Alberta’s economy looks strong on paper, but many residents don’t feel better off. Despite record oil production, rising exports and the highest GDP per capita in the country, wage stagnation and uneven wealth distribution have left many Albertans frustrated. In this episode of West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty speaks with economists Alicia Planincic of the Business Council of Alberta and Jim Stanford of the Centre for Future Work to unpack the province’s economic paradox: how can a place so rich feel like it’s falling behind?

The conversation explores deeper structural issues, including weak capital investment, declining real wages across multiple sectors and whether job growth is keeping pace with population gains. The panel questions whether producing more oil would actually ease Alberta’s economic challenges and examines the role of provincial and federal policy in shaping the province’s fortunes.

Looking beyond the oilpatch, the episode also considers Canada’s broader economic strategy — from global trade risks to competition in AI — and what it will take to strengthen long-term growth.

Alberta’s energy debate has long stretched beyond oil and gas, but in recent years, a wave of policy shocks has shaken investor confidence in the province’s renewable sector. And while Premier Danielle Smith is sprinkling in “clean power” in her public messaging, the surprise moratorium on new wind and solar approvals in 2022 — followed by a series of restrictive regulations — continues to cast a long shadow over the future of renewables in Alberta.

The government, meanwhile, says it has set out a sensible, balanced plan to grow renewables without compromising reliability or affordability. Last year, the Alberta Utilities Commission approved 24 new nenewable projects — outpacing the 12 approvals in 2023 but comparable to the 23 in 2022. The province’s emphasis on natural gas as a baseload electricity source remains at odds with what some clean-energy advocates are calling for.

In this episode of West of Centre Short, host Rob Brown speaks with Chris Severson-Baker, executive director of the Pembina Institute, about the fallout from Alberta’s shifting regulations — and the challenges facing the renewable sector as political leaders try to chart a path forward for Canada’s energy future.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is saying all the right things when it comes to building a new pipeline. He’s invoking “nation-building,” touting Canada’s potential as an “energy superpower,” and emphasizing the need for infrastructure to unlock economic growth. But squint at the details and contradictions emerge — most notably, the federal government’s insistence that any such project would require consensus from all provinces and Indigenous communities along the route.

This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty tries to pick apart the Liberal government’s murky pipeline messaging with former Canadian Energy Regulator CEO Gitane De Silva, infrastructure economist Kent Fellows and Financial Post reporter Meghan Potkins. It’s not lost on the panel that even in Alberta — ground zero for pipeline advocacy — no private-sector player has stepped up with a new proposal.

Companies remain scarred by a decade of regulatory reversals, legal battles and shifting economic realities, making them hesitant to take the first step without clear political backing or financial incentives. And the hurdles don’t end there. From provincial resistance to port capacity to a cautious investment climate, the conversation lays bare just how far Canada may be from building another major pipeline.

The Carney era has officially begun. In his first week in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled a break from the performative theatrics that have defined federal politics in recent years. His new Liberal government is moving swiftly — scrapping the consumer carbon tax from law, cutting income taxes, and — more ambitiously — planning legislation to fast-track major national infrastructure projects.

But skepticism is already mounting. Some Indigenous and environmental groups are voicing early concerns about whether promised consultations will be meaningful. Carney may be extending an olive branch to Alberta, but whether it results in a new pipeline remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is grappling with growing separatist sentiment from within her own United Conservative Party. With party insiders pushing for a referendum on independence, Smith is walking a political tightrope. And she may not be the only one. As Pierre Poilievre campaigns to return to Parliament via a byelection in rural Alberta, could he face similar pressures?

This week on West of Centre, host Kathleen Petty speaks with Laura Osman of The Logic, Dave Cournoyer of the Daveberta podcast, and University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young.

Danielle Smith’s extended political honeymoon, Naheed Nenshi’s lukewarm debut, and Alberta’s identity crisis — all captured in a fresh batch of polling data commissioned by CBC Calgary. On this episode of West of Centre Short, host Rob Brown speaks with pollster Janet Brown and data scientist John Santos to explore where Alberta’s political winds are blowing at the halfway mark of the current UCP government’s mandate.

From voter impressions of the Alberta premier and her NDP challenger to shifting seat projections and separatist sentiment, the numbers tell a compelling story — one of “stick it to Ottawa” politics, polarization, and a province still wrestling with its feelings about Canada. 

*Note: This survey was conducted between May 7 and 21 with a representative sample of 1,200 Albertans. Margin of error is ±2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Fore more details, go to cbc.ca/calgary

When Tim Hodgson stepped up to the podium at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, he struck a tone rarely met with optimism in Alberta — especially from a Liberal cabinet minister.

