The West Block

A political bombshell rocks Ottawa after allegations the Prime Minister's Office pressured former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to end a criminal prosecution against SNC-Lavalin. The Prime Minister says the allegations are false, but the opposition isn't buying it. Where do we go from here? And then will it be free and fair elections or military intervention in Venezuela? We'll talk to Ven...

DAM BUSTERS WAS A MISSION TO DESTROY GERMANY’S HYDRO ELECTRIC DAMS NEARLY SEVENTY SIX YEARS AGO.  THIS LEGENDARY MISSION, CODE NAMED OPERATION CHASTISE, IS CREDITED AS HELPING TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR TWO.  THE GOAL OF BOMBING THESE DAMS INSIDE THE THIRD REICH WAS TO DESTROY MASSIVE WATER RESERVOIRS USED FOR POWER TO BUILD GERMANY’S MILITARY.  WHAT ROLE DID CANADA PLAY?  HOW IMPORTANT WAS...

What is the government doing to protect a cyber attack in the next federal election?  And what about fake news?  Plus Canada will host the Lima Group on Monday in Ottawa to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, what can these countries from Central and South America do?  And preparing workers for future employment, what one company is saying may be the solution? Guests:  Karina Gould, Minister of Democ...

Have we reached a breaking point in fighting diseases like Aids, TB and malaria?  What happens if nations around the world do not provide more funds? Guest: Peter Sands, Executive Director Global Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diana Bronson of Food Secure Canada explains why Canada's new food guide is just one ingredient in the recipe for healthy eating.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Protests on both sides of the pipeline debate were held across Canada this week...and that divide also exists within the Indigenous community.  How do they suggest moving forward and how is this impacting investment in Canada?  We'll also talk to President Trump's former White House communications director about Trumps's demands on a border wall.  And, the federal government is set to announce a c...

THIS WEEK, WESTERN ALIENATION HITS THE ROAD NEXT MONTH AS HUNDRED OF TRUCKERS PLAN TO DRIVE THEIR BIG RIGS.... ALL THE WAY FROM ALBERTA TO PARLIAMENT HILL, WHAT MORE CAN ALBERTA DO TO GET THE PIPELINE PROJECT MOVING?  THEN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GEO POLITICAL HOTSPOTS FOR 2019, AND AS THE UNITED STATES PREPARES TO BRING TROOPS HOME FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER REGIONS, HOW WILL THIS IMPACT CANADIA...

We begin the show today with a look at some of the big political domestic stories of the year.  Then, less than ten months until a federal election...we check in with where each party stands with the electorate and then does Canada's military have the resources it needs to do its job? Guests: Abigail Bimman,@AbigailBimman; David Akin, @davidakin; Mike Le Couteur, @mikelecouteur; Darrell Bricker, C...

In this broad ranging end of the year conversation with the Prime Minister, we discuss the oil crisis, immigration, economy, China, Saudi Arabia and his hopes for the year ahead on Parliament Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An extended conversation with Canadian Prime Minsiter Justin Trudeau where we discuss the oil crisis, immigration, Canada-China relations, Saudi Arabia and the roll his faith plays in his daily life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sit down with the Prime Minister to talk about the Alberta oil crisis, immigration and Canada-China relations.  Then we take a tour of Centre Block on Parliament Hill before it closes for a aten year renovation project. Plus some MPs on the hill join us for a special Christmas story. Guests: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Johanna Mizgala,House of Commons Curator; Geoff Regan,Speaker of the Hous...

In this bonus West Block podcast we take a look at three years in with the federal government's promise to implement all ninety four recommendations from the truth and reconciliation commission report....what are the challenges and did the government promise too much? Guest: Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

U.S. President Donald Trump's politicization of the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou makes things awkward for Canada, but there could also be blowback for the president at home, according to Michael Hirson of the Eurasia Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A number of Indigenous leaders were in Ottawa this week speaking out against Bill C48, a bill to see a moratorium on ships carrying oil from anchoring off the northern British Columbia coast.  What do these leaders want and why are they planning to ask the United Nations to help? Guests: Chief Raymond Morris, National Chiefs Coalition ; Calvin Helin, Eagle Spirit Chiefs Council   Learn more about...

We begin the show this week with the federal provincial showdown at the First Minister's meeting in Montreal, what is dividing Ottawa from its provincial counterparts?  Then we take a look at the RCMP arrest of a Chinese executive with Huawei, what does this mean for relations between China, Canada and the U.S.? Guests: Dominic LeBlanc, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister; Scott Moe, Saskatchewan P...

This week we talk to two MPs on the hill about the controversy surrounding a fellow MP plus the recent report outlining the costs for asylym seekers crossing into Canada illegally.  We then talk to a former state department official about the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.   Guests: Peter Schiefke, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime, Mic...

Alberta's Finance Minister says the federal government does not understand the economic crisis his province is facing due to the ailing oil industry.  Ottawa says that is not true...we'll get both sides of this story.  Plus what are the dangers journalists face in the middle east? Guests: Bill Morneau, Federal Finance Minister; Joe Ceci, Alberta's Finance Minister, Ayman Mhanna, SK Eyes Centre for...

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have died since the civil war began over seven years ago and many more have been displaced.  What more should the west be doing to help Syrians?  Here's your West Block bonus podcast. Guest: Kenan Rahmani, Syrian Campaign Policy Advisor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The West Block we are in Halifax at the International Security Forum.  Is there a division within the NATO alliance?  Is NATO doing enough for Ukraine when it comes to the threat they face from Russia?  And what about the U.S. does it support this global alliance and where do political leaders there view the U.S. and its role as a global leader? Guests: Rose Gottemoeller, NATO D...

POLITICAL BOMBSHELL HIT OTTAWA this week WHEN FORMER CABINET MINISTER AND MP TONY CLEMENT DISCLOSED AN EXTORTION ATTEMPT FOR HIS INAPPROPRIATE ONLINE BEHAVRIOUR AND ACTS OF INFEDILITY. CLEMENT SAT ON THE POWERFUL AND SECRETIVE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES NATIONAL SECURITY, SO WAS SECURITY COMPROMISED?  THEN WE WILL TALK TO A COUPLE OF VETERANS ABOUT GOVERNMENT SERVICES PLUS CANADA'S ROLE...

This week on The West Block we look at some of the concerns of the business community and whether or not Canada could handle a recession.  Then we talk about the motion in the house of commons that received bi-partisan support on consequences for returning ISIS fighters.  And trade ministers from around the world met in Ottawa last week to discuss WTO reforms, US and China were not invited, is the...

Later this week Canada will host trade minister from twelve countries but the US is not invited, how will this affect our trade relations south of the border?  Then a Saudi journalists death in Turkey appears is causing outrage around the world, should human rights outweigh business?  And nearly six years ago cannabis was legalized in Colorado.  What lessons have they learned after it rolled out?...

Bonus mid-week West Block podcast: In less than a month voters in the U.S. head to the polls in what is being called the most important midterm election in our lifetime.  President Trump is not on the ballot but is this election a referendum on his first two years in office?  And will there be a blue wave or will we have a divided congress on November 7th? Guest: Christopher Sands, Director of the...

Former conservative prime minister Stephen Harper sits down with Mercedes Stephenson in New York City where he launched his latest book, Right Here Right Now-a look at globalism and how the populist movement has arisen from this.  Guest: Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States has officially pulled out of the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran. It's the latest move in the deterioration in relations between the two countries. Will international dispute lead to nuclear war? And can Iran be trusted?   Guest: Joseph Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices