The House

It’s an election abroad — with serious impacts for Canada. Millions of Americans will be casting their ballots on Tuesday, sending either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to the White House. Is one candidate better for Canada than the other? The House talks to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former top aide to get his insights on what a Trump or Harris presidency will mean for our country. Then, a couple from Pennsylvania who are voting for Trump and Harris share how they get along despite their political differences.

Plus, a former immigration minister discusses why he thinks Trump’s promise of mass deportation of migrants should be taken ‘very, very seriously’ and how such a move could affect the Canadian border.

And finally, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to cut the GST on new homes sold for under $1 million dollars — a promise that he says he’ll keep by cutting other key housing programs. Two housing experts join The House and weigh in on whether this is the right way to tackle Canada’s ongoing housing crisis.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Gerald Butts, former principal secretary to Justin Trudeau
• Melissa Muhly, a Harris voter
• Conrad Muhly, a Trump voter
• Jason Kenney, former Conservative immigration minister
• Carolyn Whitzman, professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities
• Andy Yan, director of The City Program at Simon Fraser University

That long-awaited Liberal caucus meeting where a group of MPs asked Trudeau to step down as party leader came — and went. In less than 24 hours after hearing their concerns, Trudeau told reporters that he would continue as Liberal leader. So… Now what? And where does this leave the Liberal Party? The House goes behind closed doors and breaks down the tense caucus meeting, then two political strategists talk about what comes next.

Plus, as the federal government announces a steep cut to immigration over the next three years, minister Marc Miller sits down with The House to explain the major policy change and what message he says it sends to prospective newcomers who want to enter Canada.

And finally, after a slate of back-to-back-to-back provincial elections in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, CBC reporters in all three provinces join The House to discuss what federal parties can learn from the results as a national campaign looms.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Vandana Katter, political strategist
• Fred DeLorey, political strategist
• Alicia Backman-Beharry, an immigration lawyer with Holthe Immigration Law
• Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada
• Meera Bains, CBC News
• Jacques Poitras, CBC News
• Adam Hunter, CBC News

On Monday, RCMP officials dropped bombshell allegations that Indian government agents are working with mobsters to target Sikhs separatists in Canada — followed quickly by both countries expelling diplomats. The House visits a Sikh temple where a Khalistani activist was gunned down to hear how the community is reacting to this week’s developments. Then the assistant RCMP commissioner explains why the Mounties decided to suddenly go public and responds to India’s fierce denials.

Plus, CBC’s top political hosts sit down together to discuss a secret plot by some Liberal MPs who want to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign as party leader.

Then, The House meets up with former cabinet minister and astronaut Marc Garneau at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum to chat about his long career, Trudeau’s leadership and the growing rift with India.

And finally, as British Columbians prepare to go to the polls on Saturday in an NDP-Conservative showdown, The House dives into the riding of Richmond-Centre to speak with candidates and find out what issues are motivating voters.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Gurkeerat Singh, youth leader at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara
• Brigitte Gauvin, RCMP Assistant Commissioner
• David Cochrane, host of CBC’s Power and Politics.
• Rosemary Barton, CBC’s chief political correspondent and host of Rosemary Barton Live.
• Marc Garneau, former astronaut and cabinet minister.
• Hon Chan, B.C. Conservative Party candidate for Richmond-Centre.
• Henry Yao, NDP candidate for Richmond-Centre
• Wendy Yuan, unaffiliated candidate for Richmond-Centre

It’s almost part of Canadian lore that as a nation, across the political spectrum, we recognize the value of immigration. Now, as provinces demand Ottawa curb the number of newcomers, is that consensus breaking down? The House visits an Ottawa shelter to hear how they’re doing their best to keep up with demand as more newcomers turn to them for help. 

A pollster then details Canadians’ changing attitudes toward immigration. Then, host Catherine Cullen runs through key moments in nine years of Liberal policy decisions.

Plus, a research chair on the politics of immigration discusses the growing tensions between the federal government and provinces over asylum seekers.

And finally, two politics reporters explain why the House of Commons has been stuck going in circles over a debate concerning parliamentary privilege and documents related to a now-defunct green technology fund.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Ashley Potter, frontline services manager at the Ottawa Mission
• Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute
• Mireille Paquet, Concordia University research chair on the politics of immigration
• Aaron Wherry, senior writer for CBC Politics
• Laura Osman, politics reporter for The Canadian Press

The Bloc Québécois is ramping up pressure on the Liberal government to meet its demands over more money for seniors – or face an election. But that would cost a lot. Like, billions. The House sits down with Daniel Thibeault, host of Radio-Canada’s politics program Les Coulisses du Pouvoir to understand whether the Bloc is angling for an election. 

Then, as the world prepares to mark one year since Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel, The House has the highlights of an emergency debate in the House of Commons about the crisis. Then, two Middle East experts discuss what can be done to prevent a wider war from breaking out.

