The premiers and the prime minister met in Ottawa to hammer out a new funding agreement that many hope will address some real pressure points in our health-care system. Ultimately, the deal amounts to about $200 billion, but will that be enough to address the strain on hospitals, or get Canadians better access to doctors? National Post political reporter Ryan Tumilty joins the show to discuss the details of the deal, how the premiers have reacted, and whether the provinces will ultimately accept...
Feb 10, 2023•18 min
Recent violence on Toronto transit has sparked fears among riders and pushed police and city officials to act to address the problem. But some are wondering whether the measures will actually improve safety or deal with underlying issues. National Post reporter Adrian Humphreys joins the show to discuss how severe the violence has been, whether riders feel the measures taken are enough, and if it’s an indication that Toronto is facing a spike in violent crime. Background reading - 'Toronto turni...
Feb 08, 2023•23 min
The notion of the Trudeau government’s Just Transition legislation has created fears in Alberta that the feds are coming for oil jobs. This, in turn, has sparked outrage from politicians on the left and the right, with Premier Danielle Smith leading the charge against legislation, which has yet to be unveiled. National Post reporter, and producer of this podcast, Tyler Dawson joins the show to discuss the political outrage over Just Transition in Alberta, why Danielle Smith has taken a slightly ...
Feb 04, 2023•21 min
It was an international hit that potentially brought Canada’s gang wars to tourist hotspots in Thailand. The violence left one man dead, and sparked an international manhunt for at least two suspects. Vancouver Sun crime reporter Kim Bolan joins the show to discuss the victim’s links to Canada’s criminal underworld, what we know about the suspects, and what this assassination says about B.C.’s ongoing gang war. Background reading - A murder in Phuket: B.C. gang conflict moves overseas Learn more...
Feb 01, 2023•25 min
For most Canadians, we think nothing of the ability to wake up and open social media apps on our phones, log onto our laptops for work, or tune into high-definition streaming on our TVs. But in Canada, that is not the reality for many people. For people living in remote areas, or living on low incomes, the simple act of accessing the internet is either too slow, too expensive, or not available. Jessica Mundie, the 2022 recipient Michelle Lang Fellowship in Journalism, joins the show to discuss w...
Jan 24, 2023•26 min
The federal government is expected this year to unveil the much talked about “Just Transition” legislation. The concept has been the subject of much controversy in recent weeks, with Alberta and its oil industry expected to be greatly affected by the plan But what does it entail? Calgary Herald business columnist Chris Varcoe joins the show to discuss what Just Transition is, how many jobs it could affect, and what industry has to say about it. Background reading: Ottawa's 'just transition' rhet...
Jan 18, 2023•18 min
Canada has allowed medical assistance in dying for more than five years now, but the issue has remained charged as the law continues to change. An increase in requests for the practice means providers are stretched thin, and there is an ongoing debate around expanding MAID to include mental illnesses. National Post Health Reporter Sharon Kirkey joins the show to discuss why there is a growing backlog of MAID patients, the debate over expanding the practice and why controversy over whether doctor...
Dec 29, 2022•22 min
The world of online dating and dating apps have opened up a potentially vast network of possible matches. But as technology changes, and expectations for what makes a good partner change, the dating landscape can be even trickier to navigate. National Post reporter, and producer of this podcast, Tyler Dawson joins the show to discuss how the language of dating has changed, what challenges single Canadians face, and why it leads to some people feeling lonelier than before. Background reading: Wha...
Dec 27, 2022•23 min
Brenda Lucki’s time as commissioner of the RCMP has been eventful, to say the least. She entered the post four years ago as the RCMP was confronting issues of workplace harassment, the treatment of Indigenous peoples, racism, and a need for internal reform, but things really came to a head in 2022. National post reporter Adrian Humphreys joins the show to discuss Lucki’s high-profile testimony at two public inquiries, apologies and calls for her resignation, and whether she could see her contrac...
Dec 22, 2022•24 min
When it comes to the public service, how do women fare compared to men, especially in higher-ranking positions? Is headway being made when it comes to breaking the glass ceiling? New analysis out of B.C. shows that there’s still a way to go. Lori Culbert and Nathan Griffiths from the Vancouver Sun join the show to discuss their detailed analysis of 125,000 public servants’ salaries, how women stack up against men, especially in senior positions, and what some feel the solution needs to be. Backg...
