The West Block

In this edition of The West Block we are in Halifax at the International Security Forum.  Is there a division within the NATO alliance?  Is NATO doing enough for Ukraine when it comes to the threat they face from Russia?  And what about the U.S. does it support this global alliance and where do political leaders there view the U.S. and its role as a global leader?

Guests: Rose Gottemoeller, NATO Deputy Secretary General; Pavlo Krimlin, Ukraine Foreign Minister, Senator Mike Rounds, Republican-South Dakota.

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POLITICAL BOMBSHELL HIT OTTAWA this week WHEN FORMER CABINET MINISTER AND MP TONY CLEMENT DISCLOSED AN EXTORTION ATTEMPT FOR HIS INAPPROPRIATE ONLINE BEHAVRIOUR AND ACTS OF INFEDILITY. CLEMENT SAT ON THE POWERFUL AND SECRETIVE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES NATIONAL SECURITY, SO WAS SECURITY COMPROMISED?  THEN WE WILL TALK TO A COUPLE OF VETERANS ABOUT GOVERNMENT SERVICES PLUS CANADA'S ROLE IN THE GREAT WAR.

Guests: Phil Gurski, Security Analyst; Sean Bruyea, Air Force Intelligence Ret'd; Paul Franklin, MCpl Ret'd

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This week on The West Block we look at some of the concerns of the business community and whether or not Canada could handle a recession.  Then we talk about the motion in the house of commons that received bi-partisan support on consequences for returning ISIS fighters.  And trade ministers from around the world met in Ottawa last week to discuss WTO reforms, US and China were not invited, is there a way forward for this international trade organization?

Guests: Bill Morneau, Finance Minister; Karen McCrimmon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Public Safety Minister; David Parker, New Zealand Minister of Trade and Economic Growth

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Later this week Canada will host trade minister from twelve countries but the US is not invited, how will this affect our trade relations south of the border?  Then a Saudi journalists death in Turkey appears is causing outrage around the world, should human rights outweigh business?  And nearly six years ago cannabis was legalized in Colorado.  What lessons have they learned after it rolled out?
Guests: Jim Carr, International Trade Diversification Minister; Dennis Horak, Canada's Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Lewis Koski, Colorado's Former Director of Marijuana Enforcement Division

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Bonus mid-week West Block podcast:

In less than a month voters in the U.S. head to the polls in what is being called the most important midterm election in our lifetime.  President Trump is not on the ballot but is this election a referendum on his first two years in office?  And will there be a blue wave or will we have a divided congress on November 7th?

Guest: Christopher Sands, Director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.

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