Western Context

Canada makes a deal to export LNG to Germany, Carney’s inflight meals incur huge costs, and the Supreme Court decides Aboriginal title does not apply to private property. Also, Carney wants to help make America great again.

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“That is mutual strength. Canada Strong will help make America great again. The examples are legion where we should work together and compete with the world together.” – Prime Minister Mark Carney on the mutual strength of Canada and America.

Duration: 1:05:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada Strikes Landmark Deal to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Germany
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• Carney’s in-flight menu includes fine wine, braised beef and ‘luxury’ butter
• Aboriginal title can’t apply to private land, Supreme Court of Canada decides
• Carney seeks new US-Canada partnership as world undergoes ‘rupture’
• Word of the Week: rupture

Canada’s Olympic performance falls short of its target, Alberta’s budget includes a deficit, and the BC NDP try to limit freedom of information requests. Also Eastern Canada imports Australian LNG.

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“It was just a month ago that Prime Minister (Mark) Carney made international headlines with his inspiring speech at Davos. In that speech, he talked in large part about ambition, about the strength of Canada at home and the values we can and should project to the world. Through [the power of] sport, we have a real opportunity, if not a responsibility, to be ambitious about how we want to show up as a nation, both on the world stage and in communities across the country.” – Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive David Shoemaker on Canada’s Olympic future.

Duration: 56:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s Olympic chief calls for sports funding boost as medal target missed
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• Alberta Budget 2026: Province delivers $9.4B deficit that breaks its own fiscal rules
• NDP set to weaken B.C.’s FOI law and keep public in the dark
• Australia ships LNG 25,000 kilometres to Eastern Canada amid Asian slump
• Word of the Week: freedom

The media ignores internal Liberal infighting, Carney approves more major projects, and the Alberta NDP turns to Americans for public relations. Also, a DND directive that would see public service members trained by the military quietly gets scrapped.

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“The gut instinct, still, of most senior CAF leaders is to blame everyone but themselves, usually to scapegoat the media, for military-related coverage they do not like, for whatever reason, even if embarrassment is well and truly deserved. It’s a curious feature of, and sad commentary about, a seriously dated institutional mindset toward the public communications function.” – Retired Colonel Brett Boudreau on the public servant mobilization plan being leaked by the media.

Duration: 1:10:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Carney’s Liberals have their own internal drama happening
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• Carney refers one strategy, six initiatives to Major Projects Office
• Nenshi’s NDP relaunch gets big outside help: NYC mayor’s ad agency and Ottawa Liberals
• Canadian military will rely on an army of public servants to boost its ranks by 300,000
• Word of the Week: Project

The Conservatives aim to curb home invasions, the US is selling Canadian LNG to Europe, and Alberta looks at nuclear energy. Also, the Carney government has already blown past its 2025 immigration targets.

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“I think there was a view prior to a few years ago that the need for natural gas would be relatively minor and relatively short-term. I think what we all realize post-Ukraine, post what’s happening with AI, that natural gas is going to be a transition fuel that’s in greater demand in Germany and for a longer period of time. Canada has the opportunity to be a great partner to Germany in that regard.” – Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson on the so-called changes enabling LNG development.

Duration: 59:29
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Poilievre pushes law change to allow deadly force against home intruders
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• The Americans are selling Canadian natural gas to Europe at a profit
• Alberta government opens public engagement on nuclear energy
• Liberals are already missing their promised lower immigration targets
• Word of the Week: Power

BC invests in a major LNG project, an Alberta petition wants to see the province stay Canadian, and Poilievre’s byelection sees over 200 candidates. Also, US tariffs increase while the government is on vacation.

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“Canada will win this race and we will diversify our markets because of our Canadian values. And those are on display on this project right here at Cedar LNG.” – BC Premier David Eby on BC’s drive to develop LNG exports.

Duration: 1:00:27
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. government accused of ‘greenwashing’ as it announces $200M to electrify LNG project
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• Petition for referendum to ensure Alberta remains in Canada approved by Elections Alberta
• Write-in ballots to be used in Alberta byelection due to record number of candidates
• Trump increases tariff on Canada to 35% from 25%, cites fentanyl
• Word of the Week: Polispeak

Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership race, Alberta makes a deal with Japan on LNG, and David Eby wants to give himself unchecked powers. Also, Carney sets the carbon tax to $0 on day 1.

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“We have new ministers with new ideas, ready to respond to new threats and seize new opportunities.” – New Prime Minister Mark Carney on his ‘new’ cabinet consisting of many old faces.

Duration: 1:06:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership by a landslide with 86% of votes
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• Alberta inks LNG deal with Japan thwarting Ottawa’s export skepticism
• B.C. legislation would give cabinet sweeping powers amid U.S. tariff threats
• Carney cuts carbon tax rate to zero, neutralizing unpopular policy before possible campaign
• Word of the Week: Follow through

Calgary repeals the single-use plastic ban, the Woodfibre LNG ‘floatel’ is rejected by Squamish council, and immigration is not filling the industries it needs to. Also, the CBC talks about polyamory while Canada’s fertility rate plummets.

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“The floatel is a direct response to requests from the District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation and members of the community over a consultation process that went on for several years about housing our project workforce outside of the community. From the beginning [we have] been committed to minimizing impacts on the community of Squamish [including the top concerns [of] impacts on traffic, housing, impacts on community services.” – Woodfibre LNG President Christine Kennedy on addressing the concerns the project would have on Squamish.

Duration: 1:02:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians killed the bag bylaw not Calgary city council
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• Woodfibre LNG ‘floatel’ permit rejected by Squamish council
• Canada’s foreign student push ‘mismatched’ job market, data shows
• Polyamorous relationships are on the rise in Canada. The law is still catching up
• Word of the Week: Floatel

Canada refuses to sell LNG to another NATO ally, BC’s Haida Nation will have title over all of Haida Gwaii, and a third of gig workers would consider tax fraud. Also, $42m has been spent on Trudeau’s nonexistent gun buyback.

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“Not only has not a single firearm been confiscated, the program itself doesn’t even exist — not even for willing retailers anxious to off-load unsellable inventory. The whole premise of the 2020 gun ban was that these firearms, previously approved for sporting and hunting purposes by the RCMP lab, were simply too dangerous to own. Yet four years later, they are all exactly where they’ve been for decades, if not generations — in the gun safes of licensed, RCMP-vetted gun owners.” – Tracey Wilson, spokesperson for the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights on the Liberals’ stalled gun buyback.

Duration: 49:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada brushes off yet another country begging it for LNG
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• B.C.’s Haida Nation to have title over all of Haida Gwaii
• A third of Canadian gig workers are willing to commit tax fraud to keep their income, new survey finds
• Ottawa has already spent $42M on a Liberal gun ‘buyback’ that still doesn’t exist
• Word of the Week: Boondoggle

CBC tells its journalists not to call Hamas terrorists, the Supreme Court shuts down Trudeau’s environmental law C69, and another BC LNG project files for environmental assessment. Also, Trudeau will do all he can to prevent Alberta from leaving the CPP.

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“Do not refer to militants, soldiers, or anyone else as ‘terrorists…The notion of terrorism remains heavily politicized and is part of the story. Even when quoting/clipping a government or a source referring to fighters as ‘terrorists,’ we should add context to ensure the audience understands this is opinion, not fact. That includes statements from the Canadian government and Canadian politicians.”

Duration: 1:01:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CBC tells journalists to not call Hamas ‘terrorists’ in leaked memo
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• Canada’s Supreme Court Voids Most of Trudeau Environment Law
• Tourmaline-Backed LNG Group Files for Environmental Permits
• Canada to do all it can to prevent Alberta quitting pension plan -PM
• Word of the Week: Mendacious

The Bank of Canada raises interest rates again, a conference on LNG takes place in Vancouver, and Edmonton’s mayor pleads for bail reform. Also, Toronto’s new mayor Olivia Chow was helped by pro-China groups.

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“We don’t live in a bubble here on the West Coast. What happens in Asia happens to us. We must work with Asian countries to help them reduce their GHG emissions while we build our own decarbonized economy. This means providing them with low to zero-carbon alternatives to the energy they currently depend upon.” – Haisla First Nation Chief Crystal Smith on the need to develop Canadian LNG projects.

Duration: 1:03:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Bank of Canada raises its key interest rate to 5%
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• Alberta and B.C. in talks to expand Canadian LNG reach globally, Danielle Smith says
• Edmonton mayor pleads for ‘immediate action’ on bail reform after stabbing death at LRT station
• Pro-Beijing groups claim credit for helping Olivia Chow win Toronto mayoralty. She says she was unaware
• Word of the Week: Conference