There are many lingering questions about the two-day killing spree by Gabriel Wortman that killed 22 people in 2020 in Nova Scotia, even after a joint federal/provincial commission wrapped up its inquiry. Investigative journalist Paul Palango joins Brian to discuss why he thinks all signs point to RCMP covering up that Wortman was working undercover for them before his rampage...
The Carney government has announced a plan to massively increase Canada’s defense budget. The plan will see Canada meet NATO’s 2% of GDP spending target by the end of the year. Why now? After decades of underspending, Canada’s allies are demanding we step up as the world looks to reduce reliance on the US for security. Host David Smith speaks...
Greetings, you curious, you courageous Herle Burly-ites! We’re recording this one on Sunday June 15th mid-afternoon – parallel timing with start of the highly-freighted G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Here to talk with me about what we might expect from the meeting is Jason Kenney, making his 2nd appearance here on the pod.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is gearing up for a critical G7 meeting with leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies on his home turf in Alberta — but the renewed conflict between Iran and Israel could shake up the agenda. Catherine Cullen sits down with Anita Anand for her first interview as foreign affairs minister to discuss the airstrikes, the...
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May joins The Hot Room to break down Mark Carney's Building Canada Act, which proposes to give the cabinet the power to skip major infrastructure and natural resource projects past the environmental assessment process.
At Issue this week: Minister Mark Carney invites Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the G7 summit. Canada gets a defence spending boost. And how close are we to a trade deal with the U.S.? Rosemary Barton hosts Chantal Hébert, Andrew Coyne and Althia Raj.
Starting Sunday, political and economic representatives of a world order that Donald Trump is intent on shattering are gathering in Kananaskis, in Alberta's Rocky Mountains. That on its own would be high stakes. But add to it Mark Carney's aggressive national to-do list, and you've got two days that could show us how much Canada and the world have changed...
On this episode of WONK, Canada's 20th prime minister talks to Amanda Lang about the benefits of Team Canada, Donald Trump and unhappy Albertans Jean Chrétien, Canada’s oldest living prime minister, isn’t taking Western separatism lying down. Having seen Canada through the threat of Quebec separation, his Clarity Act of 2000 could find new currency today. Chrétien — now 91...
Canada's relationship with the U.S. may go back a long way, but our relationship with the United Kingdom goes back even further. And, with Canada-U.S. relations being as contentious as they now are, can or should Britain fill the role America used to play and become our number one ally once again? Host Steve Paikin asks: Mel Cappe, Canada's Former...
For years now Canada's been badgered to pony up, and spend more money on the military. Those calls have come from our actual military itself, our NATO allies, and more recently the U.S. President. Well it looks like Mark Carney is going to pull out the credit card, and commit to spending an extra $9.3-billion on the armed forces by...
Today's Big Story is about the economy and the potential impact to Canada from Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill". The bill could potentially have implications for Canadian investors and pension plans. Host Mike Eppel breaks down what it all means with guest Stephen Johnston, Director of Asset Management for Omnigence. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as...
In 2022, the Freedom Convoy brought the nation's capital to standstill. In 2025, so-called technocrat Mark Carney and the Liberals triumphed in the federal election. How have populist movements and impulses changed - and in what ways could they shape our politics going forward? To discuss, we're joined by Lawrence?LeDuc, political-science professor at the University of Toronto; Bessma Momani, political-science...
As many as 40,000 Canadians are out of their homes right now with evacuation alerts and states of emergency in effect across much of western Canada, from B.C. through northern Ontario. Many, especially those from Saskatchewan and Manitoba, have been away from home for weeks, with no indication of when they'll return.
Mark Carney has been prime minister for three months and his honeymoon appears to be holding as new polls show his own personal numbers continue to sparkle — even if the Liberals aren’t much further ahead in voting intentions than they were in April’s election. How long can these good vibes last?
David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.
After more than three years, is there an end in sight to Russia's war on Ukraine? Is Vladimir Putin serious about peace negotiations? And how has Donald Trump's second term changed Russia's place and power in the world? Bill Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital, Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice campaign, and author of "Red Notice" and "Freezing Order," talks...
There's an uproar in Ontario about a just passed law that the government claims will speed up critical infrastructure and resource projects. However, critics including Indigenous groups are calling it a "land grab". Bill 5 gives the government the ability to exempt companies from laws in order to build faster. Host Richard Southern talks to Sol Mamakwa, the only Indigenous...
Don’t call it a done deal until it’s done, but America’s ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, tells Brian this week that negotiations between Ottawa and President Donald Trump’s administration are making progress. He explains why he believes things are moving quickly in the right direction to settle the trade war between our two countries. Hoekstra also talks about why he’s...
Shannon Philips and Stephen Carter talk relationships and public falling-outs. How do you 'win' a political break-up? What's the best way forward after it's all over? And has there ever been an episode more suited to Carter's experiences? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
A feud between Elon Musk and U.S. President Trump escalated and exploded over the course of 72 hours last week. It started off with Musk’s criticism of Trump’s new spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” Trump later criticized Musk during a press conference in the Oval Office, saying that he would have won the 2024 election without the millions...
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberals unveiled several new pieces of legislation to boost Canada’s economy and strengthen its security. Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland joins the show to explain the government’s plan to scrap federal interprovincial trade barriers — and if it will really be that easy to create ‘one Canadian economy.’ Plus, after Carney met with Canada’s...
