Afleveringen
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Erika Barootes and Shannon Greer break down a wild week in Western Canadian politics â the Western Premiers' Conference in Kananaskis, Alberta's "referendum on having a referendum," and Prime Minister Carney pulling the Clarity Act into the mix. The communiquĂ© didn't mention separation. Justice Leonard's ruling dragged Premier Smith into a fight she was trying to stay out of. And Carney called it a "dangerous bluff" on Monday before reversing Tuesday. Two hosts, two perspectives, one very confusing week.
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Nearly three million Albertans had their personal information sitting in a publicly searchable database, built by a separatist group on a voter list that was never theirs to have. The biggest voter data breach in Canadian history. Erika and Shannon walk through the wrap of the Spring Sitting, then dig into the Centurion Project, the Republican Party of Alberta, and how a list locked behind the Election Act ended up on the open internet. They close on the bigger picture, a separation petition with 302,000 signatures, a new top-secret CSIS clearance for the Premier, and a Kremlin disinfo report all landing in the same week. What the government can do now, what it can't, and what the real fix looks like in the fall.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Albertaâs healthcare system has gone through a major overhaul since 2023 â new agencies, new legislation, and a new way of thinking about care delivery. But is it actually working?
In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by emergency physician and former Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Paul Parks for a candid, no-spin conversation from both the frontline and the policy table.
They break down whatâs changed, whatâs at stake with dual practice, and what real solutions could look like â without the political talking points.
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The April 1st deadline on the Alberta-Ottawa MOU came and went and Ottawa delivered nothing. No announcement, no framework, no signal that the federal government is taking Alberta's concerns seriously. This week Erika is joined by Gitane De Silva, former Deputy Minister of Alberta's International and Intergovernmental Relations, former CEO of the Canadian Energy Regulator, and Founder and President of GDStrategic, to break down what that missed deadline actually means for the relationship between this province and Ottawa. They dig into what federal ministers making the rounds in Calgary are really trying to accomplish, whether any of it moves the needle, and what a trade war layered on top of rising instability in Iran means for Alberta energy producers and agricultural communities that are already navigating an incredibly uncertain environment.
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In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes and Shannon Greer break down a busy week in Alberta politics, where the most talked-about moment didnât come from the budget itself, but from a private plane.
They dig into the controversy around government travel and whether itâs a real issue or just political theatre, before turning to new legislation on medical assistance in dying (MAID) and the broader ethical and policy debates itâs set to ignite.
The conversation also looks at Albertaâs dual practice health-care model and why itâs drawing attention across the country, raising questions about capacity, fairness, and a potential doctor drain. Finally, they zoom out to the federal stage, where the NDP leadership race is less about a new leader and more about the partyâs identity heading into 2026.
Itâs a mix of optics, policy, and political positioningâand what actually matters to voters.
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In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by guest co-host Sabrina Grover for a candid, wine-in-hand conversation about what is really shaping Alberta politics right now. With the legislature back in session but little headline legislation on the table, the focus shifts to the bigger conversations happening outside the chamber.
Erika and Sabrina unpack Albertaâs referendum debate, rising separation rhetoric, immigration pressures, pipeline politics, and the growing tension between provincial priorities and national unity. Drawing on their very different political journeys, they also debate the future of conservatism in Alberta, Mark Carneyâs appeal to red Tories, and whether Naheed Nenshi has capitalized on his early momentum.
Itâs equal parts political analysis and spirited debate between friends who donât always agreeâbut arenât afraid to dig into the issues shaping Albertaâs next chapter.
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In this episode, Erika Barootes and Keith McLaughlin break down Albertaâs latest budget, tackling the growing deficit, tax strategy, and what it all means for healthcare, education, and frontline services. They dig into the pressure immigration places on public systems, debate the future of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, weigh in on minimum wage, and unpack the shifting political dynamics shaping Albertaâs next moves.
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In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by guest co-host Supriya Dwivedi for a sharp, no-nonsense conversation on Canadaâs growing immigration and separation tensions. Together, they unpack rising separatist sentiment in Alberta, strained federal-provincial relations, and the hard questions around immigration levels, integration, and economic capacity. From Alberta to Quebec, this episode confronts the leadership vacuum, policy contradictions, and public frustration shaping Canadaâs next chapter â and asks what it will take to hold the country together.
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In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by guest co-host Supriya Dwivedi for a sharp, no-nonsense conversation on Canadaâs growing immigration and separation tensions. Together, they unpack rising separatist sentiment in Alberta, strained federal-provincial relations, and the hard questions around immigration levels, integration, and economic capacity. From Alberta to Quebec, this episode confronts the leadership vacuum, policy contradictions, and public frustration shaping Canadaâs next chapter â and asks what it will take to hold the country together.
