Western Context

Kevin Falcon suspends BC United’s election campaign, Trudeau appoints more partisan Liberals to the Senate, and Liberal staffers pull support from the byelection campaigns. Also, Trudeau announces a reduction in temporary foreign workers.

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

“I don’t know what metaphor to use here, whether it’s a bandwagon or whether it’s a snowball rolling downhill or what it is, but he jumped on it. John’s got a very successful, emerging, boisterous brand – the Conservative brand – without having to really do anything.” – Former BC Liberal cabinet minister Bill Bennett on the groundswell of support for the BC Conservatives.

Duration: 1:02:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Kevin Falcon to fold BC United Party, suspend campaign
• Support us on Patreon
• Albertans Kristopher Wells and Daryl Fridhandler appointed to Senate
• Liberal staffers pull support for party in Montreal byelection, citing government’s stance on Gaza
• Trudeau announces reduction in temporary foreign workers, suggests more immigration changes to come
• Word of the Week: Moribund

The Liberals keep the status quo in the Senate, 93% of BC MLAs are homeowners, and US abortion issues get imported into Canada. Also, Canadian military surveillance gets overshadowed by Trudeau’s alleged f-bomb.

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

“[I] believe their precise circular tracks over Ottawa suggest a form of electronic surveillance, not simply digital electro-optical imagery or video. These patterns look very much like other tracks seen over foreign conflict zones while ISR missions were believed to be under way.” – Ottawa researcher Steffan Watkins on the purported military training exercises over Ottawa during the Freedom Convoy protests.

Duration: 1:03:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals bury Senate rule changes, pay raises for some caucus leaders, in budget bill
• Support us on Patreon
• 95% of B.C. MLAs own a home, nearly half have a second property
• No changes planned to abortion access in Alberta, government leaders say
• Surveillance aircraft over Ottawa during ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest operated by Canadian special forces, DND confirms
• Word of the Week: Abort

Alberta rolls back more COVID restrictions, BC’s drought conditions throw a spotlight on bottled water companies, and Trudeau ignores Alberta’s senate elections. Also, Trudeau condemns the Mailloux draft while the media ignores Trudeau’s past.

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

Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

“If we say yes to extracting some water now, what’s that going to look like 10, 20, or 100 from now? If they need water, go to the places where the water exists — don’t go to some of the driest places in BC. The ranchers need the water, the First Nations need the water, the animals need the water.” – High Bar First Nation resource manager Greg Crookes on the Clinton bottled water plant proposal.

• Dr. Hinshaw tells CBC News there has been a ‘dramatic shift’ in COVID-19 risk to the general population
• Support us on Patreon
• Report calls for ban on water-bottling plants in increasingly arid B.C. Interior
• Prime minister announces appointment of five new senators
• Pot-kettle scenario as Trudeau calls out Canadiens over NHL draft folly
• Word of the Week: Aquifer

A new group in the senate sparks calls for reform, China resumes Canadian meat imports to curb inflation, and Alberta starts to enact tougher castle doctrine laws. Also, testing has revealed lead in Canada’s drinking water, while our government is on vacation.

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

Duration: 48:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• 11 Canadian senators form new group to represent regional interests
• China to resume importing beef and pork from Canada
• Support us on Patreon
• Eddie Maurice and it sounds like good news
• ‘This is not a joke’: High levels of lead found in water at Canadian daycares, schools
• Word of the Week: Independent

The US, Mexico, and Canada have reached a deal to replace NAFTA, who won? In BC a big $40B LNG project is approved, and journalist Paula Simons is appointed to the Senate. Also, we look at the results of the Quebec election and the effects of nationalism.

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

Duration: 1:01:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Revamped NAFTA deal, renamed USMCA, will ‘rebalance’ North America trade after Canada reaches 11th hour agreement
• LNG politics ramp up as massive project approval looms
• Support us on Patreon
• Edmonton Journalist Paula Simons amongst others appointed to Senate
• Quebec elects a CAQ majority government
• Word of the Week: Nationalism

Marijuana health concerns cause the Senate to delay legislation, Edmonton transit budgets soar while ridership stays flat, the new BC NDP employer health tax will raise property taxes, and the CBSA is muzzled as more illegal migrants cross the border.

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

Duration: 47:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Senators recommend delaying cannabis bill for a year to address Indigenous issues
• Survey finds Edmontonians’ transportation habits are not changing
• Soaring health costs for B.C. cities when employer health tax replaces premiums: UBCM survey
• Official says CBSA being ‘muzzled’ by Trudeau government
• Word of the Week: Context

Plunging approval ratings for Premier Notley, and a surprising shift to the left in the BC Liberal’s throne speech. Meanwhile, there are questions of accountability in the Senate, and bad journalism leads to misplaced anger over the Syrian Refugee plan.

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

Duration: 42:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Premier Rachel Notley tied for second as Canada’s least popular premier: Poll
• B.C. legislature hears Throne Speech / Clark’s left turn worries her party’s conservatives, could endanger Liberals free-enterprise coalition
• Tie vote defeats Senate motion to split infrastructure bank from budget bill
• Kellie Leitch criticized over tweet attacking Syrian refugee program
• Word of the Week: Accountable