The West Block

This week on The West Block we look at some of the concerns of the business community and whether or not Canada could handle a recession.  Then we talk about the motion in the house of commons that received bi-partisan support on consequences for returning ISIS fighters.  And trade ministers from around the world met in Ottawa last week to discuss WTO reforms, US and China were not invited, is the...

Later this week Canada will host trade minister from twelve countries but the US is not invited, how will this affect our trade relations south of the border?  Then a Saudi journalists death in Turkey appears is causing outrage around the world, should human rights outweigh business?  And nearly six years ago cannabis was legalized in Colorado.  What lessons have they learned after it rolled out?...

Bonus mid-week West Block podcast: In less than a month voters in the U.S. head to the polls in what is being called the most important midterm election in our lifetime.  President Trump is not on the ballot but is this election a referendum on his first two years in office?  And will there be a blue wave or will we have a divided congress on November 7th? Guest: Christopher Sands, Director of the...

Former conservative prime minister Stephen Harper sits down with Mercedes Stephenson in New York City where he launched his latest book, Right Here Right Now-a look at globalism and how the populist movement has arisen from this.  Guest: Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States has officially pulled out of the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran. It's the latest move in the deterioration in relations between the two countries. Will international dispute lead to nuclear war? And can Iran be trusted?   Guest: Joseph Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On October 17th cannabis will be legal across Canada, what are the laws on cannabis impaired driving and drug possession?  Then provinces are pushing back on Ottawa's plan to implement a national carbon tax next year, will they succeed?  And Canada has a new cyber security centre, what are they warning Canadians about to prevent online attacks? Guests: Jody Wilson-Raybauld, Justice Minister; Jason...

Today is the deadline for the US congress to receive the text on a NAFTA deal, Canada has not signed on.  What happens next?  Should convicted child murdered Terri-Lynne McClintic have access to an aboriginal healing lodge? Plus after last week's election in New Brunswick, why is the battle for the top political job in that province still going on? Guests: Marc Garneau, Transportation Minister; An...

Today we talk to Border Security Minister Bill Blair about what his government is doing to reduce the number of asylum seekers crossing into Canada illegally.  Then, veterans says the government is reneging  on promises made to vets in the last election, we'll put those concerns to Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan. Plus is Afghanistan a failed state? Guests:  Bill Blair, Border Security Mi...

Ontario Premier Doug pulls the nuclear trigger to reduce the size of Toronto city council, why?  Then there's a new federal party, the People's Party of Canada led by former conservative MP Maxime Bernier, who does the leader hope will join his party? And we'll unpack the politics as MPs return to Ottawa on Monday and what the government hopes to accomplish this fall. Guests: Doug Ford, Ontario Pr...

In this episode of the West Block we look at the global oversupply of dairy and how this is affecting U.S. dairy farmers.  As part of the ongoing NAFTA negotiations, President Trump insists the U.S. needs access to the Canadian market but how much will this really help farmers in the U.S.?   Peter Erlwien, dairy farmer Dawn Erlwein, dairy farmer Tom Bose, dairy farmer Earl Myers, dairy farmer Jerr...

Canadian negotiators on the NAFTA file returned to Washington two weeks ago to try and finalize a deal before the end of September.  What is holding up an agreement?  Is Canada's supply management system for the dairy sector really a problem?  And will congress pass a deal that does not include Canada.  And in the midst of these negotiations more chaos and turmoil surrounding the White House, what...

This week we look at legalized recreational marijuana-the law goes in effect October 17th, what lies ahead and what is the federal government planning for a price on pot.  Then, NAFTA talks are set to resume this summer, the tariff tiff escalates--we'll assess Canada-U.S. relations.  And MPs have gone home for the summer, what were some of the big achievements this past year and what will be on th...

In this episode we look at the tariff tiff between Canada and the U.S. Plus pot politics, senators aren't happy with the government's decision to knock back some of their ammendments, what does this mean when the bill goes back to the senate this week?  And some food for thought with retired Olympian and former senator Nancy Greene Raine. Guests: John Manley, Business Council of Canada President &...

As the G7 Summit wraps up in Charlevoix, Quebec, did the Canadian government make any headway with President Trum to remove the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports?  Plus construction for the Kinder Morgan pipeline, how much will it cost Canadian taxpayers?  A new majority PC government in Ontario, what is premier -elect Doug Ford planning?  And President Trump is en route to Singapore where he...

We begin the show this week talking to Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister about the recent tariffs the government announced against the U.S. set to go into effect July 1st.  Then we get the view from Washington and whether there is a path forward to reverse these trade tensions.  And then Ontario voters head to the polls on Thursday to choose the next premier, how close are the polls, who is up and...

This week we'll talk to the government about what is being done to reduce the influx of asylum seekers entering Canada illegally.  Then President Trump is threatening tariffs on auto imports, what does this mean for the ongoing NAFTA negotiations?  And we'll hear from an Israeli government representative about Canada's push for an independent investigation into the Gaza violence earlier this month...

The U.S. congress has extended the deadline for a NAFTA deal, negotiators have until the end of the month to send them a deal, but are we close to a deal?  Then Canada's first female chief justice talks about her latest project post retirement from the bench, and we'll head to the Mad Radish, just a few blocks from parliament hill, for a conversation with the Treasury Board President. Guests: Bruc...

This week we take a look at what the federal government is doing to stem the flow of asylum seekers crossing into Canada illegally from the United States.  Then another NDP MP is accused of sexual misconduct, is the response by party leader Jagmeet Singh the correct one?  And a conversation with Jill Scheer about raising five children in the political spotlight. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

This week on The West Block we look at taxing carbon from both sides of the political spectrum.  Then we look at this historic summit between North and South Korea that may lead to a denucluearized Korean peninsula, is there a role for Canada to play? And lessons learned from serving in a former prime minister's office. Guests: Ed Fast, Conservative-Ontario; Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader; Paul...

From pipelines to pricing carbon, Ottawa is facing political push-back from the provinces. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna joins us to draw the lines on federal jurisdiction. And it's been a positive week in Washington. International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne talks NAFTA and whether trade with North Korea is on the horizon. Finally, American activist Adama Iwu on how govern...

As negotiations continue on the NAFTA front, what are some congressional members south of the border asking for in a new NAFTA deal?  Plus more on the western pipeline battle, this time are we approaching a constitutional crisis?  And in less than seven weeks voters in Ontario will go to the polls, why is Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath feeling so optimistic? Guests: Jon Faso, Republican-New Yor...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and B.C.'s Premier John Horgan in Ottawa to seek a resolution to the ongoing dispute on the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline. So what came out of Sunday's summit? Tune in to The West Block on Global TV tonight at 11:30 p.m.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As political leaders meet today in Ottawa to try and find a solution to the political standoff over the Trans Mountain pipleline project, we take a look at the opposition to this project and what the federal government can do to get it built.  Then Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifites before congress over privacy breaches.  What can we do to protect ourselves when it comes to social...

Crunch time with NAFTA but late last week more optimism as high level ministerial meetings were held in Washington.  Plus President Trump has brought a new style of politics to the White House, what impact is he having on domestic politics and on the world stage?  Plus will the federal government consider changes to its cannabis legislation to appease its critics?   Guests:  James Moore, NAFTA Adv...

Momentum in the NAFTA negotiations, is there a breakthrough and is a deal possible?  Plus what dangers lie ahead when we mix social media and politics?  And Food for Thought with Tom Mulcair, lessons learned and life after politics. Guests:  Andrew Leslie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Niall Ferguson, Author and Historian, Stanford University; Tom Mulcair, Former NDP...