The House

A new nuclear reactor. A natural gas pipeline extension. Thousands of offshore wind turbines. Atlantic provinces have ambitious ideas to generate and transmit more energy across Canada, all under one banner. As Prime Minister Mark Carney renews his call for nation-building projects to strengthen the Canadian economy, will this network of ideas, the Eastern Energy Partnership, make the cut? And how realistic – and expensive – are these plans? 

CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick Jacques Poitras speaks to New Brunswick's premier and the federal minister in charge of the Atlantic, Sean Fraser, as well as First Nations leaders, experts and stakeholders about what it could mean for power in eastern Canada for generations to come.

This episode features the voices of:

• John Herron, New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources
• Joanna Bernard, New Brunswick Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations
• Chief Terry Richardson, Pabineau First Nation
• Brad Coady, vice-president of business development for NB Power
• Lori Clark, President and CEO of NB Power
• David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick
• Heidi Leslie, CEO of Crux Energy Consulting
• Scott Urquhart, CEO of Aegir Insights
• Larry Hughes, energy expert at Dalhousie University
• Susan Holt, premier of New Brunswick
• Sean Fraser, minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

If you want to stay up to date this summer on everything going on in the world, The House is recommending As It Happens. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories – powerful leaders, proud eccentrics, and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too.

In this episode:

One day after the UK makes a similar statement, Ottawa announces plans to recognize Palestinian statehood in September. We'll reach Canada's former Ambassador to the United Nations. 

The head of the Stephen Lewis Foundation tells us what a new million-dollar donation will mean for organizations whose capacity to help was suddenly slashed when the Trump Administration cut billions in USAID funding.

A Maui resident tells us he and his neighbours were lucky to avoid any major damage after living through a tsunami warning last night. But that doesn't mean they should be any less prepared next time.

A St. John's fire chief tells us about the fires that destroyed two historic fishing stages last night and how it felt to watch them burn, helpless to stop the flames.

Canada's 18-year-old swimming sensation Summer McIntosh is chasing five individual golds this week at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Her mother, a former Olympic swimmer herself, tells us what it's like to watch her daughter lean all the way in.

A man in Argentina was shocked, outraged and then really, really embarrassed after a Google Street View camera captured him in his yard – fully naked with his bottom on full display.

As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that imagines he'll be happy when the whole incident is in the rearview.

You can find As It Happens wherever you get your podcasts: https://app.magellan.ai/listen_links/cqSNA1

Over the past 10 years, the Senate has witnessed extraordinary change — namely a radical overhaul to do away with formal partisanship. The driver behind that? Former prime minister Justin Trudeau. But now that he’s gone, will those changes stick?

In a special documentary edition of The House, guest host J.P. Tasker carves out some frank and revealing conversations with Senators Andrew Cardozo, Marc Gold, Leo Housakos, Paul Prosper, Paula Simons and Pamela Wallin about their place of work. 

Professor and author Jonathan Malloy also weighs in on representation in the Senate and whether reform is realistic, while Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon explains the new government’s strategy when it comes to dealing with the chamber of sober second thought.

This episode features the voices of:

• Marc Gold, former senator & government representative in the Senate
• Senator Andrew Cardozo
• Senator Leo Housakos
• Senator Paul Prosper
• Senator Paula Simons
• Senator Pamela Wallin
• Jonathan Malloy, political science professor at Carleton University
• Steven MacKinnon, government House leader

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with First Nations leaders this week to get their support for his nation-building plans — but some right-holders left with more questions than answers or outright blasted the meeting. Host Catherine Cullen checks in with Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand and Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee on the sidelines of the summit in Gatineau, Que.

Then, ahead of next week’s premiers’ meeting in Huntsville, Ont., Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe explains why he believes a deal with Trump on tariffs is likely, but he doesn’t think “elbows up” is the right way to get there.

Plus, as federal data shows inequality is widening and the federal government is going big on military spending and national projects, two economists offer their views on the most pressing priorities for Canadians and whether Ottawa’s spending matches their needs.

Finally, two Hill watchers weigh in on the uphill path Carney faces on trade and energy projects, as well as the Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's shift in tone.

This episode features the voices of:

• Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs
• Terry Teegee, Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
• Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan
• Don Drummond, economist and fellow-in-residence at C.D. Howe Institute
• Armine Yalnizyan, economist and Atkinson Fellow On The Future Of Workers
• Christopher Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post
• Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter for the Globe and Mail Ottawa bureau

Once again, U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to slap more tariffs on Canada — and Pierre Poilievre has thoughts. The Conservative leader speaks with Catherine Cullen in his first national English interview with CBC since becoming party leader to discuss how he’d tackle the Canada-U.S. trade war differently and why he thinks he deserves a second shot at holding a seat in the House of Commons.

Then, national security expert Wesley Wark explains why Trump’s latest move should elicit a bigger response from north of the border.

Plus, the new head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, tells The House her priorities for the new role in a “volatile and uncertain” time.

