With the election coming in two weeks, Jesse sits down for an interview with Tiffany Lam, producer of The Backbench, to discuss what kind of politics show her and Fatima are making and how a politics show can be fun, accessible and nutritious. The interview is followed by the most recent episode of The Backbench. Subscribe to The Backbench to be informed about the important issues of this election. -- The Liberals promised to inject 6-billion more dollars into our healthcare system last week, bu...
Sep 06, 2021•49 min•Ep. 709
Many journalists are condemning the unruly protestors following Trudeau on the campaign trail. But is that our role? And co-host Jen Agg talks about how she became the centre of a major story after dealing with her own unruly protestors at her restaurants. Jen Agg is a restaurateur and author of I Hear She's a Real Bitch. Here's her Twitter thread that got the attention of the media. This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee , The Emerging Digital Artists Award and PolicyMe . Support CANADALA...
Sep 02, 2021•28 min•Ep. 708
Last year there were 540,000 international students in Canada according to Immigrations Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC. Many of these students came to Canada with one goal - permanent residency. Our producer, Damilola Onime, herself a former international student, shares the story of how the international education industry is run in Canada. The story of how these students, because of their ambition for greener pastures are exploited by the government, the schools the attend, recruitments...
Aug 30, 2021•32 min•Ep. 707
Twitter became the centre of the election this week when they put a "manipulated media” tag on one of Chrystia Freeland's tweets, which contained an edited video of Conservative leader Erin O'Toole. And is science journalism at a crisis point in Canada? An analysis finds Canada's biggest newspapers gave about half as much coverage to the IPCC's major recent climate report as US ones did. Fatima Syed hosts with Sean Holman as co-host Further Reading: The Tyee: When Dire Climate News Came, Canada'...
Aug 26, 2021•36 min•Ep. 706
Craig Kielburger was the Greta Thunberg of the 90s – a 12 year-old kid from the suburbs who dreamed of freeing the world's children from slavery. His activism made him famous, and he was endorsed by Oprah, the Pope, the Queen, and the Clintons. His campaign became a global movement and a powerful brand. But right from the start, there were uncomfortable questions about money and exploitation. Decades later, it all came crashing down. But the seeds of WE's self-destruction were planted right from...
Aug 23, 2021•38 min•Ep. 705
Recent stories about Canada's role in the War in Afghanistan fall short. And if Justin Trudeau is Veruca Salt, who then is Erin O'Toole? Photojournalist and author Paul Watson co-hosts. Links: Paul's LA Times story from embedding with Ghazni Talibs Paul's LA Times story on Afghanistan's pipeline plans Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 19, 2021•37 min•Ep. 704
Shad's Hip-Hop Evolution is an incredible piece of journalism that nobody is talking about. Hip-Hop Evolution is a remarkable piece of journalism and an exhaustive look at the history of hip-hop. It's also made by a group of Canadians. Rapper and broadcaster Shad , director Darby Wheeler , and writer Rodrigo Bascuñán join to talk about their award-winning documentary series. The episode is brought to you by One Year , Policy Me , Article , and listeners like you. Please consider becoming a month...
Aug 16, 2021•40 min•Ep. 297
Co-host Pauls Wells may be the only person aside from Trudeau who wants an election right now. We look ahead to the campaign and debates to come. WE is back in the news. And The Rebel has another defamation case dismissed. Sponsors: Slate, Policy Me , Freshbooks , Hello Fresh Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 12, 2021•33 min•Ep. 703
Subscribe to The White Saviors now ! Series launch: August 23 Over 25 years, WE built a golden brand by inspiring children to rally around their charismatic leader. But behind the scenes, employees experienced a cult-like culture and a troubling blur of charitable and commercial activities. In the aftermath of a national scandal, thousands of donors and volunteers (and dozens of ‘celebrity ambassadors') are left wondering where the money went, and whether the savior industry creates a constant n...
Aug 11, 2021•5 min
In late 2020, FBI agents showed up at the New York home of activist and journalist Masih Alinejad, and told her that agents of the Iranian regime were plotting to kidnap her. Months later, an indictment from the US Department of Justice revealed details of the plot - including surveillance of her home and family, and a plan to take her to Venezuela by boat. But it also mentioned three people in Canada were also targets. As our reporter Cherise Seucharan finds out, many journalists and dissidents...
