The Backbench

On Saturday, President Trump followed through with his promise of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods and 10 percent on energy. We clapped back with our own.

But late yesterday, after a couple of calls between the two leaders, Trump relented after Trudeau said he outlined Canada’s $1.3 billion border plan and also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl. Trump said he’d pause for 30 days.  

A trade war is bad, but some businesses might fare better than others. Our producers went out to see how they were reacting.

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: Jeff Kirstein, Adam Brierley, Kacee Vasudeva

Background reading:

• These industries would be hit hardest by Trump's 25 per cent tariffs - DiscoverHumboldt.com
• Trump has a 'good talk' with Trudeau — then calls again for Canada to become 51st state
• Mexico president says U.S. tariffs on her country delayed for 1 month
• Defence minister accelerates 2% NATO spending timeline to 2027 amid pressure from Trump

Photo credit: Presidencia de la República Mexicana via Flickr

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When Justin Trudeau stepped down earlier this month, it should have been the perfect opportunity for Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to swing the narrative. To seize control.

But they haven’t done any of that. What used to be Canada’s worker’s party seems like a shell of its former self. Why can’t they reach voters when everything is up in the air?

This week Noor sits down with columnist and critic Max Fawcett, and former NDP strategist Mélanie Richer to unpack Singh’s woes.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (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: Mélanie Richer, Max Fawcett

Background reading:

• The NDP is getting outflanked — again – National Observer
• Ginny Roth: The NDP don’t take themselves seriously, so why should we? – The Hub
• Is It Time for Singh to Go? – The Walrus
• Is Jagmeet Singh’s job at risk in the upcoming election? – iPolitics
• Singh says NDP still plan to vote to topple Liberals ‘at the earliest opportunity,’ regardless of leader – CTV News

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The Copernic Affair is available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

The life of an unassuming sociology professor in Canada gets turned upside down when he is accused of carrying out a 1980 bomb attack on a synagogue in Paris. Hassan Diab says heʼs innocent, but French investigators are determined to prove otherwise.

Journalists Dana Ballout and Alex Atack take listeners through the twists and turns of this extraordinary story, all the while asking…

Is Hassan Diab guilty, or is he a scapegoat? And what if one person’s justice means committing an injustice to another?

You can become a Canadaland supporter to listen to the whole series early and ad-free.

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Donald Trump’s back, but Canada is STILL divided on how to respond. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has gone rogue, Doug Ford just wants everyone to look at his cool new hat.

It’s an economic threat, but also threatens to pull our very identity apart. Are we just supposed to sit and wait? To break it down, Noor welcomes Wall Street Journal reporter Vipal Monga, and UBC lecturer Stewart Prest.

Host: Noor Azrieh

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

Guests: Vipal Monga, Stewart Prest

Background reading:

• Canada’s fight with Trump isn’t just economic, it’s existential – The Conversation
• Canada Knows Trump Would Win a Trade Fight. It Is Preparing to Retaliate Anyway. – The Wall Street Journal
• Canada on Trump’s Proposed Union: Thanks, but Let’s Just Be Friends – The Wall Street Journal
• Canada Suddenly Has No Leader, and No Plan, for a Trump Trade Fight – The Wall Street Journal
• Alberta premier's Trump visit raises concerns she's flouting Team Canada approach – CBC News
• Canada ready to buy more American products to appease Trump's tariff threat, ambassador says – AP News

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Our latest investigation, The Copernic Affair, launches tomorrow on the Canadaland Investigates feed. Follow The Copernic Affair wherever you get your podcasts: https://canadaland.lnk.to/copernic-affair 

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Join Noor Azrieh and Sam Konnert for a discussion to bid farewell to key legislation that is likely to be lost due to Parliament's prorogation. From the Online Harms Act, to clean drinking water for First Nation communities, there’s a lot to mourn.

And, how could a new liberal leader possibly win back young men? We speak with Aiden Fox Ivey, who reached out after he heard our interview with a conservative bro.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (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: Aiden Fox Ivey, Taylor Owen, Chris Moonias

Background reading:

• With the House of Commons prorogued, some key Liberal legislation may not pass - CBC News
• Young Canadians now more politically conservative than their elders – National Post
• Poilievre’s Youth: Meet the young voters supporting the Conservatives – Global News
• Hasan Piker on how Trump seized online culture – CBC Podcasts, Frontburner

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

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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Yesterday Trudeau announced that he would prorogue parliament and resign as Prime Minister. Now, the Liberal Party is embarking on a journey to replace him.

