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On today’s episode of Straight Up, former federal opposition leader Stockwell Day joins Marc Patrone to discuss B.C.’s political shift, the prospects for shipping Canadian oil from Prince Rupert, and renewed investment in the province’s oil and gas sector.

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Day explains why the election result could open the door to greater economic development, and how B.C.’s new government could challenge the federal government’s energy agenda.

He also reflects on whether the Conservative victory represents a lasting realignment in B.C. politics and what the new government must do to deliver on its promises.

They explore the internal dynamics of the BC Conservative Party, the challenges facing Premier Lorne Doerkson, and whether the party’s big-tent caucus can hold together despite its ideological divisions.

“Anytime you hear you have a big tent, you know you’ve got some tent pegs that would like to move,” says Day. “It will have to be a daily watch.”

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David Eby’s decision to make Donald Trump a central issue in the campaign didn’t deliver the result the NDP wanted. Did he misread what voters actually care about? Fund argues that affordability, housing costs, crime and the economy mattered more to BC voters than the threat posed by Trump.

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They also discuss whether the anti-Trump strategy that helped Mark Carney nationally can continue to work as Canadians grow more concerned about everyday costs.

Fund weighs in on the prospects for a Canada-U.S. trade deal, Trump’s tariff strategy and the political stakes ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Plus, Fund discusses the controversy surrounding Brazil’s election and what it could mean for the country’s political future.

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“I’m certain that there will be another referendum vote,” he says. “It will be within five years.”

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On today’s episode of Straight Up, Wilson explains why he believes Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa will remain a major point of conflict and why he expects the next referendum to produce a very different result.

He also reflects on why the campaign struggled to win broader support, pointing to fears about separation, economic uncertainty and the impact of controversial campaign figures. Despite securing roughly 500,000 votes in favour, he acknowledges that the message failed to resonate with enough Albertans.

Premier Danielle Smith has said she will not hold another independence referendum while she remains in office. Wilson, however, believes pressure for another vote could grow if Alberta’s disputes with Ottawa continue.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the result, calling it a great day for Canada and praising Albertans for choosing unity and a shared future.

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On today’s episode of Straight Up, Western Standard senior columnist Cory Morgan argues that the independence movement cannot be dismissed. He says support has grown steadily over the past 15 to 20 years, even though the five-month campaign failed to bring enough undecided voters on board.

Morgan says the movement must now develop a more detailed case for independence, address questions about borders, treaties and public institutions, and establish stronger leadership with a consistent message.

He also cautions against a divisive fight to replace Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, arguing that the movement needs to build broader public support before pursuing another referendum. Meanwhile, Smith faces pressure to deliver on provincial policy promises and manage growing tensions within her party.

Morgan says the independence movement has a future, but its next steps require patience, strategic planning and a stronger appeal to urban voters.

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In a candid interview with Marc Patrone, the former NHL standout calls for a binding referendum and says Alberta’s demands cannot be met with token concessions. “They got to come all the way,” Fleury says. “You come all the way or you don’t come at all.”

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Fleury questions whether Ottawa is prepared to take Alberta’s independence movement seriously, pointing to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s position on delaying discussions about equalization until 2029. In Fleury’s view, federal leaders have shown little appetite for addressing the province’s grievances.

He argues Alberta has the natural resources and economic potential to thrive as an independent country, while criticizing federal policies on energy, immigration, affordability and government spending.

Fleury also warns that if the independence movement fails to secure enough support, Ottawa could interpret the result as a green light to continue on the same path. He says Albertans have been poorly treated for years and sees little reason to expect that to change.

Will Alberta get a meaningful vote on independence, and will Ottawa respect the outcome? Fleury explains why he believes the province’s future is at stake.

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At the centre of the debate is whether Alberta should move toward a second, binding referendum on independence. Premier Danielle Smith has urged voters to remain in Canada while supporting other referendum proposals, arguing that Alberta should continue pushing for changes within Confederation.

Pro-independence advocate and lawyer Jeff Rath joins Marc Patrone to discuss the strong advance voter turnout and why he believes voting in favour of a future independence referendum would give the province greater leverage in negotiations with Ottawa.

