West of Centre

CBC projects a clear majority of Albertans have voted to remain a province of Canada, rejecting a second, binding referendum on separation. The results were delayed to around 11 p.m. MT, as some polling stations were open later than expected. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by CBC senior reporter Alex Boyd to break down what is known about the early, unofficial results. They look at the perceptions around the energy and enthusiasm of both the federalist and independence campaigns. Plus, where it leaves Premier Danielle Smith in the days, weeks and months ahead. Host: Kathleen Petty Guest: Alex Boyd Producers: Emily Senger, Diane Yanko

Front Burner host, Jayme Poisson travels to Edmonton to take you inside two rallies where campaigners for a united Canada – and campaigners for Alberta independence – make their last pitch to voters before Monday's referendum. Plus, what we know about the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta that left four service members dead and at least 19 in critical condition. Front Burner is a daily news podcast that takes you deep into the stories shaping Canada and the world. Each morning, from Monday to Friday, host Jayme Poisson talks with the smartest people covering the biggest stories to help you understand what’s going on. More episodes of Front Burner are available wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/FBxWOC

Premier Danielle Smith says she’s heard plenty from pundits, commentators and political actors ahead of this referendum. Now it's time to hear from Albertans themselves. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty talks with voters about the process and their feelings as they cast their ballots. One voter, who works in the energy sector, says she is done with Confederation and ready for an independent Alberta. A social worker says the current government is failing when it comes to cost of living, but wonders if an independent Alberta could do any better. And a former U.K. resident warns about the big Brexit mistake and urges Albertans to vote to remain in Canada. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Vicky Bayford, Rosie Costen, Matthew Morin Producers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

Premier Danielle Smith wants to “vote and move on” but is that even possible? For separatists like Mitch Sylvestre, this referendum on Alberta’s future might not be the end. With an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots requested, Sylvestre says he has cause to be suspicious if his side doesn’t get at least 40 per cent support. Host Kathleen Petty and CBC senior reporter Julia Wong look at the stakes and what could come after the vote. Plus, conservative strategist Michael Solberg and political science professor Clark Banack weigh in on the trouble brewing for Smith. Half of United Conservative Party supporters are considering a vote in favour of a second binding referendum on separation. Is Smith’s leadership on the line if they don’t get what they want? And how does a divided governing party move forward after this vote? Background listening: For more on the parallels between Alberta and a promised future referendum in Quebec, check out West of Centre’s interview last year with Parti Québécois Leader…

The Carney government says a West Coast pipeline — now called Pacific Link — is a key nation-building project and essential to the country’s economic future. It's a hard-won victory for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. But what’s in it for the rest of Canada? Are they buying what Mark Carney is selling? West of Centre host Kathleen Petty hears from residents in the heart of oil country — Fort McMurray — who want to avoid boom-time growing pains. Plus, energy industry experts Emma Graney and Gitane De Silva on the tricky negotiations for a permit. There’s a lot to get through before shovels can go into the ground, including Indigenous consultations, route mapping, ecological surveys, cost estimates and workforce planning. Background listening: Here’s a link to a previous episode where we talk to a citizen’s panel and industry insiders on the prospect of a West Coast pipeline. https://link.mgln.ai/energy Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Kyle Bakx, Emma Graney, Gitane De Silva Producers: Emily Senger, Emily…

New polling shows AI data centres in Alberta are a political problem for the UCP government. We hear from voters in the heart of conservative country who are saying “no” to these mega-projects near their farmland. As Technology Minister Nate Glubish tries to sell Albertans on the strategy to woo tech giants – including Meta – at a series of hostile town halls, many voters aren’t buying into the plan. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by political watchers Jason Markusoff and Trevor Harrison, who dive into new data from Janet Brown Opinion Research that shows only seven per cent of voters in Alberta strongly support data centre projects. These numbers come as support for the UCP is slipping and Naheed Nenshi’s NDP are riding higher than ever. West of Centre dives into how the UCP can manage this shifting public opinion, just weeks out from the Alberta referendum. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Jason Markusoff, Trevor Harrison Producers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

It’s crunch time to sway conservative voters ahead of Alberta’s referendum. But are federalist leaders doing enough? So far, separatists have reported raising nearly three times as much money as federalists and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pushed the unity file to another Alberta MP. Host Kathleen Petty and former Conservative MP Damien Kurek look at what needs to happen in the final weeks and what’s at stake if federalist get-out-the vote efforts fall flat. Plus, journalists Alex Boyd and Matthew Scace on why separatists seem to be more organized when it comes to fundraising, online dialogue and big public events — and, how getting out the vote could matter more than any of that. And will a new ad campaign championed by Premier Danielle Smith do anything to sway voters ahead of the referendum? Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Damien Kurek, Alex Boyd and Matthew Scace Producers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

