After eight years in Washington, Canada's U.S. ambassador Kirsten Hillman is coming home. Over that time, she has seen Canada's relationship with the United States transform, for better and for worse. As she prepares to step down from her ambassadorship, she explains in an extended interview with host Catherine Cullen how she’s built critical connections in the U.S. capital — and whether she believes there’s a limit to what Trump can do.

Plus, author and former presidential speechwriter David Frum believes the American empire is in decline. He reflects on what Canadian democracy can learn from this moment and why he believes a stronger sense of national pride is critical for Canada’s future.

This episode features the voices of:

• Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the United States
• David Frum, staff writer with The Atlantic

'Twas the evening before the Liberal holiday party, when all through the House… Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. And then, a Christmas surprise that sent the Conservatives awry: Markham—Unionville MP Michael Ma announced he was crossing the floor to join Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

His move brings the Liberal government within one seat of a majority. Are the Conservatives sweating this? Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman joins The House to discuss whether Pierre Poilievre's leadership is under threat.

Then, as some provinces flirt with giving the private sector a greater role in health care, will the federal government push back? Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel joins host Catherine Cullen to discuss — and weighs in on the impact the “Make America Healthy Again” movement is having in this country.

Plus, the Liberals introduced yet another tough-on-crime bill — this time aimed at stronger penalties for crimes against women and children. Lawyer and University of Ottawa visiting professor Kate Kehoe digs into whether the proposed law will actually make women safer.

Finally, from possible pipelines to potential referendums, there’s a lot stirring in the federation lately. The House checks in with former premiers Jason Kenney and Andrew Furey to get their take on the state of our nation.

This episode features the voices of:

• Melissa Lantsman, deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
• Dr. Mundeesh Kaur, a foreign trained physician from India
• Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
• Kate Kehoe, lawyer and University of Ottawa visiting professor
• Jason Kenney, former premier of Alberta
• Andrew Furey, former premier of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Canadians got to see their 2026 World Cup opponents during the group draw this week in Washington — and Prime Minister Mark Carney got to see U.S. President Donald Trump in-person once again as trade talks remain frozen. 

Did their meeting give any indication of progress? Parliament Hill Watchers Stephanie Levitz and Joël-Denis Bellavance dig into the rendezvous and other simmering political challenges for the prime minister, like what to do next with his cabinet.

After that, housing experts Mike Moffat and Carolyn Whitzman join The House to discuss whether the Liberals are meeting their election promises after a new report says Carney’s marquee housing initiative won’t amount to many new homes. Plus, Conservative housing critic Scott Aitchison breaks down his party’s point of view on the issue.

Finally, fresh off his time as Canada’s representative to the United Nations, Bob Rae tells Catherine Cullen about his decades-long political career, his views on Trump’s lasting impact and the parallels he sees between this geopolitical moment and George Orwell’s 1984.

This episode features the voices of:

• Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter for the Globe and Mail
• Joël-Denis Bellavance, Ottawa bureau chief for La Presse
• Peter Davoust, Vancouver resident
• Mike Moffat, founding director of the University of Ottawa’s “Missing Middle Initiative”
• Carolyn Whitzman, adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities
• Bob Rae, Canada’s former UN ambassador

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed an agreement this week paving a path for an oil pipeline — a move that ended up costing Carney a cabinet minister and key ally in Quebec. 

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc joins The House to discuss Steven Guilbeault’s resignation and how Canada plans to address the frustrated B.C. government and coastal First Nations. Then, Catherine Cullen asks B.C. Premier David Eby whether he believes this pipeline will really happen without his province’s consent.

Plus, as the dust settles on the Alberta agreement, political strategists Marci Surkes, Erika Barootes and Matthew Dubé discuss the political fallout of the deal and what it means for the fortunes of the Conservatives and the NDP.

Finally, Canada is the latest country to cut back on foreign aid. Recently back from Afghanistan, War Child Canada President Dr. Samantha Nutt describes seeing an “unprecedented” level of global suffering and whether she believes the Liberals are giving up on feminist foreign policy.

This episode features the voices of:

• Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Marci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass Rose
• Erika Barootes, Conservative commentator and former principal secretary to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
• Matthew Dubé, former Quebec NDP MP and vice-president of Proof Strategies
• David Eby, Premier of B.C.
• Samantha Nutt, president of War Child Canada

As Ukraine faces crucial decisions for the future of its four-year fight to defeat Russia’s full-scale invasion, several nations are gathering in Canada for the Halifax International Security Forum to discuss the importance of democracy — including high-profile critics of the Kremlin.

One of those dissidents, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was sentenced to 25 years in a Siberian gulag for criticizing Putin’s war on Ukraine. He joins The House to discuss the war in Ukraine, the possibility of a Russian democracy and why he won’t stop advocating for political prisoners who are still behind bars.

Then, former chess grandmaster and Putin-critic Garry Kasparov tells host Catherine Cullen why he’s just as concerned about the prospects for democracy in the United States as in Russia. 

Plus, the King and Queen of Sweden were in Ottawa this week as part of a charm offensive as the Nordic country pitches Canada on its Gripen fighter jet. Meanwhile, the home of the F35 maker, the United States, isn’t pleased that Canada’s been distracted by a new suitor. CBC’s Murray Brewster joins The House to break down the drama.

After that, Vancouver area MP and former environment minister Jonathan Wilkinson weighs in on whether he could support lifting the federal tanker ban to ship more bitumen from B.C.'s coast as Ottawa and Alberta work away at a pipeline agreement.

