At Issue this week: Mark Carney's second budget lays out billions to build Canada's sovereignty and tackle the affordability crisis, but will it work? And what does the Democratic Blue-nami mean for Canada-U.S. trade talks?
The federal government has released the 2026 budget. And this year the focus is on new net spending. It looks to put money toward boosting the housing supply, investing in Canadian businesses and bulking up the cultural sector. How do those ambitions balance against fiscal constraints and a deficit?
The federal budget was unveiled Thursday afternoon, and it lays out some of the big bets the Carney government plans on making in the years ahead. A $36-billion tax break to kickstart an “investment supercycle”. A number of affordability measures. A plan to end homelessness within a decade.
The political stakes are high in the six federal byelections scheduled for December 7. Mark Carney’s majority will survive intact regardless of the outcome, but his Liberal Party is looking to make gains at the expense of the Conservatives, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois, putting the other three leaders on the defensive — especially Pierre Poilievre, as his party’s polling...
Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric decode Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s second budget — and what it reveals about Mark Carney’s priorities.
Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites. Cast your minds back, only to mid-September. The Conservative Party of British Columbia is in complete disarray. 13 MLAs either quit caucus or had been expelled by then-Leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Findlay herself, then resigns. Lorne Doerkson is named interim leader. NDP Premier David Eby calls a snap early election to cash in on...
In the wake of the Democratic sweep of the U.S. midterms, we take a deeper look at the factors that got us here, from Iran to data centres. We also examine what could come next from a rejected Republican Party and a blue Congress.
Aquaculture was designed to relieve pressure off of the world's fish supply. Instead, it's compromised it. Small fish are farmed, cooked, and grounded into fishmeal at the more than 1400 fishmeal factories across the world - nine of which are located in Canada. The conditions inside and around these factories and boats threaten communities, local economies and dozens of lives...
Donald Trump and his Republicans were crushed last night. Crushed in the House. Crushed in the Senate. The Democrats now control Congress and Trump is left as a lame duck. Everything changed last night but what will it mean? Our regular guide to the ups and downs of U.S. politics, Keith Boag is with us again on the morning after...
Americans are voting by the millions today, and while Donald Trump's name is not on the ballot, his legacy may well be. Both Houses of the U.S. Congress may well see significant changes, and if they do, what difference will that make for issues like the Canada/U.S. relationship? Rob Russo of The Economist and Althia Raj of The Toronto Starare...
David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.
Canada wanted to be an “associate member” of the EU, but all we got was an “Alliance for the Future.” So who in Europe is skeptical of getting closer to Canada, and why? Host Sam talks to three German members of the European Parliament who voted against closer ties with Canada: one from the far-right AfD, a party now leading...
It's a day the U.S. Democrats have been waiting for, and one that's been keeping Republicans up at night. Americans will head to the polls to vote in the 2026 midterm election to determine who will makeup the U.S. Congress. Preliminary polls show the Democrats are positioned to successfully flip the House of Representatives, while the race for the Senate...
As the U.S. voters head to the midterm polls, Republican candidates and leaders are targeting Muslim and Arab Americans casting them as suspect, questioning their loyalties, and their place in American life. Much of this has centred on Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and Minnesota Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, but they are not alone. Today, we take a closer look...
It may be the most important thing that happened last week, even though it received little discussion. We'll change that today as Dr. Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto joins for her regular Monday discussion. The topic: the new plan for Canada's national security. What is it, and how will it work?
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for the Indian Act to be abolished, which was met with echoes from Prime Minister Mark Carney who agreed that it should be scrapped. The act was passed in 1876 with aims of assimilating Indigenous populations into Eurocentric ways of living through legislation that governs where they live, where their kids go to school, and...
Earlier this month, U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra, made the dramatic allegation that Canada could be engaging in election interference in the U.S. The ambassador was pointing to a few different things. One, was comments made by Industry Minister Melanie Joly about Canada’s tariff strategy. Another was Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ads that ran in the U.S. last fall. They...
Last night Donald Trump cancelled his final weekend rallies in the US midterms. Why? Is he doing so poorly it's not worth it? Or does he have something else planned? How critical are Tuesday's results to the negotiations with Canada? Are we at yet another turning point in the relationship? Lots of questions for Bruce and Chantal.
Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Brussels Playbook host Zoya Sheftalovich sit down with Prime Minister Mark Carney for a feature interview on Canada’s developing relationship with the EU, trade talks with Donald Trump, support for Ukraine — and exactly when he will wear one of the Brooks Brothers shirts the U.S. president gifted him.
Canada and the European Union are forming a closer relationship that could go well beyond trade. Following this week's Montreal summit, Jeremy Kinsman, Peter Donolo and Louise Blais examine the push for deeper cooperation on critical minerals, research, defence, technology and the digital economy. They consider whether Europe can give Canada meaningful new options as it tries to reduce its...
David Dodge and John Manley liked what they saw and brought Mark Carney into public service. Now they have budget advice: the borrowing requirement matters more than the deficit, don’t forget tax reform and spending cuts rarely succeed without actually terminating programs.
American voters head to the polls on Tuesday for pivotal midterm elections — and Canadian tariffs have become a key issue in battleground states. But is the spotlight good for Canada? Guest host J.P. Tasker speaks to former American diplomat Scotty Greenwood, former Trump advisor John Bolton, former Democratic state senator Emily Cain, Republican political strategist Dennis Lennox, Bloomberg reporter...
