Western Context

Canada faces pressure at the NATO summit to up defence spending, Alberta faces an electricity shortage, and BC’s economy starts to stagnate. Also KFC Canada begins to sell halal chicken.

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“We are buying big things. We are building big things, and we are protecting the longest coastline in the world, including with increased responsibilities for the Arctic.” – Justin Trudeau on his government’s efforts to protect our sovereignty.

Duration: 55:39
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada faces pressure at Nato summit for riding on ‘coattails’
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• Alberta Electric System Operator declares grid alert
• Trans Mountain Pipeline Outperforming the Entire B.C. Economy Should be a Wakeup Call
• What is halal chicken? KFC’s switch to ‘diverse menu options’ sparks boycott calls
• Word of the Week: Coattails

The Federal Court of Appeal rejects a native veto on Trans Mountain, Alberta’s unemployment rate continues to rise, and ICBC is changing to a no-fault system. Also, the Trudeau government tries to put more regulations on Canadian media.

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Duration: 52:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• In a major victory for Trans Mountain, Federal Court dismisses Indigenous appeal of project’s approval
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• Edmonton unemployment rises again, now 2nd highest of any Canadian city: StatsCan
• After ruling it out, Horgan goes for no-fault auto insurance
• Licensing for media companies in Canada would likely be proportionate
• Word of the Week: Protest

The City of Victoria changes numbers in a report on emissions, the Supreme Court rejects BC’s appeal of Trans Mountain, and the Maple Leaf Foods CEO has an anti-Trump rant on Twitter. Also, CBC and CTV falsely accuse Harper of wanting an Iran regime change.

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Duration: 50:37
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• City of Victoria cheats on first emissions count
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• Supreme Court rejects B.C. appeal of Trans Mountain pipeline case
• Maple Leaf CEO says the United States shares blame for Iran plane crash
• Harper misquote shows why ‘regime change’ needed in some Canadian newsrooms
• Word of the Week: Regime change

Canada’s premiers build unity against the carbon tax, Victoria’s plastic bag ban gets thrown in the trash, and Trudeau nominates an anti-pipeline candidate. Also, former Liberal minister John McCallum invites Chinese interference in our elections.

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Duration: 44:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau visits Alberta pipeline site, says national unity is not under threat
• Victoria’s plastic bag ban quashed by B.C. court
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• Trudeau says anti-pipeline candidate helps him hear ‘range of views’ — an absurd argument
• Beijing should avoid ‘punishing’ Canada over Huawei case, cautions Ottawa’s ex-ambassador to China
• Word of the Week: Interference

While declaring a climate emergency, Trudeau reapproves Trans Mountain, at the same time as enforcing legislation attacking Alberta’s energy sector. Also Andrew Scheer unveils his climate plan, and Parliament finishes for the summer.

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Duration: 51:44
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau cabinet approves Trans Mountain expansion project
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• Kenney says bills C-48, C-69 ‘prejudicial attack on Alberta’; bring referendum on equalization closer
• Scheer’s climate plan puts focus on ‘tech not taxes’ with $2.5B in pledges
• House of Commons session recap + total bills passed by Trudeau since 2015 vs. Harper
• Word of the Week: Emergency

John Horgan suggests Alberta build refineries to help BC, while Trudeau killing the TMP expansion is a possibility, and food and alcohol on federal government flights costs millions. Also, Trudeau is making our Supreme Court more partisan in his favour.

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Duration: 44:34
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Horgan suggests Alberta could build new refineries to serve B.C.
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• Killing TransMountain Pipeline expansion could be Trudeau’s path to victory
• Trudeau rang up $384K in food, liquor on only FIVE flights
• PMO vets potential judges with private Liberal database
• Word of the Week: Gouging

The Alberta NDP has a $3.7B plan to move oil by rail, the BC government is considering mandatory measles vaccinations, and the NEB reapproves support of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, a radicalized terror sympathiser is set to be released from prison.

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Duration: 39:24
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• We take action’: Alberta is investing $3.7B to move oil by rail in leased cars
• Immunization requests spike in wake of Vancouver measles outbreak
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• NEB renews support of Trans Mountain pipeline as long as proposed changes to protect marine life are met
• Ontario man dubbed ‘high risk to public safety’ after trying to join terror group set for release
• Word of the Week: Radicalization

Albertans feel the economy is worse than it is, a poll on the Nanaimo by-election is wrong by 22%, and the federal government overpaid for the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Also, we talk about the evolution of fake news on social media.

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Duration: 45:56
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Calgarians think economy is worse than it really is: study
• BC Liberals have 13-point lead ahead Nanaimo byelection: Mainstreet Research poll
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• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says
• Fury over Google listing Khadr as a ‘Canadian soldier’
• Word of the Week: Psychology

BC’s referendum is complete as 61.3% vote to stick with FPTP, the federal government loans $1.6B to Alberta’s oil sector, and we look at Trudeau’s foreign policy failures. Also, pure fake news on the Chamber of Commerce’s support for the carbon tax.

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Duration: 43:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• No change: B.C. voters back first-past-the-post system in electoral reform referendum
• Alberta critical of Ottawa’s $1.6B package for ailing energy sector
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• Out in the cold: Canada’s year in foreign policy
• Statement on Carbon Pricing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Word of the Week: Reform

Notley releases a carbon tax break for oil and gas, non-partisan officers of the BC Legislature are placed on leave, the media sector receives $595M from the federal government, and we explain the Canada Post strike and the effect unions have on society.

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Duration: 50:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

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• Rachel Notley unveils carbon tax break for oil and gas drilling companies
• Sergeant-at-arms, clerk at B.C. Legislature on leave amid criminal probe
• Support us on Patreon
• Media sector gets $595-million package in Ottawa’s fiscal update
• Explainer: Canada Post Strike
• Word of the Week: Compliance