After weeks of blockades in Ottawa and border crossings in several provinces, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to deal with what the PM calls an “illegal obstruction.” What was purported to be a protest against vaccine mandates for truckers has dragged on, and public opinion polls have shown a growing frustration with the blockades, and for the government’s handling of the issue. National Post columnist John Ivison joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how we got to this po...
Feb 17, 2022•21 min
The Olympics are supposed to be an event that fosters competition and fair play while encouraging athletes to strive to do their best. But the Winter Games in Beijing have shown that there’s a disconnect between the ideal, and reality. National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why Russia continues to flout rules, problems with Olympic judging, and the optics of allowing the Chinese regime to host the Games. Background reading: Sabrina Maddeaux: Russian Kamila Va...
Feb 16, 2022•19 min
As the women’s Olympic hockey tournament hits the elimination round, Canada and the U.S., as expected, have been the dominant teams. But is a tournament where two teams shine brighter than the others involved good for the games? Postmedia national sports writer Scott Stinson, who is part of our team covering the Olympics, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why the rivalry between the Canadians and the Americans is fun to watch, elevates the Games, and ultimately helps women’s hockey. Background ...
Feb 10, 2022•22 min
The federal Conservatives are looking for a new leader after Erin O’Toole was dumped in a vote by members of his caucus. This comes on the heels of a disappointing election result, and as the party reckoned with its response to the convoy that has occupied swaths of downtown Ottawa for nearly two weeks. In a special panel discussion, National Post Comment Editor Carson Jerema and National Post Columnist Adam Zivo join Dave Breakenridge to discuss why O’Toole was sent packing, what the race to re...
Feb 09, 2022•25 min
Despite rising case numbers, and in some cases even rising hospitalizations, some jurisdictions are lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Denmark, the UK and Ireland are among some of the countries rolling back public health measures, and some officials in Canada are hinting we could be approaching that stage here. National Post reporter Tristin Hopper joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why the mood is changing, where Canada would need to get to in terms of cases to follow those other countries, and ho...
Feb 03, 2022•23 min
The Olympic Winter Games kick off this week in Beijing, and Canada looks to match the high bar our athletes set in South Korea in 2018. With NHLers not taking to the ice, and some key athletes from past Olympics retiring, not to mention an ongoing pandemic, it’s shaping up to be tough-to-predict couple of weeks. Postmedia national sports writer Scott Stinson, who is part of our team covering the games, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss who our strongest medal hopefuls are, where we could see so...
Feb 01, 2022•22 min
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have caught the attention of Western allies, including the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. The deployment of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine’s border have some concerned about an invasion on a larger scale than the Crimean annexation in 2014. National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss our country’s response, why the issue is of concern to Canada, and whether there is a larger role for us to play in bringing...
Jan 27, 2022•17 min
The Winter Olympics in Beijing are set to kick off next week, with Canadian athletes looking to match their medal haul from South Korea in 2018. But what goes into making an Olympian. A lot of training and a lot of money. Postmedia national sportswriter Dan Barnes joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how Canada’s Olympians are funded, how successful the Own the Podium program has been, and how we’re expected to fare at these games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2022•20 min
When Canada appears at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in early February, there won’t be a delegation of diplomats and politicians cheering them on. Canada is among a number of Western nations following through on a diplomatic boycott of the games over China’s record of human rights abuses. The move is the latest in a series of tensions with the global superpower. Tasha Kheiriddin, a National Post columnist and principal with Navigator LTD, joins Dave Breakenridge t...
Jan 20, 2022•24 min
Facing rising COVID 19 cases in the Omicron wave, and public frustration with those choosing not to get vaccinated, Quebec premier Francois Legault announced what amount to a tax on those who don’t roll up their sleeves. The move comes as hospitals fill up, and politicians are concerned the health system will be overwhelmed in the coming weeks. But it has not been without controversy. National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why the Legault government propo...