One of Canada’s leading experts on Israel and Palestine, former ambassador Jon Allen, returns to the Red Passport to discuss the ongoing crisis, how the region could move toward a lasting and just peace, and what role Canada can play.
On this episode of WONK, economist Trevor Tombe talks to Amanda Lang about what it will take to finally kill interprovincial trade barriers — and who will win big One of the biggest challenges facing the Canadian economy is improving what we already do: Better efficiency, more open trade. What Ottawa is calling ‘one Canadian economy.’ Trevor Tombe is one...
At Issue this week: Sources tell CBC/Radio-Canada that Carney and Trump have shared private calls and texts about tariffs. Premiers pitch their infrastructure projects to the prime minister. And does a new border security bill go too far? Rosemary Barton hosts Chantal Hébert, Andrew Coyne and Althia Raj.
Interest rates weren't cut this week. Why? Well, it's complicated. The Bank of Canada didn't give borrowers a break when it set policy on Wednesday, as Tiff Macklem cited the need to wait for more data points. The word "uncertainty" is being thrown around, although ironically, the economy was actually stronger in the first quarter than forecast. Host Mike Eppel...
In 2006, TVO launched a new nightly current affairs program called "The Agenda." Its first ever guest was none other than Conrad Black, newspaper proprietor, member of the British House of Lords, and prolific author. As The Agenda winds down, we invite Conrad Black back to discuss U.S.-Canada relations and his life almost 20 years later.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is in 'intensive' talks with the U.S. about the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, and is 'preparing reprisals' in case talks fail. President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association Catherine Cobden tells Power & Politics that the increased tariffs could weaken the steel sector 'in a matter of days.' Plus, Northwest...
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new executive order that raised tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. One Canadian steel producer said this means that their American business is now ‘unviable’.
The Liberals have tabled new legislation that would significantly expand law enforcement powers and tighten immigration of all kinds, including refugee claims, in a move to appease the Trump White House — but critics say it raises major concerns for Canadians' civil liberties.
A new poll suggests that not only is Ontario’s Doug Ford the most well-known provincial premier in the country, he is also the most popular in the country as a whole. Does that make Doug Ford Canada’s premiere premier?
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Ottawa’s plans to fast-track infrastructure projects. The effort aims to bolster the Canadian economy, as our trade war with the U.S. stretches on. Provinces are also in a rush to expedite project approvals and reviews — the controversial Bill 5 is currently working its way through the Ontario legislature, and B.C. just narrowly...
Prime Minister Mark Carney held his first meeting with Premiers since the election and by most accounts it was a big success, with Ontario’s Doug Ford claiming it was the best in 10 years. The 14 leaders discussed the federal plan to fast track nation building projects and despite some rhetoric in advance of the gathering, even Alberta was encouraged...
Shannon Philips and Stephen Carter talk about the results of the highly anticipated First Ministers' Meeting. Is the lack of a project list a problem or an asset for Carney? Are there any regions at risk of just being swept along in all the nation-building fever? And should the Government of Canada open an OnlyFans for all their FMM content...
Prime Minister Mark Carney spells out his criteria for what qualifies as a project of 'national interest.' While there are no specific examples coming out of the first ministers' meeting, Carney says it will be a 'living list.' Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc, and the premiers of Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick...
The Canadian Medical Association says that the Alberta government has created a “moral crisis” for doctors in the province. The CMA, alongside three Alberta doctors, has filed a constitutional challenge against the Alberta government for legislation limiting access to medical treatment for transgender youth. Bill 26 became law last December, and is part of a suite of laws in Alberta...
David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.
Ukraine has shocked the world by carrying out a daring attack on Russian bomber planes thousands of kilometres inside enemy territory. It’s a feat that would have been unimaginable before the war. Now, Ukraine has shown it has the capabilities to take its fight directly to its much more powerful foe. What will Vladimir Putin do now? And what does...
Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser, and anticipatory, Herle Burly-ites! Our guest is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Premier Smith may be Canada’s premier newsmaker right now.
Alex Shephard, senior editor at The New Republic, is on Front Burner to break down a few of the big developing news stories coming out of the Trump administration in recent weeks. He talks to host Jayme Poisson about Elon Musk’s exit from the White House, U.S. President Trump’s war with Harvard, and where we are right now with the...
More than 20 years ago, a group of internet users created the online forum 4chan – a mixture of memes, pranks, disinformation and hate speech. Soon, a hacker group on the forum calling themselves Anonymous gained notoriety for their online pranks and disruption. But now, a former member of that hacker group says they regret the role they may have...
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal is government is planning to speed up approvals for resource projects deemed to be in the national interest — but there are already concerns over the environment and Indigenous treaty rights. Host Catherine Cullen talks to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce CEO and two First Nations chiefs about Carney’s plan and who’s at...
At Issue this week: How will another week of back-and-forth on tariffs from the U.S. change Canada’s negotiating position? The changing dynamics in the House under a new government. Plus, the prime minister looks to sell his plans to the premiers. Rosemary Barton hosts Chantal Hébert, Andrew Coyne and Althia Raj.
A whirlwind trip for King Charles, in his first visit to Canada as a sitting monarch, is being viewed by some as a success. It was a show of support amid annexation talk by the U.S. president but it also served as a benefit to the King. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Carolyn Harris - Historian, Author and Royal Commentator...