explainer: Polls
• Word of the Week: Regression