10/3: Canada Covered

New legislation in Saskatchewan could shake up relations between provinces and the feds. The Saskatchewan First Act, unveiled Nov. 1 seeks to assert provincial jurisdiction over resources, and to protect the province from the costs of federal environmental policies. Jeremy Simes, who covers politics for the Regina Leader-Post, joins the show to discuss why the government is bringing this law in no...

The legalization of cannabis in Canada gave people the freedom to choose to consume without fear of arrest or prosecution, and created a new economic driver. But four years later, legacy growers are feeling left out, and the legal market is still in competition with illicit sales. National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins the show to discuss how big the sector has become, why some wh...

Upstart political party A Better City Vancouver won a commanding victory in this month’s municipal election, in part for its approach to tackling the city’s crime problem. But despite Ken Sim’s historic win as mayor, some are skeptical of his central campaign plank. Dan Fumano, city columnist for the Vancouver Sun and The Province, joins the show to discuss how ABC Vancouver managed such a resound...

Danielle Smith’s tenure as Alberta premier has been dogged by controversy in its first few weeks. She has had to walk back controversies around comments on vaccines and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine even as she tries to set a new course for the United Conservative government in advance of a spring election. Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins the show to discuss Smith’s early controversies, what...

Testimony is ongoing at the inquiry into the Trudeau government’s use of the Emergencies Act to dismantle a convoy of truckers and other affiliated groups that blockaded downtown Ottawa for a month earlier this year. The first several days of testimony have largely focused on city officials and residents, as the commissioner attempts to determine whether the use of the act was justified, and how t...

Amid increased concern over China pushing the idea of reunification with Taiwan, American and Canadian delegations have made visits to the country, and have talked of support of officials in Taipei. But how close are we to a possible Chinese invasion of the island, and what happens, in that event? National Post reporter Tom Blackwell, who recently travelled to Taiwan, joins the show to discuss the...

After months of controversy surrounding its handling of allegations of sexual assault against some players, the top executive and board of Hockey Canada have left the organization. The changes come following combative testimony before a parliamentary committee looking into the matter, and as some major sponsors have pulled their support of hockey’s governing body. Postmedia national sports columni...

Alberta Conservatives elected a new leader, and ultimately the next premier, in Danielle Smith, whose return to provincial politics has so far proven successful. As she is sworn in, she has made party unity a key issue for her in the coming weeks, with plans to meet with MLAs and prepare for the party’s upcoming AGM. Lisa Johnson, who covers provincial politics for the Edmonton Journal, joins the...

More than six months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the smaller of the two nations has proven a worthy adversary, forcing back Russian troops and regaining previously held territory. And despite alleged annexation referendums, Russian forces seem unable to hold back Ukrainian advances. National Post columnist Adam Zivo joins me from Odesa to discuss how the war has changed in the last six...

Three western provinces are squaring off against the Trudeau government over the enforcement of the planned firearm buyback program. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have all raised objections to the buyback, with Alberta’s justice minister suggesting the province will ask Mounties not to enforce it. National Post political reporter Ryan Tumilty joins the show to discuss what the provinces’ oppo...

The tragic events that saw 10 people killed in rural Saskatchewan over the Labour Day weekend will get a full public inquest. Saskatchewan’s coroner has announced that in the name of transparency, an inquest will be held next year into the deadly stabbing spree in Weldon and James Smith Cree Nation. Regina Leader Post reporter Larissa Kurz joins Dave to discuss what the inquest will hope to uncove...

The post-pandemic economic recovery has brought with it a return to business as usual for many Canadians. But while that’s generally good news, it has also meant a record number of jobs going unfilled, with many sectors unable to operate at capacity due to vacancies. Kevin Carmichael, editor-in-chief of the Financial Post, joins the show to discuss why we’re seeing such high numbers of job vacanci...

While Quebec’s election may be all but a done deal, with Francois Legault’s party holding a sizable polling lead over his opponents, it’s far from a sleeper election. Less than two weeks out from voting day and we’ve seen a race that upends traditional patterns of support, and has focused on controversial issues around languages, immigration and notions of freedom. National Post columnist Tasha Kh...

Millions of Canadians at some point or another have suffered from depression, and sought out treatment. Now, a controversial new study has poked a very large hole in long-held notions around depression and anti-depressants. National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss how widespread depression is, what this new study says about the relationship between anti-d...

In the days since the death of Queen Elizabeth, plans for what is expected to be a monumental memorial have been unfolding. With the queen now lying in state in London, attention is focused on her funeral on Monday at Westminster Abbey. Toronto Sun columnist Christina Blizzard joins me to discuss what will happen in the lead-up to the funeral and the day itself, and what is next for the monarchy u...

Pierre Poilievre’s first-ballot victory in the Conservative leadership race shows a party more unified than the campaign may have led many to believe. The new opposition leader now faces a tall order: unite his caucus to present a government in waiting in order to beat the Trudeau Liberals in the next election, whenever that may come. National Post political reporter Catherine Levesque joins me to...

The manhunt for the last remaining suspect in a series of stabbing attacks in Saskatchewan ended with the capture and death of Myles Sanderson. This brought an end to a horrific series of events that saw 12 people, including the two suspects, killed, and nearly 20 people sent to hospital. Prior to the arrest, host Dave Breakenridge caught up with Saskatoon Star Phoenix reporter Zak Vescera to disc...

In a province facing concerns over health care, education, and what to do with a booming oil-based budget surplus, the race to replace Jason Kenney as United Conservative Party and premier has largely focused on one major issue: Alberta’s autonomy. The discussion about various ways to advance Alberta’s place in Confederation was once again front and centre at the final leadership debate in Edmonto...

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly Canadians from coast to coast. But four of those deaths, from a small community hospital in eastern Ontario, are being treated as a murder investigation. Ottawa Citizen reporter Aedan Helmer joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the doctor behind the accusations, who the victims are and what we know about the case so far. Background...

As hospitals across the country face staffing shortages, ward closures and increasing wait times, several premiers had a summit with a federal minister to address healthcare reform. Premiers from Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI sat down with the intergovernmental affairs minister this week to discuss possible solutions. National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins Dave Break...

A year after the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans who helped Canadians during the war are still stuck in the country. Many are living in hiding, fearful of the repercussions they and their families could face if they’re found. National Post reporter Tom Blackwell joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how precarious the situation is for our allies in Afghanistan, why ther...

The Papal visit to Canada was seen by many as an important step on the path to reconciliation. But did Pope Francis’s apology for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools go far enough? And in the grand scheme of things, does it make a difference? Doug Cuthand, Indigenous affairs columnist for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the signific...

A group of patients have launched a charter challenge to help them get access to what they say is life-saving treatment of psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin, more commonly referred to as magic mushrooms, is seen as a way to treat extreme cases of anxiety and depression. Sam Riches, who writes for the National Post and the GrowthOp, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why psilocybin is seen as a viab...

The governing body for hockey in Canada is facing a lot of scrutiny for how it handled the investigation into, and settling of, an alleged sexual assault involving some members of the 2018 world junior team. Sponsors have pulled funding, and executives have appeared before members of parliament to answer questions, but many are wondering what it will take to make systemic change to the organizatio...

When a new federal Conservative leader is elected September 10, will the party rally behind the leader, or will it come out of this contest showing fractures? A moderate group of Conservatives is looking to highlight some more mainstream policies during the campaign, but some within the party feel it’s a shot at perceived front-runner Pierre Poilievre. National Post political reporter Catherine Le...