Resuming Debate

Welcome back to a new year of Resuming Debate! On today's episode I am joined by Ron Chhinzer, a member of the Peel Regional Police Service and Conservative candidate in the recent by-election in Mississauga. Ron details some of his experiences working in law enforcement over 20 years, and we discuss what needs to be done to effectively fight the rising crime wave. This conversation also clears up a lot misconceptions about the role police try to play working with social services, and about the real impacts of the “defund the police” movement.

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The oil and gas industry is often attacked by climate change activists, but the industry says that they want to play a critical role in combatting climate change. Is this just PR or is this interest real?

Joining me for a discussion on the energy industry's response to climate change is Mark Cameron, Vice President of the Pathways Alliance and former director of policy for the Harper government. We discuss the “net zero by 2050” commitment made by the industry and dive into a conversation about the carbon tax, clean energy production, greenwashing, and corporate social responsibility.

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In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are also seeing escalating attacks on the Russian opposition and Russian independent civil society. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, I am joined by Mrs. Evgeniya Kara-Murza, the Advocacy Coordinator of the Free Russia Foundation. Her husband, Vladimir Kara-Murza, is an opposition political activist who has survived multiple assassination attempts and is currently jailed in Russia for opposing the Putin regime. We discuss her husband’s case, the war in Ukraine, and how Canada can support opposition to the Putin regime inside of Russia.

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On today’s episode, we tackle the emerging global energy security crisis with University of Ottawa Professor Paul Robinson and the Polish Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Witold Dzielski.

Canadians are used to thinking about energy policy in terms of the economy and the environment. But there is a third critical dimension – how energy policy impacts our own and global security. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent energy blackmail of Europe has put this reality into sharp focus. As a large energy-producing democracy, Canada has a critical role to play in responding to the global challenge of energy security.

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On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss current protest in Iran and the possibility that a democratic revolution will oust the country’s rulers.

Following the murder of Mahsa Amini by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), protesters took to the streets demanding justice. Today I talk with Sayeh Hassan, a lawyer and human rights activist, and Reza Moridi, former Liberal MPP from the Ontario legislature. Both were born in Iran and offer unique insight into Iran’s evolving political reality.

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Welcome back to Resuming Debate!

Alberta has a new premier. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss Alberta’s emerging “sovereigntist” discourse and what Alberta can learn from Quebec when it comes to asserting its position within confederation. Some Albertans are saying that they want to be more like Quebec in terms of how they relate to Ottawa. But the current proposals on the table in Alberta are quite distinct from steps that were taken in Quebec. So, what lessons can Alberta learn from Quebec’s experience, and do Albertans want to travel a similar road?

My guest for this discussion is MP Gérard Deltell. Gerard is a former journalist and provincial party leader in Quebec. He currently serves with me in the Conservative Party caucus in the House of Commons. Gerard explains the key elements of Quebec’s journey towards increasing autonomy within Canada, and we discuss what lessons Alberta might draw from that experience.

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On today’s episode we discuss the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan. Major floods there are devastating millions of people, killing off livestock, and ravaging the landscape. Joining me for this episode are Dr. Aslam Daud, chairman of non-profit organization Humanity First, and Rahul Singh, CEO of GlobalMedic, an organization providing humanitarian aid across the world. Both offer insight into the reality of the natural disaster at hand and Canada's response. We also discuss more general issues in international development, such as how to prevent devastation like this over the long term.

This episode was recorded prior to Hurricane Fiona hitting Canadian shores, and I also want to share my sincerest sympathy for all those impacted by that storm. We will look to discuss the response to natural disasters in Canada in a future episode.

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Welcome back to Resuming Debate! We'll be doing biweekly episodes through the fall.

On today’s episode we discuss whether the Canadian government is failing to follow through on its commitment to support Ukraine. The government has granted a waiver to their own sanctions against Russia, the Russian embassy continues to be permitted to be very active in Canada, Ukrainian employees at the Canadian embassy may have been abandoned, and more weapons are critically needed. Joining me for this discussion are Borys Wrzesnewskyj, a former Liberal MP of Ukrainian origin, and Orest Zakydalsky, senior policy analyst for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Both offer very candid assessments of the government's performance.

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A populist, a religious fundamentalist, and a left-wing progressive. This week's episode features a discussion on the life, legacy, and contemporary relevance of William Jennings Bryan. I speak with Michael Kazin, author of A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan and of a new book on the history of the Democratic Party.

William Jennings Bryan was a three-time Democratic Party presidential nominee. He was a powerful orator who also served as Secretary of State and whose politics paved the way for the New Deal.

Michael Kazin and I talk about what the life of William Jennings Bryan means for our politics today and what lessons can be learned from his story. We discuss populism, the "religious left", Bryan's obsession with monetary policy, and his final stand against evolution. 

Resuming Debate will be going on hiatus over the summer and returning in the fall. To never miss another episode, follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and don’t forget to leave a review.

Slavery is still a pressing issue that requires the attention of lawmakers worldwide. Many products made with slave labour still manage to enter the Canadian marketplace. To counter modern day slavery, Canadian parliamentarians - including myself – have been working together to develop new legislative tools to prevent these products from entering our country.

I am joined by Liberal MP John McKay, Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, and Independent Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne to discuss this issue and some of the different bills that are seeking to respond to it. Senator Miville-Dechêne and John McKay have both worked to get the Modern Slavery Act through Parliament. More recently Senator Miville-Dechêne has tabled S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act. Senator Housakos has tabled the Xinjiang Manufactured Goods Importation Prohibition Act to ban all goods from Xinjiang, where Uyghur forced labour is very common.

To never miss another episode, follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and don’t forget to leave a review.