Insight Pints: Recent Episodes
Insight into Government
You can really get to know someone when you sit down with them and share a pint. Every day, people gather with a glass of their favourite brew to chat about life and the things happening around them. This inevitably leads to a political debate at some point in the evening. Forget internet comment sections and Twitter trolls. True discourse happens when people meet face to face and open up to one another. That’s where we come in. We will sit down (virtually until the pandemic ends) with members of Alberta’s political world and simply talk shop and see where the discussion goes. Our goal is to bring you insightful commentary directly from the source while getting to know what makes our political leaders tick. We reach out to both sides of the aisle to bring you multiple perspectives while digging into the current events that matter to Albertans. You may learn a thing or two about the person outside of the Legislature. You may even find a new favourite local beer to add to your collection. Regardless of your own leanings, we bring to you political discussion that you can both learn from and enjoy as if you were sitting at the table with us. Pour yourself a pint and join us tonight.
City Councillor Andrew Knack (Nakota Isga) is our guest on this latest episode.
Andrew chatted with us about his experience on the campaign trail following the changes to municipal elections in Alberta. We asked him about the city's strategy to eliminate single-use plastics and his thoughts on Connor McDavid's new home.
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*This episode was recorded on November 26, 2021.
On this episode, we feature newly-elected Edmonton City Councillor, Keren Tang. We chat about her experiences on the campaign trail, the road she travelled that brought her to Edmonton, and her hopes to improve the city's transit system. She shared her hopes for her first 90 days in office and what she would like to accomplish by the next municipal election. We also spent time chatting about the experience of BIPOC political candidates and what can be done to continue improving diversity in municipal politics. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy This week's beer comes from Polar Park Brewing. *This episode was recorded on October 25, 2021.
On this episode, we feature Liberal candidate for Edmonton-Millwoods, Ben Henderson. We discuss his decision to step away from municipal politics to run for federal office along with a few of his party's platform promises, including $10/day child care and the new First Home Savings Account. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy *This episode was recorded on August 26, 2021.
On this episode, we feature NDP candidate for Edmonton-Strathcona, Heather McPherson. We discuss her experiences in her first term as an MP and her thoughts on some of the events in Alberta politics. We also discussed NDP Jagmeet Singh's visit to Edmonton along with some NDP platform issues including broadband, electoral reform, and childcare. This episode features beer from Sea Change Brewing. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy *This episode was recorded on August 24, 2021.
On this episode, we feature Liberal candidate for Calgary-Skyview, George Chahal. We discuss Justin Trudeau visiting his riding for a rally, why he wanted to make the jump from municipal to federal politics, and why the Lberals were his party of choice. We asked him about his main priorities in Ottawa should he get elected (the Liberal platform was not released at the time of recording). He also shared some of his thoughts on his experience working with the provincial government and the ongoing municipal election in Calgary. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy *This episode was recorded on August 20, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Calgary, Jeff Davison We discuss a number of his platform issues, including diversifying the local economy, building collaborative relationships, and growing the city's tax base. We also chat about the Calgary arena deal, his time on city council, and his thoughts on partisanship in municipal politics. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy This week's beer comes from Wild Rose Brewing in Calgary. *This episode was recorded on August 11, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Calgary, Jan Damery. We discuss a number of her platform issues, including using the Community Revitalization Levy in downtown Calgary, bringing a new tech campus to the city, and how she would work to build a collaborative city council. We also chat about the Calgary arena project.
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*This episode was recorded on July 23, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Edmonton, Michael Oshry. We talk about his decision to return to municipal politics and his overarching vision for the city.
We discuss a number of policy areas with Michael, including how to prioritize city spending, supporting Edmonton's business community, addressing homelessness, and investing in communities.
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Our feature drink this episode comes from Hansen Distillery in Edmonton.
*This episode was recorded on May 28, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi.
We talk about his decision to return to municipal politics and and his experience as a new instructor at Grant MacEwan University.
We discuss a number of policy areas with Amarjeet, including systemic inequity, improving public transit, how to support Edmonton's businesses, and numerous other topics.
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Our feature drink this episode comes from Sea Change Brewing Co. in Edmonton.
*This episode was recorded on May 26, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Calgary, Brad Field. We discuss his vision for the City of Calgary, including how he will work to keep business in the city, finding efficiencies in City Hall, and why he feels his business background would serve Calgarians well if he were elected in October. We also discussed the recent news surrounding the Green Line. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy *This episode was recorded on May 12, 2021.
