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

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

Google is banning political ads ahead of the fall election, John Horgan wants us to stop whining about softwood lumber, and an anti-energy advocate is now a part of Alberta’s energy regulator. Also, Trudeau’s cabinet experiences another resignation.

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Duration: 50:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Google to ban political ads ahead of federal election, citing new transparency rules
• Premier Horgan Tells MLA Tegart to “Stop Whining” about Lumber Dispute
• Support us on Patreon
• NDP government appoints an ‘enemy’ to the Alberta Energy Regulator
• Jane Philpott resigns from Trudeau cabinet, cites SNC-Lavalin scandal as a factor
• Word of the Week: Transparency

Albertans feel the economy is worse than it is, a poll on the Nanaimo by-election is wrong by 22%, and the federal government overpaid for the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, we talk about the evolution of fake news on social media.

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Duration: 45:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians think economy is worse than it really is: study
• BC Liberals have 13-point lead ahead Nanaimo byelection: Mainstreet Research poll
• Support us on Patreon
• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says
• Fury over Google listing Khadr as a ‘Canadian soldier’
• Word of the Week: Psychology