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Rath also dismissed warnings about the potential economic consequences of independence, including claims that Alberta could face significant debt obligations or lose access to federal health transfers. He argued that the province’s natural resources and financial contributions to Canada would give an independent Alberta the means to fund its own services.

The strong early turnout has not yet clarified which side is gaining ground. Rath said his organization, the Alberta Prosperity Project, has been encouraging supporters to mobilize family members and friends to vote. He rejected suggestions that high turnout necessarily favours either side, while predicting that frustration with federal politics could strengthen the independence movement.

The campaign has also seen disputes within the separatist movement over how voters should approach the referendum’s 10 questions. Rath said voters should make their own choices but personally backed only the independence-related question, urging Albertans to support the option that would preserve pressure on Ottawa.

With voting continuing ahead of October 19, the central question is whether the early surge will translate into greater support for a future independence vote.

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Breitbart journalist Matt Mercer joins Marc Patrone to discuss the report, Mark Carney’s China strategy, and the growing tensions between Canada and the Trump administration.

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The report warns that China could exploit Canada’s longstanding trade links with the U.S. to route goods into the American market, bypass tariffs, and expand Chinese state-directed businesses. What could this mean for North American trade?

Mercer also examines Carney’s political connections, Canada’s evolving relationship with Beijing, and concerns over Chinese influence, election interference, and national security.

They also discuss the broader U.S.-Canada trade dispute, the challenges facing the Carney government, and what closer ties with China could mean for Canadian sovereignty and the economy.

Plus, Mercer weighs in on the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, Republican prospects in Congress, and the political battles that could shape the final years of Donald Trump’s presidency.

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David argues that many Albertans who are dissatisfied with the status quo may be open to a broader debate about provincial autonomy without necessarily supporting independence outright.

They also discuss Alberta’s divided political landscape, including the potential influence of Quebec’s separatist movement and the significance of the province’s upcoming referendum questions.

David suggests that concerns surrounding immigration policy, public safety, the justice system and government accountability could resonate with voters who do not identify as separatists.

He also examines Canada’s strained trade relationship with the United States, the potential for Canadian heavy crude exports to China, and the need for a more strategic approach to economic and national security partnerships.

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However, Achtman argues the government is using the move to advance another controversial change: allowing euthanasia through advance requests for people with dementia.

Achtman says the debate over mental illness versus mental disorder obscures a bigger concern: Canadians with mental health challenges already receive MAID when they also have qualifying physical conditions or disabilities.

She points to cases involving people with autism and other complex needs as evidence that the current safeguards are not enough to protect vulnerable people.

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The conversation turns to advance requests, which would allow someone to request MAID before losing the capacity to consent.

Achtman criticizes the government’s handling of Quebec’s approach to advance requests and warns that people living with dementia could be placed at risk when they can no longer communicate their wishes or change their minds.

The discussion also examines reports of Canadians being offered or seeking MAID amid difficult life circumstances, including disability, isolation and the loss of everyday activities.

Achtman argues that the issue goes beyond physical pain, pointing to loneliness, grief, a loss of independence and a lack of social support as factors that can leave people feeling they have few alternatives.

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Meanwhile, new economic deals with the United States are unfolding as former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro faces charges in New York. Political commentator Cesar Guillarte explains why he believes the political shift across the continent could mark a turning point for the region.

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Having fled Venezuela and settled in Canada, Guillarte also shares his concerns about what he sees happening here. He points to government involvement in media and government deciding what news outlets are “trusted”, along with tighter gun regulations, as troubling trends. However, he stresses that Canada still remains far from the levels of repression Venezuela experienced — but for how long?

Canada’s economic future is another major point of discussion. Guillarte argues that growing red tape and regulatory costs are making it harder for entrepreneurs and small businesses to survive, while government support increasingly favours large corporations over smaller operators.

Finally, the discussion returns to Guillarte’s own experience as an immigrant. He explains why Canada was an attractive destination when he and his wife planned to leave Venezuela in 2013 — and why he believes the country has changed dramatically since arriving in 2015.

His warning: Canada should learn from the mistakes that helped Venezuela slide into crisis before it is too late.

