The House

We’ve already had a few glimpses at the next federal budget, thanks to a flurry of announcements this week and last. The finance minister joins The House to talk about those pledges and what more to expect.

Then, it’s clear that Pierre Poilievre hates the carbon tax. But if the Conservatives gain power, what will they do instead? Two experts sit down to discuss.

And — 75 years after the founding of NATO, is the alliance ready for a second Trump term? The House speaks to representatives from some of Canada’s most important allies.

Plus — the CBC’s expert foreign interference inquiry watcher walks us through what exactly happened in the hearing room this week.

This episode features the voices of:

• Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
• Michael Bernstein, executive director, Clean Prosperity
• Nicholas Rivers, associate professor, University of Ottawa
• U.S. Ambassador David Cohen
• U.K. High Commissioner Susannah Goshko
• The CBC’s Janyce McGregor

The federal government has promised to plant two billion trees by 2031 as part of the fight against climate change. But it’s not quite going to plan. This special edition of The House digs into the real-world challenges of planting so many trees — and whether the promise can live up to the hype.

Host Catherine Cullen visits a seed orchard to speak with Kerry McLaven, CEO of the Forest Gene Conservation Association, about how many seeds will be needed — and why it’s so hard to get them. Then, The House travels to Somerville Nurseries, where manager Brent Forbes shows us his extensive operation, and Rob Keen of the Canadian Tree Nursery Association underscores the need for a long-term approach to tree planting. Plus, Doug Hevenor of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority explains the challenges around finding land and Susan Antler talks about why she turned some of her farmland into forest. Kerdo Deer shows us how one Indigenous community is using funding from the 2 Billion Trees program to expand operations and apply Indigenous knowledge to its work. Akaash Maharaj of Nature Canada and forestry expert Christian Messier from the Université du Quebec à Montreal take a critical look at whether the program is working as intended. Finally, we ask Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson if planting two billion trees is just a slogan — or a real stab at climate salvation?

It’s certainly feeling the heat. The Liberal government’s landmark climate policy, the carbon tax, has long been the target of the opposition Conservatives’ ire. But the Conservatives have allies, now — provincial premiers chief among them. The House hears from former premiers Jason Kenney and Kathleen Wynne about what’s gone wrong with the policy and how best to move forward.

Then, we’ll also investigate an alternative energy source that is making waves in Newfoundland.

And two keen-eyed journalists will break down a very busy week back on the Hill, featuring everything from tension over the Israel-Hamas war to scaling back the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada.

Plus — two political history experts will break down Brian Mulroney’s legacy, ahead of his state funeral Saturday.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Jason Kenney, former Alberta premier 
• Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario premier 
• The CBC’s Kenny Sharpe
• Christopher Nardi, The National Post
• Shannon Proudfoot, Globe and Mail
• Daniel Béland, professor, McGill University
• Raymond Blake, professor, University of Regina

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