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A referendum is just around the corner, giving Albertans the opportunity to have their say on some important questions, including whether Alberta should stay in Canada. Voters' engaging in this democratic act is something that this evening's Hannaford guest finds particularly important — believing this could be a key part of solving the frustrations many Albertans have about Canada. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Marty Up North looks at Quebec’s election result and what the Parti Québécois comeback could mean for Canada, Mark Carney and Alberta’s independence debate. Drawing on his experience in Quebec, Marty breaks down the rural-urban divide, the incumbent collapse, Conservative gains and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s minority government. He also weighs Elon Musk’s comments before turning to B.C., Freeland, diesel prices, Calgary politics, MAID and more. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Derek Fildebrandt is joined by Cory Morgan, Dave Naylor and B.C. reporter Alex Zoltan to break down the biggest stories of the day, including the cross-border arrest tied to the Tumbler Ridge shooting, Quebec’s PQ victory and what it could mean for Alberta’s independence debate, and the growing backlash over David Eby’s snap election call in British Columbia. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Natalie St. Hilaire and Randy Royer are joined by Western Standard’s Josh Andrus to ask whether Alberta can turn frustration with Ottawa into a broader push for constitutional change. They discuss the coming referendum, the divide between independence and Western alienation, reforming Canada’s Constitution, Danielle Smith’s role and whether Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba could work together to build a stronger Western voice. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Cory Morgan looks at Quebec’s return to separatist politics and argues Alberta should stop treating Quebec as an adversary and start looking at it as a potential ally. He explores what Alberta could learn from Quebec’s decades-long push for greater autonomy, including more control over policing, pensions, taxation and other institutions, while making the case for a longer-term strategy that builds provincial power before another independence vote. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtubeFor breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtubeFollow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandardFollow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/shareSupport independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Natalie St. Hilaire and Randy Royer are joined by Avenue Magazine co-owner and publisher Käthe Lemon to look beyond the slogans surrounding Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum. They discuss the moderate middle, Western alienation, economic uncertainty, Alberta’s relationship with the rest of Canada and why the bigger question may be what happens after the vote. The conversation asks whether Albertans can turn frustration into a more strategic plan for lasting change. Learn more at NationofPeople.com. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Nigel Hannaford is joined by Western Standard reporter Leah Mushet to look at what AI is actually doing right now, from helping guide complex surgeries to producing confident but false information. They discuss the promise of medical AI, the fears raised by industry insiders, the risks of relying too heavily on tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, and why checking the original source still matters no matter how convincing the technology sounds. Support the channel: www.youtube.com/@WesternStandard?sub_confirmation=1 »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Danielle Smith is putting growing faith in Mark Carney’s promises to deliver a new pipeline and improve Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, but the piece questions whether political goodwill is enough to secure Alberta’s long-term economic future. Josh Andrus fills in for Marty this week as he discusses that a single project does not resolve deeper concerns over federal power, equalization, investment uncertainty and the lack of lasting structural change, and asks what protects Alberta if Ottawa’s priorities shift again. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Cory Morgan, Nigel Hannaford, Dave Wiechnik and B.C. reporter Alex Zoltan break down British Columbia’s political chaos, from the snap election and Conservative rebound to land claims and property rights. The panel also tackles a controversial B.C. court ruling on illicit drugs, Truth and Reconciliation Day, unanswered questions surrounding Kamloops and a proposed West Coast oil pipeline.»»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtubeFor breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtubeFollow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandardFollow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/shareSupport independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

If we are forced to observe a holiday calling for truth, then let’s say the truth out loud.»»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtubeFor breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtubeFollow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandardFollow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/shareSupport independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Natalie St. Hilaire and Randy Royer are joined by participatory-democracy expert Peter Macleod to explore what government could look like if citizens had a more direct role between elections. The discussion examines decentralization, citizen guilds, government accountability, elections, the judiciary and a proposed system that places sovereignty and responsibility more directly in the hands of the people. Learn more and explore the ideas behind A Nation of People at NationofPeople.com. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Natalie St. Hilaire and Randy Royer are joined by former Blood Tribe chief Roy Fox to explore whether Alberta and Indigenous nations can build a new relationship centred on economic development, self-sufficiency and shared prosperity. The discussion looks at life on reserve, governance, Ottawa’s role, resource development, consultation, land title and new ideas for Indigenous funding and participation. They also consider whether Alberta could help lead a broader model that gives Indigenous communities more control while clearing the roadblocks holding back major projects and investment. Support the channel: www.youtube.com/@WesternStandard?sub_confirmation=1 »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Marty Up North looks at Donald Trump’s latest criticism of Canada’s immigration system and his claim that the country is “destroying itself” through mass immigration. Marty also weighs Alberta’s proposed health-care fees for some new arrivals, B.C.’s snap election, Danielle Smith’s gas-tax pause, the countdown to Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum and the latest developments at the United Nations. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

Nigel Hannaford speaks with Yaroslav Baran about how long Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strong polling can last without concrete results. They discuss Carney’s major-projects agenda, the Canada-U.S. trade relationship, federal spending and the political case for calling a snap election while his approval remains high. Baran says the window could close quickly if promised investment and a U.S. trade deal fail to materialize. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription

David Eby has called British Columbians back to the polls two years ahead of schedule, setting up a five-week battle after months of turmoil inside the B.C. Conservatives. Cory Morgan, Nigel Hannaford, Dave Naylor and Alex Zoltan break down Eby’s timing, the newly reshaped Conservative opposition, senior NDP departures and the issues that could determine whether the early election works as Eby intends. »»» Subscribe to the Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription?utm_source=youtube For breaking news, videos, opinion and in-depth coverage: https://www.westernstandard.news/?utm_source=youtube Follow the Western Standard on X: https://x.com/WesternStandard Follow the Western Standard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernstandardonline/ Sign up for Western Standard newsletters: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/788568/130204520588249083/share Support independent journalism in Western Canada: https://www.westernstandard.news/subscription