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Kirk Lubimov joins the show to break down the potential impact on Canada’s already struggling tech sector.

Beyond the obvious and numerous privacy concerns, he argues the bill could force smaller companies to build expensive surveillance infrastructure they simply cannot afford and don’t want to add for their users, further raising the question about how Canadians’ data could ultimately be used.

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The conversation then turns to Alberta’s proposed pipeline to the west coast and the federal government’s announcement that the project will be fast-tracked.

Lubimov says the announcement isn’t at all meaningful, given that the only thing announced was ‘more paperwork’ and that they still haven’t approved the pipeline or put shovels in the ground.

The episode closes with a broader discussion of the overall picture of trade with the United States is another major concern, particularly as American manufacturing and private sector growth continue to move ahead while Canada lags behind.

Lubimov argues Canada is still stuck processing more paperwork, delaying major projects, and failing to give entrepreneurs and small businesses the support they need.

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On this episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, the Let Alberta Decide co-lead and lawyer discusses Quebec’s political shift and why he believes competing demands from Alberta and Quebec put PM Mark Carney in a difficult position.

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The discussion opens with video of an Edmonton Oilers fan’s arrest at Rogers Place and questions about whether his Alberta flag played a role in the confrontation.

Wilson also pushes back against coverage of Alberta independence supporters’ outreach to Washington, calling it part of a broader effort to discredit the movement.

He then raises concerns about Elections Alberta’s handling of mail-in ballots and campaign finance rules, questions whether polling captures the full extent of support for change, and explains why he sees the upcoming referendum as an opportunity to demand a better deal from Ottawa — even for Albertans who do not support independence.

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On this episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, Oklahoma state senator Shane Jett explains what brought him to Canada, his meetings with Canadian MPs and why he has raised his concerns with contacts in the Trump administration.

Jett argues that Bill C-9 threatens religious expression and discusses calls for the United States to offer refuge to Canadians facing religious persecution. He also addresses concerns about the safety of Canada’s Jewish and Christian communities.

Plus, Jett weighs in on Brazil’s political shift and draws parallels between Indigenous land disputes in Canada and Oklahoma, warning against what he sees as a growing threat to private property rights.

On today’s episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, Rath calls the allegations “complete fiction,” insisting he attended every meeting with U.S. State Department officials and that no negotiations involving Alberta’s water, oil or oil royalties ever took place.

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Rath acknowledges the delegation discussed what an independent Alberta could pursue with U.S. officials, including expanded pipeline access, a West Coast route to Asian and California markets, Gulf Coast access and doubling oil production with American investment.

But he denies offering Alberta’s resources in exchange for U.S. political support. He also says fellow independence advocate Dennis Modry denied comments attributed to him about offering Alberta’s water to the U.S., despite the Globe and Mail reporting proposals involving fresh water, oil royalties and other resources.

Rath argues the controversy is politically timed to damage the independence movement, which had already publicly disclosed its Washington meetings. He also rejects Liberal MP Corey Hogan’s call to consider new laws targeting such “freelance negotiating trips.”

On Mark Carney’s proposed pipeline, Rath calls it a “phony pipeline announcement,” arguing Ottawa has launched an 11-month process to set project conditions rather than approving construction.

Rath also rejects Alberta becoming the 51st state, saying his delegation made clear it seeks a “free and independent country.”

“We are not advocating Alberta statehood,” he said.

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On today’s episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, Carleton University professor Ian Lee discusses his new book, Trapped in the Shadow of Trump’s America and How We Escape, and argues Canada’s vulnerability to the United States is largely the result of decades of self-inflicted economic weaknesses that Trump is now exploiting.

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Lee points to declining productivity, interprovincial trade barriers, excessive regulation and restrictions on resource development, arguing Canada made itself overly dependent on the U.S. instead of building the infrastructure needed to sell its resources around the world.

He places some of the blame on what he calls Canada’s “Laurentian elites” in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.

“They’re largely progressive liberals, small-l liberals,” Lee said, arguing those who favoured restricting resource development helped leave Canada overly dependent on the U.S. market.

Lee says free trade with the U.S. was not the mistake. Rather, Canada failed to diversify at the same time, leaving roughly 70 per cent of its exports dependent on a single market.