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In our final episode of 2025, weâre joined by Ryan Jespersen of Real Talk for a deeper conversation about whatâs really driving political division in Canada. We start with the latest floor crossing from the Conservatives to the Liberals and what it means for parliamentary math, stability, and the way political âinside baseballâ often matters a lot more to partisan circles than it does to people outside them.
Then we zoom out to the bigger forces underneath the headlines: the Liberal move toward the centre under Mark Carney, what that opens up for the NDP, and how labels like âconservativeâ and âprogressiveâ have shifted in meaning. We also get into the real-world stakes behind ideological debates on health care and public services, then close with practical advice for navigating political conversations over the holidays.
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Danielle Smith gets booed at her own victory lap. This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika unpack the UCP AGM drama: the pipeline MOU that was supposed to unite the party, the organized but noisy independence faction, and what the board results actually say about Smithâs grip on her base. Erika talks about being in the room and how Mark Carneyâs pipeline deal has even her backing away from independence talk.
Then they dive into the resolutions and red meat: abortion and public funding in the third trimester, flag bans dressed up as âneutrality,â fights over fluoride, a revolt against the governmentâs own no-fault insurance plan, and the UCPâs apparent obsession with stopping the Progressive Conservative Party resurection. Cheryl rants about Smithâs new two-tier healthcare model as the beginning of the end of Canadian medicare, and the two clash over the governmentâs latest âstand your groundâ-style gun motion under the Sovereignty Act. Itâs one part governance nerd, one part convention gossip, and one part very real warning about where Alberta politics is headed next.
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Alberta finally got its âgrand bargainâ on energy, but not the way anyone expected. In this episode, Cheryl and Erika break down the new AlbertaâOttawa MOU that scraps the federal oil and gas emissions cap, suspends clean electricity regs, speeds up project approvals to two years, and gives a potential pipeline to Asia a fast-track ânational interestâ stamp. They unpack how Danielle Smith turned a nine-point ultimatum into seven big-ticket concessions, what Mark Carney gets in return on industrial carbon pricing and net-zero by 2050, and why a Calgary Chamber crowd gave a Liberal prime minister a standing ovation for an energy deal. If you keep hearing âpipeline dealâ but donât really know whatâs in it, this is your crib sheet.
But this isnât just about Albertaâs vibes. Cheryl walks through why coastal First Nations and BCâs NDP government still hold the real veto power, how this changes separatist politics on the Prairies, and what it means for the federal Liberals, Conservatives and NDP heading into the next election. Plus, the back half gets spicy: the UCPâs second use of the notwithstanding clause, the new two-tier health care experiment, and what all of it says about where Alberta politics is headed next.
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Winnipeg is getting ready for the Grey Cup, but the real game this week is between Mark Carney and Danielle Smith. We break down Carneyâs $116 billion ânational interestâ project list, why itâs full of LNG, mines, and transmission lines, but still no new pipeline to the West Coast, and what that actually means for Albertaâs leverage. Is this bold economic strategy or risk-free choreography from Ottawa? We unpack the so-called grand bargain on industrial carbon pricing, emissions caps, and CCUS, and ask whether Alberta and Saskatchewan are doing the hard work they say they want from the feds.
Then we shift to the home front: where the NDP is attempting to capitalize on the UCPâs brutal few weeks with a slick new ad. Plus, the UCP faces a recall campaign against its own MLAs. Cheryl explains why the NDP spot is exactly the kind of contrast piece their base has been waiting for, while Erika tears into the governmentâs recall communications strategy and asks why anyone thought this law was a good idea in the first place.
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Mark Carney drops his first budget and weâre split: Cheryl gives it a 7/10 for a disciplined comms rollout and âbuild-through-the-downturnâ strategy; Erika fires back with a 4/10 over record debt, fuzzy capital/operating splits, and weak relief for real people. We unpack what the naysayers actually mean, why âweâre building housesâ lands better than tax tinkering, and how this budget boxes in both the CPC and NDP on cuts, immigration, and social programs.
Then: the Ottawa plot twistâChris Dontermont crosses the floor as rumours swirl of more MPs ahead of Polievreâs leadership review. Plus a brutal week in Alberta: an education bill dropped while the Premierâs abroad, and the Auditor General wonât be renewed mid-AHS probe. We argue over Bill 6âs literacy testing, the optics of the AG timing, and why the first stab at boundary redistribution has both of us grinding our teeth.
