The House

Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership as polls for the party were surging. But will the momentum last? Or will voters revisit feelings of being fed-up with the decade-old government? On this episode of the election weekly House Party, Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault dig into the differences between Mark Carney and outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau, and whether the change is enough to win an election.

Canada’s trade battle with the United States is officially underway. But since it kicked off on Tuesday, there have been near-constant twists and turns as U.S. President Donald Trump switches up his motives, his tariffs and his exemptions for Canadian trade. 

So how big a hit is Canada’s economy taking in this fight? Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand joins the program to discuss the federal government’s response and her work dismantling interprovincial trade barriers. Then, business owners share how they’re adjusting to the shifting economic climate. Plus the cross-border — and cross-party — married couple on how these tense times are playing out in their household.

Also, the Liberals will crown their new leader this Sunday after a six-week sprint. But with Trump’s tariffs looming large, what does the road look like for the winner? Two political watchers lay out what to keep an eye on as the leadership contest concludes and Canada’s next prime minister takes office.

Finally, CBC’s defence correspondent returns from Latvia, where Canadians were taking part in a military exercise. He describes what the mood is like in the small Baltic state and what’s keeping military commanders up at night.  

This episode features the voices of:

• Anita Anand, Minister of Internal Trade
• Bill Butcher, Port City Brewing Company
• Maggie Ori, Frankor Hydraulics
• Melissa & Conrad Muhly
• Shannon Proudfoot, columnist for The Globe and Mail
• Paul Wells, author and podcaster
• Murray Brewster, CBC’s defence correspondent

The “dumb” tariffs are on. The federal government has responded — but with Prime Minister Trudeau about to step down and a new Liberal leader being crowned on the weekend, a federal election could be mere days later. So what does all this mean for how people will vote and the parties’ campaign strategy? Is Carney becoming the popular anti-tariff choice? Or will Poilievre hold onto his lead in the polls? On this new, weekly election-focused podcast, three veteran political reporters — Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault — take a deep dive into the disruption.

Once again, Canada is staring down the barrel of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on almost all Canadian goods. After a month-long pause, the tariffs are slated to go into effect on March 4 — as Trump continues to claim fentanyl and illegal immigrants are pouring into his country from Canada.

In a special episode of The House, host Catherine Cullen walks Washington’s corridors of power with Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman as she tries to save the Canadian economy from Trump’s punishing tariffs. Canada’s new fentanyl czar is also in D.C. for critical meetings, and offers a glimpse into his closed-door conversations with American officials. Plus: the show brings you inside an event designed to woo Capitol Hill staffers as Canadian consuls general discuss how their pleas are resonating with Americans. Then, a Republican congressman and a Democratic senator react to Canada’s diplomatic efforts as the tariff deadline inches ever closer. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S.
• Susan Harper, Canada’s consul general based in Dallas
• Colin Bird, Canada’s consul general based in Detroit
• Daniel Issa, California Republican congressman
• Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s ‘Fentanyl Czar’
• Amy Klobuchar, Democratic Senator from Minnesota
• Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief at Politico
• Byron Donalds, Florida Republican congressman

In one corner: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has for years pledged to defund Canada’s public broadcaster. In the other: the current Liberal government, which after months of delay has unveiled their plan for CBC — one that overhauls its mandate but also calls for increased funding. Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge joins The House to discuss her pitch, as host Catherine Cullen asks why it’s arriving in the final weeks of the Trudeau government.

Plus, as Liberal leadership contestants gear up for their big debate showdown in Montreal next week, the Conservatives are emphasizing a “Canada First” message as they shake up their pitch to Canadians. Two Parliamentary bureau chiefs weigh in on the political strategies at play.

Finally: with the threat of U.S. tariffs still on the horizon, will ripple effects on the economy exacerbate Canada’s housing crisis? The House visits a new development site and speaks to the CEO of Canada’s largest private home building company. Then, the federal housing minister discusses what can be done as the clock winds down on the next tariff deadline.

This episode features the voices of:

• Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Stuart Thomson, Parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
• Brad Carr, CEO of Mattamy Homes Canada
• Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing

World leaders are gathering in Germany this weekend to discuss threats to international security, including Russia’s war on Ukraine. But for some countries — Canada included — the latest threat is coming from U.S. President Donald Trump. CBC’s defence correspondent Murray Brewster guest hosts The House to look at international crises unfolding in real time.

We start with Oleksandra Matviichuk — head of the Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize — who shares her reaction to Donald Trump’s conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine.

Then, as Trump continues to taunt Canada about not being a “viable” country, The House asks: where are our allies? Former NATO representatives, a former British Conservative MP and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former national security advisor discuss whether Canada’s friends will stand up to the U.S. president.

Plus, one man definitely knows what it's like to be under Trump’s microscope — and that’s former Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He joins the program to share his advice for Canada on tackling Trump.

Finally, Canada’s five living former prime ministers have come together to encourage Canadians to rally behind the flag this weekend — but there was a time when the great flag debate was among the most divisive Parliament has seen. House producer Emma Godmere takes a trip back into the archives.

This episode features the voices of:

• Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Centre for Civil Liberties
• Sveinn Helgason, former strategic communications officer at NATO Headquarters
• Fabrice Pothier, CEO of Rasmussen Global
• Andrew Percy, former MP and UK trade envoy to Canada
• Vincent Rigby, former national security and intelligence advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
• Adam Kinzinger, former Illinois Republican congressman
• Emma Godmere, producer for CBC’s The House

Canada got a temporary reprieve from Donald Trump’s tariffs, but the fight is far from over — and may be more existential than we thought. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now says the U.S. president’s threat to turn Canada into the 51st state ‘is a real thing.’

Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, joins The House to discuss if Trump is actually a threat to Canadian sovereignty and whether Canada’s new border measures — including a “fentanyl czar” — are enough to appease Trump.

Then, with all the chaos coming out of the United States right now, is there even a playbook for Canadian leaders to follow anymore? How should political parties adjust as Parliament remains prorogued? Two former key staffers weigh in on how politicians can respond to Washington whiplash.

Plus, Trump’s tariff threats are getting Canadians officials to reexamine Canada’s economy, including whether to revive discussions on building a west-east oil pipeline. A CBC provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick explains the history of the failed Energy East pipeline and whether it could be brought back to life.

Finally, world leaders will gather in France next week to discuss taking action on risks associated with AI — including the threat of disinformation. A Finnish scholar stops by the studio to share his experience monitoring and combatting disinformation next door to Russia.

This episode features the voices of:

• David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety
• Supt. Marc Cochlin, CEO of Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
• Marci Surkes, former policy director for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
• Garry Keller, former chief of staff to Rona Ambrose
• Jacques Poitras, provincial affairs reporter for CBC New Brunswick
• Pekka Kallioniemi, Finnish disinformation scholar and author of “Vatnik Soup”

We’ve been waiting weeks for this, and even now — we’re still not exactly sure what to expect. But today, we may finally see U.S. President Donald Trump level punishing tariffs on Canada. The White House has told reporters tariffs are happening this weekend, and Trump himself has said there’s nothing Canada can do to avoid them. 

One of CBC’s foreign correspondents in Washington joins the program to unpack the details from the White House. We then hear from a Canada-U.S. expert about what’s in store for both countries, and small businesses from both sides of the border share how they’re bracing for impact.

Plus, the final report from the public inquiry into foreign interference says there are no traitors in Parliament, but there are still concerns about threats to Canada’s democracy. A national security expert sifts through the findings and an NDP MP details the questions she is left with.

Finally, some Liberal leadership candidates are trotting out policy proposals while others are dropping out or being disqualified altogether. Two Hill watchers explain the latest in the contest.

This episode features the voices of:

• Katie Simpson, CBC News
• Laura Dawson, Executive Director of the Canada-U.S. Future Borders Coalition
• Maggie Ori, Frankor Hydraulics
• Bill Butcher, Port City Brewing Company
• Wesley Wark, senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation 
• Jenny Kwan, NDP MP for Vancouver East
• Stuart Thomson, Parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
• Stephanie Levitz, senior politics reporter for The Globe and Mail

Time's up for anyone mulling a bid to lead the Liberal Party. With the deadline to enter behind them, candidates have just a few days left to sign up new members, and a little over a month to drum up support. One of the frontrunners joins The House in studio: former finance minister Chrystia Freeland sits down with host Catherine Cullen to make her case for running the country

Then: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has confirmed he’ll call a snap election next week and send Ontarians to the polls at the end of February. The Toronto Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief discusses whether voters will reward Ford, or if they’ll be turned off by the timing.

After that, we take a close look at an ongoing economic headache that doesn't involve Donald Trump: trade between provinces. Premiers hope that breaking through interprovincial barriers can in fact better protect against Trump's tariffs. But experts and former officials say getting rid of those barriers is a tall order — and there hasn’t been much success in the past.

Finally, as several Liberal leadership candidates distance themselves from the carbon tax, and as Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada's economy, do the Conservatives need to shift their campaign focus? Two strategists weigh in on how their party is reacting to recent events.

This episode features the voices of:

• Chrystia Freeland, Liberal leadership candidate
• Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Philippe Couillard, former Quebec premier
• Perrin Beatty, former federal cabinet minister
• Carlo Dade, director of trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation
• Chad Rogers, Conservative strategist
• Fred DeLorey, Conservative strategist

Donald Trump is headed back to the White House on Monday, meaning his tariff threats could become a reality and wreak havoc on the Canadian economy. So what’s Canada’s opening move if Trump charges forward? Host Catherine Cullen checks in with premiers at their important meeting in Ottawa this week to strategize a response, but not everyone is on the same page. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. joins the show to discuss the federal government’s plan, and an economics professor explains which provinces are the most at risk.

Next, an author and staff writer for The Atlantic explains why, of all the policies Trump has flirted with over the years, the incoming president is so wedded to the idea of tariffs and how Canada should prepare itself for a possible trade war.

Finally, as more candidates step up or step back from the Liberal leadership race, two Parliament Hill watchers break down the contest so far and the questions the candidates will need to address.

This episode features the voices of:

• Ranj Pillai, Premier of Yukon
• Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan
• Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba
• Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the United States.
• Trevor Tombe, economics professor at the University of Calgary
• David Frum, staff writer with The Atlantic
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Christopher Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post