Plus, fish harvesters in Newfoundland’s northern peninsula say politics is getting in the way of them making a living. The House hears the fishermen’s frustrations, then asks Liberal and Conservative MPs about concerns over the lifting of the decades-old cod moratorium.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Daniel Thibeault, host of Radio Canada’s Coulisses de Pouvoir
• Thomas Juneau, University of Ottawa professor
• Dennis Horak, Former Canadian head of mission in Iran
• CBC's Caroline Hillier 
• Liberal MP Mike Kelloway
• Conservative MP Rick Perkins

Heckling’s pretty common during House of Commons debates. But with tensions running high as the Liberals fight to keep the government afloat, one stray quip can set off a barrage of accusations and criticism. The House sits down with two Hill watchers to discuss Conservative MP Garnett Genuis’ allegedly homophobic comment and what it tells us about civility in Parliament.

Then, as the Middle East remains on the brink of all-out war, Canada’s national defence minister tells The House how the government has been preparing over the summer to possibly evacuate tens of thousands of people with Canadian connections stuck in Lebanon.

Plus — Chinese dissidents living in Canada share their stories of alleged harassment and intimidation by Beijing. Canada’s former ambassador to China listens in and tells us what steps should be taken to protect free speech and assembly rights for all students across Canadian campuses.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Shannon Proudfoot, writer for The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa bureau
• Paul Wells, author and podcaster
• Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
• Craig Desson, CBC News
• Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to China

The House. Is. Back! And everyone’s flexing their muscles. 

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet joins the show to talk about how his party might use its strength to get what they want from the government.

Plus, after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had a standoff with protesters who’d hurled insults at him, MPs talk about just how much harassment they’ve faced in politics. 

Then we’ll hear from a panel of political strategists about whose flex was best over an upcoming attempt to bring the government down.  

Finally, the second phase of the foreign interference inquiry kicked off on Monday. CBC’s Marina von Stackleberg will bring us up to speed. 

This episode features the voices of: 

Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois

Lori Idlout, NDP MP

Gord Johns, NDP MP

Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal MP 

Yasir Naqvi, Liberal MP

Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist

Vandana Kattar, Liberal strategist

George Soule, former NDP communications director

Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News

Liberal MPs met this week in Nanaimo, B.C., quick to tell reporters they’ve got full confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The House is on the ground, taking the temperature, talking to Liberals about how they think they can turn their fortunes — even as one of Trudeau’s own MPs says people are “tired of his face.”

We also hear from Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer about how his party hopes to force a non-confidence motion to bring down the government as soon as possible.

Then, we head up Vancouver Island to Campbell River, which is likely to become a battleground between the Conservatives and the NDP. The CBC’s Emma Godmere speaks with voters there about the issues that matter most to them.

Finally, with British Columbians going to the polls next month, Premier David Eby said he’d scrap the carbon tax if Ottawa removes the requirement to have it. The Toronto Star’s Tonda MacCharles, and the National Post’s Stuart Thomson break down what to expect ahead of Parliament resuming on Monday.

This episode features the voices of: 

• John McKay, Liberal MP for Scarborough—Guildwood
• Francis Drouin, Liberal MP for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell
• Hedy Fry, Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre
• Andrew Scheer, Conservative House leader
• CBC’s Emma Godmere
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star.
• Stuart Thomson, Parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post

Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. The NDP’s decision to end its deal with the Liberals — which for two years brought stability to the minority government — has raised the spectre of a snap federal election. The House sits down with one of the NDP architects of the deal to find out why the party chose to back out now, and what comes next.

Then, months after a Toronto byelection loss that rocked the governing Liberals, another test is on the way later this month in a Montreal race. We travel to LaSalle-Émard-Verdun to find out how the campaign — with national implications — is playing out on the ground.

Also, a Liberal minister and national campaign committee co-chair sits down with Catherine Cullen to talk through her party’s plan to regain their mojo and win — they hope — a fourth term.

Plus — Germany has embraced a novel diplomatic arrangement: two ambassadors for the price of one. A married couple who will rotate in and out of the posting in Ottawa explain what’s behind the arrangement.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Anne McGrath, principal secretary to Jagmeet Singh
• Craig Sauvé, NDP candidate
• Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Bloc Québécois candidate
• Philippe J. Fournier, founder, 338canada.com
• Soraya Martinez Ferrada, tourism minister, Liberal campaign committee co-chair
• Matthias Lüttenberg and Tjorven Bellmann, German ambassadors-designate

A show about nothing: that’s at least how some are cheekily describing the Liberals’ last few months. Host Catherine Cullen sits down with a panel of former top political advisers to discuss what moves the Liberals have left to make, with two weeks to go until Parliament returns and two more byelections arrive.

Plus — we revisit our conversation with Pulitzer Prize finalist John Valliant about his book Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast, and why our brains struggle to accept the reality of climate change.

And for too many Canadians, justice delayed is justice denied. It’s not just annoying — delays in the system are causing some cases to be thrown out. The House returns to a documentary digging deep into the issue.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Marci Surkes, chief strategy officer at Compass Rose and former Liberal adviser
• Garry Keller, vice president at StrategyCorp and former Conservative adviser
• John Vailliant, author of Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast
• CBC’s Kristen Everson