On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe talks with Chris Worswick about the labor force requirements for building major projects and how we should think about immigration.

For the intro, Joe covers the current situation for American military action in Iran.

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Guest Bio:

- Christopher Worswick is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Carleton University. He is also a Research Fellow in the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) at University College London.

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Host Bio:

- Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Reading recommendation:

- "Borderline Chaos: How Canada Got Immigration Right, and Then Wrong", by Tony Keller: https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/borderline-chaos/

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Interview recording Date: February 20, 2026

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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.

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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Dr. Laura Dawson to discuss the operations of the Future Borders Coalition and CUSMA negotiations.

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Participants' bios:

Dr. Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition.

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Host bio:

Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

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Reading Recommendations:

- "The Winter Witch: A Novel" by Jennifer Chevalier

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

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Recording Date: January 30, 2026

Release date:

February 23, 2026

In this Triple Helix episode of Defence Deconstructed, we sit down with Dr. Olena Kryzhanivska to discuss her latest paper, “Lessons and Warnings for Canada's Defence Investment Agency”. We discuss the announcement of the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) and outlining what it would do, focus on centralizing procurement to align with partners like the U.K., France and Australia, and provide some recommendations to guide Canada on the implementation and operational success of the DIA.

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Guest bios:

Dr. Olena Kryzhanivska is a COVE Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, where she focuses on defence innovations in Canada.

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Host bio:

David Perry, President & CEO, Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Recommended Readings:

- "De Gruyter Handbook of Drone Warfare" edited by James Patton Rogers

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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

Release date:

20 February 2026

On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe talks with Jahara Matisek about defence industrial supply chains, critical mineral vulnerabilities, prioritizing ecosystems, and the Canadian defence industrial strategy.

For the intro, Joe covers nuclear supply chains, plans for an enormous natural gas power plant, and an update on Venezuela.

You can find Jahara's books here:

https://www.rienner.com/title/Old_and_New_Battlespaces_Society_Military_Power_and_War

https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Military-Strategy-Joint-Operations-and-Airpower

You can find Jahara's articles discussed in the podcast here:

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-to-supercharge-the-us-militarys-arsenal

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/techland/why-the-us-military-could-lose-the-contest-for-materials-crucial-to-ai

https://mwi.westpoint.edu/logistics-left-of-boom-understanding-adversary-threats-to-the-defense-industrial-base-ahead-of-conflict/

https://warontherocks.com/2025/08/these-materials-could-cripple-americas-defense-industrial-base/

https://mwi.westpoint.edu/minerals-magnets-and-military-capability-chinas-rare-earth-weaponization-should-be-a-wake-up-call/

https://www.fpri.org/article/2026/02/the-us-is-not-built-for-war-or-peace-americas-industrial-resilience-gap/

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Guest Bio:

- Jahara Matisek is an active-duty US Air Force officer whose work focuses on the policy implications of national security spending, with an emphasis on critical infrastructure resilience

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Host Bio:

- Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Reading recommendation:

- "How the World Really Works: A Scientist’s Guide to Our Past, Present and Future", by Vaclav Smil: https://www.amazon.ca/How-World-Really-Works-Scientists/dp/B001XIIE24

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Interview recording Date: February 17, 2026

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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.

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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with The Honourable Bob Rae to discuss middle powers and multilateralism.

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Participants' bios:

The Honourable Bob Rae served at the former Premier of Ontario, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and Interim Leader of the Liberal Party. From 2020-2025, he served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.

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Host bio:

Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

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Reading Recommendations:

- "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" by Richard Hofstadter

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

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Recording Date: January 30, 2026

Release date:

February 17, 2026

In this episode of Defence Deconstructed, we sit down with DND/CAF Ombudsman Mario Baril to discuss his role as Ombudsman and his office's latest report: Marking Time: A decade of stalled progress for the Primary Reserve.

Read the report here: https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/reports-news-statistics/investigative-reports/reserve-force-review.html

View the Military Benefits Browser: https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/education-information/caf-members/compensation-benefits/mbb.html

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Guest bios:

Mario Baril is the Department of National Defence/ Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman.

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Host bio:

Charlotte Duval-Lantoine is Vice President, Ottawa Operations of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Recommended Readings:

- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/dare-to-lead-brave-work.-tough-conversations.-whole-hearts./9780399592522.html

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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

Release date:

13 February 2026

On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe talks with Dennis McConaghy about the fate of the Canada-Alberta MoU amid choices about Canada's economic future.

For the intro, Joe discusses the Gordie Howe bridge, grid batteries, and the oil blockade of Cuba.

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Guest Bio:

- Dennis McConaghy is a CGAI Fellow and former pipeline executive

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Host Bio:

- Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Reading recommendation:

- "Who Knew", by Barry Diller: https://www.amazon.ca/Who-Knew-Barry-Diller/dp/1668096870

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Interview recording Date: February 10, 2026

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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.

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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with The Honourable Kevin Lynch and Jim Mitchell about their book A New Blueprint for Government: Reshaping Power, the PMO and the Public Service.

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Participants' bios:

- The Honourable Kevin Lynch served as Deputy Minister of Industry, Deputy Minister of Finance, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to Cabinet, later as vice chair of BMO Financial Group.

- Jim Mitchell served as Assistant Secretary to the cabinet responsible for the machinery of government before founding the policy consulting firm Sussex Circle.

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Host bio:

Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

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Reading Recommendations:

- "A New Blueprint for Government: Reshaping Power, the PMO and the Public Service" by The Honourable Kevin Lynch and Jim Mitchell.

- "The Dollar a Year Men" by Allan Levine

- "The Daily" Podcast by The New York Times

- "The Curse of Politics" Podcast 

- "Slow Horses" by Mick Herron

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

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Recording Date: January 20, 2026

Release date:

February 9, 2026

In this episode of Defence Deconstructed, we sit down with BGen Christopher Horner to discuss Canada's plans for space, the creation and evolution of 3 Canadian Space Division (3CSD) and the future of Canadian space activity in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Department of National Defence (DND).

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Guest bios:

BGen Christopher Warner is the Commander of 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD) and Joint Force Space Component Commander

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Host bio:

David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

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Recommended Readings:

- "Final Orbit" by Chris Hadfield

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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.

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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

Release date:

06 February 2026

On this special episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan discuss the interaction of energy and foreign policy in the Trump administration in 2026, including consideration of Iran, India, Russia, China, and Venezuela.

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Donate to CGAI here: buy.stripe.com/28o29deEmeCH1ck8ww

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- Kelly Ogle is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute

- Joe Calnan is VP, Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.

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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.