Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran

Send us Fan Mail Oliver Lane is a transgender athlete and recent graduate of the University of Guelph. A Rookie of the Year, MVP and Ontario University Athletics Athlete of the Year Oliver’s story is highlighted here: https://usports.ca/en/sports/field-hockey/f/news/2018/10/1354109896/oliver-lane-guelph-gryphon --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Vis...

Send us Fan Mail Jacq Hixson-Vulpe is currently a Senior Consultant at the 519 and authored the "Creating Authentic Spaces" document: https://www.the519.org/education-training/training-resources/our-resources/creating-authentic-spaces The 519: https://www.the519.org/ --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.chr...

Send us Fan Mail Jamie Ellerton is Principal at Conaptus, Limited.  https://conaptus.com/team-members Medium Article on NY Resolutions: https://medium.com/@strongandfree2018/a-humble-plea-to-set-new-years-resolutions-341e2b93c5b7?source=friends_link&sk=0f6d1694b7f3c0a6575cc347c739ef35 --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! http...

Send us Fan Mail Listen to Munisha and I discuss how to restore balance in our conversations when it comes to politics. Happy Holidays and wishing you all the best for 2020 and beyond!--- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:  Instagram @openmindspod...

Send us Fan Mail Todd Anderson has over 20 years experience in the energy sector - specifically in wind and solar. I sit down with him to discuss the innovative ways industries are reducing their emissions. And, what governments can do to help. --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my...

Send us Fan Mail Ann Nguyen sat down with me to discuss her interest in politics and her involvement in the Toronto Youth Cabinet - an organization that directly works with Toronto's City Councillors. Check them out at http://thetyc.ca/ --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my In...

Send us Fan Mail For all the coverage of Wexit, surprisingly no one is talking about the Organization's Constitution. In this episode, I sit down with Peter Downing to discuss WEXIT's Constitution, which can be found here: https://wexitalberta.com/constitution.html --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.chris...

Send us Fan Mail Gillian Smith is a tireless Volunteer, Consultant and former Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2018 Ontario Provincial Election. She has written an article about her experiences. Link below. https://thewalrus.ca/what-i-learned-from-losing-the-ontario-election/ --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https://...

Send us Fan Mail Join me as I discuss #strngnfr's ups and downs over the past year! What have I learned after one year of Podcasting? What can I improve upon? And most importantly - why I believe balanced discourse is more necessary than ever before! --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com C...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I discuss the 2019 federal election results and proportional representation! As well I examine the Wexit association more closely looking at their constitution. I end the podcast by discussing some of Wexit's demands and how these could potentially be resolved within our curreny Federal system !--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support...

Send us Fan Mail Western alienation is real in Canada. You cannot open a newspaper without reading an article about it. Listen now to Heon and I, as we break down the underpinnings of western alienation that is rooted in our federal system. We explore Canada's federation, beginning with the near-immediate discontent by Provinces towards the federal government shortly after Confederation. What...

Send us Fan Mail In my last episode on the "Canada Votes" series, I wanted to talk to someone who has worked on the inside of a political party. I had the chance to converse with my friend Emily, who's been involved in politics since University, herself becoming the President of her political riding association. I wanted to understand more about the flexibility inside parties, the o...

Send us Fan Mail So I was a bit late uploading this. But better late than never! Listen to Heon and I discuss the Bloc Quebecois - examining the Party's history, its current platform and the major issues it is fighting for. An interesting aspect of the Bloc is their platform is quite interesting. While the Party is very much focused on fighting for the rights and freedoms of Quebec and Quebec...

Send us Fan Mail Nearly 50 percent of Albertans would support secession from Canada, according to an Angus Reid poll completed in 2019. In #strngnfr's first interview, we sit down with Peter Downing, leader of the Wexit movement out of Alberta to understand what is leading to this sentiment. Has Ottawa purposely disempowered Provinces? Or are the concerns of Alberta a result of our federal sy...

Send us Fan Mail Join Heon and I as we discuss the rise in populism in Canada. We also discuss the history and the aspects of populism that are not normally covered in the news today. Let us know your thoughts. Do you think populism is on the rise in Canada? --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.co...

Send us Fan Mail The Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) is perhaps the youngest political party in Canadian federal politics. Many have characterized the Party as being xenophobic and anti-immigrant. Their leader, Maxime Bernier has been vociferous by openly rejecting Canada’s multiculturalism policy. There is however an underlying philosophy that is guiding the Party and its decisions. Join Heon and I...

Send us Fan Mail Our goal at #strngnfr is to explore political topics with a balanced view. Throughout our #elexn43 coverage, we couldn't help but cover Justin Trudeau's brownface-blackface scandal. Join us in hearing our perspectives and what this may have done to the Liberal Party. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website!...

Send us Fan Mail The Green Party of Canada has always been intriguing to me. I didn’t know enough about the Party. Is their platform only about responding to the environment? What about their stance on the economy? Immigration? Taxation? What are the Party’s strengths? Weaknesses? What would a Canada look like under the Green Party? And what is the connection with other Green Parties throughout th...

Send us Fan Mail In episode three of our coverage of the 2019 Canadian federal election, Heon and I discuss the Conservative Party of Canada's history, philosophy, guiding principles, policy objectives and the biggest weaknesses facing the Party. Tune in now!--- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkar...

Send us Fan Mail In our second instalment leading up to the federal election, the Strong and Free Podcast examines the New Democratic Party (NDP). How was the Party formed? What principles does the Party fight for? What could explain the Party's meteoric rise in the 2011 federal election? And what are the Party's biggest challenges heading into the 2019 election? As always, we try our be...

Send us Fan Mail In our new series, the Strong and Free Podcast will be looking at each major political party leading up to the October election. First up, the Liberal Party. What could explain Justin Trudeau's rise in 2015? How could the leader of the third party seemingly overnight become the governing party with a majority? What did the past 4 years under Trudeau look like and what can Can...

Send us Fan Mail In our final episode on the Canadian Military, we explore the stories of returning soldiers and the types of government supports for returning Military personnel. Specifically, we examine the supports that help individuals transition back to life in Canada. The sense of duty our military has to defend our country and the values we espouse cannot be understated. This series has fun...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, The Strong and Free Podcast examines four main issues facing veterans:  PTSD; Homelessness; Exposure to Chemicals; and Lump-Sum Disability Payments. As always, let us know what you think! --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/strongandfree/support Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my Instagram/...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Heon and I examine the perpetual issue of procurement in the Canadian military. What are the reasons behind procuring the best equipment for Canada's military? And why is military procurement always in the news? Listen now to learn more about military procurement in Canada! Sources used: Library of Parliament, The Evolution of Defence Procurement in Canada ,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Heon and I begin to explore the Canadian Military. We ask the tough questions of why the military is not front and centre for many Canadians. Sources used: Earnscliffe Strategy Group (2018): Views of the Canadian Armed Forces Tracking Study. http://cdacanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Views-of-the-CF-Exec-Summary.pdf Current Canadian Operations : https://www.ca...