The House

CBC's Piya Chattopadhyay, Catherine Cullen and Salimah Shivji walk through the key moments of Tuesday's U.S. midterm results in this live CBC Radio special, bringing you immediate analysis on how the Democrats built their projected control of the House and Senate. Interviews with former diplomats, voters and stakeholders break down a new political reality in the U.S., with Republican strategist Chet Love going beyond calling the results a 'blue wave,' and labelling them a 'MAGA murder.' 

American voters head to the polls on Tuesday for pivotal midterm elections — and Canadian tariffs have become a key issue in battleground states. But is the spotlight good for Canada? 

Guest host J.P. Tasker speaks to former American diplomat Scotty Greenwood, former Trump advisor John Bolton, former Democratic state senator Emily Cain, Republican political strategist Dennis Lennox, Bloomberg reporter Josh Wingrove and Globe and Mail columnist Lawrence Martin about how big a role Canada is playing in these races, and the risk of Trump's wrath if he loses.

Plus, EU and Canadian officials meet in Montreal to begin negotiating a new alliance, how important is this new relationship? Historian and former Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff is now based in Vienna. He talks about why this new chapter between Canada and the EU is about sovereignty and survival.

And, after 17 years, former broadcaster, diplomat and senator Pamela Wallin is leaving the Red Chamber. She joins The House to discuss her departure, the Trump administration and how Mark Carney is handling the American president.

This episode features the voices of:

• Scotty Greenwood, founder of Ottawa Street Strategy and former U.S. diplomat
• John Bolton, former national security advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump
• Dennis Lennox, Republican strategist
• Emily Cain, senior advisor at Third Way Strategy and former Maine state senator
• Josh Wingrove, senior White House reporter with Bloomberg News
• Lawrence Martin, columnist for The Globe and Mail
• Michael Ignatieff, historian and former Liberal leader
• Pamela Wallin, former Canadian senator

American officials are alleging Canadian electoral interference in the U.S. midterms, what’s behind the latest missives from the Trump administration? And as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asks separatists in her party to accept their loss or leave, will they listen? The National Post’s Stuart Thomson and Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star discuss. 

Then, as British Columbia heads to the polls after Premier David Eby’s snap election call, Catherine Cullen sits down with Shachi Kurl, President of the Angus Reid Institute, to hear why Eby’s gamble on calling an election two years early may backfire. With the key battleground of Surrey facing more violent extortion threats since the last election, The House visits NDP candidate Jinny Sims and Conservative candidate Trevor Halford and hear their parties’ plans for public safety.

Plus, two-term Green Party city councillor Pete Fry took down incumbent Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in last week’s municipal election. Catherine Cullen meets Fry out on the streets of Vancouver to talk about the major challenges the city faces and what he’s learned from his mother, long-term Liberal MP Hedy Fry.

This episode features the voices of:

• Tonda MacCharles, The Toronto Star

• Stuart Thomson, The National Post

• Shachi Kurl, President of the Angus Reid Institute 

• Jinny Sims, B.C. NDP candidate

• Trevor Halford, B.C. Conservative candidate

• Pete Fry, Vancouver mayor elect

In the last days of Alberta’s referendum campaign, Catherine Cullen talks to the Alberta NDP leader and the head of a pro-separatist third-party advertiser about their plans to get out the vote on Monday – and the pitfalls of thinking that the referendum outcome is in the bag. Then, foreign interference has been a top concern in the lead up to the referendum. Canada’s Foreign Influence Commissioner Anton Boegman explains why he’s reached out to dozens of individuals and groups in Alberta.

Then, in the run up to two deeply divisive votes — Alberta’s referendum and the U.S. midterms — Catherine Cullen talks to Daniel Cox, author of a new book about why political tensions are increasing a gender divide and what that means for some young people's dating lives. Then, she asks Andrew Parkin, executive director of the Environics Institute, whether the same divisions are being seen in Canada. Plus, we check in with Melissa and Conrad Muhly, a Canadian-American couple living in Pennsylvania and who hold very different political views, about the tension Trump has created in their household.

