It's Political with Althia Raj

It’s been an eventful year in Canadian politics — from Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation, to allegations of foreign interference involving Parliamentarians, to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming return to the White House. As 2024 draws to a close, the Star’s Ottawa bureau takes your questions and looks back on the year that was and what we can expect in 2025.  In this episode: Ottawa bureau reporters Raisa Patel, Ryan Tumilty, and Mark Ramzy. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, CP24, the Canadian Press, and CBC. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

United States President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House is renewing pressure on Canada to focus more on defense spending and border security. In February, Trump warned NATO members that if they didn’t pay their fair share — spending 2 per cent of their country’s GDP on their military — they should not assume the U.S. would leap to their defence.  In July, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada would meet the 2 per cent target, but only in 2032. The Liberals have invested billions to update the Canadian Armed Forces, but decades of underinvestment have led to serious capability gaps. This week, on “It’s Political,” we take a look at the state of the Canadian Armed Forces and ask how prepared Canada is for the threats we face. First, we’ll hear from experts: Canadian Army Commander Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, Carleton University Associate Professor Philippe Lagassé, University of Calgary Associate Professor Rob Huebert, Observatory on Politics and Security in the Arctic Director Mathieu Landriault, Canadian Global Affairs Institute President David Perry, Royal Military College of Canada Professor Jane Boulden, and retired Royal Canadian Air Force brigadier general Kevin Whale. Then, Althia will sit down with National Defence Minister Bill Blair.  Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, the Halifax International Security Forum, the CBC, CTV, Global, NBC and ABC.  This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton.  Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The House of Commons is in gridlock. Government bills and private members’ legislation have stalled. The Senate is running out of government matters to study.  Parliament is paralyzed by a Conservative filibuster that started in late September.  The Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Green Party accuse the Tories of hijacking the Commons for their own parliamentary games. The Conservatives say they are filibustering their own motion — tabling one sub-amendment after another —  to pressure the Liberals to turn over documents to the RCMP. The documents were requested by parliamentarians months ago — but the Liberals have ignored the demand, refusing to hand all the records over in unredacted form.  The Conservatives accuse the government of trying to hide evidence of Liberal corruption involving millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money. Who’s telling the truth? This week on “It’s Political,” we turn our attention to the Conservative filibuster and the allegations at the heart of the standoff in Parliament.   First, we’ll dig into the substance of the request for documents with Toronto Star Ottawa bureau reporter Mark Ramzy.  Then our panel of experts – former PMO senior director Marci Surkes, former senior Conservative communication adviser Yaroslav Baran and former NDP MP Matthew Dubé –  will join Althia to discuss the political strategies at play, and what it will take to finally end the standoff.  6:08 — Mark Ramzy outlines the substance behind the filibuster18:18 — Political panel discusses the parties’ political strategies around the filibuster. In this episode: Toronto Star reporter Mark Ramzy, Compass Rose Group chief strategy officer and former senior advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Marci Surkes; Pendulum Group Co-founder and former senior Conservative advisor Yaroslav Baran; and Proof Strategies vice-president and former NDP MP Matthew Dubé. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, and the National Post. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton.  Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Donald Trump will be president of the United States for a second time. Trump’s decisive victory Tuesday plunges the U.S., the world and Canada into uncharted territory. The president-elect pledged to deport American residents, slap tariffs on imported goods, and renegotiate a crucial trade deal with Canada and Mexico. Not only are Canada and the U.S. each other’s largest trading partner with $3.6 billion worth of goods and services crossing the border each day, but millions of jobs also rely on that two-way trade and investment. This week on “It’s Political” we’ll take a look at the Canada-United States-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA) or as it is called in the United States, the U.S.M.C.A., and the trade irritants that have popped up since the deal came into effect four years ago. Automotive Parts Manufacturers'​ Association President Flavio Volpe, Ontario Independent Senator and former president of the Canadian Labour Congress Hassan Yussuff, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Strategic Policy and Global Partnerships Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, International Trade Lawyer and McMillan Partner William Pellerin, and Future Borders Coalition Executive Director Laura Dawson will join us. But we’ll begin with the first of a two-part discussion about the impact of Trump’s election on geopolitics, lessons learned from the last round of trade negotiations, and how Canadians political parties can prepare with Canada’s former ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton and prime minister Justin Trudeau’s former principal secretary and Eurasia Group Vice Chairman Gerald Butts.  