Western Context

Canada finally launches the public inquiry on foreign interference, BC experiences severe drought conditions, and Alberta’s First Nations are grappling with drug-related deaths. Also, we added 40,000 jobs and 100,000 people in August.

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“We’ve lived through [a severe drought] once [before] and we saw the damage it did. We’re hoping the authorities can get on the bandwagon that food and water should be prioritized. As we’re going deeper and deeper in climate change and experiencing those deeper weather changes … it might be a disincentive for future generations coming into [the farming] business, because it will be harder and harder to make a living.” – Sunshine Coast farmer Mel Sylvestre on new water restrictions for everyone, including farmers.

Duration: 48:25
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian gov’t launches public inquiry into foreign election interference, taps judge as commissioner
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• Sunshine Coast imposes most severe water restrictions on 20,000 residents due to persistent drought
• 5 First Nations in northern Alberta declare state of emergency after spate of drug deaths
• Canada added 40,000 jobs in August — but it added 100,000 more people, too
• Word of the Week: Drought

Half of small businesses can’t repay their CEBA loans, Danielle Smith negotiates climate targets with the federal government, and the amount paid by BC renters has reached a crisis level. Also, we see just how much McKinsey has affected the opioid crisis.

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“There is near panic on the part of close to half of Canada’s small businesses about the looming deadline that is approaching for CEBA loans. About 43 per cent of small businesses are telling us they just don’t have the money to repay their CEBA loans and they’re gonna have to take some pretty drastic action if they are required to repay them by the end of this year.” – Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, on the looming deadline for small businesses to repay their pandemic CEBA loans.

Duration: 55:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Government’s $50-billion loan program coming due, but many businesses can’t pay
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• Smith unyielding on federal targets for climate, energy sector
• Crisis level’ of B.C. renters spending more than half their income on rent and utilities
• McKinsey pitched Purdue Pharma Canada on plan to boost opioid sales in 2014, memo reveals
• Word of the Week: Due

Ethics issues in Alberta don’t get covered fairly, BC’s safe supply is getting sold on the streets, and coal plants will become illegal to run after 2030. Also, Trudeau’s new clean fuel standards will increase inflation and hit the poor the hardest.

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“If where we’ve come to, in this country, is when individuals in this province, or any other province, flick their lights on or the furnace fan kicks in that that’s deemed illegal and causes for someone to go to jail, come and get me.” – Premier Scott Moe on the federal government’s 2030 green electricity requirements.

Duration: 55:27
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta ethics probe says Smith didn’t contact prosecutors but did try to influence justice system
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• Safe supply: Are prescribed opioids being sold on B.C.’s streets, and if so, is it a problem?
• Saskatchewan running coal power later than 2030 would be illegal
• New fuel regulations will increase price of fuel and decrease GDP
• Word of the Week: Regulation

The Prairie provinces join against Trudeau’s gun ban, we compare the opioid crisis approach of BC and Alberta, and people are moving from Ontario to the West. Also, Canada might be in a recession soon.

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“It’s like a bicycle that’s going really, really slowly. It’s fast enough that it’s still staying upright, but it’s kind of wobbling. If it hits a pebble, it could be knocked over. … And there’s a tonne of pebbles around.” – Stuart Bergman, chief economist at Export Development Canada, describing the Canadian economy at present.

Duration: 56:11
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta government calls on RCMP to ignore federal firearms ban within province
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• A tale of two provinces: Assessing the opioid crises in BC and Alberta – Geoff Russ for Inside Policy
• Go west, young man: Alberta sees largest wave of interprovincial migration since 2014
• Canada headed for ‘severe’ and ‘inevitable’ recession in 2023: economist
• Word of the Week: Execute

Singh and O’Toole battle for BC’s votes, Alberta will vote on equalization and DST in the fall, and the Green Party goes through a civil war. Also, we detail the untold stories of the pandemic: overdoses, comorbidities and more.

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Duration: 55:13
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“Any time we talk about big infrastructure, there has to be a commitment that the infrastructure is made with Canadian products, Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum. The Liberals have talked about a high-speed train. They’ve never mentioned once that they’re going to use Canadian products in a high-speed train,” -NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on his not quite “Buy Canadian” strategy

• Singh promises public infrastructure to be made with ‘Canadian products’ in jobs plan
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• Albertans to vote on daylight saving time, equalization in the fall; pension and police to be further studied
• Green party executive launches membership review of its own leader, Annamie Paul
• Overdoses, alcohol-related deaths increased in Canadians under 65 during pandemic: StatCan
• Word of the Week: Advantage

New Conservative leader Erin O’Toole is a surprise to the media, Alberta’s first black justice minister is overshadowed by economic woes, and the opioid crisis is spiralling out of control in BC. Also, we look at China’s hostile takeover of Nortel.

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Duration: 59:22
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• How Erin O’Toole won
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• Alberta’s deficit could balloon to $24.2 billion
• B.C. marks 3rd straight month with more than 170 overdose deaths
• Inside the Chinese military attack on Nortel
• Word of the Week: Reckoning