Jan 18, 2022•29 min
Amid rising cases of the Omicron variant, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced renewed restrictions to try to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These latest moves were met with stiff criticism, notably the switch to online learning for students to start the new year. National Post columnist Randall Denley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the new restrictions, why they were controversial, and whether the election this spring will be a referendum on Ford’s handling of the pandemic. Background read...
Jan 13, 2022•23 min
After NHLers sat out the winter Olympics in South Korea four years ago, there was a lot of hype surrounding their return next month in Beijing. But rising COVID-19 cases in the league, and the postponement of games forced the league and the players association to pull the plug on the professionals’ Olympic plans. Postmedia national sports writer Rob Longley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how big a blow this is for the games, what it means for the hockey tournament, and how big a shadow Omicr...
Jan 11, 2022•21 min
2021 was an eventful year in Canadian politics. On top of COVID-19 and a federal election, we had a new cabinet, a scandal in the armed forces, and heightened tensions with China. And that’s not even the half of it. Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist for the National Post and principal with Navigator Ltd, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the biggest stories of the year, who were some of the big winners in 2021, and what to watch out for in 2022 Background reading: Tasha Kheiriddin: Get ready for ta...
Dec 23, 2021•21 min
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting Canada, Saskatchewan was rocked by a huge spike in overdose deaths, driven by the appearance of fentanyl in the drug supply. At the same time, the province has also been grappling with the highest rates of HIV infection in Canada. Zak Vescera from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what communities are being hardest hit by this crisis, how the pandemic has hurt efforts to address it, and what gaps need to be addressed to stem t...
Dec 17, 2021•27 min
The word capitalism evokes strong feelings in some, not all of them positive. But the guiding values behind the notion — freer markets and innovation — have been integral in societies stretching back millennia. National Post politics editor Mick Higgins joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the history of capitalism, why it gets a bad rap, and how it can be a force for good. Background reading: The Capitalist Manifesto: How many millions of people escaped poverty, lived longer and got TV Learn more...
Dec 15, 2021•19 min
While Canada is still contending with the delta variant, attention has shifted to Omicron. While there is some suggestion cases of it could be milder than past variants, there are indications it is much more transmissible, and researchers are still studying how serious it actually is. National Post Health Reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what we’ve learned about Omicron, what is still unknown, and why officials are still cautious despite some promising signs of milder in...
Dec 09, 2021•20 min
As countries around the world move to limit fossil fuel use and reduce carbon emissions, coal is an obvious target. Despite efforts in Canada to reduce its own coal use, the world is a way off from moving past coal as a way to generate heat and electricity. Financial Post reporter Bianca Bharti joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why coal use is up, and some of the obstacles to achieving a coal phase-out. Background reading: Coal's last boom? World's dirtiest fuel isn't being put out of business ...
Dec 07, 2021•22 min
The dismissal of misconduct charges against Calgary police officers have some calling for changes to how cases are investigated. The case follows another incident in which the Crown opted not to lay charges against an officer after a prisoner at the arrest processing unit was injured. Calgary Herald reporter Bill Kaufmann joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss these incidents, what advocates are calling for, and what police say they’re doing to ensure change. Background reading: Outrage as charges d...
Dec 03, 2021•21 min
As the world scrambles to contain and study the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, Canada has reported its first few cases. As of Monday morning, there were two confirmed cases and four possible instances of Omicron in Ontario, discovered after the federal government announced a travel ban from several countries in Africa where the variant has spread more widely. Ottawa Citizen Health Reporter Elizabeth Payne joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what we know about these initial cases, why Omicron ha...
Nov 30, 2021•22 min
One of Canada’s most well-known environmental activists, known for spouting off against governments of all stripes and our use of fossil fuels, is back in the news again for comments he made. Critics have accused David Suzuki of condoning or inciting ecoterrorism when he suggested we could see pipelines blown up because people are frustrated by the government’s action on climate change. National Post reporter Tyler Dawson joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss Suzuki’s comments, the fallout, and whe...
