It's Political with Althia Raj

In this episode of "It's Political," the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau reporter Ryan Tumilty and deputy bureau chief Alex Ballingall join host Althia to discuss the year in Canadian politics and what to look ahead to in 2026. What to make of Prime Minister Mark Carney's first year in office and how long can his minority government survive?

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and mixed by Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The audio clips this week were sourced from ParlVu, CPAC, CBC and CTV.

The federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta yesterday, pledging support to build a new pipeline and make changes to environmental regulations. Prime Minister Mark Carney celebrated a "big day" for Alberta and Canada, but opposition to the deal was vast, including from environmental groups, B.C's Premier, Coastal First Nations, and even within the Liberal Caucus. After the deal was signed, Stephen Guilbeault resigned from Carney's Cabinet.

So what did the Liberals get out of this? We asked one of them. MP Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, joins us to talk about why he sees the MoU as a win for the environment, what he makes of the backlash, and what the path forward is for a pipeline that doesn't have buy-in from B.C. and affected Indigenous communities.

We also try to get to the bottom of a simple question: does Canada need another pipeline? We speak to Andrew Leach, professor of economics and law at the University of Alberta, Dale Beugin, executive vice president at the Canadian Climate Institute, and Janetta McKenzie, ddirector of oil and gas at the Pembina Institute. Hosted by Althia Raj.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton, and mixed by Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC

Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont's decision to cross the floor to the Grits handed them a crucial vote to pass their budget and triggered a chain of events that left Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to maintain his grip on his caucus.

In this episode of "It's Political," the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau reporters — Raisa Patel, Mark Ramzy, Ryan Tumilty and deputy bureau chief Alex Ballingall — join Althia to discuss the events since the tabling of the Liberals' budget and what factors will play in Monday's crucial budget vote. Can Mark Carney's government survive?

But before that discussion, the Canadian Tax Observatory's CEO Heather Scoffield breaks down the content of that budget.

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Our sound engineer is Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The audio clips this week were sourced from ParlVu, CPAC, CBC and CTV.

U.S. President Donald Trump is clear and consistent: he wants Canadian auto sector jobs on his side of the border.

He's refused to craft a side deal on autos and has plainly said he'll increase tariffs until it makes no economic sense for Canada to build cars.

This week on "It's Political" we look at whether the auto industry is worth saving, and how it could be propped up – despite the uncertainty Trump creates.

Then, we'll shift gear and talk about uncertainty of a different kind.

In Alberta, this week, the UCP government invoked the notwithstanding clause to end a three-week teacher strike. What's behind the move? We'll talk to the Alberta Federation of Labour which is trying to organize a potential general strike, and a constitutional lawyer about the greater meaning and consequence of Alberta's decision.

In this episode:

• 3:23 — Saving the auto sector with Unifor Local 200 President John D'Agnolo, Former Toyota Canada executive Stephen Beatty, Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford, and Western University's Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing's Managing Director Brendan Sweeney.
• 41:33 — The fight against Alberta's use of the notwithstanding clause with Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan
• 55:48 — Why the debate over the notwithstanding clause matters with Conway Litigation Partner and constitutional lawyer Marion Sandilands.

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Our sound engineer is Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from ParlVu, CPAC, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Alberta Federation of Labour's Facebook page, CTV, Global, CP24, CBC, 10 Tampa Bay, Fox News, and the Manitoba Museum.

Listen here and follow or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party says Canada's justice system is broken, and that overly lax bail laws are leading to preventable violent crime. Prime Minister Mark Carney seems to agree. But are they misdiagnosing the problem?

In this episode, we take a look at the state of our corrections system, what's not working, and what can be done about it. Althia is joined by Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, and Melanie Webb, chair of criminal justice section of The Canadian Bar Association to discuss.

Then we compare public sentiment around crime to the actual statistics with Statistics Canada's Warren Silver and Abacus Data CEO David Coletto.

Finally, Jinny Sims, a former NDP MP and MLA, and the current morning host at Radio Swift, talks about a growing extortion problem in the South Asian community, and how her radio station was shot at after she spoke out.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton, and mixed by Sean Pattendon. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from Parl Vu, CPAC, Global, CTV and the Winnipeg mayor's weekly bulletin.

Things might look dire for the NDP, with the loss of official party status and its seven members not always seeing eye to eye. But at least three individuals — Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, former broadcaster Avi Lewis, and union leader Rob Ashton — have stepped up offering to lead New Democrats to greener pastures.

In this episode of "It's Political," the Althia Raj sits down with Toronto Star Ottawa Bureau reporter Mark Ramzy for an update on what's happened to the NDP since election night, the state of the leadership race and the candidates' offerings so far. Then, Althia sits down with Rob Ashton to explore his leadership vision and where he wants to refocus the NDP.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Kevin Sexton and Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from Heather McPherson's website, Avi Lewis' website, Rob Ashton's X feed, CTV, CBC, CPAC, Mark Ramzy's interview tape, and the IATSE 891: Apple Box Talks podcast.

Newly minted Liberal Leader Mark Carney ran on an ambitious platform. He promised quick and bold action. But six months into his tenure as prime minister, what have Canadians witnessed? This week on "It's Political" we'll get a variety of viewpoints on how Carney is dealing with Trump, the economy, the environment, among other issues.

Then, the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau will discuss the challenges this government faces in passing its agenda. Who will be Carney's dance partner? And how does the NDP's search for a new leader, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's review play into those considerations? Host Althia Raj is joined by politics reporters Ryan Tumilty and Raisa Patel, and the Star's deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief Alex Ballingall.

Also featured on this episode: Mark Warner, Principal at MAAW Law; economist Don Drummond, the Stauffer-Dunning fellow at Queen's University and a fellow-in-residence at C.D. Howe; and Anna Johnston, a staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Kevin Sexton and Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, CTV and BBC.

Join Althia Raj and the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau as they get ready to cover a busy and unpredictable fall in Canadian politics.

Canada's Minister of National Defence David McGuinty joins Althia to discuss increases to the country's defense budget and what the relationship looks like with the U.S. going forward. Their conversation follows Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement this week that Canada will greatly increase military spending to 2 per cent of GDP just as NATO allies get together later this month to discuss raising the bar to 5 per cent.

We also speak to industry experts about just how integrated the Canadian and American militaries are, and what it would mean to become less reliant on the U.S.

In this episode: Minister of National Defence David McGuinty; Centre for International Governance Innovation's visiting executive and former National Defence director general Raquel Garbers, University of Ottawa associate professor and former bureaucrat Peter Jones; Canadian Global Affairs Institute President and CEO David Perry. Hosted by Althia Raj.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Kevin Sexton and Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, Canadian Press Gallery, C-SPAN, CNN, CTV, CBS, BBC and NATO News.

MPs returned to the House of Commons this week with three leaders missing from the chamber: Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh.

But that wasn't the only difference on Parliament Hill. His Majesty, King Charles III, came to Canada to read Prime Minister Mark Carney's first throne speech — widely seen as a message to U.S. President Donald Trump and to Canadians about this country's unflinching sovereignty.

On today's episode of "It's Political," the Star's Ottawa bureau breaks down the latest news from the start of Carney's first term as an elected prime minister.

In this episode: Toronto Star deputy Ottawa bureau chief Alex Ballingall, Ottawa bureau reporter Raisa Patel, Ottawa bureau reporter Mark Ramzy. Hosted by Althia Raj.

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.