Return to Reason

Where is Canada actually headed?  David Leis sits down with Conrad Black for an honest conversation about Canada’s identity, its history, and the pressures building across politics, the courts, and the economy as we head toward 2027.  They talk about concerns around the rule of law and judicial activism, and whether courts are starting to reshape how laws are applied. Black also weighs in on risin...

Canada is rolling out new laws to regulate online content—but at what cost?   David Leis and Josh Dehaas, with Canadian Constitution Foundation, break down Bill C9 and many other censorship bills that are aimed at protecting children online, but raise serious questions about free speech, privacy, and government control over information.   From age verification and internet surveillance concerns to...

Canada’s immigration policy is a train wreck, and it’s creating real security risks.  Former RCMP intelligence analyst Scott McGregor explains how gaps in policy, weak enforcement, and slow deportation systems are being exploited by organized crime and foreign actors in Canada.  This isn’t just about border control—it’s about policy failure. From ports to courts, the system is struggling to keep u...

Why land claims are raising alarm bells for homeowners.  Law professor Bruce Pardy joins David Leis to discuss why court decisions, B.C. Indigenous land claims, and government policy are raising new questions about property rights in Canada.  What do the Cowichan case in B.C. and the recent New Brunswick ruling actually mean? Why aren't property rights protected in Canada's Constitution? And what...

Canada is not secure, and according to Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret.) David Redman, the risks and our "enemies" are already here.   Redman, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 27 years, reveals just how weak Canada's border is, our failing immigration enforcement, and explains how the courts and policing systems are not keeping up with reality.   He raises serious concerns about known threats o...

Is public land still truly public?  Most Canadians don’t think twice about Crown land—it’s where people hunt, fish, camp, and get away from the city. But that access is becoming a real point of tension.  David Leis is joined by Jesse Zeman of the BC Wildlife Federation and Chris Heald of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation to talk about what’s changing on Crown lands across Canada, and why more peopl...

Former BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong has spent years inside government making real budget decisions during economic stress and crisis periods in British Columbia. He reflects on what actually worked in office, balancing budgets, managing deficits, and dealing with the political pressure that comes with long-term planning.  He also breaks down where policy is creating roadblocks today, especiall...

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra joins David Leis for a blunt conversation about trade, pipelines, critical minerals, China, and why the U.S. is growing frustrated with Canada’s direction.  Hoekstra says America wants to partner with Canada, grow prosperity, protect freedoms, and build major projects together, but warns the relationship is being tested by harmful policies, trade barriers, a...

Life in Canada is getting more expensive, and a lot of people are asking why.  David Leis talks with former trade minister Ed Fast about what’s happening with Canada’s economy right now—from trade with the U.S. to rising costs at home.  They break down why Canada is struggling to keep up in a fast-changing world, and what it means for jobs, prices, and the future. You'll want to hear this.  

Canada’s immigration system is under serious pressure, and people are starting to notice.  Record-high immigration levels, a strained housing market, and growing concerns about fraud and public safety are forcing a tough question: is the system working the way it should?  Researcher and journalist Riley Donovan breaks down what’s changed, what the latest reports are revealing, and why this debate...

This is very, very serious for Canada.   A major court decision in B.C. is raising a question Canadians never thought they’d have to ask: do you actually own your home… or could it be taken away?  Lawyer Tom Isaac warns we’re in historic times—with massive uncertainty around land claims, property rights, and the future of Canada. If we don’t get our act together, this could be game over.  There’s...

Gas prices are rising again—and it’s only going to get worse according to energy expert Dan McTeague. With global tensions like the Iran conflict driving oil higher, Canada had a chance to protect itself… but didn’t.  Dan, founder of Canadians for Affordable Energy and former Liberal MP, explains why government policies, taxes, and net-zero policies are keeping Canada’s oil in the ground while oth...

Canada’s politics are at a breaking point. Retired politician Preston Manning shares why public trust in politicians is sinking, how floor crossers are shaking democracy, and why Western provinces feel ignored while Quebec gains more control. Preston discusses Canada's stagnant growth, underused natural resources, healthcare bottlenecks, and the federal government’s overreach into provincial autho...

