The Discourse

Canada has spoken… kind of. The Liberals are back with a minority, the Conservatives won the West but lost the race, and the NDP? Well, Jagmeet Singh lost his seat and resigned.

This week, Cheryl and Erika are unfiltered, exhausted, and deeply in their feels. They dig into:

Why this was an election where every party lost something

Poilievre’s future: is he safe from the Conservative firing squad?

How the NDP holds the balance of power despite a devastating loss

The East-West divide: is Canada more fractured than ever?

What Danielle Smith’s post-election statement reveals about her strategy

Why separatist talk in Alberta is growing louder—and riskier

Plus: the subtle power moves behind leadership speculation, the role of advance votes, and what Mark Carney must do in his first 90 days to calm the country down.

This is the episode where no one gets spared—except maybe Donald Trump, who might be the only person grinning at the results.

The last week of the federal campaign is anything but sleepy—Cheryl and Erika go full tilt on everything from budget bombs to Alberta bombshells.

👀 Danielle Smith is absolutely thinking about an early election. We break down the signs, the strategy, and why a 2026 Alberta vote could be coming faster than anyone’s ready for. 

Also in this episode:

💰 Carney drops a banker’s budget— billions more than Trudeau. Is it bold leadership or the most expensive rebrand in Canadian politics?

✂️ Poilievre’s promises: fiscal fantasy or ruthless efficiency?

🧃 Jagmeet’s debate strategy—was he heckling or auditioning for Question Period?

💔 Alberta separatism gets airtime again—why Danielle won’t kill the idea, and how it’s all tied to her next big political move.

😶‍🌫️ Where is Naheed Nenshi? And is silence a strategy?

It’s federal debate week, so we’re taking you inside the room where it happens — no, not the stage — the prep room.

This week, Cheryl and Erika trade war stories from decades of political debate prep, sharing what really goes into those make-or-break moments on the campaign trail. From binders and body language to one-liners and last-minute nerves, we unpack how leaders get ready, what success actually looks like, and why sometimes it’s not what you say — it’s how you look when someone else is saying it.

🎯 What campaigns really want from a debate

🧠 Debate prep secrets: sparring partners, mantras, and muscle memory

📉 Debate disasters and the iconic “Math is hard” moment

📈 What’s at stake for Carney, Poilievre, and Singh

📸 Why the first 15 minutes matter most — and how “debate face” can make or break you

🧥 Rachel vs. Danielle: was the matching blue suit a coincidence or a psych-out?

Plus: Cheryl admits to rolling her eyes at Danielle Smith’s 2023 closer (only to admit it worked), Erika confesses to smuggling Jameson into the green room, and both hosts reveal the high-pressure coaching strategies that shape how Canada’s political leaders show up on stage.

🎧 Whether you’re a debate junkie or a casual voter, this is your backstage pass to the most-watched hour in any campaign.

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What do you get when you mix a 15,000-person rally, a Boilermaker endorsement, and Mark Carney forgetting the price of strawberries? A pre-debate episode of The Discourse that does not hold back.

This week, Erika and Cheryl throw down over:

🚨 The actual impact of those massive Conservative rallies—crowd size vs. door-knocking power.

🧠 The battle of brains and branding: Is Carney just Pierre with better cufflinks?

🔄 Spousal optics—are campaign kisses strategy, sincerity, or just Pierre cosplay?

🔥 The rise of strategic voting: Should Jagmeet worry? Should Trudeau be thanking him?

📉 Whether Alberta’s love affair with the CPC is officially on a break (again).

🇨🇦 And of course… the Team Canada unity tour, where everyone gets a participation ribbon—unless you're Danielle Smith or Doug Ford.

The debate is coming. Voters are shifting. Stakes are spiking. And your favourite partisan pals are here to make sense of it all—with shade, sass, and semi-respectful disagreement.

🎧 Listen in and lock in your vote—or at least your talking points.

Liberation Day has come and gone, but we’re still drowning in uncertainty. Every hour brings new twists, and today’s no exception. We break down what President Trump said and what it means for the federal election.

Meanwhile, Danielle Smith’s No F**s Given* Tour takes Florida by storm—she won’t be silenced, but will her trip to see Ben Shapiro shake things up back home?

And speaking of silence… is this the beginning of the end for Jagmeet Singh? Could the NDP vanish from Parliament before April is over?

In this gripping episode (Erika apologizes for her lack of voice), we delve into the heart of Canada's 2025 federal election, where Mark Carney's Liberals are surging ahead but face stiff competition from Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives. The campaign is dominated by concerns over Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty, shifting the focus to which party can best navigate these challenges. We explore the latest poll numbers and are joined by Jason Krips, CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association, who discusses the impact of U.S. tariffs on the forestry industry. Don't worry, the "Allegations" and new statement of defense make the episode, as does Premier Smith's overtaking the airwaves this week. 

With a federal election call looming, The Discourse dives into the latest polling shake-up: the Liberals are surging, Poilievre is scrambling, and the NDP is disappearing. Cheryl and Erika debate whether Carney’s carbon tax cut is a game-changer or just clever spin, and if the Conservatives can pivot before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, in Alberta, the UCP’s latest scandal heats up—lawsuits, RCMP investigations, and a very questionable government response. Is this headed for court or a quiet settlement? Plus, Cheryl dreams up Poilievre’s lost Axe the Tax photo op, and Erika takes bets on whether she’ll actually vote Conservative.

After a week off, The Discourse is back, and Alberta politics is as chaotic as ever. We break down Alberta MLA Scott Sinclair’s budget rebellion and why getting booted from the UCP was inevitable, the RCMP’s deep dive into the AHS scandal (sorry, “The Allegations”), and the looming federal election now that Mark Carney has taken the Liberal helm. With caucus drama, corruption probes, and a political reset in Ottawa, there’s no shortage of hot takes.

We’re back to weekly episodes, so make sure you subscribe on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify to stay up to date. Follow us on X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest takes. See you next Thursday at 5 AM! 🚨

Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes break down Alberta’s 2025-26 budget, tackling its $5.2B deficit, tax cut, healthcare, and education spending. Is this truly a conservative budget (Erika says no!), and what does it mean for Albertans?

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Erika and Cheryl break down the latest developments in the UCP procurement scandal. Former Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie has resigned, citing concerns about government transparency. A lucrative land deal and more details about private surgical contracts are raising more questions. 

Plus, questions are swirling about UCP influence over the Edmonton Police Commission, and the Premier’s handling of the controversy (or lack thereof).

🔹 Key topics in this episode:

New episodes drop every Thursday at 5 AM—follow, subscribe, and stay tuned for our Budget Special on February 28!

📢 Join the conversation: What should this scandal be called? Comment below or hit us up on X, Instagram, and TikTok.

🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts!