Last week, nearly a month after winning a third mandate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced when the government would be getting back to work. The PM said he would name a new cabinet before the end of October and that parliament would resume in late November. On Thursday, Dave Breakenridge sat down with National Post political reporter Brian Platt to discuss some of the big priorities for this new minority government, what we can expect on the COVID-19 file, and how a vaccine mandate for MP...
Oct 19, 2021•16 min
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back in Canada after more than 1,000 days detained in China. Their release highlighted the tense relationship between Canada and China, and also it impacts our politics and our economy. National Post reporter Tom Blackwell joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the state of Canada-China affairs, the political fallout in Canada, and the fate of another Canadian languishing in a Chinese prison. Background Reading: Canada's ambassador to Beijing urges businesses to...
Oct 15, 2021•18 min
After two seasons impacted by COVID-19, the NHL looks to play a full slate starting on Tuesday, even amid a fourth wave of the pandemic But despite the sense of normalcy that comes with a return to the ice, the league is reckoning with the departure of one of Canada’s biggest on-ice stars. Postmedia’s national hockey columnists Michael Traikos joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why it’s so important to the league to hold a season, how the NHL has managed the COVID vaccine situation and the news ...
Oct 11, 2021•21 min
The treatment of Joyce Echaquan, recorded on her phone as she languished in a Quebec hospital bed, sparked a national outcry about racism in the healthcare sector. Now, a coroner’s report has found that racism played a role in her death. Montreal Gazette columnist Allison Hanes joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the findings of the report, how it highlights long-standing issues in Quebec, and how the premier’s response could stall efforts to address them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Oct 08, 2021•17 min
The debate among police organizations about the existence of systemic racism is complicated. While there has been much talk about racism in policing since the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, there is still pushback from across the thin blue line. The debate in Vancouver has shown where these divisions lie. Vancouver Sun columnist Dan Fumano joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the complaint made by a long-time officer alleging systemic racism in the force, how the VPD has re...
Oct 06, 2021•16 min
A mere two weeks after restating Alberta wouldn’t see a vaccine passport, Premier Jason Kenney announced a vaccine passport amid rising cases of COVID-19’s fourth wave. Kenney deemed it necessary at this point as Alberta’s health system faced record numbers of hospitalizations and ICU admissions. The move has also created political pressure within his own party. Edmonton Journal political reporter Lisa Johnson joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the new measures the premier brought in, the critic...
Sep 28, 2021•17 min
The federal election left a bad taste in the mouths of many voters, and has left us right back where started. We’re facing a minority parliament, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau getting another term in office. National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the factors that led us to another minority for the Liberals, the post-election relationship between Trudeau and Quebec’s premier, and whether Erin O’Toole’s future as Conservative leader is in jeopardy. Lea...
Sep 22, 2021•20 min
Canada’s election campaign hit the homestretch this past week, as leaders made their final pitches to voters as to why they should be given the opportunity to govern. But will we see a change in Ottawa, or will this election leave us back where we were before? Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist for the National Post and principal for Navigator LTD, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how the leaders fared this race, what the big issues for voters have been, and what’s next for the main party leaders c...
Sep 17, 2021•18 min
Despite not winning any seats in its first election campaign in 2019, Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada is back for the 2021 vote, trying to paint itself as a true conservative alternative. But the PPC has been dogged by controversy over past ties to white supremacists, its opposition to measures to stem COVID-19 and its courting of anti-vaxxers, and the involvement of members in angry groups mobbing the prime minister. National Post columnist Rupa Subramanya joins Dave Breakenridge to d...
Sep 15, 2021•17 min
All five major party leaders faced tough questions and each other in the two official debates. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was the main target for his four opponents, as he faced attacks over broken promises and calling the election. But was the debate voters deserve? National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how each of the leaders fared, how the debates set the stage for the homestretch in the campaign, and why Canadians deserve more from the debate organize...
Sep 13, 2021•17 min
Faced with rising COVID-19 cases and flagging vaccination rates, the Alberta government brought back some familiar measures, like a mask mandate, and a 10 p.m. booze cutoff. But Premier Jason Kenney also courted controversy by announcing vaccine holdouts would be offered $100 to get the shot. Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the announcement, the political fallout, and whether Alberta will follow other provinces with a vaccine passport. Background reading: Bell:...
