The Backbench

The six weeks of dramatic testimony have officially come to an end with testimony from the Prime Minister himself. Join our host, Mattea Roach, and an exceptional panel with Stuart Thomson, David Moscrop, and Sandy Garossino for a deep retrospective on Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act against the 'Freedom Convoy' this past February. Also, the Green Party has a “new” leader. Welcome back Elizabeth May. This episode Mattea and our panelists discuss the future of the Green Party. 

If you want to support this show go to https://canadaland.com/join

Host:  Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Guests: Stuart Thomson, Sandy Garossino, David Moscrop

Background reading:

• Racism and hate are threats to public safety. Why haven’t we heard this during the Emergencies Act inquiry? by Amira Elghawaby from the Toronto Star
• Trudeau 'serene' about invoking Emergencies Act, says police plan to clear protest 'wasn't a plan at all' by Catharine Tunney from CBC News
• 'Bad humour' and short fuses: How politicians' texts played out at the Emergencies Act inquiry by Joseph Tunney from CBC News
• The Green Party has two new leaders. Will their shared vision get the party back on its feet? by Natasha Bulowski from the National Observer 
• Political insider breaks down Green Party of Canada co-leadership win, potential trouble ahead by Gregor Craigie from CBC News

Sponsors: Douglas, oxio

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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Financial Minister Chrystia Freeland’s mini-budget is at your service to save us from inflation. Or is it Justin-flation? This week our host, Mattea Roach, is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey to talk about the effectiveness of the proposed budget, the impending recession, and the “costly-coalition.” They also tackle the increasingly common use of the notwithstanding clause—what does it mean, and should we be worried?

Get tickets to The Backbench live show on December 14. Support Canadaland to get your free tickets.

Host: Mattea Roach (Recorded via personal microphone. Audio quality may differ.)

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Guests: Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, Nick Taylor-Vaisey

Background reading:

• Highlights of the 2022 Fall Economic Statement
• Five things you need to know about the Liberals’ fall economic update
• In defence of the notwithstanding clause: Why Canada should hold onto it
• What Ottawa should say to the provinces: See your notwithstanding clause, raise you disallowance
• Three cheers for the notwithstanding clause

Sponsors: Oxio

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.

BC NDP leadership candidate Anjali Appadurai had the rug pulled out from under her. This week Mattea Roach is joined with Stuart Thomson, Jaskaran Sandhu, and Arno Kopecky to talk about how and why the BC-NDP ended up disqualifying Appadurai, leaving David Eby to be sworn in as Premier of British Columbia. Also, this week the backbenchers talk about the Federal handgun freeze that is supposedly the strongest action in a generation. We’ll see about that…

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Guests: Stuart Thomson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Arno Kopecky

Background reading: 

Chronicle of a death foretold by Arno Kopecky in Canada’s National Observer

The desperate disqualification of Anjali Appadurai by Avi Lewis in Canada’s National Observer

BC NDP Investigative Report by BC NDP Table Officer

Freeze on handgun sales takes effect as Liberals face criticism they interfered in the probe of Canada’s deadliest shooting by Stephanie Levitz in the Toronto Star

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.

Meet David Wallace, political fixer. After decades in the game he says he’s getting out, telling all, and dumping his files in public. The result is the viral "Klondike Papers" theory of conspiracies, conservatives, and cults. But are the allegations true? And why is he really implicating himself, and so many others? A wild, true story.

Series launches October 31st.

Subscribe now (link).

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What is going on in the Wild Rose Country? Mattea Roach is joined by experts Catherine Griwkowksy, Emilie Nicolas, and David Moscrop. Together they unpack the implications of Alberta’s new premier's calls for more sovereignty and the possible unravelling of our beloved Canadian federalism. This week we also get into Canada’s complicated diplomatic response to the Iranian protests.

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Nathan Burley (Music)

Guests: Emilie Nicolas, Catherine Griwkowsky, David Moscrop

Background reading:

• New Alberta Premier Danielle Smith dials back sovereignty pledge
• In reversal of policy, adviser says Danielle Smith's sovereignty act would respect Supreme Court decisions
• Opinion: Is Canadian federalism unravelling?
• GOLDSTEIN: Trudeau talks out of both sides of his mouth on Iran
• Stung by criticism, Trudeau government changes course on Iran
• Opinion: What Canadians are getting wrong about the hijab protests in Iran
• Opinion: Trudeau government out of touch on dealing with Iran

Sponsors: oxio

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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Our host Mattea Roach, tackles the “new” and “exciting” Federal dental plan with Riley Yesno, Stuart Thomson, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey. The NDP are patting themselves on the back for getting something done in Ottawa—but how much have they really accomplished here? Speaking of “new” and “exciting” we need to talk about the IRCC’s new proposed immigration pathways that seem to be recycled old ones.

Links:

Dental:

• Politico piece re: dental

Immigration:

• CTV piece: Migrant workers continue to call for change after death of Jamaican worker at Ontario farm
• Toronto Star piece: Here’s Canada’s new plan to help foreign students and workers become permanent residents. Some say it isn’t nearly new enough

Sponsors: Douglas, oxio, Toronto Star Podcasts

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

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

We’re thrilled to announce that Mattea Roach will be hosting the brand new season of the Backbench. She’s best known for her 23-game winning streak on Jeopardy!, but Mattea also has a keen interest in politics and has a background in sexual diversity studies, political science, and women and gender studies.

In this teaser episode, Mattea is joined with Backbench Producer Aviva Lessard and Associate Producer Noor Azrieh for a sneak peak at what they hope to accomplish in the new season. 

Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/join

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Where are the fresh faces in Canadian politics? Today, we dive into career politicians—the good the bad, and the ugly. Plus, why can’t our various levels of government just work together? It’s time to end the federal, provincial and municipal war.

Also, guest contributors join Fatima’s last episode for her last point of order segment.

Panelists: 

Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, Stuart Thomson

Guest Contributors: 

Raisa Patel, David Moscrop, Jason Markusoff 

Links: 

https://www.keenan.ca/

Sponsors: 

Oxio, Douglas, The Peak

Additional music by Audio Network

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In this week’s episode, we talk about what constitutes good leadership, and why our leaders are struggling to meet the moment amid a global ripple of failed democratic leadership. Plus, is provincial immigration autonomy going to save us from the 2.7 million applicant backlog? Producers note: Due to technical difficulties, Fatima's voice may sound a little different.

Panelists: Drew Brown, Riley Yesno, Jaskaran Sandhu

Sponsors: Oxio, Douglas

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