10/3: Canada Covered

All five major party leaders faced tough questions and each other in the two official debates.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was the main target for his four opponents, as he faced attacks over broken promises and calling the election.

But was the debate voters deserve?

National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how each of the leaders fared, how the debates set the stage for the homestretch in the campaign, and why Canadians deserve more from the debate organizers.

Background reading: Sabrina Maddeaux: Expensive Conservative platform shows they are no longer the no frills party

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Faced with rising COVID-19 cases and flagging vaccination rates, the Alberta government brought back some familiar measures, like a mask mandate, and a 10 p.m. booze cutoff.

But Premier Jason Kenney also courted controversy by announcing vaccine holdouts would be offered $100 to get the shot.

Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the announcement, the political fallout, and whether Alberta will follow other provinces with a vaccine passport.

Background reading: Bell: Earth to Kenney — Wake up!

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The election campaign has passed the halfway point, and things are starting to heat up.

Leaders squared off in the first French debate, which saw arguments over the snap election call, vaccines and sexual misconduct, and the Liberals unveiled their platform.

In the second of our election panels, Tasha Kheiriddin, principal with Navigator LTD and a columnist for the National Post, and Warren Kinsella, president of the Daisy Group and a columnist for the Toronto Sun, join Dave to discuss the first leader's debate, the Liberals’ campaign platform, and whether the Grits have to go negative to stem their falling support.

Background Reading: Tasha Kheiriddin: Erin O'Toole looked prime ministerial during first leaders debate
KINSELLA: Breaking down the wins and losses in the first leaders' debate

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Despite rising vaccination numbers, Canada is contending with a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, fuelled by the Delta variant.

Cases and hospitalizations are rising across the country, as provincial governments look to bring in new measures such as vaccine passports and old measures like masking.

National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave to discuss why Delta is proving so tricky, where we need to get to in terms of vaccinations, and what the fall could bring.

Background Reading: With the rise of Delta, are vaccines still enough to end the pandemic?

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The resurgence of the Taliban has thrown Afghanistan into chaos and has put thousands of lives in danger, as those who helped Canada and its military allies fear for their safety.

But after Canada stopped its evacuation flights last week, many are wondering what can be done to help those left behind.

Toronto Sun reporter Bryan Passifiume walks us through the chaos people faced trying to get out of Afghanistan, the potential political fallout for the Liberals, and whether there’s more Canada can do other than wait.

Background reading: Those Canada left behind begin dangerous exodus to Pakistan

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Canadians go to the polls on Sept. 20, and this election campaign was pitched by Justin Trudeau as a chance to have a say in the direction of the country in the next 17 months.

Based on the first third of the race, do we have a sense of what that will look like?

In the first of a series of election panels National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux and Edmonton Sun columnist Lorne Gunter join Dave to discuss how the leaders have fared in the first few days of the campaign, why the Liberals have looked unprepared, and how Erin O’Toole and Jagmeet Singh have positioned themselves against Justin Trudeau.

Background reading: Sabrina Maddeaux: Sorry Trudeau, thinking about monetary policy is thinking about families
GUNTER: Erin O'Toole showing himself to be an effective campaigner

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Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister surprised many political watchers with his sudden resignation announcement, less than two years since his PC party won a resounding mandate from voters.

The move comes amid questions about his handling of the pandemic, as well as controversial comments about colonization and residential schools from within his government.

Winnipeg Sun columnist Josh Aldrich joins Dave to discuss Pallister’s rise to the premier’s office, his legacy for Manitoba and whether the pandemic changes will affect how he is remembered.

Background reading: Pallister's legacy not defined by recent struggles

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Imagine being arrested and charged with a pair of murders, but you weren’t the person responsible.

That was the case for an Ontario man, who spent more than two years in jail suspected in a pair of 2017 killings linked to the criminal underworld. 

National Post senior reporter Adrian Humphreys joins Dave to discuss the slayings, how police zeroed in on suspects and one man was left holding the bag while two other suspects skipped town. 

Background reading: 'The fall guy': How an Ontario man got blamed for two Mafia murders he didn't commit 

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Less than two years since Canadians handed the Liberals a minority government, we’re heading back to the polls again.

Justin Trudeau hopes to see his party win a majority government, despite many wondering whether there’s any need to take Canadians to the polls now.

National Post columnist and Ottawa bureau chief John Ivison joins Dave to discuss Trudeau’s motivation to call an election, what issues this race could focus on, and what’s at stake for his main opponents Jagmeet Singh and Erin O’Toole.

Background reading: John Ivison: Even Trudeau's overblown rhetoric can't justify September election

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At the Tokyo games, Canada put up its best performance outside the Soviet boycotted 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

We hit new heights in terms of medals, while athletes set new national benchmarks, even after a year delay and interruptions to training due to the pandemic.

Postmedia national sportswriter Scott Stinson joins Dave to discuss Canada’s successes, some missteps, and how the Tokyo games were as unpredictable as could have been imagined.

Background reading: An unpredictable year delivered an unpredictable Olympics

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