A new police agency. Political parties in the cities. An Alberta pension plan. By all accounts, fairly unpopular initiatives driven by Premier Danielle Smith. So, what are the policy and political motivations behind them? Guest host Jason Markusoff is joined by Cynthia Moore, former UCP president, Feodor Snagovsky, a University of Alberta political scientist, and Janet French from CBC’s legislature bureau.

There are now six in the race to replace Rachel Notley. Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi joined the race on Monday, confirming weeks of rumours. So how does this shake up the race, and how might each candidate bid to stand out in the weeks ahead? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by pollster and political analyst Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research, Keith McLaughlin, political strategist and former chief of staff to Notley government ministers, and Cheryl Oates, a former advisor to...

The Saskatchewan government is breaking the law by refusing to remit the natural gas portion of what is commonly known as the carbon tax. And the provincial minister in charge has hired a lawyer! West of Centre explores the politics around the unprecedented decision and looks at the parallels with Alberta.  Host Kathleen Petty is joined by CBC Reporters Adam Hunter and Sam Samson and political columnist Murray Mandryk.

The UCP government brings down a budget that is both about saving AND spending .So is anyone happy? West of Centre host Kathleen Petty and guests sort out Alberta’s finances, described by our finance minister as “champagne tastes on a beer budget." Economist Trevor Tombe is back again this week. Also at the table are political scientist Duane Bratt and the Globe and Mail’s Emma Graney.

The signature campaign promise by Danielle Smith was tax cuts.  But in her pre-budget , tv address this week, she put those cuts on hold.  Instead, the premier is focusing on bulking up the Heritage Fund to offset volatile oil prices.   Where have we heard that before?  West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by economist Trevor Tombe , Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail and political scientist Lori Williams.

The controversial carbon tax is under attack from all sides, including from provincial NDP leadership candidates.The federal government took a shot at rebranding it this week. But will the Trudeau Liberals kill the unpopular tax before the Conservatives can? And how can we fight climate change without it?   On the West of Centre podcast, guest host Jason Markusoff is joined by former conservative cabinet minister Gary Mar, energy economist Andrew Leach and Cheryl Oates, former advisor to...

We hear the latest episode in the CBC podcast 'This is Calgary' - can Calgary charge one million electric vehicles at once?

On the West of Centre podcast, the race to replace Rachel Notley is on! So far, two candidates have officially launched their campaigns but more are expected. One outstanding question is whether Alberta’s NDP will sever ties with the federal party in an effort to rebrand itself. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by former Calgary city councillor Jeromy Farkas, pollster Janet Brown and political strategist Keith Mclaughlin.

Premier Danielle Smith believes she has the backing of Albertans with the controversial gender identity policy introduced this week. Is the Premier playing politics or depoliticizing the protection of children, as she says. West of Centre host Kathleen Petty is joined by Corey Hogan of The Strategists podcast ,Globe and Mail reporter Emma Graney and CBC reporter Janet French .

Premier Danielle Smith sat down with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson this week. They criticized solar power and the federal environment minister. So, was it a great political strategy or a gamble she’ll regret? Join West of Centre host Kathleen Petty along with strategists Erika Barootes and Zain Velji and the CBC’s Jason Markusoff.

Rachel Notley changed politics in Alberta when the NDP won the 2015 election. After two subsequent election losses, she’s done as leader. This week, host Kathleen Petty talks about that legacy, the potential pitfalls and opportunities for her party and what may come next with the outgoing NDP leader. Plus, political strategists Keith McLaughlin and Christine Myatt add their analysis.

It’s shaping up to be another packed year for politics in Alberta. The United Conservatives are in the midst of a full reset on healthcare, all of the feuding between the provincial and federal governments will hit a new gear, plus, the NDP will likely have their turn to look for a new leader. This week, host Kathleen Petty talks to journalists Kelly Cryderman, Jason Markusoff and Graham Thomson about what to expect in politics in 2024.

