Western Context

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

Trudeau announces a high speed rail network right before he resigns, Carney’s financial policies get lambasted by economists, and BC’s throne speech says very little on the future. Also, the Liberals want to double CBC funding.

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“The changes at the CBC should be part of a package of measures to protect Canadians from foreign interference, from threats from the Trump administration, and the hegemony and the place that the richest men on the planet occupy in the public space of discussion, debate and information.” – Pascale St-Onge on a blueprint of changes for the CBC.

Duration: 1:04:21
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• High-speed rail line with 300 km/h trains will run between Toronto and Quebec City, Trudeau announces
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• Carney’s budgeting proposal was a ‘disaster’ when Alberta tried it, economists say
• BC throne speech cites war against Nazis to portray province in historic battle
• Liberals want to nearly double CBC funding, as an investment in ‘national security’
• Word of the Week: Lame duck

BC forecasts a huge deficit while renegotiating union contracts, Jasper’s rebuild runs into federal red tape, and the RCMP buys unusable Chinese drones for the border. Also, Mark Carney’s climate history may show us his future plans.

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“The core will be to electrify everything and simultaneously develop green electricity. Achieving net zero will require moving away from fossil fuels to renewables, decarbonizing transport and reducing emissions from industrial processes. Meaningful carbon prices are a cornerstone of any effective policy framework. To meet the 1.5 C target, more than 80 per cent of current fossil fuel reserves (including three-quarters of coal, half of gas, one-third of oil) would need to stay in the ground, stranding these assets.” – Mark Carney’s book “Values” on carbon pricing.

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. to negotiate public sector contracts for 400,000 workers in 2025 amid fiscal issues
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• We’re going to lose Jasper’: Town pleads with Steven Guilbeault to fast-track recovery
• Canada bought Chinese drones that are unusable at the border
• Mark Carney says he’s started at the top ‘many’ times before as he runs to become prime minister
• Word of the Week: Top