Lee gives Prime Minister Mark Carney credit for beginning to reverse some previous policies and opening the door to more resource development, but argues Ottawa still isn’t moving fast enough to tackle regulatory delays, infrastructure bottlenecks and Canada’s poor productivity.

Finally, Lee supports diversifying Canadian trade but warns Europe cannot simply replace the U.S. market because it faces major competitiveness and productivity problems of its own.

“We’ve got to save ourselves,” Lee said.

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On today’s episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, Heather Mason, a former federal inmate and founding member of Canadian Women's Sex-Based Rights, says she witnessed the policy firsthand while serving time in Ontario. She describes being incarcerated alongside inmates who identified as women but were born male, including convicted sex offenders.

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Mason says women across Canada have reported harassment, grooming, sexual assault and other disturbing behaviour. She argues that many incarcerated women — including those with histories of sexual abuse — are being forced into situations that can re-traumatize them.

The interview also tackles reported pregnancies following non-sexual sexual encounters between female and trans inmates and the difficult consequences for women who become pregnant while incarcerated.

Mason says women can face additional pressure because complaints or confrontations with male inmates could potentially jeopardize their participation in programs such as the mother-child program.

At the heart of the dispute is a much bigger question: can sex-based protections for women survive if prisons no longer separate inmates according to biological sex? Mason argues that the implications extend far beyond prisons — to shelters, hospitals, sports and other women-only spaces.

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On today’s episode of Straight Up with Marc Patrone, political strategist Georganne Burke weighs in on Carney’s handling of the Canada-U.S. trade war and argues his confrontational approach to U.S. President Donald Trump risks putting Canadian workers and businesses in the crossfire.

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Carney accused Cleveland-Cliffs of betraying Stelco workers and vowed to use every power available to Ottawa, while the company says no amount of government funding could overcome weak Canadian demand for steel.

Burke argues Carney is benefiting politically from standing up to Trump but says Canada needs a trade agreement with its largest trading partner rather than waiting for U.S. politics to change. She warns that even a Democratic victory in the midterms would not necessarily bring an end to U.S. tariffs.

The pair also question whether the Stelco layoffs could have been avoided under the U.S. trade deal Carney previously rejected, while acknowledging its terms have not been publicly disclosed. Burke warns the loss of hundreds of steel jobs could ripple through Hamilton businesses that depend on the industry.

Finally, Burke contrasts Canada’s economic struggles with new steel investment in the United States and argues Ottawa should pursue a deal with Washington while breaking down internal trade barriers and expanding trade with other countries.

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Ritz also unloads on Ontario Premier Doug Ford for threatening to restrict Canadian commodities in response to Trump.

“He’s got to realize the dumbest thing he’s doing is bringing a knife to a Trump gunfight,” Ritz said, arguing Ford is “completely outclassed and outmaneuvered” and should “sit back and be quiet.”

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The former Harper cabinet minister also takes aim at Carney’s economic and foreign policy agenda, arguing Ottawa should spend less time pursuing international schemes and more time confronting Canada’s stagnant economy, housing problems and inflation.

He also rejects portrayals of Harper as Carney’s new political “wingman,” arguing media coverage cherry-picked the former prime minister’s recent economic speech while overlooking his criticism of Carney’s approach.

Asked whether claims that Harper had joined “Team Carney” amounted to an attempt to bolster Carney politically, Ritz didn’t mince words.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I think it’s willful delusion.”

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The conversation then turns to the broader security environment facing Jewish Canadians. McLean points to what he describes as years of antisemitic incidents, including shootings and arsons, and warns that antisemitic sentiment could spread to individuals who might not previously have been associated with extremist violence.

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McLean also takes issue with the way authorities publicly describe antisemitic attacks. He argues that grouping antisemitism into broader statements about hate and violence can obscure the specific nature of the threat facing Jewish Canadians. In his view, authorities should explicitly identify antisemitism and Jewish targets when addressing the problem.

The episode closes with a broader discussion about the distinction between opposition to Israel and antisemitism, and the importance of keeping the Jewish community safe amid heightened tensions.

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