What do you remember about the big political stories of 2023? West of Centre launches its inaugural year-end game show and quizzes the panel on the top stories of this year. Michael Solberg from New West Public Affairs, Zain Velji from Northweather and Alex Boyd from the Toronto Star join host Kathleen Petty.

The federal government has finally unveiled its proposed cap to reduce emissions. It sets targets lower than initial goals for 2030, but Alberta says that doesn’t matter and it wants Ottawa out of the oil patch. Host Kathleen Petty is joined first by Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, then by a panel of reporters including the CBC’s Jason Markusoff and Marieke Walsh from the Globe and Mail.

Alberta’s Sovereignty Act is being used for the first time, against federal clean electricity rules that haven’t been fully formed yet. What does this do to the political stakes for both levels of government and what effect will it have on the policy? Host Kathleen Petty is joined by Andrew Leach from the University of Alberta, Emma Graney of the Globe and Mail, and Dean Bennett from The Canadian Press.

Whether it’s court rulings, pushback from provinces or carve outs on carbon pricing, the battle over how to tackle climate change is getting messy. Who in Canada has the credibility to talk about climate policy these days? And how do those debates factor in to questions of energy, environment and affordability? Host Kathleen Petty is joined this week by Shachi Kurl from the Angus Reid Institute, political strategist Karamveer Lalh and Sara Hastings-Simon from the University of Calgary.

It’s been six months since Albertans voted in the election and now the parties are facing a different question: What comes next? Is the UCP becoming the Take Back Alberta party? Does the Alberta NDP need an extreme makeover if it ever wants to win again? Guest host Jason Markusoff examines those questions with Keith McLaughlin from New West Public Affairs, Mandi Johnson from Crestview Strategy and pollster Janet Brown.

Alberta Health Services is being dismantled. Instead, four new agencies will take over in a move that changes the structure and decision-making for the entire health system. Guest host Jim Brown explores these changes with James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer, Paul Parks, president of the Alberta Medical Association, and Kelly Cryderman of the Globe and Mail.

What do retirement incomes and a tax on pollution have in common? They’re both at the heart of the current fight between Alberta and Ottawa. This week, host Kathleen Petty talks about pensions and the carbon tax exemption with Carrie Tait from the Globe and Mail, Max Fawcett from the National Observer and political strategist Erika Barootes.

Feuding governments, tough policy issues and questions of constitutionality. Just how is the Canadian federation doing these days? And what are the costs of those intergovernmental disagreements? This week, host Kathleen Petty talks with Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to Stephen Harper, Janet Brown of Janet Brown Opinion Research, and political strategist Zain Velji from Northweather.

An escalating war of words between governments, politicians and organizations over the possibility of an Alberta Pension Plan. How is this policy playing out in federal politics? And how are Albertans talked to about it? This week, host Kathleen Petty is joined by Jim Dinning, who is leading public consultations for the province. Then, she chats with Federal Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan.

The Supreme Court has decided the federal government overstepped with its controversial Bill C-69. It’s known as the Impact Assessment Act, but Alberta has called it unconstitutional. On Friday, the top court largely agreed with that assessment. Host Kathleen Petty is joined by a panel of political and academic experts to break down the court’s decision.

Alberta businesses were in Ottawa this week to tell the feds “Alberta is not what you think it is.” How well did that pitch land? And what comes next? Plus, host Kathleen Petty dives into brand new polling on how the country feels about Alberta taking a pension plan solo.

Critical failure and criminal consequences. That’s the way Alberta’s electricity operator describes the stakes of net-zero targets from the federal government. What does it all mean for politics, policy, business and affordability in the province? Kathleen Petty hosts a panel discussion to answer those questions.

The long-awaited report on taking Alberta pensions solo is here. In it, a pitch to take more than half of the national assets. We dive into what an Alberta Pension Plan could look like, plus recap the other big stories of the week with our panel including CBC analysis writer Jason Markusoff, the Globe and Mail’s Kelly Cryderman and Lisa Young from the University of Calgary.