Finally, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s chief of staff and the new Clerk of the Privy Council officially take the reins of the federal government, Janice Charette, a former clerk who assisted with the Carney transition, and Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, lift the curtain on the high-pressure roles and examine the challenges of executing the prime minister’s ambitious agenda.

This episode features the voices of:

• Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
• Wesley Wark, senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation
• Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force
• Janice Charette, former Clerk of the Privy Council
• Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Canada-U.S. trade once again became the hottest topic in town after Donald Trump said he was walking away from the negotiating table over the federal government’s digital services tax. Just a few days later, Prime Minister Mark Carney rescinded the tax. Was that a smart move? Two trade experts join The House, guest hosted by CBC’s trade reporter Janyce McGregor, to discuss the retreat and the looming July 21 deadline for a deal.

Plus, The House talks to cheesemakers at a festival in Kingston, Ont. about concerns Trump’s tariff threat will spell the end of Canada’s protection of its dairy industry. Then, a Saskatchewan cattle rancher explains why she’s frustrated over a recently passed bill that protects that supply management system from Canada-U.S. trade talks.

Next, as Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. remains uncertain, it needs other allies more than ever. In his first broadcast interview since being named to cabinet, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu explains why making up for lost trade with the U.S. is hard to do.

Finally, trade policy and negotiations used to be dominated by economic data, legal rules and a ton of fine print — until Donald Trump flipped the table. Dmitry Grozoubinski, an Australian trade consultant, discusses his book, Why Politicians Lie About Trade, and how to spot the misformation to be able to make sense of (and even poke fun at?) the current state of trade debates.

This episode features the voices of:

• Inu Manak, fellow for trade policy at the Council of Foreign Relations
• Julian Ovens, former chief of staff for two international trade ministers
• Roxanne Renwick, cheesemaker
• Shep Ysselstein, cheesemaker
• Hans Weber, cheesemaker
• Karla Hicks, board member of the Canadian Cattle Association
• Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
• Dmitry Grozoubinski, author of Why Politicians Lie About Trade

It was all going well — until it wasn’t. On Friday afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was ending all trade discussions with Canada and blamed the federal government’s digital services tax, set to take effect June 30. So what now? Former deputy prime minister John Manley joins The House to discuss what Ottawa can do next.

After that, as federal parties hit the summer barbecue circuit and prepare for the fall session of Parliament, Liberal strategist Marci Surkes, Conservative strategist Kate Harrison and NDP strategist George Soule reflect on what’s changed for their parties and look at the political road ahead.

Plus, some disabled Canadians will be able to receive up to $200 a month from the new Canada Disability Benefit — but not everyone qualifies. B.C. resident Shauna Milne explains how she tries to make ends meet. Then Heather McCain, Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society, weighs in on how Ottawa can make it easier to apply for the benefit.

Finally, Catherine Cullen asks politicians about the best political advice they’ve ever received and hears a wide range of tips and tricks. For starters: don’t eat the free cookies.

This episode features the voices of:

• John Manley, former deputy prime minister
• Marci Surkes, Liberal strategist
• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategist
• Shauna Milne, B.C. resident
• Heather McCain, executive director of Live Educate Transform Society

The House of Commons has risen for summer break, but political leaders won’t be poolside for very long. For this season's final episode of House Party, Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault sort through the to-do lists of the major parties – from PM Mark Carney’s deadline to get a U.S.-Canada trade deal done, to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s task of getting himself elected.

After a flurry of amendments and a series of Friday evening votes, Prime Minister Mark Carney has passed his One Canadian Economy Act through the House of Commons. The bill accelerates approvals for projects deemed in Canada’s national interest, but not everyone is pleased with the Liberals fast-tracking the legislation. Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta joins The House to explain why some First Nations are concerned about the government’s need for speed. Plus, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon argues for why Ottawa needs to move fast. 

Then, Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief Tonda MacCharles and La Presse Ottawa bureau chief Joel-Denis Bellavance discuss whether Carney is right to rush his major projects bill through Parliament — and how long the Liberal-Conservative alliance on the legislation can last.

Finally, As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets set to meet NATO leaders next week, Catherine Cullen talks to former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO Wendy Gilmour and former Canadian Military Representative to NATO, retired Vice-Admiral Bob Davidson, for insight into how the alliance will seek to find unity in an age of war and U.S. President Donald Trump. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
• Steven MacKinnon, Government House Leader
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
• Joel-Denis Bellavance, Ottawa bureau chief for La Presse
• Wendy Gilmour, former assistant secretary general for defence investment at NATO
• Bob Davidson, retired vice-admiral and former Canadian military representative at NATO

Despite all the nail biting about how U.S. President Trump would show up at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, relief descended Monday after a reportedly jovial and productive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. But by Monday night, Trump was gone – bailing from the G7 early to deal with the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran. Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault analyze the effect Trump had on his fellow leaders – and whether Canada actually had more space to get more done on day two without him.