Western Standard News Update | 05 Jan 2026

In this Western Standard News Update, Chief Editor Dave Naylor breaks down the day’s top political, public safety, and energy stories.Ontario Premier Doug Ford says U.S. alcohol will stay off LCBO shelves until the trade dispute with former U.S. president Donald Trump is resolved. The update also examines Ottawa’s failure to meet its long-standing promise to spend two per cent of GNP on national defence.In Alberta, Edmonton police are searching for a convicted killer who escaped from an Indigenous healing lodge. Meanwhile, Western Standard energy reporter Dave Wunnick tracks developments in Venezuela and what they could mean for Alberta’s oil sector.Follow Western Standard on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Podcasts, and visit WesternStandard.News.