Western Context

BC forecasts a huge deficit while renegotiating union contracts, Jasper’s rebuild runs into federal red tape, and the RCMP buys unusable Chinese drones for the border. Also, Mark Carney’s climate history may show us his future plans.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“The core will be to electrify everything and simultaneously develop green electricity. Achieving net zero will require moving away from fossil fuels to renewables, decarbonizing transport and reducing emissions from industrial processes. Meaningful carbon prices are a cornerstone of any effective policy framework. To meet the 1.5 C target, more than 80 per cent of current fossil fuel reserves (including three-quarters of coal, half of gas, one-third of oil) would need to stay in the ground, stranding these assets.” – Mark Carney’s book “Values” on carbon pricing.

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. to negotiate public sector contracts for 400,000 workers in 2025 amid fiscal issues
• Support us on Patreon
• We’re going to lose Jasper’: Town pleads with Steven Guilbeault to fast-track recovery
• Canada bought Chinese drones that are unusable at the border
• Mark Carney says he’s started at the top ‘many’ times before as he runs to become prime minister
• Word of the Week: Top

Conservative MP Michael Chong gets targeted by China, David Eby’s actions don’t match his words, and many Alberta ridings could produce surprising results. Also, the single use plastics ban may have papered over our environmental problems.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“I think everyone is aware of the saying that forests are the lungs of our planet and so this is a really critical moment and we need to take steps to keep forests standing, rather than increase the pressures on them to provide the fibre for bags, pizza boxes, cutlery and straws.” – Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy, an environmental non-profit.

Duration: 1:00:20
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• CSIS report on MP being targeted by China sent to PM’s national-security adviser, Chong says
• Support us on Patreon
• In the next 10 years, B.C. will need to fill 1M job openings’: Premier David Eby
• Riding Profile Edmonton-Decore
• Paper can’t be a solution to plastic waste’: Canadian environmentalists warn about the rise in single-use paper products
• Word of the Week: Straw

Alberta is Calling for people to move to the province, electoral redistricting could see Toronto lose a seat, and the BCGEU strike forces rationing at BC liquor stores. Also, the Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem blames worker wages for inflation.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

“Don’t build that into longer term contracts. Don’t build that into wage contracts. It is going to take some time, but you can be confident that inflation will come down.” – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on inflation and wages.

Duration: 47:51
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Alberta Is Calling
• Support us on Patreon
• Pressure mounts on B.C. government as public sector strike drags on
• ‘I think it’s outrageous’: Riding redistribution would cut one Toronto MP from the House of Commons
• Union leaders frustrated by Bank of Canada’s advice for companies not to adjust wages to inflation
• Word of the Week: Riding

The BC election sees a majority for Horgan and disaster for Wilkinson, an Alberta health strike gets miscovered, and Trudeau gets scrutinized on his pandemic response. Also, expensive waffles, ice and newspapers are a few of the items Trudeau splurged on.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 54:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The Autopsy of Dr. Andrew Wilkinson’s Leadership of the BC Liberals
• Support us on Patreon
• Health-care workers walk off the job in wildcat strikes across Alberta
• Trudeau loses motion — a reminder he leads a minority government
• $285 waffles, $412 hot towels, $23,000 catering on Trudeau’s luxurious private jet
• Word of the Week: Alienation

Big changes for ICBC go unreported, the Alberta Federation of Labour lists pro-UCP businesses to boycott (or support), and Seamus O’Regan’s careless words cost taxpayers over $200k. Also, the Liberals and NDP have entered into an informal leftist coalition.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 46:49
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• B.C. Liberal government would end ICBC monopoly, Wilkinson says
• Support us on Patreon
• AFL launches website for Albertans who want to boycott the businesses who bankroll the UCP
• Government spent more than $213K defending Seamus O’Regan in small claims court
• Liberals, NDP vote to shut down Conservatives’ renewed push to examine WE affair
• Word of the Week: Coalition

The federal debt hits $1.2T with $343b spent just this past year, a tug of war arises in BC over police street checks, and a UCP bill reverts power given to unions by the NDP. Also, Trudeau and his finance minister engage in yet another ethics scandal.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 1:00:55
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• The challenge of our lifetime’: Federal deficit to hit $343 billion this year
• Support us on Patreon
• More than 70 organizations sign open letter calling for ban on police street checks in B.C.
• Union picketing and political campaigning curbed under proposed Alberta bill
• Maybe we should have been looking at WE Charity earlier
• Word of the Week: Snapshot

The Liberals attack decades ago beliefs on gay marriage, another ISIS supporter is released from prison, and Alberta and Quebec remain at odds on equalization. Meanwhile, Unifor throws away impartiality by campaigning against Andrew Scheer.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 43:57
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• Andrew Scheer urged to end ‘boycott’ of gay pride events after 2005 speech on same-sex marriage comes to light
• Toronto man who tried to join ISIS released from prison, official says
• Support us on Patreon
• Equalization is part of the ‘original deal,’ and Quebec will fight to keep it, says premier Legault
• Unifor to run anti-Conservative ad campaign despite concerns of member journalists
• Word of the Week: Impartiality

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.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 50:14
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

via spencerfernando.com

• 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

BC government projects requiring unions inflates cost, Canadians are united against the federal government’s carbon tax, and Trudeau’s nanny receive a wage increase. Also, the full story and unanswered questions regarding the Toronto Danforth shooting.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 50:07
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

• NDP rules could boost Pattullo Bridge replacement by $100 million
• Carbon conflict: two-thirds of Canadians say provinces should have the final say on pricing
• Support us on Patreon
• Feds set wages for nanny caring for Justin Trudeau’s kids
• Islamic State claims responsibility for Toronto mass shooting, yet provides no evidence
• Word of the Week: union

Protesters clash at the Roxham Road illegal entry point and the media ignores it, an ISIS supporter fights deportation, and Alberta workers are tricked into joining unions. Meanwhile, one academic believes that the outdoors is too much of a white space.

Download Now
Direct Download – 64 Kbit MP3 (Full Show Notes)

Duration: 44:50
Hosts: Shane and Patrick

Image Credit: Faith Goldy (Twitter)

• Far-right groups, counter-protesters rally over asylum seekers at Canada-U.S. border
• Man facing deportation from Canada says terror accusation resulted in PTSD
• Corbella: Workers and employer go to court to fight union trickery and Alberta’s new labour law
• Canada’s ‘adventure gap’: Why it doesn’t makes sense for the great outdoors to be such a white space
• Word of the Week: Deportation