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Artwork for West of Centre

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
United States
Edmonton
Alberta Politics
Referendum
Daniel Smith

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes158Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for West of Centre

Latest Episodes

Premier Danielle Smith wants to “vote and move on” but is that even possible? For separatists like Mitch Sylvestre, this referendum on Alberta’s future might not be the end. With an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots requested, Sylvestre says he... more

The Carney government says a West Coast pipeline — now called Pacific Link — is a key nation-building project and essential to the country’s economic future. It's a hard-won victory for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. But what’s in it for the rest of... more

New polling shows AI data centres in Alberta are a political problem for the UCP government. We hear from voters in the heart of conservative country who are saying “no” to these mega-projects near their farmland. As Technology Minister Nate Glubish ... more

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 ha... more

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Recent Guests

Mitch Sylvestre
Leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project, separatist activist, UCP member and local organizer
Alberta Prosperity Project; United Conservative Party
Episode: Win or lose, is Alberta separatism here to stay?
Michael Solberg
Partner at New West Public Affairs; long-time conservative political operator
New West Public Affairs; Vote to Stay (advertising group)
Episode: Win or lose, is Alberta separatism here to stay?
Clark Banack
Associate professor of political science, University of Alberta Augustana Campus
University of Alberta Augustana; Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities
Episode: Win or lose, is Alberta separatism here to stay?
Rita Reich
Farmer in Ponoka County, cattle and grain
Independent resident
Episode: Alberta’s data centre push is trouble for Danielle Smith
Alana Natchew
Mayor of Sturgeon County
Municipal government
Episode: Alberta’s data centre push is trouble for Danielle Smith
Tammy Ranta
Resident living near Meta site
Private citizen
Episode: Alberta’s data centre push is trouble for Danielle Smith
Damien Kurek
Former Conservative MP for Battle River Crowfoot nominee for next election
Conservative Party of Canada
Episode: How Alberta’s federalist push is lagging
Alex Boyd
Senior reporter with CBC Calgary
CBC
Episode: How Alberta’s federalist push is lagging
Nathan Cooper
Alberta's senior representative to the United States
Alberta government
Episode: Too friendly to resist: Danielle Smith’s U.S. diplomacy

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 484 ratings
  • Excellent

    Thanks for sharing these conversations. They matter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jveness
    Canada2 months 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
    Canada5 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
    Canada6 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
    Canada10 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
    Canadaa year 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.

Spotify
#168
Canada/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#231
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#52
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#212
Denmark/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Win or lose, is Alberta separatism here to stay?
Q: Could the movement survive a defeat on October 19th?
Yes, the core supporters could persist, potentially reshaping party dynamics, pushing for leadership or governance changes, and keeping the issue alive through internal party processes and ongoing campaigning.
Win or lose, is Alberta separatism here to stay?
Q: What does the premier have to gain or lose from moving on after the referendum?
The guests suggest she has strategic leverage due to pipelines, budget surpluses, and Ottawa ties, but faces a backlash from separatist-influenced members who may push for leadership changes or a board-dominated shift if results are unfavorable.
Pacific Link: A pipeline in whose interest?
Q: How essential is the national-interest designation to moving the Pacific Link project forward?
It accelerates regulatory timelines and confirms the political will to build, but the exact conditions and feasibility still hinge on consultations, legal challenges, and market commitments.
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.

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?

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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Which podcasts are similar to West of Centre?

These podcasts share a similar audience with West of Centre:

1. The Strategists
2. The Herle Burly
3. The House
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 158 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. Mitch Sylvestre
2. Michael Solberg
3. Clark Banack
4. Rita Reich
5. Alana Natchew
6. Tammy Ranta
7. Damien Kurek
8. Alex Boyd

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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