CANADALAND

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As Steven Galloway’s defamation trial continues, his supporters say he’s finally getting justice, but some also are demanding accountability from media outlets for their coverage of the case over the last decade.

CANADALAND’s previous coverage of Galloway has come under scrutiny in Quillette and from Margaret Atwood.

Rahim Mohamed joins Jesse Brown to dig into the archives to consider if mistakes were made and what can we learn from the Galloway case with the benefit of hindsight.

Plus, Chrystia Freeland spills the Trudeau tea in her new book “Unreliable Boyfriend.”

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Julian Abraham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Rahim Mohamed

Further reading:

• Payback Time for Steven Galloway - Quillette
• Is Steven Galloway finally getting justice? - The Globe and Mail
• #173 The Aesthetics Of Rigour - CANADALAND [Podcast]
• Under a cloud: How UBC’s Steven Galloway affair has haunted a campus and changed lives - The Globe and Mail
• Edmonton mayor lashes out as Alberta tells city to roll back infill housing rules | Business News | thecanadianpressnews.ca
• Andrew Phillips: Chrystia Freeland’s book spills the tea on her ‘Unreliable Boyfriend’ and Justin Trudeau does not come off well - Toronto Star

Sponsors:

oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!

Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com

It’s our annual crowdfunding month! You can become a supporter starting for just $5/month by going to canadaland.com/join — we’ll even throw in a free tote bag. And be sure to stay tuned for some big announcements over the next few weeks.

You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

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There are just a few days left until Alberta’s referendum on separation (and more). If the vote goes through, it won't redraw the country’s borders overnight, but it could give Premier Smith a mandate to pursue the next vote where Alberta could actually separate.

Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Premier Smith to ask what she’s prepared to do if the vote goes through, and how much responsibility she takes for getting Alberta to this point.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Danielle Smith

Background reading:

• How some Alberta separatists are courting U.S. support for independence – The Globe and Mail
• Establishing independent Alberta could cost up to $170B over 5 years: report – CBC News
• Mounties reviewing First Nations' call for treason probe into Alberta premier, UCP – CBC News
• Ottawa tracking allegations of foreign interference in Alberta referendum, Carney says – Toronto Star
• Alberta, Saskatchewan premiers shut down Elon Musk’s call for separation – Global News

Sponsors:

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

If you’re ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to SHOPIFY.COM to start your free trial.

BetterHelp can connect you with a therapist who gets you, so you can make space for what matters to you. Sign up and get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/CANADALAND

Did you know we have a monthly supporter exclusive show?

Last episode on Off The Record, senior producer James Nicholson asked you to tell him about what's happening in your backyards. What local stories should we know about? It was a blast!

If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.

It’s our annual crowdfunding month! You can become a supporter starting for just $5/month by going to canadaland.com/join — we’ll even throw in a free tote bag. And be sure to stay tuned for some big announcements over the next few weeks.

Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our annual crowdfunding month! You can become a supporter starting for just $5/month by going to canadaland.com/join — we’ll even throw in a free tote bag. And be sure to stay tuned for some big announcements over the next few weeks.

—————

It seemed like such a good plan. Doug Ford tried to save local news with cash from weed, liquor, and gambling. He told four provincial agencies, the ones in charge of booze, pot, the lottery, and transportation, that they had to buy ads from local Ontario publishers. Buy Canadian. This directive came after years of provincial ad money being funneled to American tech and media. Millions of Canadian taxpayer dollars fed to Meta or Google for ad buys or the now notorious $8 million ad spend that included a government of Ontario Super Bowl ad. They were basically advertising to Canadians through American outlets. So for Ontario publishers the about face to a Buy Canadian advertising plan was a welcome change.

So how did it pan out? Where did the millions in ad spending actually go? Who won? Who lost out on the cash? Our reporter Gemma Boothroyd went digging for answers.

And those questions Gemma chased are all the more important now that the Federal Government is rumoured to be considering scaling up the Ontario plan to the federal level.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Gemma Boothroyd (Reporter), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Tristan (Audio Editing & Production), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Additional music by Audio Network

Image by LGOntario

More information:

• Ontario ad campaign 'It's Happening Here' has cost taxpayers $8M | CBC News
• Doug Ford promises 25 per cent of government agency, provincial advertising budgets to local media outlets — Toronto Star

Sponsors:

Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get $25 off and 10GB of free data.

