Western Context

Canada’s passport redesign removes iconic historical images, the UCP makes a plan to reduce city crime, and BC’s old growth forests are still being logged. Also, the Alberta NDP spreads misinformation about healthcare.

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“I would advocate that [Terry Fox] should be on more things. He’s one of Canada’s greatest heroes. He was a young person in the early 80s who inspired a nation and a world to do better. And because of him, there’s been a lot of suffering that’s been alleviated because of the money raised for cancer (research). To remove such an iconic Canadian in place of what I’ll call such generic Canadiana imagery makes absolutely no sense.” – Dave Teixeira, the organizer of the Terry Fox Hometown Run, on the federal government’s removal of Terry Fox from the new passport design.

Duration: 55:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada removes Terry Fox from passport, prompting backlash
• Support us on Patreon
• UCP announces Safe Streets Action Plan
• Images of felled ancient tree a ‘gut-punch’, old-growth experts say
• Deeply concerning’: Smith suggests privatizing major Alberta hospitals in 2021 video
• Word of the Week: Passport

The BC Supreme Court lifts the injunction on Fairy Creek protestors, the Two Michaels return to Canada, and the BC government misleads us on hospital stats. Also, Trudeau spends the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at the beach in Tofino.

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“So now Justin is saying he made a few calls on his way to the beach. Can you imagine any Prime Minister sending out a tweet to explain that he spent Remembrance Day at the beach but called some veterans on his way? This wasn’t meant to be a day off Justin.” – NDP MP Charlie Angus on Justin Trudeau’s trip to the beach.

Duration: 1:02:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Judge ends injunction against Fairy Creek protests, citing ‘substantial infringement of civil liberties’
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• Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China
• Mixed message on COVID-19 patients a blow to credibility of John Horgan’s government
• Trudeau spends 1st Truth and Reconciliation Day in Tofino on vacation, contradicting itinerary
• Word of the Week: Reconciliation

The remains of 215 indigenous children are found near the Kamloops residential school, Jason Kenney warns of the danger of erasing our history, and John Horgan lays out a modern forestry plan. Also, Canada’s first dose successes can be misleading.

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Duration: 58:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The critical recommendation that’s in play at Fairy Creek is consulting with the title holders. If we were to arbitrarily put deferrals in place there, that would be a return to the colonialism that we have so graphically been brought back to this week by the discovery in Kamloops.” – BC Premier John Horgan on why he won’t immediately protect old growth forests from being logged.

• Remains of 215 Indigenous children found buried at former Kamloops residential school
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• Kenney defends contentious Canadian history, laments cancel culture after Calgary school renamed
• B.C. lays out plans for ‘modernizing’ regulation of the forest industry
• U.S. to share millions of vaccine doses, including with Canada, as Ottawa pushed to donate too
• Word of the Week: Assimilation

Federal politicians say Quebec can amend the constitution, tools to identify old growth are ignored by the BC government, and Alberta’s municipal races heat up. Also, inflation is on the rise once again, while the media and government both ignore it.

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Duration: 58:58
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“The PM is fine [with] Que[bec] unilaterally amend[ing] the constitution to declare Quebec a nation and French its official language. So hypothetically speaking – AB and SK can do something like that too? Or would the answer be no….’asymmetrical federalism’ and all?” – Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall on the looming constitutional crisis.

• Quebec can modify part of the Canadian Constitution unilaterally, Trudeau says
• Support us on Patreon
• ‘We don’t have time’: scientists urge B.C. to immediately defer logging in key old-growth forests amid arrests
• Former councillor, MP Amarjeet Sohi announces Edmonton mayoral campaign
• From takeout to gas prices, how to protect yourself from rising inflation
• Word of the Week: Nation

Kenney walks a tightrope with unpopular restrictions, Horgan ignores a major logging protest in his riding, and Trudeau attempts to blame the provinces for poor vaccine rollouts. Also, Trudeau continues to stonewall testimony on the WE Charity scandal.

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Duration: 58:18
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“It’s disappointing that we find ourselves for a third time experiencing the Liberals’ ‘Choose your own adventure of parliamentary democracy’. We’re now jammed up with shenanigans that leave us unable to complete our report.” – Conservative Ethics Critic Michael Barrett on Liberal stonewalling on WE Charity testimony

• Kenney says he will boot UCP MLAs from caucus if they break COVID-19 rules or encourage others to do so
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• ‘War in the woods’: activists blockade Vancouver Island in bid to save ancient trees
• Hajdu publicizes delivery of 10 million vaccine doses as Ford blames federal rollout for shot delays
• Federal elections watchdog looking into WE Charity, researcher says
• Word of the Week: Revolt

The BC NDP government fails to protect old growth forests, Alberta’s restrictions aim to not harm businesses, and a Canadian government arts grant goes to the partner of Elon Musk. Also, Trudeau’s promise of an early vaccine for Canadians gets broken.

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Duration: 1:30:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC should finance old-growth protections, advocates say
• Support us on Patreon
• Kenney’s lockdown is severe but holds out hope for businesses to survive
• A $90,000 Canadian arts subsidy for Grimes, who lives in California with Elon Musk
• COVID-19 vaccines won’t ship to Canada until they are approved for use here
• Word of the Week: Old Growth