The House

In the last days of Alberta’s referendum campaign, Catherine Cullen talks to the Alberta NDP leader and the head of a pro-separatist third-party advertiser about their plans to get out the vote on Monday – and the pitfalls of thinking that the referendum outcome is in the bag. Then, foreign interference has been a top concern in the lead up to the referendum. Canada’s Foreign Influence Commissioner Anton Boegman explains why he’s reached out to dozens of individuals and groups in Alberta.

Then, in the run up to two deeply divisive votes — Alberta’s referendum and the U.S. midterms — Catherine Cullen talks to Daniel Cox, author of a new book about why political tensions are increasing a gender divide and what that means for some young people's dating lives. Then, she asks Andrew Parkin, executive director of the Environics Institute, whether the same divisions are being seen in Canada. Plus, we check in with Melissa and Conrad Muhly, a Canadian-American couple living in Pennsylvania and who hold very different political views, about the tension Trump has created in their household.

This episode features the voices of:
• Naheed Nenshi, Alberta NDP Leader
• Cory Morgan, founder of the pro-separatist third-party advertiser Pathway to Independence
• Anton Boegman, Foreign Influence Commissioner
• Daniel Cox, author of Generation Uncoupled
• Andrew Parkin, Executive Director, Environics Institute for Survey Research
• Melissa and Conrad Muhly

With only days left until Albertans vote on whether they want a referendum to separate from Canada, concerns are swirling around the vote itself and broader questions about possible American foreign interference. Catherine Cullen sits down with three Alberta MPs, Liberal Corey Hogan, Conservative Dane Lloyd and the NDP’s Heather McPherson to talk about those concerns.

Also, the federal government has withdrawn sponsorship of a European disinformation conference — and pulled participation in a panel — citing concerns about the “framing” of some conversations. The House speaks to a panelist on the ground about whether pressure from the Trump administration was at play.

Plus, the federal government says it will allow provinces to decide whether patients should be allowed to make advanced requests for medical assistance in dying. Catherine Cullen talks to Mark Breslaw, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, about his fears that the framework will be uneven across the country, and then to former Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard about his concerns over how many people now access MAID.
This episode features the voices of:

• Corey Hogan, Liberal MP
• Dane Lloyd, Conservative MP
• Heather McPherson, NDP MP
• Ben Shultz, The American Sunlight Project
• Mark Breslaw
• Philippe Couillard, Former Quebec Premier

On Monday, Quebecers will head to the polls for a pivotal election that could see a sovereigntist party running the province. Catherine Cullen brings you up to speed on all the key players with The Writ’s Éric Grenier. Then, the House Party crew — Radio-Canada’s Daniel Thibeault and CBC’s Jason Markusoff — discuss how big a challenge Carney could face with a sovereigntist premier, and whether his pipeline push will tamp down the other separatist flames in Alberta.

Plus, the government has designated Alberta's proposed west coast pipeline — Pacific Link — as a project of "national interest." What does that mean, and how much money will Canadian taxpayers need to pay to move this project forward? Energy Minister Tim Hodgson joins The House to explain what's in store and address concerns about the pipeline harming killer whales.

And, Carney is vowing legal action against Stelco's American parent company after it announced it would idle production at a Hamilton steel plant, resulting in up to 500 layoffs. Local Conservative MP Ned Kuruc weighs in on the brewing fight — and LNG Canada's decision to once again use Chinese steel for its expansion project in B.C.

This episode features the voices of:
Éric Grenier, founder of The Writ
Daniel Thibeault, host of Radio-Canada’s Les Coulisses du Pouvoir
Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary
Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy
Ned Kuruc, Conservative MP

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, Canada 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