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West of Centre

CBC
Alberta
Canada
Danielle Smith
Mark Carney
NDP
Calgary
Donald Trump
United Conservative Party
Conservative Party
UCP
Tariffs
Pierre Poilievre
Justin Trudeau
Naheed Nenshi
Oil and Gas Industry
Edmonton
Referendum
Daniel Smith
United States
Alberta Politics

We bring you into the Alberta state of mind, to explore how this province’s power is shifting and connect with the western voices driving national debate. Join Calgary’s Kathleen Petty every week as she helps decipher what's happening in Alberta politics for the rest of Canada. Whether you live in the province or just can’t look away, join us every Friday as we go West of Centre.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes156Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for West of Centre

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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 Albe... more

**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... more

**New episode drops Friday, August 21**

ENCORE PRESENTATION 

Back in January 2001, six influential Alberta conservatives sent then premier Ralph Klein the now famous 'firewall letter.' Under the heading 'Alberta Agenda,' the letter proposed withdra... more

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Recent Guests

Anthony Sayers
Political science professor and director of Canadian Governance Policy at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy
University of Calgary
Episode: A new era of politics in Alberta?
Kendall Dilling
President of the Oil Sands Alliance
Oil Sands Alliance
Episode: It's all about the math
Alex Boyd
Calgary-based reporter for The Toronto Star
The Toronto Star
Episode: Big tent party
Falice Chin
Alberta Bureau Chief at The Hub
The Hub
Episode: 'It's always Band-Aids'
Sean Speer
The Hub editor-at-large; former Harper economic adviser
The Hub
Episode: Mixed messages in the argument for federalism
Darryl Stanier
Owner/operator of a logistics supply chain business
Sunil Shah's panel teammate?
Episode: 'The art of humility'
Sunil Shah
Electrical engineer
Panelist
Episode: 'The art of humility'
Chelsea Matisz
Research scientist
Panelist
Episode: 'The art of humility'
David Stewart
Professor Emeritus in the University of Calgary Political Science Department
University of Calgary
Episode: 'Primordial politics'

Hosts

Kathleen Petty
Host of the show; CBC/West of Centre involvement; long-standing Western Canadian political journalist and interviewer
Jason Markusoff
CBC journalist; producer/writer; contributes journalistic context and production oversight

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 481 ratings
  • Excellent

    Thanks for sharing these conversations. They matter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jveness
    Canada15 days ago
  • Excellent show

    Rob Breakenridge is excellent - please have him back. I definitely want to pick up Tyler’s book, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RebeccaSaw
    Canada4 months ago
  • Sticks and Stones

    Can’t you find anyone more intelligent than Erika to speak for the right?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Chez Green MD
    Canada5 months ago
  • Loved “Breaking Point”

    I loved Kathleen’s discussion with the authors of Breaking Point. I would vote for the party whose platform contained the suggestions put forth in this book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BC PJ
    Canada9 months ago
  • Recent podcast

    Smitb going to the USA and Florida when Trump was speaking of the Prime Minister as a Governor and Canada as becoming the 51st state was disgusting and purely playing to the UPC extreme base. This was about sovereignty and Canadians agreed with “elbows up”! Trump tempered this talk which then allowed Carney to go to the White House. It’s sound politics pure and simple. He doesn’t need to have “elbows up” given the rhetoric has stopped.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Wiretap1
    Canada10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive notes on host engagement and guest expertise.
Appreciation for data-driven polling discussions and historical context.
Some critics call for more diverse viewpoints and less perceived partisanship.
A few episodes are criticized for perceived bias or echoing familiar voices.
Listeners value the Western perspective and depth of policy discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#40
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#125
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#19
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#61
Finland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Referendum Madness!
Q: Evan, do you agree that this is more politics than policy?
Evan states that while there are certainly political motivations, there are also legitimate policy discussions to be had about immigration and public service stress in Alberta.
Referendum Madness!
Q: What's the... Are they on strong constitutional ground to be able to do this?
Raj believes that there are likely constitutional issues with withholding services from temporary residents, though the focus might be more on political strategy than legality.
Referendum Madness!
Q: Raj, I wonder if you can help us kind of set this up for us.
Raj discusses the eligibility for healthcare services among temporary migrants in Alberta and explains that those working in Alberta are covered under Alberta health, while asylum claimants are covered by the federal government.
Alberta: destination separation
Q: What role should federal leaders like Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre have in the campaign for the referendum?
Both leaders have to navigate their positions carefully; while they may want to position themselves positively in Alberta, direct engagement with the referendum topic could be politically risky.
Alberta: destination separation
Q: Tell me why you think people are signing the petition?
People in Alberta are signing the petition because this is a longstanding grievance regarding their relationship with Ottawa and increasing dissatisfaction with federal policies that negatively impact their economy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About West of Centre

What is West of Centre about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program centers on Western Canadian politics, with a strong focus on Alberta's evolving role in federal dynamics, energy policy, and regional identity. Episodes feature a rotating roster of policy experts, journalists, and former politicians who unpack Alberta's relationship with Ottawa, debates over sovereignty versus unity, and the economics of energy, pipelines, and governance. Notable strengths include a Western-leaning perspective, data-driven polling discussions, and deep historical context that helps listeners understand how Alberta's politics shape the national conversation. The show often hosts two distinct viewpoints on contentious issues, offering listeners pragmatic analysis, policy nuance, and behind-the-scenes context that... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with West of Centre:

1. The Strategists
2. Real Talk Ryan Jespersen
3. The Herle Burly
4. Curse of Politics
5. At Issue

How many episodes of West of Centre are there?

West of Centre launched 7 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on West of Centre?

Recent guests on West of Centre include:

1. Anthony Sayers
2. Kendall Dilling
3. Alex Boyd
4. Falice Chin
5. Sean Speer
6. Darryl Stanier
7. Sunil Shah
8. Chelsea Matisz

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