West of Centre

It's definitely the worst of times for Alberta's two largest cities as they continue to get hammered by the pandemic, economic crisis and oil price collapse. Edmonton and Calgary share high unemployment rates, shuttered businesses and empty downtown cores. But their mayors see themselves as key players in Alberta's economic recovery. Guest host Jim Brown talks to Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi about whether they can "build back better" after the latest Alberta budget.

Alberta’s premier ran on a promise to not back down. But public outcry over several issues from COVID restrictions to coal mines has caused Jason Kenney to pivot. His political adversaries say he should have gone much farther, while some UCP caucus members are openly critical. Guest host Jim Brown, in for Kathleen Petty, takes a look at Kenney’s strategy and his options, with pollster Marc Henry, president of ThinkHQ, conservative strategist Melissa Caouette of the Canadian Strategy Group and Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell.

Joe Clark’s time as Canada’s 16th prime minister of a minority Progressive Conservative government in 1979 was brief. But his impact on Canada and its place in the world is enduring. The Alberta-born, former MP from High River, talks to Kathleen Petty about his roots, his concerns about the current political climate and his assessment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole.

There is no shortage of armchair quarterbacks dishing advice to Alberta’s premier. The latest, and perhaps most stinging, comes from Brian Jean, who lost the UCP leadership to Jason Kenney. The suggestions range from how to manage a caucus to the premier’s own health. Meanwhile Kenney is governing through the pandemic with growing criticism on his right flank. Kathleen Petty looks at how the premier is responding with Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail, political scientists Jared Wesley of the University of Alberta and Duane Bratt of Mount Royal University.

As Erin O'Toole charts a potential path to victory for the federal Conservatives, will Jason Kenney be an asset or a liability?

Keystone XL didn’t look like a sure thing even before a Democrat won the White House. Now the pipeline is effectively dead, leaving Alberta with roughly $1.5 billion in lost investment, more people out of work, and fewer job prospects. Not a great start to 2021 for Alberta’s Premier, and it’s only January. Kathleen Petty looks at how Jason Kenney is handling this latest calamity, with independent columnist Graham Thomson, the Globe and Mail’s Kelly Cryderman and Jason Markusoff of Macleans.

Many journalists and commentators are leaving the mainstream media to start new enterprises of their own. It’s not for the faint of heart, but audiences are responding. Politics in Alberta provides a steady stream of content for podcasts and online news sites. This week was no exception. Kathleen Petty talks to three media rebels who made the leap to independence and the freedom that comes with it. Ryan Jespersen hosts Real Talk, Jen Gerson started The Line and Dave Cournoyer is with Daveberta.

Sun columnist Rick Bell used that term to describe the bumpy ride Alberta’s premier and his UCP are getting after an air travel controversy over the holidays. A minister and several UCP MLAs and staffers left the country despite months of government pleas to avoid non-essential travel. When CBC broke the first story, Albertans were furious. Jason Kenney took responsibility at a news conference on New Year’s Day, but that didn’t quell the rage. A few days later, the premier acknowledged the anger and accepted the resignation of his minister, stripped the MLAs of committee posts and fired his chief of staff. Host Kathleen Petty looks at whether there’s more turbulence ahead for Kenney with her guests Sun columnist Rick Bell, pollster Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research and political scientist Jared Wesley of the University of Alberta.

The federal government has released its updated climate plan with higher carbon taxes and more details on the Clean Fuel Standard. Some energy economists call it bold, while environmentalists say it’s not enough. Some conservative premiers see it as an invasion into their jurisdiction that will cause economic damage. Kathleen Petty takes a closer look with energy economist Andrew Leach, energy policy analyst and author David Yager and columnist Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail.

Rising COVID-19 cases and deaths have led to more severe restrictions in the western provinces - measures Manitoba and Alberta premiers had resisted until now. New polls show they may have waited too long. Pallister and Kenney are the least popular pandemic premiers, and lag far behind their neighbours in Saskatchewan and B.C.. Kathleen Petty finds out why with Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, political scientist Christopher Adams of the University of Manitoba, and political strategist and communications specialist Corey Hogan of The Strategists podcast.