Separatists think they’ll win a vote they’re poised to lose by a wide margin, according to an exclusive new poll. With a little more than five weeks to go before Alberta’s fall referendum, host Kathleen Petty explains how the heck we got here and where we’re headed next. David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, does a deep dive into Alberta public opinion. His numbers say if the referendum was held today, Albertans would vote decisively to remain. Motivations for the other side aren’t clearcut. Do they actually want to leave? How many just want to send Ottawa a message? Danielle Smith says she wants to have this vote and move on, but can we? University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young has also been tracking the rise of separatist sentiment and western alienation in Alberta since it flared up following the 2019 re-election of Justin Trudeau. She helps analyze the data, and questions whether polls might be systematically under-estimating separatist support. Background listening: Here’s a link to the episode…

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are using very different tactics in the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war. As Smith travels to Nashville, we ask whether her kill them with kindness approach is working. And Alberta’s senior representative in Washington, Nathan Cooper, weighs in on the delicate dance of diplomacy in Donald Trump’s America. To put it all in context, two conservative insiders join host Kathleen Petty. Evan Menzies worked with the United Conservative Party, and before that with Smith during the early days of the Wildrose Party. Cole Hogan helped get both Doug Ford and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney elected. Together, they break down the politics behind the premiers' actions and whether these strategies will make headway toward renewed trade talks or at least less punishing tariffs. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Nathan Cooper, Evan Menzies, Cole Hogan Producers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

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Putting oil and gas on the bargaining table as the U.S.-Canada trade war heats up would pour gasoline on Alberta’s fall referendum. At least that’s what one separatist leader, Keith Wilson, is arguing. This week we ask Wilson why he thinks the trade war means Albertans should push for a binding referendum on separation in October. After that, journalists Tyler Dawson from the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star’s Richard Warnica weigh in with host Kathleen Petty on some major questions: how will the trade war influence the referendum campaign? What's the likelihood oil will be used as a cudgel in this dispute? And who comes out ahead when everyone from Doug Ford to Mark Carney to Danielle Smith is talking trade and unity? Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Keith Wilson, Tyler Dawson and Richard Warnica Producers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko

From how we entered confederation to how Alberta is debating its future within it, a new book tries to anticipate where the province is headed. "The Dawn of Competitive Party Politics in Alberta: An End To Solitude" explores the enigma that is Alberta and pulls back the curtain. Anthony Sayers, David Stewart and Royce Koop provide a revelatory journey through how the province has defined itself politically over the years, what that tells us about what makes Alberta tick and how that may be changing. Sayers joins host Kathleen Petty to explore how Alberta is unique among the provinces and why, more than ever, it's important to understand its influence in Canada. Host: Kathleen Petty Guest: Anthony Sayers Producer: Diane Yanko

**New episode drops Friday, August 21** ENCORE PRESENTATION There’s great concern that people in Ottawa aren’t taking what’s happening in Alberta seriously enough. With national unity at stake, some Senators are looking west from the upper chamber and acknowledging there are indeed structural issues at the federal level that’s fueling frustration. This week on West of Centre, Kathleen Petty welcomes a panel of Prairies senators. Alberta Senator Paula Simons, who was appointed in 2018 and sits in the Independent Senators Group; Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin, appointed in 2008; and Manitoba Senator Charles Adler, who was appointed in 2024. Both sit in the Canadian Senators Group. The panel pulls no punches in questioning whether Canada has done the work it needs to become a true energy superpower. For them, it’s time to turn words into action. As trade tensions with the U.S. simmer, they’re blunt on CUSMA: Canada can’t take its own self-interest out of the equation because negotiations are not about love,…

**New episode drops Friday, August 21** ENCORE PRESENTATION Back in January 2001, six influential Alberta conservatives sent then premier Ralph Klein the now famous 'firewall letter.' Under the heading 'Alberta Agenda,' the letter proposed withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan, establishing a provincial police force, bypassing the Canada Revenue Agency in favour of the province collecting its own income tax, and Senate reform. These ideas were seen as fringe. Extremist even. But with the passage of time, some of the key measures in the firewall letter have influenced conservative policy in Alberta, and are now being set in motion 25 years later by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. This week, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty gets the inside story on the firewall letter, straight from two of its signatories. Ted Morton, an executive fellow at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy and a former PC cabinet minister; and Ken Boessenkool, a longtime policy advisor who worked with former prime…

