• Opinion - Curated opinion articles on current affairs and Canadian politics.
  • Polls - Articles on data, insights, polling and research from across Canada.
  • News -
  • US Trade -
  • Trending
  • International -
  • Pods - Curated feed of podcast episodes on current affairs and politics from around the political spectrum.
  • Healthwatch
  • Climate -
  • Economy -
  • Defence -
  • Resources -
  • Indigenous -
  • AI + Tech -
  • Art's History -
  • Politician's Pen - Articles written by sitting and former Canadian politicians.
  • Newsletter - Subscribe to The Buzz, our weekly newsletter with Peter Mansbridge.
  • Advertise -
  • Red
  • BlueDark
  • Orange
  • Green
  • BlueLight
  • Purple
  • Pink
  • Lellow
  • GreyLight
  • Charcoal

Topics

The Buzz April 13th 2024: A potential carbon tax showdown, Trudeau’s questioning of CSIS intelligence, and more.

For weeks now I’ve been suggesting in The Buzz, on my podcast, in speeches and in casual conversation that I couldn’t understand why Justin Trudeau doesn’t go for broke and convene a televised first ministers conference. 

Cut the crap of calling each other names from behind a barrier of distance. Give the people what they want- let’s see these differences face to face and let us decide, based on hard evidence, who’s telling the truth. 

If the Prime Minister believes some of the premiers are liars, let’s see him make that case to them in person with us as witnesses. If some of the premiers really believe Trudeau is a phoney on the issues then prove it, right there a few feet from him. 

Basically, let’s air out the facts on the carbon tax, inflation, Covid, housing, etc. I’m not suggesting we put a cage on the conference room floor and let them battle it out WWE-style, but that would get an audience!

 

The case for a classic conference format is being made in a much more articulate way than I have by Max Fawcett of the National Observer:

Justin Trudeau should say yes to a carbon tax showdown 🔒

Read >

There was more on this during yesterday’s Good Talk with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. You can watch it by connecting with nationalnewswatch.com and following the link to the YouTube version.

 

My guess is the foreign interference commission hasn't been getting the kind of public attention it probably should.

It’s an important story, but there are a lot of other stories out there grabbing eyeballs. Like hey, did you see that eclipse? Well, Thursday was a day you might have wanted to follow the commission. The Prime Minister was in the witness chair and the questions were as you would expect – what did Justin Trudeau know and when did he know it? The answers, well they were interesting. 

Catherine Tunney of the CBC tells you what you need to know:

Trudeau says it's his job to question CSIS intelligence, call out 'contradictions'

Read >

You have to assume the most talked about big business story of the past week was the one that rocked the top levels of RBC, the biggest of the big banks. 

A firing that had a lot to do with an inappropriate office romance. Very inappropriate. You can only imagine the buzz around the RBC watercoolers.

The Globe has led the way on this story, including pieces that have given all the details: who, when, what, and more.  

But the piece I found the most interesting, and one all businesses can learn from, was in the Financial Post: 

Paul Deegan: Dismissal of Royal Bank CFO is no run-of-the-mill firing

Read >

 

 

Remember the golden rule about poll results? 

Polls don’t tell you who will win; they only tell you what would have happened had an election occurred on the day the poll was taken. Nineteen times out of twenty, actually.
 
So, keep that warning in mind when seeing all those polls out there. 
 
Having said that, and having given full warning, what are the latest poll results in the United States? Newsweek says things are moving towards Joe Biden:

Joe Biden is Now Beating Donald Trump in the Majority of Polls

Read >

 

 

Tom Thomson sold some of his brilliant Canadian art in the early 1900s for less than a hundred dollars apiece.  

Today some of those same pieces are worth millions. Artflation is world-wide. Look at Da Vinci and all the masters, some who died penniless yet today, those who hold their work reap the rewards. But questions are being asked about who gets to profit from their work: 

Da Vinci’s Been Dead for 500 Years. Who Gets to Profit from His Work?

Read >

 

For years, no, actually for decades, scientists have said they can listen to whales talking to each other. 

But how about this? What if we could talk to the whales ourselves? Apparently, that’s now happened… sort of. Katherine Latham is the features correspondent of the BBC and she wrote about the possibility this week:

The scientists learning to speak whale

Read >

 

Can you tell the difference between fact and opinion?  

You probably think you can, but recent studies indicate maybe not. One of my favourite websites, StudyFinds.org, has been looking into this and here’s what they found:

Americans Can’t Tell The Difference Between Facts And Opinions, Study Explains

Read >

 

 

Time now, as promised last week, for one of those Canadiana lists we’ve been doing on my podcast, The Bridge. 

This one might give you an idea for your summer vacation. Based on hundreds of listener emails, we’ve compiled their favourite Canadian spots to visit, outside their home province:

Your Favourite Canadian Travel Destinations

Read >

 

 

Finally, here’s my favourite social media post of the week, perhaps of the year so far:

And on that note, it’s time to wrap up this week’s The Buzz. Let’s meet again in seven days!

The Buzz is a weekly publication from National Newswatch that shares insights and commentary on the week’s developments in politics, news and current affairs.

Subscribe to 'The Buzz' with Peter Mansbridge

Every Saturday, Peter Mansbridge provides thoughtful takes on this week's news stories. Subscribe for FREE! You can unsubscribe any time. 

Full Name
  • About -
  • Advertising + Sponsorship -
  • Newsletter -
  • Privacy & Terms of Use -
  • Sources -

© 2025 National Newswatch