CANADALAND

Carney’s deal with China is pissing off Trump, but it’s exactly the sort of leverage Canada needs for the upcoming CUSMA negotiations.  It’s more than just EVs and canola, and it’s more than a return to our previous trade arrangements with China. Carney’s deal signals how Canada intends to navigate the so-called “new world order.”  But, with Xi Jinping purging his top generals, is China...

Carney’s speech made headlines around the world and positions Canada as a global thought leader.  Why did it capture so much international attention, and will Carney’s Davos kudos benefit Canada in the long run?  Jan Wong joins to unpack Carney’s rhetorical triumph and to dish on Margaret Atwood’s lunch beef 30 years later.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kat...

We’re back in the middle of another Donald Trump tariff tantrum—this time over Canada’s trade relationship with China. And yet, for a brief moment, it felt like Canada was riding high on the world stage, with Mark Carney holding court in Davos at the World Economic Forum. So… which version of Canada is real right now? The confident global player, or the country once again bracing for Trump’s mood...

A criminal gang driving around Toronto in stolen vehicles, impersonating police officers, sexually assaulting women, hate-motivated, and connected to ISIS. It was a shocking, sensational, frightening news story. And chances are you didn’t hear about it. Why? To answer that question we’re joined today by Ellin Bessner. She has worked for CBC, CTV, covered wars in Africa and Kosovo, and most recentl...

Alberta separatists are rallying to collect signatures to call a referendum. Meanwhile, with Francois Legault’s resignation, and the separatist Parti Quebecois leading in opinion polls, a referendum is once again a real possibility in Quebec Are Alberta and Quebec’s separatist movements a real threat to the unity of Canada?  Plus, police officers charged in Manitoba, and fact-checking oil ind...

As Trump’s threats of taking Greenland intensify, world leaders are in Davos for the World Economic Forum. It’s been a busy week for Mark Carney, following up diplomatic visits  to China and Qatar with a landmark speech at the WEF that lays bare the unravelling of the global order.  Plus, allegations of “crying rooms” at the CBC and the one year anniversary of DOGE. Host: San Grewal Cred...

 When the Liberals announced the national gun buyback program in 2019, it was supposed to be a simple and clear choice. A popular policy that made for an easy political win. 6 years later, it's looking more like the gun buyback program backfired on the Liberals. How did we get here? PLUS - All eyes on Greenland as Trump threatens to take control.  Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Sen...

Trump invades Greenland tomorrow. Danish forces shoot on American forces. American forces shoot back. Maybe a Canadian gets killed since we're there in support of NATO. In the end America takes Greenland by force. What happens next, Bob? There may be nobody in this country who has had a closer view of the turmoil currently overwhelming the international order than former UN Ambassador Bob Rae. His...

Heated Rivalry’s breakout success is bringing CanCon, hockey, and gay sex to the world. Does this surprising hit give Canadian TV a new playbook? Heated Rivalry is also bringing in new hockey fans and helping the sport’s image, so why isn’t the NHL embracing it? Can the show have a real impact on hockey culture?  Plus, Canada Proud double dips on CBC messaging, and an NDP leadership candidate...

After weeks of protests, thousands of casualties, internet blackouts, and viral moments of resistance, the Canadian media is only now ramping up its coverage of the Iran, Why hasn’t there been more coverage of this historic moment in Canadian outlets?   Plus, Iranian-Canadians have been rallying across the country, but progressives aren’t joining to support them.  Duly Noting: updat...

Mark Carney heads to Beijing, China, marking the first time in 8 years a Canadian Prime Minister sets foot in the country. The trip comes as Canada juggles Chinese canola tariffs and a seriously fractured US trade relationship. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Vina Nadjibulla and asks if it's even possible to play nice with China? Or whether this whole trip is a waste of time. Plus, we hear from Ke...

The U.S. attack on Venezuela roiled Canadian oil markets. Pipelines and crude are suddenly spawning countless headlines. But do you know the difference between your sweet crude and a hole in the ground? And is that hole in the ground spurting sour bitumen? Of course that’s a trick question as everyone knows sour bitumen won’t spurt without dilbit. Right?  What do you really know about oil? Gi...