**New episode drops Friday, August 21** ENCORE PRESENTATION What does a kid from Nanton, Alta., write in his private journals after spending his days influencing some of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's most controversial policies? This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty takes a peek into The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981, with the book's editor, Ron Graham. As the prime minister's principal secretary, Jim Coutts was said to have exercised more backroom power than anyone else in modern Canadian political history. He was everywhere that mattered during the Trudeau era 50 years ago, and then went home and wrote a lot of it down. Just as you'd expect from a diary, Coutts' offers juicy insight into exactly what he thought of both Alberta premier Peter Lougheed and Progressive Conservative Party leader Joe Clark. His entries reveal how influential he was as the reviled National Energy Program was being devised in the spring of 1980. And his private anxieties about inflation,…

As Canada stares down the barrel of fresh U.S. tariffs (50 per cent), there is a realization that the counter-strategies that succeeded in President Donald Trump's first term won't cut it today. For our expert panel, the power to change Trump's mind won't come down to the federal government or Prime Minister Mark Carney. Instead, the pressure will come from America's voters, businesses and political funders. What game is the U.S. playing in targeting products such as Christmas decorations, dog leashes, toilet paper and hockey sticks, while exempting crude oil, potash and critical minerals? Host Kathleen Petty has assembled a couple of the big guns to help make sense of the strategy: Gitane De Silva, executive director of the University of Alberta's Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy; founder and president of GDStrategic; and Alberta's senior representative to the United States from 2016 to 2019. Martha Hall Findlay, a member of Carleton University's expert group on Canada-U.S. Relations;…

A non-binding trilateral agreement to advance the multibillion-dollar Pathways Project, as part of the push to build a new bitumen pipeline to B.C.'s southwest coast, has now been reached. But in this episode of the podcast, there are serious questions about the math: on emissions, economics, and business case. Host Kathleen Petty is joined this week by three journalists who have all been analyzing this latest MOU: Max Fawcett, lead columnist for Canada's National Observer. Emma Graney, energy reporter for the Globe and Mail. Jason Markusoff, writer and producer for the CBC. Along with some head-scratching when it comes to the math, the panel wonders about the ability to fill the new pipeline. They note the absence of oil company representatives alongside the prime minister and Alberta premier for these major announcements, and question how long the companies will sit on the sidelines. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Max Fawcett, Emma Graney, Jason Markusoff Producer: Diane Yanko

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and several prominent federal Conservatives, including leader Pierre Poilievre, had a showdown with Calgary's mayor over a local noise bylaw. It was a master class in political communication by Jeromy Farkas, according to one panellist, in a battle with the Conservative political machine over how long and how loudly people are allowed to party in the Stampede city. Sounding off with host Kathleen Petty this week: Alex Boyd, Calgary-based writer for the Toronto Star. Rob Breakenridge, a columnist and podcast host at The Line. Jason Markusoff, producer and writer for the CBC. The panel also dissects the nine referendum questions on immigration and constitutional reforms on the fall ballot in Alberta, musing whether they're moot when voters are being asked to contemplate breaking apart the country. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Alex Boyd, Rob Breakenridge, Jason Markusoff Producer: Diane Yanko

About 3.4 million Albertans are eligible to receive a $100 energy rebate. The provincial government says the cash will bring meaningful relief from the pain of the cost of living. But for some on this week's episode, the move doesn't cure what's causing affordability issues in the province. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by The Hub's Alberta Edge podcast panellists. Falice Chin, Alberta bureau chief for The Hub. Amber Ruddy, a former Conservative staffer and a vice-president at Counsel Public Affairs. Keith McLaughlin, a former chief of staff for Alberta NDP cabinet ministers and a partner at New West Public Affairs. Also on this episode: disagreement about where the heated rhetoric is headed around Alberta treaty chiefs calling for the RCMP and auditor general to investigate whether the fall referendum amounts to criminal treason by Premier Danielle Smith and her UCP government. However, all agree the option of an early election is a strategic necessity even if it's highly unlikely. Host: Kathleen…

Danielle Smith uses the energy MOU has Exhibit A in her argument for remaining in Canada. Pierre Poilievre uses it as Exhibit A in making his case that the federal government is failing Alberta. Our guests worry that divisions over how to battle separatism could fracture the provincial conservatives and even pose problems for federal conservatives. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by two people with deep ties to the Conservative movement. Ian Brodie is a former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, and a senior advisor at New West Public Affairs. Sean Speer served as senior economic policy advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and is editor-at-large at The Hub. Both explore the perils of this debate within the broader Conservative movement. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Ian Brodie, Sean Speer Producer: Diane Yanko

