The House

For Canadian political nerds, election debates are like the Stanley Cup finals - the one chance to see leaders from all the major parties face off in real time, and maybe even land a few blows against their opponents. But how much power do these debates have to actually change how people vote? In the lead up to the French and English federal leaders’ debates this week, hosts Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault unpack the debate moments that make a difference, and the strategy the parties are prepping.

NOTE: This episode was recorded on Tuesday, April 15, and contains a reference to the Green Party participating in the debates. On the morning of Wednesday, April 16, the party leader's invitation to the debates was rescinded by the Leaders' Debates Commission.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are spurring renewed interest in Canada for oil and gas development and a possible national energy corridor — with the Liberals and Conservatives promising action. Are these pledges realistic? And what about climate change? Host Catherine Cullen talks to a pollster, a political scientist and an oil market researcher about pipeline politics.

Then, Kitchener Centre Green candidate Mike Morrice joins the program to discuss how big a challenge his party is facing this election if more Canadians support the prospect of pipelines.

Next, as the federal election campaign crosses the halfway point, CBC reporters on the road send us postcards from the campaign trail — with analysis on the Liberal, Conservative and NDP campaigns so far.

After that, party strategists discuss the hot topics of this week of the campaign, including Carney returning to Ottawa yet again as prime minister, Poilievre boasting about crowd sizes and what they’re expecting from the leaders’ debates next week.

Finally, The House’s Emma Godmere breaks down the closely-watched race in Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville, where a Bloc Quebecois incumbent is facing off against a Liberal star candidate and longtime gun control advocate in a race that’s all about ground game versus party pull.

This episode features the voices of:

• Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute
• Sarah E. Sharma, political science professor at the University of Ottawa
• Rory Johnston founder of Commodity Context
• Mike Morrice, Green Party candidate for Kitchener Centre
• Marina von Stackelberg, CBC reporter following the Conservative campaign
• Karina Roman, CBC reporter following the Liberal campaign
• Ashley Burke, CBC reporter following the NDP campaign
• Brian Clow, Liberal strategist
• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist
• George Soule, NDP strategist

The West wants out, Quebec wants in, and Canadian unity turned into a campaign issue this week after former Reform Party and opposition leader Preston Manning claimed increasing numbers of Westerners – particularly Albertans – may see secession as the only option if the Liberals win. Yet in Quebec, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet took the opposite tack, downplaying separatist sentiment and arguing Canada needs to be united in its response to Donald Trump’s tariffs. So is separatism REALLY a ballot box issue this time around? Catherine Cullen in Ottawa, Jason Markusoff in Calgary and Daniel Thibeault in Montreal try to unite their 3 solitudes with an answer.

An elder statesman to many Conservatives is warning the country: a Liberal victory could fuel western secession. What’s the appetite for that message? Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning joins The House to explain why Canadian unity is on the ballot.

Next, as union leaders say more pain from U.S. tariffs is likely around the corner, NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre Matthew Green shares his party’s vision for a path forward. 

Then, CBC’s Jacques Poitras profiles the riding of Saint John-Kennebecasis in New Brunswick where tariffs and party drama play into a Liberal-Conservative tug-of-war.

Plus, our panel of political strategists discuss the Liberal and Conservatives candidates dropped by their parties this week and how the campaigns should try and meet the moment on Trump’s tariffs.

Finally, CBC producer Chris Rands takes the aux cord and walks through a playlist of pump-up songs party leaders keep on repeat at rallies and campaign stops this election.

This episode features the voices of:

• Preston Manning, former Reform Party leader
• Matthew Green, NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre
• Jacques Poitras, provincial affairs reporter for CBC New Brunswick
• Marci Surkes, Liberal strategist
• Fred DeLorey, Conservative strategist
• George Soule, NDP strategist
• Chris Rands, producer for CBC’s parliamentary bureau

If votes were based on social media stats, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh would be on top with his latest “get ready with me” TikTok – racking up nearly 5 million views. But when it comes to polling, something is lost in translation, with Liberals and Conservatives pulling way ahead in securing support from the under-40 voters. So how are the parties targeting these voters, and who is doing the best job of campaigning on what matters to Gen Z and Millennials? “Elder millennials” Jason Markusoff and Catherine Cullen, and Gen X-er Daniel Thibeault, try not to sound too old as they analyze the strategies of Singh, Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre.

