Premier Danielle Smith believes she has the backing of Albertans with the controversial gender identity policy introduced this week. Is the Premier playing politics or depoliticizing the protection of children, as she says. West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Corey Hogan of The Strategists podcast ,Globe and Mail reporter Emma Graney and CBC reporter Janet French .

Premier Danielle Smith sat down with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson this week. They criticized solar power and the federal environment minister. So, was it a great political strategy or a gamble she’ll regret? Join West of Centre host Kathleen Petty along with strategists Erika Barootes and Zain Velji and the CBC’s Jason Markusoff.

Rachel Notley changed politics in Alberta when the NDP won the 2015 election. After two subsequent election losses, she’s done as leader. This week, host Kathleen Petty talks about that legacy, the potential pitfalls and opportunities for her party and what may come next with the outgoing NDP leader. Plus, political strategists Keith McLaughlin and Christine Myatt add their analysis.

It’s shaping up to be another packed year for politics in Alberta. The United Conservatives are in the midst of a full reset on healthcare, all of the feuding between the provincial and federal governments will hit a new gear, plus, the NDP will likely have their turn to look for a new leader. This week, host Kathleen Petty talks to journalists Kelly Cryderman, Jason Markusoff and Graham Thomson about what to expect in politics in 2024.

What do you remember about the big political stories of 2023? West of Centre launches its inaugural year-end game show and quizzes the panel on the top stories of this year. Michael Solberg from New West Public Affairs, Zain Velji from Northweather and Alex Boyd from the Toronto Star join host Kathleen Petty.

The federal government has finally unveiled its proposed cap to reduce emissions. It sets targets lower than initial goals for 2030, but Alberta says that doesn’t matter and it wants Ottawa out of the oil patch. Host Kathleen Petty is joined first by Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, then by a panel of reporters including the CBC’s Jason Markusoff and Marieke Walsh from the Globe and Mail.

Alberta’s Sovereignty Act is being used for the first time, against federal clean electricity rules that haven’t been fully formed yet. What does this do to the political stakes for both levels of government and what effect will it have on the policy? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Andrew Leach from the University of Alberta, Emma Graney of the Globe and Mail, and Dean Bennett from The Canadian Press.

Whether it’s court rulings, pushback from provinces or carve outs on carbon pricing, the battle over how to tackle climate change is getting messy. Who in Canada has the credibility to talk about climate policy these days? And how do those debates factor in to questions of energy, environment and affordability? Host Kathleen Petty is joined this week by Shachi Kurl from the Angus Reid Institute, political strategist Karamveer Lalh and Sara Hastings-Simon from the University of Calgary.

It’s been six months since Albertans voted in the election and now the parties are facing a different question: What comes next? Is the UCP becoming the Take Back Alberta party? Does the Alberta NDP need an extreme makeover if it ever wants to win again? Guest host Jason Markusoff examines those questions with Keith McLaughlin from New West Public Affairs, Mandi Johnson from Crestview Strategy and pollster Janet Brown.

Alberta Health Services is being dismantled. Instead, four new agencies will take over in a move that changes the structure and decision-making for the entire health system. Guest host Jim Brown explores these changes with James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer, Paul Parks, president of the Alberta Medical Association, and Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail.