The Herle Burly

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Saab Canada, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Greetings you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! If you’re any kind of regular listener to the Air Quotes Media Pod universe, you know a powerful political eruption is happening in B.C., as a result of a ruling of the B.C. Supreme Court.
The Cowichan Decision, in combination with the existing DRIPA legislation, has been covered in depth by our sister pod, Hotel Pacifico.
Why should a politico in the rest of Canada care? Because I think this is the biggest legal question, not just in British Columbia, but all of Canada right now: Can a court declare Indigenous title over privately held land?
If so, do you own your house after 30 years of mortgage payments? Does industry invest in new nation building projects on land they don’t even know is theirs? 
The politics of this thing are sinking Premier Eby in British Columbia. Poilievre raised it as a cudgel in Q.P.  Prime Minister Carney responded that private property rights are fundamental in Canada and that his government will always defend them.  They are appealing the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the issue goes to the heart of reconciliation agenda in this country. Harming perceptions and long fought for advances.
With us to discuss ALL OF IT are the hosts of Hotel Pacifico and 2 of the best political strategists I know ... Mike McDonald & Geoff Meggs. 
Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Recorded live at the Empire Club on May 6, 2026.
The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Saab Canada, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Greetings you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! It’s been about a week and a half since the federal government tabled their Spring Economic Statement, “Canada Strong for All: United in a Time of Uncertainty.” 
Today we sit in discussion with Canada's Minister of Finance, François-Philippe Champagne to reflect on our serious economic challenges, and yet, why he thinks Canada is a lighthouse in an uncertain world.
Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Saab Canada, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Greetings you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! So, there is little doubt we are living in a time of massive change.
 A dislocation – perhaps temporary, perhaps not – between long time trading partners.
New stressors on our economy forcing new economic alliances.
A voting public with very real pocketbook issues looking at government line-item spending – a private jet, for instance – like never before.
A minority parliament suddenly transformed into a majority.
How do you successfully GOVERN your way through it all? That’s what we explore on the pod today. And we’ve got just the people to do it with.
 The Chiefs are here! Three former Chiefs of Staff to some of Canada’s most accomplished heads of government:
Ian Brodie – first Chief of Staff to Stephen Harper. Now, Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, and Senior Advisor at New West Public Affairs.
Tim Murphy – former Chief of Staff to Paul Martin. Now, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Affairs Officer at AECON.
Brian Topp – former Chief of Staff to Rachel Notley in Alberta and Deputy Chief to Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan. Now, founding partner at GT&co.
We talked about the Spring Economic Statement. Including the mostly confusing launch of the Sovereign Wealth Fund. The state of the Canada/U.S. file. The new Carney majority. And the arteriosclerosis of old governments that would lead them to the door of a private jet showroom. 
Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Saab Canada, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! 
The way we’re thinking about defence in Canada is not the same as it was 5 years ago. 1 year ago. Or even 6 months ago. The wars in Ukraine and Iran have dramatically demonstrated the impact of new technologies. And in February, the Carney government committed more than 80 billion NEW dollars over 5 years to rebuild and rearm our forces. 340 billion in total. It’s more than defence spending.  It’s a whole new defence industrial strategy. 
I want to know: How do we spend that money?  What kind of defence capacity do we build?  Who and what are we defending ourselves against? How have war innovations changed thinking about what we produce, or procure? What will our North look like in 10 years?
This is just some of what I covered with our guest, David Perry, today. Including ... shockingly ... his opinion that we should be buying American jets! And my debate with him on that.
David is making his 2nd appearance with us on the pod. He’s the President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, a non-partisan, independent think tank.
Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, and Fidelity Investments Canada.
Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! With me today is Carla Beck, leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, the official opposition in the Saskatchewan Legislature ... and a heartland NDPer.

As you know I’m from Saskatchewan. My political roots are in Saskatchewan. I just love Saskatchewan politics. This is my opportunity and yours to get all caught up on what's going on in Saskatchewan politics and whether the NDP have a plan to beat Scott Mo and the Sask Party in the next election. 

Stick around for my exchange with Ms. Beck about the implications of Avi Lewis' victory in the federal NDP leadership and what that means for her prospects of election in Saskatchewan. 
Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.