The Discourse

This week, we delve into the scandal that has rocked Alberta politics for more than a year — and we bring in the reporter who broke the story. The Globe and Mail's Carrie Tait joins us to break down: How the AHS scandal first came to light Why new delays in the government's investigation are raising eyebrows What journalists actually do behind the scenes to get these stories published Why this sto...

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika take you inside one of the most politically packed weeks in Canada—from royal pageantry to banned books to the high-stakes First Ministers' Meeting. 🫅 The King Reads the Script. Carney Steals the Show. For the first time since 1977, the monarch delivers Canada's Speech from the Throne. Cheryl and Erika break down the symbolism, the strategy, and whethe...

This week on The Discourse, Erika Barootes and Cheryl unpack the two dominant themes in Alberta politics: scandal and separation—with a healthy side of political theater. We start with a deep dive into the UCP health procurement scandal. Alberta Health Services’ former CEO, Athena Mentzelopoulos, dropped a $1.7M lawsuit accusing the government of shady dealings with private surgical contracts. Now...

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika go deeper into the wildfire of Western alienation that's setting inboxes, headlines, and political panels ablaze. With new separatist parties gaining steam and Danielle Smith refusing to pick a side, the Premier may be running out of room to maneuver—and that could be big trouble for the UCP come election time. The hosts break down: Why Alberta’s politi...

This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika wade into the political firestorm Premier Danielle Smith kicked off with her live address on Alberta’s sovereignty. Cheryl opens with a scathing monologue on why Smith’s refusal to outright reject separation has real consequences — politically, economically, and reputationally. Erika counters that Smith’s move is about getting ahead of grassroots frustr...

Canada has spoken… kind of. The Liberals are back with a minority, the Conservatives won the West but lost the race, and the NDP? Well, Jagmeet Singh lost his seat and resigned. This week, Cheryl and Erika are unfiltered, exhausted, and deeply in their feels. They dig into: Why this was an election where every party lost something Poilievre’s future: is he safe from the Conservative firing squad?...

The last week of the federal campaign is anything but sleepy—Cheryl and Erika go full tilt on everything from budget bombs to Alberta bombshells. 👀 Danielle Smith is absolutely thinking about an early election. We break down the signs, the strategy, and why a 2026 Alberta vote could be coming faster than anyone’s ready for.  Also in this episode: 💰 Carney drops a banker’s budget— billions more t...

It’s federal debate week, so we’re taking you inside the room where it happens — no, not the stage — the prep room. This week, Cheryl and Erika trade war stories from decades of political debate prep, sharing what really goes into those make-or-break moments on the campaign trail. From binders and body language to one-liners and last-minute nerves, we unpack how leaders get ready, what success act...

What do you get when you mix a 15,000-person rally, a Boilermaker endorsement, and Mark Carney forgetting the price of strawberries? A pre-debate episode of The Discourse that does not hold back. This week, Erika and Cheryl throw down over: 🚨 The actual impact of those massive Conservative rallies—crowd size vs. door-knocking power. 🧠 The battle of brains and branding: Is Carney just Pierre with...

Liberation Day has come and gone, but we’re still drowning in uncertainty. Every hour brings new twists, and today’s no exception. We break down what President Trump said and what it means for the federal election. Meanwhile, Danielle Smith’s No F**s Given* Tour takes Florida by storm—she won’t be silenced, but will her trip to see Ben Shapiro shake things up back home? And speaking of silence… is...

In this gripping episode (Erika apologizes for her lack of voice), we delve into the heart of Canada's 2025 federal election, where Mark Carney's Liberals are surging ahead but face stiff competition from Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives. The campaign is dominated by concerns over Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty, shifting the focus to which party can best navigate these...

With a federal election call looming, The Discourse dives into the latest polling shake-up: the Liberals are surging, Poilievre is scrambling, and the NDP is disappearing. Cheryl and Erika debate whether Carney’s carbon tax cut is a game-changer or just clever spin, and if the Conservatives can pivot before it’s too late. Meanwhile, in Alberta, the UCP’s latest scandal heats up—lawsuits, RCMP inve...

After a week off, The Discourse is back, and Alberta politics is as chaotic as ever. We break down Alberta MLA Scott Sinclair’s budget rebellion and why getting booted from the UCP was inevitable, the RCMP’s deep dive into the AHS scandal (sorry, “The Allegations”), and the looming federal election now that Mark Carney has taken the Liberal helm. With caucus drama, corruption probes, and a politic...

Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes break down Alberta’s 2025-26 budget, tackling its $5.2B deficit, tax cut, healthcare, and education spending. Is this truly a conservative budget (Erika says no!), and what does it mean for Albertans? Subscribe & Share: Follow The Discourse on social media, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Erika and Cheryl break down the latest developments in the UCP procurement scandal. Former Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie has resigned, citing concerns about government transparency. A lucrative land deal and more details about private surgical contracts are raising more questions.  Plus, questions are swirling about UCP influence over the Edmonton Police Commission, and the Premier’s handli...

It’s been a rough week for the Alberta government. The former CEO of Alberta Health Services, Athana Mentzelopoulos, has filed a $1.7 million lawsuit against the province, setting off a chain reaction that now includes cabinet ministers breaking ranks and a major press conference from Premier Danielle Smith. In this episode, Erika and Cheryl break down: ✅ What the lawsuit means for the government...

The AHS bombshell that could bring down Alberta's Premier. Plus, US tariffs are coming for your wallet: Hidden costs in your grocery cart and a hit to Alberta businesses. Join us as we expose the explosive AHS scandal threatening the government, and get expert insights from Alberta Food Producers Association Executive Director, Bianca Parsons, on how tariffs will affect you and local industries.  ...

In a surprising twist, this episode explores how Premier Danielle Smith's diplomatic dance intersects with Justin Trudeau's unexpected moment of diplomatic finesse. Our hosts reveal a rare moment of cross-party solidarity, where even New Democratic and Conservative voices grudgingly acknowledge Trudeau's strategic tariff negotiations. 

Dive into the chaos of Alberta politics as we unpack the controversial COVID-19 report and explore Alberta’s uneasy ties with the Trump era. Plus, we dig deep into coal mining drama and the UCP’s policy flip-flops.

We dive into Premier Danielle Smith's US strategy, her approach to President Trump’s tariff threat and what it reveals about her political calculus and end goals. Tune in for sharp analysis, a few laughs, and some unexpected common ground.   

What’s making Cheryl unexpectedly admire the UCP? And why can’t Erika stop longing for Rachel Notley’s return? Alberta politics takes a personal turn in this fiery 2024 recap—don’t miss the revelations and hot takes!

On this episode of The Discourse we take you on a journey through history on the one thing Alberta political parties have agreed on for over 100 years, and it's not Taylor Swift! In a world where rats thrive almost everywhere, Alberta -on brand- stands as a defiant outlier. We talk to Alberta's rat control expert, Karen Wickerson about how and why.

In this episode of The Discourse, we take a hard look at the UCP's controversial restructuring of Alberta Health Services (AHS). What's driving these changes, and are they delivering results—or creating more problems? Tune in as we unpack the motives, the impact, and what it all means for health care in Alberta.

In this episode of The Discourse, we get honest about our own parties: what bugs us and what we wish they would do differently. Plus- how the two sides campaign and who is doing it better in 2024. The consensus may surprise you!

In this episode of The Discourse, we talk about what the Alberta UCP has been up to lately- things that seem boring but could have significant consequences for Albertans -- including firing the AIMCo board and CEO, interfering in professional bodies and messing with riding boundaries.