The House

This week, the Carney government released its first spring economic update — which painted a better-than-expected picture of Canada's finances despite a long U.S. trade war and instability in the Middle East.

The question on many Canadians' minds is: How does this update help them? Host Catherine Cullen visits an Ottawa grocery store to hear from owner Eli Njaim and his customers about the rising cost of food. Then, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne explains what the government's latest spending plan does to alleviate the affordability crisis.

Also in the update is a new "national savings and investment account” that will help grow wealth for future generations of Canadians. The Conservatives are calling it a “Sovereign Debt Fund.” Bloomberg News’ Laura Dhillon Kane and Mark Rendell of The Globe and Mail break down what the new fund is — and if it will work.

And, bestselling historian and fascism expert Timothy Snyder joins The House to discuss how Canada is navigating the Trump presidency, the risks of American influence in Alberta’s sovereigntist circles, and the health of Canadian democracy.

This episode features the voices of:
Eli Njaim, owner of Mid-East Food Centre
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
Laura Dhillon Kane, Ottawa bureau chief for Bloomberg News
Mark Rendell, economics reporter for the Globe and Mail
Timothy Snyder, historian and bestselling author

As Prime Minister Mark Carney fleshes out his vision for how Canada might weather economic uncertainty with the government’s spring economic update, co-hosts Catherine Cullen and John Northcott speak to politicians, experts and voters from the centre of this week’s action on Parliament Hill.

In a week where trade irritants were on full display between Canada and the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a new crew he wants to advise him on Canada's economic relationship with America. Former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and former Liberal minister and Canadian UK High Commissioner Ralph Goodale have been drafted to that lineup and join The House to talk about how this team of rivals is going to work.

Plus, Carney's announcement came days after he posted a ten-minute video on YouTube declaring Canada's economic ties to the U.S. a "weakness" that must be corrected. Since that post, the prime minister gained half a million views and tens of thousands of subscribers. Former advertising advisor to Stephen Harper, Dennis Matthews and former digital strategist for Justin Trudeau, Dave Sommer unpack Carney’s media strategy and discuss whether Canadians will continue to like and subscribe, or click away.

And, at a live panel organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Catherine Cullen sits down with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and the chair of the Council of the Federation PEI Premier Rob Lantz to talk about working with Prime Minister Mark Carney, interprovincial trade, and what all of Canada’s provinces and territories can agree on.

This episode features the voices of:
Erin O’Toole, former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
Ralph Goodale, former Liberal cabinet minister and Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Dennis Matthews, president of Creative Currency and former advertising advisor to prime minister Stephen Harper
Dave Sommer, senior vice-president of marketing and communications for UHN Foundation, former deputy director of communications for prime minister Justin Trudeau
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick
Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island
R.J. Simpson, Premier of Northwest Territories

After weeks of war in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz is now open — and ceasefires in Lebanon and Iran continue to hold strong. So is an end to the war in sight? Host Catherine Cullen asks Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand if she believes the ceasefires will last and if Canada is considering helping efforts to open the Strait.

Plus, now that the Liberals command the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canadians will get "real substance" and "less showboating" from parliamentarians. Hill watchers Tonda MacCharles and Christopher Nardi discuss whether the Liberals will behave any differently in this era — and if House committees are really as bad as Carney claims.

And, Catherine Cullen gives the new NDP leader, Avi Lewis, a tour of Parliament — a place he hadn’t been to in more than 15 years — and hears what he hopes to do in the House of Commons, and why he believes Canada has lost “a sense of elevated purpose” in politics.

This episode features the voices of:
Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
Christopher Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post
Avi Lewis, leader of the New Democratic Party

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