Podcast Summary: Rebel News Podcast – "First Nations pipeline veto, Carney's carbon tax hike, Smith backs Castle Law"

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Sheila Gunn Reid (with co-host Lisa), guests Chris Scott (Whistle Stop Café, Alberta Prosperity Project) and Corey Morgan (Western Standard).

Episode Overview

This episode of the Rebel News Podcast's "Buffalo Roundtable" features western Canadian perspectives on the latest developments related to pipelines, federal-provincial relations, First Nations' rights, carbon tax policy, western separatism, and more. With spirited discussion and sharp critiques, the roundtable delves into the fallout from recent political meetings, legislative maneuvers, and the growing sense of alienation in the west.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. First Nations Veto Power on Pipelines

• Backdrop:

  • A recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on an Alberta pipeline was unanimously rejected by the Assembly of First Nations—just before a speech from PM Mark Carney—claiming veto power over such projects (03:20–04:32).
  • BC and First Nations leaders have publicly stated that pipeline projects won’t advance without their consent.

• Panel Takeaways:

  • Corey Morgan: "It's a joke...the First Nations have no veto power in the Constitution, nor does the province of BC...Danielle Smith may as well use the piece of paper as toilet paper because that's all it's worth." (04:32)
  • Chris Scott: "They're exercising their authority as a political weapon and nothing else...there's no way Carney didn't know this was going to be shut down." (05:58)
  • Lisa: "We went from Indigenous consultation to Indigenous led in absolutely no time...Serious people should be working on these projects." (07:02)

• Federal Response:

  • Carney and federal Liberals stress projects will not proceed "without consent," but panel argues that true constitutional law only requires consultation—not consent (09:24–11:30).
  • The panel notes that continuous equivocation makes Canada an unattractive place for pipeline investment.

Notable Quote

• Sheila: "If I were a pipeline builder...of course I would not consider investing in Canada. It’s an unsafe place for me to park my money." (12:51)

2. The Carbon Tax Deal and Alberta’s Loss

• Carney’s Hidden Agenda:

  • Mark Carney confirmed that Alberta’s carbon tax will be increased sixfold as a condition for any potential pipeline, but there's still no real pipeline commitment (19:41).
  • Industrial carbon tax in Alberta becomes a major barrier to investment, especially compared to the US (20:12).

• Panel’s Skepticism:

  • Corey Morgan: "We're just paying the tax and getting nothing for it." (21:06)
  • Chris Scott: "Alberta is on the precipice of becoming the greatest nation on earth...and that threatens the status quo that sends billions of dollars to Quebec." (23:04)

3. Quebec and BC: Alberta’s Adversaries or Neighbors?

• Discussion of Quebec's opposition to Alberta pipelines and BC's influence, with the panel expressing frustration that internal rivalries stymie western development for the benefit of central Canada (15:28–18:47).

Memorable Moment

• Corey, on Quebec's opposition: "He's like the unemployed brother-in-law living in your basement, eating your food, smoking weed, playing video games, telling you how you're allowed to make a living to pay his bills." (20:12)

4. Crony Capitalism & The Pathways Alliance

• Magic Beans Analogy:

  • Large oil firms support higher carbon taxes because of the subsidies and projects (like Pathways Alliance) that benefit them, often at the expense of smaller "junior" oil companies (24:24–27:26).
  • Junior firms, unable to absorb costs, are left vulnerable to predatory takeovers.

• Panel Concerns:

  • Chris Scott: "It's pretty clear that those big five are creating the conditions where the juniors aren't viable so they can gobble them up...This could have a devastating effect on those juniors." (27:51–28:31)
  • Corey Morgan: "Crony capitalism at its ugliest...It's just a shell game." (25:52)

5. UCP AGM and Western Separatist Sentiment

• Strong Separatist Vibe:
  • At the United Conservative Party AGM, repeated booing occurs whenever Premier Smith references "Alberta within a united Canada."
  • Panel senses a clear appetite for Alberta independence among grassroots members, even if the province as a whole isn’t there yet (29:21–32:39).
  • Both Chris and Corey agree Smith is viewed as a strong leader but may soon need to facilitate a referendum on independence.

6. Food Waste & Alberta Health Services Regulation

• Chris Scott’s Critique:
  • Stringent AHS rules force businesses to discard massive amounts of perfectly good food due to best-before dates and liability fears (34:49–37:42).
  • Bureaucracy and fear of lawsuits prevent grocery stores and restaurants from donating usable food, exacerbating waste amid food insecurity.

