The House

A car was stolen in Canada every five minutes in 2022. Some Canadians are unlucky enough to have it happen to them multiple times — the federal justice minister, for instance. It’s a growing problem, and this week The House takes a look at how the Liberals and Conservatives are vying to present the best solution. Then, a year after a major national summit on health care, has the state of the system improved? The head of one of Canada’s most important health associations says there’s still a lot of work to do. Plus — potential legislation on online harms has long been in the works, and there are certainly plenty of issues to tackle. Two experts break down the dizzying array of digital problems that require attention. This episode features the voices of: - Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc - Joël-Denis Bellavance, LaPresse - Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press - Dr. Kathleen Ross, president, Canadian Medical Association - Health Minister Mark Holland - Emily Laidlaw, associate professor, University of Calgary - Matt Hatfield, executive director, OpenMedia

Sweeping new rules on gender-related medical procedures, sex-ed and more have landed Alberta in the spotlight again this week. Two journalists break down the politics of Premier Danielle Smith’s controversial move. Then, the federal government announced a three-year delay on the expansion of medical assistance in dying to those suffering solely from a mental illness. The House hears from someone who is deeply affected by the decision, and from politicians on both sides of the issue. And — the prime minister’s traditional residence at 24 Sussex is in disrepair. But the organization responsible for maintaining the house says there’s been some progress — asbestos abated, mould removed and rodents evicted. But, as the CBC’s Jennifer Chevalier reports, there is no real plan for what comes next. Plus — B.C.'s public health officer releases her assessment of the province's prescribed safer supply program. The province’s minister of mental health and addictions joins the program to discuss. This episode features the voices of: - Graham Thomson, freelance columnist - Tonda MacCharles, parliamentary bureau chief, Toronto Star - Ed Fast, Conservative MP - Arif Virani, federal justice minister - The CBC’s Jennifer Chevalier - Jennifer Whiteside, B.C. mental health and addictions minister

If you thought you’d heard the end of convoy politics, think again. The federal government’s argument that it was justified in using the Emergencies Act to dispel the convoy protests in early 2022 was dealt a blow this week. We speak with the former attorney general who helped invoke the act — and find out why he’s now leaving politics. Then, two journalists dissect the politics of Tucker Carlson’s controversial tour of Alberta, where he sat down with Premier Danielle Smith. We’ll also take a look at the government’s decision to cap study permits for international students — and the waves that will make in both the education community and provincial economies. Plus — Ed Broadbent’s death has sparked some reflection over the NDP’s past, present and future. Two party strategists sit down to discuss where the party goes from here. This episode features the voices of: - David Lametti, Liberal MP and former minister of justice - The CBC’s Jason Markusoff - Shannon Proudfoot, Globe and Mail - Alain Roy, vice-president, Colleges and Institutes of Canada - Theo Argitis, Compass Rose Group - Mike McKinnon, senior consultant, Enterprise Canada - Melanie Richer, senior consultant, Earnscliffe Strategies

Canada’s relationship with China has been tense for years. Can it be salvaged? And while diplomats are hard at work on that question, another major challenge looms: a potential second Trump term. The House tackles both those issues this week. Then, freezing cold temperatures have sparked a renewed conversation on how Canada will keep the lights on in the future. We take an in-depth look at what role nuclear energy might play. Plus — Canada’s political conversation is squarely focused on immigration and housing. Two journalists break down the political implications of this week’s developments. This episode features: - Jennifer May, Canada’s ambassador to China - Rob Goodman, political science professor and author - Laura Dawson, Executive Director, Future Borders Coalition - The CBC’s Emma Godmere - Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star - Laura Osman, The Canadian Press

