Western Context

The BC NDP is changing the Heritage Act for reconciliation, Alberta teachers are looking at striking, and the federal government is moving asylum claimants from shelters to apartments. Also, Carney’s nation building projects were already being completed.

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“Although we still have some details to work out over the coming weeks, I am more optimistic than ever that the concerns of Albertans are FINALLY BEING HEARD and I look forward to reaching an agreement that will profoundly benefit the Canadian and Alberta economies.” – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on recent federal government project developments.

Duration: 1:03:41
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• Heritage act changes to have sweeping effect on land development in B.C.
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta teachers give strike notice, province says it wants to avoid job action
• Funding to move asylum claimants from homeless shelters into apartments sparks questions about fairness
• Carney’s first five major projects include LNG, span across the country
• Word of the Week: Intangible

The TFW program faces further scrutiny, the BCGEU goes on strike, and the Edmonton School Board bans more books than required. Also, the federal NDP are limiting nominations from straight white males.

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“I think what the NDP has to do is do a really good navel-gazing. Are we talking about the right issues that are affecting kitchen tables in Oshawa or Trois-Rivières or Kamloops? Are we really understanding what working people are going through? I’m looking forward to the discussion in our party to see if we can reorient ourselves so we can tell workers, ‘We get you; we’ve got policies that will make your lives better.’” – Interim NDP leader Don Davies on the NDP’s relationship with the working class.

Duration: 58:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• Poilievre calls for temporary foreign worker program to be scrapped
• Support us on Patreon
• BCGEU issues 72-hour strike notice after 93% vote to back job action
• Danielle Smith is right, the board is wrong in stupid book ban fight…
• The NDP leadership is underway — and the party is limiting signatures from ‘cis’ men
• Word of the Week: Exploitative

The Air Canada strike has been resolved, Pierre Poilievre is easily elected in rural Alberta, and a popular BC provincial park is closed to non-First Nations for a month. Also, Mark Carney drops retaliatory tariffs on the US.

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“You drop the gloves in the first period — when you’re late in the game, dropping the gloves and taking the extra penalty might not be the best thing to do.” – Mark Carney’s hockey metaphor on the recent trade developments with the US.

Duration: 1:04:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Take our Western Context 2025 Summer Survey
• Air Canada operations remain suspended amid federal government intervention
• Support us on Patreon
• Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, securing return to House of Commons
• First Nations say 1-month closure of Joffre Lakes Park not long enough
• Canada to drop many retaliatory tariffs in olive branch to Trump
• Word of the Week: Penalty

Former BC Premier John Horgan passes away from cancer, Edmonton asks for feedback on a single use plastics bylaw, and Canada Post workers go on strike. Also, Steven Guilbeault proposes a global shipping carbon tax.

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“Canadians discovered that Justin Trudeau’s radical Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, wants to create a new global carbon tax on international shipping. This tax money would then be sent abroad to other countries… This new tax on maritime transportation would undoubtedly drive investment and business away from our already struggling port system, putting strong union jobs at risk.” – Pierre Poilievre on a potential new international shipping carbon tax.

Duration: 58:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• John from Langford’ was one of the most popular premiers in B.C. history
• Support us on Patreon
• City of Edmonton asking for feedback on single-use bylaw
• Canada Post workers go on strike causing postal delays ahead of holiday season
• Global shipping carbon tax
• Word of the Week: Strike

A railway strike threatens Canada’s infrastructure, a $9M condo is bought for Tom Clark, and anti-semitic threats on synagogues are on the rise. Also, organized crime may have infiltrated CBSA.

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“The oven is $19,000, the refrigerator is $13,000, the coffee maker is $4,600, the freezer is $11,000, the dishwasher is $6,000. How on earth is that value for the Canadian taxpayer?” Conservative MP Larry Brock on the new furnishings for Canada’s consul general Tom Clark in his $9M New York condo.

Duration: 56:15
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Railways prepare to restart after federal government forces binding arbitration in labour dispute
• Support us on Patreon
• Luxury condo for consul general in New York was not approved by Treasury Board
• RCMP working with international police amid new slew of threats targeting synagogues
• CBSA whistleblower believes transnational gangs have compromised agency databases, helping terrorists, spies and mafias enter Canada
• Word of the Week: Cowardly

BC’s dockworkers are on strike, CBC retracts the Smith email interference story, and the Liberals and opposition make headway towards a public inquiry. Also, we look at the possible expansion of medical assistance in dying.

