Let’s face it: politics doesn’t have a great reputation. It can be frustrating — especially when it feels like you don’t really know what’s going on. On this special edition of The House, host Catherine Cullen takes you inside the halls of Parliament Hill to better understand how the place actually works. She’s joined by five Carleton University students who pitch their burning questions to members of Parliament, including Lori Idlout, Gerard Deltell, John McKay, Peter Julian, Ali Ehsassi, and more.

The federal government changed course on funding for a key agency helping Palestinians in Gaza, saying the humanitarian crisis there was increasingly dire. Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, talks about that decision.

Then, we break down how ready Canada is for both military operations and natural disasters. The answer? The armed forces are struggling, and there’s more work to do when it comes to things like wildfires.

We’ll also take a look at why the government announced it’s going to keep a close eye on foreign investments in the video game industry — with foreign interference in mind.

Plus — British political activist Lady Phyll sits down to discuss anti-gay laws across the globe and what the Commonwealth should be doing about them.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations
• The CBC’s Murray Brewster
• Rebecca Alty, mayor of Yellowknife
• Victoria Salinas, deputy administrator, FEMA
• Ryan Black, lawyer
• Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Secretary of the Commonwealth Equality Network

Brian Mulroney will leave a legacy as one of Canada’s most consequential prime ministers, who in a time of great global change also transformed Canadian politics. The House digs deep on Mulroney’s legacy, hearing from a former prime minister, senior Conservatives and politicians from across the political spectrum.

Then, two national security experts explain what we learned from digging through hundreds of pages of documents surrounding the firing of two scientists from a major infectious diseases lab in Canada.

Plus — an analysis of the government’s new legislation meant to help protect Canadians from harmful content online.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Joe Clark, former prime minister
• Erin O’Toole, former Conservative leader 
• John Baird, former Conservative minister 
• Dan Stanton, former CSIS official
• Wesley Wark, professor, national security expert 
• Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, executive director, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
• Justice Minister Arif Virani
• Johannes Bahrke, spokesperson, European Commission
• Michael McKell, Republican state senator for Utah

It sounds surprising, but baby eels, or elvers, have become big business in Canada. And along with the profits have come poachers — and some serious threats. The House digs into why the government is convinced they need to shut the whole thing down.

But first: It’s been two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war is still going, but has Canada’s attention wavered? Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada discusses that question and more.

Plus — the federal international development minister weighs in on the question of how best to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Yulia Kovaliv, Ukrainian ambassador to Canada 
• Ahmed Hussen, minister of international development 
• Matt Delong, commercial elver fisher
• Rick Perkins, Conservative MP 
• Michael McDonald, Mi’kmaw lawyer
• Mike Kelloway, Liberal MP

The Liberals and NDP are in intense negotiations over the shape of a pharmacare deal. At stake? The possibility of free birth control, diabetes medications or other drugs for Canadians. The House looks at what the policy could mean.

But first, we break down Donald Trump’s comments about NATO, and what it could mean for the alliance.

Then, too little government spending? Apparently, there’s an app for that. A reporter who has led the way on uncovering the story of ArriveCAN joins the program to break it all down.

And it’s been 10 years since the Liberal Senators became just the Senate Liberals. That shift kickstarted Senate reform — but the chamber may be in store for yet more transformation.

Plus — two MPs come together to talk about how they can co-operate across the aisle on cancer policy.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Defence Minister Bill Blair
• Navdeep Singh, pharmacy owner
• Marc-André Gagnon, associate professor, Carleton University
• Bill Curry, Globe and Mail
• Dan Albas, Conservative MP 
• Peter Schiefke, Liberal MP