Finally, Canada’s victims of crime advocate Benjamin Roebuck explains why he believes survivors of sexual violence are being systemically betrayed by the criminal justice system, detailing how allegations are often disbelieved and cases are regularly delayed or dropped.

This episode features the voices of:

• Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation
• Garry Kasparov, founder and chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative
• Murray Brewster, CBC News’ senior defence correspondent
• Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal MP for North Vancouver-Capilano
• Benjamin Roebuck, federal ombudsperson for victims of crime

Looming over the Liberals is whether Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget will pass its final vote on Monday in the House of Commons. So far, no other political party has given a sign they will support it. 

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May discusses whether she’ll change her mind and vote with the Liberals on the budget. Christopher Nardi of the National Post and Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star weigh in on where the government can get the last two votes it needs or if we’re heading into another election this year. 

Mark Carney announced more major projects to spur Canada’s economic growth. Rick Smith of the Canadian Climate Institute tells The House how Canada’s push to expand mining and energy projects is going down at the United Nations climate change conference in Brazil. 

Plus, as Canada loses its measles elimination status Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Vice President of the Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada explains what needs to be done to win it back. 

And: J.D.M. Stewart, author of The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation they Shaped, takes Catherine Cullen on a tour of the monuments erected on Parliament Hill to commemorate Canada’s leaders. Who were they, what were their funny foibles, and will Canada ever see a statue of Stephen Harper or Justin Trudeau? 

This episode features the voices of: 

• Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader
• Christopher Nardi, National Post parliamentary reporter
• Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief 
• Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute
• Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Vice President of the Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada 
• J.D.M. Stewart, author of The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation they Shaped

Budget week on Parliament Hill quickly became a stunning political drama after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost two of his MPs in quick succession. One has crossed the floor to join the Liberals and the other says he’ll resign as an MP in the spring. 

How bad is this for the Official Opposition, and where does Poilievre go from here? Conservative strategist Kate Harrison and Liberal strategist Marci Surkes discuss the impact on Poilievre’s leadership, the mood in caucus and whether more departures could follow.

Plus, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer responds to the caucus commotion and lays out his party’s criticism of the budget; and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defends his government’s financial plan.

And: Business Council of Canada president Goldy Hyder joins Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers in a debate over whether this budget can spur investment and growth without making cost-of-living concerns worse; and Sahir Khan, co-founder and VP of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy helps tally up a budget scorecard on how the document has landed as a win or loss for Canadians.

This episode features the voices of:

• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa Strategies
• Marci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass Rose
• Sahir Khan, co-founder of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy
• François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
• Andrew Scheer, Conservative House leader
• Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada
• Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers

This is a big week in politics: Mark Carney’s first federal budget. To catch you up on what you missed from the government’s big unveiling, The House brings you this special bonus episode from today’s live CBC Radio broadcast. Co-hosts Catherine Cullen and Susan Bonner spoke to politicians, business owners, voters and experts to dig into just how pivotal this federal budget may be — and whether it’ll gain enough support from opposition parties to stave off an election.

He may be known as ‘the little guy from Shawinigan,’ but Jean Chrétien’s impact on his hometown has been anything but small. And at 91, the former prime minister seems far from slowing down. In this exclusive documentary, host Catherine Cullen travels to Shawinigan, Que to spend the day with the former prime minister. She learns about how the small city shaped his political career, what he’d say if he was in a room with Donald Trump, and his fiery take on Albertans who want to separate from the rest of Canada.

Plus, as the Liberal government prepares to introduce a much-anticipated federal budget, there aren’t many signs opposition MPs will support the critical legislation, raising questions about a snap election. The House Party election podcast team — Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff — reunite to discuss who could support the government and the likelihood of Canada heading into another federal election in 2026.

This episode features the voices of:

• Jean Chrétien, former Liberal prime minister
• Daniel Thibeault, parliamentary bureau chief for Radio-Canada and host of Les Coulisses du Pouvoir
• Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary

Once again, Canada finds itself in a deep hole in its push to get a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. This time, an advertisement by Ontario that used Ronald Reagan’s own words criticizing tariffs annoyed Trump so much he cut off negotiations entirely. Derek Burney, who worked with former prime minister Brian Mulroney as he hammered out a Canada-U.S. free trade deal with Reagan, weighs in on the latest upset, then Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post discuss where this leaves Canada now.

Then, Michael Kovrig, the former diplomat who spent more than 1,000 days detained by China, tells host Catherine Cullen how he feels about Canada’s growing “strategic partnership” with Beijing and what advice he’d offer the Prime Minister before meeting China’s president.

Plus, the government is adjusting the rules around bail again, making it harder for some repeat offenders and those charged with serious offences to be released. A victim’s family and a criminal defence lawyer weigh in, and Justice Minister Sean Fraser defends the new legislation.

Finally, as Liberals and Conservatives spar over what continues to drive up food costs, economist Christina Caron argues it’s not price gouging or the industrial carbon tax — it’s climate change that’s costing you more at the grocery store.

This episode features the voices of:

• Derek Burney, former ambassador and chief of staff to prime minister Brian Mulroney
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Stuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
• Michael Kovrig, former Canadian diplomat detained by China
• Meechelle Best, mother of Kellie Verwey
• Jay Herbert, Ontario criminal defence lawyer and member of Rama First Nation
• Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice
• Christina Caron, economist