WONK

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WONK episodes

November 11 Kevin Page on debt, deficits and Canada’s hinge moment
The Liberal government recently tabled its second budget — a $151.5 billion plan that the government hopes will boost the economy, ease affordability challenges and even eradicate homelessness. This plan is made possible in part by an unexpected windfall thanks to higher oil prices, but it will still cost Canadians, with the federal government projecting a $62-billion deficit and no plan to balance the books. In this episode, host Michael Serapio talks to economist Kevin Page, the founding president of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy, about the government’s bet at a critical moment in history.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 min
November 05 Why Canadians aren’t ready for AI
Canada’s AI strategy involves positioning the country as a global AI powerhouse, driving economic growth and ensuring Canadian control over critical digital infrastructure. But the $2-billion strategy comes as skepticism and deep concerns grow not only here in Canada, but around the world about AI. Host Michael Serapio talks to Shingai Manjengwa, senior director of education and development at Mila, about the rise of AI agents, growing safety concerns and why more education is essential.

Read Manjengwa’s policy memo on Canada’s AI strategy.

Learn more about PPF and Mila’s AI courses:
AI Advantage and AI Policy Compass
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30 min
October 28 What the U.S. midterms could mean for Canada
Americans are about to head to the ballot box to cast their votes in the midterms. Canadians, of course, are watching quite intently. Industries and businesses have been hit hard by U.S. tariffs and threats against our sovereignty have been constant. Will anything change if there is a change in the balance of power in the U.S. Congress? In this episode, host Michael Serapio talks to Scotty Greenwood, a former chief of staff to the U S Ambassador to Canada, former CEO of the Canadian American Business Council and the founder of Ottawa Street Strategy.

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
34 min
October 22 Candace Laing on the Canada’s trade war plan: ‘We got this’
It would not be an understatement to say that the Canada-U.S. relationship is undergoing a challenging time. The U.S. president describes Canada as a terrible trade partner and the 51st state. Both countries have applied tariffs and counter tariffs on goods that not long ago crossed the border tariff-free. On this episode, host Michael Serapio talks to Candace Laing, the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, about the impact of the relationship breakdown on jobs, investments and businesses in this country.

This episode is sponsored by the Forest Products Association of Canada.

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 min
October 15 Lisa Raitt and Anne McLellan: Canadian democracy is working
The largest survey on Canadian views on foreign policy in over 50 years suggests that Canadians are united on a whole host of issues, from trade diversification to global health. It also shows a surprising confidence that democracy in Canada is working well, despite the challenges and unity questions facing the country. Host Michael Serapio talks to Anne McLellan, a former deputy prime minister in Paul Martin's government and Lisa Raitt, a former minister in the government at Stephen Harper, who were involved in the report, called Foreign Policy by Canadians 2026.

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter
Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0
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32 min
October 08 Can the auto industry survive Trump?
When it comes to Canada's auto industry, the U.S. President is very clear: Donald Trump does not see the need for it and he is doing everything he can to force car makers to bring their operations to America. The rupture would undermine an industrial relationship that goes back decades, and lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. Host Michael Serapio talks to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, about the state of the highly integrated industry and what Donald Trump gets wrong about it.

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/

Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35 min
October 01 Premier RJ Simpson on northern investment the need for better Arctic defence
Canada’s Arctic is getting a level of attention it hasn't seen in decades. The federal government is promising to put some $35 billion towards asserting Canada's Arctic sovereignty, creating economic opportunities and, it is hoped, long-term prosperity for Northern communities. But how will these investments do that? When will we see shovels in the ground? Host Michael Serapio is joined by the Premier of the Northwest Territories, RJ Simpson to talk about Arctic resources, building roads and why Canada needs to up its Arctic defence.

Subscribe to PPF’s Build Big Things newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 min
September 24 Canada’s search for $1 trillion — and new friends
Canada's push to diversify its economy has taken some big steps: An international investment summit in Toronto; a trip by PM Mark Carney to the European Parliament to explore becoming an associate member of the EU; and a meeting in Saint-Pierre with French President Emmanuel Macron. What do these developments tell us about Canada's efforts? How interested is the world in what Canada has to offer? And what will it take to turn that interest into growth? Host Michael Serapio is joined by Gitane De Silva, Executive Director of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics & Democracy at the University of Alberta and Brett House, an economist and professor at Columbia Business School.

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/

Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
34 min
September 17 Canada’s former top trade negotiator Steve Verheul: Moving beyond the U.S.
Ever since Donald Trump was reelected in 2024 and started talking about Canada as a 51st state, cross border trade has been a sore point. But in recent weeks, there has been great urgency as the United States slapped tariffs on many goods and the fate of CUSMA hangs in the balance. PM Mark Carney has said “America is trying to break us so that they can own us.” So what can Canada really do to diversify its trade and thrive next to a suddenly unfriendly neighbour? Host Michael Serapio talks to Canada’s former chief trade negotiator and PPF Fellow Steve Verheul about his new report From Reliance to Resilience and what could happen next.

Read Verheul’s report for PPF: https://ppforum.ca/publications/from-reliance-to-resilience/

Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/

Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 min
June 25 Gov. Josh Shapiro on Canada-U.S. relations
Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania. He talks to host Amanda Lang about fixing CUSMA, the importance of the U.S. midterms and the trade instability caused by President Donald Trump. This is the final episode of season 4 of WONK. We’ll be back this fall with a brand new season.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32 min

About WONK

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WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Michael Serapio, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and…