The Backbench has moved!

Episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed for a few months now, alongside lots of other great content — from original reporting to media criticism to our brand-new support-only show.

Starting now, The Backbench feed (this one!) will no longer be publishing new episodes, but the show lives on! You can still find new episodes of this show every Tuesday on Canadaland.

Just search “Canadaland” in your podcast player of choice, and we’ll see you there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the end of last year, episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed, alongside lots of other great content — oftentimes featuring voices you may be familiar with from The Backbench. Starting in July 2025, The Backbench feed (this one!) will no longer be publishing new episodes, but you can still find new episodes of this show every Tuesday on Canadaland.

Just search “Canadaland” in your podcast player of choice, and we’ll see you there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Mark Carney promised one Canadian economy. Now, his signature bill is one step closer to law as Bill C-5 rocketed through parliament with some amendments. The changes haven't quelled concerns from Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who broke ranks in the final vote. Host Noor sits down with MP Erskine-Smith to talk about why he voted no, and what he really thinks of Carney’s CEO-style politics.  

And, you’ll hear concerns from the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak about the process and lack of consultation. Plus some regulatory mythbusting by BC professors, Jess Dempsey, and Rosemary Collard.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Nate Erskine-Smith, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Jess Dempsey, Rosemary Collard

Background reading:

• Liberals' major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support – CBC News
• Bill C-5 passes the House of Commons vote after accelerated process – Canada’s National Observer
• As Parliament rushes to support Bill C-5, Indigenous groups prepare for legal fight – The Logic
• A tale of two Bill 5s 
• The Extinction Paradox
• Does regulation delay mines? A timeline and economic benefit audit of British Columbia mines

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Canada is hosting the G-7 in Alberta, one of the most consequential meetings yet. Is this Carney’s moment to become a world leader, reorient our economy, and possibly the world order? 

With the predictably unpredictable Trump, growing regional wars, rampaging wildfires, and some controversial invitations, there’s a lot of room for error. Could Carney play the role of global power broker? 

And the latest on Pierre Poilievre’s one-on-one phone calls, our rekindling relationship with India, and another Liberal bill rushing through.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Matthew Holmes

Further Reading on Our Website

Sponsors: 

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If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

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The Liberals’ first piece of legislation, Bill C-2 is a sweeping 139-page omnibus bill.

It would allow police to open and inspect mail from Canada Post, restrict cash transfers over $10,000, bolster surveillance, and expand what law enforcement can do…without a warrant.

But it will also overhaul our asylum-seeking process. And with the riots below the border, we can’t but ask: are we going down the same path?

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Adam Sadinsky

Background reading:

• Experts warn of Bill C-2 as ’anti-refugee’ and ’anti-immigrant’ giving Canada ’unchecked powers’ like the U.S. – Radio Canada
• Opinion | Border bill primed to give Mark Carney's government sweeping new powers. Who asked for this? - Toronto Star
• Montrealers protest against border security Bill C-2 – CTV
• Why the ‘language of loopholes’ should be avoided if Trump cracks down on the Canada-U.S. border – The Conversation 
• Ontario’s Bill 5 has passed. Here’s why it has sparked conflict with First Nations – The Canadian Press

Sponsors: 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more! To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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Political divides are growing, and it’s not just over basic issues anymore. Increasingly, people are feeling differences in basic conduct, morality, and how they approach discussions. These divisions feel too big to ignore.

How do you go about fixing that divide? This week host Sam Konnert sits down with Ryan Broderick to iron things out.

And the latest on the grand meeting of the Premiers in Saskatoon, Carney’s new chief of staff pick and Trump’s doubling of the steel and aluminum tariffs. 

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Ryan Broderick

Background reading:

• 'Dude, I'm Done': When Politics Tears Families And Friendships Apart | NPR
• Friendship in divided times: People don't want to argue with you as much as you think | BBC
• It is okay to lose friends due to politics | Johns Hopkins

Sponsors: 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/BACKBENCH and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this year, Jagmeet Singh laughed off the idea of losing. Now, he’s out and the NDP is in free fall. They lost official party status. They lost ground with key voters, organized labor, and their traditional strongholds in B.C. and the GTA. So, did the NDP learn anything from this catastrophic loss? To answer that question, host Noor Azrieh asks Heather McPherson, one of the 7 NDP MPs left. 

