The Discourse – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Discourse

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Frequency: 1 episode/13d. Total Eps: 75

Erika Barootes and Cheryl Oates are seasoned political insiders from opposite sides of the aisle — and they’re not afraid to disagree. The Discourse is your backstage pass to the biggest issues in Canadian politics, featuring sharp takes, real talk, and unexpected common ground. It’s proof that politics doesn’t have to be a shouting match — it can be a damn good conversation.

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Data updated on 04/07/2026

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http://madeinalberta.co/
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http://localizeyourfood.com/
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https://makamicollege.com/programs/applied-politics-and-public-affairs/?nab=0&amp
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Score global : 58%

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My Data, My Choice

Episode 70

Thursday, May 14, 2026 • Duration 48:54

Nearly three million Albertans had their personal information sitting in a publicly searchable database, built by a separatist group on a voter list that was never theirs to have. The biggest voter data breach in Canadian history. Erika and Shannon walk through the wrap of the Spring Sitting, then dig into the Centurion Project, the Republican Party of Alberta, and how a list locked behind the Election Act ended up on the open internet. They close on the bigger picture, a separation petition with 302,000 signatures, a new top-secret CSIS clearance for the Premier, and a Kremlin disinfo report all landing in the same week. What the government can do now, what it can't, and what the real fix looks like in the fall.

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Rebuilding Alberta Healthcare — Or Breaking It?

Episode 69

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 01:17:31

Alberta’s healthcare system has gone through a major overhaul since 2023 — new agencies, new legislation, and a new way of thinking about care delivery. But is it actually working?

In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by emergency physician and former Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Paul Parks for a candid, no-spin conversation from both the frontline and the policy table.

They break down what’s changed, what’s at stake with dual practice, and what real solutions could look like — without the political talking points.

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No MOU, No CUSMA, No Problem — If You're Not From Alberta

Episode 68

Friday, April 10, 2026 • Duration 48:07

The April 1st deadline on the Alberta-Ottawa MOU came and went and Ottawa delivered nothing. No announcement, no framework, no signal that the federal government is taking Alberta's concerns seriously. This week Erika is joined by Gitane De Silva, former Deputy Minister of Alberta's International and Intergovernmental Relations, former CEO of the Canadian Energy Regulator, and Founder and President of GDStrategic, to break down what that missed deadline actually means for the relationship between this province and Ottawa. They dig into what federal ministers making the rounds in Calgary are really trying to accomplish, whether any of it moves the needle, and what a trade war layered on top of rising instability in Iran means for Alberta energy producers and agricultural communities that are already navigating an incredibly uncertain environment.

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The UCP Telling You How to Live… Again

Episode 67

Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 01:01:06

In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes and Shannon Greer break down a busy week in Alberta politics, where the most talked-about moment didn’t come from the budget itself, but from a private plane.

They dig into the controversy around government travel and whether it’s a real issue or just political theatre, before turning to new legislation on medical assistance in dying (MAID) and the broader ethical and policy debates it’s set to ignite.

The conversation also looks at Alberta’s dual practice health-care model and why it’s drawing attention across the country, raising questions about capacity, fairness, and a potential doctor drain. Finally, they zoom out to the federal stage, where the NDP leadership race is less about a new leader and more about the party’s identity heading into 2026.

It’s a mix of optics, policy, and political positioning—and what actually matters to voters.

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Rosé and Referendums

Episode 66

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Duration 01:07:18

In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by guest co-host Sabrina Grover for a candid, wine-in-hand conversation about what is really shaping Alberta politics right now. With the legislature back in session but little headline legislation on the table, the focus shifts to the bigger conversations happening outside the chamber.

Erika and Sabrina unpack Alberta’s referendum debate, rising separation rhetoric, immigration pressures, pipeline politics, and the growing tension between provincial priorities and national unity. Drawing on their very different political journeys, they also debate the future of conservatism in Alberta, Mark Carney’s appeal to red Tories, and whether Naheed Nenshi has capitalized on his early momentum.

It’s equal parts political analysis and spirited debate between friends who don’t always agree—but aren’t afraid to dig into the issues shaping Alberta’s next chapter.