5:24 -- MacNaughton and Butts part 125:00 -- Mini-documentary on CUSMA and trade irritants48:40 -- MacNaughton and Butts part 2 Some of the clips this week were sourced from the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, CPAC, Global, Fox, Bloomberg, CTV, CBC, C-SPAN, and CP24. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Kevin Sexton and host Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced down more than two dozen MPs this week who suggested he should take time to contemplate his leadership and many who told him to his face that for the good of the Liberal party, and its upcoming electoral chances, he should resign. Trudeau was adamant, however, that he feels he is the best person to lead the Grits and Thursday he suggested he wasn’t going anywhere. In this episode of “It’s Political,” we’ll unpack what happened at the Liberals’ three-hour caucus meeting and what it means for Trudeau’s future and his vocal dissenters. Then, we’ll take a look at interference of another kind: foreign interference. The  Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions wrapped its public hearings this week. We’ll look at what the Commission heard, and how it’s been politicized and what to make of last week’s bombshell announcement by the RCMP involving India’s top diplomats in Canada. In this episode: Toronto Star Bureau Chief Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star National Columnist Susan Delacourt, Centre for International Governance Innovation Senior Fellow Wesley Wark, Carleton University Associate Professor Stephanie Carvin, Conservative MP Michael Chong’s Commission Counsel Fraser Harland. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, CPAC, as well as the CBC, CTV, and CP24.  This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Kevin Sexton and Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. Listen here and follow or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Immigration has become a hot political issue with politicians — federally and provincially — and Canadians are telling pollsters what they’re feeling: there are just too many people coming into the country, and resources are being squeezed. In this episode of “It’s Political,” we’ll take a look at what’s happened on the immigration front, how the federal government is trying to reduce the number of temporary residents — now sitting at three million — and the challenges that lie ahead with Toronto Star immigration reporter Nicholas Keung. Then, we’ll sit down with Scotiabank vice president Rebekah Young, Waterloo University’s Mikal Skuterud, and UBC emeritus professor Dan Hiebert to get their thoughts on what policy makers need to consider, what the number of new immigrants should be, and what to watch for next month when Immigration Minister Marc Miller lays out the government’s three-year plan for permanent and temporary migration numbers.  Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, CPAC, as well as the CBC, CTV, Global, PBS, CityTV, the Western Standard, True North, the Tyee, the Globe and Mail, The Montreal Gazette, the podcast Uncommons with Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, and the Alberta Government. In this episode: Scotia Bank Vice President and head of Inclusion and Resilience Economics Rebekah Young, University of Waterloo Economics Professor Mikal Skuterud, University of British Columbia  Geography professor emeritus Daniel Hiebert, Toronto Star Immigration reporter Nicholas Keung, as well as the voices of political leaders such as Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, Conservative MP Ryan Williams, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, Quebec Premier François Legault, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller, federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Hosted by Althia Raj. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Kevin Sexton. And Althia Raj. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The Liberal government survived its first confidence vote Wednesday, when the Bloc Québécois and the NDP decided to offer Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a lifeline. The Bloc’s demand are clear — the protection of supply management for poultry, eggs and dairy and more generous pension payments for seniors aged 65 to 74. The NDP’s less so. But, regardless, both parties concluded an election with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre leading in the polls is more dangerous to them now than cooperation with the Grits. This week on “It’s Political” we’ll unpack what the parties need to do in the next few weeks and months to accomplish their own goals, with a panel of political strategists. Then we’ll hear from pollsters about what the landscape looks like, how it has shifted and where the opportunities lie. And finally, we’ll sit down with former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe to discuss the party’s new position as the Liberals’ dance partner, what it could mean for sovereignty and what more the Bloc hopes to extract. Some of the clips you heard on this week were sourced from the Canadian Press Gallery, CPAC, the House of Commons, and the CBC. In this episode: Crestview Strategy Partner Ginny Roth, Syntax Strategic Principal George Soule, Canada 2020 President and CEO Braeden Caley, Abacus Data founder and CEO David Coletto, Leger Marketing Executive Vice President for Eastern Canada Sébastien Dallaire, Former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, and Toronto Star Ottawa Bureau Reporter Mark Ramzy.  This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Parliament is back with a bang! In a slick social media video, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced he couldn’t stomach working with the minority Liberals anymore and he was shifting his focus to the next election and taking the fight to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. That was music to the ears of Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet who’s been sidelined for most of the Liberals’ third mandate.With Singh walking away, Blanchet would be able to put the squeeze on the Liberals and try to extract as much as he could for Quebecers — and for his own party.The new chess moves didn’t phase Poilievre who's tried to tie both the NDP and the Bloc to the unpopular Grits. In a news conference this week, Poilievre said he would move a non-confidence vote at the earliest opportunity and dared the other opposition parties to say how they would vote ahead of two crucial by-elections Monday. Those races could help determine whether the NDP has any momentum and whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s brand is as toxic as Liberal MPs report hearing it is.This week, at the party’s national caucus meetings in Nanaimo, there was a show of unity behind closed doors but not in public… Interesting times.  This week on “It’s Political,” we’ll hear from the lone MP still calling for Justin Trudeau to go. New Brunswick’s Wayne Long is voicing what most of his colleagues say behind closed doors. We’ll hear from Vancouver Island residents on their prime minister’s decision to stay and what they think of the Liberal government’s record so far. Of course, we’ll also hear from some Liberal MPs on this — and on the Grits’ new economic advisor, likely Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney. Then, we’ll unpack it all with Toronto Star Ottawa Bureau chief Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Ottawa reporter Alex Ballingall, and former Liberal pollster Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara. In this episode: Saint John—Rothesay MP Wayne Long, Brossard—Saint-Lambert MP Alexandra Mandès, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell MP Francis Drouin, Kings—Hants MP Kody Blois, Brampton North MP Ruby Sahota, Vancouver Island residents Baz Baz, Montah McGee and David Smith, and Toronto Star Ottawa Bureau chief Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Ottawa reporter Alex Ballingall, former Liberal pollster Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, and CTV. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The spring sitting on Parliament Hill is coming to a close. There’s been a lot to keep track of — the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the introduction of a pharmacare bill, a federal budget that brought big changes to taxes on capital gains — not to mention intelligence reports of foreign interference. On June 3, a report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) revealed that some elected officials were either unwitting or witting participants in foreign interference. Naturally, all this left listeners with a lot of questions. In the season finale of “It’s Political,” Toronto Star journalists and David Coletto of Abacus Data join to break down questions from listeners and readers. In this episode: CEO of Abacus Data David Coletto, Toronto Star Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star Ottawa Bureau Chief Tonda MacCharles. Hosted by Althia Raj. Clips this week were sourced from the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, CPAC, BNN, CBC, CTV, BBC, Sky News, and City News, Nate Erskine-Smith’s Uncommons podcast.  This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Kevin Sexton mixed the program. Joy SpearChief-Morris assisted with production. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

If 22 people were being shot each day on Canadian streets, you might expect a federal state of emergency to be called, a co-ordinated federal-provincial-territorial response, billions of dollars flowing out of government coffers to stop the violence. The opioid crisis hasn’t received the same kind of all-hands-on-deck approach. Instead, there has been immense politicization of the issue, with different sides arguing different approaches while accusing political opponents of making the crisis worse and literally killing people.  In this episode of “It’s Political,” we tackle the question of how to deal with the opioid crisis through different lenses. First, we’ll look at the move behind decriminalization of personal possession for small amounts of illegal drugs. We’ll hear about the experience in British Columbia with its three-year decriminalization pilot, the reforms its brought and the impact in Ontario. We’ll look at the impact of safe injection sites, and the experience so far with “safe supply.” What is working, what is not working as well as it could be and what’s behind the lack of progress? Then, we’ll sit down with Alberta’s Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams and discuss his province’s focus on treatment and why he believes “safe supply” isn’t the answer. Finally, Federal Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu joins us to provide the federal government’s perspective. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, CTV, and BreakTheNeedle’s X account. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Michal Stein and Althia Raj. Joy SpearChief-Morris assisted with production. Kevin Sexton mixed the show. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. In this episode: Alberta Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, Moms Stop the Harm co-founder Leslie McBain, Akosua (last name withheld), who has been sober from drugs for six years, Dorian Clough, a person living with addiction, Memorial University Assistant Professor Gillian Kolla, Sudbury’s safe consumption site’s former manager Amber Fritz, McMaster University Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Lori Regenstreif, Peterborough Deputy Chief of Police Jamie Hartnett, Vancouver City Councillor Rebecca Bligh, Richmond City Councillor Alexa Loo, Surrey City Councillor Linda Annis, University of Alberta Associate Professor Elaine Hyshka, and Liberal MP for Beaches-East York Nathaniel Erskine Smith. Hosted by Althia Raj.

