Western Context

We look back on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s time in office, including his greatest hits, scandals, and all of the dumb things he said or did over the past 10 years.

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Justin Trudeau falls out of a kayak. One of the many embarrassing moments for this Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:07:31
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

Trudeau’s Greatest Hits

1. #WelcomeToCanada -> Roxham Road
2. Chinese foreign interference + Meng Wanzhou and 2 Michaels
3. Appointment of Steven Guilbeault, Bill C-69 (no more pipelines Bill), Bill C-48 and other anti-development policy
4. Budget will balance itself
5. SNC / JWR / Jane Philpott
6. 2018 India trip (Jaspal Atwal)
7. Emergencies Act, Convoy, and vaccine mandates
8. Military missteps: Vice Admiral Mark Norman, General Jonathan Vance, sexual misconduct scandals, procurement woes
9. Weapons ban through Order in Council
10. Black Face

Scandals

• She Experienced It Differently (Kokanee Grope)
• Aga Khan scandal
• Cash for Access scandal
• Forgoing first National Truth and Reconciliation day by vacationing in Tofino instead
• Billions of spending to outside consultants including McKinsey
• Elbowgate
• Bombardier Bailout Scandal
• Omar Khadr
• Appointment of Julie Payette as Governor General

Trudeauisms (Dumb shit he did)

• Admires China’s basic dictatorship
• Because it’s 2015 (gender neutral cabinet) + Sunny Ways my friends
• Costumes and socks
• Losing a confidence vote
• “Speaking Moistly” – Covid response
• Falling down the stairs as a social icebreaker
• Drink Box Water Box Type Things
• Kayak

Justin Trudeau announces his resignation while proroguing Parliament, the University of Alberta is moving away from DEI, and John Rustad highlights problems with the BC election. Also, Donald Trump’s remarks cause Canadians to reflect inward.

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“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election. As you all know, I’m a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight… I care deeply about this country. I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months.” – Justin Trudeau upon announcing his pending resignation as Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:03:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Justin Trudeau resigning, prorogues Parliament
• Support us on Patreon
• Why the U of A is moving from EDI to access, community and belonging
• Elections BC to probe election complaint lodged by BC Conservatives
• Trump said Tuesday he’d be willing to use ‘economic force’ to join countries
• Word of the Week: Resignation

Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs, an unknown group funds BC attack ads, and Bill C-59 reduces advertising transparency from companies. Also, Trudeau racks up a $223k catering bill on the Indo-Pacific trip.

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“It might be tough to connect with the middle class while chowing down on lamb shanks served on fine China and billing taxpayers for it. You shouldn’t need a focus group to recommend telling the prime minister to turn down the baked cheesecake with pistachio brittle when Canadians are lining up around the block at the foodbank.” – Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Franco Terrazzano on Trudeau’s $220k catering bill for the Indo-Pacific trip.

Duration: 59:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs: ‘We risk Ontario and Canadian jobs’
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• Here’s what we know about the ‘secretive’ group targeting B.C. NDP rivals with attack ads
• Pathways Alliance oilsands group removes content from website and social media, citing Bill C-59
• Airplane food cost more than $220K on Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific trip
• Word of the Week: Style

Court documents reveal no basis for Trudeau’s travel ban, Canada bans the importation of handguns, and fake outrage emerges over Alberta’s provincial police future. Also, while Trudeau is on vacation, there are plenty of other things to criticize him for.

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“[The Trudeau] government’s apparent abandonment of Ukrainian embassy employees ahead of Russia’s invasion in February; its continuing abandonment of Afghans who worked for the Canadian government; its enduring and expensive fidelity to COVID-19 theatre; the lack of clarity surrounding allegations of political interference in the RCMP probe following the 2020 Nova Scotia massacre; the federal government’s failure, months later, to publicly provide persuasive evidence justifying its invocation of the Emergencies Act during the trucker convoy crisis; and Mr. Trudeau’s capitulation in returning natural gas turbines to Germany despite Russian sanctions.” – Globe and Mail columnist Robyn Urback, detailing reasons other than a vacation to be concerned with Trudeau’s government.

