Western Context

Irving is hiring foreign workers to build warships, Alberta media tries to change the topic from energy to climate change, and the BC repeat offender expert panel advocates for stronger mental health support. Also, ArriveCAN is no more.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“We have had government and industry officials repeatedly telling our committee about all the great jobs this program will create for Canadians. I find it very disappointing that after the tens of billions of dollars thrown to Irving for shipbuilding that they are not reaching across our country to recruit workers.” – Conservative MP Kelly McCauley on Irving Shipbuilding hiring foreign workers to build Canadian warships.

Duration: 55:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Irving shipyard recruiting foreign workers to build new warship fleet despite vow of more jobs for Canadians
• Support us on Patreon
• Oil trumps climate change in UCP leadership race to determine Alberta’s next premier
• Experts recommend big boosts to mental health supports to deal with repeat offenders in B.C.
• Blocked at the border no more: Good riddance to the ArriveCAN app
• Word of the Week: Precarious

Trudeau engages in photo-ops across Europe, Albertan oil becomes an elixir of freedom, and BC lifts its mandates while a convoy heads to Victoria. Also, Jean Charest and Patrick Brown enter the Conservative leadership race.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 58:01
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian parliament asked to approve Zelenskyy address next Tuesday
• Support us on Patreon
• Nelson: Alberta’s dirty oil is suddenly an elixir of freedom
• COVID-19: B.C. to drop mask mandate Friday for indoor public spaces, vaccine card in April
• Charest’s path to the Conservative leadership is rocky, narrow and hostile
• Word of the Week: Elixir

CP Rail looks to create a transcontinental rail route, the Supreme Court rules the federal carbon tax to be constitutional, and the auditor general blasts Trudeau’s infrastructure plans. Also, the media calls Conservatives climate deniers.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 57:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“We’ve now fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax because voters did not think we were serious about addressing climate change. And I will not allow 338 candidates to defend against the lie from the Liberals that we are a party of climate change deniers. We will have a plan to address climate change.” – Conservative Party of Canada Leader, Erin O’Toole

• CP Rail to buy Kansas City Southern to create first rail network connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico
• Support us on Patreon
• Kenney and Moe slam federal carbon tax after Supreme Court rules it’s constitutional
• Delays plague ‘inconsistent and incomplete’ $188B infrastructure program: auditor general
• I’m in charge’: O’Toole brushes off Conservative grassroots vote on climate change
• Word of the Week: Dissent

Trudeau’s government is silent on it’s plan for the Arctic, a Twitter spat over an Edmonton train shows oil hypocrisy, and Trudeau joking about his media bailout provokes outrage. Also, a Liberal candidate was dropped after anti-semetic comments surface.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 39:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• ‘It’s a joke’: After 4 years, the Liberals haven’t released their plan for the Arctic
• Support us on Patreon
• What’s going on with Jason Kenney’s Twitter spat over a train in Edmonton?
• Misleading Trudeau ‘joke’ video demonstrates the political power of editing
• Liberals dump Quebec candidate after B’nai Brith, Conservatives allege anti-Semitic comments
• Word of the Week: Joke

The Alberta NDP has a $3.7B plan to move oil by rail, the BC government is considering mandatory measles vaccinations, and the NEB reapproves support of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, a radicalized terror sympathiser is set to be released from prison.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 39:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• We take action’: Alberta is investing $3.7B to move oil by rail in leased cars
• Immunization requests spike in wake of Vancouver measles outbreak
• Support us on Patreon
• NEB renews support of Trans Mountain pipeline as long as proposed changes to protect marine life are met
• Ontario man dubbed ‘high risk to public safety’ after trying to join terror group set for release
• Word of the Week: Radicalization

A John A. MacDonald statue is removed in Victoria, a Stats Canada report on Alberta jobs gives conflicting info, diplomatic troubles with Saudi Arabia raises questions of energy independence, and Maxime Bernier raises a discussion about multiculturalism.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 55:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• City of Victoria to remove John A. Macdonald statue from front steps of city hall
• National unemployment rate falls to four-decade low; Alberta’s numbers are less rosy
• Saudi Arabia withdrawing students from Canadian schools, suspending flights
• Maxime Bernier criticizes Liberals for ‘extreme multiculturalism’
• Word of the Week: multiculturalism

A new precedent setting Alberta law could restrict oil flow and erode the constitution, Vancouver wants to allow permanent residents to vote, and Quebec could see up to 146,000 illegal migrants this year. Also, a discussion on the definition of populism.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 43:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• New law would allow Alberta to restrict flow of oil and gas
• City of Vancouver passes motion that would permit permanent residents to vote in local elections
• Quebec preparing for up to 400 asylum seekers a day at the U.S. border this summer
• Despite Trudeau’s progressive rhetoric, Canada not immune to populism: experts
• Word of the Week: populism

Doug Ford wins a close Ontario PC race, BC’s new foreign speculation tax may affect British Columbians too, Alberta is losing $14B by not having pipelines built, and white privilege school campaigns are causing racial division instead of awareness.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 48:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Doug Ford wins Ontario PC Leadership Race
• British Columbians stunned by impact of B.C.’s new ‘speculation tax’
• Study suggests pipeline capacity constraints are costing Alberta billions in lost revenue
• Canadian schools facing blowback for ‘white privilege’ awareness campaigns
• Word of the Week: Privilege

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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

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

Terrorism comes to Edmonton. Also, electoral reform in BC, an AB NDP MLA leaves caucus, Jagmeet Singh wins the federal NDP race, Energy East is now dead, Ottawa spends too much on legal fees, and the BBC notes our Holocaust memorial’s Jewish omission.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:04:28
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Edmonton Police Officers and Pedestrians Struck in Edmonton Terrorist Attack
• NDP announces B.C. referendum on proportional representation
• Karen McPherson Leaves NDP Caucus
• Jagmeet Singh wins NDP leadership race
• TransCanada terminates plan for Energy East pipeline
• Ottawa spent $110K in legal fees fighting First Nations girl over $6K dental procedure
• Canada forgets to mention Jewish people at Holocaust memorial
• Word of the Week: terrorism