Resuming Debate

The Liberals like to talk about their childcare program, but childcare operators and experts are starting to identify big failures in implementation. On today’s episode I discuss the mechanics of the childcare program with two experts - Krystal Churcher from the the Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs and Peter Jon Mitchell from Cardus, an Ottawa-based think tank.

In our final episode before the summer, I talk to John Bernard, the CEO of IT firm Donna Cona Inc. Several weeks ago John testified before the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee and expressed profound concern about the problems in the federal government's Indigenous procurement system. 

The government has a policy of setting aside a certain percentage of contracts for Indigenous firms. However, recent revelations in the ArriveScam scandal show manipulation of this system leading to companies taking advantage of the system and providing no benefit to Indigenous people. Mr. Bernard joins me to share his own experience, and to make suggestions for improving Indigenous contracting. 

In today's episode, we have Mr. Ali Nazary, the Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). Three years after the U.S. withdrawal from the Afghanistan conflict, we talk about the continued fight for liberation and democracy against the Taliban. 

Mr. Nazary's key message is that the fight against Taliban terrorism is not over, that the NRF's ongoing campaign is having an impact, and that the Taliban should never be recognized or legitimized.

During the discussion, Mr. Nazary highlights this book as a great source for more information - In the Name of my Father: Struggling for Freedom in Afghanistan https://a.co/d/2n1ZTkp

In today's episode, I talk to Dr. Jocelyn Monsma Selby. She is a mental health professional with 43 years of clinical practice experience, she holds a PhD in clinical sexuality, and she is the Chair of "Connecting to Protect." We talk about the health effects associated with early exposure to pornography, and why this issue requires a public health response. 

Throughout this episode we also talk about Bill S-210, a Senate bill that would introduce age verification to prevent children from accessing explicit materials on the internet. 

You can see the progress of the bill here: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/S-210

Speeches on S-210:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-254/hansard#12459184

https://sencanada.ca/en/content/sen/chamber/441/debates/009db_2021-12-08-e?language=e#55

Also in the House of Commons is Bill C-270 by MP Arnold Viersen to take additional measures to eliminate underage and non-consensual sexual images. 

You can learn more about that bill here: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-270/first-reading

Speeches on C-270:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-296/hansard#12664923

In today's episode of Resuming Debate, I speak to the Member of Parliament for Brantford-Brant, Larry Brock. 

We discussed Brock's previous career as a Crown prosecutor and how he applies his courtroom technique in a parliamentary setting. 

In today's episode of Resuming Debate, I talk to Dr. Joseph Siegle. Dr. Siegle is the Director of Research at the National Defence University's Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

Dr. Siegle and I discussed Russia's influence in Africa, the developing situation in light of the demise of Prigozhin, and the importance of Africa in new global 'Cold War' competition.

In today's episode of Resuming Debate I talk to Professor Siddharth Kara the author of the book Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Ours Lives. Cobalt is an element that is used to make many things we use in our daily lives ranging from our cell phones to aircraft engines. The Congo is one of the largest producers of the world's supply of cobalt. The slave-like conditions of workers in cobalt mines taint the supplies of cobalt from the Congo with horror and blood. 

We have a bit of a different episode this time. Last week, during International Development Week, I hosted a Symposium in Parliament to explore the relationship between international development and geopolitical competition. Each speaker had 10 minutes to speak and take questions. We recorded the whole event, for your listening pleasure.

The panel of distinguished speakers was:

1. Chinelo Agom-Eze, Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Foodgrains Bank,

2. Andrii Bukvych, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ukraine,

3. Luke De Pulford, Executive Director, Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China,

4. Charles Burton, Senior Fellow, MacDonald-Laurier Institute,

5. Harry Tseng, Ambassador, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Canada),

6. Idee Inyangudor, Vice-President, Wellington Advocacy,

7. Susan Namulindwa, Founder & Executive Director, Africa Trade Desk,

8. Zaw Kyaw, Spokesperson, Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and

9, Ali Nazary, Head of Foreign Relations, National Resistance Front of Afganistan.

In today's episode of Resuming Debate I talk to David Frum. David is an author, political commentator, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. We mainly planned to discuss how the US elections stand to shape the trajectory of world affairs, but pursued a number of digressions that I think you will find interesting. David is a controversial and sought-after commentator on both sides of the border.