West of Centre

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 developing that project, and the specific challenges with both the Port of Prince Rupert and Roberts Bank. And Sonya Savage, the former Alberta energy minister, shares what she’s hearing from investors as they watch the ongoing drive to force a referendum on separation.

Host: Kathleen Petty
Guests: Chelsea Matisz, Darryl Stanier, and Sunil Shah; Ian Anderson and Sonya Savage
Producers: Diane Yanko and Josh Pagé

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 panelist thinks so).

Host: Kathleen Petty
Guests: Ian Brodie, Amber Ruddy
Producer: Diane Yanko

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 Ottawa.

Finally, as the rest of the country rubbernecks at what’s happening in Alberta, the panel cautions Canadians not to oversimplify the secession effort and its impact on national unity at a time when the country needs it most.

Host: Kathleen Petty
Guests: Mitch Sylvestre, Alex Boyd, Janet Brown
Producers: Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

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 Smith-Carney MOU is a start, it is no longer sufficient to de-risk the massive commercial uncertainty created by the 'might-makes-right' White House.

Host: Kathleen Petty
Guests: Gitane De Silva, Martha Hall Findlay, Sonya Savage
Producer and editor: Diane Yanko