Western Context

BC safe supply drugs are found in the hands of organized crime, we finally put the 2017 UCP leadership allegations to rest, and BC affordable housing is not going to intended buyers. Also, Canada restores its funding to UNRWA.

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“What we have seen in Prince George is people taking prescribed medication, some of which is dedicated as safe supply prescription drugs, and selling them to organized crime groups in exchange for more potent illicit drugs. It might mean how we regulate our safe supply might need a sober second glance.” – RCMP Corp. Jennifer Cooper on the diversion of safe supply drugs to organized crime.

Duration: 56:59
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C.’s ‘safe supply’ drugs being sold by organized crime across Canada
• Support us on Patreon
• No charges as RCMP conclude probe into Alberta’s 2017 UCP leadership race
• Affordable-housing pilot in Victoria allegedly ‘undermined’ by buyers who already owned homes
• Canadian government will resume funding to United Nations relief agency for Palestinians
• Word of the Week: Affordable

Danielle Smith becomes the new Premier of Alberta, BC is capping food delivery fees, and ArriveCan cost $54M to create. Also, a YouTube tag and MP swearing distract from Trudeau raising taxes again.

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“Canada and Alberta are in the midst of an inflation and affordability crisis that has been primarily caused by the fiscally destructive policies of the NDP coalition with the Liberals in Ottawa. When you flood the money supply with hundreds of billions in new spending and pursue policies that spike the price of energy and transportation, the result is crippling inflation that’s hurting a sizeable majority of Albertans.” – Alberta UCP Leader Danielle Smith and Premier-designate on the problems Alberta faces.

Duration: 52:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Rachel Notley will have her hands full with Danielle Smith
• Support us on Patreon
• British Columbia permanently capping fees charged by food delivery companies
• ArriveCan’s $54-million price tag ‘outrageous,’ tech leaders say
• Poilievre gives Trudeau something he wasn’t expecting, a fight
• Word of the Week: Misogyny

We talk about what the Queen meant to Canada, UCP candidates denounce Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Act, and Pierre Poilievre becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

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“We are one party serving one country.” – Pierre Poilievre on the CPC becoming a united Conservative party going forward following his leadership win.

Duration: 46:06
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• What Canada meant to the Queen
• Support us on Patreon
• UCP leadership candidates unite to take aim at Danielle Smith’s sovereignty act
• Pierre Poilievre elected new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
• Western Context’s 2022 CPC Leadership Analysis
• Word of the Week: Era

The cost of Coastal Gaslink rises to $11.2B, Travis Toews highlights economic policy in the UCP leadership race, and a climate activist group deflates SUV tires in Victoria. Also, Toronto and Montreal airports are named the worst in the world for delays.

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“Toronto’s Pearson Airport is a special circle of hell. The worst airport experience ever.” – A random air traveller from Florida, on our Canadian airport effectiveness.

Duration: 48:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Cost of Coastal GasLink pipeline leaps 70% to $11.2B as TC Energy settles dispute
• Support us on Patreon
• Toews touts ‘targeted’ tariffs to defend Alberta as UCP candidates take aim at Ottawa
• Climate activists deflate tires of dozens of SUVs in Greater Victoria
• Toronto’s Pearson airport has a PR problem: It’s known as the worst airport in the world
• Word of the Week: Deflate

Danielle Smith’s leadership campaign could change the UCP and Alberta, BC Ferries fires its CEO after many cancelled sailings, and Trudeau pushes for a reduction in fertilizer usage. Also, glitches in the ArriveCAN app cause more delays for travellers.

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“The app is something that is not efficient. It doesn’t make us any more safe. In fact, it could lead us to being less safe as we move to more automation as people are coming into our country. It’s worthless in terms of public safety. [The app is] also branding us as an unwelcoming destination. Our branding right now as a country of a destination is being destroyed.” NDP MP for Niagara West Brian Masse, on the failures of ArriveCAN.

Duration: 56:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Is Danielle Smith’s striking campaign a paper tiger?
• Support us on Patreon
• B.C. Ferries fires president and CEO after 173 cancelled sailings in 28 days
• Trudeau pushes ahead on fertilizer reduction as provinces and farmers cry foul
• ArriveCan ‘glitch’ ordering vaccinated Canadians into quarantine without reason
• Word of the Week: Glitch

Health Canada plans to label ground beef, the Alberta UCP leadership race begins, and no link is found between BC money laundering and political corruption. Also, we determine whether or not the Trudeau government lied about the Emergencies Act.

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“The whole purpose of this (Health Canada proposal) largely came from a concern about highly processed foods, and foods with a lot of ingredients. The idea of taking a single-ingredient food product and imposing these types of labels is not being done anywhere else in the world, and it is going to unfairly affect Canada’s farmers and ranchers.” – Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association or Health Canada’s proposal to label ground beef as being high in saturated fat.

Duration: 53:38
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Ranchers’ group opposes Health Canada’s ‘vilification’ of ground beef
• Support us on Patreon
• Some will lose Alberta’s pricey UCP leadership race before the voting starts
• Money laundering public inquiry finds ‘no evidence’ of political corruption in B.C.
• Police did not ask for Emergencies Act: Emergency Preparedness Minister
• Word of the Week: Saturated

The RCMP investigates UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway, planted artifacts delay a BC natural gas pipeline, and a government memo reveals the failure of the Safe Third Country agreement. Also, Omar Khadr hides his money in an Edmonton strip mall.

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Duration: 43:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• RCMP following up on questions regarding campaign of UCP leadership candidate
• Report says artifacts found near Coastal Gas Link Pipeline ‘not their original location’
• Support us on Patreon
• Safe Third Country Agreement ‘no longer working as intended,’ memo reveals
• Amid ongoing court battles, Omar Khadr uses $3M of his settlement money to buy Edmonton mall
• Word of the Week: Fraud

The US tariffs Canadian softwood, Jason Kenney wins the UCP race and the social media narrative, the Liberals favour gender equality over diversity and merit with judicial appointments, and the Governor General takes an alarmingly partisan position.

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Duration: 46:47
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• U.S. slaps punitive duties on B.C. softwood
• Jason Kenney wins UCP leadership Race
• Liberals not always appointing ‘highly recommended’ judges
• Rex Murphy: Governor General appoints herself umpire of questions of faith and science
• Word of the Week: Constitution

Canada has strong economic growth; why are there still deficits? Tolls on BC bridges are eliminated shifting costs to taxpayers, a meme from Jason Kenney causes overblown coverage, and the Feds are spending money in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of a by-election.

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Duration: 36:48
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Canada’s economy blows away forecasts with 4.5% growth — its strongest start to year since 2002
• Eliminating tolls might be a bridge too far for B.C. taxpayers
• ‘Sexist’ meme tweet by Jason Kenney draws criticism, spokesperson calls outrage ‘contrived’
• Liberals to fund high-speed Internet in Lac-Saint-Jean ahead of key by-election
• Word of the Week: Meme

Christy Clark surprisingly resigns in BC, poor journalism on the Unity agreement in Alberta, Petronas cancels a $11.4B investment in Prince Rupert, and Rolling Stone’s glowing piece on Trudeau actually has a lot of errors. What else are they wrong about?

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Duration: 40:36
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Christy Clark resigns as leader of B.C. Liberal party, Rich Coleman to serve as interim leader
• Graham Thomson: Divisive leadership race about to rock the unity boat
• Petronas cancels $11.4-billion LNG project near Prince Rupert
• A few things in Rolling Stone’s profile of Justin Trudeau that were just plain wrong
• Word of the Week: Development