Western Context

Pierre Poilievre promises to reverse Trudeau’s capital gains tax changes, David Eby has cancelled BC’s promised grocery rebate, and Danielle Smith is vilified in Canada for standing up for Alberta. Also, Canada is somehow importing sanctioned Russian oil.

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“It’s very clear that Russian crude is prohibited from being imported into Canada. It’s also very clear that non-crude Russian oil products are prohibited from entering into Canada. What is not clear is … the use of Russian crude imports that then get processed and finished by a third country.” – William Pellerin, international trade lawyer at McMillan LLP on Russian oil imports entering Canada despite sanctions.

Duration: 1:00:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Poilievre pledges to reverse Liberals’ capital gains tax changes if elected
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• $1,000 grocery rebate cheques may be on chopping block in efficiency review
• Alberta government’s diplomatic efforts to avert tariffs a high-wire act, political watchers say
• Banned Russian oil is coming to Canada
• Word of the Week: Sadomasochism

Justin Trudeau announces his resignation while proroguing Parliament, the University of Alberta is moving away from DEI, and John Rustad highlights problems with the BC election. Also, Donald Trump’s remarks cause Canadians to reflect inward.

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“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election. As you all know, I’m a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight… I care deeply about this country. I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months.” – Justin Trudeau upon announcing his pending resignation as Prime Minister.

Duration: 1:03:09
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Justin Trudeau resigning, prorogues Parliament
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• Why the U of A is moving from EDI to access, community and belonging
• Elections BC to probe election complaint lodged by BC Conservatives
• Trump said Tuesday he’d be willing to use ‘economic force’ to join countries
• Word of the Week: Resignation

A potential rift in the BC Conservatives is overblown by the media, The UCP want to strengthen power generation, and 30,000 people are unaccounted for by CBSA. Also, Alberta makes plans to secure the border.

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“All members of the caucus have the right to say things, and the right to be able to bring forward issues, and I look forward to the discussions. We don’t whip our people to say what they want to say. I look at it from the perspective (that) the NDP would be whipping everybody. They would make sure that they all say the same thing.” – BC Conservative leader John Rustad on the importance of diverse opinions in a party caucus.

Duration: 56:23
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• BC Conservatives present united front after messy caucus dispute goes public
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• Alberta’s government wants reliable electrical system, proposes market changes to get there
• CBSA lost track of nearly 30,000 people wanted for deportation orders
• A plan to secure Alberta’s southern border
• Word of the Week: Retaliatory

The Trudeau Liberals give Canadians a 2 month GST holiday, Alberta is looking at a different auto insurance approach, and BC Ferries is looking to raise fares by 30%. Also, Trump tariffs cause chaos in the Canadian media.

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“President Trump has the right to put his workers and his nation’s security first. I will put Canada’s workers and Canada’s security first. We need a Prime Minister with the brains and backbone to stand up for this country.” – Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on a Canada First plan.

Duration: 1:05:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals to cut GST on beer, children’s toys and Christmas trees
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• Rate hikes, no-fault claims in new rules pitched for Alberta auto insurance
• BC Ferries warns of potential 30% fare hike as costs rise
• Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat?
• Word of the Week: Vibecession

Calgary’s water system may be worse than expected, Poilievre wants tariffs on Chinese EVs and metals, and the UCP has issues with the popularity of their special projects. Also, BC’s affordable housing program is not actually about affordable housing.

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“The Housing Hub program is a supply-based program. It’s not an affordability program. The whole intent of the Housing Hub was just to build more housing. And it was intended to be market (rate) rental housing.” – Michael Pistrin, vice-president of development for B.C. Housing on how the affordable housing program was not actually about affordable housing.

Duration: 56:19
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Urgent repairs needed for Calgary’s water system, PipeDiver inspection finds 16 new hot spots
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• As Poilievre and industry call for Chinese EV tariff package, Liberals say stay tuned
• Alberta government backs away from podcast comments made by Premier Smith, Calgary MLA
• B.C. NDP explains why $2B housing affordability program was not about, er, delivering affordable housing
• Word of the Week: Market rate

Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs, an unknown group funds BC attack ads, and Bill C-59 reduces advertising transparency from companies. Also, Trudeau racks up a $223k catering bill on the Indo-Pacific trip.

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“It might be tough to connect with the middle class while chowing down on lamb shanks served on fine China and billing taxpayers for it. You shouldn’t need a focus group to recommend telling the prime minister to turn down the baked cheesecake with pistachio brittle when Canadians are lining up around the block at the foodbank.” – Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Franco Terrazzano on Trudeau’s $220k catering bill for the Indo-Pacific trip.

Duration: 59:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Doug Ford calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs: ‘We risk Ontario and Canadian jobs’
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• Here’s what we know about the ‘secretive’ group targeting B.C. NDP rivals with attack ads
• Pathways Alliance oilsands group removes content from website and social media, citing Bill C-59
• Airplane food cost more than $220K on Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific trip
• Word of the Week: Style

Lockheed promises $17b into Canada’s GDP if the F-35 is finally chosen, the Alberta NDP claims Dr. Hinshaw is being muzzled by the UCP, and China could be stealing our academics’ research. Also, new US aluminum tariffs show the media’s true priorities.

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Duration: 51:59
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Lockheed Martin promises $16.9B injection to Canadian economy with F-35s
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• COVID-19 and Dr. Hinshaw under attack
• CSIS warns about China’s efforts to recruit Canadian scientists
• US slaps 10% levy on some Canadian aluminium
• Word of the Week: Reciprocity

Chrystia Freeland takes a break from lying on the floor to negotiate metal tariffs, the NDP hypocritically believe Kenney is dropping his mask, and allegations surface of vote buying in Vancouver. Also, Jihadi Jack wants to return to Canada.

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Duration: 53:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• She’s way out of her league’: Steel exec slams Freeland’s handling of tariff fight
• UCP leader finally dropping the mask on his true beliefs, NDP minister says
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• Officials investigating alleged vote buying in Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby
• Jihadi Jack wants to live in Canada. Here’s what officials are doing for ISIS fighters in Syria
• Word of the Week: Jihadi

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.

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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

US tariffs could cut Canadian car production in half, a frivolous lawsuit falsely claims that the BC foreign buyer tax is racist, and the UCP supports self defense to combat rural crime. Also, the media finally reports on Trudeau’s groping hypocrisy.

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Duration: 41:10
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• U.S. auto tariffs could cut Canada’s output by nearly 1 million cars, CIBC says
• B.C.’s foreign-buyers tax is nothing special and not xenophobic
• Support us on Patreon
• UCP says Criminal Code should be amended to support use of force in rural self-defence
• Trudeau says he ‘did not act inappropriately’ in latest comment on anonymous groping allegation
• Word of the Week: Foreign