The Backbench

As nations around the world cut off business with Russia, can Canada help fill the international demand for oil and gas? More importantly, should we? And the pandemic caused unprecedented government spending, as well as shifting priorities on everything from work to healthcare. How will that all play out in the upcoming budget? This week’s contributors: Jason Markusoff, Caroline Elliott, Murad Hem...

As escalation between Russia and Ukraine continues, what is Canada’s role in this ever-changing world? And how do conversations we have on the international stage impact our decisions here at home - and vice versa? Canada's UN Ambassador  Bob Rae  weighs in. Sponsors:  Skipper Otto ,  Rotman ,  Ground News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the next few months, The Backbench is going to bring you weekly episodes! Expect us to chat with those who are impacted by or impacting what’s happening in Ottawa. We want to put the people back in politics so if you're either of those categories, get in touch at backbench@canadaland.com. Don't worry - We’ll still be bringing you the panel you’ve come to know and love. Our first episode drops...

As the war in Ukraine escalates and Canadian leaders head to Europe, we assess the economic and military responses so far. And despite fully grasping the severity of Russian aggression, we want to know: Why does Canada's response to conflict vary so much depending on the country? This week's contributors:  Drew Brown ,  Caroline Elliott ,  Jaskaran Sandhu Links: The Narwhal's&n...

As the Emergencies Act passes and border blockades come down, we examine what impacts the Act and the satellite protests had domestically and internationally. And Canada decides to step up in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia - and it's unclear exactly why. This week's contributors:  Murad Hemmadi ,  Jason Markusoff ,  Emilie Nicolas Sponsors:  Rotman , The Big Story Host...

The 2022 Freedom Convoy has taken over Ottawa, both the city and the political discourse. Why is the federal government so paralyzed by it and will it have a long-term impact on Canadian politics? And as the Conservative Party steps into the post-Erin O'Toole era, we try to figure out what "true blue" means now and whether it has Trumpian characteristics. Sponsors:  Rotman  & The Big...

People have been declaring that they have stopped donating their money and/or time to the NDP recently. Why is the NDP struggling to retain self-described progressives? What is the party's role in federal politics today? This week's contributors: Lori Idlout , NDP MP (Nunavut)  Peggy Nash , Former NDP MP & Finance Critic (Parkdale-High Park, Ontario) Des Bisonnette , P...

Three generations of Indigenous panelists join us this week on what The Backbench thought was the biggest story of 2021: the unmarked graves on former residential school grounds. We break format to take stock of what has been promised and repromised, the diversity of demands from Indigenous communities, and what a new "interlocutor" position can do to help with healing. Guests:  Leena Minifie...

Political showmanship about #Justinflation abound, just as the Liberal government is set to release their Fall Economic Statement this week. And it's our last episode of 2021! We offer some highlights and lowlights of the year. This week's contributors:  Murad Hemmadi ,  Jason Markusoff ,  Jaskaran Sandhu Links: Since recording, Justin Trudeau has  said he will not yet interven...

BC's emergency on top of emergency has us wondering where the federal government needs to step in. And the latest "lockdown bill" and Throne Speech reveals where our federal government is at. This week's contributors:  Caroline Elliott ,  Leena Minifie ,  Stuart Thomson  ft.  MP Dan Albas Links:  Did you miss the Throne Speech? Read it  here . Sponsors:&nbsp...

Support The Backbench at canadaland.com/join Prime Minister Trudeau celebrated Canada's role at COP26 - but what is there to celebrate really? And Conservatives MPs try to start a 'civil liberties caucus' while the Liberal caucus vote not to empower themselves.  This week's contributors:  Caroline Elliott ,  Emilie Nicolas ,  Riley Yesno Sponsors:  Rotman ,  Amnesty I...

It’s crowdfunding season at Canadaland! Please consider supporting us at  canadaland.com/join Alberta thinks it made a "powerful" statement to Ottawa this week. And the Bank of Canada says inflation is persistent, which can also be perceived as good news if you look really hard. This week's contributors:  Drew Brown ,  Murad Hemmadi ,  Jason Markusoff Links:  Trevor T...

