The House

This week on The House, ​​​​​​​CBC senior reporter Salimah Shivji outlines the federal government’s pitch to provinces and territories to help them increase COVID-19  testing and contact tracing, and who’s on board. Plus, a leading infectious diseases specialist explains this country’s role in identifying effective treatments to reduce the symptoms and severity of COVID-19 infections; Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne reflects on the pandemic’s effect on Canada's already tense relationship with China; Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, president of the UN General Assembly and a diplomat from Nigeria, highlights some of the challenges facing the international community; and a trio of MPs weighs in on whether it's time for the House of Commons to resume its normal routines.

This week on The House: CBC reporter Ashley Burke brings you the latest on Air Canada's expected layoffs; Transport Minister Marc Garneau explores what it might take to see Canada’s grounded airline industry take off once again; three tourism operators from across the country open up about a difficult season ahead; CBC Washington correspondent Alex Panetta reveals where Canada has surpassed the U.S. in a concerning statistic; economists Armine Yalnizyan and Philip Cross discuss whether a rising federal deficit poses an urgent concern; and hear part two of senior producer Kristin Nelson's report on Canada's abortion debate, then and now.

This week on The House, the service and retail sectors are being hit particularly hard by the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put more than three million Canadians out of work since March. Chris Hall hears from three women who lost their jobs and face uncertain futures. Then, an expert on ageing considers whether it’s time to bring long-term care under the Canada Health Act, a pair of Tories discuss how the Conservative Party of Canada can push its leadership race into the spotlight amidst the pandemic, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs explains how his province got it right — and what lies ahead as the Maritime province re-opens. Plus. part of one of senior producer Kristin Nelson’s doc on Canada's abortion debate — then and now.

On this week's show, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair talks about the Liberal government's ban on assault weapons — and the timing of the announcement. The co-chair of Canada's new COVID-19 Immunity Task Force discusses where we stand on protecting against the virus. Plus, Liberal MP Greg Fergus on representing a Quebec riding near the Ontario border amid re-opening plans, how students are handling the pandemic and the toll of the crisis on Canadians' mental health.

This week on The House, Nova Scotia Sen. Stan Kutcher joins Chris Hall to talk about the impact of the Nova Scotia shootings — and how people in his province are coping. Then, an Ottawa physician discusses the concept of immunity passports — and their repercussions — as a stepping stone to reopening the economy in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine. Plus, two political commentators debate whether Question Period is an essential service; Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau explains what’s being done to protect Canada’s food supply amid the pandemic and Canada’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations offers her perspective on the crisis from New York City, including how her past mental health struggles have helped her during this time.

On this week's show, a human rights advocate discusses how the COVID-19 crisis has unleashed a reckoning in Canada about the treatment of seniors. Plus, we learn about a camp sheltering hundreds of thousands Rohingya refugees and how it's facing the pandemic. Finance Minister Bill Morneau talks about aid for Canada's oil and gas sector and the moment he realized the severity of this crisis, and we hear from artists worried about their livelihoods amid a ban on public gatherings.

This week on The House, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu assesses Canada’s pandemic response thus far — and explains why she thinks now is not the time to analyze the government’s steps. Meanwhile, the CBC’s Karina Roman takes a closer look at those steps and whether they led to missed opportunities. Plus, we hear from three MPs on how they’re fulfilling their parliamentary duties from inside their homes, while others weigh in on the ways they’re marking religious holidays this month.

This week on The House, infection control and prevention expert Dr. Michael Gardam dissects new data from the Ontario government and explains what he expects to see nationwide in the coming weeks. Then, Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte on what the federal government is doing to protect seniors from the virus; former federal health minister Jane Philpott on her return to the medical frontlines; and Anita Anand, minister of public services and procurement, on what the government is doing to address a shortage of medical supplies and equipment. Plus, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart outlines the unprecedented step his city is taking to tackle two health emergencies — COVID-19 and the opioid overdose crisis.

This week on The House, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains talks about what's being done to help Canadians affected by COVID-19. Plus, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer offers his own assessment of the Trudeau government's COVID-19 response; three small business owners reflect on their current fears and future hopes; we go inside an unprecedented 18 hours on Parliament Hill as MPs worked to pass the government's emergency aid package; and veteran climate activist Tzeporah Berman discusses the future of Canada’s climate change plans in the shadow of a massive public health threat.

On the show this week: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland talks preparing for the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh digs into the role opposition parties play in a state of crisis — even in a suspended Parliament. Plus, hear from two writers on prioritizing social cohesion, two seniors on how they are coping with the threat of the virus and a senator on how COVID-19 poses a serious challenge for Canada's prisons.