Alberta is about to go into an election and it's a tight race. At a special live election show, host Kathleen Petty and her panel talk about the issues Calgary - home of many battleground ridings - and province are facing as Alberta votes. What topics will this campaign focus on? And what do those issues say about Alberta’s future? Calgary Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Yedlin, former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and pollster Janet Brown join.
Mar 30, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 137
We have an oil sands tailings pond leak sparking national questions, the federal government’s controversial environmental assessment legislation before the Supreme Court, details on Alberta’s efforts to procure children’s medication and a new budget coming next week from Ottawa. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by the Globe and Mail’s Kelly Cryderman, Alex Boyd from the Toronto Star and freelance columnist Graham Thomson to break down those topics.
Mar 24, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 136
Alberta is the only province to never have a minority government and with an election two months away the third parties are struggling to nominate candidates, raise money and get noticed. How did it evolve to this point and what does it say about politics and democracy? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Dave Cournoyer, a politics and history writer, Lisa Young from the University of Calgary and CBC Calgary’s Jason Markusoff.
Mar 17, 2023•46 min•Season 4Ep. 135
The curiosity with what Albertans think and why has been catching national attention for a while, but that focus is increasing as the provincial election gets closer. Host Kathleen Petty talks about why the country is paying attention and what political lessons there are for Canada in Alberta with David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data and Eric Grenier, founder of The Writ.
Mar 10, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 134
‘Spend’ might be the word of the week. Alberta’s budget is doling out $68 billion in spending. Where is all the money going? How precarious is Alberta’s financial position? And how does this budget frame the upcoming election? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kieran Leavitt, the Toronto Star’s national reporter in Edmonton, Calgary Sun Columnist Rick Bell and Elise von Scheel, CBC Calgary’s provincial affairs reporter.
Mar 03, 2023•46 min•Season 4Ep. 133
The budget day boots are polished and on Tuesday Albertans will get a look at where the government plans to spend its large surplus. What can we expect in that document? How are budgets built? And how does that all shift in a pre-election budget? Guest host Jason Markusoff is joined by Trevor Tombe from the University of Calgary, former Alberta PC minister Gary Mar, now with the Canada West Foundation and former NDP minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd from Counsel Public Affairs.
Feb 24, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 132
They say things come in threes: On Friday, the federal government released its roadmap on a plan to move oil and gas workers into sustainable energy jobs, Alberta’s premier and the federal Conservative leader spoke in Calgary, and the report into the Emergencies Act invocation related to the Freedom Convoy was released. Host Kathleen Petty breaks down those events with Mount Royal University’s Lori Williams, strategist Corey Hogan and the CBC’s Jason Markusoff.
Feb 17, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 131
The prime minister has made his pitch to the premiers on a health care deal, but will they say yes? And how could those dollars help a struggling system? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Fredrykka Rinaldi, the president of the Alberta Medical Association and a family doctor, Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research and the CBC’s provincial affairs reporter in Edmonton, Janet French.
Feb 10, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 130
The federal government’s plan to move oil and gas workers into clean energy jobs has created a huge debate. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says this forthcoming plan will destroy jobs and Alberta’s economy. Federal ministers say it’s necessary to protect the environment and stay competitive economically. So, what’s the deal with the ‘Just Transition’? Host Kathleen Petty sits down with Andrew Leach from the University of Alberta, Sara Hastings-Simon from the University of Calgary and the Globe a...
Feb 03, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 129
Editor’s Note: This segment mentions a January 19, 2023 web story that has been updated. As detailed in the Editor’s Note accompanying that story, CBC could not substantiate the content of emails referenced here or confirm their existence. Read the full Editor’s Note here.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-premier-office-emails-prosecutors-coutts-1.6719743 Premier Danielle Smith is facing new controversy over just how involved she’s been in Alberta’s justice system. Host Kathleen Pet...
Jan 27, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 128
Editor’s Note: This segment mentions a January 19, 2023 web story that has been updated. As detailed in the Editor’s Note accompanying that story, CBC could not substantiate the content of emails referenced here or confirm their existence. Read the full Editor’s Note here.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-premier-office-emails-prosecutors-coutts-1.6719743 Ottawa's plan to transition oil and gas workers stole headlines this week, until a bombshell story that a member of the premier’s...
Jan 20, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 127
If 2022 was a roller coaster in Alberta politics, 2023 won’t be any calmer. We are officially in an election year and it’s shaping up to be a competitive race. One person in particular has her eye on the province’s top job – for a second time. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by NDP Leader Rachel Notley on this week’s episode.
Jan 13, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 126
2022 is coming to a close, after one of the craziest political years on the prairies in recent memory. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail, Rick Bell with the Calgary Sun, and CBC's Alberta provincial affairs reporter Janet French to recap the big moments from this year and look at what 2023 could bring.
Dec 16, 2022•51 min•Season 4Ep. 125
The Sovereignty Act has been called “unconservative” and “unconstitutional.” Premier Danielle’s Smith flagship legislation has – after criticism, defense and amendments – passed. This week, host Kathleen Petty gets the perspective on her premiership and that policy from conservatives in other provinces. She's joined by Melanie Paradis of Texture Communications, Yan Plante from Tact Conseil and researcher Rahim Mohamed.
Dec 09, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 124
Alberta's premier has a new signature bill that experts say could provoke a constitutional crisis. The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act goes even farther than the recent Saskatchewan First Act to assert provincial rights.This week Kathleen Petty looks at what these new bills mean for the provinces and the country, with University of Alberta Constitutional law professor Eric Adams in Edmonton, Carrie Tait, who covers Alberta for the Globe and Mail in Calgary, and former Saskatchewan...
