The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

It's a big week in space as Star Trek becomes real if only for a few minutes.  William Shatner goes into space and The Bridge has Canada's most famous astronaut to tell us what to think about that. Also an update on hand sanitizers -- were they ever. even needed? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertis...

The Conservative Caucus moves to be the deciders on whether their leader stays or goes.  Can that be contagious for other parties?  Chantal and Bruce have their thoughts on that.  Plus why has politics become so unattractive for potential candidates? Or has it? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertisin...

A footnote to low election turnouts.  And then, when will Alberta recover from its COVID disaster?  Can Jason Kenney survive the pandemic?  No province has escaped the COVID challenge but Alberta has had a worse time than anywhere.   Today we try to answer the question: What the heck is happening to Alberta? Guiding us through the story from Calgary is a friend of The Bridge and fellow podcaster,...

Chantal is in Montreal and Bruce is on the road today but the talk is always clear -- and today it's more of the post-election talk as we head into October ten days clear of the vote that gave the country another Trudeau minority.  Trudeau's agenda and cabinet , O'Toole's leadership and Indigenous rights top the good talk agenda. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

With vaccine rates somewhat stalled is it time for governments, businesses AND hospitals to step up their game on getting more vaccines into more arms?  Smoke Mirrors and The Truth is back with Bruce Anderson.  Also is it finally time to admit we lost the war in Afghanistan? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

Canada elected 102 women to the House of Commons last week which is a new record, but it raises the question, is it enough?  Other countries do better, much better.  The executive director of Equal Voice joins the program for her perspective on all this.  Also, our tease for today, can James Bond save the movie theatre business? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inf...

You don't want to miss this.  A feature interview with Dr Isaac Bogoch of the University Health Network.  If you feel out of touch after weeks of politics with the pandemic this is what you need.  We cover a lot of ground here from kids, schools, teachers, boosters, attending major gatherings -- its all here with the authoritative, no-nonsense voice of Dr Bogoch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

All the leaders. fell short of their hopes, so will any lose their jobs.  That's the focus for Chantal and Bruce on this week's Good Talk.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

No surprise, you weren't all too happy with the campaign or the final result.  But some interesting comments and suggestions and a few questions too on this week's Your Turn.  About the vote, about the media, and that's not all.  Enjoy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is another master class episode, this time on journalism in the midst of a campaign.  Bruce and I are joined by an old friend, Assistant Professor of Journalism Elly Alboim from the Carleton School of Journalism. If you care about journalism you'll want to hear this. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

So what was the point of all that?  The Liberals are back with another minority almost the mirror image of the one that wasn't good enough for them just six weeks ago.  The Conservatives get more votes, the Liberals get more seats. The NDP makes no breakthroughs and still sits in fourth place behind the Bloc. Deja vu all over again. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

It's all over except for the voting and today the Insiders with their stories about what E Day can be like -- for the leaders, for the staff and for the voters. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chantal and Bruce join in on where we are with just hours left in the campaign.  Is it too late for voters to change their minds?  And how does the Jason Kenney news change things if at all? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From across the country and across the continent your thoughts and comments and questions about the final days of the campaign.  With four days to go the comments are like the polls, close and still deciding.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is a lively and important discussion with Bruce Anderson on how to prepare for Monday night's election results. And also a good back and forth about whether the coverage the People's Party is getting, or not getting, is fair or unfair. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do journalists deal with the challenges of the final days of a campaign.  Spin is heavy, polls are abundant, and momentum can distort things.  Althia is on the road this week catching a few days with each of the major candidates for Prime Minister.  Rob is in the comfort of his home in Ottawa watching and analyzing things the way only he can.  Plus, today's fun fact: does incumbency help or hu...

It's gut-check time for all leaders during the final seven days.  What do you say, what do you do, where do you go? These may be critical decisions so how do you make them.  Our Insiders draw on their experience to give their best advice.  And today's fun fact:  just what did the last Parliament accomplish.  The facts and figures tell a story. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...

This week's episode of Good Talk is a master class in understanding everything from debates, the vulnerabilities of the leaders, the impact of the People's Party, and the fallout from the Quebec leader's latest pronouncements. Things don't get better than Chantal and Bruce and this is another great example. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

Another week of emails from you on the state of politics in Canada during this election campaign.  Questions, comments, thoughts from Canadians living at home and abroad. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce has briefed various leaders from different parties on how to prep for the big debate nights.  He takes us inside some of those stories on today's Smoke Mirrors and The Truth.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canadian political leaders have debated since 1968, but do journalists cover these election spectacles appropriately?  And how about those semi-violent protests - are they covered too much or too little? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are entering the stretch run, the final two weeks, and the political ad segment of the campaign.  It really started this holiday weekend as the Liberals moved to blunt Conservative momentum. Did it work?  Does it work. Our Insiders look at that, plus the upcoming two debates this week -- and they give us the questions THEY would ask! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...

One down two to go.  The debates have begun and they matter.  Chantal and Bruce deconstruct last night's French language debate and look ahead to the next two next week.  Everything is now at stake in a very tight race. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You've been writing a lot to themansbridgepodcast@gmail.com in the last two weeks about the election campaign, and about my Arctic travels.  Today is your turn and as long-time listeners to The Bridge know, I love reading your mail.  So enjoy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce Anderson takes a close-up look at what the polls are saying, and what they are NOT saying.  Also, how big is the pandemic as an issue and could it get bigger.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.