A lot of questions surround the new special immigration program for some people stuck in Gaza: Why is Canada demanding such personal details? And can Canada actually get anyone out of the warzone, even if they’re approved to come here? The House will ask the immigration minister for answers. Plus, we’ll also dive deep into the issue of delays around family reunification programs. Small businesses are anxiously facing a deadline to repay some pandemic-era loans — and some are wishing that the federal government will show more compassion. Two business owners — and then the minister responsible — sit down to discuss. Finally, a bid by Florida to start bulk imports of Canadian prescription drugs has been described as a “raid” on this country’s drug supply. We’ll investigate how serious the threat is and what might happen next. This episode includes the voices of: - Marc Miller, federal immigration minister - Angela O’Brien and Sara Anne Mailhot, small business owners - The CBC’s Craig Desson - Rechie Valdez, federal minister of small business - Larry Levitt, health policy expert

This week, The House brings you the most compelling interviews from this fall’s coverage of the toxic drug crisis: from recovering drug users, to mothers who’ve lost children to opioid overdoses, to law enforcement trying to keep up as politicians struggle for solutions.

Parliament can be confusing. Here to help is The House’s guided tour of Parliament, where you’ll hear politicians of all stripes answering some questions about how the place actually works. Five Carleton political science students joined host Catherine Cullen to wander the halls and learn about everything from Question Period to committees, from the people who live in that world every day.

As another very busy and consequential year in Canadian politics wraps up, test how much you remember with our year-end quiz. This year, host Catherine Cullen will gather a crack team of political wonks to see how they fare. Murad Hemmadi of The Logic is back to defend his title of champion from last year, but he faces stiff competition from Shannon Proudfoot of The Globe and Mail and the National Post’s Christopher Nardi.

After weeks of debate and political fighting, Canada has made a major vote in favour of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The House digs into Canada’s position on the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the situation in Ukraine, in an interview with Defence Minister Bill Blair. We’ll also hear from a CBC reporter who had the chance to sit down with the head of Canada’s spy agency, which has had a challenging year. Plus — the issue of a complex and concerning scam that has seen homeowners pay out thousands of dollars over the years, and is now getting some attention from the Ontario government. Two Hill journalists will also talk about the fracas over House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus and the question of whether he should resign — and what it all means about the state of politics right now. Finally, The House will take a look at the issue of rising food bank usage and the question of whether government aid can solve the problem. This episode features interview with: - Bill Blair, minister of defence - Catharine Tunney, CBC senior reporter - Todd McCarthy, Ontario minister of public and business service delivery - Tom Rakocevic, Ontario NDP consumer protection critic - Dennis Crawford, lawyer - Rob Russo, journalist, The Economist - Susan Delacourt, journalist, Toronto Star - Dianne Mcleod, executive director, Cambridge Food Bank - Marjorie Bencz, executive director, Edmonton Gleaners Association Food Bank

The federal government hopes it will put Canada on track to meeting its climate targets. Some provinces say it’s needlessly harmful. The House digs into Canada’s new proposed oil and gas emissions cap to find out what government, environmentalists and industry have to say. Then, we’ll analyze the Poilievre housing video that has re-energized the national conversation around housing — two experts on political communication will weigh in. And finally, the author of two books on the toxic drug crisis in the United States will join the program to talk about what’s going on south of the border, and what Canada can learn from the U.S. This episode features interviews with: - Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and natural resources - Dale Beugin, executive vice president, Canadian Climate Institute - Tristan Goodman, president and CEO of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada - Dave Sommer, vice president, Enterprise Canada - Melanie Paradis, president, Texture Communications - Beth Macy, author, Dopesick and Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis

It’s rarely an easy ride with the Alberta-Ottawa relationship, and this rollercoaster week was no different. Starting with Alberta playing the sovereignty act card for the first time, then hugging it out over a big announcement … it may result soon in more fireworks over the emissions cap. The House breaks down what it all means for the federation. Then, a man who once advised former prime minister Stephen Harper on his approach to criminal justice talks about his about-face on the toxic drug crisis. Plus, the former head of this country’s spy agency breaks down the significance of a U.S. indictment alleging India is linked to multiple assassination plots — including three targets in Canada. This episode features interviews with: - Randy Boissonnault, Employment minister and Liberal MP - Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief - Stuart Thomson, National Post Ottawa bureau chief - Benjamin Perrin, author and former Conservative adviser - Alex Panetta, CBC Washington correspondent - Dick Fadden, former head of CSIS

