West of Centre CBC

It’s part of our identity here in Alberta to bicker with whomever is in the Prime Minister’s office, especially if their last name is Trudeau. Stealing a sentiment from Ronald Reagan, the province’s often fear the words; I’m from Ottawa and I’m here to help. But does Alberta’s contentious relationship with Ottawa help or hurt us? West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Ian Brodie from the University of Calgary, David Coletto of Abacus Data and Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail. 

The UCP government’s Bill 20 could give the province the power to repeal bylaws and remove city councillors from office. On West of Centre with Kathleen Petty, we explore the question of who’s the boss when it comes to how our cities are run? Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter join us from The Strategists podcast. And Emma Graney from the Globe and Mail holds her own.

A big spike in membership sales, the leadership debates ahead, and ,for some, a new era for the NDP. This week’s panel believes the party is no longer competing with local bake sales! West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by political strategists Cheryl Oates and Keith Mclaughlin and the Toronto Star’s Alex Boyd.

Danielle Smith introduced what she calls the "stay-out-of- my-backyard bill " this week. If passed, it will allow the UCP government to kill federal deals not approved by the province. It’s the latest of many federal-provincial battles. West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is back! Joining her is Kelly Cryderman from the Globe and Mail, pollster Janet Brown, and CBC Calgary's Jason Markusoff.

Hundreds are dying from drug overdoses in Alberta. This week, the UCP government announced it will rebrand mental health and addiction services as Recovery Alberta, in line with its preferred approach to the crisis. And the podcast will also tackle Calgary’s mayoralty recall petition. West of Centre guest host Jason Markusoff is joined by journalists Alanna Smith of the Globe and Mail, Rick Bell of the Calgary Sun and Keith Gerein of the Edmonton Journal.

Rakhi Pancholi is out. And Naheed Nenshi is in and the apparent frontrunner in the NDP leadership race. But Premier Danielle Smith’s UCP is ready to defend a much bigger lead than it won in last year’s election,at least according to a new poll. Guest host Jason Markusoff sorts through the numbers with pollster David Coletto. Then, our panel weighs in. It is made up of Lisa Young, a University of Calgary political scientist, freelance columnist Graham Thomson and the Toronto Star’s Alex Boyd.