The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

What's the downside for Justin Trudeau in calling a first minister's conference? What's he got to lose? On the day the NDP leader begins to back away from the Liberal's carbon pricing policy, we have a serious discussion about the pros and cons of having a televised conference to address the differences between the country's prime minister, premiers and territorial leaders. Chantal and Bruce have...

The question was simple, name your favourite past or present Canadian TV show. The answers poured in -- enough for two weeks of shows. Today the final list of your choices and they're pretty interesting. And they come from all over the world. Plus the Random Ranter with his thoughts on what is holding back Canadian productivity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inf...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on April 2nd. There used to be a time when the finance minister's budget speech was the most closely guarded secret on the parliamentary agenda.  Not so much anymore. These days many budget policies are released weeks before the speech. That's certainly the case this year. The budget speech isn't for another few weeks but daily we se...

The latest round of billion dollars promises from the Trudeau government is directed at improving Canada's defence system, especially in Canada's arctic. Helping us understand what is planned and whether it's adequate or even necessary is one of the country's leading defence analysts and someone who has written and lectured often on Canada's arctic policy as it relates to defence. He's Professor R...

Last week's phone call between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu marked a new chapter in US-Israel relations and is not a good one. What will happen now? Is the rift fixable? Dr Janice Stein is with us for her regular Monday discussion. Also in the conversation, Is Russia really as powerful as some NATO allies are making it sound? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

We start this week with a simple question -- where is all the money coming from to pay for massive new housing and school lunch programs? With a budget now less than two weeks ago and multi billion dollar programs being dropped almost daily it's an important question. But so is the future of the NDP, with some high profile new departures from Jagmeet Singh's next campaign candidate list. Rob Russo...

This week's question has again prompted dozens and dozens of answers. What Canadian TV show, past or present, has had the greatest impact on you as a Canadian? The answers tell us a lot about ourselves and our television industry. Also today the random Ranter with his own provocative take on the carbon tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on March 26th. Circle April 8th for the chance to see something you may never see again during your lifetime.  A total solar eclipse will be witnessed in a specific path through Canada on that day, and in almost all of the rest of the country, a partial eclipse will be experienced. So what to do, where to be and how to safely watch t...

There used to be a time when the finance minister's budget speech was the most closely guarded secret on the parliamentary agenda.  Not so much anymore. These days many budget policies are released weeks before the speech. That's certainly the case this year. The budget speech isn't for another few weeks but daily we seem to learn more about what will be in the speech. The Canadian correspondent f...

While Israelis keep up the pressure for negotiations to free the hostages, there's another issue dividing Israelis. It's the issue surrounding Ultra Orthodox Israelis and military service. Janice Stein is with us for her regular Monday appearance to explain this, plus new issues confronting Ukraine in its war with Russia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informatio...

Chantal and Bruce join Peter on location from Carleton University in Ottawa answering their questions! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and Labrador to the High Arctic, your choices for the question of the week -- name your favourite inside Canada but outside your own province, holiday spot. Some really terrific answers. Plus the Random Ranter with a really different rant -- don't miss it! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and us...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on February 6th. A feature interview with the author of an extraordinary new book that explores he world of chance, chaos and why everything we do matters. He's Brian Klaas a university professor in London, England. When you hear his stories and his theories you'll be thinking about how your own life has been impacted by  "flukes". I...

Circle April 8th for the chance to see something you may never see again during your lifetime.  A total solar eclipse will be witnessed in a specific path through Canada on that day, and in almost all of the rest of the country, a partial eclipse will be experienced. So what to do, where to be and how to safely watch the eclipse are all good questions and today Science Sam, Dr Samantha Yammine, jo...

A horrific attack on concert goers in Moscow on Friday night has terrorized Russians and put some difficult decisions in front of Vladimir Putin. Who did it, why did they do it and why didn't he listen to the US who warned him weeks ago that something like this was being planned? Janice Stein joins us to talk about the impact this can have on the Ukraine war; also the latest on Israel-Hamas and so...

The topics were hot, from the Middle East to carbon pricing, but after all the positioning did anything really change? Chantal and Bruce are here and they have their thoughts on these and other issues including the latest mumbles about whether or not the NDP and the Liberals should get even closer. And some closing thoughts on Brian Mulroney. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...

So many entries in our "favourite Canadian book" contest  that we stretched things into a second week. Lots here from Berton to Atwood of course, but dozens more that we've established a catalogue of richness from Canadian authors. Plus, this week the Random Ranter on "homelessness". Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of perso...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on March 5th. When Brian Mulroney passed last week so did an era in Canadian politics. But did some of the lessons of leadership that he possessed carry on to new generations of leadership? Conservative James Moore and Liberal Gerald Butts carry on their non partisan conversations on The Bridge, started in 2022, this week with the Mu...

What are the challenges of covering a presidential race like the one underway in the United States? And how is the US media dealing with those challenges?  Keith Boag is with us again to explore those questions in a way that helps us understand the stakes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our regular Monday session with Dr Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto. This week's focus starts on Israel and Hamas and the question implied in the title above, but also we spend time on France's new hawkish push on Russia, and an explainer on the latest crisis in Haiti. Plus an update on the question of the week! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....

Carbon Taxes, Carbon Rebates, Arrive Can, the Auditor General ....another week when the questions of who's protecting your money, how it's spent, how it's promised and who's accountable are all up front. Chantal is back and with Bruce they tackle all these issues trying to determine accountability and yes, even political wisdom. That plus some new thoughts on Brian Mulroney. Hosted by Simplecast,...

This week's question was simple -- name your favourite Canadian book, one that would help Canadians understand their country better. And you responded in numbers unseen since we began what's become a Thursday regular. So much so that we've had to change the format! Plus, Thursday's also mean the Random Ranter and he's in fine form on the issue of the Carbon Tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on January 30th. We ask Dr Samantha Nutt of War Child Canada to break down her most recent trip to South Sudan, basically to take us with her. So get your maps ready because this will bring you into the heart of one of the most challenging places on earth -- thousands of dead, millions of displaced .. many facing civil war and starva...

It's said that half the countries in the world that have elections will have them this year. But it seems that in many of those countries the incumbent party is in trouble and set to lose. Why? Our guest, Andrew MacDougall, knows politics as a former Director of Communications for Stephen Harper while Harper was prime minister, and is now a consultant for the Trafalgar Strategy Group in London, En...

An exchange over the weekend has set the relationship between Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden in a very hard place. Biden first gave an interview on Saturday night and then Netanyahu responded on Sunday. The two men, it seems, couldn't be further apart on how to resolve the crisis in Israel and Gaza. Today, Janice Stein deconstructs the interview with Biden that started the weekend back and forth...