It's Political with Althia Raj

It's Political with Althia Raj episodes:

• 05.03.2024

  Is the NDP winning the fight for working people?

  We started “It’s Political” two years ago with an episode on the NDP’s supply and confidence agreement. Back then, we wondered, would the party get any credit for what they accomplished? Two years on, public opinion polls suggest the answer...

  
• 04.19.2024

  Do budgets matter?

  Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled her latest budget Tuesday, with big spending plans to increase the housing supply, deliver on commitments to Indigenous people, boost funding to the Canadian military and finally deliver on a promise to create a Canada...

  
• 04.05.2024

  Does the Online Harms Act go too far?

  The federal government’s latest effort to regulate speech on the internet was met with relief from parents who’ve long advocated for a safer space online for their children, but with alarm from free speech advocates who believe the government’s bill...

  
• 03.22.2024

  What would Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre do?

  Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attempted to topple the Liberal government this week by introducing a motion calling for a non-confidence vote on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to increase the carbon price on April 1. With all the other parties...

  
• 03.08.2024

  The reality of the Liberals’ pharmacare bill

  On Feb. 29, Canada’s Health Minister Mark Holland introduced a pharmacare bill in Parliament, seemingly laying down the foundation for a new national universal single payer pharmacare plan. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared victory. After fifty years of efforts, he...

  
• 02.23.2024

  Is Canada ready for Trump 2.0?

  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau managed one chaotic term under U.S. President Donald Trump, and he’s made it clear he’d prefer to continue working with current President Joe Biden. But with the Republican primaries favouring Trump, a divided electorate and a...

  
• 02.09.2024

  Is Canada’s consensus on immigration fracturing?

  For decades, there was solid political and social consensus on immigration in Canada. But recently, cracks in that consensus have emerged. In 2023, Canada’s population hit 40 million, after growing by more than a million people in one year. Most...

  
• 01.26.2024

  A sit down with the prime minister

  Public opinion polls suggest Canadians have had enough of Justin Trudeau’s government, and yet the prime minister vows to stay on. As 2024 began, Toronto Star columnist Susan Delacourt sat down with the prime minister for her yearly chat, and...

  
• 12.22.2023

  Year-end listener questions on Trudeau, Poilievre, dental subsidy, foreign interference and more

  It’s been quite a tumultuous year in federal politics, from allegations of foreign interference involving China and India, to the expansion of industrial and dental subsidies, and a rejigging of public support for Canada’s two main parties. We asked Toronto...

  
• 12.08.2023

  Chasing views: How social media is changing Canadian politics

  Alberta Conservative MP Damien Kurek was kicked out of the House of Commons this week for using unparliamentary language. Within minutes of his expulsion, Kurek had the video of his outburst up on social media proudly showcasing his outrage at...

  
• 11.24.2023

  Is carbon pricing dead?

  It’s been described as a signature blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s signature policy. Last month, the Liberals announced a three-year pause to the application of the carbon price on home heating oil to help ease the costs, especially in...

  
• 11.10.2023

  Is it time for Justin Trudeau to go?

  Eight years ago, Justin Trudeau and 30 ecstatic Liberal MPs walked up to Rideau Hall, ready to be sworn in as Canada’s next government. But after three elections, the Liberal glow has faded – drastically – as more and more...

  
• 10.27.2023

  Canada and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

  A month ago, we weren’t talking about the Israelis-Palestinian conflict. The world’s attention was elsewhere, on Ukraine and Russia, on China. But on October 7, all that changed. Hamas’ brutality — the hunting of young adults at a music festival,...

  
• 10.13.2023

  The NDP gears up for a fight

  In this episode: Timmins—James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus, South Okanagan—West Kootenay NDP MP Richard Cannings, Skeena—Bulkley Valley NDP MP Taylor Bachrach, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Traxxion Strategies President Karl Bélanger, Canadian Strategy Group senior manager of public affairs...

  
• 09.29.2023

  Salvaging Bill C-18: Will the Liberals' gamble pay off?

  In this episode: Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, Toronto Star Publisher Jordan Bitove, Ottawa University law professor Michael Geist, Toronto Star reporter Raisa Patel, Meta’s head of public policy Rachel Curran, Google Canada’s Richard Gingras, News Media Canada President Paul Deegan,...

  
• 09.15.2023

  What Pierre Poilievre’s surge in the polls means for him and Justin Trudeau

  In this episode: Abacus Data CEO David Colettto, Toronto Star Reporter Stephanie Levitz, Conservative Party members Kevyn Nightingale, Emilie Matheson, Nancy Bangsboll and Adrian Tarcea, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former executive director of policy and cabinet affairs Marci Surkes, former...

  
• 06.16.2023

  Is Canadian politics getting nastier?

  With Parliament about to break for the summer, exchanges between MPs in the House have gotten tense. But is it just June — when the hours run long and the frustrations high — or has decorum in the chamber taken...

  
• 06.02.2023

  What will it take to fix Canada’s housing crisis?

  Whether you’re trying to buy a house or struggling to find a decent and affordable place to rent, it seems Canadians across this country are experiencing the housing crisis in one form or another. This week on “It’s Political,” we...

  
• 05.19.2023

  Danielle Smith vs. Rachel Notley: What's at stake in the Alberta election?

  This week on “It’s Political” we check in on the Alberta election. NDP Leader Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Danielle Smith are in a hotly contested race and there’s lots at stake for Albertans and all Canadians.  First, Toronto Star...

  
• 05.05.2023

  Where can Justin Trudeau take the Liberals now?

  As Liberals from across the country gather in Ottawa for the party’s first in-person national convention since the pandemic, “It’s Political” digs into Justin Trudeau’s record as party leader and his time as prime minister. With bleak polling numbers and an...

