West of Centre

How does the rest of Canada perceive Alberta and what do they see from the outside looking in? This week, host Kathleen Petty dives into those questions and new polling data on the matter with Peter Mansbridge, host of The Bridge and former CBC chief correspondent, the Gandalf Group’s David Herle, who also hosts The Herle Burly, and pollster Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research.

Just as the federal and provincial governments reach an uneasy peace over a childcare plan things have been heating up over another file: Natural resources. Ottawa is building a program to transition workers and has promised a cap on oil and gas emissions, as oil prices recently reached a seven-year high. New federal minister Jonathan Wilkinson joins guest host Jim Brown. Then, political scientist Lisa Young and columnist Graham Thomson talk about the upcoming United Conservative Party annual general meeting.

A pandemic, economic uncertainty and political turmoil are some of the things driving young people to make an exodus from Alberta. Everyone says they’re resilient, but are the kids alright? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Harnoor Kochar, who helped run campaigns for Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, Evan Menzies, a former director of communications for the United Conservative Party, and former NDP candidate Heather MacKenzie to discuss what’s driving younger Albertans away from the province and what can be done to keep them here.

An Alberta cabinet minister resigns over allegations of drinking in the legislature, including a signal to lock down the office so the alcohol could flow. One of Premier Jason Kenney’s nemeses is back in the political scene. The shields may have been up in the minister’s office, but former Wildrose leader Brian Jean has his sword drawn. Host Kathleen Petty discusses those topics and more with Maclean’s writer Jason Markusoff, Emma Graney, an energy reporter at the Globe and Mail, and Mount Royal political scientist Duane Bratt.

COP26. Just Transition. Net Zero by 2050. We’ve heard all about those plans from politicians and pundits, but what does the industry think? Cenovus CEO Alex Pourbaix joins host Kathleen Petty for a wide-ranging interview about the direction of the oil and gas industry and the future of energy in Canada. Then, alternative energy student and former oil sands worker Lewis Lix talks about what it’s like to live that energy transition.

The report and (most of) the results are in. Commissioner Steve Allan’s inquiry into alleged campaigns against Alberta energy has been released. Preliminary results on the province’s two referendum questions are posted. Calgary and Edmonton are getting new mayors. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail, Rishi Nagar from Red FM and strategist Ken Boessenkool to discuss those topics and the strategies that went along with them. Plus, mayors-elect Jyoti Gondek and Amarjeet Sohi talk about leadership, the path forward for their cities, and the relationship with the provincial and federal governments.

Mayor. Councillors. School trustees. Albertans will cast their votes for those jobs on Monday. But also on the ballot? Equalization, Senate nominee elections and daylight saving time. It’s referendum madness. Today, host Kathleen Petty explores those ballot questions with University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley and pollster Janet Brown. Plus, we hear from two Alberta senators for their take on the process of appointing people to the upper chamber of government.

It’s the end of an era. On October 18, Calgary and Edmonton will elect new mayors for the first time in years. Naheed Nenshi and Don Iveson are not running again, and they have a few things to say before they go. For about a decade they’ve had a view of the cities, the province and the country that few have. This week, they join host Kathleen Petty to discuss their legacies, the future of their cities, leadership and the state of the province.

September closed with a bang. Alberta is calling in the army for hospital support, adding a vaccine mandate for the public service and the United Conservative Party has set a date for Premier Jason Kenney to face a leadership review. There’s a lot of political news in Alberta again this week, and as one of our guests this week says “All roads lead to Jason Kenney.” Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Red FM host Rishi Nagar, Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell, and CBC/iPolitics columnist Graham Thomson.

Elections and shuffles and revolts, oh my! Voters selected a government on Monday, and just a few days later Premier Jason Kenney narrowly avoided a vote on whether his party should find a new leader. Leah Ward, former director of communications for NDP Leader Rachel Notley and a consultant at Metric Strategies, Zain Velji, host of The Strategists podcast and a former federal Liberal campaign strategist and Erika Barootes, Enterprise Canada’s western vice president and a former president of the United Conservative Party, join guest host Jim Brown to discuss the wild week in federal and provincial politics.