The House

He's done it again: Prime Minister Mark Carney has convinced yet another Conservative to join his Liberal government. This time, it's Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu, who previously said she was "personally pro-life" and opposed a Liberal bill to ban conversion therapy. She's now recanting those positions as Carney insists Liberal values are unchanged.

How does it work when the Liberals try to cajole a Tory to join them? Catherine Cullen sits down with the first Conservative MP who made the leap to the Liberals, Chris d’Entremont, and Kody Blois, one of the Liberals who wooed him to cross the floor, to find out how it happens.

Then, poll analyst Philippe Fournier lays the ground for Monday’s byelections, when Carney is expected to cement his majority in Parliament. And as the Liberals hold their policy convention in Montreal, Hill watchers Joël-Denis Bellavance and Nick Taylor-Vaisey discuss the dramatic week in Canadian politics and what Gladu’s departure means for her former leader, Pierre Poilievre.

Plus, this week US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada-US trade negotiations could stretch past the July 1st deadline, and that there were “unresolved issues” with Canada. One of those irritants is the new Online Streaming Act, designed to make big streamers like Netflix and Disney pay to fund Canadian content the way that broadcasters do. CBC’s Jennifer Chevalier explores whether the Online Streaming Act is worth fighting for – in the face of yet more tariff threats.

This episode features the voices of:
Chris d’Entremont, Liberal MP for Acadie—Annapolis
Kody Blois, Liberal MP for Kings—Hants
Philippe Fournier, editor-in-chief at 338 Canada
Joël-Denis Bellavance, Ottawa bureau chief for La Presse
Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Ottawa bureau chief for Politico
Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO of the Canadian Media Producers Association
Carla de Jong, Head of Co-Production and International Partnerships at Sinking Ship Entertainment
Andrew Cash, CEO of the Canadian Independent Music Association and former NDP MP
Sandra Aubé, Liberal strategist
Vass Bednar, Managing Director of the Canadian Shield Institute
Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and e-Commerce Law at the University in Ottawa

150 years ago this month, the Indian Act became law — a sweeping piece of legislation that governed almost every aspect of First Nations’ lives — and has long been criticized as unfair, racist and “unquestionably sexist."

On this special edition of The House, Catherine Cullen explores the history of the discriminatory legislation with Bob Joseph, author of 21 Things You Might Not Know about the Indian Act and Janice Makokis, an Indigenous Legal Rights Scholar and associate professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.

The program also looks at current attempts to reform the Indian Act through Bill S-2, an amendment that would allow status to pass on indefinitely to future generations — eliminating the "second-generation cut-off." Dawn Lavell-Harvard, former national president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, explains how it would impact her own family, and Kitigan Zibi’s Nick Ottawa explains why First Nations are concerned about an influx of new members without a recent connection to the community. Then columnist and professor Niigaan Sinclair weighs in on whether he thinks the bill will pass.

Plus, host Catherine Cullen speaks to Chief Councillor John Jack about how the Maa-nulth Treaty on Vancouver Island allowed Huu-ay-aht First Nation to literally burn a copy of the Indian Act fifteen years ago, and why he believes their modern treaty is a model for the future. Then, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak adds a final thought on whether the Indian Act can be amended — or scrapped.

This episode features the voices of:
Bob Joseph, author of 21 Things You Might Not Know about the Indian Act
Janice Makokis, Indigenous Legal Rights Scholar and associate professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Dawn Lavell-Harvard, former national president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada
Chief Jean-Guy Whiteduck, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
Nick Ottawa, Lands, Estates and Membership Administrator at Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
Niigaan Sinclair, professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba and columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press
Chief Councillor John Jack, Huu-ay-aht First Nations
Chief Councillor Wilfred Cootes, Uchucklesaht Tribe
Music from Eddie Jones Hawlith and Tipinksip Uchucklesaht Hawlith

Loyal Dippers are gathering in Winnipeg this weekend to decide their next leader — and the direction of the party. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi joins The House to explain why he told frontrunners to not do anything that could affect his party's electoral fortunes. Then, political strategists Marci Surkes, Kate Harrison and Jordan Leichnitz weigh in on who the Liberals and Conservatives want to see win the race, and whether there could be an NDP rupture after the votes are tallied.