This episode features the voices of:

• Naheed Nenshi, Alberta NDP Leader

• Cory Morgan, founder of the pro-separatist third-party advertiser Pathway to Independence

• Anton Boegman, Foreign Influence Commissioner

• Daniel Cox, author of Generation Uncoupled

• Andrew Parkin, Executive Director, Environics Institute for Survey Research

• Melissa and Conrad Muhly

With only days left until Albertans vote on whether they want a referendum to separate from Canada, concerns are swirling around the vote itself and broader questions about possible American foreign interference. Catherine Cullen sits down with three Alberta MPs, Liberal Corey Hogan, Conservative Dane Lloyd and the NDP’s Heather McPherson to talk about those concerns.

Also, the federal government has withdrawn sponsorship of a European disinformation conference — and pulled participation in a panel — citing concerns about the “framing” of some conversations. The House speaks to a panelist on the ground about whether pressure from the Trump administration was at play.

Plus, the federal government says it will allow provinces to decide whether patients should be allowed to make advanced requests for medical assistance in dying. Catherine Cullen talks to Mark Breslaw, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, about his fears that the framework will be uneven across the country, and then to former Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard about his concerns over how many people now access MAID.

This episode features the voices of:

• Corey Hogan, Liberal MP

• Dane Lloyd, Conservative MP

• Heather McPherson, NDP MP

• Ben Shultz, The American Sunlight Project

• Mark Breslaw

• Philippe Couillard, Former Quebec Premier

On Monday, Quebecers will head to the polls for a pivotal election that could see a sovereigntist party running the province. Catherine Cullen brings you up to speed on all the key players with The Writ’s Éric Grenier. Then, the House Party crew — Radio-Canada’s Daniel Thibeault and CBC’s Jason Markusoff — discuss how big a challenge Carney could face with a sovereigntist premier, and whether his pipeline push will tamp down the other separatist flames in Alberta.

Plus, the government has designated Alberta's proposed west coast pipeline — Pacific Link — as a project of "national interest." What does that mean, and how much money will Canadian taxpayers need to pay to move this project forward? Energy Minister Tim Hodgson joins The House to explain what's in store and address concerns about the pipeline harming killer whales.

And, Carney is vowing legal action against Stelco's American parent company after it announced it would idle production at a Hamilton steel plant, resulting in up to 500 layoffs. Local Conservative MP Ned Kuruc weighs in on the brewing fight — and LNG Canada's decision to once again use Chinese steel for its expansion project in B.C.

This episode features the voices of:

• Éric Grenier, founder of The Writ
• Daniel Thibeault, host of Radio-Canada’s Les Coulisses du Pouvoir
• Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary
• Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy
• Ned Kuruc, Conservative MP 

This week, the Liberals introduced their new “Building Canada Strong Act," which is generating controversy over its proposed changes to environmental reviews and workers' ability to strike. Environmental Defence’s Julia Levin explains her worries that the plan will “steamroll” nature and communities, while Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon argues the bill will respect labour rights and environmental concerns, while getting the country building faster.

Plus, heads turned when Prime Minister Mark Carney told The New York Times that Canada had prepared for the "extreme tail risk” of U.S. military action. The NYT’s Ottawa bureau chief Matina Stevis-Gridneff and CBC’s senior defence correspondent Murray Brewster discuss whether this is a cause for alarm, or run of the mill. 

And, B.C. Premier David Eby called a snap election this week, but his main opponents — the B.C. Conservatives — are officially leaderless after months of infighting. Former NDP cabinet minister Nathan Cullen and Conservative strategist Rachael Segal discuss whether Eby could face the voters' wrath, and how big a fight the B.C. Conservatives can mount on short notice.

This episode features the voices of:

• Julia Levin, associate director of national climate for Environmental Defence
• Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport
• Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Canada bureau chief for the New York Times
• Murray Brewster, senior defence correspondent for CBC News
• Nathan Cullen, former BC NDP cabinet minister and vice-president with StrategyCorp
• Rachael Segal, former senior director for BC Liberals and founder of Beyond A Ballot

This week’s show begins with breaking news: U.S. President Donald Trump says there’s a new deal with Denmark and Greenland. Rob Huebert, director of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies and fellow at the CDA Institute, discusses what it could mean for Canada.

And, as the prime minister works to boost Canada's international profile, he's pitching what could be his biggest move yet: A 'unique alliance' with the European Union, but not full membership. Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister of state for European affairs and defence and Arash Saeidi, a member of European Parliament representing France, share their expectations and concerns about this potential partnership.

Then Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's ambassador-designate to the European Union, explains why Canada is interested in the idea and what it could mean in terms of tax dollars and immigration policies. 

Plus, top AI companies are sounding the alarm about existential risks after a researcher at Anthropic claimed there is a more than 10 per cent chance AI could kill all humans. At Canada's largest AI and technology conference, host Catherine Cullen moderates a panel with AI Minister Evan Solomon, Germany's federal minister for digital transformation and government modernization Karsten Wildberger, Cohere's CEO Aidan Gomez and Aleph Alpha's co-founder Samuel Weinbach about whether they share these concerns and what middle powers like Canada and Germany can do about the issue.

Finally, Gomez and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic sit down for a separate panel on Canada's data centre development, why a greater buildout is needed and their response to Canadians' concerns about their environmental and local impacts. Finally, Murad Hemmadi, an AI reporter for The Logic, breaks down both discussions and what they tell us about the current state of Canadian AI.

This episode features the voices of:

• Rob Huebert, director of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies and fellow at the CDA Institute
• Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister of state for European affairs and defence
• Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's ambassador-designate to the European Union
• Arash Saeidi, member of European Parliament representing France
• Evan Solomon, Minister of AI
• Karsten Wildberger, Germany's federal minister for digital transformation and government modernization
• Aidan Gomez, CEO of Cohere
• Samuel Weinbach, co-founder of Aleph Alpha
• Mirko Bibic, CEO of Bell Canada

The prime minister's inner circle is gathering in Banff, Alta. to discuss their plans for the upcoming sitting of Parliament — where U.S. President Donald Trump's trade actions will loom large. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne joins The House to discuss whether Canada should retaliate again, and what to expect from Carney's investment summit next week.

Plus, Albertans are one month away from deciding whether they actually want to pursue a referendum on separating from Canada, and campaigns on both sides of the debate are in full force. Host Catherine Cullen follows federalist campaigner Stephen Carter as he gives out lawn signs and tries to persuade people in Calgary’s Confederation Park to choose Canada. Then The House travels to Red Deer to meet separatist leader Keith Wilson and his supporters to hear why they're voting to trigger a formal referendum on leaving Canada. Plus, top Alberta pollster Janet Brown explains why voter turnout could be the key factor in this pivotal referendum.

This episode features the voices of:

• François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
• Stephen Carter, Alberta federalist and member of Alberta's Voice
• Keith Wilson, Alberta separatist and leader of Let Alberta Decide
• Janet Brown, founder of Janet Brown Opinion Research

As the trade war heats up and the Trump administration continues to lob insults at Canada, Catherine Cullen travels across the border to a village built around an American 1812 battle site to talk to Sackets Harbor Mayor Alex Morgia, as well as the owner of the Lake Ontario Gift Shop and a marketer for the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council about what the escalating conflict means to them. 

Then, The House travels to Ogdensburg, NY to hear what voters in the solidly Republican county think about Canada these days. Finally, Cullen talks to the Republican state assemblyman for the area, Scott Gray, about the volley of insults from the Trump administration and what they mean for the future of the Can-Am relationship.

And, Prime Minister Mark Carney scored a hat trick of byelection wins this week, and by wide margins to boot. But six more are coming. The National Post's Christopher Nardi and The Economist's Rob Russo discuss what the wins say about the popularity of the Liberals and Conservatives, and if the momentum will change as the trade war continues. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Alex Morgia, mayor of Sackets Harbor
• Amanda Miller, owner of the Lake Ontario Gift Shop
• Corey Fram, director of the Thousand Islands Regional Tourism Development Corporation
• Anthony Adamcyzk, executive Director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority
• Scott Gray, New York State Assemblyman for the 116th District
• Christopher Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post
• Rob Russo, Ottawa bureau chief for the Economist