What the West?

Canada and the U.S. have been trading lumber since the 1800s – and fighting about it for just as long. In November last year, the U.S. Commerce Department slapped Canadian exporters of softwood lumber into the U.S. with permanent duties averaging 20%. As the dust settles, it's becoming clear that among those getting burned in the latest softwood fight are American consumers – people just saving up to buy a house or finally do a renovation. In this episode, we're joined by David Logan, a Director with the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C. as we take a clear-eyed view of what's at stake in the softwood saga.

Welcome to 2018. The eggnog has gone stale, the trees have been composted or burned for warmth. And our thoughts can now turn to the future. Will this year be as tumultuous as 2017? Will North American trade cease? Does anyone really care about the Commonwealth games? Will Canada go see its tailor? Our research team has the answers to these questions and more in our look at eight things you need to know for the year ahead.

Plant ingredients are everywhere – your breakfast smoothie, makeup, the drugs you get from the pharmacy. They may even be in the diet food you feed your overweight pets. The protein, fibre and starch components from crops like lentils, peas and beans are a potential goldmine for the Prairies. We can dominate this industry and diversify the Prairie economy. But what do we need to do to make this happen? When life gives you lentils...

Host: Naomi Christensen, senior policy analyst, Canada West Foundation

Guests: Chris Chivilo, President & CEO, W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions; Sarah Pittman, policy analyst, Canada West Foundation

Carbon pricing. Most economists think it’s the best way to reduce climate-change causing emissions. But it hasn’t exactly won over politicians to the same degree. Or the public for that matter. In Canada, the federal government has said every province must set a price on carbon. But Saskatchewan has vowed to fight it until the end. Manitoba went ahead with a price, but only after trying to avoid it. In Alberta, the opposition party promises to repeal the carbon levy, if elected, on Day 1.

The political rhetoric surrounding carbon pricing is heated. That it will destroy the economy and do absolutely nothing for the environment.

Are these things true? Is pricing carbon really as bad as they say? On today’s episode, we’re unpacking the arguments against pricing carbon. This is, What the West?

The Trump era's winner takes all, America-First trade strategy is almost a return to the 1980s era – a time when the U.S. said "Jump," and the rest of us said, "How high?"

Things are different now. Canada is on board with the revived TPP, China is a major factor, and with NAFTA talks becoming more precarious, there's growing unease among business on both sides of the border. What's the Trump Administration actually thinking on trade, and will it work?

This year, Canada marked the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and we had a lot to celebrate. But, Confederation hasn’t been a panacea.

We still don’t have trade between the provinces - you can’t even buy a beer on a trip and bring it home. The equalization debate is ugly. And don’t get us started on getting pipelines built.

So all these years later, is Confederation just unfinished? Or is it broken?