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Red Ink and Red Flags: Alberta Budget 2026

Episode 65

Friday, February 27, 2026 • Duration 52:17

In this episode, Erika Barootes and Keith McLaughlin break down Alberta’s latest budget, tackling the growing deficit, tax strategy, and what it all means for healthcare, education, and frontline services. They dig into the pressure immigration places on public systems, debate the future of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, weigh in on minimum wage, and unpack the shifting political dynamics shaping Alberta’s next moves.

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Immigration, Alienation, and the Fracturing of Canada

Episode 64

Thursday, February 19, 2026 • Duration 46:57

In this episode of The Discourse, Erika Barootes is joined by guest co-host Supriya Dwivedi for a sharp, no-nonsense conversation on Canada’s growing immigration and separation tensions. Together, they unpack rising separatist sentiment in Alberta, strained federal-provincial relations, and the hard questions around immigration levels, integration, and economic capacity. From Alberta to Quebec, this episode confronts the leadership vacuum, policy contradictions, and public frustration shaping Canada’s next chapter — and asks what it will take to hold the country together.

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What Really Divide Us - With Ryan Jespersen

Episode 62

Saturday, December 13, 2025 • Duration 01:03:38

In our final episode of 2025, we’re joined by Ryan Jespersen of Real Talk for a deeper conversation about what’s really driving political division in Canada. We start with the latest floor crossing from the Conservatives to the Liberals and what it means for parliamentary math, stability, and the way political “inside baseball” often matters a lot more to partisan circles than it does to people outside them.

Then we zoom out to the bigger forces underneath the headlines: the Liberal move toward the centre under Mark Carney, what that opens up for the NDP, and how labels like “conservative” and “progressive” have shifted in meaning. We also get into the real-world stakes behind ideological debates on health care and public services, then close with practical advice for navigating political conversations over the holidays.

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The Truth About the UCP AGM (And What It Means for Danielle Smith)

Episode 61

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 • Duration 49:31

Danielle Smith gets booed at her own victory lap. This week on The Discourse, Cheryl and Erika unpack the UCP AGM drama: the pipeline MOU that was supposed to unite the party, the organized but noisy independence faction, and what the board results actually say about Smith’s grip on her base. Erika talks about being in the room and how Mark Carney’s pipeline deal has even her backing away from independence talk.

Then they dive into the resolutions and red meat: abortion and public funding in the third trimester, flag bans dressed up as “neutrality,” fights over fluoride, a revolt against the government’s own no-fault insurance plan, and the UCP’s apparent obsession with stopping the Progressive Conservative Party resurection. Cheryl rants about Smith’s new two-tier healthcare model as the beginning of the end of Canadian medicare, and the two clash over the government’s latest “stand your ground”-style gun motion under the Sovereignty Act. It’s one part governance nerd, one part convention gossip, and one part very real warning about where Alberta politics is headed next.

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It Was Never About a Pipeline - Alberta's Real Win Explained

Episode 60

Friday, November 28, 2025 • Duration 39:44

Alberta finally got its “grand bargain” on energy, but not the way anyone expected. In this episode, Cheryl and Erika break down the new Alberta–Ottawa MOU that scraps the federal oil and gas emissions cap, suspends clean electricity regs, speeds up project approvals to two years, and gives a potential pipeline to Asia a fast-track “national interest” stamp. They unpack how Danielle Smith turned a nine-point ultimatum into seven big-ticket concessions, what Mark Carney gets in return on industrial carbon pricing and net-zero by 2050, and why a Calgary Chamber crowd gave a Liberal prime minister a standing ovation for an energy deal. If you keep hearing “pipeline deal” but don’t really know what’s in it, this is your crib sheet.

But this isn’t just about Alberta’s vibes. Cheryl walks through why coastal First Nations and BC’s NDP government still hold the real veto power, how this changes separatist politics on the Prairies, and what it means for the federal Liberals, Conservatives and NDP heading into the next election. Plus, the back half gets spicy: the UCP’s second use of the notwithstanding clause, the new two-tier health care experiment, and what all of it says about where Alberta politics is headed next.

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The Discourse – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Discourse – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other4

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other4

Apple Podcasts

Spotify