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The UCP just used the nuclear option: legislating 51,000 Alberta teachers back to work, imposing a four-year deal, and wrapping it all in the notwithstanding clause. Cheryl calls it a slippery slope for Charter rights; Erika argues the government took a high-risk hit to end a stalemate and promises a âresetâ on class size and complexity... if they actually deliver. We break down whatâs real, whatâs rhetoric, fresh polling that shows UCP support slipping, and whether a general strike is a bluff or a live wire.
Then: recall politics boomerangs on the UCP as Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides faces a petition under their own looser rules. Plus, Thomas Lukaszukâs âForever Canadianâ petition accidentally hands separatists the referendum oxygen they craved (yikes). We close on what happens next: task forces vs. caps, data vs. delay, and how both sides can win (or torch) the post-strike moment.
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The Alberta Legislature is back, and Premier Danielle Smith is swinging at everyone in sight. This week, Cheryl and Erika debate the governmentâs plan to legislate teachers back to work, the unprecedented strike that led here, and what a âwork-to-ruleâ classroom could look like for Alberta families. Plus, they dive into the provinceâs move toward two-tier healthcare and whether paying privately for MRIs and bloodwork will fix the system or quietly bleed it dry.
And: the so-called âWyant Reportâ the Premierâs office claims to be cleared of wrongdoing in Albertaâs health procurement scandal â except it wasn't. Cheryl unpacks what the report actually says, why journalists missed the story, and how the governmentâs spin turned into a masterclass in message control.
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Cheryl and Erika dive into Albertaâs two biggest brawls: Smithâs pipeline push and a teachersâ strike thatâs testing parentsâ patience (and the UCPâs polling). We unpack the real differences between TMX and the North Coast pipeline idea, what Premier Eby says is at risk in B.C., and why âfighting foreverâ might be the Alberta Premierâs political sweet spot. Bonus: the Grey Cup âgrand bargain,â Keystone as a bargaining chip, and whether Ottawa will blink.
Then we pivot to classrooms: hiring promises vs. classroom reality, what the ATA really wants (hint: more than a wage line), and why public sentiment could decide the outcome faster than any bargaining table can. We wrap with Albertaâs new license-plate pageant (Strong and Free meets shiny distraction) and a few spicy one-liners youâll want to steal for your next dinner debate.
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Classrooms across Alberta could go quiet on October 6 as 50,000 teachers prepare to strike after rejecting a government offer of 12% over four years. We cut through the spin: pay vs. working conditions, class sizes, and what âmore teachers and EAsâ actually changes for kids. We also unpack the governmentâs stopgapâ$150 per child under 12, per weekâand whether that helps real families scrambling for care or just buys political cover.
Then we zoom out: how big strikes reshape public opinion, what usually ends them, and why tone matters (including a viral town-hall moment where a moderator told a teen his parents should âspank himâ). Finally, we check in on a slow-burning healthcare procurement controversy and why promised âinterim reportsâ rarely see the light of day.
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Alberta wants to stamp âCANâ on your driverâs licence. Is this bold reform or a busywork boondoggle? We rip into the talking points, the "election integrityâ spin, and the weird real-world places this could follow you (hotel desks, gym sign-ups, you name it), and does a digital wallet actually fix problems, and a three-letter badge doesnât?
Then we head to Ottawa, where Carney vs. Poilievre returns to center stage: has the tone shifted, is the âausterity + investmentâ budget a masterstroke or a trap, and is the honeymoon officially dead, or just getting interesting? We finish on Albertaâs municipal elections: parties on the ballot, polls in your feed, and a big shrug from voters. Who wins when nobodyâs watching?
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Danielle Smith dropped her âThree Bad Lawsâ video before even sitting down with PM Mark Carney, then walked out sounding⊠optimistic. No heavy-oil pipeline on the major projects list, yet the tone flipped. Did she hear real movement on an emissions-cap rethink, EV timelines, or CCUS, and what does âclimate competitivenessâ actually signal? We unpack the strategy behind the Poilievre-style video, what it mobilizes (and what it doesnât), and why the post-meeting vibes matter for Alberta.
Then we wade into the weekâs other bonfire: immigration. We separate math from memes (including that viral â15 millionâ claim), look at what TFWs actually account for, and ask how Alberta can match labour needs without lighting the culture war. Plus, inside the Alberta Next roadshowâconsultation or content factory? If you want sharp, fact-grounded takes without the shouting, this oneâs your episode.
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