And, the latest on King Charles Canadian tour, who’s gonna babysit rowdy MPs in the House of Commons, and maybe it's time to break up with Jenni Byrne…for good this time.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Heather McPherson

Background reading:

• NDP caucus members dispute appointment of interim leader Don Davies – The Globe and Mail
• NDP faces 'Parliament from hell' without official party status, says former MP – CBC News
• Is it R.I.P. for the federal NDP? Not quite, experts say – CBC News
• New Democrats say they want leadership race rules to ensure multiple serious candidates, shorter contest – The Globe and Mail
• King Charles and Queen Camilla begin royal visit to Canada – CBC News
• Pressure mounting on Poilievre to fire Jenni Byrne: sources – CBC News

Sponsors: 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Head to policyme.com and find a Health & Dental plan that actually fits your life, and

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If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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After a couple of weeks of pats on the back and trying to find Pierre Poilievre a new home, we’re finally seeing how Mark Carney’s government plans to tackle the country’s biggest problems and who he’s putting in charge to do it. Next week, King Charles is set to kick off parliament with the throne speech, and we’ll finally have MPs back in the House of Commons after months of parliamentary paralysis. We’re at the top of the hill before things start to inevitably crumble, so Host Noor Azrieh asks Nick Taylor-Vaisey what Carney’s first few weeks say about how he’ll be running our country?

And the latest on what’s gone down in Terrebone, and where the hell Pierre Poilievre lives.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Nick Taylor-Vaisey

Background reading:

• Erskine-Smith says he feels 'disrespected' after being dropped from cabinet - Canadian Press
• Carney shows 10 ministers from his first cabinet the door - CBC News
• Mark Carney’s cabinet change is a mirage - The Globe and Mail
• Mark Carney’s bulky and performative cabinet - The Globe and Mail
• John Ivison: The day after cabinet swearing-in is the day it starts going wrong - National Post

Sponsors: 

Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz and its long list of added-value features. 

That's fizz dot ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data. 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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Mark Carney promised tougher bail and more police – a “get tough” agenda that the Liberals shoplifted right off the Conservative shelf. Host Noor sits down with Adelina Iftene, a criminal law professor, who calls Mark Carney’s revival of “tough on crime” a “slippery slope”. Will Mark Carney’s revival of “tough on crime” fix anything? What actually makes communities safer? And what happens if we get this wrong?

And the latest on Canada’s unemployment problem, the one vote that changed Terrebonne, and Carney’s new cabinet crew

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Adelina Iftene

Background reading:

• Man known to Toronto police faces 100+ charges in crime spree – City News
• Federal government proposes stricter bail system in new bill – CBC News
• Repeat violent offenders set to spend more time in custody as feds approve bail reform bill – CBC News
• Randall Denley: Ontario can't get tough on crime until it gets tough on court delays – National Post
• Most Canadians feel as safe or safer than 10 years ago, Nanos poll finds. Conservative voters are another story – CTV
• Mark Carney’s Liberals release plan to fight crime, protect Canadians, and build safer communities

Sponsors: 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

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If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

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Pierre Poilievre is packing his bags to rural Alberta, after losing his seat to Bruce Fanjoy. How the hell did Fanjoy do it? We asked him.

Plus, pollster David Coletto breaks down things you may have missed in the election results.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: 

Background reading:

• How a political rookie wore out two pairs of shoes to unseat Pierre Poilievre | Globe and Mail
• Re-elected Alberta MP steps down, allowing Pierre Poilievre to step up | CBC
• Carleton was Poilievre's riding to lose. When he did, it came as a shock to many | CBC
• The Think Tank: Only Boomers are really concerned about Trump this election | The Hub

Sponsors: 

Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz and its long list of added-value features. Activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data. 

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/backbench and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.