Western Standard Shows

Marty Up North breaks down the latest MP floor crossing and whether politicians should face a by-election after switching parties, along with what it could mean for Mark Carney as majority talk grows. He also covers the Liberal convention in Montreal and mounting pressure on Pierre Poilievre after his communications director’s resignation.
The show also touches on Carney’s $51 billion “Build Communities Strong Fund,” concerns over federal overreach, and the latest update on the independence petition.

Historian and political strategist Michael Bonner believes the federal government is engaged in something more ambitious than updating a handbook for new citizens. In his view, the project amounts to an attempt to reshape the national story itself — to substitute a political vision of Canada for a historical one.

Derek Fildebrandt, Nigel Hannaford, Cory Morgan and Jackson Loy take on the fragile Iran armistice, the latest Conservative floor crossing to the Liberals and the growing questions around Pierre Poilievre’s hold on his caucus. The panel also digs into Western Standard’s Alberta telehealth investigation, where sick notes and addictive prescriptions appeared to be available with alarming ease.

Cory talks about how Canada’s high-speed rail project is certain to become an economic disaster.

Marty Up North talks about the Alberta independence petition hitting the signature threshold and what that means for the push toward a referendum. He also breaks down Bill 25-26 and what it means for Alberta, before turning to the 2026 NDP convention and what the spectacle revealed about the party’s direction.

Retired Lt. Col David Redman says 11 years of intentional erosion was meant to weaken Canadian unity and turn the country into a “post-national state.” He also slams Alberta’s COVID response for ignoring its own pandemic plan.