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West of Centre

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

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

Let’s make a deal, Alberta! Will it be door No. 1 or door No. 2? Except there’s no zonk prize, and you’re not allowed to switch. 

Alberta’s premier has put an end to the speculation about whether voters will get a say on the future of the province. ... more

'The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat'. It's an old chestnut that seems apropos in the blood sport of Alberta politics.

The victory is for the Alberta government, as it clears another hurdle in its landmark energy deal with Ottawa. The prov... more

Supporters of Alberta independence are celebrating this week after over 300,000 signatures calling for a referendum on separation were submitted to Elections Alberta. 

But it comes as another separatist group, the Centurion Project, is being investi... more

What you see is what you'd get if an election were held today in Alberta — except the United Conservative Party would have an even bigger majority government.

That's one of the findings from the latest poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research for the CB... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Trevor Harrison
Political sociologist with the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
Episode: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat
Jack Farrell
Alberta Legislative Reporter for the Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Episode: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat
Tyler Dawson
Editor for the Globe and Mail's opinion section; author of The Republic of Alberta
Globe and Mail
Episode: Separation anxiety
Rob Breakenridge
Calgary-based journalist and podcaster
Calgary-based journalist
Episode: Separation anxiety
John Santos
Data scientist
Trend Research / CBC
Episode: 'One way or another'
Annalise Klingbeil
Worked in Rachel Notley's government
University of Calgary (political science)
Episode: Pushing boundaries
Naheed Nenshi
Alberta NDP leader (Alberta)
Alberta NDP
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
Ken Boessenkool
Policy Advisor who worked with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper; signatory of The Firewall Letter
Policy Advisor / The Firewall Letter signatory
Episode: The Firewall Letter - 25 years later

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 476 ratings
  • Excellent show

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RebeccaSaw
    Canada11 days ago
  • Sticks and Stones

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Chez Green MD
    Canadaa month 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
    Canada5 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
    Canada7 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
    Canada8 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
#189
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#34
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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Which podcasts are similar to West of Centre?

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. Trevor Harrison
2. Jack Farrell
3. Tyler Dawson
4. Rob Breakenridge
5. John Santos
6. Annalise Klingbeil
7. Naheed Nenshi
8. Ted Morton

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