After an “out of control” spike in temporary residents, the Carney government says Canada’s immigration system is back under control. But Jason Kenney, Canada’s longest-serving immigration minister, says what was once a model system is still far from fixed — and now is not the time to raise immigration levels again. This week on Open Question, Kenney joins CPAC’s Marc-André...
At Issue this week: Confusion and resentment over how to define the relationship becomes a hot topic at the Canada-EU summit in Montreal. With U.S. midterms days away, is Canada any closer to a trade deal? And, Ottawa ramps up pressure on Cleveland-Cliffs to restore jobs at Stelco.
Now that Question 10 has been put to rest, what about the other 9? Albertans were asked a range of questions regarding the future of the economy, immigration system, and Canada's constitution. Official results released on Thursday found that voters want changes to what programs and services non-citizens can access, while striking down any changes to the constitution including abolishing the Senate.
David Eby’s B.C. New Democrats went down to defeat on Saturday, as Lorne Doerkson and the B.C. Conservatives took advantage of Eby’s early call to win in a (by B.C. standards) landslide. The polls were predicting this would be the result. But were there any surprises — or lessons to be learned?
The third book by the writing team of Bulgutch and Mansbridge comes out next week and today a preview. These are inspiring stories about the teachers who shape our world. My friend and colleague Mark Bulgutch is my guest as we discuss our new book, how it came about, how we wrote it, and what it tells us about Canadian...
Americans will vote for members of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections on Nov. 3. But in a number of states, this year’s election will have a major factor: Canada. A combination of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on a range of industries, to threats of annexation and a loss of revenue from tourism – has made Canada and its...
How will the future of Canada be affected by voters from the two westernmost provinces last week? The BC vote threw out the NDP and elected Conservatives. The Alberta vote showed major support for Canada on the separation question. Former Harper cabinet minister James Moore and senior liberal strategist Gerald Butts with another of their conversations.
David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.
On Tuesday, Americans will go to the polls in a midterm vote that stands to challenge the Republican hold on both chambers of congress. For the first time in decades, a state like Texas may flip from Republican to Democrat. The implications would be vast for a Trump administration that has benefited from Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
At the end of September the B.C. Conservative party had imploded. Today, they are set to run the province. It's a stunning reversal of political fortune for a party that had been torn apart by infighting and resignations before a snap election call by the NDP. The whole situation raises a tonne of interesting questions. Was this a triumph of...
Elon Musk is spending big this US Midterm election cycle, just like he did during the 2024 presidential election. Although this time, he's more lowkey about it. He isn't one to join President Trump in the Oval Office with his son in tow, or wear a DOGE hat as he prances around the White House. This time, it's quiet donations...
In 2005, Canada’s leaders agreed to a $5.1-billion plan to close the gap for Indigenous people. Three days later, the government fell, and the deal died with it. This week, they finally sat down again. Sam spends the day before with Jeff Copenace, chief of Onigaming First Nation. Twenty years ago, he was sitting right behind Paul Martin at Kelowna...
Elon Musk has shown his clout with his Starlink and Starshield Satellite systems in Ukraine, so the question is, could he do the same in Canada? He has hundreds of thousands of subscribers in Canada, and one assumes he could slow service here just as he has in Ukraine. Is that a threat? Dr Janice Stein of the Munk School...
Twenty-five years ago they rewired the province’s political thinking with their landmark “Alberta Agenda,” aka the “firewall” letter: a manifesto for the premier to assert sovereignty within a systemically inequitable federation. Days after Alberta’s referendum on some of the same issues they raised — but also going drastically further in considering separation — Brian speaks with letter-writers Ted Morton, who...
The Canadian government has invested billions in critical mineral companies in an effort to boost the sector so it can compete against China. But mining projects always come with a lot of risk for investors. So is this a smart strategy for a government to adopt? Niall McGee is the mining reporter for The Globe. He looked into which projects...
British Columbians have chosen Lorne Doerkson as their next Premier. His victory follows a snap-election call by former Premier David Eby late last month, after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned from her role as leader of the BC Conservative Party after some three months on the job. Doerkson was since tapped to become interim leader of the party. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks...
Israelis will elect a new prime minister on Tuesday for the first time since October 7th. Polls suggest that many voters are ready to turf Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing criticism at home for corruption scandals and his handling of October 7th. He also faces isolation abroad for his military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. But while he may...
Alberta voted decisively to stay in Canada. Stéphane Dion and Janet Annesley welcome the result. But both view the referendum a “sad exercise”? Former Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion and Alberta energy and public affairs adviser Janet Annesley join hosts Edward Greenspon and Allan Gregg in back-to-back conversations about what the vote exposed and what comes next. Can Ottawa address...
American officials are alleging Canadian electoral interference in the U.S. midterms, what’s behind the latest missives from the Trump administration? And as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asks separatists in her party to accept their loss or leave, will they listen? The National Post’s Stuart Thomson and Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star discuss. Then, as British Columbia heads to the...
At Issue this week: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her party is committed to Canada but will UCP separatists play ball? B.C. stares down a close provincial election race after David Eby's big gamble. And, what to make of U.S. accusations that Canada is meddling in midterm elections.
As Canada looks to rely less on the United States, it’s looking across the Atlantic to build closer ties with Europe. There’s even talk of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member.