The Line

In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson speaks with Patrick Lennox, author of On Treason, a new book examining the moral and political consequences of betraying one's own country. Their conversation focuses on Alberta's separatist movement, its reported efforts to secure American recognition for a future independent state, and why Lennox believes the movement represents something more troubling than ordinary regional grievance politics.
This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This month we’re addressing common questions, like: is Canada behind on immunotherapy?
Canadian researchers continue to be global leaders at discovery research. Where Canada lags behind is in bringing these discoveries from the lab to the patient. While many immunotherapies come to Canada for clinical trial or market authorization, few are based on Canadian research or developed in Canada, meaning we access them when their international sponsors choose, at whatever prices they want to charge –– provided Health Canada approves and the provinces decide to pay. 
Developing more Canadian discoveries into approved therapies in Canada would help reduce Canada’s dependence on other countries, enable our health systems to learn what it takes to deliver these novel therapies while collecting data to assess their value via early stage clinical trials, and provide patients with much-needed access to advanced therapies. A win-win-win scenario.
BioCanRx continues to work with researchers and policymakers to deliver on this mission. Thanks to them for continuing to partner with The Line to share this information and visit BioCanRx.com to learn more.
Lennox traces the political developments that brought Alberta to the brink of a separatist referendum, including Bill 54 and changes to the province's citizens' initiative rules. They discuss lower signature thresholds, corporate financing, and the role these changes have played in opening a path to a referendum. Lennox argues that the process reflects deliberate political engineering rather than a spontaneous expression of popular discontent.
This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Budget season in Ottawa is filled with asks for new programs, new tax measures and new investment. But for Canada’s forest products sector, the biggest opportunity for growth doesn’t require new spending — it requires smarter rules. Regulatory inefficiencies are costing the average Canadian mill an estimated one million dollars a year each. That’s money that could be reinvested in workers, communities, and modernization instead. The Forest Sector Transformation Task Force gave Ottawa a clear playbook. As the federal budget takes shape, the fastest way to unlock private investment is to remove the made-in-Canada barriers standing in the way. Learn more at FPAC.ca.
Jen and Lennox also examine the role of unelected separatist organizers, questions of democratic legitimacy, and the possibility of foreign interference. At what point does advocating for independence cross the line into something more serious? And what happens when a domestic political movement seeks support from a foreign government whose interests may be fundamentally opposed to Canada's?
This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Building Canada’s energy future means creating jobs for Canadian workers. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating and ready to deliver the power we need. Choosing the AP1000 means a reactor built by Canadians, creating skilled jobs in construction, fabrication and the trades while keeping more investment and economic benefits here at home. If we are serious about creating Canadian jobs and strengthening our economy, the choice is clear. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com.
It's a conversation about Alberta separatism, sovereignty, democratic accountability, and why Lennox believes Canadians need to take the threat of treason seriously in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.

Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe.
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In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, Jen Gerson is joined by Andrew Potter to discuss Alberta's looming separation referendum, Canada's increasingly complicated relationship with American politics, and whether Pierre Poilievre has any realistic plan to get the Conservatives back in the game.
This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We’ve been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This month we’re addressing common questions, like: are there better ways to manufacture therapies?
A groundbreaking approach that streamlines new therapy production is “closed system manufacturing,” in which a product is made within a single, automated platform without exposing it to the surrounding environment. When properly implemented, this can reduce costs compared to manual production in a clean room and increase patient access –– while still meeting Health Canada’s safety and quality requirements. BioCanRx-funded researchers have already used closed system manufacturing to create therapies for more than 100 clinical trial patients. Last week, BioCanRx convened a meeting at Health Canada that brought together regulators, policymakers, industry and stakeholders to discuss regulatory alignments that could enable many more organizations to deploy these systems. They are now producing a report that will help Canadian decision-makers unlock the promise of advanced therapies for patients across Canada.
Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to partner with The Line to share this information. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more.
First up, Prime Minister Mark Carney makes his final push in Alberta ahead of the referendum. Is Carney genuinely committed to repairing Alberta's relationship with Confederation, or is this just another political exercise? Jen and Andrew discuss what the Liberals could actually do to address Western grievances and make Canada work better, preferably without reopening the Constitution. There are reforms worth considering, but are Canada's political leaders prepared to make them?
This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Building Canada’s energy future means creating jobs for Canadian workers. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating and ready to deliver the power we need. Choosing the AP1000 means a reactor built by Canadians, creating skilled jobs in construction, fabrication and the trades while keeping more investment and economic benefits here at home. If we are serious about creating Canadian jobs and strengthening our economy, the choice is clear. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com.

Next, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has warned Canadians to stay out of American elections. Your hosts consider whether he's got a point, whether he's being spectacularly hypocritical, or whether both things can be true. Should Canadians learn to use their indoor voices when discussing American politics? Or does staying quiet simply reinforce a double standard in which Washington gets to interfere wherever it likes while everyone else is expected to meekly accept their status as a vassal state? Jen and Andrew discuss where legitimate advocacy ends and foreign interference begins, and how Canada can defend its interests without making every disagreement a partisan or regional fight.
This episode is also brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage.
Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how.
Find them Fractional-Execs.ca.
Finally, Pierre Poilievre has a plan for a tariff-free North American auto pact. Would he like some unicorns and aliens to go with it? Jen and Andrew examine the Conservative leader's proposal and the political reality confronting his party. Is there a plausible path back to relevance for the Conservatives? Can they regain momentum and become, at the very least, a functional opposition? Your hosts have some thoughts.
All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.
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In today’s episode of On The Line, Gregory Jack, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Ipsos Canada, joins Matt Gurney to discuss the growing list of challenges facing Prime Minister Mark Carney — and, for a change, almost none of them have anything to do with Donald Trump or the United States.
This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This month we’re addressing common questions, like: are there better ways to manufacture therapies?

A groundbreaking approach that streamlines new therapy production is "closed system manufacturing," in which a product is made within a single, automated platform without exposing it to the surrounding environment. When properly implemented, this can reduce costs compared to manual production in a clean room and increase patient access –– while still meeting Health Canada’s safety and quality requirements. BioCanRx-funded researchers have already used closed system manufacturing to create therapies for more than 100 clinical trial patients. Last week, BioCanRx convened a meeting at Health Canada that brought together regulators, policymakers, industry and stakeholders to discuss regulatory alignments that could enable many more organizations to deploy these systems. They are now producing a report that will help Canadian decision-makers unlock the promise of advanced therapies for patients across Canada.

Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to partner with The Line to share this information. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more.

First up: problems in the provinces. Quebec has just elected a separatist government. Carney remains very popular in Quebec, considerably more popular than separation itself, but how will that relationship work? Matt and Greg discuss how Carney and Quebec’s incoming separatist premier might find ways to work together — and where the obvious political fault lines lie.
Meanwhile, the situation in Alberta is moving in the opposite direction, with support for separatism apparently falling rapidly and Danielle Smith facing political trouble of her own. Carney is popular there, too, giving him political capital to spend. But should he spend it? And if so, on what?
This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Budget season in Ottawa is filled with asks for new programs, new tax measures and new investment. But for Canada’s forest products sector, the biggest opportunity for growth doesn’t require new spending — it requires smarter rules. Regulatory inefficiencies are costing the average Canadian mill an estimated one million dollars a year each. That’s money that could be reinvested in workers, communities, and modernization instead. The Forest Sector Transformation Task Force gave Ottawa a clear playbook. As the federal budget takes shape, the fastest way to unlock private investment is to remove the made-in-Canada barriers standing in the way. Learn more at FPAC.ca.

Matt and Greg then turn to the Carney government itself. A recent Globe and Mail article offered an interesting criticism of how the government is operating. Matt read it somewhat differently: as an essentially accurate description of what Carney is doing, but also of why the political and economic legacy left by Justin Trudeau may have given him little choice. Greg offers his take on what Carney is trying to accomplish and how well it is working.
Finally: healthcare. Matt and Greg have both written about it recently, and they’re struck by how Canada’s longest-running public-policy debate has somehow faded from political view. Canadians continue to tell pollsters that healthcare is one of their most important concerns. So why aren’t political leaders talking about it? Is there a plan — or have they simply given up?
This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Building Canada’s energy future means creating jobs for Canadian workers. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating and ready to deliver the power we need. Choosing the AP1000 means a reactor built by Canadians, creating skilled jobs in construction, fabrication and the trades while keeping more investment and economic benefits here at home. If we are serious about creating Canadian jobs and strengthening our economy, the choice is clear. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com.

Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe! And we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 
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In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks with Corey Hogan, Liberal MP for Calgary Confederation, about Alberta’s separatist referendum, the federal government’s changing approach to the province, and whether Ottawa’s newfound enthusiasm for getting major projects built represents a substantive shift or simply a change in political messaging.
This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This month we’re addressing common questions, like: can I get immunotherapy as a first line treatment for cancer? In Canada, certain immunotherapies are available as first line treatments for specific cancers, but for the majority of cases the standard of care continues to rely on chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Immunotherapies being developed through research supported by organizations like BioCanRx are most commonly available through clinical trials after standard of care treatment options have been exhausted. As more immunotherapies demonstrate safety and efficacy, this will continue to change, so it’s important to study the options for your specific cancer indication. Thanks to BioCanRx for their continued partnership in answering these questions. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more.