West of Centre's citizen panel is back, this time to weigh in on October's referendum, where Albertans will be asked to decide the future of their province within Confederation. Returning to join host Kathleen Petty are Darryl Stanier, who runs a logistics supply chain business; Sunil Shah, an electrical engineer; and Chelsea Matisz, a research scientist. The panel agrees Alberta has legitimate grievances within Confederation. But they disagree on whether the 10 questions Albertans will vote on are necessary. They have differing takes on whether the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding will lead to a new bitumen pipeline to B.C. One panellist says Premier Danielle Smith is losing the art of humility and the United Conservative Party is governing for its base rather than the majority of Albertans. Host: Kathleen Petty Guests: Chelsea Matisz, Darryl Stanier, Sunil Shah Producer: Diane Yanko

As Albertans contemplate an October referendum that will see them choose between the province remaining in Canada or starting the process toward a future binding independence vote, the governing United Conservative Party is starting to show signs of internal strain and vulnerability of its leader, Premier Danielle Smith. The political game in Alberta has changed. The debate around the future of the province has ignited emotion on all sides, and has morphed into "primordial politics," a deeply-entrenched, identity-based attachment to your side. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty is joined by two long-time observers of politics in Alberta, with deep knowledge of how the political landscape has evolved. Anthony Sayers is a political science professor and director of Canadian governance policy in the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy; and David Stewart is a professor emeritus in the University of Calgary's political science department. Both are frequent collaborators who have…

Let’s make a deal, Alberta! Will it be door No. 1 or door No. 2? Except there’s no zonk prize, and you’re not allowed to switch. Alberta’s premier has put an end to the speculation about whether voters will get a say on the future of the province. Danielle Smith has announced a tenth referendum question on the ballot in October with two choices: should Alberta remain in Canada or should the provincial government start the process toward a binding referendum on separation? What is the premier’s wager, based on the design of the question? And will anyone be happy with this next move to try to settle an emotional debate happening in the province? It’s one of the topics of discussion this week on West of Centre. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Matthew Scace, a Calgary-based reporter for the Globe and Mail who covers politics and provincial affairs, and Jason Markusoff, a writer and producer for CBC. Also in this episode, we’re drilling down on the landmark Alberta-Ottawa energy deal, which has now entered the…

'The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat'. It's an old chestnut that seems apropos in the blood sport of Alberta politics. The victory is for the Alberta government, as it clears another hurdle in its landmark energy deal with Ottawa. The province has reached an agreement with the federal government on increasing the effective industrial carbon price to $130 per tonne by 2040. While the Pathways Project on carbon capture, utilization and storage, a potential pipeline route, and a private sector proponent are still to come, the agreement could see construction on an oil pipeline to British Columbia start as early as September 2027. The defeat is for Alberta separatists hoping to see a question about independence on October's referendum ballot. A judge threw out a separatist petition, ruling that Elections Alberta should not have approved it and citing a failure to consult with First Nations. Premier Danielle Smith is now facing calls to put the separation question on the ballot herself. Kathleen Petty…

Supporters of Alberta independence are celebrating this week after over 300,000 signatures calling for a referendum on separation were submitted to Elections Alberta. But it comes as another separatist group, the Centurion Project, is being investigated by the RCMP, Elections Alberta and Alberta’s privacy commissioner for its use of a voters list with the information of nearly three million Albertans. West of Centre guest host Jason Markusoff is joined this week by Tyler Dawson, an editor for the Globe and Mail’s opinion section and the author of the new book The Republic of Alberta, and Rob Breakenridge, a Calgary-based journalist and podcaster. Host: Jason Markusoff Guests: Rob Breakenridge, Tyler Dawson Producer: Diane Yanko

What you see is what you'd get if an election were held today in Alberta — except the United Conservative Party would have an even bigger majority government. That's one of the findings from the latest poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research for the CBC. Brown is one of Alberta's most respected pollsters. Her secret sauce when it comes to opinion research is Albertans talking to Albertans. Brown joins West of Centre host Kathleen Petty this week to take a deep dive into the findings, along with data scientist John Santos, and CBC writer and producer Jason Markusoff. Despite the fanfare that accompanied its signing, a majority of those polled are not confident the memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta will actually result in a new pipeline. But a majority approve of Premier Danielle Smith's efforts to reset the province's relationship with the federal government. Meanwhile, the poll has found the most impressive politician in Alberta isn't Smith or federal Conservative leader and Battle…

