Progress Canada

What does it take to lead the PEI Liberal Party back to power, and can a return to principled experience be the key to unseating a long-entrenched government?The PEI Liberal Party has a new leader and a renewed sense of momentum. Robert Mitchell, a former Minister with over a decade of experience in the Legislative Assembly, joins the Progress Canada Podcast to discuss the road back to government.Despite a narrow by-election loss shortly after taking the helm, Mitchell breaks down how the party grew its vote share by over 30% and why recent polling shows the Liberals are now neck-and-neck with the governing Progressive Conservatives. As Islanders face an affordability crisis and a healthcare system under strain, Mitchell argues that the PC government’s revolving door of leadership has left the province drifting when it needs stability most.From rebalancing rapid population growth with housing infrastructure to protecting the Island’s vital role in national food security, Mitchell outlines a vision for an economy that works for all Islanders, not just the few at the top.Topics include:PEI Politics • Robert Mitchell • PEI Liberal Party • Atlantic Liberalism • Healthcare Reform • Housing Affordability • Population Growth • Cost-of-Living Crisis • Rural Economic Security • Climate Change • Trade and Sovereignty • Political RebuildingWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

From City Hall to Parliament Hill, Halifax MP Shannon Miedema joins the Progress Canada Podcast on International Women’s Day. We discuss her transition from municipal climate leadership to federal politics, her work on the Environmental Caucus, and the push for a National Women’s Health Strategy.Episode Chapters:0:00 - Intro2:10 - Entering Politics6:45 - Climate leadership in Halifax11:20 - Parliament vs. Municipal Council17:40 - Women in Politics23:15 - The Atlantic Economy: Fighting for Halifax's fair share28:50 - Protecting Halifax from tariffs33:45 - Housing Affordability39:20 - The Environmental Caucus45:10 - National Women’s Health Strategy52:30 - Advice for young people in politics57:00 - End of episodeTopics include:Halifax Politics • Shannon Miedema • International Women’s Day • Women in Politics • Climate Action • Atlantic Economy • Housing Affordability • National Women’s Health Strategy • IWK Health • International Trade • Young Canadians in Politics • Environmental PolicyAbout Progress Canada:The Progress Canada Podcast delves into the political, social, and policy transformations shaping the future of our country. We explore what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be done next to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.👉 Get Progress Canada in your inbox: https://progresscanada.substack.com/👉 Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/

As Canada prepares for renewed trade negotiations with the United States and Mexico, Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Keith Currie joins the Progress Canada Podcast to explain what’s at stake for farmers, food producers, and Canada’s economic sovereignty.

Topics include:Canadian agriculture • Canadian Federation of Agriculture • CUSMA • Canada–US trade • Agricultural trade • Food security • Dispute resolution • Prime farmland • Impact Assessment Act • Farm labour shortages • Temporary foreign workers • Agricultural innovation • Climate resilience • Economic sovereignty

About Progress Canada:The Progress Canada Podcast delves into the political, social, and policy transformations shaping the future of our country. We explore what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be done next to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.

👉 Get Progress Canada in your inbox: https://progresscanada.substack.com/👉 Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/

Who will lead the federal NDP into its next era, and can the party rediscover the politics of possibility before the next election?With the NDP leadership race entering its final month, our National Wrap-Up panel convenes to dissect the state of the contest following the high-stakes debate in British Columbia. We break down the mechanics of the race, how momentum is shifting between the candidates, who won the final debate, and what it will take to organize a winning Get Out The Vote effort before the winner is crowned in Winnipeg.Topics include:NDP Leadership 2026 • Avi Lewis • Heather McPherson • Canadian Progressivism • Federal Politics • Political Fundraising • Digital Campaign Strategy • NDP Debate • Tanille Johnston • Rob Ashton • Preferential BallotingWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

As more Canadians live alone and shoulder rising costs on a single income, finance journalist Renée Sylvestre-Williams joins the Progress Canada Podcast to unpack what she calls "the singles tax."Drawing on her new book, "The Singles Tax," Sylvestre-Williams breaks down how Canada’s tax system, social norms, and cost-of-living crisis quietly penalize single adults. From paying more in rent and household expenses to missing out on the financial and social benefits extended to couples and families, she explains how these hidden costs compound over a lifetime.Topics include:Singles tax • Cost-of-living crisis • Housing affordability • Single-person households • Poverty • Canadian tax policy • Affordable housing • Aging in place • Food insecurity • Personal finance • Vienna housing model • Social policy • Economic inequality • The Singles TaxWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

What does it take to lead the Ontario Liberal Party back to power, and can a nearly year-long endurance test actually build the muscle the party needs to defeat Doug Ford?Following the official launch of the 2026 OLP Leadership race, our Ontario Wrap-Up panel is back to break down the newly released rules, the shift to online voting, and the long road to November 21.Featuring Darrell Dean (former Digital Director for PM Trudeau), Theresa Lubowitz (former advisor to the Premier of Ontario and former OLP Communications Coordinator), Alex Mather (former advisor to the Premier of Ontario), and Jordan Ray (former OLP Organization Lead), the panel explores whether a year-long campaign is a necessary party building exercise or a risky recipe for organizational drift.The team dives into the logistics of the contest, the implications of a $1M spending cap, and how a new era of online voting might expand the party's tent. They also debate the authenticity required to offer a hopeful alternative to the current government.Topics include:OLP Leadership 2026 • Ontario Politics • Digital Campaigning • Online Voting • Political Strategy • Doug Ford • Progressive Messaging • Campaign Fundraising • Candidate Recruitment • Political Branding • Strategic Communications • Ontario Liberal PartyWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

What does rebuilding the Liberal brand require today, and how should Liberals defend their values in an era of cynicism and polarization?As provincial Liberal parties struggle for relevance across Canada, former Ontario Premier David Peterson joins the Progress Canada Podcast to reflect on how he once led the Ontario Liberal Party out of the political wilderness—and what today’s Liberals can learn from that moment.Peterson explains how rejecting nostalgia, campaigning against cronyism, and drawing sharp contrasts with a long-entrenched Conservative government helped renew trust with voters. From restoring a sense of possibility to building a broad coalition of voters, he breaks down what it takes to create a credible Liberal alternative.With provincial Liberalism now at one of its weakest points nationally, Peterson defends liberalism itself—arguing that freedom, social justice, and economic prosperity are not competing ideas but mutually reinforcing ones. Topics include:Ontario politics • Provincial Liberalism • David Peterson • Ontario Liberal Party • Canadian Liberalism • Political branding • Coalition-building • Social justice • Economic prosperity • Campaign strategy • Progressive politics • Canadian democracyWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

As Donald Trump asserts a more aggressive vision for U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere, our panel digs into where Canada fits in those plans—and where it doesn’t.

We explore how Trump’s approach to trade, security, and hemispheric dominance challenges long-standing assumptions about Canada–U.S. relations, and what this moment means for Canadian sovereignty.

How should Canadian leaders talk about independence, economic security, and democratic resilience when our closest ally is increasingly unpredictable? And what does defending sovereignty look like in what Prime Minister Mark Carney has dubbed the "new world order?"

The #OnMessage Panel brings together experienced political communicators to break down Canada’s political headlines and examine how each party is framing the debate, what’s resonating with voters, and where our country’s political narrative will head next. Panelists include Michelle Johnston, Theresa Lubowitz, and Alex Mather.

Where to Find Us:Social Accounts:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Podcast Platforms:RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/1027adaac/podcast/rss Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Etut7tXvL8yN4PjQ96pHH?si=7d80390f146a4f07Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8dfa624c-13a8-4268-a977-b3bc509b6cd7/progress-canadaApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/progress-canada/id1802911774 YouTube Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanada/podcasts

In this episode, we’re joined by John Fraser — five-term MPP for Ottawa South and the Ontario Liberal Party’s Leader in the Legislature — for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of Ontario politics heading into 2026, what constructive opposition looks like, and the work required to rebuild public trust after seven years of Doug Ford.Fraser reflects on how this year’s campaign compares to past races and what lessons the Ontario Liberal Party should take from it. We talk about the return to official party status, how a larger caucus is changing what Liberals can accomplish at Queen’s Park, and the priorities the party has focused on this fall, from holding the Ford government accountable to putting forward legislation designed to help families hit hardest by the affordability crisis.We dig into the Ford Government’s mismanagement of the Skills Development Fund, the growing youth unemployment crisis, and the PCs’ pattern of siding with well-connected insiders over everyday Ontarians. Fraser also outlines the Ontario Liberals’ approach to tackling the province’s worsening health care and education crises, drawing on his experience as former Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and his current role as Education Critic.Finally, we explore Fraser’s unique tenure as Leader in the Legislature, the upcoming Liberal leadership race, and his advice for the next Liberal leader.Topics include:Ontario politics • John Fraser • Ontario Liberal Party • 2025 Ontario election • Queen’s Park • Doug Ford government • Skills Development Fund scandal • affordability crisis • youth unemployment • Youth Career Fund • health care crisis • education funding • student outcomes • official party status • legislative leadership • political accountability • provincial policy • Canadian politics 2025 • Progress Canada

In this episode, we sit down with Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, for a wide-ranging conversation about poverty, hunger, and the alarming rise in food bank use across Toronto and beyond.We discuss the findings from Daily Bread’s 2025 "Who’s Hungry?" report, which shows food bank visits hitting a record 4.1 million this year — a staggering 340% increase since 2019. Hetherington explains why food insecurity has shifted from a temporary emergency to a long-term structural crisis, and what the data reveal about the pressures forcing people deeper into poverty. He breaks down the main drivers of hunger — including unaffordable housing, stagnant wages, and the growth of precarious work — and why so many people with jobs and post-secondary education are still unable to afford the basics.We also explore how the housing crisis is fueling food insecurity, the growing number of single adults falling into poverty, and the rise in food bank use among people with disabilities. Finally, we talk about what listeners can do right now to support their communities — from advocating for stronger social policies to taking simple, practical actions that make a meaningful difference.If you care about poverty reduction, housing affordability, disability justice, or the growing crisis of hunger in Canada, this is an essential conversation.Support the Daily Bread Food Bank this holiday season:https://www.dailybread.ca/give-now/ways-to-give/Topics include:Food insecurity • Daily Bread Food Bank • Who’s Hungry report • poverty in Canada • housing crisis • precarious work • single adults in poverty • Canada Disability Benefit • National School Food Program • fresh food tax credit • social policy • income supports • Toronto affordability • economic inequality • anti-poverty advocacyWhere to Find Us:Social Accounts:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Podcast Platforms:RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/1027adaac/podcast/rss Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Etut7tXvL8yN4PjQ96pHH?si=7d80390f146a4f07Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8dfa624c-13a8-4268-a977-b3bc509b6cd7/progress-canadaApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/progress-canada/id1802911774 YouTube Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanada/podcasts