Alberta Advantage Podcast

Renowned earth scientist David Hughes joins Team Advantage to discuss Canada's energy mix, Alberta's oilsands, the realities of a carbon-constrained future, orphaned wells in Western Canada, oil curtailment and oil-by-rail, as well as David's most recent study, Canada's Energy Outlook. David Hughes will be speaking in Calgary on Monday, March 4th, 2019 at 7pm at MacEwan Hall. Follow this link for details: https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/canadas_energy_future_calgary David Hughes will also be presenting in Edmonton on Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 at 7pm at the TELUS International Centre at the UofA. Follow this link for details: https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/canadas_energy_future_edmonton

Populism! It frightens liberal technocrats everywhere! What could be worse than teeming masses of people making political demands? Team Advantage takes a look at some of populism's historical roots, and examines that classic populist formulation: the [ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE] vs [THE PEOPLE]. While everyone is concerned about right-wing populism, is a left-wing populism possible? What would it look like?

Bashir Mohamed joins Team Advantage to discuss Alberta's Black history, and the history of racial discrimination that accompanied it. KKK cross-burning approved by Edmonton's Mayor! Court cases over discriminatory seating! Some have suggested that MP Kerry Diotte is "racist"! That time Jason Kenney had Bashir arrested! and more... We used this piece to ground our discussion, Cheryl Foggo's "My Home is Over Jordan — Southern Alberta's Black Pioneers" https://johnwarewwpt.squarespace.com/my-home-is-over-jordan/ Bashir's twitter: https://twitter.com/BashirMohamed Bashir's writing: http://www.bashirmohamed.com/blog Cold open: wh3at elevator$$ - lil wheat ft. Yung Agri

Have you herd? There's a new Canada Food Guide advising us to eat our fruits and veggies. This is clearly a plot by George Soros and the Global Elite to attack Alberta's precious, precious beef industry. Our environment is, in fact, maintained by our dear methane-emitting bovines! Team Advantage does a close read of Danielle Smith's incredibly well-informed, smart, intelligent, brilliant, sharp, keen, astute, intuitive, perceptive, and discerning argument. Danielle Smith: If you care about the planet, eat more beef [January 25, 2019] https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/smith-if-you-care-about-the-planet-eat-more-beef

Team Advantage sits down with Justin and Thomas from Alberta Regional Rail to make the case for a regional rail network. Connect Alberta's major cities! Increase transportation safety! Cut down on transportation time! Ride a train because it's so dang cool! Check out Alberta Regional Rail: albertaregionalrail.com railalberta.com twitter.com/AlbertaRail Our Berlin correspondent, Julia, can be reached at twitter.com/remarksist.

Journalist and podcaster extraordinaire James Wilt (@james_m_wilt) joins Team Advantage to discuss a few extremely chill and low-key subjects, such as Bill C-69, Alberta's royalty regime, Endy mattresses, the state of the Canadian podcasting universe, as well as the practice of journalism in Canada. It's very Nice. Subscribe to News You Can Use: https://soundcloud.com/user-112754787 Are Albertans collecting a fair share of oilsands wealth? https://thenarwhal.ca/are-albertans-collecting-a-fair-share-of-oilsands-wealth/

Name your favourite highly-concentrated, highly-profitable, highly-integrated telecommunications company! Does it rhyme with Rell, Belus, or Togers? Good news, this episode is for you. Joined by Dru Oja Jay (@druojajay) of Courage, Team Advantage investigates phenomenon of "natural monopoly," investigates the Canadian communications industry's anti-competitive behaviour, and makes the case for nationalizing and democratizing the telecommunications industry.

In an effort to make William Brett Wilson Very Mad Online, Team Advantage convenes to explain the difference between demand-side climate policies (like the carbon tax) and supply-side climate policies (like restricting or banning production). We come to the natural conclusion that a world socialist government is probably the best way to tackle the problem.

Did you hear about the recent tragedy? "Laid off at 53, former oil industry manager wonders if seven-figure savings will sustain 40-year retirement: Couple has financial assets of about $1.37 million to tide them over, but at their age, they cannot access early Canada Pension Plan benefits for another seven years." Team Advantage gives the piece a thorough and compassionate read-through. https://edmontonjournal.com/personal-finance/family-finance/laid-off-at-53-former-manager-wonders-if-seven-figure-savings-will-sustain-a-40-year-retirement/

Hosting the Olympics in Calgary is a bad idea! Team Advantage considers Calgary's 1988 Olympic bid and how we lucked out financially the first time, the ridiculous demands of the International Olympics Committee (including private traffic lanes and seasonal cakes), fun fascist-Olympics crossovers, the social costs of hosting the Olympics, B.C.'s completely not-ominous "Assistance to Shelter Act" that helped kidnap and displace homeless people, militarized police forces, evictions and gentrification. Finally, Team Advantage examines the role of local Yes supporters and boosters and considers Lenin's wise words: "Put no faith in phrase-mongering, it is better to see who stands to gain!"