Aug 09, 2021•28 min•Ep. 702
Une journaliste scientifique a porté plainte à Radio Canada et a reçu beaucoup de haine. Et est-ce que les journalistes répondent finalement aux militants? Emilie Nicolas et Nora Loreto prennent le relais en l'absence de Jesse. En anglais: A science journalist complained to Radio-Canada and received a lot of hate for it. And are journalists finally responding to activism the way they should? Emilie Nicolas and Nora Loreto take over in Jesse's absence. Links/liens: The full ombudsman decision is ...
Aug 05, 2021•44 min•Ep. 701
Teachers accused of abusing Indigenous children at Catholic schools are among us. John Furlong is quoted regularly in the press as the man leading a possible Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympics. It's as if the people accusing him of physical and sexual abuse don't exist. Today we hear Jesse's original 2014 conversation with journalist Laura Robinson, who broke the Furlong story, and an update about all that has happened since, and why the upcoming tribunal on the case may be different. Additiona...
Aug 02, 2021•53 min•Ep. 700
A draft of the anti-Alberta inquiry was leaked and didn't find what it thought it would. And Facebook is partnering up with The Globe and Mail and Jesse wants in. Writer Sandy Garossino co-hosts. Links: More on the leaked draft of the Allan Inquiry A photo of the "Wanted" Mark Zuckerberg posters can be found here This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee , Slate, and PolicyMe . Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast...
Jul 29, 2021•31 min•Ep. 699
Ryerson University (aka X University) has a Journalism department in turmoil over student grievances. As similar reckonings sweep Canada's other J-Schools, Jesse sits down with departing Ryerson Prof Karyn Pugliese and former Undergraduate Director Lisa Taylor to discuss why they both left their posts. Then, reporter Cherise Seucharan talks to Ryerson alum Sarah Krichel and student Reah Singh, an organizer of the open letter that became national news. Further Reading: A report on the crisis at R...
Jul 26, 2021•57 min•Ep. 698
The resignation of BC Civil Liberties Union's executive director sparks controversy on both mainstream and social media. And National Post might be successfully carving out its place in the Canadian podcast space. Maclean's contributing editor Andray Domise co-hosts. Links: BCCLA's statement re: Harsha Walia On the photojournalism re: Cuba's protests CAJ's release re: their win This episode is supported by PolicyMe , Freshbooks and Squarespace . Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/join Se...
Jul 22, 2021•43 min•Ep. 697
Travel Writer and Journalist, Marcello Di Cintio talks to Jesse about his one year journey around Canada, in search of the secret stories etched in the minds of Canadian taxi drivers. During that year, Marcello says he listened to incredible life tales of the men and women behind the wheels, hurling passengers around their cities, with no set destination - some of which he documents in his latest book, Driven: The Secret Lives Of Taxi Drivers. This episode is supported by PolicyMe & Article ...
Jul 19, 2021•31 min•Ep. 696
The election hasn't even been called yet but our major parties' social media strategies already deserve some attention. And as more Canadians get vaccinated, how will COVID beats evolve? Freelance journalist Nora Loreto co-hosts. Links: Justin Trudeau's tweet on Cowessess First Nation & CNN op-ed Erin O'Toole's cowboy hat Jagmeet Singh's Tiktok & ad The @tefficient tweet about global data plans Several infographics to help put that Reuters vaccine-mixing article into context Nora referen...
Jul 15, 2021•38 min•Ep. 695
Pornhub is a massive Canadian website that few talked about until the New York Times called it out for profiting from the exploitation of children and rape victims. Now government is rushing to regulate all online pornography. But the NY Times piece has its origins in an anti-porn crusade from an anti-gay, racist evangelic church. Sandra Wesley, executive director of the sex worker advocacy group Stella , says that bad laws will harm sex workers, and that the "moral panic" over porn could even k...
Jul 12, 2021•41 min•Ep. 694
Twitter conversations seem more interesting than the media's coverage on Canada's first Indigenous Governor-General. The Bay tries to empower BIPOC while stealing one's likeness without consent. And Canada's new "guiding principles" for diverse content online feel off to Jesse. Writer and lawyer Hadiya Roderique co-hosts. Links: Hadiya's essay that the stolen photograph actually accompanied The "Guiding principles on diversity of content online" here (Press release with a shorter summary here ) ...
Jul 08, 2021•34 min•Ep. 693
News stories are frequently updated, clarified or corrected online, after they've been published. But when there's no disclosure that a story has been changed, something's usually up. Producer/reporter Alex de Boer digs deep into one such case, when an article in Victoria News about a demonstration in support of the Wet'suwet'en protests originally centred an Indigenous land defender. That version disappeared without explanation, and a new, drastically different story suddenly appeared in its pl...
