West of Centre

CBC
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Canada is complicated. Alberta has opinions. Ride shotgun with host Kathleen Petty on West of Centre for conversations about the state of politics in Canada, as power and influence shifts West. Whether you live here or just can't look away, you’ll get the no-nonsense analysis you need to make sense of it all.

  1. 1d ago

    How Alberta’s federalist push is lagging

    It’s crunch time to sway conservative voters ahead of Alberta’s referendum. But are federalist leaders doing enough? So far, separatists have reported raising nearly three times as much money as federalists and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pushed the unity file to another Alberta MP. Host Kathleen Petty and former Conservative MP Damien Kurek look at what needs to happen in the final weeks and what’s at stake if federalist get-out-the vote efforts fall flat. Plus, journalists Alex Boyd and Matthew Scace on why separatists seem to be more organized when it comes to fundraising, online dialogue and big public events — and, how getting out the vote could matter more than any of that. And will a new ad campaign championed by Premier Danielle Smith do anything to sway voters ahead of the referendum? Host: Kathleen PettyGuests: Damien Kurek, Alex Boyd and Matthew ScaceProducers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

  2. Sep 11

    Alberta separatists think they’ll win. Polls project a loss

    Separatists think they’ll win a vote they’re poised to lose by a wide margin, according to an exclusive new poll. With a little more than five weeks to go before Alberta’s fall referendum, host Kathleen Petty explains how the heck we got here and where we’re headed next. David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, does a deep dive into Alberta public opinion. His numbers say if the referendum was held today, Albertans would vote decisively to remain. Motivations for the other side aren’t clearcut. Do they actually want to leave? How many just want to send Ottawa a message? Danielle Smith says she wants to have this vote and move on, but can we? University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young has also been tracking the rise of separatist sentiment and western alienation in Alberta since it flared up following the 2019 re-election of Justin Trudeau. She helps analyze the data, and questions whether polls might be systematically under-estimating separatist support.  Background listening: Here’s a link to the episode we mentioned: “Is a trade war good for separatists?” — we interview one Alberta separatist leader, Keith Wilson, on why not everyone voting Option 2 is looking for full independence. https://link.mgln.ai/P987Bo Host: Kathleen PettyGuests: David Coletto, Lisa YoungProducers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

  3. Sep 4

    Too friendly to resist: Danielle Smith’s U.S. diplomacy

    Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are using very different tactics in the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war. As Smith travels to Nashville, we ask whether her kill them with kindness approach is working. And Alberta’s senior representative in Washington, Nathan Cooper, weighs in on the delicate dance of diplomacy in Donald Trump’s America. To put it all in context, two conservative insiders join host Kathleen Petty. Evan Menzies worked with the United Conservative Party, and before that with Smith during the early days of the Wildrose Party. Cole Hogan helped get both Doug Ford and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney elected. Together, they break down the politics behind the premiers' actions and whether these strategies will make headway toward renewed trade talks or at least less punishing tariffs. Host: Kathleen PettyGuests: Nathan Cooper, Evan Menzies, Cole HoganProducers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko, Josh Pagé

  4. Trailer

    Trailer: Welcome to West of Centre

    New to West of Centre? Start here to hear what we're all about.

  5. Sep 2 ·  Bonus

    West of Centre on CBC Radio

    An exciting announcement about a new way to listen to West of Centre, starting this fall.

  6. Aug 28

    Is a trade war good for separatists?

    Putting oil and gas on the bargaining table as the U.S.-Canada trade war heats up would pour gasoline on Alberta’s fall referendum. At least that’s what one separatist leader, Keith Wilson, is arguing. This week we ask Wilson why he thinks the trade war means Albertans should push for a binding referendum on separation in October. After that, journalists Tyler Dawson from the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star’s Richard Warnica weigh in with host Kathleen Petty on some major questions: how will the trade war influence the referendum campaign? What's the likelihood oil will be used as a cudgel in this dispute? And who comes out ahead when everyone from Doug Ford to Mark Carney to Danielle Smith is talking trade and unity? Host: Kathleen PettyGuests: Keith Wilson, Tyler Dawson and Richard WarnicaProducers: Emily Senger, Emily Williams, Diane Yanko

  7. Aug 21

    A new era of politics in Alberta?

    From how we entered confederation to how Alberta is debating its future within it, a new book tries to anticipate where the province is headed. "The Dawn of Competitive Party Politics in Alberta: An End To Solitude" explores the enigma that is Alberta and pulls back the curtain. Anthony Sayers, David Stewart and Royce Koop provide a revelatory journey through how the province has defined itself politically over the years, what that tells us about what makes Alberta tick and how that may be changing. Sayers joins host Kathleen Petty to explore how Alberta is unique among the provinces and why, more than ever, it's important to understand its influence in Canada. Host: Kathleen PettyGuest: Anthony SayersProducer: Diane Yanko

  8. Aug 14

    The Prairies senators: ‘We can’t do stupid stuff’ (Encore)

    **New episode drops Friday, August 21** ENCORE PRESENTATION  There’s great concern that people in Ottawa aren’t taking what’s happening in Alberta seriously enough. With national unity at stake, some Senators are looking west from the upper chamber and acknowledging there are indeed structural issues at the federal level that’s fueling frustration. This week on West of Centre, Kathleen Petty welcomes a panel of Prairies senators. Alberta Senator Paula Simons, who was appointed in 2018 and sits in the Independent Senators Group; Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin, appointed in 2008; and Manitoba Senator Charles Adler, who was appointed in 2024. Both sit in the Canadian Senators Group. The panel pulls no punches in questioning whether Canada has done the work it needs to become a true energy superpower. For them, it’s time to turn words into action. As trade tensions with the U.S. simmer, they’re blunt on CUSMA: Canada can’t take its own self-interest out of the equation because negotiations are not about love, but business. And while they disagree on the strategy for a potential fall referendum on separation, they also tackle another referendum question about Senate abolishment.  Host: Kathleen PettyGuests: Senator Charles Adler, Senator Paula Simons, Senator Pamela WallinProducer: Diane Yanko

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5
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About

Canada is complicated. Alberta has opinions. Ride shotgun with host Kathleen Petty on West of Centre for conversations about the state of politics in Canada, as power and influence shifts West. Whether you live here or just can't look away, you’ll get the no-nonsense analysis you need to make sense of it all.

Information

  • Creator
    CBC
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © CBC 2026
  • Show Website
    West of Centre

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