The West Block

Are the RCMP currently investigating the allegations of some MPs ‘wittingly’ colluding with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme to discuss foreign interference and whether the names of MPs flagged in the NSICOP report should be publicized. Duheme also addresses the national security threats facing Canada and the growing threats facing politicians.

Plus, Stephenson is joined by Bob Fife, the Globe and Mail’s Ottawa bureau chief, and Stephanie Levitz, the Toronto Star’s deputy Ottawa bureau chief, to look back on the key issues that dominated the spring sitting and look ahead to the parties’ summer strategy.

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As Canada’s top soldier, Gen. Wayne Eyre, is set to step down from his post as chief of the defence staff this summer, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Gen. Eyre about the Canadian Armed Forces being a target of foreign interference. Gen. Eyre also discusses the state of Canada’s military, the major challenges during his tenure as CDS, and more.

Plus, Stephenson sits down with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to discuss the impact of foreign interference allegations levelled against China and India on her government’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Minister Joly also addresses calls for Canada to meet its NATO defence spending targets.

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What is the fallout from the bombshell NSICOP report that alleges some parliamentarians “wittingly” co-operated with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Garry Clement, former RCMP superintendent, and Thomas Juneau, former analyst at the Department of National Defence, about the ability and limitations of the RCMP to investigate these alleged incidents of collusion, the calls to release the names of those alleged parliamentarians, and more.

Plus, Stephenson sits down with Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, about her efforts in documenting Russian war crimes, abducted Ukrainian children, and more.

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Crime has been on the rise, according to Statistics Canada’s Violent Crime Severity Index. RCMP officials have told Global News that 53 per cent of the homicides committed in their jurisdiction have been perpetrated by someone on community release, parole or probation. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Justice Minister Arif Virani about his government’s bail reforms for violent repeat offenders. Minister Virani also addresses the recent attacks at two Jewish schools and a synagogue.

Plus, Stephenson speaks with David Frum, political commentator and staff writer at The Atlantic, about the significance of Donald Trump’s criminal conviction and its potential impact on his bid to be re-elected U.S. president.

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Ahead of the summer NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., a bipartisan group of U.S. senators have written a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to meet the NATO two per cent of GDP defence spending target. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, to discuss if the White House shares the senators’ disappointment that Canada won’t reach its NATO commitment this decade. Ambassador Cohen also addresses Canada’s response to the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.

Plus, Stephenson speaks with Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth (President of Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) and RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jodie Boudreau about the impacts of the federal government’s new bail reforms on the front lines for police.

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The shooting of Slovakia’s prime minister highlights the growing threat of violence towards politicians. So what does it take to be an officer of a VIP detail for a high-profile politician? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson gets exclusive access to the RCMP program to train protective policing officers to keep politicians of all political stripes safe from the rising threat of political violence.

Plus, Stephenson interviews former correctional investigator of Canada Howard Sapers about the secrecy surrounding the prison transfer of notorious convicted murderer Luka Magnotta to a medium-security institution. Sapers also addresses reports of increased prison violence and concerns over Canada’s parole system.

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With the rise of pro-Palestinian encampments across North American university campuses, concerns have been raised over police response and safety of Jewish students. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera to discuss the campus protests. Minister Khera also addresses concerns from disability advocates about the Canada Disability Benefit’s ability to lift Canadians out of poverty.

Plus, Stephenson speaks with former British intelligence officer Philip Ingram about the U.K.’s calls for NATO members to boost their defence spending, geopolitical threats, and more.

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The issue of foreign interference returns to the spotlight as the public inquiry into election meddling releases its first report and the RCMP make an arrest of suspected foreign hitmen. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc to discuss the new arrests in the 2023 killing of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. LeBlanc also addresses the findings of the foreign interference inquiry, which found that instances of foreign meddling did occur but did not alter the outcomes of Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue also concluded that foreign interference did undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Plus, Stephenson speaks with former CSIS executive manager Dan Stanton and Global News’ national security journalist Stewart Bell about the arrest of three suspected hitmen and their alleged ties to the Indian government.

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Following the federal government’s announcement of a $15-billion Honda electric vehicle plant in Ontario, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson asks Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne for a follow-up to his government’s efforts to increase grocery store competition. Minister Champagne discusses his talks with foreign grocery chains, as well as Canada’s electric vehicle infrastructure.

Plus, Stephenson sits down with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to talk about her life in exile, her jailed husband, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ties to the current Belarusian regime.

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What are the risks of a greater escalation between Iran and Israel after more retaliatory strikes are exchanged between the two countries? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews the Atlantic Council’s Jonathan Panikoff, the former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the National Intelligence Council, about the possibility of a greater conflict between Iran and Israel, fears over the potential use of nuclear weapons, and more.

Plus, Stephenson speaks with John Manley, former Liberal finance minister, and Lisa Raitt, former Conservative deputy leader, about the new federal budget. The panel also discusses proposed capital gains tax changes, the housing crisis, and how the budget might impact the Liberals’ polling numbers.

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