In this episode of West of Centre, guest host Jim Brown breaks down the early signals from Canada’s new Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, as Hodgson attempts to reset Ottawa’s rocky relationship with Western Canada’s energy sector. A former chair of Hydro One and board member at MEG Energy, Hodgson brings both Bay Street credentials and oilpatch familiarity. He's leaning into both.

Panelists Grant Sprague, former Alberta deputy energy minister; Globe and Mail energy reporter Emma Graney; and Bill Whitelaw, chair of the Canadian Society for Evolving Energy, weigh in on whether Hodgson’s mix of financial savvy and prairie roots can translate into real results.

Canada’s measles elimination status is at risk for the first time in decades, with Alberta among the hardest-hit provinces. This week on West of Centre Short, host Rob Brown speaks with University of Calgary health law expert Lorian Hardcastle about why Alberta is seeing a significant resurgence in cases — and the political forces that may be influencing the response.

Hardcastle says Alberta’s delayed reaction and initial silence from key leaders point to a deeper shift in how public health is communicated post-COVID. She traces the province’s rising vaccine hesitancy to pandemic-era rhetoric about personal freedom and medical coercion, which she says has now extended to routine immunizations like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shot.

With vaccination rates below 30 per cent among school-aged children in some Alberta communities, the province remains especially vulnerable. And while awareness campaigns and extended clinic hours have now ramped up, Hardcastle warns the damage may already be done.

Will the Liberal government — somewhat refreshed with a few new faces — help reset Ottawa’s strained relationship with the West? That’s the central question in this episode of West of Centre, as host Kathleen Petty is joined by former Liberal MP and leadership contender Martha Hall Findlay, Saskatchewan political columnist Murray Mandryk, and Calgary Sun writer Ricky Leong for a wide-ranging conversation about federal-provincial fault lines, cabinet signals and the spectre of separatism.

The panel unpacks early reaction to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet — particularly the appointment of Tim Hodgson as energy minister, a move broadly welcomed by industry insiders. Hodgson’s background suggests a more pragmatic approach, but skepticism lingers, especially with former environment minister Steven Guilbeault still at the cabinet table, now overseeing culture and identity. The bigger mystery may be whether he’ll join Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe for an ATV ride.

The deeper tension, though, lies in Alberta’s newly lowered threshold for citizen-led referendums — widely seen as paving the way for a non-binding vote on independence. The panel explores how the strategy may allow Premier Danielle Smith to deflect accountability while channeling public anger. Still, there’s broad consensus that most Albertans and Saskatchewanians aren’t angry at Canada — they’re frustrated with the last federal government. Whether this becomes a moment for renewal or rupture will depend on what kind of leadership emerges on both sides of the divide.

Edmonton MP Heather McPherson says the federal NDP must reconnect with its working-class roots as it looks to rebuild after a historic election loss. In an interview with CBC host Rob Brown on West of Centre Short, McPherson acknowledged the sting of losing all but seven seats — five of them west of Ontario — but said the party can rebuild from its western strongholds. She pointed to Edmonton Strathcona’s long-standing legacy of NDP leadership, both federally and provincially, as a foundation for growth.

McPherson called for a pragmatic approach to energy and climate policy, stressing the need to reduce emissions while protecting jobs. While she didn’t rule out supporting future infrastructure such as an east-west pipeline, she said any such project would require consultation with Indigenous communities and other provinces.

The conversation also touched on leadership speculation. McPherson didn’t rule out a bid to replace Jagmeet Singh, saying she’s “getting asked a lot” and remains open to the idea. She dismissed suggestions that the Alberta NDP’s move to decouple provincial and federal memberships signals a deeper rift, describing the party as a “big tent” with shared values across the country. As for whether the next leader should come from the West, she said prairie pragmatism could help ground the party — but added the tone must also reflect the voices of grassroots members coast to coast.

Is Alberta inching closer to the exit door? Premier Danielle Smith insists she’s a federalist — but her government’s latest moves are making it easier for citizens to trigger a referendum on independence. With fresh polling from the Angus Reid Institute showing a majority of UCP voters in favour of holding a secession vote, the big question is: is this a tactical play to reset Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, or a strategy to keep her party’s restless base onside?

This week, West of Centre host Kathleen Petty unpacks Smith’s political high-wire act: is she turning up the heat, or genuinely trying to cool things down? We also dive into growing speculation that the premier is laying the groundwork for an early provincial election.

Joining the conversation: former UCP executive director Brad Tennant, former Alberta NDP cabinet minister Shannon Phillips, and editorial writer Doug Firby. Plus, a look ahead to key byelections and whether Mark Carney’s new Liberal government might try to smooth things over with Alberta by handing one (or both) of its newly elected Liberal MPs a cabinet post.