Western Context

The federal NDP are asking for official party status, the Alberta UCP are navigating an independence movement, and the BC NDP’s fast tracking legislation hits some hurdles. Also Parkland Fuels may be bought by an American company.

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“Right now, we don’t actually have very many tools to reach in and take greater responsibility for moving projects along when something goes wrong. Let’s make sure we understand what we’re referring to when we talk about permitting processes. Although each of them is very well meaning, they end up kind of being spaghetti.” – BC Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma on reducing regulation by giving more power to the cabinet.

Duration: 54:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals putting out ‘feelers’ for NDP MPs to cross floor: Davies
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• Smith repeats demands, creates ‘Alberta Next’ panel ahead of likely independence vote in 2026
• Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet
• Proposed US$9-billion acquisition of Parkland to go to shareholder vote in June
• Word of the Week: Clarity

Jagmeet Singh pulls the plug on the supply and confidence deal, The Tyee compares the BC Conservatives to Donald Trump, and the UCP pulls funding from Calgary’s Green Line. Also, Canada may be susceptible to social unrest.

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“All the lights on the dashboard are now blinking furiously that this has to be slowed down. The main overall problem is the massive numbers, the volume. Totally unmanageable. Total incompetence on their part to jack all of these categories simultaneously with no apparent regard for the overall impact it would have on Canada, the job market, the housing market, the health care system or anything else. It was literally reckless.” – Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on Trudeau’s expansion of the immigration system.

Duration: 1:00:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP pulls out of supply-and-confidence deal with Liberal government
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• The Right’s War on Media Comes to BC
• Province pulling funding for Calgary’s Green Line LRT project, letter says
• Canada is dangerously close to an eruption of social unrest
• Word of the Week: Unrest

We look into the questionable pasts of Alberta NDP candidates, BC gas prices jump to record amounts after a carbon tax increase, and the Trudeau government aggressively pursued the Khadr payout leak. Also, Philpott and JWR are booted from the Liberals.

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Duration: 44:58
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Air and ground war gives UCP the squeeze
• B.C. premier to consider ‘relief’ from record-high gas prices
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• Federal government hunted for person who leaked Omar Khadr’s $10.5M settlement payment: internal report
• Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott kicked out of Liberal Party caucus
• Word of the Week: Leak

A BC NDP MP mulls retirement to mediate a pipeline dispute, Rachel Notley loans $440M to an invisible company, and the feds spent $12.7M on renting cars for the G7 summit. Also, corruption in the Canadian justice system questions the rule of law.

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Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP facing an election without a quarter of its caucus as Rankin ponders retirement
• Notley promised $440M to oilsands company that defaulted on $507M loan, has no plans for construction
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• Government spent $12.7 million on car rentals, on top of $23 million in new cars for the G7 summit
• PMO pressed Wilson-Raybould to abandon prosecution of SNC-Lavalin
• Word of the Week: Quid pro quo

BC fish farms are under increased scrutiny from the BC government, Mainstreet is singled out as polls get another election wrong in Alberta, Singh refuses to denounce the Air India terrorists, and Bill Morneau gets caught in an a conflict of interest.

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Duration: 47:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Popham pens ‘eviction’ notice-like letter to B.C. fish farms
• Mainstreet’s future with Postmedia uncertain after botched Calgary election poll
• Jagmeet Singh Suggests CBC’s Insistent Questioning About Alleged Terrorist Was Racist
• Bill Morneau didn’t place assets in blind trust, raising conflict-of-interest risk
• Word of the Week: Conflict of Interest

A video of Jagmeet Singh being heckled takes off in the media, an oilsands company defends Notley’s carbon tax, but who’s paying? Also, Horgan’s “slimy” remarks lead to a taxpayer funded lawsuit, lastly, some insensitive articles posted on Sept 11th.

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Duration: 37:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• John Ivison: Jagmeet Singh heckler video may be his Trudeau boxing match moment
• Company defends Rachel Notley’s support for the oilsands after Brian Jean attacks NDP
• B.C. taxpayers likely to foot bill in Horgan/Wilson fiasco
• What happens when an ISIS member returns to Canada? The story of one Toronto-area man
• Word of the Week: insensitive

Kevin O’Leary has dropped out of the Conservative leadership race. A look at the BC party election platforms and which one will hurt you the least. And, a summation of the media being blindsided by the United States stance on NAFTA.

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Duration: 48:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Kevin O’Leary drops out of Conservative leadership race and will support rival Maxime Bernier
• A look at the major BC Party platforms, and what you’re actually voting for
• BC Election: Spoil your ballot, vote Green – just don’t vote NDP
• Donald Trump tells Justin Trudeau he won’t terminate NAFTA, renegotiation agreed upon
• Word of the Week: Trade war

A report on the impact of the Alberta carbon tax. Meanwhile, possible privacy violations by the BC NDP. The usual actors are talking about splitting the Conservative Party. And, will Trudeau’s meddling with the National Energy Board alienate the west?

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Duration: 33:42
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Rachel Notley’s green tax attacks the weak
• Privacy complaint by Liberals alleges NDP shares supporter lists without consent
• Is it time for a Conservative Party split?
• Why Trudeau’s promised NEB revamp is yet another pain-for-no-gain exercise
• Word of the Week: Energy