Hogan argues that the referendum itself is only part of the story. The larger question is what happens afterward: does separatism become a durable political force that future Alberta governments have an incentive to keep alive? Or does the current crisis produce a lasting change in the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa? Jen and Hogan discuss what the federal government can realistically do to address western alienation, and where responsibility ultimately rests with Alberta’s own political leadership.
This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Budget season in Ottawa is filled with asks for new programs, new tax measures and new investment. But for Canada’s forest products sector, the biggest opportunity for growth doesn’t require new spending — it requires smarter rules.Regulatory inefficiencies are costing the average Canadian mill an estimated one million dollars a year each. That’s money that could be reinvested in workers, communities, and modernization instead.The Forest Sector Transformation Task Force gave Ottawa a clear playbook. As the federal budget takes shape, the fastest way to unlock private investment is to remove the made-in-Canada barriers standing in the way.Learn more at FPAC.ca.

They also get into the practical obstacles facing the government’s pro-building agenda. That means pipelines, major infrastructure, consultation with First Nations, and the increasingly important question of what Indigenous consent means when governments are trying to move projects forward. Hogan explains why he believes Canada is finally becoming more serious about building things again — and what will have to change for that rhetoric to translate into actual projects.
This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Building Canada's energy future means creating jobs for Canadian workers. That's why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating and ready to deliver the power we need. Choosing the AP1000 means a reactor built by Canadians, creating skilled jobs in construction, fabrication and the trades while keeping more investment and economic benefits here at home.If we are serious about creating Canadian jobs and strengthening our economy, the choice is clear.To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com.

As always, check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe! And we'll talk to you soon.
#OnTheLine #Alberta #AlbertaPolitics #AlbertaSeparatism #CanadaPolitics #CoreyHogan #Federalism #Pipelines #CanadianEnergy #IndigenousConsultation #MajorProjects #JenGerson

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on October 2nd, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with the announcement of the new Pacific Link pipeline, unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Your hosts are struck by just how much Carney increasingly sounds like a spiritual — and even political — successor to Stephen Harper or Jason Kenney, rather than Justin Trudeau. That also fits with some of what The Line has been hearing about how these various gentlemen view each other.
This episode is brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage.
Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how.
Find them Fractional-Execs.ca.
The pipeline also gives Canadians something unusually useful: a clear benchmark for judging the Carney government. The “Carney method” has committed to getting the project shovel-ready in just one year. That’s a much easier promise to evaluate than grand plans whose results might not become apparent for a decade. So we’ll be watching.
Next, your hosts turn to another speech in Alberta. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre spoke in Edmonton this week about why Alberta should remain in Canada. Jen was impressed by the speech — but also thinks it’s too little, too late. Matt argues that the Conservatives increasingly talk about Alberta staying in Canada the way the Liberals talk about antisemitism: they don’t seem particularly invested in the issue, but they know they need to tick the appropriate boxes so nobody can accuse them of saying nothing.
This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan.

Finally, Matt and Jen venture outside their usual Canadian focus to discuss the case of Christa Pike, the Tennessee woman scheduled to be executed this week after three decades on death row for a horrific murder. The state botched the execution despite warnings that exactly that could happen. Your hosts discuss their own views on capital punishment and wrestle with a larger question: is there a position on the death penalty that could satisfy the public while still respecting the concerns that make so many Canadian elites recoil from it?
This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. We’ve been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we’re focusing on the “made-in-Canada” part.
Unlike other G7 nations, Canada lacks an anchor company and patient capital with pockets deep enough to pay for the lengthy process of bringing drugs to the Canadian market. Not for profits like BioCanRx are stepping in, but if the government decides to inject funding into the pipeline, how can we be sure money is going to projects with a real chance to succeed? Performance monitoring is essential, because if you’re going to fail it’s better to do it quickly. BioCanRx checks on all its funded projects every six months. Advised by a group of international experts, project milestones are tracked and, if necessary, funds can be cut.
Government departments won’t have the technical expertise to scrutinize researchers that closely, but by leveraging partners with the necessary expertise they could make sure taxpayer dollars are being invested wisely. Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to help us tell this story. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more.
All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe!
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