Sep 09, 2021•18 min
The election campaign has passed the halfway point, and things are starting to heat up. Leaders squared off in the first French debate, which saw arguments over the snap election call, vaccines and sexual misconduct, and the Liberals unveiled their platform. In the second of our election panels, Tasha Kheiriddin, principal with Navigator LTD and a columnist for the National Post, and Warren Kinsella, president of the Daisy Group and a columnist for the Toronto Sun, join Dave to discuss the first...
Sep 04, 2021•17 min
Despite rising vaccination numbers, Canada is contending with a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, fuelled by the Delta variant. Cases and hospitalizations are rising across the country, as provincial governments look to bring in new measures such as vaccine passports and old measures like masking. National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave to discuss why Delta is proving so tricky, where we need to get to in terms of vaccinations, and what the fall could bring. Background Reading...
Sep 03, 2021•17 min
The resurgence of the Taliban has thrown Afghanistan into chaos and has put thousands of lives in danger, as those who helped Canada and its military allies fear for their safety. But after Canada stopped its evacuation flights last week, many are wondering what can be done to help those left behind. Toronto Sun reporter Bryan Passifiume walks us through the chaos people faced trying to get out of Afghanistan, the potential political fallout for the Liberals, and whether there’s more Canada can ...
Aug 31, 2021•21 min
Canadians go to the polls on Sept. 20, and this election campaign was pitched by Justin Trudeau as a chance to have a say in the direction of the country in the next 17 months. Based on the first third of the race, do we have a sense of what that will look like? In the first of a series of election panels National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux and Edmonton Sun columnist Lorne Gunter join Dave to discuss how the leaders have fared in the first few days of the campaign, why the Liberals have loo...
Aug 26, 2021•20 min
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister surprised many political watchers with his sudden resignation announcement, less than two years since his PC party won a resounding mandate from voters. The move comes amid questions about his handling of the pandemic, as well as controversial comments about colonization and residential schools from within his government. Winnipeg Sun columnist Josh Aldrich joins Dave to discuss Pallister’s rise to the premier’s office, his legacy for Manitoba and whether the pan...
Aug 24, 2021•23 min
Imagine being arrested and charged with a pair of murders, but you weren’t the person responsible. That was the case for an Ontario man, who spent more than two years in jail suspected in a pair of 2017 killings linked to the criminal underworld. National Post senior reporter Adrian Humphreys joins Dave to discuss the slayings, how police zeroed in on suspects and one man was left holding the bag while two other suspects skipped town. Background reading: 'The fall guy': How an Ontario man got bl...
Aug 19, 2021•20 min
Less than two years since Canadians handed the Liberals a minority government, we’re heading back to the polls again. Justin Trudeau hopes to see his party win a majority government, despite many wondering whether there’s any need to take Canadians to the polls now. National Post columnist and Ottawa bureau chief John Ivison joins Dave to discuss Trudeau’s motivation to call an election, what issues this race could focus on, and what’s at stake for his main opponents Jagmeet Singh and Erin O’Too...
Aug 16, 2021•17 min
At the Tokyo games, Canada put up its best performance outside the Soviet boycotted 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. We hit new heights in terms of medals, while athletes set new national benchmarks, even after a year delay and interruptions to training due to the pandemic. Postmedia national sportswriter Scott Stinson joins Dave to discuss Canada’s successes, some missteps, and how the Tokyo games were as unpredictable as could have been imagined. Background reading: An unpredictable year delivere...
Aug 12, 2021•22 min
A break-in on a rural Alberta property left a resident of the home badly beaten and the intruder dead. The tragedy unfolded after the intruder had already broken into the home twice and released by Mounties. Calgary Herald columnist Licia Corbella joins Dave to discuss the deadly confrontation, the toll it has taken on the residents of the home, and why the intruder was let go, only to return to the home once more Background reading: It's time to replace RCMP with an accountable Alberta police f...