The UCP’s decision to reject a bi-partisan commission’s report and order a do-over of riding maps has ignited a firestorm over the usually sleepy issue of electoral boundaries. Is this meddling or giving rural Alberta fair representation? Meanwhile, a separatist group is in court to avoid opening its books, Premier Danielle Smith’s new website is pushing her own referendum questions, and many clicks are going to a series of AI “slopaganda” online videos that stoke worries about foreign interference. And do we have to change the clocks to squeeze in a discussion about Alberta’s move to permanent daylight time? West of Centre guest host Jason Markusoff speaks with three Alberta-based journalists: Alex Boyd from the Toronto Star, Falice Chin from the Hub and Matthew Scace from the Globe and Mail. Host: Jason Markusoff Guests: Alex Boyd, Falice Chin, Matthew Scace Producer: Diane Yanko

Separatism is in court (again), as several First Nations try to thwart a referendum on Alberta independence. The group collecting signatures to trigger a referendum on separation says it already has more than the required number of signatures. It expects the Smith government to put its question on the ballot, even if a judge rules against the petition. Meanwhile, Alberta’s education minister has tabled a bill aimed at getting politics and ideology out of the classroom. It mandates that teachers present all issues in a neutral and unbiased way, and limits the display of flags in schools. And an effort to redraw Alberta’s electoral ridings is drawing criticism. Two commissioners appointed by the UCP have mapped out boundaries of their own that are vastly different from the commission’s majority report. It has both the Alberta NDP and the judge who chaired the commission warning the government not to go there. Jason Markusoff is in the West of Centre host chair this week. Joining him are Erika Barootes, former…

As members of the NDP celebrate new leader Avi Lewis and his vision to revitalize their party, there’s skepticism in Alberta that Lewis’ federal victory will put the New Democrats back on the road to relevancy. Two NDP insiders, Shannon Phillips, a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister, and Keith McLaughlin, who was chief of staff to several ministers in Rachel Notley’s government, join West of Centre host Kathleen Petty to offer their analysis on the impact that Lewis will have in Alberta — and they’re blunt in their assessment. Neither see a clear path for the federal NDP to become relevant in the near future. And as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith weaponizes the tie between the New Democrats’ federal and provincial wings -- pointing to the party’s constitution as proof that their federal and provincial policies are one and the same -- the panel is brushing off the document as meaningless. They say what the federal NDP is doing doesn’t matter to Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, as his focus is on the…

Back in January 2001, six influential Alberta conservatives sent then premier Ralph Klein the now famous 'firewall letter.' Under the heading 'Alberta Agenda,' the letter proposed withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan, establishing a provincial police force, bypassing the Canada Revenue Agency in favour of the province collecting its own income tax, and Senate reform. These ideas were seen as fringe. Extremist even. But with the passage of time, some of the key measures in the firewall letter have influenced conservative policy in Alberta, and are now being set in motion 25 years later by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. This week, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty gets the inside story on the firewall letter, straight from two of its signatories. Ted Morton, an executive fellow at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy and a former PC cabinet minister; and Ken Boessenkool, a longtime policy advisor who worked with former prime minister Stephen Harper (credited as the catalyst for the letter,…

There’s great concern that people in Ottawa aren’t taking what’s happening in Alberta seriously enough. With national unity at stake, some Senators are looking west from the upper chamber and acknowledging there are indeed structural issues at the federal level that’s fueling frustration. This week on West of Centre, Kathleen Petty welcomes a panel of Prairies senators. Alberta Senator Paula Simons, who was appointed in 2018 and sits in the Independent Senators Group; Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin, appointed in 2008; and Manitoba Senator Charles Adler, who was appointed in 2024. Both sit in the Canadian Senators Group. The panel pulls no punches in questioning whether Canada has done the work it needs to become a true energy superpower. For them, it’s time to turn words into action. As trade tensions with the U.S. simmer, they’re blunt on CUSMA: Canada can’t take its own self-interest out of the equation because negotiations are not about love, but business. And while they disagree on the strategy for a…

The deadly U.S.- and Israel-led attack on Iran has given way to a cold economic reality. According to the International Energy Agency, the war in the Middle East has created the biggest oil supply disruption in history. With oil markets in turmoil and fears of export restrictions growing as the conflict enters its third week, Canada suddenly has more relevance in the conversation around energy security. This week, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Gitane De Silva, the former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator and Alberta’s former senior representative to the U.S.; and Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. When it comes to oil scarcity, both experts agree that Alberta has little to fear. While consumer prices are set to climb, the province’s abundance of oil and natural gas is critical to weathering the economic storm. And Canada’s reputation as a stable, reliable and predictable energy partner is becoming increasingly…