Dec 02, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Alberta is flush with cash and the new premier is spending it. Danielle Smith used her first province-wide TV address to announce direct payments to Albertans coping with inflation. She said she'd changed her mind on past controversial views as a radio host. Even her proposed "Sovereignty Act" is being rebranded. Kathleen Petty looks at whether Smith’s communications strategy is enough to shift her dropping poll numbers. Corey Hogan, who led communications for the Alberta government under two pr...
Nov 25, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 122
The board of Alberta Health Services has been fired and an official administrator is overseeing Premier Danielle Smith’s ambitious agenda with just six months until the next election. What could her proposals change in Alberta’s health care system and how will that shape the province’s politics? Guest host Jim Brown is joined by Lorian Hardcastle from the University of Calgary, former Chief Medical Officer of Health James Talbot and CBC’s provincial affairs reporter Janet French.
Nov 18, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 121
Premier Danielle Smith will once again be MLA Danielle Smith. The UCP leader won her byelection in Brooks-Medicine Hat this week and we’re about to see exactly what is on Smith’s legislative agenda for the rest of 2022. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail, Melissa Caouette of MC Consulting and freeland columnist Graham Thomson.
Nov 10, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 120
A rough start for Alberta's new premier has her challenger in majority territory. CBC has exclusive new polling on the provincial horse race and insights on how Albertans feel about the path the provincial government is on. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research, Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, and Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary’s analysis and opinion producer.
Nov 04, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 119
Alberta’s election is still more than half a year away, but the campaign is unofficially on. The final two months of 2022 promise to be busy ones, including a throne speech and the likely introduction of the Sovereignty Act. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Zain Velji, a partner at Northweather, Mandi Johnson from Crestview Strategy, and Alex Boyd with the Toronto Star.
Oct 28, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 118
Once a premier, again a premier? That full circle is what NDP leader Rachel Notley is aiming for. This weekend we’ll get some clues about her strategy. The UCP and the NDP are both holding their annual conventions this weekend. What is the path to victory for the opposition as it gets ready for another run at government? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Cheryl Oates, a principal at GT & Company, Keith McLaughlin, a partner at New West Public Affairs, and Leah Ward, the director of campaigns at M...
Oct 21, 2022•45 min•Season 4Ep. 117
The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are upping the ante with the federal government. Danielle Smith is preparing her Sovereignty Act. Scott Moe wants more economic autonomy. Are prairie politics now about pushback? This week host Kathleen Petty is joined by Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, Regina Leader-Post Columnist Murray Mandryk, and pollster and political analyst Janet Brown.
Oct 14, 2022•42 min•Ep. 117
Danielle Smith is now the leader of the United Conservative Party and will be the next premier of Alberta. Her victory changes the landscape of the party and the province. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman, a columnist from the Globe and Mail, Corey Hogan, who led communications for Alberta's government under two premiers and CBC Calgary's analysis producer, Jason Markusoff to talk about what comes next for the UCP and for Alberta.
Oct 07, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 115
The final stretch is here. We’re less than a week away from the vote that will determine the next United Conservative Party Leader — and Alberta premier. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by three conservative strategists to talk about what we’ve learned from the race and what might happen after the results are announced. Mandi Johnson is with Crestview Strategy, Melissa Caouette runs a private consulting business, and Michael Solberg is a partner at New West Public Affairs.
Sep 30, 2022•49 min•Season 4Ep. 11
There are two weeks left in the race to replace Premier Jason Kenney. The United Conservative Party will pick its new leader on October 6 and that person will become Alberta’s next premier. Where do things stand in these final days and what happens next? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell, Carrie Tait from the Globe and Mail, and conservative strategist and lawyer Karamveer Lalh.
Sep 23, 2022•51 min•Season 4Ep. 113
Canada’s prairies are getting more diverse, but the region's politics still don't reflect that diversity. In West of Centre's live season premiere at the Prairie Political Science Association's conference, host Kathleen Petty sits down with Jared Wesley from the University of Alberta, former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi and Gina Starblanket from the University of Victoria to discuss diversity on the prairies and how things are shifting.
Sep 16, 2022•54 min
West of Centre is live on location at the Alberta Relaunch conference hosting a panel discussing the future of Alberta, its politics and energy policy. Kathleen Petty is joined for this season finale by Vassy Kapelos, host of Power & Politics, Zain Velji from Northweather, Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail, and Matt Solberg from New West Public Affairs.
Jun 29, 2022•53 min•Season 3Ep. 111
You’ve heard of the glass ceiling, but what about a glass cliff? This week, we’re talking about the UCP leadership race, the field of female candidates, and the factors they may have to confront. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Lisa Young, a political scientist from the University of Calgary, Rishi Nagar, the news director at RED FM and Taleesha Thorogood from Crestview Strategy.
Jun 24, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 110
Alberta could find itself with a massive surplus this year, well into the multi-billions. That would crush previous records and lead to some big decisions for Alberta’s next premier. On this week’s episode of West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty unpacks that with University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe, Globe and Mail energy reporter Emma Graney and Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.
Jun 17, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 109
The field of candidates seeking to lead the United Conservative Party is quickly expanding — Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney is said to be in and rumours swirl around Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner jumping in, too. Host Kathleen Petty digs into what comes next along with Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell, Erika Barootes from Enterprise Canada and the former president of the UCP and Michael Solberg, a partner with New West Public Affairs and a former Harper Conservative staffer.
Jun 10, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 108