He talked about “internal battles” and pressure from Donald Trump, and decided this was the best option. But is it too little too late? Who could possibly have hair good enough to replace him?

Logic reporter Laura Osman and Trudeau’s former head of economic policy Tyler Meredith join Sam to discuss what this means for Canada.

Host: Sam Konnert

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

Guests: Laura Osman and Tyler Meredith

Background reading:

• Justin Trudeau resigned too late. There is no salvaging the Liberal Party now | Globe and Mail
• Who will replace Justin Trudeau as the next Liberal leader? Here are the top contenders | Globe and Mail
• Trudeau removes himself from the equation, but the math doesn't get much easier | CBC News
• Trudeau says he's not the right choice to lead party in next election, promises to resign as PM. | CBC News

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Starting January 1st, the criminal interest rate on predatory lending will be lowered, meaning it should be safer to take out payday and installment loans. But these businesses have a tendency to skirt the law, adding unexpected fees and insurance rates to keep borrowers in the hole.

Sam welcomes Donna Borden to the show - an organizer with ACORN. She’s been a victim to these loans, and is now fighting against them. Will the crackdown work and really help lower people’s payments? How can we make short term loans a real option for people struggling, without the sky-high payments?

Host: Sam Konnert

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

Guests: Donna Borden

Background reading:

• Debt struggles spark concerns - Toronto Star
• Anti-poverty advocates call payday lenders 'criminal,' urge feds to cap interest rates | CBC
• New rules to curb predatory lending still leave many vulnerable - Globe and Mail
• How a $200 payday loan cost over $31,000 - CBC Radio

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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. 

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It was a hell of a day for the Liberals yesterday, as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly abandoned her post. Now, all fingers are pointed at one man: Justin Trudeau.

So what happened? And where do we go from here? Reporter for the Hill Times Stuart Benson sits down with Sam to break down Justin’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Stuart Benson

Background reading:

• Federal deficit balloons to $61.9B as government tables economic update on chaotic day in Ottawa  – CBC
• Trudeau taps Dominic LeBlanc to serve as finance minister after Chrystia Freeland's shock resignation | CBC 
• Chrystia Freeland’s years of loyalty culminate in a humiliating and tragic end | Globe and Mail
• Freeland’s grenade brings crisis on top of crisis to a flailing Trudeau government | Globe and Mail

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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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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. 

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The political gender divide isnt just a U.S. phenonmenon, its showing up globally, from the U.K. to South Korea. It’s only a matter of time before the next Canadian election wherethese political dynamics could soon take center stage. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Jack Gordon, a young conservative, to ask what he’s thinking about politics these days? And, why conservative politics are resonating with young Canadian men? 

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (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: Jack Gordon

Background reading:

• Young Canadians now more politically conservative than their elders – National Post
• Poilievre’s Youth: Meet the young voters supporting the Conservatives – Global News
• Hasan Piker on how Trump seized online culture – CBC Podcasts, Frontburner
• Abacus Data Poll: Conservatives lead by 22 as surrounding impressions hold steady 
• What’s behind the global political divide between young men and women? – The Guardian 
• Why Trump Thinks He Needs Young Men to Win – TIME

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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. 

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Last Monday, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump posted to his beloved Truth Social with a hefty threat. If Canada and Mexico don't get the border in order, or the drugs in check, he’ll slap a 25 per cent tariff on all goods. These tariffs could crash several major U.S. industries and ruin Canada’s economy. But this isn’t the first time Trump’s threatened Canada. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Vipal Monga to ask, did Canadian politicians learn anything from dealing with Trump the first time around, or are they stumbling into Trump 2.0 just as clueless?

And, the latest on a BC lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors and alleged interference in the Conservative leadership race that got Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre elected.

Host: Noor Azrieh

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

Guests: Vipal Monga

Further Reading On Our Website

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.