Wildfire evacuations can spike with a moment’s notice, but is this country equipped to handle it? Federal Minister of Emergency Management Eleanor Olszewski responds to accusations that Ontario and Ottawa failed some communities hit by fires this week, and attacks from U.S. lawmakers who say Canada isn’t doing enough to stop wildfire smoke.

Plus, the prime minister has struck a deal with the Trump administration to open up the Gordie Howe Bridge — at the cost of a toll-sharing arrangement that remain murky. Is this another example of the Carney government dropping its elbows? Hill watchers Shannon Proudfoot and Paul Wells weigh in on that, plus the infighting splitting the Conservative party.

And, Canada relies heavily on fruits and veggies from warmer countries to feed itself, but big leaps in tech are promising year-round ways to grow it at home instead. Can Canada afford the price — or the electricity? House producer Derek Vanderwyk heads to a farm sealed inside a metal box and hears about technology that could let plants tell humans when they need light and water. Then, entrepreneur Jon Lomow makes his pitch for Canada to grow nearly all of what we eat.

This episode features the voices of:

• Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience
• Paul Wells, author and podcaster
• Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer for The Globe and Mail
• Alida Burke, co-founder and CFO of Growcer
• Corey Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Growcer
• Lenore Newman, director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley
• Richard Lee, executive director of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
• Lesley Campbell, professor of plant biology at Toronto Metropolitan University
• Jon Lomow, co-founder of Fieldless Farms

The House’s summer season focus on food security continues with a deep dive into the pressures on farmland — and the people who grow our food. 

Guest host Janyce McGregor speaks to the Stevens family, who turned down millions from developers to protect their farm for a thousand years. Tyler McCann of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute details where and how this land is being lost, while Ontario’s agriculture minister Trevor Jones explains the Ford government’s move to join other provinces’ ban on foreign ownership of farmland. 

Then, former farmer-turned-Saskatchewan-trade-minister Warren Kaeding reflects on the difficult decisions farmers make when it's time to pass on the family farm, and Farm Credit Canada’s Justine Hendricks outlines how the crown corporation is responding to the spike in land prices with more creative financing.

And, Janyce McGregor speaks to three people who’ve experienced mental health challenges due to the extreme stress of managing precarious finances, unpredictable weather patterns and rural isolation. Stewart Skinner, Lesley Kelley and Gerry Friesen lay out what’s needed to help farmers manage the weight of the responsibility to feed the nation in turbulent times. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Charles Stevens, owner Wilmot Orchards
• Courtney Stevens, cafe and social media manager for Wilmot Orchards
• Ian Parker, general manager of Wilmot Orchards
• Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute
• Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture
• Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development
• Justine Hendricks, CEO of Farm Credit Canada
• Stewart Skinner, Ontario farmer
• Gerry Friesen, author of The Recovering Farmer
• Lesley Kelley, co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation

Alberta has formally proposed a pipeline to the southwest coast of British Columbia, in partnership with the federal government and a private company. The Globe and Mail’s Stephanie Levitz and CBC’s Anis Heydari join guest host Kate McKenna to discuss pipeline politics, the CUSMA deadline that came and went, and (of course!) Canada joining the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Plus, as the political barbecue season gets underway, The House’s Jennifer Chevalier kicks off The House’s summer series on food security with a documentary exploring the high cost of beef. A rancher explains why despite good cattle prices now it’s hard to have confidence in the future, a chef wonders why interprovincial trade barriers make it so hard to buy local meat, and a meat packer shows us around his abattoir and explains why he’s tapping into a government program that would help him ship meat to Canada’s north. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter with The Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau
• Anis Heydari, CBC News business reporter
• Kevin Grier, beef & cattle market analyst
• Brenda Rosadiuk, cattle rancher at Rosadiuk Ranches
• Tyler Fulton, president of the Canadian Cattle Association
• Calvin Vaags, CEO of True North Foods
• Lewis Robinson, owner of La Petite Primerose restaurant
• Sarah Berger Richardson, food law professor at the University of Ottawa
• Michael Coteau, Liberal MP & chair of the House of Commons agriculture committee
• Eric Patenaude, owner of Henderson’s Meats and Abattoir

It's a week that embodied Carney's "build, baby, build" mantra. We started with the federal government announcing it will push to have three northern projects fast-tracked under the Building Canada Act, and ended with a new plan to refurbish 24 Sussex Drive — the prime minister's official residence. 