Twitter/X’s Grok is undressing people, including minors, but xAI doesn’t seem to care.  Now that Twitter is worse than ever, will that be enough to stop Canadian public figures from using the platform?  Jen Gerson of The Line joins to consider the future options for an online public square.    Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Katie Laur (Associate Pro...

In 2025, it seemed like there was always something to be worried or afraid about. Every day brought about change and uncertainty. So we wanted to know, what pre-occupied your mind in 2025, and what are you hopeful for in 2026? Listeners and Canadaland staff all contributed their voices to this documentary.  Host: Sam Konnert Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Produc...

What Maduro’s capture means for Canada.  Trump’s military coup in Venezuela is a mask-off moment of American imperialism, but will it compel Canada to take meaningful action?  Plus, sorting through Canada’s political and media responses to Venezuela.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Katie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Mixing and M...

Nicholas Maduro says he’s “not guilty” in his first court appearance in New York after being captured in a US military operation. But, Canadian politicians and Venezuelan-Canadian Alexis Espejo suggest otherwise. Sam talks with Alexis about how it felt to watch the news unfold. Plus, what do The Notebook, a haunted lumber baron’s wife, a swimming pool scandal, and a knife-wielding intruder all hav...

One of the most powerful voices in Canadian media isn't Canadian. And she doesn’t work for a Canadian news outlet. Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the New York Times correspondent for Canada.  Canadians have a weird relationship to the NYT. In one sense, it's the most powerful newspaper in Canada. It has more digital subscribers than any Canadian publication, although The Globe and Mail has more re...

Canadaland fan-favourite guests share their predictions, while Jesse and Noor give their two cents. Topics include a Canadian bid to join the E.U., a social media ban in the southern hemisphere, and robot raccoons eating hot peppers. Plus: Jesse makes an informed prediction about the future of Canadaland. This episode uses generative AI for the following purposes: Enhance Speech by Adobe on a...

It's the holidays and we are re-running a classic episode of Off The Record this week. Here at Canadaland it can often seem like just one shitty story after another. But it’s not just one more shitty story to round out the year. Nope. This is also a tale of hope, dreams, and IUDs.  Every year Canadaland searches for and hires two fellows. Two new audio journalists who join us here and work wi...

We're bringing you something different: an episode of the brand-new CBC series The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall . In the 1980s and 90s, Satan and his followers were accused of brainwashing children, sacrificing babies, and infiltrating North American society on a massive scale — yet these thousands of alleged Satanists were nowhere to be found.  In the all new 8-part series, The Devil Y...

Canadaland fan-favourite guests give the gift of Duly Noteds for Jesse and Noor to unwrap and judge mercilessly. Topics include secret Chinese police stations, the life and death of a right-wing party in B.C., and Danielle Smith’s French-language lessons. Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) tom sayers (Audio Editor), max col...

Noor Azrieh and Sam Konnert look back on the moments that defined Canadian politics this year. We revisit viral clips, media meltdowns, Question Period fever dreams, floor crossers, immigration fights, Alberta separatism, national projects (that may or may not exist yet), and the growing sense that everything is moving very fast… but also somehow not at all. Plus: pop stars, masked singers, elbow-...

Their stated goal is to manipulate your media and, by extension, you. We’re not flagging a secretive government agency here, not some media oligarch, no one in the usual line-up of Bondesque villains.  In fact, many of us love what these master manipulators do. They are, drum roll please… composers! Their work literally underscores much of the podcast world. Their power lies in their ability...

The choice between the F-35 and Saab’s Gripen E is a litmus test for Canada’s commitment to decoupling from America.  As Carney reinvests in the military, is the Canadian media properly equipped to cover it?  Plus, an $18 million CRA chatbox that is usually wrong.  Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate producer and Fact Checking) tom sayers...

Floor crossers, falling polling numbers, and grumblings in the Conservative orbit. Pierre Poilievre sure looks shaky right now, but will it really make a difference in his upcoming leadership review? Rahim Mohamed of the National Post joins San Grewal to explain why Poilievre isn’t done just yet.  Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate producer and Fa...