PODCAST: Referendum on a Referendum - A Muddled Question to Decide Alberta’s Future

PODCAST: Is Canada in a recession? Or, is it a "technical" recession...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, the latest on the state of the Canadian economy and the debate sparked this week over whether Canada has fallen into recession. We’ll hear from Charles St-Arnaud, Chief Economist with Servus Credit Union, who notes that while the last two quarters show a small contraction, the overall trend has been stagnant, dragged down by reduced population growth, lagging productivity, and stalled household purchasing power. We’ll find out whether there’s reason for optimism as to whether things can turn in the right direction. We’ll also have a closer look at the potential impacts of two key pieces of federal legislation. Bill C-22 (The Lawful Access Act) and Bill C-9 (The Combating Hate Act) are both on the verge of becoming law, but both could have major implications for privacy and free speech in Canada. We’ll hear from Josh Dehaas, Interim Litigation Director with the Canadian Constitution Foundation [https://theccf.ca/], about what the government is trying to accomplish through these bills, and what the concerns are. Plus, the latest on the debate in Alberta over separation and the province’s future in Confederation. Two new polls provide an interesting snapshot of where public opinion is at, and the premier ruffled some separatist feathers this week by laying out the significant costs that Alberta would bear if it chose to leave Canada. Get full access to Rob Breakenridge at robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe [https://robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

PODCAST: Why Alberta Needs to Lead, Not Leave

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, the debate around Alberta’s future is heating up amid the official announcement of the October 19th referendum. We’ll be joined by Ken Boessenkool [https://mbpolicy.com/team/ken-boessenkool/], who’s one of the founders of a new group called Lead Not Leave [https://www.leadnotleave.ca/], which also includes former Alberta finance ministers Jim Dinning and Travis Toews. Their goal is to make the case for keeping the province in Confederation, while at the same time advancing ideas to strengthen both Alberta and Canada. They argue that separation is not a solution [https://www.readtheline.ca/p/alberta-must-lead-not-leave]. Plus, a new study from the Montreal Economic Institute [https://www.iedm.org/] examines the evidence for government-run grocery stores - an idea that seems to be catching on in both Canada and the United States. The study concludes [https://www.iedm.org/city-run-grocery-stores-are-not-the-solution-to-canadas-food-price-problem/], though, that such an approach won’t address the problem of high food prices, and will create other problems along the way. We’ll hear from study author and MEI senior fellow Charles Lammam. Get full access to Rob Breakenridge at robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe [https://robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

PODCAST: Referendum on a Referendum - A Muddled Question to Decide Alberta’s Future

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll focus on the major development that occurred this week in Alberta: the announcemengt from Premier Danielle Smith of an October referendum on Alberta’s future. The question itself is controversial though: it's not one where the outcome means Alberta separates from Canada, but it’s not a meaningless question, either. It’s muddled enough that neither sides seems to happy. We’ll hear from Thomas Lukaszuk, founder of the group Forever Canadian [https://www.forever-canadian.ca/en]. The first part of the premier’s question does mirror the Forever Canadian petition question, although Lukaszuk maintains their efforts were to head off a separatist referendum. We’ll get his thoughts on how we got to this point, the remarkable scenes this week at the committee tasked with reviewing his petition, and the campaign pivot for Forever Canadian now that this referendum campaign is underway. We’ll also find out how this is being received on the independence side of this debate and what now for the separation movement, as we’re joined by Derek Fildebrandt, president, publisher, and CEO of the Western Standard [https://www.westernstandard.news/]. We’ll get his reaction to Smith’s announcement and framing of the question and how this ensuing campaign is shaping up. Plus, we’ll look at the influence of the separatist movement within the UCP and how much of a threat now exists to Smith’s leadership. Get full access to Rob Breakenridge at robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe [https://robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

PODCAST: Smith and Carney sign a new pipeline deal amid questions around Alberta separation and Indigenous consultation

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at two major stories from this week: the new pipeline agreement between Alberta and Ottawa as the court decision that, for now, has quashed the separatist campaign to force a referendum. We’re joined in this episode by Andrew Leach, who’s an energy and environmental economist at the University of Alberta, and holds join appointments in both the Faculties of Arts and Law. We delve into the agreement reaches between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney on carbon pricing and emissions reduction that sets the stage for a pipeline proposal to be fast tracked through the Major Projects Office. Progress on this front could go a long way in calming the political mood in Alberta. The duty to consult with First Nations, though, looms large over this project as well as the debate in Alberta around separation. We’ll also focus on the court decision that blocked the separatist petition on the basis that it potentially interferes with treaty rights. Alberta intends on appealing that decision, but what impact could that court fight have on the effort to advance the pipeline project? Get full access to Rob Breakenridge at robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe [https://robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

PODCAST: Why Canada Should Shelve Carbon Capture and Prioritize Energy Infrastructure

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we hear from Martha Hall Findlay, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary Amid shifting global circumstances and economic pressures here at home, Hall Findlay is calling for a strategic rethink of Canada’s energy priorities - specifically as it applies to the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding (MOU). One of the pillars of that agreement is the multi-billion-dollar Pathways carbon capture project - a project that Hall Findlay has long championed. But now, in her words [https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/opinion-better-pathway], it’s time for a “better pathway,” which means postponing the carbon capture project and prioritizing major projects such as a pipeline to the west coast. While carbon capture is an expensive endeavour with negligible impacts on global climate, Hall Findlay argues that energy infrastructure and resource development can have a hugely beneficial impact when it comes to both the Canadian economy and the global supply. Get full access to Rob Breakenridge at robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe [https://robbreakenridge.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]