Follow-Up With Althia Raj

The Liberal government revealed a mini-budget chock full of new spending — but it’s the pitch to keep the spending taps open, to inject up to $100 billion into the economy after the pandemic, that has financial experts turning their heads.

In this episode: HuffPost Canada Ottawa reporter Zi-Ann Lum; Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux; Kevin Page, Canada's first parliamentary budget officer and the president and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa; and Scotiabank’s director of fiscal and provincial economics Rebekah Young. Hosted by Althia Raj.

The path to electoral victory for the Conservative party involves building a bigger tent and floating a few trial balloons — during a pandemic. We ask insiders for their first impressions of Erin O’Toole’s first 100 days as Conservative leader.

In this episode: Stephen Harper’s former campaign manager Jenni Byrne, former Harper PMO advisor Dennis Matthews, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Unifor National President Jerry Dias, Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Eric Wen of the Chinese Canadian Conservative Association, the National Council of Canadian Muslim CEO Mustafa Farooq, Campaign Life Coalition’s political operations director Jack Fonseca, and Ontario Conservative MP Karen Vecchio. Hosted by Althia Raj.

While it seems debates over free speech have been on a rolling boil south of the border, the topic has also dominated francophone TV and radio in recent weeks, giving new breath to old debates about how Quebec’s voice is represented in Ottawa.

In this episode: Bloc Québécois MP Stéphane Bergeron, Conservative MP Gérard Deltell, Liberal MP Joël Lightbound, and Maverick Party interim leader Jay Hill. Hosted by Althia Raj.

The U.S. election cycle feels like it has its own gravitational pull and two candidates signal different opportunities — and potential challenges — for Canada.

In this episode: Eurasia Group vice chairman Gerald Butts, former Globe and Mail energy reporter Shawn McCarthy, former federal Conservative minister James Moore, CBC News’ Washington-based correspondent Alexander Panetta and HuffPost Canada's senior politics editor Ryan Maloney. Hosted by Althia Raj.

Annamie Paul is the first new leader of the federal Green party in 14 years. As she tries to move the party beyond Elizabeth May’s shadow — spectres have been raised by former leadership contenders about the integrity of the race.

The throne speech has been read. The Conservatives and Bloc have signaled their displeasure, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh finds himself kingmaker, again.

In this episode: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and pundits Karl Bélanger, Greg MacEachern, and Kate Harrison. Hosted by Althia Raj.

Months into a pandemic, the initial political unity in Ottawa has disintegrated. Historic economic packages have been approved at breakneck speed, but some Canadians are still being left behind.

In this episode: Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, and pundits Karl Bélanger, Greg MacEachern, and Kate Harrison. Hosted by Althia Raj.

As the government whips through 2020 with minority numbers, the Liberal’s No. 1 dissenting MP sits down for a candid talk about how he's found a balance between his own “principled independence” and toeing the party line.

In this episode: Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, NDP MP Peter Julian, Conservative MP Bruce Stanton, and Liberal MPs James Maloney and Ali Ehsassi. Hosted by Althia Raj.

With a cabinet decision due over the fate of Teck Frontier, a massive new oilsands mine project, the Liberals face another test on how serious they are about reducing carbon emissions.

In this episode: Energy and environmental economist Andrew Leach, Liberal MP Kody Blois, NDP MP Laurel Collins, Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud, and Tory MPs Tim Uppal and Stephanie Kusie. Hosted by Althia Raj.

The Liberals have returned to Ottawa in need of dance partners to get things done. We speak to current and former House leaders on the moves they’ve learned — and the missteps they’ve witnessed in other minority governments.

In this episode: Former Liberal house leader Ralph Goodale, former Conservative house leader Jay Hill, NDP national director Anne McGrath, and current House leaders Candice Bergen (Conservative), Christine Normandin (Bloc Québécois), and Peter Julian (NDP). Hosted by Althia Raj.