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Left East to West

Left East to West

By: Nikki Hill & Tom Parkin
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Weekly check-in on top political stories across Canada, interviews for people building this country

© 2026 Left East to West
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Carla Beck’s plan to defeat Scott Moe
    Jun 29 2026

    Carla Beck, leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, sits down with Nikki and Tom to talk about her strategy to defeat Scott Moe and her economic plan to spur Saskatchewan growth.

    Carla launched her Grid and Growth plan more that two years before the next provincial election, due in October 2028, just before leaked information from inside SaskPower showed premier Scott Moe's coal-generation electricity plan would cost billions more than admitted and modelling proving it was the most expensive energy option. Carla also talks with Nikki and Tom about help the federal government can give to her Saskatchewan plan, and the significance of Scott Moe's cooling relationship with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

    Also, Tom talks about new StatsCan data showing a stagnating Alberta average wage despite oil companies pump record volumes and high prices. Nikki reflects on the heat dome that sent temperatures soaring five years ago, leading to 619 deaths, and the unfinished work of preparing for another heat emergency.


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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Carneyomics and the cost of Donald Trump’s war
    Jun 22 2026

    Economist Jim Stanford discusses the cost of Trump’s Iran War to Canadians and Mark Carney’s economic agenda. Jim estimates the direct economic cost of high fuel prices will reach $50 billion and go higher if it prompts the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates to reduce inflation. Jim also explores the investment banker vision of Mark Carney and concerns that his proposed “sovereign wealth fund” will be a mechanism for privatizing airports, ports and other public infrastructure.

    Nikki looks at the series of federal-provincial deals from the Build Canada fund but questions why Nova Scotia seems to have no plan in the works to get federal assistance for provincial priorities.

    Tom digs into some new data showing the sales margin for food and fuel retailers is growing at twice the rate of inflation, pouring money into the accounts of food billionaires like the Weston family, who are now using their wealth to fund a new media platform.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Canada: a future Nordic social democracy?
    Jun 15 2026

    Stefan Löfven, former prime minister of Sweden and now president of the Party of European Socialists, talks with Tom about the Nordic model, the key role played in it by the labour movement, and its ability to deliver strong economic and social results.

    Nikki dives into the results of the B.C. Conservative leadership race and how Kerry-Lynne Findlay will shape the contest leading up to the election in 2027.

    Tom looks into a recently promoted success of Mark Carney's Major Projects Office and finds it has little to do with creating jobs or speeding permits for projects and a lot more to do with buckets of public money for G7 priorities.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
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