Duration: 57:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Court Documents Reveal Canada’s Travel Ban Had No Scientific Basis
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• Canada is banning the importation of handguns, effective Aug. 19
• Alberta NDP criticizes United Conservative Party’s new provincial policing website
• A dangerous rage is sweeping the land
• Word of the Week: Basis

Bill C-11 allows the CRTC to regulate user content, Alberta NDP volunteers are demeaned, and panic buying ensues after Trudeau’s gun freeze. Also, Trudeau trolls Canadians by creating policy in response to the US.

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“Bill C-11 implies vague changes to these platforms to prioritize Canadian content to Canadians, but it would in turn deprioritize Canadian content to an international audience. The social media platforms cannot allow Canadian content to enjoy heightened exposure to Canadians without detracting exposure internationally, as it creates an uneven playing field on the platform. Less Canadian content will be shown globally as a result.” – Canadian Youtuber Justin Tomchuk, on Trudeau’s Bill C-11.

Duration: 57:52
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• User content subject to ‘some authority’ by CRTC under Bill C-11, regulator says
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• Alberta NDP volunteers were ignored and demeaned, former workers say
• Panic buying sets in after Trudeau’s handgun ban
• Justin Trudeau, the troll farm prime minister
• Word of the Week: Troll

Alberta rolls back more COVID restrictions, BC’s drought conditions throw a spotlight on bottled water companies, and Trudeau ignores Alberta’s senate elections. Also, Trudeau condemns the Mailloux draft while the media ignores Trudeau’s past.

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Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“If we say yes to extracting some water now, what’s that going to look like 10, 20, or 100 from now? If they need water, go to the places where the water exists — don’t go to some of the driest places in BC. The ranchers need the water, the First Nations need the water, the animals need the water.” – High Bar First Nation resource manager Greg Crookes on the Clinton bottled water plant proposal.

• Dr. Hinshaw tells CBC News there has been a ‘dramatic shift’ in COVID-19 risk to the general population
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• Report calls for ban on water-bottling plants in increasingly arid B.C. Interior
• Prime minister announces appointment of five new senators
• Pot-kettle scenario as Trudeau calls out Canadiens over NHL draft folly
• Word of the Week: Aquifer

The federal debt hits $1.2T with $343b spent just this past year, a tug of war arises in BC over police street checks, and a UCP bill reverts power given to unions by the NDP. Also, Trudeau and his finance minister engage in yet another ethics scandal.

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Duration: 1:00:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The challenge of our lifetime’: Federal deficit to hit $343 billion this year
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• More than 70 organizations sign open letter calling for ban on police street checks in B.C.
• Union picketing and political campaigning curbed under proposed Alberta bill
• Maybe we should have been looking at WE Charity earlier
• Word of the Week: Snapshot

Trudeau loses out on the UN Security Council, the Alberta Fair Deal report is released, and China charges the two Michaels with espionage. Also, Jagmeet Singh allows Trudeau to shutter Parliament, and calls anyone who disagrees with him a racist.

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Duration: 56:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada loses out to Ireland and Norway in Security Council vote
• China Indicts 2 Canadians on Spying Charges, Escalating Dispute
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• Alberta’s Fair Deal report recommends referendum on equalization, replacing RCMP
• Trudeau’s discarding of democracy only outstripped by Singh’s
• Word of the Week: Indictment

Trudeau’s government spends millions fighting veterans in court, a panel calls for more Canadian content on streaming services, and stigma surrounds the coronavirus outbreak in Canada. Also, Trudeau gives $50m to Mastercard amid a household debt crisis.

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Duration: 45:53
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ottawa spent more than $180,000 on defamation case involving Seamus O’Regan
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• Independent panel report calls for more Canadian streaming content and an ad-free CBC
• Canada’s top doctor calls out ‘racism and stigmatizing comments’ over coronavirus
• Trudeau hands MasterCard a gift of your money
• Word of the Week: Stigma

The BC Coastal Gaslink pipeline undergoes more disruptions, the federal carbon tax will not save Albertans money, and Trudeau’s facial hair dominates the media. Also, we discuss the tragedy of UIA Flight 752, and the leadup to the deadly aviation disaster.

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Duration: 47:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Work must stop on Trans Mountain, Site C, LNG pipeline until First Nations approval, UN committee says
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• Alberta gets a new carbon tax Jan. 1 — but that could be good news for your wallet
• Statesman, ‘daddy’ or dud: Justin Trudeau’s new beard ignites social media
• Iran plane crash: Western powers suggest missile downed jet
• Word of the Week: Crash