On this episode, we feature mayoral candidate for Calgary, Zane Novak. We discuss his vision for the City of Calgary, including how he will improve collaboration, his ideas to support families and business, and his thoughts on the state of City Hall as someone not already in an elected position. He also tells us about his time working in the non-profit and private sectors and the balance he hopes to bring to the Mayor's office. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2NjZSxy This week's drink features Belgian Moon Mango *This episode was recorded on May 5, 2021.
On this episode, we feature Ward 3 Councillor and mayoral candidate for Calgary, Dr. Jyoti Gondek. We discuss what led her to pursue a PhD in Urban Sociology and why she decided to become a city councillor. We ask her about her desire to secure predictable funding streams, improve city revenue, her position on the Guidebook for Great Communities, affordable housing, and her thoughts on some of the changes made by the provincial government and the impact they will have on this year's municipal election.
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This week's drink features pink gin from Confluence distillery in Calgary.
*This episode was recorded on May 1, 2021.
On this episode, we feature NDP MLA Lori Sigurdson. She is also the former Minister of Seniors and Housing. MLA Sirgurdson also gives us a breakdown of why she believes the province should establish an independent Seniors' Advocate office and what has changed since it merged with the Health Advocate's office.
Additionally, she provides her thoughts to us about Bill 70 and what impact that will have on continuing care stakeholders.
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This week's drink features beer from Alley Kat Brewing Company.
*This episode was recorded on April 28, 2021
On this episode, we feature Conservative MP Mike Lake (Edmonton-Wetaskiwin).
We chat about life before politics working for the Edmonton Oilers, his thoughts on the divisive rhetoric we see today on social media, and his son Jaden. We also talk about Budget 2021 and his concerns about post-pandemic spending.
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This week's drink features whiskey from Righand Distillery in Nisku
*This episode was recorded on April 26, 2021
Our mayoral candidate interview series continues. This time, we go north on the QEII and welcome Edmonton candidate, Cheryll Watson.Cheryll tell us about her experience on the campaign trail so far, her plans for a Central Business Neighbourhood, and...
On this episode of Insight Pints, we welcome back MLA Searle Turton. He recently tabled Bill 213 - the Traffic Safety (Maximum Speed Limit for Provincial Freeways) Amendment Act, 2021 which proposes to allow the government to increase the speed limit of...
On the 10th episode of Insight Pints, we begin our mayoral candidate series for Alberta's two largest cities. Starting us off is Calgary's Ward 11 Councillor, Jeromy Farkas. We talk with Jeromy about his thoughts on Calgary's Guidebook for Great...
On this episode, we feature Paul McLauchlin, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and Reeve of Ponoka County. Most of our conversation dives into the issue of unpaid oil and gas property taxes and possible paths forward. He also provides...
On this episode, we feature Senator Paula Simons who represents Alberta in the upper house. We chat about her transition from covering politics to working in politics as well as her new podcast Alberta Unbound. We reminisce about the late-Senator Elaine...
On this episode we welcomed Minister of Service Alberta Nate Glubish onto Insight Pints. Minister Glubish talks to us about his time as a gigging musician and his time working behind the scenes in conservative politics that led him down the path to his...
On this episode we welcomed Minister of Transportation and interim-Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver onto Insight Pints. We had a discussion about how he finds balance managing two ministries, his time as a City of Calgary Alderman and as a...
In this episode, we feature MLA Janis Irwin, NDP Critic for Women and LGBTQ Issues. We chat about her time as an educator in rural Alberta, her 2015 federal election campaign and her experience as the only queer MLA in the Alberta Legislature.She also...
On this episode of Insight Pints, we sit down with UCP MLA Searle Turton. We discuss his time working as a city councillor in Spruce Grove and his transition to provincial politics. Searle explains Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and its intended...
In this episode, we chat with NDP Critic for Red Tape Reduction Chris Nielsen. We explore his past to understand why he entered the world of politics and get to know him outside of the Legislature. We also discuss the state of red tape reduction in the...
On this episode, we chat with the interim-leader of the Alberta Party, Jacquie Fenske. We dive into the recent travel scandal involving MLAs and the infamous "Sky Palace". We also talk about her time with the former Progressive Conservative party, her...
We sit down (virtually) with NDP MLA Rakhi Pancholi, the opposition critic for Children's Services in Alberta. We chatted about the state of childcare in the province and the NDP's plan, how she became involved in provincial politics, and her experience...