We don’t have to tell you that Canada is still mired in a housing affordability crisis. But will newly announced government measures make a dent? The House hears from someone trying to make affordable housing work in Ontario, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow weighs in on what she wants to see from the feds. The fiscal update this week also gave us a look at the state of Canada’s books, and the ballooning deficit. Two people who know the issue inside and out talk about what the new number means. The House also travels to the U.S. border to find out how the CBSA is fighting back against the importation of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals — with the help of some canine companions. This episode features interviews with: - Bruce Davis, development consultant - Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto - Lenny Zhou, Vancouver city councillor - Robert Asselin, economist, Business Council of Canada - Kevin Page, economist, Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy - Mark Patterson, CBSA dog handler and his partner Loki - Aaron McCrorie, VP of Intelligence and Enforcement, CBSA

It’s true. Fentanyl is not only killing Canadians — organized crime gangs are making it here and selling it abroad, the RCMP says. A senior RCMP official responsible for fighting organized crime talks about efforts to disrupt the deadly supply chain. The House also checks in on the Halifax Security Forum, an annual gathering of some of the top minds in foreign policy and defence to see how they’re trying to navigate what some are calling a global “polycrisis,” as well as issues around Russia and Taiwan. Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is picking his words carefully when it comes to the war between Israel and Hamas. Why did he change his tone somewhat this week — and what does it mean for his government? This episode features interviews with: - Mathieu Bertrand, RCMP chief superintendent of Serious and Organized Crime and Border Integrity - Comfort Ero, CEO, International Crisis Group - Evgenia Kara-Murza, Russian democratic activist and wife of jailed Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza - Vincent Chao, spokesperson and director of international affairs for the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan - Rob Russo, former CBC parliamentary bureau chief - Laura Osman, Reporter, The Canadian Press

With one carve-out of the carbon tax already in the books and another waiting in the wings, can the federal government hold to its red line and stop further undermining of its landmark climate policy? The House looks at how the debate has developed over the week and hears from experts Chris Ragan and Jessica Green on the merits of the policy. Then, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault defends his government’s approach. Also, MPs of all political stripes open up about how the toxic drug crisis — which has affected countless Canadians — has touched their lives. Plus, War Museum historian Tim Cook and Rachel Collishaw of the Social Studies Educators Network of Canada talk about remembering our past in an age of disinformation.

The federal government’s decision last week to carve out oil for home heating from the carbon tax has spurred cries for additional exemptions. Saskatchewan has even threatened to stop collecting the tax on home heating altogether. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs sits down to talk about his province’s perspective on the fuel charge, as well as Alberta’s proposal to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan. House Speaker Greg Fergus talks with host Catherine Cullen about his bid to bring decorum to a Commons that is divided and easily disrupted. Then, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks discusses the federal government’s response to the toxic drug crisis. Plus — former tech executive Jim Balsillie on how to regulate artificial intelligence and the need to keep an eye on the immediate challenges of technology.

The Liberal government has announced new measures to ease the burden of the carbon tax on rural Canadians, a carve-out from one of their landmark policies. Liberal MP Kody Blois, the chair of the Atlantic caucus who helped push for the changes, joins The House to talk about why he thinks it's necessary. Toronto Star parliamentary bureau chief Tonda MacCharles and The Hub editor-in-chief Stuart Thomson weigh in on that move and the bubbling internal debate the Liberals face over the Israel-Hamas war. The CBC’s Mykella Van Cooten takes a look at why some innovative cancer treatments — approved abroad — are not allowed yet in Canada. Plus — Alberta’s minister of mental health and addictions, Dan Williams, on his province’s approach to the opioid crisis.