Hours after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was expelled from the House of Commons for calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “a wacko” and refusing to withdraw his comments, both leaders’ parties had issued fundraising emails pointing to the incident on Parliament Hill and asking for donors for more cash. Fundraising is a huge part of what political parties do, it keeps their operations going and builds their war chest for the next election campaign. It also helps to buy them votes. The more money they have, the more they can spend on advertising and organization, and the more votes they can get. Since the end of the per-vote subsidy, parties are now dependent on public donations and those who donate tend to be more partisan and more ideologically extreme. So what does that mean for our politics? On this episode of “It’s Political,” we take a look at party financing. First, we’ll take a look at the current rules, how they evolved and who they give voice to. Then, we’ll head up to the Hill to get some MPs' views on the topic, before finally sitting down with three former party operatives to break down the perceived challenges of our current system and how it could be reformed to reduce the influence of those with deeper pockets. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, the CBC, the Liberal Party of Canada, the NDP, the Conservative Party of Canada, the National Citizens Coalition’s YouTube channel, CNBC, WTOL, and PBS, This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Joy SpearChief-Morris assisted with production. Kevin Sexton mixed the show. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. In this episode: Former Conservative Party of Canada national campaign manager and former director of operations Fred DeLorey, former Liberal Party of Canada national director Sheila Gervais, former NDP director of operations David Hare, former Conservative Party of Canada director of fundraising Jaime Girard, co-founder of Democracy Watch Duff Conacher, Canada 2020 CEO and former senior director of communications for the Liberal Party of Canada Braeden Caley, McMaster University political science associate professor Andrea Lawlor, Royal Military College political science associate professor Holly Ann Garnett, Acadia University Politics Professor Alex Marland, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Calgary Conservative MP Greg McLean, Ajax Liberal MP and Health Minister Mark Holland, Langley—Aldergrove MP Tako Van Popta, and Montreal-area Lac-Saint-Louis Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia.

We started “It’s Political” two years ago with an episode on the NDP’s supply and confidence agreement. Back then, we wondered, would the party get any credit for what they accomplished? Two years on, public opinion polls suggest the answer is “no.” The NDP believes the answer is really “maybe,” and one they hope to turn into a resounding “yes.” This week, we look at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the NDP. First, Toronto Star reporter Raisa Patel, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Singh’s chief of staff Jennifer Howard, will lay out the challenges, internally and externally for the NDP. Then, our panel of NDP strategists will discuss what the party should do and can do to unite progressives against the possibility of a majority Conservative government. Finally, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will join us to discuss the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals and the path ahead. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the House of Commons, CPAC, CBC, CTV, and Global. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Joy SpearChief-Morris assisted with production. Matt Hearn helped Kevin Sexton mix the show. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. In this episode: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Toronto Star reporter Raisa Patel, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Singh’s chief of staff Jennifer Howard, NDP strategist and GT & Co. partner Brian Topp, former NDP MP David Christopherson, former director of communications to Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley and Wellington Advocacy vice president Leah Ward, and taxi driver Kirby Pittman. Hosted by Althia Raj.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled her latest budget Tuesday, with big spending plans to increase the housing supply, deliver on commitments to Indigenous people, boost funding to the Canadian military and finally deliver on a promise to create a Canada Disability Benefit. But there is more to the budget’s $39.3 billion in new spending than just those big ticket items. There is a little bit of money in there for nearly everyone. It is an election budget, with lots of promises, most of which start to kick in next year. And to pay for it all, without sinking further into deficit and blowing past Freeland’s debt-to-GDP ratio, the federal government is increasing the inclusion rate on capital gains, affecting business investments and, with some exceptions, those Canadians earning more than $250,000 from capital gains annually. This week on “It’s Political,” we’ll look at the government’s 2024 spending plan and its decision to target capital gains as a way of raising taxes with economists Armine Yalnizyan and Christopher Ragan. But before that discussion, we’ll unpack the budget process and look at the last budget, the 2023 budget, and review its forecasts, its promises and what it actually delivered on. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, WhiteHouse.gov and Right Side Broadcasting. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein, and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. In this episode: Armine Yalnizyan, an economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, Christopher Ragan, the director of McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy, Heather Scoffield, senior vice president of strategy at the Business Council of Canada, Yves Giroux, the Parliamentary Budget officer, Tyler Meredith, a senior fellow at the Munk School and former budget crafter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Kevin Page, the president and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, and Evert Lindquist, a University of Victoria School of Public Administration professor. Hosted by Althia Raj.

