Western Context

BC’s referendum is complete as 61.3% vote to stick with FPTP, the federal government loans $1.6B to Alberta’s oil sector, and we look at Trudeau’s foreign policy failures. Also, pure fake news on the Chamber of Commerce’s support for the carbon tax.

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Duration: 43:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No change: B.C. voters back first-past-the-post system in electoral reform referendum
• Alberta critical of Ottawa’s $1.6B package for ailing energy sector
• Support us on Patreon
• Out in the cold: Canada’s year in foreign policy
• Statement on Carbon Pricing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Word of the Week: Reform

The BC electoral reform debate shows that Horgan wants people to be woke and lit, an Edmonton councillor recommends halting LRT plans, the federal government wastes millions on cars for the G7 summit, and we exercise caution on the validity of polls.

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Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Are you ‘woke’ enough to make sense of John Horgan’s ‘lit’ quip?
• Edmonton Coun. Tim Cartmell calls for halt on west LRT amid funding concerns
• Support us on Patreon
• Federal government spent $23M on 631 new cars for G7 summit. Now, it’s trying to sell most of them off
• Explainer: Polls
• Word of the Week: Regression

StatsCan is attempting to gain our financial info without our consent, the BC electoral referendum kicks off with lingering confusion, and the Alberta NDP try to flip the page on PAC funding. Also, Trudeau tries to brand his carbon tax as anything but.

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Duration: 59:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• EXCLUSIVE: Stats Canada requesting banking information of 500,000 Canadians without their knowledge
• Proportional Representation referendum kicks off as questions about Canada Post strike, partisan ads linger
• Support us on Patreon
• NDP files complaint against UCP, Jason Kenney and third-party advertiser
• How the Liberals hope to escape the ‘Green Shift’ curse in 2019
• Word of the Week: Privacy

A special episode where we rundown major electoral systems in use today. We have a look at first past the post, all the methods of proportional representation, and we cap it off with a primer of the American Electoral College.

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Duration: 46:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• First Past the Post
• Forms of Proportional Representation
• The Electoral College

The BC NDP isn’t giving info on the electoral referendum, the U of A gives an honorary degree to David Suzuki, and the federal government blacks out the cost of a carbon tax. Also, the federal government is funding groups that want to stop Trans Mountain.

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Duration: 42:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Vaughn Palmer: NDP stacking the deck in favour of proportional representation
• U of A dean posts scathing letter against granting honorary degree to David Suzuki
• Tories demand government explain how much a carbon price will cost Canadians
• Federal program funds summer job to help ‘stop Kinder Morgan pipeline’
• Word of the Week: Hypocrisy

Stephen Mandel is running for Alberta Party leadership, unlikely allies want to keep BC’s current political system, and many middle class Canadians are actually paying more in taxes. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s town halls allow the CBC to change the narrative.

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Duration: 44:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Stephen Mandel confirms he’s running to be Alberta Party leader
• ‘It’s a bad system’: unlikely political allies fight proportional representation
• GUNTER: So much for Trudeau’s pledge – middle-class families now pay more taxes
• Trudeau’s town halls offer a master class in changing the narrative
• Word of the Week: Narrative

BC Liberals oppose the rural attack of the NDP’s electoral reform, third party foreign PACs could impact the next Alberta election, the media speculates on the Lac St. Jean by-election, and the American perception of NAFTA and their threat to pull out.

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Duration: 44:05
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberal leadership hopefuls united in fighting electoral changes
• Chief electoral officer warns of dangers of third party activities in next Alberta election
• By-election upset victory fuels Liberal hopes in Quebec
• Napping on NAFTA’: Harper blasts Trudeau government for its handling of negotiations
• Word of the week: PAC