For decades, Alberta’s federal politics has been a fortress. But the Conservative blue wall protecting the province is showing signs of cracking. And the colour seeping in? Liberal red. To help understand the shift, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Éric Grenier, a premier Canadian polls analyst and founder of The Writ; and David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, whose latest online survey reinforces the idea that the increase in Liberal support in Alberta isn’t a blip. Multiple polls since the start of the year show the gap between the federal Conservatives and the federal Liberals is narrowing. According to Grenier, it's a trend that’s leaving people scratching their heads. Coletto outlines why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s popularity is a primary driver and marvels at the ‘bizarro world’ in which the country finds itself — with a prime minister from Alberta who speaks of the province’s virtues while selling Canada as a stable source of energy. If the numbers hold, he also wonders if Alberta could…

Buckle up and keep your hands on the bar, Albertans! The province’s ride on the resource revenue roller coaster continues, and the latest $9.4 billion drop is enough to make a staunch fiscal conservative lose their lunch. The latest budget update projects three consecutive years of red ink and increased borrowing to fund critical public services, with no clear track back to balance. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty has assembled three big brains to critique this latest dive loop in Alberta’s fiscal trajectory. Economist Trevor Tombe and political scientist Lisa Young from the University of Calgary join the CBC’s own writer and producer Jason Markusoff, a veteran of more than 20 provincial budgets. Tombe breaks down why the province is now more reliant on resource revenue than it has been since Don Getty’s days. Young explains why this year’s fiscal roadmap feels more like an election budget. And Markusoff analyzes why Albertans may be more receptive to deficits than in years past…and he…

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has some questions she wants Albertans to answer. Nine of them, to be exact. That’s how many referendum questions Smith announced in a televised speech that she’s going to put to Albertans on Oct. 19. They range from constitutional reform to abolish the Senate and change who picks judges, to several that would directly affect some immigrants and the services they receive. To unpack the proposed immigration changes, host Jason Markusoff is first joined by Raj Sharma, an immigration lawyer based in Calgary. He argues many of the questions appear outside Alberta’s jurisdiction. Then, the panel breaks down the rest of the premier’s address. Journalist Rob Breakenridge says the referendum could serve as a distraction in advance of a bad-news budget. Evan Menzies, a vice-president at Crestview Strategy and former head of communications for the United Conservative Party, says there are reasonable questions to be debated amongst the proposals. Finally, Shannon Greer, a senior…

What does a kid from Nanton, Alta., write in his private journals after spending his days influencing some of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's most controversial policies? This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty takes a peek into The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981, with the book's editor, Ron Graham. As the prime minister's principal secretary, Jim Coutts was said to have exercised more backroom power than anyone else in modern Canadian political history. He was everywhere that mattered during the Trudeau era 50 years ago, and then went home and wrote a lot of it down. Just as you'd expect from a diary, Coutts' offers juicy insight into exactly what he thought of both Alberta premier Peter Lougheed and Progressive Conservative Party leader Joe Clark. His entries reveal how influential he was as the reviled National Energy Program was being devised in the spring of 1980. And his private anxieties about inflation, affordability, energy prices and Western alienation read like…

Grab your snacks and beverages and settle in for a West of Centre twofer, no coupon required. First, host Kathleen Petty reconvenes our citizens’ panel — Chelsea, Darryl, and Sunil — to get their perspectives on the latest happenings in Alberta. Darryl, who identifies as "blue through and through" describes his recent trip to Ontario and how Alberta politics is perceived by some in the east (Hint: it isn’t flattering). Sunil, a disappointed Conservative supporter, feels that Alberta has legitimate issues within Confederation, but questions the premier’s current tactics. Meanwhile, Chelsea is struggling to connect the dots on how some of the moves the provincial government is making will benefit everyday Albertans. And then, as the April 1 deadline approaches for the next step to getting approval on a new bitumen pipeline to B.C., two energy industry insiders offer new insight into who might step forward to build it. Ian Anderson, the former president and CEO of Trans Mountain, recounts his experience…

