The House

This week, the Liberals introduced their new “Building Canada Strong Act," which is generating controversy over its proposed changes to environmental reviews and workers' ability to strike. Environmental Defence’s Julia Levin explains her worries that the plan will “steamroll” nature and communities, while Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon argues the bill will respect labour rights and environmental concerns, while getting the country building faster.

Plus, heads turned when Prime Minister Mark Carney told The New York Times that Canada had prepared for the "extreme tail risk” of U.S. military action. The NYT’s Ottawa bureau chief Matina Stevis-Gridneff and CBC’s senior defence correspondent Murray Brewster discuss whether this is a cause for alarm, or run of the mill.

And, B.C. Premier David Eby called a snap election this week, but his main opponents — the B.C. Conservatives — are officially leaderless after months of infighting. Former NDP cabinet minister Nathan Cullen and Conservative strategist Rachael Segal discuss whether Eby could face the voters' wrath, and how big a fight the B.C. Conservatives can mount on short notice.

This episode features the voices of:
Julia Levin, associate director of national climate for Environmental Defence
Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport
Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Ottawa bureau chief for the New York Times
Murray Brewster, senior defence correspondent for CBC News
Nathan Cullen, former BC NDP cabinet minister and vice-president with StrategyCorp
Rachael Segal, former senior director for BC Liberals and founder of Beyond A Ballot

This week’s show begins with breaking news: U.S. President Donald Trump says there’s a new deal with Denmark and Greenland. Rob Huebert, director of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies and fellow at the CDA Institute, discusses what it could mean for Canada.

And, as the prime minister works to boost Canada's international profile, he's pitching what could be his biggest move yet: A 'unique alliance' with the European Union, but not full membership. Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister of state for European affairs and defence and Arash Saeidi, a member of European Parliament representing France, share their expectations and concerns about this potential partnership.

Then Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's ambassador-designate to the European Union, explains why Canada is interested in the idea and what it could mean in terms of tax dollars and immigration policies.

Plus, top AI companies are sounding the alarm about existential risks after a researcher at Anthropic claimed there is a more than 10 per cent chance AI could kill all humans. At Canada's largest AI and technology conference, host Catherine Cullen moderates a panel with AI Minister Evan Solomon, Germany's federal minister for digital transformation and government modernization Karsten Wildberger, Cohere's CEO Aidan Gomez and Aleph Alpha's co-founder Samuel Weinbach about whether they share these concerns and what middle powers like Canada and Germany can do about the issue.

Finally, Gomez and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic sit down for a separate panel on Canada's data centre development, why a greater buildout is needed and their response to Canadians' concerns about their environmental and local impacts. Finally, Murad Hemmadi, an AI reporter for The Logic, breaks down both discussions and what they tell us about the current state of Canadian AI.

This episode features the voices of:
Rob Huebert, director of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies and fellow at the CDA Institute
Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister of state for European affairs and defence
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's ambassador-designate to the European Union
Arash Saeidi, member of European Parliament representing France
Evan Solomon, Minister of AI
Karsten Wildberger, Germany's federal minister for digital transformation and government modernization
Aidan Gomez, CEO of Cohere
Samuel Weinbach, co-founder of Aleph Alpha
Mirko Bibic, CEO of Bell Canada

The prime minister's inner circle is gathering in Banff, Alta. to discuss their plans for the upcoming sitting of Parliament — where U.S. President Donald Trump's trade actions will loom large. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne joins The House to discuss whether Canada should retaliate again, and what to expect from Carney's investment summit next week.

Plus, Albertans are one month away from deciding whether they actually want to pursue a referendum on separating from Canada, and campaigns on both sides of the debate are in full force. Host Catherine Cullen follows federalist campaigner Stephen Carter as he gives out lawn signs and tries to persuade people in Calgary’s Confederation Park to choose Canada. Then The House travels to Red Deer to meet separatist leader Keith Wilson and his supporters to hear why they're voting to trigger a formal referendum on leaving Canada. Plus, top Alberta pollster Janet Brown explains why voter turnout could be the key factor in this pivotal referendum.

This episode features the voices of:
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
Stephen Carter, Alberta federalist and member of Alberta's Voice
Keith Wilson, Alberta separatist and leader of Let Alberta Decide
Janet Brown, founder of Janet Brown Opinion Research

As the trade war heats up and the Trump administration continues to lob insults at Canada, Catherine Cullen travels across the border to a village built around an American 1812 battle site to talk to Sackets Harbor Mayor Alex Morgia, as well as the owner of the Lake Ontario Gift Shop and a marketer for the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council about what the escalating conflict means to them.

Then, The House travels to Ogdensburg, NY to hear what voters in the solidly Republican county think about Canada these days. Finally, Cullen talks to the Republican state assemblyman for the area, Scott Gray, about the volley of insults from the Trump administration and what they mean for the future of the Can-Am relationship.

And, Prime Minister Mark Carney scored a hat trick of byelection wins this week, and by wide margins to boot. But six more are coming. The National Post's Christopher Nardi and The Economist's Rob Russo discuss what the wins say about the popularity of the Liberals and Conservatives, and if the momentum will change as the trade war continues.

This episode features the voices of:
Alex Morgia, mayor of Sackets Harbor
Amanda Miller, owner of the Lake Ontario Gift Shop
Corey Fram, director of the Thousand Islands Regional Tourism Development Corporation
Anthony Adamcyzk, executive Director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority
Scott Gray, New York State Assemblyman for the 116th District
Christopher Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post
Rob Russo, Ottawa bureau chief for the Economist

In an exclusive interview with The House and her first since talks collapsed, Canada’s chief trade negotiator to the U.S. Janice Charette sits down with host Catherine Cullen to lift the curtain on last week’s abrupt end to the talks and what it will take for both sides to return to the table.

Then, Vermont Senator Peter Welch discusses his latest legislative attempt to walk back tariffs on Canada and how the nearing U.S. midterms may help or hamper efforts to resolve an escalating trade war. Plus, author Paul Wells and the Globe and Mail’s Shannon Proudfoot review Canada's planned counterattack, what's at stake for Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec's pivotal provincial election.

And, they're an unlikely duo, but longtime political rivals and former premiers Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney are setting aside their adversarial history to join forces at a high-stakes political moment. The two new co-chairs of a Canadian Chamber of Commerce pro-unity campaign discuss making their economic case for an Alberta that remains in Canada, and the challenges involved with reaching an electorate they previously led.

This episode features the voices of:
Janice Charette, Canada's chief negotiator to the United States
Peter Welch, U.S. Senator for Vermont
Paul Wells, author and podcaster
Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer for The Globe and Mail
Rachel Notley, former premier of Alberta
Jason Kenney, former premier of Alberta