It’s crowdfunding season at Canadaland! Please consider supporting us at  canadaland.com/join We invited former MPs on because it was supposed to be the first week of Parliament. It got pushed back, but we get into what the first days of Parliament are like and what issues this government will be inheriting anyway.  This week's contributors:  Former MP Kenny Chiu  &am...

Trudeau drops the first apology of his third term and has us wondering how reconciliation can go beyond symbolic actions. And as the Two Michaels make it home, what have we learned from this whole saga? This week's contributors:  Joanna Chiu ,  Stuart Thomson ,  Riley Yesno Links: Riley's  piece  on the spring federal budget More  on what Land Back & Cash Back are...

This week, we bring you something different: an in-depth chat with a People’s Party of Canada supporter. Derek Taylor emailed Fatima after she called the party racist. He agreed to an interview. Derek gets into how he heard about the party, why he supports them, and the direction the party has taken since its creation in 2018.  This is the extended version of an interview featured on Can...

At the time of recording this episode, #elxn44 literally has yielded the same number of seats (give or take several seats) for all of our federal parties. Here's a coast-to-coast-to-coast chat on what this outcome suggests and where Canadian politics goes from here.   This week's contributors:  Drew Brown ,  Jason Markusoff ,  Leena Minifie ,  Jaskaran Sandhu ,&n...

What issues did the federal leaders not speak on throughout the campaign? We get into some of them. And a look into what pandemic debts and costed platforms tell us. This week’s contributors:  Celina Caesar-Chavannes ,  Murad Hemmadi  feat.  Pam Palmater Links: Murad’s  past Maclean’s piece on why the ethnic vote isn't real; The Institute of Fiscal Studies’ assessments of&...

The show after Labour Day warrants a look at federal parties' commitments to workers and how they say they will grow our economy. And when it comes to climate change proposals, will voters respond to ambition or reality?  This week's contributors:  Caroline Elliott  (Welcome!),  Murad Hemmadi , and  Jaskaran Sandhu UPDATE: The Green Party released their platform after we r...

The Liberals promised to inject 6-billion more dollars into our healthcare system last week, but will more money mean more healthcare? Meanwhile, regional federal parties have dropped their platforms with distinct climate plans, posing a possible threat to major parties. This week's contributors:  Leena Minifie ,  Emilie Nicolas ,  Stuart Thomson Links: Jen Gerson's Maclean's ...

Liberals scramble to respond to the crisis in Afghanistan amid the first week of campaigning. And Trudeau says he wants life to be more affordable while also suggesting it's not his job. This week's contributors:  Drew Brown ,  Jason Markusoff , and  Jaskaran Sandhu Links: Kevin Newman's  piece  for The Line Noah Richler's  piece  for The Globe and Mail Shou...

We’re now a weekly #elxn44 podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 a...

With massive childcare announcements and talk of abortion access, the Liberal government seems to be focusing on women lately. Is it pre-election pandering or just good governance? And we look at the state of the Conservative Party, whose leader says he does  not  want an election. This week's contributors:  Celina Caesar-Chavannes ,  Leena Minifie ,  Stuart Thomson L...

Canada looks to welcome travellers again while the future of vaccine passports remains uncertain. And two national anti-hate summits last week had us wondering what policies would actually help.  This week's contributors:  Emilie Nicolas ,  Jaskaran Sandhu ,  Stuart Thomson This episode is supported by Aussie Hair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More and more election season tropes have revealed themselves recently, particularly in Quebec, Alberta and Tiktok. And the mutiny against the Green Party leader Annamie Paul reaches its final stage next week - How did we get here? This week's contributors:  Murad Hemmadi ,  Jason Markusoff ,  Emilie Nicolas A special thank you to the Toronto Star's Alex Ballingall , whose reporting...