  
• 04.21.2023

  As the leaker requested, a conversation on foreign interference

  In an op-ed in the Globe and Mail last month, that newspaper’s confidential national security source explained why they decided to leak secret documents on China’s interference attempts. They wrote they had hoped to spur a much deeper discussion about...

  
• 04.07.2023

  Two topics we’re not supposed to talk about: religion and politics

  They say it’s dangerous to talk about politics and religion. We’re not listening. This week on “It’s Political,” we mark April’s high religious holidays, such as Easter, Ramadan, Passover and Vaisakhi, with a conversation on faith and politics. How it...

  
• 03.24.2023

  Subsidizing big business: Canada’s new green industrial policy

  Last week, Volkswagen announced it will build its first overseas electric vehicle battery gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ontario. The federal and provincial governments declined to say what they’d paid to lure Volkswagen to Canada rather than the U.S. but the...

  
• 03.10.2023

  Why Jagmeet Singh still wants to prop up the Liberals

  This week on “It’s Political,” we take stock of the supply and confidence agreement the Liberals and NDP agreed to last March. In exchange for supporting the Liberal government on confidence matters until June 2025, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh received...

  
• 02.17.2023

  No stick and a small carrot: Can the federal government fix health care?

  This week on "It’s Political," we take a look at what’s plaguing the country's health-care system, from long wait lines in emergency rooms to the lack of family doctors. What will it take to fix health care in Canada? First,...

  
• 02.03.2023

  Justin Trudeau's next moves: A sit down with the Prime Minister

  This week on “It’s Political,” we bring you Toronto Star’s columnist Susan Delacourt’s interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The two sat down together on Jan. 17 in Windsor, Ont., for a candid conversation on his future and the future...

  
• 12.16.2022

  Standing down to stand up: Is ministerial accountability dead?

  This week on “It’s Political,” we dive into ministerial accountability. Mistakes and ethical lapses happen all the time. Whether it’s allowing tins of tainted tuna to hit the market or leaving secure documents where they shouldn’t be, Canadian parliamentarians have...

  
• 12.02.2022

  Emergencies Act: The inquiry's most shocking revelations

  This week on “It’s Political,” we dig into the government’s rationale for invoking the Emergencies Act to end last winter's "Freedom Convoy" protests. First, Toronto Star reporters Tonda MacCharles and Alex Ballingall will walk us through all of the drama...

  
• 11.18.2022

  Is Canada expanding Medical Assistance in Dying too quickly?

  This week on "It’s Political," we tackle some of the issues around the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada.  A word of caution. Today’s program discusses death and suicide. Please take care while listening. If you are...

  
• 11.04.2022

  Chrystia Freeland’s Balancing Act: The fall economic update and what it signals

  This week on "It’s Political," we focus on the inflation crisis and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s fall economic update. First, we’ll look back on what policies, decisions and events contributed to the current inflation numbers that are putting the squeeze...

  
• 11.04.2022

  Programming note: To respond to the news agenda, today's episode will be released early this evening

  “It’s Political" will be coming to you a little bit later today because of yesterday’s Fiscal update. We’ll have a round table discussion on Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest numbers, and look back on what’s led to these rising interest...

  
• 10.21.2022

  An attack on free speech or a lifeline for Canadian culture?

  This week on "It’s Political," we take a deep dive into the controversial Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act. Is it really about censorship and government control over what you see and listen to on the internet? Or is it...

  
• 10.07.2022

  What if we’re having a constitutional crisis and no one is noticing?

  This week on “It’s Political,” we focus on the threads connecting François Legault’s big win in Monday’s election in Quebec and the United Conservative Party leadership race in Alberta — culminating in Danielle Smith's victory — and ask what if...

  
• 09.23.2022

  Pierre Poilievre’s Big Tent: How Pierre Poilievre won the battle for the soul of the Conservative party

  This week on "It’s Political," we focus on Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. First, we’ll take a look back at the divisive leadership race and Poilievre’s big win. Then we’ll sit down with Yan Plante, the former chief of staff to transport...

  
• 09.20.2022

  We'll be back with a new episode Friday, September 23

  Now that the House is back in session, Althia Raj will be returning every other Friday, with Canada's top political insiders. Keep an eye on your feed this Friday, September 23.

  
• 06.16.2022

  Fact or Fiction: Weaponizing political division for partisan gain

  This week on It’s Political, we focus on political polarization and the political advantages and drawbacks of sowing division, and whether Canadians are really that divided. Guests: Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Marci Surkes,...

  
• 06.02.2022

  Useful — but necessary? Unpacking the use of the Emergencies Act

  Guests: Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Ottawa City Councillor Diane Deans, the former chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board. This week on It’s Political, we unpack the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act, the never-before-used legislation that was...

  
• 05.19.2022

  Growing the Tories' Vote: Inside the Conservative Leadership Race

  This week on It’s Political, we focus on the Conservative leadership race. First, we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each of the six candidates and their strategies. Then, we go behind the...

  
• 05.05.2022

  Playing for keeps: Inside the Liberal-NDP Deal

  Guests: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, along with Jennifer Howard, Singh’s chief of staff, NDP National Director Anne McGrath, Star columnist Susan Delacourt, former NDP staffer Brad Lavigne, Liberal Government House Leader Mark Holland and Abacus Data CEO David Coletto. Hosted...

  
• 04.28.2022

  Introducing 'It's Political with Althia Raj,' a new Canadian politics podcast

  ‘It's Political with Althia Raj’ is the Toronto Star’s new Canadian politics podcast. Every two weeks, Raj brings listeners behind the scenes on Parliament Hill with exclusive interviews, in-depth reporting and thoughtful analysis. Join us as we explore the ins...