Political Traction

Toronto, among many cities across Canada, is facing a generational housing crisis. With soaring costs, those looking to buy in the city are being shut out of the market and renters are faced with limited options for an affordable place to call home. This week, Adam sits down with Brad Bradford, Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the City’s Planning and Housing Committee to talk about the “Housing Action Plan” that City Council recently adopted, and to discuss whether it has what it takes to overcome the city’s biggest challenge.

Parents are feeling left behind as children’s hospitals fill up and local medicine shelves remain empty. This week, Adam is joined by Melanie Paradis, the president of Texture Communications and a veteran political communicator, and Jen Gerson, a freelance writer and co-founder of “The Line”, a Canadian commentary website, to discuss the political implications of government delay and mismanagement as flu, RSV, and COVID season continues to disproportionately affect children and debilitate households.

This week, host Adam Owen is joined by a panel of Navigator’s public affairs experts – principals Tasha Kheiriddin, Colin MacDonald and Danielle Parr – to unpack two issues causing major controversy around the globe: Elon Musk’s shaky takeover of Twitter and the excitement, problems and perils of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Tension between Canada and China is on the rise, with the two countries’ dissension taking centre stage at this year’s recent G20 summit. On this episode of Political Traction, Adam is joined by Vina Nadjibulla, Adjunct Professor at UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs to contemplate what Canada’s new approach in the Indo-Pacific might look like and what steps should be taken to solve Canada’s Xi problem.

Seeking to short circuit negotiations with CUPE, the Ontario Government invoked the notwithstanding clause to declare strike action illegal and impose a new contract, but big labour fought back, and Premier Ford backed down. This week, host Adam Owen speaks with The Globe and Mail’s future of work reporter Vanmala Subramaniam to break down what this means for labour, unions and collective bargaining.

From grocery stores to gas stations, prices are up and the cost of living is top of mind for Canadians with the highest inflation in 40 years.  This week, Adam is joined by Brett House, former Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank, and André Turcotte, a principal at Discover,  Navigator’s public opinion research firm, to unpack the Fall Economic Statement and discuss how the federal government is addressing affordability.

In a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland set out her views on “friend-shoring” and how liberal democracies should address the issue of trade in a global economy.

This week, Adam is joined by Heather Scoffield, Ottawa Bureau Chief and Economics Columnist for the Toronto Star to unpack what the Freeland doctrine means for the Liberal Party and all Canadians amidst rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Reporting on the front lines (w/ Adam Zivo)

This week, Adam is joined by Adam Zivo, a political columnist with The National Post. Joining the episode from Kyiv, Adam provides a firsthand glimpse of current events and political dynamics in Ukraine. The duo discuss what more Canada can be doing to help Ukraine, and how information operations and communications are influencing the war.

In a special edition of the podcast, host Adam Owen is joined by Jason Hatcher, Managing Principal of Navigator’s western operations and host of the Western Edge, a Navigator Podcast. Adam and Jason discuss new polling conducted by Navigator’s in-house research division, Discover, on the mindset of Albertans and what they want from their government. The duo conclude the episode with an introduction to the panel discussion Navigator hosted on October 18 with experts on politics and policy in western Canada.

If you’d like to see highlights of the research firsthand, visit the Navigator website.

This week, Amanda introduces the new host of Political Traction, Adam Owen, as Amanda signs off for her maternity leave. The duo reflects on Poilievre’s first month as CPC leader and the changing political dynamics in Alberta and Quebec.