Dec 20, 2022•25 min
In the city’s most high-profile killing since the death of Tina Fontaine, Winnipeg has been rocked by the serial murders of four Indigenous women earlier this year. And there is controversy around the police investigation and whether enough is being done to recover their remains from an area landfill. Winnipeg Sun reporter Glen Dawkins joins the show to discuss the investigation, what we know so far about the accused killer, and how this tragedy has strained relations between the police and the ...
Dec 16, 2022•22 min
One of the main functions of governments, especially local governments, is building stuff. And that stuff doesn’t get much bigger than mass transit projects. But what happens when those projects are hit with delays, operational problems, or even safety issues? Ottawa Citizen reporter Blair Crawford and Edmonton Journal columnist Keith Gerein join me to discuss problems two major LRT projects in Canada, a scathing review into one of them, and how these issues could make it harder to get public bu...
Dec 13, 2022•30 min
After months of build-up, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith finally unveiled the legislation that was key to her leadership win. The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act may have had a softer name than initially proposed, but it was met with controversy over how it would operate. Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins the show to discuss what’s in the new bill, why some aspects of it have forced the Smith government to walk it back, and how it could be applied to federal law. Background re...
Dec 08, 2022•26 min
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has long dealt with social issues stemming from homelessness and addiction, and to many, the situation has only gotten worse. Social agencies are feeling the strain, and the public is pressuring politicians to do more to solve the problem. Vancouver Sun columnist Douglas Todd joins the show to discuss why there’s a feeling that the problems are worse than ever, the new B.C. premier’s controversial proposals to address some of the issues, and how public compassion co...
Dec 06, 2022•21 min
Over the course of six weeks of testimony, Canadians heard from police and municipal officials in Ottawa, provincial representatives and even from organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy that occupied the capital for weeks earlier this year. This was all building to the appearance by senior members of Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, and the PM himself, as they looked to justify the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to dismantle what had become a disruptive protest. In the second of a special ...
Dec 02, 2022•25 min
Was the Freedom Convoy a threat to public safety when it occupied downtown Ottawa earlier this year? Was the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act justified? Did Ottawa drop the ball in planning for the convoy’s arrival? These are just some of the questions arising from six weeks of testimony before the Public Order Emergency Commission and Justice Paul Rouleau. In the first of a special two-part episode, National Post political reporters Chris Nardi and Ryan Tumilty join the show to d...
Dec 01, 2022•28 min
According to reports, intelligence officials have warned the prime minister that China covertly funded candidates in the 2019 election. While it’s not clear yet who these candidates were, it’s not the first time the Chinese regime has tried to influence our politics, and apparently not illegal. National Post columnists Terry Glavin joins the show to discuss how this funding works, the extent of other forms of foreign influence in our politics, and why attempts to address it have been stymied. Ba...
Nov 25, 2022•27 min
Canada’s men’s soccer team is playing in its first FIFA World Cup in 36 years, only the second time we’ve qualified for the event. And, unlike 1986, when we didn’t manage to win a game, this group is looking to put Canada on the world soccer map. Postmedia national soccer writer Derek Van Diest, who is in Qatar for the World Cup, joins the show to discuss Canada’s road to get there, how well we could presumably do, and some of the controversies hanging over FIFA and the event. Background reading...
Nov 21, 2022•21 min
Whether it’s politicians or health professionals or even average Canadians, most people will tell you health care in Canada is struggling. While there are many friction points, whether its the strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, staff burnout, or funding, getting at the solutions has proven challenging. Freelance writer Mark Hill, who is part of a joint project between the National Post and the Hub looking at the problems plaguing health care in Canada, joins the show to discuss what’s at the cor...
Nov 17, 2022•18 min
Canadians have been hit by rising costs, whether it’s housing, gas prices or even food. But what happens when government policy is helping drive some of those increases? National Post columnist Jesse Kline joins the show to discuss how supply management in the dairy industry is affecting consumers, how it ties into inflation, and whether the federal government is planning on making any changes. Background reading: Jesse Kline: Don't tell us you care about the high cost of living if you're not wi...
