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•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 117•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 115•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 113•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 111•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 110•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 109•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 108•Transcript available on Metacast What can Canadian conservatives learn from Doug Ford’s winning campaign? The Progressive Conservative leader won a second straight majority government on Thursday, a dramatic turnaround for a premier whose political future seemed far from certain during his first two years in office. What did Ford do right, and where did Alberta Premier Jason Kenney get it wrong? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by the Gandalf Group's David Herle, who also hosts The Herle Burly and Curse of Politics, pollster Janet...
Jun 03, 2022•49 min•Ep 107•Transcript available on Metacast Alberta conservatives are getting ready to leave Jason Kenney behind — but who will take the baton? There’s speculation that Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews may seek the UCP leadership, and he would join a field that already includes former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith and Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean. Host Jim Brown is joined by guests Melissa Caouette of Melissa Caouette Consulting, Blaise Boehmer from NATIONAL Public Relations and political columnist Jen Gerson from The L...
May 27, 2022•50 min•Ep 106•Transcript available on Metacast So … now what? On Wednesday, Jason Kenney announced he would resign as Alberta premier after receiving 51.4 per cent support from the party in a leadership vote. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by the CBC’s Jason Markusoff, Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail and freelance columnist Graham Thomson to discuss what comes next for the United Conservative Party — and for the province.
May 20, 2022•51 min•Ep 105•Transcript available on Metacast Saskatchewan has undergone a massive shift on the political spectrum over many decades. In it, there are some lessons for its neighbour to the west. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Dale Eisler, author of From Left to Right, to talk about that political transformation and what Alberta and Canada can learn from it.
May 13, 2022•49 min•Ep 104•Transcript available on Metacast A leadership debate and a leadership review. Premier Jason Kenney came up at a conservative conference that was also hosting the first debate for Conservative Party leadership candidates – a debate full of attacks and acrimony. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Alex Boyd from the Toronto Star, Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell and Corey Hogan from The Strategists to discuss how the events in the national party and Kenney’s provincial party reflect on the conservative movement.
May 06, 2022•46 min•Ep 103•Transcript available on Metacast Close friends and allies sometimes need a little push. A $3.7-million-dollar push, to be exact. Alberta’s government is spending that money on advertising, public relations and communications contracts south of the border. This week, Alberta’s representative to the U.S. James Rajotte and Maryscott Greenwood from Crestview Strategy and the Canadian American Business Council join host Kathleen Petty to talk about Alberta’s relationship with the U.S. and how that fits in with the political scene in...
Apr 29, 2022•44 min•Ep 102•Transcript available on Metacast Alberta’s premier and governing party have spent two years combating scandals, bad polling and a pandemic – but what has the official opposition been up to? This week, guest host Jim Brown is joined by Leah Ward from Metric Strategies, Keith McLaughlin from New West Public Affairs and Lisa Young from the University of Calgary to talk about Alberta’s NDP and what the party’s strategy is as we slowly tick down to the next election.
Apr 22, 2022•44 min•Ep 101•Transcript available on Metacast Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership review vote is underway and UCP members are sending in ballots to decide whether he stays or goes. This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Erika Barootes from Enterprise Canada and the former president of the UCP, and Vitor Marciano, a key advisor to former Wildrose leader Brian Jean, to debate the question of the party’s leadership and future.
Apr 14, 2022•48 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast The federal budget contained billions in new spending on a carbon capture tax credit for the oil and gas industry – details released the same week as the kick-off for Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership review. This week host Kathleen Petty sits down with Gary Mar, president of the Canada West Foundation, Kelly Cryderman, a reporter at the Globe and Mail, and Lori Williams, a political scientist from Mount Royal University.
Apr 08, 2022•44 min•Ep 99•Transcript available on Metacast The federal government has announced its plan to slash emissions by 2030. Alberta’s government says it’s a bad joke, the opposition NDP call it a fantasy and the prime minister insists it’s ambitious yet achievable. So which is it? This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Calgary Chamber of Commerce President Deb Yedlin, Sara Hastings-Simon, an expert in energy transitions from the University of Calgary and Tracy Johnson, head of CBC Calgary’s business unit.
Apr 01, 2022•43 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast 