Nov 25, 2021•23 min
The devastation of flooding in B.C. is on a scale unlike anything Canada has ever seen. Major infrastructure has been destroyed, supply chains have been cut off and ecological systems have been disrupted. National Post columnist Terry Glavin joins Dave Breckenridge to discuss how the disaster showed gaps in the province’s emergency preparedness, why B.C. may not be through the worst of it, and why this is a disaster Canadians can’t ignore. Background reading: Terry Glavin: The scale of the disas...
Nov 22, 2021•26 min
Facing scrutiny amid a massive sexual misconduct scandal, the Canadian Forces will be reviewing how it trains and interacts with foreign military personnel after it was revealed officials met with a unit with ties to neo-Nazis. The review was sparked after concerns were raised by Jewish groups of the alleged involvement of Canadian troops training with a battalion in Ukraine with links to Neo-Nazis, as well as warnings by soldiers last year that Canadians trained with some Iraqi forces involved ...
Nov 19, 2021•20 min
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an emissions cap for Canada's oil and gas sector as he looks for the country to get to net-zero by 2050. But what does that mean for Alberta's oil patch as big players plan their own transition to net-zero, and does it set up another political battle between Alberta and Ottawa? Calgary Herald, Business Columnist, Chris Varcoe, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the industry response to the announcement, how smaller players are handling the news and how hyd...
Nov 16, 2021•22 min
A campaign is underway to honour a Canadian veteran with the country's highest military medal for his actions in Afghanistan 15 years ago. Jesse Larochelle saved a platoon of his comrades outside Kandahar but his heroics took a horrible, physical and emotional toll on him. Senior National Post features writer Joe O'Connor joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what happened in October 2006 when Jesse Larochelle saved his fellow soldiers and the push to see him given the Canadian Victoria Cross. Back...
Nov 11, 2021•24 min
Heather Stefanson is the first woman to be premier in the history of Manitoba, after winning the Progressive Conservative leadership race after the departure of Brian Pallister. But her victory is being challenged by runner-up Shelly Glover, who says there were irregularities in the vote and she is the rightful premier. Winnipeg Sun columnist Josh Aldrich joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss some of the problems with the leadership vote, why Glover feels she has won, and what Stefanson’s first pri...
Nov 09, 2021•22 min
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his newest cabinet last week, and there were some new faces in prominent positions, and some surprise demotions. Melanie Joly and Anita Anand were among a number of women promoted to senior positions, while embattled Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Mark Garneau were among key demotions as the Liberals get set to return to the House of Commons in a few weeks. Tasha Kheiriddin, National Post columnist and principal with Navigator LTD, joins Dave Breakenrid...
Nov 04, 2021•17 min
The hockey world has been rocked by allegations that the Chicago Blackhawks failed to adequately address the sexual assault of a player by a video coach during the 2010 Stanley Cup season. Former first-round draft pick Kyle Beach revealed himself to be the player at the centre of a lawsuit against the club and an internal investigation launched by the team. National Post sports columnist Scott Stinson joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the details of the investigation, who has been held accounta...
Nov 03, 2021•20 min
Rogers is perhaps best known from your cellphone bill or the radio station you listen to, or its role as part owners of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. But at the heart of it is a family, one that is engaged in a fight over the future of one of Canada’s biggest telecommunications firms. Barbara Shecter, a business correspondent for the Financial Post and National Post joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what sparked the dispute within Rogers, what’s at stake for the company, and why this f...
Oct 28, 2021•18 min
Canadians will have a nationally standardized vaccine passport for international travel, the prime minister announced last week. The documents will be based on provincial data after provinces have rolled out similar documents for use at restaurants and events. National Post political reporter Ryan Tumilty joins Dave to discuss why the feds opted to let the provinces continue with their own passports, and when we can expect them to be fully rolled out, and we also get an update on the vaccine man...
Oct 26, 2021•17 min
Albertans voting in municipal elections had three provincial initiatives on the ballot. Key among those was a referendum on equalization. The Alberta government has been pushing for equalization reform for quite some time, but there are questions about whether the referendum does anything. National Post reporter Tyler Dawson joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why the debate isn’t a simple yes or no question, what a yes vote actually means, and why this vote is so important to Alberta Premier Jas...
Oct 22, 2021•20 min