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the duvet, cover, sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit https://douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

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An editorial in the National Post considers “How to Deal with Avi Lewis” according to Jewish law, following a Yom Kippur post made by Lewis calling for the Jewish community to take responsibility for failing to stop “an ongoing genocide committed in our name.”

Critics of the editorial argue that the National Post crossed the line, advocating for violence against Lewis.

Meanwhile, a CBC journalist, Neil Herland, is taken off the air for documenting his personal experience of a protest outside a Yom Kippur Synagogue service in Toronto.

Harrison Lowman joins Jesse Brown to discuss why online discourse is more focused on X posts and editorials than the crisis facing Jewish Canadians, underscored by the violent antisemitic attack on a synagogue in Belleville.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Julian Abraham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Harrison Lowman

Additional music by Audio Network

Further reading:

• Avi Lewis’ Yom Kippur Post on X
• Avi Lewis’s foolish statement on ‘Jewish people’ should be disqualifying - The Globe and Mail
• Yoni Goldstein: Jewish law tells us how to deal with Avi Lewis | National Post
• National Post crosses dangerous line by publishing call for violence against NDP leader - Ricochet
• I’m familiar with death threats. They show Avi Lewis is having an impact ⋆ The Breach
• Neil Herland’s Post on X
• CBC journalist faces discipline for documenting pro-Palestine protest | Toronto Sun
• Poland Demands Tucker Carlson Apologize for 'False, Deeply Troubling' WWII Claims - Yahoo News
• What If the U.S. Demanded This? The Cloud Provider Conditions Behind Canada’s EU Digital Pivot - Michael Geist

Sponsors:

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the duvet, cover, sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

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It's true. Jesse Brown has fired himself as a host of Canadaland podcasts.

So who will Canadaland's new hosts be?

Stay tuned and support the next chapter of Canadaland here: canadaland.com/join

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Quebec has elected Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Parti Québéois to a minority government, whose platform includes a referendum on sovereignty.

Even though St-Pierre Plamondon intends to hold off on a referendum until after Trump has left office, Canada now has a two-headed separatism problem.

The current version of Quebec’s sovereignty movement is led by young people, who signal their support through reels and memes.

Meanwhile, in Alberta an investigation in the Globe and Mail details meetings between separatists and the US administration, where fresh water, oil royalties, and a train route to Alaska were reportedly offered in exchange for US support.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Julian Abraham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Harrison Lowman

Further reading:

• PQ in power, CAQ wiped off the map: Key takeaways from Quebec's election | CBC News
• Quebec Sovereigntists Are Back. This Time They’re All Young | The Walrus
• How St-Pierre Plamondon Learned to Stop Worrying and Blame Immigrants | The Walrus
• Who is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Quebec's new separatist premier? | National Post
• PQ sought meeting with U.S. officials in Washington, State Department says - Montreal Gazette
• How some Alberta separatists are courting U.S. support for independence - The Globe and Mail
• Jen Gerson: Oh, so you want to send Ottawa a message, eh? - The Line
• How some Alberta separatists are courting U.S. support for independence - The Globe and Mail
• ‘A new beginning’: Ottawa council votes to rename Trump Avenue | Globalnews.ca
• Ex-defendant apologizes to Steven Galloway as defamation trial set to begin - The Globe and Mail

Sponsors:

oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to start in less than a year. That timeline is a big test for Carney, because it will be the first project to use the fast-tracking powers his government passed through the controversial Bill C-5. But, there are still a ton of unanswered questions, Falice Chin of the Hub joins host Noor Azrieh to answer them. What exactly has the government signed us up for?