Notable Quote

• Chris: "Because of bureaucracy and red tape, soup, it’s all gone." (37:42)

7. Saskatchewan’s Fight Against the Carbon Tax

• Scott Moe’s Stand:

  • Saskatchewan's Premier Scott Moe continues to resist federal carbon tax impositions, inspiring applause from the panel (42:26–45:39).
  • Lisa: "He said to the federal government, bring the big boy handcuffs because he’s got ham hocks for hands." (44:20)

• Comparison to Alberta:

  • Structural differences (Sask’s Crown corporation control of energy) make its resistance possible, unlike private-sector-dominated Alberta.

8. NDP Leadership Debate: Worker Stereotypes and "Man Camps"

• Leah Gazan’s Red Dress Alert & Abby Lewis’ Comments:
  • Abby Lewis lays out the notion that resource "man camps" are a threat to women, a claim the panel ridicules as anti-worker and anti-male (47:32–52:36).
  • Sheila: "Men are safer, actually...We’re genetically wired to protect women." (49:41)

Memorable Quote

• Chris: "The guys condemning masculinity...are literally destroying our society. That guy’s a dink. He’s using rage baiting to gain political favor." (50:26)

9. Academic Freedom & Free Speech: Francis Widdowson's Arrest

• Event Recap:
  • Professor Francis Widdowson arrested at the University of Victoria for attempting to speak—contrast with the lenient handling of pro-Palestinian and Antifa activists (53:51–61:07).
  • Panel decries the double standard, the "woke oasis" of UVic, and the need for more people to "stand with the truth-tellers."

Notable Quote

• Lisa: "Francis Widdowson is absolutely out of craps to give...May we all be more like Francis Widdowson." (56:09)

10. Western Independence: Referendum Mechanics and Political Future

• Questions From Audience:
  • What happens to current parties after independence? Panel asserts all existing parties would be dissolved; the new nation would draft its own constitution and structures (67:15–68:01).
  • Lisa: "You’re gonna need permission to talk to us, government!" (68:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• Corey Morgan on the pipeline MOU: "Danielle Smith may as well use the piece of paper as toilet paper because that's all it's worth." (04:32)
• Sheila Gunn Reid: "If I were a pipeline builder...I would not consider investing in Canada. It's an unsafe place for me to park my money." (12:51)
• Chris Scott: "Alberta is on the precipice of becoming the greatest nation on earth with the highest GDP, the lowest taxes, the most attractive place to invest, and that threatens the status quo." (23:04)
• Lisa: "Screw BC. Absolutely screw them. The tankers can wave at BC on their way out of the Washington port." (14:47)
• Chris Scott on food waste: "Because of bureaucracy and red tape...it's all gone." (37:42)
• Lisa on Scott Moe: "He said to the federal government, bring the big boy handcuffs because he’s got ham hocks for hands." (44:20)
• Chris Scott on masculinity: "The guys like that...are literally destroying our society. He's a complete dink." (50:26)
• Lisa on Francis Widdowson: "Francis Widdowson is absolutely out of craps to give, and I cannot...May we all be more like Frances Widdowson." (56:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• First Nations pipeline veto: 03:20–12:49
• Carbon tax and Alberta’s loss: 19:41–21:06
• Quebec/BC vs Alberta: 15:28–23:04
• Pathways Alliance & cronyism: 24:24–29:15
• UCP AGM & separatism: 29:21–32:39
• Food waste and AHS regulations: 34:49–37:42
• Saskatchewan's anti-carbon tax stance: 42:26–46:11
• NDP debate & "man camps": 47:29–52:36
• Francis Widdowson arrest & academic freedom: 53:51–61:18
• Western independence logistics: 67:15–68:01

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is brash, candid, and unapologetically pro-western, mixing humor, indignation, and personal anecdotes. The hosts and guests speak in a familiar, often confrontational manner with little patience for Ottawa-centric politics or what they see as political posturing from central Canada. Discussions frequently loop back to themes of western agency, cronyism in government, rights of the individual, and distrust toward federal authorities.

For Further Information

• Chris Scott’s work: WhistleStopTruckStop.ca
• Alberta Prosperity Project: Event details and more found on their website
• Corey Morgan’s book: The Sovereigntist's Handbook, available on Amazon
• Lisa & Sheila's upcoming project: Teased as "just hours away" from launch

Closing

The Rebel News Buffalo Roundtable for December 3, 2025 provided an unfiltered look at the tensions simmering in western Canada, skepticism about federal overtures, and the sense of momentum behind independence activism. With strident opinions and engaging banter, the episode offers a primer on contemporary western alienation for listeners new to these issues.