Canada’s economy is in trouble, says leading economist Jack Mintz. In this brutally honest conversation, Jack says jobs are vanishing, growth is stalled, and your wallet is taking the hit. Decades of high taxes, bad policies, and government overreach have left Canadians paying the price. Jack reveals the shocking truth: Canada is falling behind the rest of the G7, and ordinary citizens are feeling...

As gas prices keep climbing, Canada could have protected itself by building more pipelines, but we didn’t. Now, with conflict in Iran driving global oil prices higher and putting pressure on energy markets, Canadians are paying more at the pump.   Host David Leis and Gina Pappano from InvestNow Inc. expose why hostile public policy, activist pressure, and Canada’s banks are working against the oil...

  "Canada has created different classes of citizens" says law professor Bruce Pardy.  He explains why Canada's laws don't treat everyone the same. He says we're moving toward a system where your identity matters more than your individual rights. So what's really going on?   This isn’t left vs. right. It’s about fairness. It’s about freedom. And it’s about whether the same rules still apply to ever...

Cartel violence in Mexico isn’t just Mexico’s problem anymore.  From vulnerable ports to immigration screening gaps, security experts warn that Canada is not insulated from the narco-state dynamics reshaping North America.  Intelligence analyst Scott McGregor says: cartels operate like sophisticated global businesses, tourism money fuels influence, and eliminating a single kingpin doesn’t dismantl...

Canada’s grocery bills are out of control, hitting 6.2% inflation, the highest in the G7. But this isn’t just about rising prices, it’s about government policies and structural problems that are making it worse.  Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Canadian professor and researcher, exposes how trade barriers, weak competition, and financial programs are fueling food inflation. Sylvain says Canada’s economy i...

A court of Appeal deemed the Emergencies Act was used illegally in February 2022. If another crisis hits tomorrow, what standards would government have to meet? Did we learn any lessons, or will this happen again?  David Leis speaks with Josh DeHaas of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, the team behind the court action. Josh explains how vague emergency definitions, secrecy in governance, and u...

Canada’s economy is quietly unraveling, and it could hit your wallet, your job, and your future. David Leis sits down with former Finance Minister Joe Oliver to reveal the hard truth: government overspending, ballooning deficits, and mismanaged trade are sending Canadian money overseas, leaving families struggling and businesses looking elsewhere. Productivity is falling, innovation is stalling, a...

Canada’s healthcare system is failing—and people are dying while waiting for care. In this explosive episode, David Leis sits down with Dr. Brian Day to reveal the shocking truth about long wait times, the moral and economic cost of our broken system, and Alberta’s bold plan to give patients real choice between public and private care. Will Canada finally fix its healthcare crisis, or are lives go...

Canada is quietly taxing itself into decline. David Leis sits down with tax expert Kim Moody to explain why high taxes are driving jobs, investment, and talent out of the country—and how government spending is fuelling inflation while everyday Canadians fall behind. From CRA inefficiencies to the case for a flat tax, this conversation breaks down why a major tax reset may be the only way to save C...

Canada is rewriting the rules on speech and few are paying attention. David Leis sits down with John Carpay from the Justice Centre to discuss Bill C-9, censorship, and the growing pressure on religious expression. From selective law enforcement to race-based rights, this conversation exposes why freedom in Canada may be more fragile than most realize. 

The US is heading into a turbulent 2026 midterm season, and corruption, voter fraud, and political missteps could shake the nation. David Leis sits down with American writer and publisher, Jeffrey Tucker, to break down what really went wrong with President Donald Trump’s tariffs, why US manufacturing isn’t bouncing back, and how America is falling short of promises of a “New Golden Age.”  From Tru...

Is there really a war on Christmas and has it happened before?  Historian Dr. Gerry Bowler shares how Christmas has long been a political and cultural battleground. From Dickens and Santa Claus to Nazi attempts to reshape the holiday, this conversation connects history to today’s culture wars, moral relativism, and the fading influence of Judeo-Christian values. What happens when truth itself is u...