Aug 10, 2021•18 min
Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak made history at the Tokyo Games by becoming our most decorated Olympian. She collected her seventh medal in the pool, and at just 21 years old, it’s not a stretch to think she’ll add more hardware in Paris just three years from now. Wes Gilbertson, covering the games for Postmedia, joins Dave to discuss Oleksiak’s jump to prominence at the 2016 Games, what her performance in Tokyo says about the strength of our swimming program, and what the future could hold. Bac...
Aug 06, 2021•17 min
Since they have been introduced, COVID-19 vaccines have been seen as the ticket out of the pandemic. But as the delta variant takes hold in Canada, and second-dose uptake slows, debate has grown around whether we should introduce vaccine passports, as has been done elsewhere. Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist at the National Post and principal at Navigator LTD., joins Dave to discuss how a vaccine passport works, whether it’s a good incentive to increase vaccinations, and why there is pushback among...
Aug 04, 2021•16 min
Two of the most notable athletes at the Tokyo games have made headlines, but not for their podium finishes. Tennis phenom Naomi Osaka and gymnastics star Simone Biles both made early exits from the games, and both have cited concerns over their mental health. National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave to discuss the significance of Osaka’s loss and Biles’ departure from the team and all-around competition, why mental health in sports needs to be discussed now and why the win-at-all-cost...
Jul 30, 2021•14 min
Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. has been shut down. But there are signs we could see a return to cross-border traffic by the end of the summer, with both Canada and the U.S. offering re-opening dates. National Post political reporter Anja Karadeglija joins Dave to discuss the plan for reopening, how crucial the border is for business and whether the Delta variant could put a stop to all of it. Background reading: U.S. border closure...
Jul 29, 2021•13 min
After a year delay, and mounting concern due to rising COVID cases, the Tokyo Olympics are upon us. Thousands of athletes, officials and media are descending on the city, and while everyone is hoping things go smoothly, not everyone is happy about the games going ahead. Postmedia national sports writer Scott Stinson, in Tokyo for the games, joins Dave to discuss the mood in Tokyo, concern over rising COVID cases and whether measures are enough to contain possible spread, and whether this whole s...
Jul 22, 2021•22 min
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s big cities will be facing a number of economic challenges, and two of the biggest in the west will be doing so with fresh leadership. Calgary and Edmonton will elect new mayors in the fall as Naheed Nenshi and Don Iveson bid farewell. The National Post’s Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson walks us through what both mayors will be most remembered for, how those races are shaping up, and what challenges their successors will face. Learn more about your...
Jul 20, 2021•18 min
After the controversy-plagued tenure of Julie Payette, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Mary Simon will be Canada’s next Governor General. Our country’s first Indigenous vice-regal comes with an impressive diplomatic resume and extensive experience as a First Nations advocate. And it comes as Canada is reckoning with reconciliation. National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave to discuss the significance of the appointment, how Simon feels coming into the role, and the challeng...
Jul 15, 2021•19 min
What happens when you get over an infection, but it never really goes away? For thousands, perhaps 10s of thousands, of people across Canada, recovering from COVID hasn’t actually meant recovering, but instead a long journey of potentially debilitating symptoms, with no end in sight for them. Vancouver Sun reporter Lori Culbert joins Dave to discuss how widespread long-COVID is, how debilitating it can be for some patients, and how provinces are approaching treating them. Background reading: Lon...
Jul 06, 2021•15 min
When Canada’s Olymians arrive in Tokyo later this month it won’t be the games that they, or anyone was expecting. While events are going forward, Japan is limiting who can come into the country, and of course there’s the whole concern lingering due to a global pandemic. Postmedia national sports writer Dan Barnes joins Dave to discuss how the pandemic changed training and qualifying for athletes, how Canada is preparing to keep them safe at the Tokyo games, and how some are feeling heading into ...
Jun 30, 2021•15 min
An Alberta woman who admitted to fatally shooting her husband is now fighting to have her 18-year sentence for manslaughter reduced. In 2017, Helen Naslund admitted to shooting her abusive husband Miles in the head in 2011, and hiding his body with the help of one of their sons. Edmonton Journal reporter Jonny Wakefield joins me to discuss the events that led to the killing, why the sentence was as long as it is, and why Helen’s appeal is arguing the sentence shows the justice system doesn’t und...
Jun 28, 2021•14 min