Nov 15, 2022•18 min
For many, the notion of Canada’s war dead is an abstract concept of tens of thousands of lives lost to history. But behind the numbers are stories of people who gave their lives in our country’s name, and to mark Remembrance Day, journalists in Ottawa will try to provide a picture of the life of one of the nearly 120,000 Canadian war dead. Ottawa Citizen reporter Andrew Duffy joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss how the We Are the Dead project came to be, how they’ll set out to tell the story...
Nov 11, 2022•18 min
B.C.’s government has made major changes to the way family doctors are paid, with the hope of attracting and retaining medical professionals in that province. But will it help attract enough talent to address severe waits to see a GP in B.C.? Katie DeRosa, who covers provincial politics for the Vancouver Sun and The Province, joins the show to discuss the nature of the changes, why this new system is preferred among doctors, and whether it could increase competition between provinces to attract ...
Nov 08, 2022•24 min
New legislation in Saskatchewan could shake up relations between provinces and the feds. The Saskatchewan First Act, unveiled Nov. 1 seeks to assert provincial jurisdiction over resources, and to protect the province from the costs of federal environmental policies. Jeremy Simes, who covers politics for the Regina Leader-Post, joins the show to discuss why the government is bringing this law in now, what it hopes the act will accomplish, and whether it’s constitutional. Background reading: Saska...
Nov 04, 2022•22 min
The legalization of cannabis in Canada gave people the freedom to choose to consume without fear of arrest or prosecution, and created a new economic driver. But four years later, legacy growers are feeling left out, and the legal market is still in competition with illicit sales. National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins the show to discuss how big the sector has become, why some who were in the business before legalization have faced hurdles, and what’s keeping the black market i...
Nov 02, 2022•19 min
Upstart political party A Better City Vancouver won a commanding victory in this month’s municipal election, in part for its approach to tackling the city’s crime problem. But despite Ken Sim’s historic win as mayor, some are skeptical of his central campaign plank. Dan Fumano, city columnist for the Vancouver Sun and The Province, joins the show to discuss how ABC Vancouver managed such a resounding win, why Sim’s crime plan is raising eyebrows, and what the supermajority means for the city. Ba...
Oct 28, 2022•25 min
Danielle Smith’s tenure as Alberta premier has been dogged by controversy in its first few weeks. She has had to walk back controversies around comments on vaccines and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine even as she tries to set a new course for the United Conservative government in advance of a spring election. Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins the show to discuss Smith’s early controversies, what factions in the party she’s appealing to, and how that may shape the coming election campaign. Backg...
Oct 26, 2022•28 min
Testimony is ongoing at the inquiry into the Trudeau government’s use of the Emergencies Act to dismantle a convoy of truckers and other affiliated groups that blockaded downtown Ottawa for a month earlier this year. The first several days of testimony have largely focused on city officials and residents, as the commissioner attempts to determine whether the use of the act was justified, and how to prevent similar events from happening again. Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley joins the show to ...
Oct 21, 2022•22 min
Amid increased concern over China pushing the idea of reunification with Taiwan, American and Canadian delegations have made visits to the country, and have talked of support of officials in Taipei. But how close are we to a possible Chinese invasion of the island, and what happens, in that event? National Post reporter Tom Blackwell, who recently travelled to Taiwan, joins the show to discuss the threat that China poses, why Western countries have an interest in Taiwan, and whether Canada and t...
Oct 19, 2022•24 min
After months of controversy surrounding its handling of allegations of sexual assault against some players, the top executive and board of Hockey Canada have left the organization. The changes come following combative testimony before a parliamentary committee looking into the matter, and as some major sponsors have pulled their support of hockey’s governing body. Postmedia national sports columnist Scott Stinson joins the show to discuss the departures, what led up to these changes, and whether...
Oct 14, 2022•28 min
Alberta Conservatives elected a new leader, and ultimately the next premier, in Danielle Smith, whose return to provincial politics has so far proven successful. As she is sworn in, she has made party unity a key issue for her in the coming weeks, with plans to meet with MLAs and prepare for the party’s upcoming AGM. Lisa Johnson, who covers provincial politics for the Edmonton Journal, joins the show to discuss Smith’s path to victory, her next challenge of winning a seat in the legislature, an...
Oct 11, 2022•23 min
