Wonk

Paul Wells is the dean of political reporting in Canada. For 30 years he wrote for national news outlets before recently launching his own little media empire. He has a buzzing Substack and podcast. His brand name is now, well, his name. He joins host Edward Greenspon to talk about his life in a fast-changing media landscape, the future of journalism and why he stopped caring about being edgy.

Shingai Manjengwa is one of the leading AI educators and thinkers. She is the head of AI education at chainML, the founder of Fireside Analytics, and the director of professional development at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence. She talks to host Edward Greenspon about how AI actually works, its challenges and why we shouldn’t fear the future.

Dr. Vivek Goel was an ace up Canada’s sleeve when the pandemic hit. He’s a physician and top public health researcher. He was on COVID-19’s Immunity Task Force and advised the national body for COVID-19 research. He’s also the president of the University of Waterloo. He talks to host Edward Greenspon about the unrest in higher education institutions, the importance of health data and what a better...

Anne McLellan is known as ‘Landslide Annie’ for her nail biting wins as a Liberal MP in Alberta. She served as Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Health and deputy Prime minister. Today, she’s a co-chair, along with former conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, of the coalition for a Better Future. She talks to host Ed...

Crystal Smith is the elected chief of the Haisla National Council and the guiding force behind a multi-billion-dollar LNG project on Haisla territory that is fast becoming a model for Indigenous led and owned development. She talks to host Edward Greenspon about the dramatic changes occurring in her home town of Kitimaat Village, overcoming environmental opposition to LNG, and her hopes for the fu...

Marc Garneau has been a naval officer, an astronaut and a cabinet minister. He’s led the Canadian Space Agency and served as ‘Capcom’ at NASA – that is, the voice of Houston on shuttle missions. For his remarkable career(s), his name is etched in the history books, on two highschools and a postage stamp. Garneau talks to host Edward Greenspon about a life of no regrets, the highs and lows of astro...

Peter Nicholson has advised leaders of the OECD, major corporations and was instrumental in Canada's deficit busting 1995 budget. Today, the dean of public policy thinking in Canada has turned his efforts to the topic of wind power, and its potential to make Atlantic Canada the next energy superpower. He talks to Edward Greenspon about the urgent energy transition, why he ‘marches toward the sound...

Jayna Hefford is one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians, having won four straight gold medals. She’s also one of the top goal scorers ever to play the game of hockey. Now she’s turning her considerable talents to the Professional Women’s Hockey League, a six-team league of elite players that hits the ice next month, on Jan. 1, 2024. She talks to host Edward Greenspon about inspiring a new genera...

At a time when news outlets are falling into decline and disappearing from the map, Jeff Elgie has been steadily growing Village Media from his base in Sault Ste Marie, Ont. In the process he has wound up at the centre of one of the most important debates of the digital news era: how to effectively sustain journalism and, by extension, the strength of our democratic fabric. He talks to host Edward...

As Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae has taken on what may be his most consequential role in a 45-year career largely in public service. From the invasion of Ukraine to the war between Israel and Hamas, he speaks for Canada with a rare and often critical clarity. Ambassador Rae talks to host Edward Greenspon about the emotional toll of life at the UN and Canada’s recent diplomatic...

In this episode of Policy Speaking, John Casola, Chief Investment officer of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, joins host Edward Greenspon to break down what the Infrastructure Bank does, why we need it and what projects are in the pipeline.  

In this episode of Policy Speaking, Steve Verheul, Canada's former Chief Trade Negotiator, joins host Edward Greenspon to discuss negotiating the new NAFTA, the strength of middle powers, and Canada's potential leadership in creating a new trading system.

In this episode of Policy Speaking, Scott Balfour, CEO of Emera joins host Edward Greenspon to discuss the many puzzle pieces inherent in Canada’s energy transition. Balfour and Greenspon discuss how to reach renewable energy goals, the need for honest conversations and the question that’s on everyone’s mind: affordability.

Paired with the release of the Public Policy Forum’s Taking Back Health Care report, this special edition of Policy Speaking features report authors Dr. Victoria Lee and Dr. Danielle Martin. Dr. Lee, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University, and Dr. Martin, Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine with T...

In this episode of Policy Speaking, Harold Calla, executive chair of the First Nations Financial Management Board, and CEO Geordie Hungerford join host Edward Greenspon to discuss a roadmap for achieving economic reconciliation. Calla and Hungerford call for the creation of new Indigenous-led institutions, including a First Nations Infrastructure Institute, an Indigenous Development Bank and an In...

Stéphan Déry, Assistant Deputy Minister of Real Property Services at Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Edward Greenspon, PPF President and CEO, discussed the future of work and workspaces during a recent PPF Member Event. Their conversation ranged from how to modernize the federal government's workspaces to ways to attract and retain workers – including beautiful places to work. This epi...

In this special edition of Policy Speaking, Edward Greenspon, PPF president and CEO, is joined by outgoing B.C. Premier John Horgan. On one of his last days as premier of British Columbia, Mr. Horgan gives a no-holds-barred interview on challenges in energy policy, healthcare and climate change, as well as his bubbling frustration with the federal-provincial relationship. This episode includes a #...

In this special edition of Policy Speaking, Edward Greenspon, PPF president and CEO, is joined by Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada , to discuss the latest Monetary Policy Report. Against a backdrop of the sixth interest rate hike this year, Dr. Macklem discusses economic green shoots, maximum sustainable employment, the weight of expectations, historic inflationary lessons — and why he...

This week, Edward Greenspon (PPF’s President and CEO) is joined by Chris Barry (President of Microsoft Canada) to discuss all things technology. This episode was recorded at Microsoft’s Toronto Offices. Barry and Greenspon chat about the workspace Microsoft has created and the workforce changes that came out of the pandemic. They discuss collaboration, productivity, sustainability and how Microsof...

This week, Edward Greenspon (PPF’s President and CEO) discusses Electrification with Bruce Lourie (President of the Ivey Foundation) and Janet Annesley (Chief Sustainability Officer for Kiwetinohk Energy). They discuss what Electrification is and what role it can play in Canada’s path to net zero. Lourie and Annesley look at supply, demand and the overall question of efficiency to help paint a pic...

This week, Edward Greenspon (PPF’s President and CEO) discusses the results of the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race with Ginny Roth (Vice President and National Practice Lead for Government Relations at Crestview Strategy) and Sean Speer (PPF Scotiabank Fellow in Strategic Competitiveness and a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy). After a historic leadersh...

This week, Edward Greenspon (PPF’s President and CEO) discusses LNG and geopolitics with Karen Ogen-Toews (CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance), Bryan Cox (President & CEO of the Canadian LNG Alliance), and Janice Stein (Professor and founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy). Following the German Chancellor's visit to Canada, they discuss what role Canada's natur...

This week, Edward Greenspon (PPF’s President and CEO) discusses Canada’s COVID-19 response with Dr. David Naylor (Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Dr. Fahad Razak (Scientific Director of the COVID-19 Ontario Science Table). Nearly two and a half years later, we're taking stock of how Canada fared compared to its peers during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a...

This week, PPF’s President and CEO and our host of Policy Speaking, Edward Greenspon sits down with Nancy Southern (Chair and CEO of ATCO Ltd. and Canadian Utilities Limited ) at the

In this episode of Policy Speaking, our host and PPF’s President and CEO Edward Greenspon chats with the co-chairs of the Energy Future Forum’s Carbon Management Work Group, Janet Annesley (Chief Sustainability Officer at Kiwetinohk Energy ) and Michael Bernstein (executive director of Clean Prosperity ). They discuss small and large pathways to net-zero as Canada tries to reach our 2030 and 2050...