But could this derelict building be too politically radioactive to fix? Hill watchers Tonda MacCharles and Stuart Thomson break down whether Carney's plans for 24 Sussex will trigger a thorny political fight, and Canada is today on major projects.

Plus, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman tells The House what signals she will be looking for as the CUSMA negotiations continue and what she’s hearing from her contacts in the United States.

And, the "unparliamentary" stories you've never heard about the House of Commons. From fist fights to sneaking a salmon into Question Period, author Charlie Feldman joins Catherine Cullen on Parliament Hill to explain the crazy, spicy history he details in his new book — and why he believes it's important to include in the story of Canada's democracy. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Stuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
• Kirsten Hillman, Canada's former ambassador to the United States
• Charlie Feldman, author of Unparliamentary

Opioid overdose deaths are dropping in Canada, but there is still a long way to go. Canada’s Fentanyl Czar Kevin Brosseau is fresh back from meeting officials in Washington, he tells The House what worries him most about this public health crisis and why the increasingly small quantity of opioids crossing the border is still an irritant for the Americans. 

Plus, a special parliamentary committee says Ottawa should 'indefinitely exclude' people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness from applying for medical assistance in dying — an idea that three Canadian senators vigorously oppose. Kristopher Wells, a member of the Progressive Senate Group, explains why he disagrees with the recommendation. Then we hear from BC Conservative MP Tamara Jansen on why MAID expansion should be stopped. 

And, if at first you don't succeed with your privacy bill: try, try again. The Liberals' third attempt at updating its privacy laws was tabled earlier this week, which includes a 'right to request deletion' and rules on personal data collection. House producer Derek Vanderwyk explains what's inside this key piece of legislation, then BlackBerry co-founder Jim Balsillie discusses whether it strikes the right balance on upholding Canadians' privacy without stymieing innovation.

This episode features the voices of:

• Kevin Brosseau, Canada's fentanyl czar
• Kristopher Wells, Canadian senator
• Tamara Jensen, Conservative MP
• Dr. Francois Marquis, deepfake victim
• Dr. Marla Shapiro, deepfake victim
• Tamir Israel, Director of the Privacy, Surveillance & Technology Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
• Teresa Scassa, Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy at the University of Ottawa
• Taylor Owen, Beaverbrook Chair in Ethics, Media and Communications at McGill University
• Jim Balsillie, co-founder of BlackBerry

The federal government has unveiled the newest iteration of its online harms bill — legislation that proposes to ban children under 16 from having social media accounts, as well as putting new regulations on social media platforms and AI chatbots. When should Canadians expect to see changes? Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller joins The House to explain.

Plus, the Gordie Howe bridge between Windsor, Ont and Detroit, Michigan was supposed to open this week, until American officials wanted a few more details sorted out. Is it just another pawn in the CUSMA negotiations? Should Canada make concessions to get the bridge open? Political Strategists Marci Surkes and Kate Harrison talk about the latest drama with the United States. 

And, before the iconic chamber of the Supreme Court of Canada closes for over a decade of renovations, The House sits down with Chief Justice Richard Wagner to talk about the court, politicization of the justice system and the impact of AI on Canada’s courtrooms. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Minister
• Marci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass Rose
• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa Strategies
• Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

After a long wait, Canada's AI strategy has arrived — a document that encourages people to learn and adopt the technology in the hopes of creating 250,000 new jobs. Host Catherine Cullen speaks with AI experts and skeptics Jake Hirsch-Allen, Kristen Thomasen and Hamish van der Ven about what it means for employment, children’s safety and the environment. Then, Minister of AI Evan Solomon joins the program to explain why Canadians need to understand this technology despite their low trust in it.