There’s been no shortage of drama one week into this sprint election campaign, which is already affected by U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump spoke with each other for the first time ever, the day after Carney said Canada's old economic and military relationship with the U.S. is “over.” 

Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, explains the impact of Trump’s tariffs and the bigger economic risk of retaliatory tariffs that could drop next week. Then, Liberal candidate Marc Miller discusses how his party is prepared for the intensifying Canada-U.S. trade war.

Then, as federal party leaders fan out across Canada, CBC reporters on the road send us postcards from the campaign trail — with analysis on the Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québécois campaigns so far.

After that, party strategists explore the biggest takeaways from the first week of the campaign and what they want their team to do next.

Finally, The House hears from a CBC Manitoba provincial affairs reporter about the tight NDP-Conservative battle in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood-Transcona, where strategic voting is coming up at the doorstep.

This episode features the voices of:

• Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada
• Marc Miller, Liberal candidate for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs
• John Paul Tasker, CBC reporter following the Conservatives
• Tom Parry, CBC reporter following the Liberals
• Marina von Stackelberg, CBC reporter following the NDP
• Raffy Boudjikanian, CBC reporter following the Bloc Québécois
• Marci Surkes, Liberal strategist
• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist
• George Soule, NDP strategist
• Bartley Kives, CBC Manitoba senior reporter

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is catching heat for what she said to Americans about Canada's federal election. In a resurfaced March interview with right-wing media outlet Breitbart, Smith suggested the U.S. pause tariffs to avoid hurting Canadian Conservatives’ electoral chances. She also said Pierre Poilievre is the best leader for Canada because he’s more “in sync” with U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Today on House Party, journalists Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault dig into the differences between Poilievre and Trump, their style, their policies — and why the Conservative candidate needs to straddle a wide swath of beliefs across the political right, if he wants to be elected Prime Minister.

We’ve waited a long time for this. On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election — thrusting the parties into what is certain to be a dynamic, historic campaign. For starters, let’s get with you up to speed with a starter guide to campaign 2025, courtesy of CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

Then, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer joins the show to discuss his party’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats and his party’s promise to cut the industrial carbon tax.

Next, host Catherine Cullen stops by the NDP campaign headquarters in Ottawa to check in with Anne McGrath — senior adviser to leader Jagmeet Singh — about the party’s outlook heading into the campaign.

Plus, the director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory explains what worries him about the information voters are getting online this election — and how you can make sure you don’t get duped.

Finally, as political polls go into overdrive, two analysts dissect how seat projections and party popularity numbers actually work.

This episode features the voices of:

• Rosemary Barton, CBC’s chief political correspondent
• Andrew Scheer, Conservative House leader
• Anne McGrath, senior advisor to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
• Aengus Bridgman, director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory
• Philippe Fournier, editor-in-chief of 338Canada
• Éric Grenier, author and publisher of thewrit.ca

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was sworn in Friday, and by Sunday night was on a plane to meet the leaders of France & the U.K.. It was a stark contrast to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre & NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who both stayed closer to home, unveiling platform promises in smaller cities across Canada.  With an election call imminent, which strategy was smarter? And what did Carney’s overseas trip accomplish? Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff pick apart the election strategy behind the visit.

It’s official: Canada has a new prime minister. Former central banker Mark Carney has been sworn in as Canada’s new leader and will immediately take on the challenge of U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. To do so, he’s got a new, slimmed-down cabinet. Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith joins the show to discuss the new crew, and Carney’s move to scrap the consumer carbon tax. Then, a panel of party strategists digs deeper into Carney’s road ahead.

Plus, Carney could be Canada’s shortest-serving prime minister ever, depending on how the next election unfolds. Historian J.D.M. Stewart lays out how long Carney needs to hold on before he crosses the “Tupper line” and looks back at what other short-timers have accomplished in office.

Finally, in a Canadian exclusive interview, Catherine Cullen talks to U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy about Trump’s attacks on Canadian sovereignty and why the British response has comparatively muted.

This episode features the voices of:

• Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing
• Marci Surkes, Liberal strategist
• Shakir Chambers, Conservative strategist
• George Soule, NDP strategist
• J.D.M. Stewart, historian and author of Being Prime Minister
• David Lammy, U.K. Foreign Secretary