Western Context

The Liberals threaten to call an election to keep their skeletons hidden, the UCP AGM shows the importance of grassroots democracy, and the China-funded Confucius Institute is defended by universities. Also, Trudeau overpaid $100M for ventilators.

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Duration: 44:46
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau Liberals threaten election to keep things hidden
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• Two-tier health care system policy resolution gets lukewarm response at UCP AGM
• Universities, school boards across Canada defend ties with China’s Confucius Institute
• Trudeau government overpaid $100 MILLION for ventilators, gifted contract to former Liberal MP
• Word of the Week: Shell corporation

Trudeau shuffles his cabinet and creates a border security minister, many provinces now oppose Trudeau’s carbon tax, and Alberta’s NDP is equalizing and diversifying K-4 education. Also, Vancouver’s False Creek is teeming with raw sewage and E coli.

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Duration: 40:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau cabinet shuffle brings new faces, several changes for run-up to 2019 campaign
• Trudeau’s carbon tax looks pretty much dead now that most provinces are out
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• In new social studies curriculum, there’s no such things as Albertans
• Call for clean swimming water in Vancouver’s False Creek falls flat
• Word of the Week: Sanitary

We look into the reasoning behind Trudeau’s trade escalations with the US, a by-election with huge ramifications in BC, and over-taxation by Edmonton council on businesses. Also, an unreported bombshell about Trudeau, what is the media not telling us?

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Duration: 45:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau stumbled into a trade war. That isn’t all Trump’s fault
• MLA Leonard Krog ponders move with huge consequences
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• Edmonton business group urges city hall to put the brakes on rising property taxes
• Don’t believe Canada’s media on Me Too stories
• Word of the Week: Backbencher

#Welcome to Canada caused illegal border crossings, John Horgan says that drivers won’t begrudge BC’s carbon tax increase, creative math skews Alberta’s fundraising numbers, and Trudeau’s BC and Fort Mac trip spreads fake news about his pipeline record.

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Duration: 44:04
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Trudeau tweet caused influx of refugee inquiries, confusion within government, emails reveal
• Premier says B.C. drivers won’t ‘begrudge’ carbon tax increase at the pump
• Alberta NDP tops 2017 party donations with $2.11 million raised
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blames Harper Conservatives for delays in pipeline projects
• Word of the Week: Resource

The Alberta auditor general’s report is missed by the media, BC’s tax and spend budget is praised while ignoring the economy, and faulty logic argues against political party unity. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s India trip is plagued with numerous problems.

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Duration: 49:16
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• More oversight a general theme of Auditor General report on government
• BC NDP ignores elites and tables budget for those who need help
• Divide and conquer? In Canadian politics, it seems maybe not
• Convicted attempted murderer invited to reception with Trudeau in India
• Word of the Week: conservative

Elizabeth May is accused of bullying; her party says she wouldn’t be if she were a man, the BC and Alberta governments spar over Trans Mountain, ICBC losing 1.3B will cost drivers more in insurance, and we detail the federal government’s drinking problem.

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Duration: 44:12
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Green Party defending leader Elizabeth May from accusations of bullying
• BC government strikes another blow to stop Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion
• Shocking massive losses revealed at ICBC, huge rate hikes feared
• 400 bottles of wine on the plane: Federal politicians have access to limitless alcohol on government flights
• Word of the Week: Rhetoric

The Alberta Party discusses a potential PST, the BC strong stable minority is in doubt over LNG, hypocrisy over the abortion clause in the fed government’s summer jobs program, and a critical look at the allegations leading to 3 politicians resigning.

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Duration: 51:17
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Party Leadership Debate January 24
• Green brinkmanship raises doubts
• Liberal MP says abortion clause in summer jobs program ‘not right’
• #MeToo hits Canadian Politics, as Kent Hehr, Patrick Brown, and Jamie Baillie all resign
• Word of the Week: Allegation

Canadian oil is discounted due to lack of transport, a BC court case reveals immigration loopholes, a far right group attends Trudeau’s town hall to the delight of the CBC, and a fake hijab cutting incident sparks a rapid condemnation of Islamophobia.

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Duration: 43:54
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canadian oil selling at a deep discount – and it hurts
• Explosive B.C. court case details seven migration scams
• Members of far-right Storm Alliance attend Trudeau’s town hall in Quebec City
• Toronto police say hijab-cutting attack reported by girl didn’t happen
• Word of the Week: Clickbait

Stephen Mandel is running for Alberta Party leadership, unlikely allies want to keep BC’s current political system, and many middle class Canadians are actually paying more in taxes. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s town halls allow the CBC to change the narrative.

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Duration: 44:45
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Stephen Mandel confirms he’s running to be Alberta Party leader
• ‘It’s a bad system’: unlikely political allies fight proportional representation
• GUNTER: So much for Trudeau’s pledge – middle-class families now pay more taxes
• Trudeau’s town halls offer a master class in changing the narrative
• Word of the Week: Narrative

We begin 2018 with a supposedly salty Spruce Grove gas station, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps’ plan to combat climate change with bike lanes, and Trudeau’s questionable meeting with Joshua Boyle. We end with unemployment drops and minimum wage increases.

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Duration: 47:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Spruce Grove gas station takes down ‘profane’ anti-NDP sign, replaces it with anti-carbon tax message
• Lisa Helps to stand for re-election as Victoria mayor
• Don Martin: Trudeau showed questionable judgment in meeting with Boyle
• Canada’s unemployment rate falls to lowest rate in over 40 years: StatCan
• Word of the Week: Salty