Plus, an update on David Eby’s snap election in BC with Mo Amir from This is VANCOLOUR.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Falice Chin, Mo Amir

Background reading:

• 6 unanswered questions hanging over Alberta’s ‘Pacific Link’ oil pipeline – The Hub
• Carney’s expensive Alberta truce: the Pacific Link pipeline – The Narwhal
• Carney, Smith say new West Coast pipeline could get oil companies building again – CBC News
• How a new oil pipeline could open new markets for Canada — and deepen U.S. ties – Edmonton Journal
• Indigenous, local leaders optimistic about new pipeline despite “host of issues” Carney says Federal government is yet to address – Edmonton Journal
• Canada’s Proposed Oil Pipeline Offers Carney Relief From Domestic and Global Turmoil – The New York Times
• Fast-tracked pipeline project to squeeze Indigenous consultation timelines – CTV News

Sponsors:

If you’re ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to SHOPIFY.COM to start your free trial.

Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.

BetterHelp can connect you with a therapist who gets you, so you can make space for what matters to you. Sign up and get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/CANADALAND

Did you know we have a monthly supporter exclusive show?

On last week’s episode of Off The Record senior producer James Nicholson asked you to tell him stories about whats going on in your backyard. We wanted to hear your local stories, and y’all did not disappoint!

If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/join!

It’s our annual crowdfunding month! You can become a supporter starting for just $5/month by going to canadaland.com/join — we’ll even throw in a free tote bag. And be sure to stay tuned for some big announcements over the next few weeks.

Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re reopening the files on what might be the strangest and most shocking Canadian media story in recent memory. The Ottawa Citizen journalist, David Pugliese, who was allegedly compromised by the KGB.

On October 24th, 2024, Chris Alexander, former MP and former Harper cabinet minister, also a former Canadian diplomat to Russia, gave sworn testimony at a parliamentary inquiry into Russian interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada. And that’s where the allegations first came to public light.

The story stunned the Canadian media world. David Pugliese has been a fixture in Canadian journalism for almost 40 years. He does serious in-depth reporting about national defense. And the idea that all this time he's been a secret Russian agent, it just seemed nuts.

But these were serious, potentially career-ending, potentially criminal allegations. Pugliese denied the allegations outright in clear and emphatic language. The Canadian Association of Journalists stood by his side and decried the allegations as a McCarthy-esque smear job. And the story, well, google it now, and the internet’s collective wisdom will tell you that the story is debunked.

So why are we talking about it now? Because our investigation raises new questions about the allegations against Pugliese and about the Canadian media’s role in the story.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Written and Reported by, Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional music by Audio Network

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Photo: David Pugliese’s X Profile

More information:

• Canadaland’s Substack
• Forged KGB Documents Used to Smear Journalist in Parliament | The Walrus
• So You've Become a Russian Asset - by Justin Ling

Sponsors:

Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get $25 off and 10GB of free data.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.ca

BetterHelp: Visit https://BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

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Who is Daniel Robson?

Since 2025, Robson quickly established himself as a prolific freelance columnist, with bylines in the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, The Hub, Western Standard, and Policy Options.

But there’s one problem: he doesn’t seem to exist.

When a Turkish journalist began asking Canadian editors to verify Robson’s biographical details, they realized they couldn’t and that Robson’s persona and writing was A.I. generated.

Who or what is behind this mysterious A.I. entity and what does it have to do with Morocco?

Stuart Benson of the Hill Times joins Julian Abraham to go down the Daniel Robson rabbit hole.

Host: Julian Abraham

Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Gökçe On (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Stuart Benson

Additional music by Audio Network

Vote for CANADALAND at the Signal Awards! Nominations include “My Chatbot Encouraged my Psychosis” for Best Writing and “The Freelancer’s Guide to Getting Revenge When You’ve Been Ripped Off” in Arts and Culture

Further reading:

• Why Policy Options removed an article published under the name Daniel Robson - Policy Options
• Exclusive—Fake AI columnist dupes Canadian press to target Moroccan dissidents, and a Turkish 'middleman' - Türkiye Today
• AI fabrication suspected of writing dozens of articles in Canadian publications - The Globe and Mail
• Why the Citizen removed articles by Daniel Robson — and what we're doing next | Ottawa Citizen
• A statement on articles by ‘Daniel Robson’ - The Hub
• Industry 'frustrated' as Liberals' Bill C-39 falls short of proactive strike-prevention powers - The Hill Times
• Baked potato offered as incentive for attendees of Nova Scotia MAID info night - Toronto Sun

Sponsors:

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.