Western Context

The Liberals’ fast track project bill passes with Conservative support, Carney and Trump want a trade deal within 30 days, and another Vancouver housing developer faces layoffs. Also, Canada’s evacuation response in the Middle East faces more criticism.

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“We exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this outcome, including creating efficiencies in our systems and processes, engaging in aggressive cost-reduction measures. This was all in hopes of preserving as many jobs as possible. But despite these efforts, the economic realities left us no choice. We are delivering housing at a cost that people cannot afford to purchase.” – Wesgroup CEO Beau Jarvis on the developer’s recent layoffs.

Duration: 1:04:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Liberals’ major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support
• Support us on Patreon
• Carney and Trump commit to reaching trade deal within 30 days
• Dire straits’: Wesgroup layoffs sign of big downturn in residential construction in B.C.
• Canadians stuck in Israel abandoned by embassy that closes at 4:30 p.m.
• Word of the Week: Naivety

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
• Support us on Patreon
• 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

A lack of clear messaging from the federal government stokes pandemic fears, the BC government will partially open schools on June 1st, and the Chinese government goes directly after Jason Kenney. Also, Bryan Adams learns the dangers of social media.

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Duration: 50:32
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Business and health leaders accuse Trudeau of ‘shifting the goalposts’ for reopening economy
• B.C. schools to open on optional, part-time basis June 1
• Support us on Patreon
• China hits back at Alberta Premier Jason Kenney after he called for a ‘reckoning’
• Bryan Adams’s Instagram post draws rebukes from Chinese-Canadian organization, social media users
• Word of the Week: Lockdown

Canada signs the new NAFTA deal, a 5 month forestry strike leaves BC communities in limbo, and a Greenpeace video shown in an Alberta class sparks a social media firestorm. Also, Andrew Scheer’s resignation as leader prompts crazy theories from the media.

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Duration: 52:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada signs revised North American trade deal, clearing way for ratification
• Companies, contractors and communities caught in middle of forestry strike
• Support us on Patreon
• Alberta school lesson on oil sands prompts threats from parents amid sensitivity over industry’s image + Energy War Room
• Exasperated Scheer leaves on his own terms
• Word of Week: Fog of war

Google is banning political ads ahead of the fall election, John Horgan wants us to stop whining about softwood lumber, and an anti-energy advocate is now a part of Alberta’s energy regulator. Also, Trudeau’s cabinet experiences another resignation.

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Duration: 50:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Google to ban political ads ahead of federal election, citing new transparency rules
• Premier Horgan Tells MLA Tegart to “Stop Whining” about Lumber Dispute
• Support us on Patreon
• NDP government appoints an ‘enemy’ to the Alberta Energy Regulator
• Jane Philpott resigns from Trudeau cabinet, cites SNC-Lavalin scandal as a factor
• Word of the Week: Transparency

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

NAFTA negotiations have stalled, and the media changes the channel to Harper. Also, Ottawa has kept the equalization formula until 2024, an odd story about David Eby’s popularity on Reddit, and the government’s crusade against parody Twitter accounts.

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Duration: 47:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• It’s NAFTA crunch-time, so why are we talking about Stephen Harper?
• Ottawa to keep provincial equalization formula as is till 2024
• Support us on Patreon
• There’s a ‘David Eby Appreciation Thread’ on Reddit, and it loves B.C.’s attorney general
• Do ‘parody’ Twitter accounts pose real political threats?
• Word of the Week: Parody

A new precedent setting Alberta law could restrict oil flow and erode the constitution, Vancouver wants to allow permanent residents to vote, and Quebec could see up to 146,000 illegal migrants this year. Also, a discussion on the definition of populism.

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Duration: 43:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• New law would allow Alberta to restrict flow of oil and gas
• City of Vancouver passes motion that would permit permanent residents to vote in local elections
• Quebec preparing for up to 400 asylum seekers a day at the U.S. border this summer
• Despite Trudeau’s progressive rhetoric, Canada not immune to populism: experts
• Word of the Week: populism

The BC NDP government goes ahead with Site C, an article about Jason Kenney contradicts facts, the federal government continues to ignore veterans and benefits for those with disabilities, and used jet purchases and the danger of progressive trade policy.

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Duration: 48:08
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. to proceed with Site C hydroelectric dam
• Jason Kenney undermines his message in over-the-top attacks
• Canada Revenue Agency backs down after diabetics denied disability tax credit
• Ottawa says it won’t buy fighter jets from companies that harm Canada’s economy
• Word of the Week: Fake news