Jul 05, 2021•44 min
The media is fixated on whether to celebrate Canada Day as the Lower Kootenay First Nation announces the discovery of another 182 unmarked graves in BC. And after recording, Lytton BC began evacuation and we're trying to understand what a heat dome is. Former Executive Director of APTN Karyn Pugliese co-hosts. Links: More on the announcement from Lower Kootenay First Nation Karyn's recent piece for the National Observer: "With the help of the Mounties, the priests piled the children into boats a...
Jul 01, 2021•33 min
As reports of Chinese government influence in Canadian media gain traction, South China Morning Post reporter Ian Young reveals an incredible tale from the past. Almost 20 years ago, the PRC's media company actually bought a Canadian newspaper. But all is not as it seemed, and media mogul Li Bolun may have had other plans besides propaganda. Sadly, he died in a Beijing jail cell following scandalous drug and fraud charges and cannot explain his side of the story. What's left is a messy court bat...
Jun 28, 2021•35 min
The Toronto Star published a "Saturday Debate" about Egerton Ryerson's legacy that contradicted the TRC - and they knew it. And it appears a police dog's life mattered more than a Métis man's in Alberta. Canadaland French-language correspondent Emilie Nicolas and Canadaland contributing editor Danielle Paradis take over in Jesse's absence. Links: See the photo of where Egerton Ryerson's statue is now (Twitter banner) La Converse's piece on the nuns at St Anne (French) This episode is supported b...
Jun 24, 2021•35 min
Queen's University quickly rejected the findings of an anonymous report accusing six people associated with the school of misrepresenting their Indigenous identities. That prompt dismissal has raised questions about the non-status Ardoch Algonquin group, and the controversial academic from the U.S. who co-founded it. Further reading: Anonymous report to Queen's University Queen's university statement Ardoch First Nation membership information Sponsors: Dispatch , Freshbooks, & Article Additi...
Jun 21, 2021•35 min
Ed the Sock doesn't seem okay since Bell announced it would reboot MuchMusic. CBC won't let their audience comment on their articles on Facebook anymore. And a Global radio host loses his job for using a racial slur - Is the era of edgelord talk radio over? Vice Senior Editor Manisha Krishnan co-hosts. Further reading/watching: BellMedia's announcement re: MuchMusic here Jesse retweeted a video of Prime Minister Trudeau's G7 comment here See Manisha's recent article about Global's Mike Stafford ...
Jun 17, 2021•36 min
"Coercive control" is how cults like NXIVM entrap followers and how abusive partners dominate their victims. A growing movement is calling for a law against it. But what about the many people who want to surrender their will to others? Sarah Berman is the author of Don't Call It A Cult, a deep investigation of NXIVM. Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM , by Sarah Berman Sponsors: Dispatch , Freshbooks, & Article Additional music provided by Audio ...
Jun 14, 2021•45 min
Muslim-Canadians call out the media for harming their community. And the controversy around CBC cancelling Kim's Convenience goes international. Freelance journalist and The Backbench's host Fatima Syed co-hosts. Further reading: Jonathan's full Twitter thread on The London Free Press & Toronto Sun's coverage of the London attack; Fatima's most recent piece for The Guardian about the London vigil; Shout out to Fatima Said for resurfacing John Ibbitson's tweets; More on Simu Liu deleting his ...
Jun 10, 2021•34 min
Recordings of 911 calls from the night of the Portapique massacre have been leaked to the press, and they prove that the RCMP have been lying from the start about a crucial piece of information. But somehow it's the journalists that published the calls who are facing an angry public backlash. Frank Magazine publisher Andrew Douglas and reporter Paul Palango discuss their bombshell story, and what the RCMP may still be hiding about Gabriel Wortman. This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee , F...
Jun 07, 2021•38 min
The discovery of 215 residential school children in a mass grave spurs this week's discussion on how journalists report stories about Indigenous people. And in the wake of this news, a Bill that could empower Indigenous children is largely eclipsed. Thunder Bay host Ryan McMahon and IndigiNews' child welfare reporter Anna McKenzie co-host in Jesse's absence. Further reading & watching: Former Chair of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission Murray Sinclair comments...
Jun 03, 2021•35 min
There have been dozens of arrests at Fairy Creek... but not much footage to show for it. That's because the RCMP have been blocking and corralling journalists from freely covering the demonstrations. But according to court precedent and the RCMP's own guidelines, journalists do have the right to be present even when there is a court injunction. So why does it keep happening? And why is it always Canada's independent media at the forefront of this fight? Reporter Cherise Seucharan finds out. This...
May 31, 2021•31 min