The federal government’s latest effort to regulate speech on the internet was met with relief from parents who’ve long advocated for a safer space online for their children, but with alarm from free speech advocates who believe the government’s bill goes too far. This week on “It’s Political,” we dig into the Online Harms Act with a number of experts, discussing what it contains and what the controversies are about. Then we sit down with Justice Minister Arif Virani. In this episode: Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani, as well as the Center for Media, Technology and Democracy founding director and McGill University associate professor Taylor Owen, the Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Christine Van Geyn, University of Calgary associate professor and Canada research chair in cybersecurity law Emily Laidlaw, the Canadian Center for Child Protection’s executive director Lianna McDonald, University of Ottawa professor and Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law Michael Geist, former Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission vice chair and Macdonald-Laurier Institute senior fellow Peter Menzies, University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s CEO Mohammed Hashim, B.C. Civil Liberties Association staff counsel Safiyya Ahmad, and NDP House leader Peter Julian. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CTV, Global, The Canadian Press Gallery, CBC, City, The Rebel’s YouTube and Privacy Lawyer David Fraser’s YouTube. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Michal Stein and Althia Raj, and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attempted to topple the Liberal government this week by introducing a motion calling for a non-confidence vote on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to increase the carbon price on April 1. With all the other parties supporting a price on carbon — the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Greens — Poilievre’s motion was more about partisan communication strategy than a legitimate attempt to defeat the government, but it raises important questions. With the Conservatives leading in the polls, what would a Poilievre agenda look like? What policies would he and his party pursue? What tone would a government led by him take? This week on “It’s Political,” we dig into what we know and don’t know about the Conservatives’ agenda. The Toronto Star’s deputy bureau chief Stephanie Levitz, Le Devoir’s parliamentary correspondent Boris Proulx, and Poilievre’s former director of communications during his leadership bid Ginny Roth join us. We’ll also break down the latest polling figures with Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, and hear from Queer Momentum’s executive director Fae Johnstone about her airport run in with Poilievre. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, Poilievre’s Facebook Page, Poilievre’s YouTube channel and CTV. Listen here and follow or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein, and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

On Feb. 29, Canada’s Health Minister Mark Holland introduced a pharmacare bill in Parliament, seemingly laying down the foundation for a new national universal single payer pharmacare plan. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared victory. After fifty years of efforts, he boasted that a first big step had been taken toward giving all Canadians equal access to medicines regardless of employment status or financial means. The deal starts small, just two classes of drugs — diabetes medication and contraception — are covered free of charge, and only if the provinces who will administer the program sign on. But already a fight is brewing between public-system advocates who want a single-payer public program established and expanded to include a vast list of medicines, and the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance firms, pharmacists and the business community who fear a multibillion-dollar change to their bottom lines, and the impact on patients and government deficits. Navigating between the two sides is the Liberal government, which succumbed to NDP pressure in order to stave off a federal election. In this week’s episode of “It’s Political,” just how committed is the Liberal government to public pharmacare? Federal Health Minister Mark Holland joins us. But first we dig deep into the debate over drug coverage in Canada with Dalhousie University Political Science Professor Katherine Fierlbeck, Canada Research Chair in Health Justice Dr. Nav Persaud, former Ontario health minister and former chair of the Federal Advisory Council on Pharmacare Dr. Eric Hoskins, Pharmacist Kristen Watt, Ontario Pharmacists Association CEO Justin Bates, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association President Stephen Frank, Canada Canada Research Chair in Access to Medicines at the University of British Columbia Michael Law, Queen’s University Assistant Professor Dr. Samantha Buttemer and Canadian Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Matthew Holmes. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the CBC, CPAC, Global, and the Canadian Press Gallery. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein, and mixed by Sean Pattendon. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau managed one chaotic term under U.S. President Donald Trump, and he’s made it clear he’d prefer to continue working with current President Joe Biden. But with the Republican primaries favouring Trump, a divided electorate and a U.S. election this fall, Trudeau faces the possibility of another Trump White House. One that’s likely much more unpredictable and isolationist than the first Trump administration. Earlier this month, at a campaign rally, Trump suggested NATO countries that don’t spend enough on defence would be left to defend themselves if Russia were to attack. His comments sent shock waves throughout Europe and North America, with experts and politicians warning that undermining NATO undermines the security of all member countries. On today’s show, we talk to experts with first-hand knowledge on what a second Trump presidency could mean for Canada and what we should do to prepare. In this episode: Canada’s former ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton, Canada’s former ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck, Queen’s University professor emeritus of political science and author of "Canada Alone" Kim Richard Nossal, and retired Lieutenant-General and former Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations Andrew Leslie. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from: CTV, CBC, Global, CPAC, CNBC, PBS, Fox, CP24, and the Associated Press. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. Suggested Readings: What a Donald Trump victory would mean for Canada's economyDonald Trump's dangerous agenda: EditorialNATO chief hails record defence spending while warning that Donald Trump's remarks undermine securityJoe Biden says Donald Trump sowing doubts about U.S. commitment to NATO is 'un-American'Donald Trump stands by remarks about not defending NATO members after backlash

For decades, there was solid political and social consensus on immigration in Canada. But recently, cracks in that consensus have emerged. In 2023, Canada’s population hit 40 million, after growing by more than a million people in one year. Most of that growth was in temporary residents, such as international students and temporary foreign workers. Unlike with permanent residents, Canada doesn’t set targets or caps on how many people enter the country on a temporary status. Amidst a housing crisis and a health care system buckling under the weight of demand, a growing number of Canadians appear to be pointing the finger at policies that allowed for a surge in unplanned growth. Last month, in response, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a two-year cap on international students and a promise to crack down on so-called “puppy mill” private colleges. On today’s show, experts discuss what contributed to the breakdown in Canada’s long-held consensus, and Miller sits down for an interview with Althia. In this episode: Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller, Toronto Star immigration reporter Nicholas Keung, Place Centre founding director Mike Moffat, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Statistics Canada demographer Patrick Charbonneau, Canadian Chamber of Commerce senior vice president Matthew Holmes, Dalhousie University assistant professor of social work Raluca Bejan, Centre for Newcomers chief program officer Kelly Ernst, University of British Columbia post-doctoral research fellow Lisa Brunner and One Voice Canada’s Balraj Kahlon. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from: Kellie Leitch for Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, YouTube, CBC, CTV, CBC Radio, The Montreal Gazette, CPAC and Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. • 4:20 — Mini documentary on public opinion, the rise of unplanned migration and some of its consequences • 26:44 — Interview with Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller

Public opinion polls suggest Canadians have had enough of Justin Trudeau’s government, and yet the prime minister vows to stay on. As 2024 began, Toronto Star columnist Susan Delacourt sat down with the prime minister for her yearly chat, and she allowed our microphones to listen in. This conversation was recorded on Jan. 12 in Guelph, Ont. In this episode: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Toronto Star National Columnist Susan Delacourt Some of the clips this week were sourced from the CBC, ABC, CTV, CPAC, and The Guardian. This episode of “It’s Political” was packaged by Althia Raj and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

It’s been quite a tumultuous year in federal politics, from allegations of foreign interference involving China and India, to the expansion of industrial and dental subsidies, and a rejigging of public support for Canada’s two main parties. We asked Toronto Star readers and “It’s Political” podcast listeners for their questions — and received many probing queries about themes from the last year, especially about the influence of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre on Canadian politics and the future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. We gathered a few of our parliamentary journalists to answer them. In this episode: National Columnist Susan Delacourt, Ottawa deputy bureau chief Stephanie Levitz and reporter Mark Ramzy join host Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, CTV, Global, the NDP’s Instagram account, Rex Murphy’s Full Comment podcast and Pierre Poilievre’s Facebook page. This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Kevin Sexton mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.