And this week, Canada's top court heard arguments challenging Quebec's Bill 21 — a law that prevents some civil servants from wearing religious symbols at work. Quebec pre-emptively used the notwithstanding clause to shield the law from court challenges, and that is what has caught the attention of governments across the country. Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey breaks down why his province supports Quebec's use of the notwithstanding clause and how transformational the court's decision will be.

Plus, as Middle East oil shipments dry up, Canadian officials are touting the country's stable supply at one of the world's biggest energy conferences in Texas. CBC Business reporter Kyle Bakx explains how energy executives are feeling right now amid deep uncertainty, and whether Canada's pitch is landing.

This episode features the voices of:
Naheed Nenshi, Alberta NDP Leader
Marci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass Rose
Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa Strategies
Jordan Leichnitz, NDP strategist and Canada Director for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Doug Downey, Ontario Attorney General
Kyle Bakx, CBC Business reporter

In a marathon interview, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre discussed tariffs, 51st-state threats, mixed martial arts and kettlebells with popular and controversial podcast host Joe Rogan. Author Paul Wells and Globe and Mail senior reporter Stephanie Levitz break down Poilievre's performance and whether his appearance helps — or hurts — his push to reach more voters.

Next, the federal government says it's ready to help ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz as the war in Iran continues and oil prices rise. Former Canadian envoy to Iran Dennis Horak and Middle East expert Thomas Juneau discuss what the government actually means to contribute — and what Ottawa is prepared to do over concerns about Iranian state officials living in Canada.

Plus, for many Canadians, getting alcohol delivered from another province or territory right to their doorsteps is either expensive, or impossible. A Conservative bill wants to change that by allowing Canada Post to ship alcohol anywhere in the country. Chris Holler of Poplar Grove Winery in B.C. explains the shipping restrictions he faces, then Conservative MP Dan Albas, the author of the bill, explains why he believes his push will finally solve this trade barrier.

Then, the number of people experiencing homelessness at emergency shelters in Canada is climbing — but not everywhere. Mike Lethby, executive director of The Raft youth shelter, and Sandra Clarkson, CEO of the Calgary Drop-in Centre, outline why their shelters are bucking the trend.

This episode features the voices of:
Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter for The Globe and Mail
Paul Wells, author and podcaster
Dennis Horak, Former Canadian chargé d'affaires in Iran
Thomas Juneau, former analyst at the Department of National Defence
Chris Holler, vice-president of Poplar Grove Winery
Dan Albas, Conservative MP for Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna
Mike Lethby, executive director of The Raft youth shelter
Sandra Clarkson, president and CEO of the Calgary Drop-in Centre

After back-to-back-to-back successes in attracting Conservatives to join his team, Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a fourth floor-crosser. And this time, it's from the NDP. Are more still to come? The House Party podcast team — Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff — reunite to talk about Carney's ability to lure MPs from all sides of the political spectrum. Then Liberal House Leader Steven MacKinnon defends the floor crossers and hints that more Conservatives may make the leap.

Plus, as the war in the Middle East enters its third week, millions of people are displaced and an energy crisis is brewing. Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg , now Norway's finance minister, joins The House to discuss Prime Minister Carney’s visit to Norway, whether the war in Iran will end up helping Russia, and what middle powers like Canada and Norway can do.

And, after a series of shootings outside Toronto synagogues this week, the Liberal government's controversial hate-crimes bill is back in the spotlight. But there are still deep concerns from civil liberties groups and some religious organizations. Why is that? Host Catherine Cullen breaks down the Combatting Hate Act with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ Noah Shack, Anaïs Bussières McNicoll of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and Mustafa Farooq, former CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

This episode features the voices of:
Daniel Thibeault, parliamentary bureau chief for Radio-Canada and host of Les Coulisses du Pouvoir
Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary
Steven MacKinnon, Liberal House leader
Jens Stoltenberg, former secretary general of NATO and Norway's finance minister
Noah Shack, CEO of Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Mustafa Farooq, former CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims