Western Context

Reusable bags aren’t actually helping the environment, Edmonton looks at 15 minute cities, and John Rustad wants to end ICBC’s monopoly. Also, the House of Commons stalls over the Liberal’s money mismanagement.

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“The ban on plastic straws has been nothing but a nuisance for families and businesses across B.C. It hasn’t achieved any significant environmental goals, but it has certainly made life worse for people.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on single use plastics.

Duration: 1:00:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• We’re drowning in reusable bags. Are bag profits preventing big grocers from adopting solutions?
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• New district policy, plans including 15-minute cities concept OK’d by Edmonton city council
• John Rustad Announces Plan to End ICBC Monopoly and Bring Fair, Competitive Car Insurance to BC
• RCMP says there are ongoing investigations into ‘green slush fund’ as House is ‘ground to a halt’
• Word of the Week: Slush fund

The Conservative non confidence motion against Trudeau fails, the Liberals want to move the election date, and the Alberta NDP does not legally exist. Also, the RCMP warns that Canadians may revolt against the government.

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“I think Canadians are … just going to ask the obvious question: ‘Why do we have to bump it a week back and not a week early?’ Canadians have every right to believe that this looks like the government is pushing back the election so more MPs can take a very lucrative taxpayer-funded pension.” – Franco Terrazzano, the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation on the ‘suspicious’ election day change.

Duration: 49:33
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre-led attempt to bring down Trudeau minority over carbon tax fails
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• Liberals’ elections law reforms could yield generous pensions for dozens of MPs
• Court says Alberta NDP does not exist
• Secret RCMP report warns Canadians may revolt once they realize how broke they are
• Word of the Week: Antagonize

Liberal MPs bar the RCMP from speaking in committee on SNC Lavalin, security costs for protecting Trudeau continue to rise, and the BC NDP puts limits on short term rentals. Also, Trudeau partially flip flops on the carbon tax on home heating oil.

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“A flailing, desperate Trudeau is now flipping and flopping on the carbon tax as I am holding a gigantic axe the tax rally in a Liberal-held Atlantic riding. He is admitting he’s not worth the cost.” – Pierre Poilievre on the abrupt Liberal turn on carbon pricing.

Duration: 1:04:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals shut down meeting to question RCMP commissioner on SNC-Lavalin probe
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• The cost to protect the prime minister has shot up to more than $30 million a year
• BC NDP’s short-term rental bill stays intact, passes without amendments
• Ottawa exempting home heating oil from carbon tax for 3 years, Trudeau says
• Word of the Week: Flip-flop

An ex-RCMP officer is charged with using information to help China, Alberta’s health minister has a mandate to review and reform AHS, and Canada is committed to the digital services tax. Also, Steven Guilbeault continues to attack the oil and gas sector.

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“If it wasn’t clear before, it is now. The Trudeau government doesn’t want to just reduce emissions in our energy sector, they want to completely shut down our energy sector.” – Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on new revelations about a federal emission cap.

Duration: 1:03:02
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ex-Canadian Mountie charged over alleged China interference
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• Health minister given mandate to review, reform Alberta Health Services
• Canada pushing ahead with tax on Big Tech opposed by U.S., Freeland says
• Western premiers push back as Guilbeault calls for ‘phase-out of unabated fossil fuels’
• Word of the Week: Unabated

The Trudeau Liberals finally decide to buy F-35s, BC residents are fed up with rural property crime, and Trudeau tries wedge politics on Alberta’s climate policy. Also, the media ignores the effects of supply management on grocery inflation.

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“They [being the Conservatives] just talked about it like it was obvious. It was obvious, as we saw through the entire process, that they were particularly, and some might say unreasonably or unhealthily, attached to the F-35 aircraft.” – 2015 Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on the purchase of the F-35 fighter jet.

• Canada finalizes deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets by 2032
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• Fed-up with crime, civilian group starts patrolling the streets in Dawson Creek, B.C.
• Trudeau trash talks Alberta climate change action, draws hot response from Danielle Smith
• The conspiracy to inflate food prices is real. It’s time to rethink supply management
• Word of the Week: Vigilante

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

A BC NDP MLA faces a recall petition, sparse reasons emerge for the Emergencies Act, and Telus wants to charge consumers even more. Also, the RCMP has used spyware for decades to track Canadians.

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“All three of our telecom providers … have reported increased profits, increased revenue and increased customers for 2021. They are doing better than ever. This is just another way to raise our bills through shady practices and extra fees and adding things on top so that we are paying even more than we already are.” – Rosa Addario, spokesperson for telecom watchdog OpenMedia on Telus’ plan to add a surcharge on cell phone bills paid by credit card.

Duration: 56:26
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• I will not be intimidated’: B.C. MLA facing recall petition from anti-mandate crowd
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• Cabinet heard of potential ‘breakthrough’ with ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
• Telus asks CRTC permission to add 1.5% credit card surcharge to customer bills
• RCMP has used spyware to access targets’ communications as far back as 2002: Senior Mountie
• Word of the Week: Surcharge

Government plans have stalled Lytton’s rebuild, the Trudeau Liberals refuse to lift the gas tax, and the Chinese state maybe interfered in the 2021 election. Also, the RCMP commissioner tried to compromise the 2020 Nova Scotia shooting investigation.

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“To rebuild to all these standards, it just didn’t fit with our community. We keep hearing that Lytton is going to be rebuilt as a model community. We don’t want to hear that anymore. We just want to go home.” – Lytton resident Denise O’Connor on the lack of progress 1 year after the Lytton wildfire.

Duration: 1:01:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Long road home: Frustration in Lytton one year after devastating fire
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• Gas tax break ‘would be irresponsible’ now, federal minister says, as Liberals focus on other priorities
• China may have tried to discourage Canadians from voting Conservative
• RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki tried to ‘jeopardize’ mass murder investigation to advance Trudeau’s gun control efforts
• Word of the Week: Frustration

David Lametti relied on fake news to invoke the Emergencies Act, a BC committee agrees to replace the RCMP, and the Winnipeg lab scandal documents are redacted. Also, the RCMP decided not to charge Trudeau with fraud because he is the Prime Minister.

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“It is unclear whether Mr. Trudeau can be prosecuted under section 121(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, since the section has a provision which allows officials to accept benefits from individuals with government dealings, provided the official has the written consent of the head of their branch of government. An investigation and prosecution under this section may not be in the public interest if it cannot be definitely determined whether or not Mr. Trudeau can simply provide consent to himself.” RCMP Corporal Michael Kiperchuk, in a briefing note to his superiors on the conclusion of his investigation into Prime Minister Trudeau’s alleged fraud during the Aga Khan scandal.

Duration: 1:06:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ministers provide few details to committee probing Liberals’ use of Emergencies Act
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• B.C. should ditch RCMP and form its own police force, committee says
• Bloc warns Liberals against ‘creating parallel Parliament with its own rules’ on Winnipeg lab documents
• RCMP considered whether to charge Justin Trudeau over Aga Khan trip, documents show
• Word of the Week: Rule of Law

The RCMP’s obstruction of justice case into SNC is blocked by Trudeau, the BC economy is slowing down but spending remains up, and Alberta’s war room on oil misinformation gains enemies. Also, Trudeau no shows the first debate, which matters a great deal.

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Duration: 52:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ottawa blocks RCMP on SNC-Lavalin inquiry
• B.C. NDP ramps up capital spending in latest update
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• Amnesty International ‘deeply concerned’ about Alberta’s fight back strategy against oil foes
• Opponents pounce on Liberal record after Trudeau’s no-show at leaders debate
• Word of the Week: Investigation