Resuming Debate

On December 14, 2022, two human rights initiatives that I have been working on for a long time unanimously passed the House of Commons. These were a bill banning forced organ harvesting and trafficking, and a motion endorsing genuine autonomy for Tibet. Joining me for a discussion on these initiatives are guests from key communities being targeted by the Communist Party of China: Grace Wollensak f...

Welcome back to a new year of Resuming Debate ! On today's episode I am joined by Ron Chhinzer, a member of the Peel Regional Police Service and Conservative candidate in the recent by-election in Mississauga. Ron details some of his experiences working in law enforcement over 20 years, and we discuss what needs to be done to effectively fight the rising crime wave. This conversation also clears u...

The oil and gas industry is often attacked by climate change activists, but the industry says that they want to play a critical role in combatting climate change. Is this just PR or is this interest real? Joining me for a discussion on the energy industry's response to climate change is Mark Cameron, Vice President of the Pathways Alliance and former director of policy for the Harper government. W...

In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are also seeing escalating attacks on the Russian opposition and Russian independent civil society. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate , I am joined by Mrs. Evgeniya Kara-Murza, the Advocacy Coordinator of the Free Russia Foundation. Her husband, Vladimir Kara-Murza, is an opposition political activist who has survived multiple assassination a...

On today’s episode, we tackle the emerging global energy security crisis with University of Ottawa Professor Paul Robinson and the Polish Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Witold Dzielski. Canadians are used to thinking about energy policy in terms of the economy and the environment. But there is a third critical dimension – how energy policy impacts our own and global security. The Russian inv...

On today’s episode of Resuming Debate , we discuss current protest in Iran and the possibility that a democratic revolution will oust the country’s rulers. Following the murder of Mahsa Amini by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), protesters took to the streets demanding justice. Today I talk with Sayeh Hassan, a lawyer and human rights activist, and Reza Moridi, former Liberal MPP from...

Welcome back to Resuming Debate ! Alberta has a new premier. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss Alberta’s emerging “sovereigntist” discourse and what Alberta can learn from Quebec when it comes to asserting its position within confederation. Some Albertans are saying that they want to be more like Quebec in terms of how they relate to Ottawa. But the current proposals on the table i...

On today’s episode we discuss the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan. Major floods there are devastating millions of people, killing off livestock, and ravaging the landscape. Joining me for this episode are Dr. Aslam Daud, chairman of non-profit organization Humanity First , and Rahul Singh, CEO of GlobalMedic , an organization providing humanitarian aid across the world. Both offer insight into the...

Welcome back to Resuming Debate ! We'll be doing biweekly episodes through the fall. On today’s episode we discuss whether the Canadian government is failing to follow through on its commitment to support Ukraine. The government has granted a waiver to their own sanctions against Russia, the Russian embassy continues to be permitted to be very active in Canada, Ukrainian employees at the Canadian...

A populist, a religious fundamentalist, and a left-wing progressive. This week's episode features a discussion on the life, legacy, and contemporary relevance of William Jennings Bryan. I speak with Michael Kazin, author of A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan and of a new book on the history of the Democratic Party. William Jennings Bryan was a three-time Democratic Party presidential...

Slavery is still a pressing issue that requires the attention of lawmakers worldwide. Many products made with slave labour still manage to enter the Canadian marketplace. To counter modern day slavery, Canadian parliamentarians - including myself – have been working together to develop new legislative tools to prevent these products from entering our country. I am joined by Liberal MP John McKay,...

“Woke Capitalism” is the way that large and powerful corporations push their affiliation with socially-progressive movements and causes. Woke Capitalism upends traditional categories of “left” and “right”. The left are usually critics of corporate power, but don’t mind corporate power when it serves their interests. Conservatives traditionally see themselves as allies of the business community, an...

Charles Hoskinson is one of the biggest names in crypto-currency. Charles was a co-founder of Ethereum and founder of the Cardano blockchain. The Cardano blockchain has been involved in development projects in Ethiopia and other African countries. As Conservative Shadow Minister for International Development, I wanted to bring Charles on to discuss the exciting potential in this technology for pro...

Elizabeth May and I disagree on many things, but we've been friends for a number of years and worked together on areas where we can find common ground. Elizabeth is the former Green Party of Canada Leader and current MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. We discuss the nature of the Green Party, partisanship, environmental policy, and her views on the Convoy and other forms of civil disobedience. To never...

We are in the midst of the Global Week of Prayer for China, and in that light I was pleased to be joined for this episode by Pastor Bob Fu. Bob Fu grew up in China and was a student activist who participated in the famous Tiananmen Square democracy protest. His experience at Tiananmen Square led him to pursue a life of faith and eventually to become a pastor. On this episode we discuss his story,...

Blockchain technology and crypto-currency has been at the centre of debate in this year's Conservative leadership race, sparking many opinions on both sides. As someone who is not deeply involved in the crypto-currency scene, I hosted two experts from the industry and economic side of blockchain technology to explain the technology, and to discuss the most common debates around the topic. I am joi...

On this episode of Resuming Debate I am joined by Giles Milton to discuss his book Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler's Defeat. The book tells the incredible story of the decisive impact of a special British division aimed at sabotaging the German war effort through clandestine and “ungentlemanly” means. This story is highly relevant now, as the sabotag...

Former Chief Justice of Canada Beverly McLachlin continues to serve on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, despite the high-profile recent resignation of British judges. Since the adoption of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has effectively lost its distinct legal status and the independence of its judiciary has been under attack. Questions are increasingly being asked about the role being play...

I am pleased to be joined by the Member of Parliament for Calgary Shepard, Tom Kmiec. Tom has a very unique story. He was born in Poland during Communist times, migrated to Quebec with his family, and then moved to Alberta as an adult. Tom brings many insights to his role as an MP about responding to Russian aggression and about the role that Alberta can play in contributing to global security. On...

The German resistance to Hitler is a matter of great historical significance, but also of great contemporary relevance. The importance of and the way to push back against the spirit of the age was well demonstrated during this period, and there may be lessons from this resistance about what might be happening right now in Russia. On this episode I am joined by Dr. Randall Hansen, (Director of the...

I am joined by Senator Ratna Omidvar, an independent senator from Toronto. Senator Omidvar has worked extensively in support of Canadian charities, both before and since getting appointed to the Senate. She is the sponsor of Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (use of resources of a registered charity). This bill would end Direction and Control regulation for Canadian charities. Directi...

Ross Douthat is one of the most insightful conservative voices in media today. Ross writes a regular column for the New York Times, and I was very pleased to welcome him onto the podcast for a discussion on the state of American politics and on his two latest books - The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success and The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. These are...

On this week's episode I am joined by former Liberal Member of Parliament Dan McTeague to discuss the changing nature of the Liberal Party as well as the affordability and energy crisis in Canada. Dan and I discuss his time in Parliament, what he has been doing since, and why it is important to reduce the amount Canadians pay for basic necessities like energy. Dan is currently the President of Can...

I have put forward Bill C-257. This bill would add political belief and activity as protected categories against discrimination. It would prevent people from being fired or denied service because of their political views. To discuss this issue, I am joined this week by three prominent legal experts, with wide ranging perspectives. Paul Champ is a practicing lawyer with significant experience deali...

This week's episode covers the unique and challenging situation of Canadian citizens who continue to be detained in northern Syria, including Canadian children. We discuss the circumstances that led to this, the conditions of detention, and the response of the Canadian government. Local authorities actually want the Canadian government to step in, but the Canadian government has not. Nobody seems...