Western Context

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

Half of small businesses can’t repay their CEBA loans, Danielle Smith negotiates climate targets with the federal government, and the amount paid by BC renters has reached a crisis level. Also, we see just how much McKinsey has affected the opioid crisis.

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“There is near panic on the part of close to half of Canada’s small businesses about the looming deadline that is approaching for CEBA loans. About 43 per cent of small businesses are telling us they just don’t have the money to repay their CEBA loans and they’re gonna have to take some pretty drastic action if they are required to repay them by the end of this year.” – Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, on the looming deadline for small businesses to repay their pandemic CEBA loans.

Duration: 55:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Government’s $50-billion loan program coming due, but many businesses can’t pay
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• Smith unyielding on federal targets for climate, energy sector
• Crisis level’ of B.C. renters spending more than half their income on rent and utilities
• McKinsey pitched Purdue Pharma Canada on plan to boost opioid sales in 2014, memo reveals
• Word of the Week: Due

The Liberals keep the status quo in the Senate, 93% of BC MLAs are homeowners, and US abortion issues get imported into Canada. Also, Canadian military surveillance gets overshadowed by Trudeau’s alleged f-bomb.

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“[I] believe their precise circular tracks over Ottawa suggest a form of electronic surveillance, not simply digital electro-optical imagery or video. These patterns look very much like other tracks seen over foreign conflict zones while ISR missions were believed to be under way.” – Ottawa researcher Steffan Watkins on the purported military training exercises over Ottawa during the Freedom Convoy protests.

Duration: 1:03:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals bury Senate rule changes, pay raises for some caucus leaders, in budget bill
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• 95% of B.C. MLAs own a home, nearly half have a second property
• No changes planned to abortion access in Alberta, government leaders say
• Surveillance aircraft over Ottawa during ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest operated by Canadian special forces, DND confirms
• Word of the Week: Abort

The Freedom convoy arrives in Ottawa, remains are found at another BC residential school, and the Conservatives election post mortem has been released. Also, we detail Trudeau’s broken promises on the housing crisis.

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“This journey has led our investigation team into the darkest recesses of human behaviour.” – Williams Lake First Nations Chief Willie Sellars on the search for residential school remains.

Duration: 52:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau uses trucker protests as political weapon
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• Williams Lake First Nation identifies 93 potential burial sites at former residential school
• Conservative post-election report says O’Toole was ‘over-managed’ during the campaign
• Trudeau’s housing promises still not materializing
• Word of the Week: Disparage

ICBC gives back a rebate average of $190 per driver, the media thinks Jason Kenney enables conspiracies, and saving for a house has never been more difficult. Also Canada’s vaccine rate is falling fast while Trudeau says to trust his plan.

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Duration: 50:05
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“1.8 million British Columbians have received this pandemic benefit. I appreciate that 300,000 people is a lot of people, but again, without a calculator, I think we can all appreciate that 1.8 million is a lot more.” – BC Premier John Horgan

• Horgan takes a risk by overselling ICBC rebates
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• Kenney needs to be ‘crystal clear’ in discrediting COVID-19 conspiracies, says expert
• ‘Saving For A Down Payment Has Never Been Worse,’ Says National Bank Of Canada
• Canada the only G7 country to take vaccines from fund that helps developing countries
• Word of the Week: Jab

Political ads are banned on social media, the CBC tries to discredit The Post Millennial, and tax audits in the BC housing market uncover criminal elements. Also, China bans meat imports from Canada and journalists don’t connect the dots with Huawei.

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Duration: 44:21
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 2015 redux: Scheer’s Conservatives are sticking with the Harper policy book
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• The Fight Against The CBC and Press Progress
• Potential cases of tax evasion in B.C. real estate rising
• China to stop all imports of ‘meat products’ from Canada starting Wednesday
• Word of the Week: Weak

Canadian oil is discounted due to lack of transport, a BC court case reveals immigration loopholes, a far right group attends Trudeau’s town hall to the delight of the CBC, and a fake hijab cutting incident sparks a rapid condemnation of Islamophobia.

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Duration: 43:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian oil selling at a deep discount – and it hurts
• Explosive B.C. court case details seven migration scams
• Members of far-right Storm Alliance attend Trudeau’s town hall in Quebec City
• Toronto police say hijab-cutting attack reported by girl didn’t happen
• Word of the Week: Clickbait