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“Since the Liberals finally stopped fighting a public inquiry close to a month ago, we have been engaged with all parties multiple times a week to agree on terms for a public inquiry. Conservatives are ready to accept the latest proposal for terms of reference that was discussed, but neither Dominic LeBlanc nor his office picked up the phone or answered an e-mail in the five days following the last meeting. The Prime Minister should stop his baseless attacks and get his minister to answer our calls.” – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the previous lack of agreement on the public inquiry into foreign interference.

Duration: 52:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta minister calls for back-to-work legislation to end B.C. port strike
• Support us on Patreon
• CBC News retracts report alleging email interference by Alberta premier’s office
• Conservatives say parties reach agreement on terms for foreign interference inquiry
• Two Trudeau ministers seem awfully uncomfortable with euthanizing the mentally ill
• Word of the Week: Agreement

We compare the US and Canadian response to Chinese police stations, the public sector goes on strike, and Alberta’s addictions treatment plan gets misconstrued. Also, Trudeau’s former industry minister Navdeep Bains is hired by Rogers.

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“It certainly looks like the Liberals are in the pockets of telecom giants, getting gravy jobs as their executives, instead of defending Canadians who are already paying a fortune for cell and internet bills. It’s incredibly concerning when major telecom company Rogers hires not only a former Liberal cabinet minister but the architect of Canada’s current telecom policy which allows telecom providers to charge some of the highest cell phone costs in the world.” – NDP innovation critic Brian Masse on former industry minister Navdeep Bains joining Rogers.

Duration: 49:40
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• FBI finds Canadian link in covert Chinese police station probe
• Support us on Patreon
• Singh vows NDP won’t back any Liberal back-to-work laws during public sector strike
• Alberta’s involuntary addictions treatment law violates Charter rights, expert says
• Incredibly concerning’: Rogers’ hiring of former Liberal industry minister slammed by opposition
• Word of the Week: Militancy

Trudeau inserts himself into the Ontario strike, Alberta councillors debate municipal parties, and BC announces a new family doctor payment model. Also, Steven Guilbeault’s hostility towards energy could reduce investment.

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“Family doctors are not only health care providers. We’re human beings, and so in order to provide the type of care that British Columbians need and deserve, we need the same human supports and working conditions that others do … This new payment model and the physician master agreement that were announced today are a first step towards creating those tools and supports.” – Dr. Renee Fernandez, the executive director of B.C. Family Doctors on BC’s new family doctor payment plan.

Duration: 58:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Help us out by taking our Fall 2022 Survey!
• Canadian bill would fine workers $4,000 for each day they strike
• Support us on Patreon
• Edmonton, Calgary councillors weigh in on allowing political parties at municipal level
• B.C. launching new payment model for family doctors in 2023
• Guilbeault slams oilpatch for raking in cash and sitting idle on climate action
• Word of the Week: Buy-in

Alberta is Calling for people to move to the province, electoral redistricting could see Toronto lose a seat, and the BCGEU strike forces rationing at BC liquor stores. Also, the Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem blames worker wages for inflation.

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“Don’t build that into longer term contracts. Don’t build that into wage contracts. It is going to take some time, but you can be confident that inflation will come down.” – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on inflation and wages.

Duration: 47:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Is Calling
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• Pressure mounts on B.C. government as public sector strike drags on
• ‘I think it’s outrageous’: Riding redistribution would cut one Toronto MP from the House of Commons
• Union leaders frustrated by Bank of Canada’s advice for companies not to adjust wages to inflation
• Word of the Week: Riding

Lifelabs healthcare workers go on strike in BC, new mayors are elected in Alberta, and the BC Liberals reject the leadership candidacy of Aaron Gunn. Also, Trudeau meets with the Tk’emlups Nation that he snubbed on Sept 30th, but was he really there?

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“I have never engaged in partisanship politics or have not engaged in personal attacks. And that is what I will absolutely continue to practice. So I look forward to working with the premier and his government.” – Edmonton Mayor Elect Amarjeet Sohi on working with the province.

Duration: 49:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Unionized employees at LifeLabs issue 72-hour strike notice
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta municipal elections
• BC Liberal Party rejects Aaron Gunn’s leadership bid, he says fight ‘is only just beginning’ 
• Members of Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Nation wonder whether Trudeau was listening during his apologetic visit
• Word of the Week: Partisan