Rob Breakenridge Show

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a look back on a very busy week in Alberta. We start with a re-cap of the string of major announcements from the premier, including more pipeline projects and a major data centre investment in the province. What does this all mean for the economic and political climate in Alberta? Also, we check back in with Alberta country music artist Corb Lund to ge...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show: a closer look at Thursday’s big pipeline announcement and whether a new west coast pipeline has truly taken a major step toward becoming reality. Following announcements and agreements with the premiers of both B.C. and Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney looks to have laid the groundwork for a west coast pipeline to be approved and fast-tracked under...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a conversation with Alberta country musician and Water Not Coal petition organizer Corb Lund. The goal of the petition campaign was to force a referendum on banning coal mining projects in the eastern slopes of the Rockies. After months of hard work, the petitions have been submitted to Elections Alberta. Based on their count, Lund says they cleared mo...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, veteran political columnist Lorne Gunter joins Rob to break down another fascinating political week in Alberta. We start with the announcement this week from Premier Danielle Smith that the province is forsaking a mandate gas tax cut and instead opting to send $100 rebates to over three million Albertans. While affordability remains a top concern in th...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at Ottawa’s new Bill C-34, also known as the Safe Social Media Act. The bill including a new ban on social media for children under 16 (with some exceptions), and also creates the new Digital Safety Commission to over see the newly created ‘duty to act responsibly” “duty to protect children” that the bill imposes on social media companies...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, the latest on the state of the Canadian economy and the debate sparked this week over whether Canada has fallen into recession. We’ll hear from Charles St-Arnaud, Chief Economist with Servus Credit Union, who notes that while the last two quarters show a small contraction, the overall trend has been stagnant, dragged down by reduced population growth,...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, the debate around Alberta’s future is heating up amid the official announcement of the October 19th referendum. We’ll be joined by Ken Boessenkool , who’s one of the founders of a new group called Lead Not Leave , which also includes former Alberta finance ministers Jim Dinning and Travis Toews. Their goal is to make the case for keeping the province i...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll focus on the major development that occurred this week in Alberta: the announcemengt from Premier Danielle Smith of an October referendum on Alberta’s future. The question itself is controversial though: it's not one where the outcome means Alberta separates from Canada, but it’s not a meaningless question, either. It’s muddled enough that neithe...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at two major stories from this week: the new pipeline agreement between Alberta and Ottawa as the court decision that, for now, has quashed the separatist campaign to force a referendum. We’re joined in this episode by Andrew Leach, who’s an energy and environmental economist at the University of Alberta, and holds join appointments in bo...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we hear from Martha Hall Findlay, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary Amid shifting global circumstances and economic pressures here at home, Hall Findlay is calling for a strategic rethink of Canada’s energy priorities - specifically as it applies to the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding (MOU). One of the pill...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at the movement and debate that is dominating Alberta politics at the moment: Alberta separatism. Our guest this week is Tyler Dawson, he’s a journalist at the Globe & Mail and author of the new book “The Republic of Alberta: An Idea That Won’t Go Away.” The book dives into the historical roots of the Alberta’s separatist movement and see...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at some key debates raging in Alberta as we speak with Peter Guthrie, former UCP MLA and cabinet minister who is now leader of the upstart Alberta Progressive Tory Party. We’ll delve into the debate around Alberta’s electoral boundaries and whether the government’s rejection of the report from the Electoral Boundaries Commission is part o...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’re joined by Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Now that Mark Carney and the Liberals now have their majority government, we’ll look at the important decisions they now must make at what has become a pivotal moment for Canada in being able to move forward o...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll break down the latest floor crossing in Canadian politics: the shocking defection of Marilyn Gladu from the Conservatives to the Liberals. How does an ardent social conservative and harsh critic of the Liberal government - not to mention, a critic of previous floor-crossers - suddenly find herself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Prime Minister...

In this episode of Rob Breakenridge Show, we’re joined by Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi. We’ll get his reaction to the victory of Avi Lewis in the Federal NDP Leadership race, and what the hard-left turn of the federal New Democrats means for the Alberta version of the party. Is it time to sever ties (I argue ‘yes’ in my latest column )? Plus, a closer look at how the NDP is trying to hold the...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at the link between oil & pipelines and our trading relationship with the United States. Recent headlines would suggest that a new pipeline to the U.S. may be back on the table and that this could play a key role in CUSMA re-negotiations. We’re joined in this episode by Adam Waterous , CEO of Waterous Energy Fund and Executive Chairman at...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at two major challenges affecting Canada right now: the political challenges around national unity and the potential return of high inflation, driven by surging oil prices,. We’ll hear from Mark Milke, founder and president of the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy - they’ve released new polling and a new analysis of how Canadians per...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a deep dive on the conflict that is dominating global headlines and rattling global markets - how does this all end for Iran’s regime and the Iranian people? We’ll speak with Kaveh Shahrooz - he’s a lawyer and human rights activist and also a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. We’ll hear his case for why this military intervention was mo...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a closer look at the of the recent surge in oil prices driven by the conflict in Iran and what it all means for Canada and Alberta in particular. The US-Israeli attack has dealt quite a blow to the Iranian regime, much uncertainty remains in terms of what happens next and how long this conflict could drag on for. One thing is for sure: it’s all certain...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll look at the bleak state of Alberta’s finances in the aftermath of a new budget awash in red ink. The new budget forecasts a deficit of $9.37-billion followed by subsequent deficits for the foreseeable future - all of which violates the government’s own fiscal framework. Spending has reached a record level of almost $84-billion and the budget has...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’re joined by Edmonton-based Postmedia columnist Lorne Gunter to take a closer look at some major political developments this week. We start with some reaction and analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down many of Donald Trump’s tariffs. How excited or relieved should Canadians be and what next for the Canada-U.S. relationship and the...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, the latest on the Canada-U.S. relationship amid new threats from Donald Trump and a hopeful sign in the U.S. Congress as the House of Representatives voted to end tariffs on Canada. Of course, this doesn’t end all of this trade drama and it may not even end these specific tariffs. There is still a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision on the legality and...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a conversation with widely followed political commentator and analyst Spencer Fernando . We’ll take a closer look at how U.S. President Donald Trump continues to turn Canadian politics on its head and how Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre needs to speak to this challenge and confront this threat. Also, we’ll discuss former Prime Minister Stephen Har...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll take a closer look at the state of the Conservative Party of Canada and the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. Conservatives are gathering in Calgary this weekend for their annual convention, which will feature an important speech from Poilievre before a leadership review. We’ll speak with Ben Woodfinden, who’s a senior advisor with Meredith, Boesse...

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we look back on a dramatic and consequential week for Canada. Following the announcement of a Canada-China trade deal in Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney was off to Davos and the World Economic Forum, where he delivered a speech of considerable significance - one that did not go unnoticed by U.S. President Donald Trump. We’re joined by Globe & Mail...