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West of Centre

CBC
Alberta
Danielle Smith
Tax Cuts
Alberta Politics
Heritage Savings Trust Fund
Oil Prices
Economy Of Alberta
NDP
Fiscal Responsibility
Justin Trudeau
UCP Government
Carbon Tax
Budget 2023
Public Sector Workers
Calgary
Edmonton
Bill 20
Naheed Nenshi
Rachel Notley
Globe and Mail

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes151Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for West of Centre

Latest Episodes

Separatism is in court (again), as several First Nations try to thwart a referendum on Alberta independence. The group collecting signatures to trigger a referendum on separation says it already has more than the required number of signatures. It exp... more

As members of the NDP celebrate new leader Avi Lewis and his vision to revitalize their party, there’s skepticism in Alberta that Lewis’ federal victory will put the New Democrats back on the road to relevancy.

Two NDP insiders, Shannon Phillips, a ... more

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 withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan, establishing a provincial po... more

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 fe... more

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Recent Guests

Naheed Nenshi
Alberta NDP leader (Alberta)
Alberta NDP
Episode: ‘The federal NDP is irrelevant’
Shannon Phillips
Former Alberta NDP cabinet minister
Meredith Bozenkuhl and Phillips Policy Advisors
Episode: ‘The federal NDP is irrelevant’
Keith McLaughlin
Chief of staff to ministers in Rachel Notley's government
New West Public Affairs
Episode: ‘The federal NDP is irrelevant’
Ted Morton
Executive Fellow at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy; former PC Cabinet Minister
University of Calgary / The Firewall Letter signatory
Episode: The Firewall Letter - 25 years later
Pamela Wallin
Saskatchewan Senator, former journalist and broadcaster
Senate of Canada
Episode: The Prairies senators: ‘We can’t do stupid stuff’
Charles Adler
Manitoba Senator, former radio host and journalist
Senate of Canada
Episode: The Prairies senators: ‘We can’t do stupid stuff’
Heather Exner-Pirot
Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Episode: War in Iran: What does it mean for Canadian oil?
David Coletto
CEO of Abacus Data
Abacus Data
Episode: ‘Bizarro world’: Why is Liberal support rising in Alberta?
Éric Grenier
Polls analyst
thewrit.ca
Episode: ‘Bizarro world’: Why is Liberal support rising in Alberta?

Hosts

Kathleen Petty
Host of West of Centre; CBC/West of Centre; seasoned Calgary-based political journalist with deep Alberta-focus.
Jason Markusoff
Producer and writer; fills in as host or panelist, with CBC and West of Centre involvement.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 474 ratings
  • Sticks and Stones

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Chez Green MD
    Canada2 days 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
    Canada4 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
    Canada6 months ago
  • Highlights partisans

    Feels like click bait - and so often the participants are smug partisans. Host "chuckles" around the controversies and her ideology becomes apparent with time

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    pj sparri
    Canada7 months ago
  • Balanced Views

    After the election I realized that most of the podcasts except House Party were people from the East. I am from BC and could not figure out the stance that Alberta was taking. I happened on this podcast and love it. May not agree with all the points but I think that opening up to hear what the West thinks and feels has helped give me a well rounded and balanced education of what is going on. It is now a must listen to for me and I hope for you. Now, if we can get something similar for BC then we... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mcduff514ca
    Canada9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism notes perceived bias and preference for Western viewpoints by the host.
Guests and hosts are seen as knowledgeable and well-connected in Alberta politics.
Listeners appreciate the Western perspective and data-driven debates.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#24
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
Canada/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
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About West of Centre

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

A western-Canadian political discussion show that centers Alberta's evolving role in federal politics, with frequent polling insights, budget talks, and regional perspectives shaping national narratives. Episodes often feature analysts, pollsters, and journalists who translate provincial dynamics—oil markets, independence sentiment, and leadership shifts—into broader implications for Canada. Noteworthy are in-depth budget analyses, cross-examining relationships with Ottawa, and debates over energy policy and Western identity, offering listeners pragmatic context for policy and election timing.

A standout trait is the strong Western lens, consistently pairing data-driven analysis with panel conversations to unpack Alberta's unique political... 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. The House

How many episodes of West of Centre are there?

West of Centre launched 6 years ago and published 151 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. Naheed Nenshi
2. Shannon Phillips
3. Keith McLaughlin
4. Ted Morton
5. Pamela Wallin
6. Charles Adler
7. Heather Exner-Pirot
8. David Coletto

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