Western Context

Calgary’s water system may be worse than expected, Poilievre wants tariffs on Chinese EVs and metals, and the UCP has issues with the popularity of their special projects. Also, BC’s affordable housing program is not actually about affordable housing.

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“The Housing Hub program is a supply-based program. It’s not an affordability program. The whole intent of the Housing Hub was just to build more housing. And it was intended to be market (rate) rental housing.” – Michael Pistrin, vice-president of development for B.C. Housing on how the affordable housing program was not actually about affordable housing.

Duration: 56:19
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Urgent repairs needed for Calgary’s water system, PipeDiver inspection finds 16 new hot spots
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• As Poilievre and industry call for Chinese EV tariff package, Liberals say stay tuned
• Alberta government backs away from podcast comments made by Premier Smith, Calgary MLA
• B.C. NDP explains why $2B housing affordability program was not about, er, delivering affordable housing
• Word of the Week: Market rate

BC safe supply drugs are found in the hands of organized crime, we finally put the 2017 UCP leadership allegations to rest, and BC affordable housing is not going to intended buyers. Also, Canada restores its funding to UNRWA.

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“What we have seen in Prince George is people taking prescribed medication, some of which is dedicated as safe supply prescription drugs, and selling them to organized crime groups in exchange for more potent illicit drugs. It might mean how we regulate our safe supply might need a sober second glance.” – RCMP Corp. Jennifer Cooper on the diversion of safe supply drugs to organized crime.

Duration: 56:59
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C.’s ‘safe supply’ drugs being sold by organized crime across Canada
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• No charges as RCMP conclude probe into Alberta’s 2017 UCP leadership race
• Affordable-housing pilot in Victoria allegedly ‘undermined’ by buyers who already owned homes
• Canadian government will resume funding to United Nations relief agency for Palestinians
• Word of the Week: Affordable

Canada’s cold snap raises questions of BC Hydro’s future, Rachel Notley is stepping down as Alberta’s NDP leader, and even Liberal ministers agree that immigration is out of control. Also, an opinion piece questions Poilievre’s commitment to queer issues.

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“I’m a bit of a polarizing figure in the province.” – Outgoing Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley on part of the reason why she is leaving.

Duration: 1:10:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC experiences record-breaking electricity demand amid cold snap, says BC Hydro
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• Notley says she’ll step down from Alberta NDP helm to make way for fresh voices
• Elements of immigration system ‘out of control,’ says federal minister as pressure to make changes increases
• Concern about queer rights under a Poilievre-led government keeps me up at night
• Word of the Week: Import

BC’s Unexplained Wealth Order claims its first forfeiture candidate, the UCP invoke the Sovereignty Act on provincial power generation, and BC’s healthcare is likened to a 3rd world country. Also, Google makes a deal with Trudeau on C-18.

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“These measures are not something that we want to do. They are a plan to counteract the absurd, illogical, unscientific and unconstitutional interference in Alberta’s electrical grid by a federal government that simply doesn’t care what happens to our province. We refuse to meekly accept actions which are so plainly destructive to Alberta’s economy and to the very safety and security of Albertan citizens.” – Danielle Smith on Alberta’s first invocation of the Alberta Sovereignty Act.

Duration: 56:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. couple questioned how they bought their house under new Unexplained Wealth Order
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• Alberta invokes sovereignty act, sets groundwork for Crown corporation to be ‘generator of last resort’
• B.C.’s health-care system like ‘third-world country’: MLA
• Federal government reaches deal with Google on Online News Act
• Word of the Week: Forfeiture

Liberal MPs bar the RCMP from speaking in committee on SNC Lavalin, security costs for protecting Trudeau continue to rise, and the BC NDP puts limits on short term rentals. Also, Trudeau partially flip flops on the carbon tax on home heating oil.

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“A flailing, desperate Trudeau is now flipping and flopping on the carbon tax as I am holding a gigantic axe the tax rally in a Liberal-held Atlantic riding. He is admitting he’s not worth the cost.” – Pierre Poilievre on the abrupt Liberal turn on carbon pricing.

Duration: 1:04:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals shut down meeting to question RCMP commissioner on SNC-Lavalin probe
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• The cost to protect the prime minister has shot up to more than $30 million a year
• BC NDP’s short-term rental bill stays intact, passes without amendments
• Ottawa exempting home heating oil from carbon tax for 3 years, Trudeau says
• Word of the Week: Flip-flop

Speaker Anthony Rota resigns after inviting a Waffen SS member to be honoured by Parliament, the Trudeau government wants to cut $1b in defence spending, and BC sets some housing targets. Also, streaming services have to register with the CRTC.

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“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to [honour Hunka]. I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them. I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.”- Now former House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota, on his decision to honour a Waffen SS member in Parliament.

Duration: 55:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau apologises after Nazi honoured in Canada’s parliament
• Support us on Patreon
• Federal government looking to cut $1 billion from National Defence budget
• Do B.C.’s new housing targets keep pace with population growth?
• Social media, streaming services must register with the CRTC by November
• Word of the Week: Ovation

Alberta and BC show differing approaches to the drug crisis and public safety, and the federal government removes GST on rental starts and considers a grocery tax. Also, the Trudeau government gives subsidies to cricket farmers.

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“I grew up eating crickets in my porridge as a kid because they bring so much protein.” – Liberal MP for London West Arielle Kayabaga on the feasibility of cricket farming in Canada.

Duration: 46:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta overhauling prosecution practices in effort to address rise in violent crime
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• B.C. to ban drug possession near playgrounds for duration of decriminalization pilot project
• Ottawa to remove GST on new rental housing, calls on cities to end exclusionary zoning
• Trudeau Liberals handing out millions to help put crickets on menu
• Word of the Week: Housing

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

More Canadians are skeptical of the carbon tax’s effectiveness, Alberta and Ottawa have different timelines on net zero, and federal ministers pay lip service to housing woes. Also, the judicial system is becoming more political.

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“If people are asking us to slash, what does that mean? Does that mean slashing the skilled workers that we need to actually build those houses? Slash family reunification, which can be devastating for the mental health and well-being of the families that are already here?” Immigration Minister Marc Miller, responding to questions of reducing immigration to ease housing concerns.

Duration: 52:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadians skeptical about carbon taxes
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• No way to start a conversation’: Alberta fires back as Ottawa mulls tying funding to meeting 2035 net-zero grid deadline
• A little bit of help’: Chrystia Freeland touts home savings account as part of housing crisis solution
• Exclusive data analysis reveals Liberals appoint judges who are party donors
• Word of the Week: Politicization

Trudeau performs a cabinet shuffle, the media highlights private Alberta medical clinics charging member fees, and problems at BC Ferries continue. Also, a TD report shows how immigration is fuelling unaffordability.

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“A cabinet of 39 is not a serious decision-making body. As cabinet gets larger, moreover, the ministers get smaller. In a cabinet of 12, every minister is a player. As you pass 20, they start to blur together. By the time you near 40, they look like ants.” – Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet on the size of Trudeau’s new cabinet.

Duration: 53:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios
• NDP calls for probe into how many medical clinics are charging ‘member’ fees in Alberta
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• B.C. Ferries running out of excuses
• Canada’s Immigration Policy Driving Housing Unaffordability, Higher Rates – TD
• Word of the Week: Shuffle