The House

The world is grappling with a migration issue, and Canada’s immigration minister says we’re not immune. Provinces, meanwhile, are arguing over resources and who’s responsible for asylum seekers. Marc Miller joins The House to talk about what should be done to make the system more fair, and how Canada should approach undocumented people in this country.

Then — Canada’s top soldier is retiring after four decades in the military. He speaks with Catherine Cullen about his experience of service, and how Canada needs to prepare for the challenges of the future.

Finally, it really was another busy week on the Hill. Two keen-eyed journalists join the show to break down the developments in foreign interference and capital gains this week.

This episode features the voices of: 

Immigration Minister Marc Miller

Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre

Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star 

Murad Hemmadi, The Logic

A stunning report from a cross-party group of parliamentarians alleges that some Canadian politicians are wittingly or unwittingly aiding foreign powers. With the members who wrote the report sworn to secrecy, The House digs into what we know so far — and if we can ever get to the bottom of the allegations.

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 digs deep into the issue — and the federal minister responsible sits down to discuss possible solutions.

But first, two keen Hill watchers will help break down the whirlwind of political news that swept the country this week, from a pesky PBO report that muddied the carbon tax debate, to former president Donald Trump’s conviction, to why Nicaragua is suddenly in the minds of politicos.

Plus — two youth activists sit down to talk about why they think it’s time for 16-year-olds to get the vote.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Shannon Proudfoot, Globe and Mail 
• Stuart Thomson, National Post 
• The CBC’s Kristen Everson
• Justice Minister Arif Virani 
• Jayden Paquet Noiseux, Vote16 Canada
• Caeden Tipler, Make It 16 New Zealand.

They’re working late, because they want your attention. The Liberals and Conservatives are locked in a political battle for the attention and support of Canada’s youth, with the government looking to win back support of a key demographic that helped launch them to power in 2015. The House digs into the issue, hearing from some MPs trying to shakeup their communication style, and some strategists on whether it will work.

First, though, the federal minister for international development sits down with host Catherine Cullen to talk about the government’s position on Palestinian statehood and the status of Canadian aid in Gaza.

Also — we’ll speak with the head of a government think tank that put out a report listing dozens of potential crises that could change life as we know it.

And then, we’ll hear about a Supreme Court case that could have implications for the way that third party groups — non-political parties — are able to advertise in future elections.

Finally: The head of an organization who supports victims of domestic abuse discusses the concept of coercive control, and Canadian legislators’ efforts to fight it.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Ahmed Hussen, minister of international development 
• Kristel Van der Elst, director general, Policy Horizons Canada
• Randy Boissonnault, federal employment minister
• Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal MP
• Dan Arnold, chief strategy officer, Pollara Strategic Insights
• Dennis Matthews, president, Creative Currency
• Danica Nelson, personal finance influencer
• The CBC’s Christian Paas-Lang
• Andrea Silverstone, CEO, Sagesse

Canada’s spies have been busy this year. There have been accusations of foreign interference, industrial espionage — and of course the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil. And don’t forget a few looming issues, like whether Canadians can trust TikTok with their data. David Vigneault, the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, sits down in a rare interview to talk through it all.

Then, CBC has found itself in the news a few times this year, amid declining revenues, job losses and a pledge by the Conservatives to defund at least part of the Crown corporation. Host Catherine Cullen talks with CBC head Catherine Tait about the president and CEO’s plans to shepherd the public broadcaster through a turbulent time in the media world.

Plus — two journalists talk about their new books chronicling the prime minister.

This episode features the voices of:

• David Vigneault, director of CSIS
• Catherine Tait, president and CEO of the CBC
• Paul Wells, journalist and author 
• Stephen Maher, journalist and author

Conservatives this week hammered the government on drug decriminalization, but Liberals countered with another hot-button issue: abortion. The House digs into both of those issues, hearing from an addictions doctor about what the heated political rhetoric means for people on the ground, and then weighing whether the Liberals’ claims on reproductive rights have any substance.

Then, we’ll sit down with Canada’s top diplomat in Moscow for her first interview since taking on that role. She says Canada-Russia relations might never have been worse — we ask what it’s like dealing with Putin’s regime.

Plus, Canada Post is losing money — a lot of it. Two experts sit down to talk through the options for saving, selling or changing the postal service.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Dr. Vincent Lam, addictions doctor and author
• Shachi Kurl, president, Angus Reid Institute
• Sarah Taylor, ambassador to Russia
• Ian Lee, associate professor, Carleton University 
• Marvin Ryder, associate professor, McMaster University

A dramatic development in a shocking case: police on Friday arrested three men in connection with the killing of the pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. We’ll break down what led to the arrest and what we know so far. The public safety minister also joins the program to discuss the situation, as well as the foreign interference inquiry’s first report.

Then, two of Ottawa’s keenest Hill-watchers break down a wild week in the House of Commons, which featured more than its fair share of theatrics.

Politicians were fighting over B.C. drug decriminalization policy, which the province is looking to partially roll back. The co-founder of an anti-overdose advocacy group, and a Richmond, B.C. city councillor, both discuss that proposal.

Finally, Pierre Poilievre suggested this week that he’d use the notwithstanding clause to pass some criminal justice reforms if he’s elected prime minister. The House takes an in-depth look at what that could mean.

This episode features the voices of: 

• The CBC’s Evan Dyer
• Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc
• Shannon Proudfoot, Globe and Mail
• Christopher Nardi, The National Post 
• Leslie McBain, co-founder, Moms Stop the Harm
• Alexa Loo, city councillor, Richmond
• Sujit Choudhry, constitutional lawyer, Haki Chambers
• Lindsay Board, partner, Daniel Brown Law 
• Geoffrey Sigalet, associate professor, UBC Okanagan

There’s a lot of garbage talk happening in the nation’s capital, as representatives from 176 countries try to hammer out a global deal on plastic pollution — one of the planet’s most significant and growing environmental issues. We speak with some of the participants at the conference — from officials, to advocates, to industry members — about the stakes of the negotiations and the odds of success.

But first: The federal government, Ontario government and Honda came to a major agreement this week that will see billions of dollars worth of investment poured into new EV manufacturing facilities in this country. The minister responsible talks about why it’s worth taxpayer dollars, then Honda’s head in Canada discusses the road ahead for electric vehicles — and the jobs that come with them.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne
• Jean Marc Leclerc, president and CEO, Honda Canada
• Rufino Varea, Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastic Treaty
• Marian Ledesma, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner 
• Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk, president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada
• Allen Langdon, CEO, Circular Materials
• Eli Browne, director of corporate sustainability, Sobeys; 
• Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme

It may sound boring, it might be confusing, but the federal government’s new capital gains tax change could just become a major political sticking point. The House hears from tax experts and others about what the change could accomplish and whether everyday Canadians might be affected. 

Then, the federal budget unveiled this week failed to meet the moment when it comes to a new disability benefit, an advocate tells The House. A Liberal official also joins the program to respond.

Plus — six years and tens of billions of dollars later, the Trans Mountain expansion is about to begin operation. In a special report, The House investigates how communities along the mega-project’s route feel now that oil is finally set to flow.

Finally: The lifetime ban handed out to Raptors player Jontay Porter is raising questions about legal gambling’s influence on the integrity of sport. An MP who pushed for the legalization of single event sports betting weighs in, and an expert urges more regulation.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Allison Christians, professor, McGill University
• Barry Schwartz, executive vice president, Baskin Wealth Management 
• Edward Faruzel, executive director, KW AccessAbility
• Sameer Zuberi, parliamentary secretary to the minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities
• The CBC’s Allison Dempster
• Conservative MP Kevin Waugh
• Jeremy Luke, president and CEO, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport 

Everyone agrees that Canada has a housing crisis, but coming to consensus — and executing on — solutions is not quite so easy. Alberta looked to put up a wall between the federal government and municipalities this week, and Premier Danielle Smith joins The House to talk about why. Then, the federal housing minister responds.

The public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections also had some big-name witnesses this week — not least the prime minister. Canada’s former top spy sits down to walk through what we learned.

Plus — some of the top movers and shakers from the Canadian political right gathered in Ottawa for a conference this week. Two journalists break down what they focused on, and what it could mean for a future Conservative government.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith 
• Housing Minister Sean Fraser 
• Richard Fadden, former NSIA, former head of CSIS
• Campbell Clark, The Globe and Mail 
• Jen Gerson, The Line