The House

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled the government's new auto strategy – which pulls the plug on the EV sales mandate, but includes measures to encourage Canadians to buy EVs and companies to build and sell those cars here.

Host Catherine Cullen asks Industry Minister Mélanie Joly why taxpayers should continue to spend money to help automakers. Then, auto industry expert Greig Mordue explains how auto makers may react, and climate scientist Simon Donner weighs in on whether the policy will result in more EVs on Canadian roads.

After that, Kathleen Petty, the host of CBC political podcast West of Centre, explains why Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is demanding more say over judicial appointments as concerns grow over Alberta's separatist movement — and its leaders meeting with Trump Republicans in Washington.

Plus, hundreds of politicos gathered in Ottawa this week to commemorate the 20th anniversary of former prime minister Stephen Harper forming government. Harper’s official portrait artist Phil Richards, as well as Harper biographer John Ibbitson and Toronto Star bureau chief Tonda MacCharles discuss what the painting tells us about Harper, his legacy and whether he might return to public life as separatism brews in his home province, Alberta.

Finally, the federal government has said it is gearing up to revive online harms legislation which could include Australia-like age restrictions on social media use. Josephine Maharaj, a 12th grader who testified at a parliamentary committee on online safety this week, and law professor Suzie Dunn tell host Catherine Cullen what they think the government should do to make the internet safer.

This episode features the voices of:
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry
Greig Mordue, associate professor at W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University
Simon Donner, climate scientist and professor at the University of British Columbia
Kathleen Petty, host of CBC political podcast West of Centre
Phil Richards, Canadian artist
John Ibbitson, journalist and author of "Stephen Harper"
Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
Josephine Maharaj, youth rights advocate with Children First Canada.
Suzie Dunn, interim director of the Law & Technology Institute at Dalhousie University

CBC’s new weekly podcast, Two Blocks from the White House, takes a clear-eyed look at what’s happening in the U.S. right now and what it means for Canadians.

In this episode, the White House was back at it last week, threatening tariffs on Bombardier and aircraft made in Canada. And Prime Minister Mark Carney was warned by the U.S. Treasury Secretary not to ‘pick a fight’ ahead of CUSMA trade negotiations.

When it comes to the Trump administration’s trolling comments and tariff threats, how can Canadians know what to take seriously? CBC Washington correspondents Katie Simpson, Paul Hunter and Willy Lowry dig in.

Find and follow Two Blocks from the White House wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.mgln.ai/2BFTWHxTheHouse

Conservative Party members are gathering in Calgary to review Pierre Poilievre's leadership as big questions loom about whether they can win over a larger share of the electorate. In a special edition of The House, captured from the convention floor, host Catherine Cullen sits down with key Conservatives, party insiders, a pollster and Hill watchers to discuss where the party stands today and what it needs to do to secure that elusive election win.

This episode features the voices of:
Steve Outhouse, Conservative campaign manager
David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data
Ben Woodfinden, Senior adviser at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, former director of communications for Pierre Poilievre
Erika Barootes, Conservative commentator and former principal secretary to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
John Paul Tasker, senior reporter for CBC's parliamentary bureau
Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter for the Globe and Mail

CBC’s new weekly podcast, Two Blocks from the White House, takes a clear-eyed look at what’s happening in the U.S. right now and what it means for Canadians.

This week CBC’s Katie Simpson, reporting from Minnesota since the weekend, joins Paul Hunter and Willy Lowry to unpack the human toll and political consequences of the unrest in Minneapolis and examine what this moment could mean for both Trump’s broader immigration strategy and his 2026 prospects.

Find and follow Two Blocks from the White House wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.mgln.ai/2BFTWHxTheHouse

It was a speech heard around the world. In front of global leaders, Prime Minister Mark Carney laid bare Canada's new foreign policy vision: Middle powers need to team up — or they'll be on the menu for hegemons like Russia, China and the United States.

Two former diplomats — American Ambassador Tom Shannon, who at one point held the third-highest rank in the U.S. foreign service, and Canadian Senator Peter Boehm, who has served as a G7 sherpa — discuss the significance of the Carney doctrine and whether Canada will pay a price for standing up to Donald Trump.

Then, former Republican Senator Jeff Flake talks to The House about what it will take for some members of his party to stand up to Trump and whether Carney’s speech is resonating in the United States. Plus, Germany's ambassador to Canada Tjorven Bellmann explains what her country thinks about Carney's call to action.

There's also a question of what actions Carney will take to match his words. Catherine Cullen asks International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu what the government plans to do next and how its trade diversification efforts are going.

Finally, after turning heads in Davos, Prime Minister Carney gave a second, Canadian-focused speech at the cabinet retreat in Quebec City — which has furrowed some brows at home. CBC’s Aaron Wherry lays out the domestic reverberations of Carney’s two speeches.

This episode features the voices of:
Tom Shannon, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Peter Boehm, Canadian senator and former G7 sherpa
Jeff Flake, former Republican senator for Arizona
Tjorven Bellmann, Germany's ambassador to Canada
Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
Aaron Wherry, senior writer for CBC Politics