Plus, there seemed to be a little bit of movement in trade negotiations with the United States this week – despite more trolling from President Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state. Lisa Raitt is on the advisory committee on Canada-U.S. economic relations and tells The House what progress has been made as the July 1st deadline inches closer. 

And, in a wide ranging exit interview at Rideau Hall, outgoing Governor General Mary Simon tells Catherine Cullen why she wasn’t sure she would be able to finish her five years in the role and reflects on how Canada is doing on reconciliation and national unity.  

This episode features the voices of:

• Sumaiya Ahmed, librarian at the Toronto Public Library
• Prachi Salvi, director and marketing consultant
• Jake Hirsch-Allen, director of partnerships at The Dais
• Hamish van der Ven, associate professor at the University of British Columbia
• Kristen Thomasen, chair in Law, Robotics, and Society at the University of Windsor
• Evan Solomon, Minister of AI
• Lisa Raitt, member of the Advisory Committee on Canada–U.S. Economic Relations
• Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

The House is on the ground at the country’s biggest defence and security show, for an in-depth look at Canada’s plan to spend big on the military. Catherine Cullen meets Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, former Defence Minister Peter MacKay, New Brunswick premier Susan Holt, as well as defence contractors to hear about unmanned fighter jets, AI in warfare, and whether Canada is prepared to tick off Donald Trump with some of its military purchases.

Plus, former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced his resignation from Parliament over concerns about Carney’s climate commitments. Parliament Hill watchers Paul Wells and Shannon Proudfoot discuss whether Guilbeault’s departure will hurt — or possibly help — the Prime Minister.

And, in the days before the World Cup begins across North America, president of the Canada Border Services Agency Erin O’Gorman joins The House to discuss Canada’s new entry requirements over Ebola, and whether an increase in spending on the Canada-U.S. border has made it harder to get into the country.

This episode features the voices of:

• Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement
• Peter MacKay, former defence minister
• Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick
• Paul Wells, author and podcaster
• Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer for the Globe and Mail
• Erin O'Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has a plan: Hold a referendum in October to decide whether to push for a legally binding referendum on independence in the future. Confused? Host Catherine Cullen has it covered. Pro-separation lawyer Keith Wilson and federalist champion Thomas Lukaszuk will share their thoughts on Smith's decision. And the godfather of Prairie populism, former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, weighs in on the vote.

Plus, environmental groups are concerned about Canada's climate commitments after Carney signed an agreement with Alberta that could usher in a new oil pipeline. Is the Prime Minister simply being pragmatic or has he largely given up the fight against climate change? Current and former climate advisors Michael Bernstein and Simon Donner explain their opposing reactions to Carney's new deal.

And, Conservative MP Michael Chong went to Taiwan this week… specifically because Chinese officials warned Canadian parliamentarians not to go. Chong talks to The House about his defiant trip, his hopes of shoring up peace in the region and whether he believes his travel could hurt Canada’s growing economic ties to Beijing.

This episode features the voices of:

• Keith Wilson, pro-separation lawyer
• Thomas Lukaszuk, leader of the Forever Canadian petition
• Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform Party of Canada
• Michael Bernstein, CEO of Clean Prosperity
• Simon Donner, climate scientist and professor at the University of British Columbia
• Michael Chong, Conservative MP

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney have made another stride in their important MOU: A new carbon pricing agreement that is far less than the targets set by Justin Trudeau. Is the deal enough to calm down separatists? Could it anger environmentalists within Carney's team? Ottawa bureau chiefs Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post lay out the stakes.

Plus, the House takes an in-depth look at whether the government should ban social media accounts for kids. We visit a high school to hear how teenagers feel about a ban; Anxious Generation research partner Ravi Iyer lays out what’s at stake if restrictions are not put in place; Meta’s Rachel Curran defends the company’s practices; tech company CEO Steve Borza describes how age verification technology works (or doesn’t); then Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew explains how his province’s social media and AI Chatbot ban for kids could work. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Stuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Ravi Iyer, managing director of the University of Southern California Marshall School’s Neely Center and research partner with the Anxious Generation Movement
• Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada
• Steve Borza, CEO of Bluink Ltd
• Wab Kinew, premier of Manitoba