The West Block

In this episode: The Throne Speech has been read and debate has started. Will the Liberal government get support for its vision? Then Huawei wants to move its research facility north, but we ask the company why Canadians should trust it when intelligence and security agencies are raising red flags. And our panel of journalists dives into all the drama as the House of Commons returns. Guests: Gover...

Today we talk to a principal advisor to the President of the Kurdistan regional government about ths situation on the ground in Iraq and what his government is asking for from the global community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we look at the battle within the conservative party over Andrew Scheer's leadership, is it time for him to go?  Then we look at what to expect when the premiers from across the country gather in Toronto--is a consensus on some key issues possible?  Plus a look at what to expect when the government lays out its agenda in the speech from the throne later this week. Learn more about y...

The Ecofiscal Commission has released its final report and offer three approaches for Canada to meet its climate targets for 2030.  Is putting a price on carbon the most effective way to battle climate change? Guest:  Stewart Elgie, Ecofiscal Commission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The West Block we talk to the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about US foreign policy on China and Turkey.  We then speak to a political leader from Hong Kong about her message to the rest of the world on what people in Hong Kong are demanding.  Plus a look at Canada’s defence spending, are we living up to our agreement to spend 2 percent of our GDP on defence...

In this episode we look at Turkey's incursion into Northern Syria and what this means for their membership within NATO.  Then we look at the balance of power the Bloc Quebecois  may hold when the House of Commons returns in December.  Plus what priorities will the NDP be pushing for the government to act on. Guests: Kerim Uras, Turkey's Ambassador to Canada; Yves Francois Blanchet, Bloc Quebecois...

Today we go down under to get an update on the bush fires, why are we seeing a longer and longer season?  Is there a connection between bush fires and climate change? Guest: David Bowman;Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire ScienceFire Centre Director, School of Natural Sciences,The University of Tasmania Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this show we will take a look at the frustrations people in Alberta are facing which have been increasing since the federal election last month.  Then we will talk to a couple of veterans about what issues and concerns they have...what more should the federal government be doing.  Plus we will take a look at the ID program to identify soldiers who lost their lives in service. Guests:  Jason Ken...

Charles Burton, a former counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in China and now a professor of Chinese politics says Canada needs to stand up to China for its bullying tactics on other exports plus its espionage activities.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IS THERE A CIVIL WAR BREWING INSIDE THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY? WE'LL LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE OVER CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER ANDREW SCHEER AND WHETHER HE SHOULD REMAIN AT THE HELM. THEN AN UPDATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYRIA AND IRAQ, PLUS WILL THE MARCH TOWARDS IMPEACHMENT DERAIL THE RATIFICATION OF THE NEW NAFTA DEAL IN THE U.S.? GUESTS: Peter Van Loan, Former Government House Leader; Tom...

Brexit has been delayed until January 2020 and voters in the UK head to the polls on December 12th, but what happens if there is a minority or majority government?  More chaos expected. Guest: David Jeffery, University of Liverpool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a social conservative win a national election in Canada?  And  what is Official Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer doing now to convince party members he should remain at the helm? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will announce his new cabinet on November 20th, how will he reach out to Alberta and Saskatchewan, two western provinces where people are feeling very frustrated? Guests: Andrew Sc...

A conversation with Official Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer about his election loss, his refusal to march in pride parades and his support for leadership review when the party gathers in Toronto next spring.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new hip hop band, Ministry of Wok is hoping voters will consider the arms trade race when casting ballots. Guest: Salman Navqi, Songwriter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polls show Canada is heading for a minority government on election day, will it be a liberal minority or a conservative minority?  And if it is a minority government, which party will hold the balance of power? Plus if a party leader does not perform well, will they be able to hold the party together? Guests: Darrell Bricker, Ipsos Public Affairs CEO; Robert Fife, Globe and Mail Ottawa Bureau Chie...

Do debates change an election campaign?  Do they impact elections?  And what debate zingers from previous debates still resonate? Guests: Richard Mahoney, Liberal strategist; Anne McGrath, NDP strategist; Fred DeLorey, Conservative strategist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin the show in Quebec, the threat from the Bloc...will Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau be able to win the seats he needs?  Then we talk to one of the federal party leaders about why he waited so late in the campaign to release his party platform.  Plus we check in with our party strategists on the party leader debate performances and what each leader needs to do in the final week of campaignin...

A conversation with Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer joins the West Block to discuss his election platform, proposals, cuts and why he thinks Canadians should support him on election day.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health care is top of mind for many Canadians this election campaign.  We travel to Canada's east coast to find out why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we take a look at the health care crisis, particularly in Atlantic Canada...what this means for patients and how it is affecting the election campaign.  Then we talk to three first time federal electoral candidates about what they are hearing when they go door to door. And our weekly strategy panel talk about the war room successes and what to expect next week on the election campa...

We talk to students from the University of Victoria to find out what issue is most pressing on their campus. Guests: Karina Dhillon, Liberal representative; Isabella Lee, NDP representative; Andrew Rose, Green party representative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we sit down with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to find out why he wants to be prime minister and go through some of his campaign promises.  Then we take a look at the highs and lows on the campaign trail and what lies ahead next week.  And then a quick look at some of the lighter moments on the campaign trail. Guests: Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader; Anne McGrath, NDP strategist; Richard Mahoney, L...

A conversation with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, why does he want to be prime minister? Pipelines, renewable energy and costing out his campaign promises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the federal election set for October 21st in Canada, the next government may be decided by who wins in British Columbia.  What's at stake and what issues are resonating particularly in the lower mainland on Vancouver Island: Guests:  Brad Vis-B.C. Conservative candidate; John Kidder-B.C. Green candidate; Svend Robinson-B.C. NDP candidate; Terry Beech-Liberal candidate; Sonia Theroux, Leadnow...

In this episode we look at the political fallout from the images of Justin Trudeau in blackface brownface over 18 years ago.  Is his apology enough?  How does this affect the election campaign and will it be the beginning of a conversation about racism in Canada? Guests:  Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader; Sarbjit Kour, Liberal strategist; Anne McGrath, NDP strategist; Fred DeLorey, Conservative s...