It’s a wrap for the Conservative Party Convention in Calgary. Leader Pierre Poilievre secured an 87.4 per cent vote of confidence. Now that he’s won over the delegates, the focus for him and the party becomes winning over Canadians. West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined this week by two Conservative insiders who were also at this weekend’s convention. Amber Ruddy, Alberta's national councillor for the Conservative Party of Canada and a vice-president at Counsel Public Affairs; and Ian Brodie, a University of Calgary political scientist, senior advisor at New West Public Affairs, and former chief of staff to prime minister Stephen Harper. They muse about when Canadians might next go to the polls and whether the Conservatives are ready (they are); how much more explicitly Poilievre and Alberta’s premier will have to speak about the spectre of separatism if momentum continues to pick up in Alberta and Quebec (much, much more); and where Poilievre might run in the next election (Carleton again?! One…

The seeds of separation are being sown. Thousands have been braving January’s cold to put some heat on the effort for the province to become a free and independent country. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty speaks with one of the campaign’s key proponents and head of the Alberta Prosperity Project, Mitch Sylvestre. Among many points in their conversation, he tells her there’s no U.S. funding involved in the effort, and that his sense is things would have been much different if Pierre Poilievre had won last spring’s federal election. Then, political pollster Janet Brown and Calgary-based Toronto Star reporter Alex Boyd join the table. They analyze the political calculation by Premier Danielle Smith in making it easier for a separation referendum to go to the people. And they break down the differing views on the separatist sentiment in Alberta — from those who are committed to the cause, to those who are more soft on the idea but want to keep the discussion going to negotiate a better deal with…

This week on West of Centre, guest host Jason Markusoff reconvenes the national political panel The House Party for a conversation about Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa. That historically difficult partnership has changed with a deal to pursue a pipeline to the B.C. coast, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s warmth towards this Liberal prime minister. But our panel wonders if that relationship is built to last. Joining Jason are his two co-hosts from House Party: Catherine Cullen, host of CBC’s The House, and Daniel Thibeault, Radio-Canada’s Ottawa bureau chief, along with Falice Chin, the Alberta bureau chief for The Hub. Host: Jason Markusoff Guests: Falice Chin, Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault Producer: Carla Turner

The geopolitical rules were rewritten this week as the U.S. moves beyond simply buying oil. It effectively took over the world's largest oil reserves in Venezuela — the same kind of heavy oil produced by Alberta. It's a threat that can't be dismissed. This week, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator and Alberta's former senior representative to the United States; Martha Hall Findlay, who was Suncor Energy's first chief climate officer; and Sonya Savage, former Alberta energy minister. With 10 per cent of Alberta's crude at risk of being displaced in the U.S. Gulf Coast and a big hit to the provincial budget at stake, the panel says Canada can no longer afford to be the 'boy scouts' of the global energy market. The panel explains why Canada isn't building refineries instead of pipelines. And they drill down on how this complicates the pursuit of a private proponent for a new bitumen pipeline to B.C.'s northwest coast. They argue while the…

From a Trump trade war and a historic teachers' strike, to the UCP government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, 2025 has been a high-stakes whirlwind for Alberta. This week on West of Centre, the CBC’s own Jason Markusoff swaps his producer and writer hat for a clipboard as quizmaster for our "not-quite-annual" quiz show. Testing their knowledge of the year's headlines: Falice Chin, Alberta bureau chief of The Hub; Alex Boyd, Calgary-based reporter for the Toronto Star; and pollster Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research. Think you can beat our political smarties? Use our study guide to prep for a look back on such key topics as: The prime ministerial pivot (Justin Trudeau’s resignation). The Mar-a-Lago minute (Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s trip to Florida). The notwithstanding fall (when Albertans got a lesson on the Charter). The ‘La-La-La-We-Can’t-Hear-You’ Act of 2025 (Markusoff gave a certain piece of legislation a very catchy nickname). Mayoral shakeups (new faces in the big chair in Calgary…

What if the biggest danger to Canada isn’t a foreign enemy or even U.S. President Donald Trump? Rather, poor policy decisions and decades of deferred leadership that have created deep regional resentments – including here in Alberta – that threaten to tear the country apart. And what if the greatest threat to Canadian unity now comes from the west? John Ibbitson, veteran political journalist, and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs, join West of Centre host Kathleen Petty to discuss their third book together, Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk. The book is an urgent, necessary sequel to The Big Shift, where the political realignment the authors predicted – the movement of power away from the Laurentian Elite toward the West and suburban immigrant voters. Only now, the country is at a critical juncture where national stability is at stake – and Alberta is at the centre. They argue the horizontal threat is the refusal to face the fact that Canada is fundamentally a…

For the second time this year, Alberta’s UCP government is lowering the barriers for citizen-led referendum questions while also stripping the Chief Electoral Officer of many powers. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty is joined by CBC writer and producer Jason Markusoff; Globe and Mail reporter Matthew Scace; and pollster and political analyst Janet Brown. As the UCP tinkers with its legislation yet again, Brown wonders, did the provincial government not think this legislation all the way through? As Scace points out, the new legislation would allow a proposed referendum question to contravene the Canadian Constitution. The province says it is ‘restoring confidence in democratic processes’. To Markusoff, it’s the ‘La-La-La We Can’t Hear You’ Act of 2025. And again, the panel is divided on the possibility of an early election next year in Alberta. But Brown, who for the past year has staunchly argued Premier Danielle Smith won’t pull the trigger before fall of 2027, has come around to the…

Alberta and Ottawa have sealed a new “grand bargain” – a long-awaited memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for a major new bitumen pipeline to B.C.’s remote northwest coast. Joining West of Centre host Kathleen Petty to dissect this week’s deal are Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator; Emma Graney, Globe and Mail energy reporter; and Mike McDonald, former chief of staff to B.C. premier Christy Clark and co-host of Hotel Pacifico, a podcast focusing on politics on the West Coast. They discuss the dramatic shift in the relationship between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ottawa; the MOU’s "impossible-is-now-possible" dynamic; a fascinating subplot that’s forming for the federal Conservatives, who represent the riding where a bitumen pipeline may end its long-distance run from Alberta; and why achieving this agreement was likely the easiest step in a marathon process. Host: Kathleen Petty | Producer and editor: Diane Yanko | Guests: Gitane De Silva, Emma Graney, Mike…

Health care in Alberta is getting a massive makeover, as the UCP government introduces what it calls a dual-practice surgery model. Critics fear that by allowing some surgeons to simultaneously practice in both the public and private system, a patient’s wait time will be determined by their wallet. The province says it wants to try something new to solve wait times, and at least one panelist contends it’s time Canadians destigmatize the word "privatize." The plan comes as Alberta’s auditor general drops the receipts on the failed bid to privatize lab services in the DynaLife deal, and it is taxpayers who are on the hook for a tab worth over $100 million. There are questions about the risk to Premier Danielle Smith and her government as they invoke the notwithstanding clause for a second time in less than a month to shield three pieces of legislation affecting transgender youth from legal challenges. And as the federal and Alberta governments inch closer to reaching a memorandum of understanding on a new…

The Grey Cup deadline on a memorandum of understanding between the prime minister and the premier is about to come and go, but it’s not necessarily a disaster, as Danielle Smith works to secure a "new, grand bargain" for Alberta. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt; Alberta-based politics reporter for the Toronto Star, Alex Boyd; and the CBC's own writer and producer Jason Markusoff. Are there finally signs of life from the Alberta NDP? After months of virtual silence, the panel breaks down a new ad from the Opposition many felt was missing in action. The premier will be held to account for the United Conservatives’ member policy declarations at the party’s upcoming AGM, but in her bid to keep her base happy, one panellist asserts she may have created a poison pill for herself. And a little bit of trivia about why you keep hearing the word “tranche” when it comes to the running list of nation-building major projects announced by…

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget dropped this week, but it has been buried in the news by MP exits and mounting pressure from Albertans using the UCP’s own legislation to seek accountability. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty is joined by longtime policy advisor Ken Boessenkool, who worked with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Zain Velji, one third of The Strategists podcast who has worked on campaigns for the Alberta NDP; and Globe and Mail energy reporter Emma Graney. Listen as the panel explores how the biggest economic announcement of the year has been overshadowed by an internal crisis for the federal Conservative party and why “democratic reform is for losers." You'll also hear more sports analogies to describe current events than you thought possible, and learn about... Mr. Muffins?! Host: Kathleen Petty | Producer & editor: Diane Yanko | Guests: Emma Graney, Ken Boessenkool, Zain Velji

Alberta’s UCP government used the biggest hammer in its toolbox this week to force teachers back to work. The provincial government invoked the notwithstanding clause, arguing families needed certainty. The move has certainly raised the ire of many Albertans, along with the wider labour movement, which has promised consequences. Already, the education minister is the target of the first recall petition approved under Alberta’s Recall Act. This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Colin Aitchison, press secretary to the education minister in Jason Kenney’s UCP government; former Alberta NDP cabinet minister Shannon Phillips; and University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley. Together, they scratch their heads at how a grassroots effort to affirm Alberta’s place in Canada with the "Forever Canadian" petition outgrew every expectation. When combined with the teachers’ movement, the panel sees it as a shock to the political system in Alberta. Host: Kathleen Petty | Producer & editor:…