West of Centre

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and Mail’s Emma Graney.

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 Petty discusses the fallout, the implications and what it all says about political interference in the judicial system with the Toronto Star’s Alberta national reporter Alex Boyd, Lisa Young, a political scientist from the University of Calgary, and lawyer and professor Peter Sankoff.

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 staff contacted public prosecutors about Coutts blockade cases. Host Kathleen Petty digs into those two big topics with the CBC’s Jason Markusoff, Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail and Janet Brown from Janet Brown Opinion Research.

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.