The Backbench
179 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsYour Twitter feed is a dumpster fire, and dinner table discussions aren’t exactly what they used to be. That’s why in 2024, The Backbench is going to bring the issues that matter into focus — and have fun doing it.
With the next federal election looming, host Mattea Roach (Jeopardy! Super Champion) and featured guests will help you make sense of Canadian politics with a mix of engaging, myth-busting, rug-pulling analysis and personal stories straight from the mouths of those caught in the crosshairs.
New episodes every other Tuesday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
Flip-Flopping on Decriminalization
June 04, 2024 04:08 - 41 minutes - 76.5 MBWhen B.C. decriminalized small amounts of drugs in January 2023, it was seen as a promising weapon in the battle against the drug crisis. In May, B.C. walked that policy back, saying it caused disorder in the streets. In a similar move, Toronto tried decriminalizing, but the feds quickly shot down their attempt. So what gives? Was this year-long experiment a disaster? Was it not given enough time to flourish? To find out, Mattea Roach asked professor Gillian Kolla, journalist Andrea Woo, ...
Stop, Students What’s That Sound
May 21, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 114 MBWhen the first group of students parked up at Columbia University, it sparked a movement that has gripped schools across the world. These encampment protests have now gripped universities across Canada- at U of T, U UOttawa, McMaster, U of C, McGill, U of A, UBC, and Dalhousie. The encampments have sparked a debate on the legality and ethics of protests in shared spaces. We dive into the legality of the protests and we also ask why the police response looked so different across the countr...
Introducing Pretendians
May 14, 2024 07:30 - 14 minutes - 27.3 MBToday we’re sharing with you a preview of the first episode of Canadaland’s newest show Pretendians. What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders and thinkers have in common? They aren’t Indigenous. From major universities, to the halls of power, to Hollywood, there are people claiming to be Indigenous in the interest of power, money, and status. There are dozens of outrageous cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands tha...
Canada’s Exploited Foreign Workers Program
May 07, 2024 04:00 - 51 minutes - 95.2 MBTemporary foreign workers are relied upon to fill the gaps in the Canadian labour market. But the system is convoluted and ripe with exploitation – all at a time when immigrants are being blamed by politicians and the public for the housing crisis. The system needs an overhaul to protect our economy and the workers that make it tick. Are immigrants really to blame for the housing crisis? What types of immigrants are the feds targeting? To find out, Mattea Roach asked lawyer Jonathon Braun,...
Conservative Comic-Con
April 23, 2024 05:26 - 42 minutes - 78.7 MBThe Canada Strong and Free conference is one of the biggest events of the year for Canadian conservatives. The party is polling high, and this event was set to be a launching point for an upcoming wave of victories. Boris Johnson and former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott were in the house, along with premiers Danielle Smith and Blaine Higgs. It’s a strange place, where the movement grapples with big topics like climate change, housing costs and foreign policy. What are conservatives ...
State of Emergency Rooms
April 09, 2024 04:00 - 27 minutes - 51.2 MBWe’re bringing you a special episode today from our friends at Commons. Over thirteen seasons, Commons has exposed Canada’s foundational reliance on monopolies, our addiction to real estate and the dark side of hockey. In their new season, host Arshy Mann is now dissecting the state of work in Canada to ask – how did we get here? And what can we do to fight back? Across Canada, emergency rooms have been shutting down, leaving desperate people in the lurch. And at the heart of this health c...
The Convoy Keeps Rolling
March 26, 2024 04:00 - 54 minutes - 101 MBWhen the trucks moved out of Ottawa in 2022, our public discourse changed. Grievance politics thrived, and our political parties adapted. Supporters of the convoy splintered into different groups. They became very politically engaged in causes like the 1 Million March for Children, the Save the Children Convoy, Canadians for Truth and even a grassroots lobby group - Take Back Alberta. As the organizers' trials reach their end, we look at the movement's lingering effects. Where are the mem...
The Hate U Post
March 12, 2024 04:00 - 50 minutes - 91.9 MBRichard Warman used to take neo-nazis he found online to the human rights commission. He used an obscure provision called Section 13, which was repealed in 2014. But it may be coming back. The long-awaited Online Harms Act includes a section allowing human rights complaints over online hate speech. Free speech advocates are worried, but some say it’s time trolls start behaving. Who gets to decide what’s hate speech? Is this the end of online hate or the start of something more sinister?...
Failing Universities 101
February 27, 2024 05:00 - 44 minutes - 81.3 MBCanadian universities are barely scraping by. Queen’s is in a whole lot of debt, Laurentian declared insolvency in 2021, Alberta universities are slashing budgets, and McGill and Concordia are in danger over an out-of-province tuition battle. On top of it all, the international student visa cap will limit revenues for cash-strapped universities. Combined, it could have huge implications for our knowledge-based economy. How did this happen? Where do we go from here? To find out, Mattea Roach...
Why Are Conservatives Obsessed With Trans People?
February 13, 2024 05:00 - 52 minutes - 96.9 MBAlberta Premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith has unveiled what many are describing as some of the strictest anti-trans policies in the country. Shortly after, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who famously stated he would lead a “mind your own damn business party,” didn’t mind his own damn business and supported Smith’s move in interfering with trans kids' access to healthcare. Why is it that conservatives are so obsessed with trans people? Mattea Roach asked Hannah Hodson, former Can...
Could Canada Be Complicit in a ‘Plausible Genocide’?
January 30, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutes - 87.4 MBThe ICJ court ruled that Palestinians in Gaza face a “real and imminent risk” of genocide, and laid out the provisional measures Israel must take in order to prevent it. Canada has a legal duty to take steps to prevent genocide - yet their relationship to Israel may compromise their obligations to the Genocide Convention. What will it take for Canada to pivot on its special relationship with Israel? And might Canada be complicit in genocide? Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Prod...
Selling Sunset, Buying Stress
January 16, 2024 14:22 - 45 minutes - 83.9 MBLack of investment in affordable rental units, increased financialization of housing, soaring land prices, and jacked-up mortgage rates are just some of the reasons behind the rental and housing crisis we find ourselves in. But how the hell do we get out of this crisis while still being able to sip on our $5 coffees? Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Karyn P...
2023 Was the Year of Political Nonsense
December 26, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 78.7 MBThis year has been one hell of a political rollercoaster. Host, Mattea Roach, sits down with Riley Yesno, Nick Taylor-Vaisey, and Kyle Duggan to make sense of key political moments of this year, and to make predictions of their future implications. They unpack everything from Canada’s foreign interference problem and the controversial carbon tax, to the housing crisis and the NDP-Liberal confidence agreement. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), C...
The Food Bank Industrial Complex
December 12, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 84.5 MBWe’re bringing you a special episode from the Canadaland feed. It’s the holidays, and on your TV or radio you’re inevitably hit with ads telling you that this is the season of giving - it’s time to donate to a food drive. Conservative politicians, Liberal politicians, banks, broadcasters, grocery stores: they all are united in this message. With the promotion of food banks from virtually every institution and elected official in the country, you might conclude that they are the best solut...
Roots of Tension in Canada’s Israel-Palestine Discourse
November 28, 2023 05:36 - 38 minutes - 71.4 MBEditor's note: For additional context Hamas emerged in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising, or intifada, as an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestinian branch. The group is committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel's place. For more: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2284721219710#:~:text=A%20spotlight%20was%20cast%20on,Ashley%20Fraser%20explores%20its%20origins. In Canada, the political discourse on the news coming ...
Yukon's Path to Indigenous Self-Governance
November 14, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 85.4 MBOften underreported or ignored by national media, the unique and complex issues facing the people who call Yukon home rarely get the attention they deserve. In this LIVE TAPING Mattea Roach, Michelle Friesen, Tosh Southwick, and Carissa Waugh take part in a smart, nuanced, and engaging conversation centering the opportunities, and political and social challenges up north. But most importantly, this episode speaks to the absolute need to have tough and sometimes uncomfortable conversations ab...
Israel, Palestine and Canadian Foreign Policy
October 31, 2023 05:51 - 45 minutes - 82.5 MBWhy did Canada abstain on an emergency resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza? Mattea Roach, Emilie Nicolas, Ethan Cox & Murtaza Hussain will break down the past 3 weeks' worth of news in the backdrop of decades of context, and get granular about Canada's response to it all. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Edi...
Would You Listen to a Government Regulated Podcast?
October 17, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 91.9 MBWhen you think about film, art and creativity, government policy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Make no mistake about it, our policy makers & politicians can crucially impact the art we make, who gets to make it, & the culture we consume. Good policy can create a thriving, diverse culture — & bad policy can destroy it. Mattea Roach joins Matt Hatfield, Haydn Wazelle, Karen Lam, & Dennis Heaton for an unforgettable LIVE podcast taping with the Vancouver International Fil...
The End of Canadaland
October 05, 2023 07:50 - 16 minutes - 30.4 MBSupport us now! Click here: canadaland.com/join The first episode of Canadaland was published ten years ago today. If we were to announce this is the last episode of Canadaland, no one would be surprised. Journalism in Canada is in a fight for its life. You can have an impact. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where Anti-Sikh Press Leads Us & Manitoba Marks the Ballot
October 03, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 77.4 MBCanada is accusing India of a state-sanctioned assassination. What does this mean for the future of Canada and India’s relationship? AND, parental rights, an opioid crisis, and the missing Indigenous women whose bodies are presumed to be in a Winnipeg landfill are front of mind in this Manitoba Provincial election. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Guests: ...
Students in Strip Malls
September 19, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 76 MBWe’re busy preparing for our upcoming live events and working away on an exciting fall season, so we’re bringing you an episode from our friends Allison Smith and Jonathan Goldsbie on Wag the Doug – a monthly podcast that grapples with the realities of the Ford government in Ontario. They look at an issue that continues to make headlines - the international student market. Allison and Jonathan investigate how Ontario colleges have cashed in on these students and have fundamentally altered...
GenZ’s Political Apathy-ocalypse
September 05, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 61.7 MBThe tale generally goes like this: Gen Z is disconnected, disinterested, and buried so deep into their screens that they don't care about the politics going on around them. But it's also clear that some young people are ready to ignite change if they have to. From the climate marches to the BLM protests to the Maple Spring, young people have been at the forefront of protests and disruptions for a long time. So, is the stereotype of Gen Z as disconnected and apathetic accurate, or is there s...
Backbench Catch Up
August 22, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 74.3 MBIt’s summer time, and Parliament’s been out of session for 2 months. For this episode of the Backbench, host Mattea Roach is joined by an all-star panel of Riley Yesno, Emilie Nicolas, David Moscrop. With updates on stories you may have missed this summer. Did shutting down an illegal border at Roxham Road work? Have we taken any political moves on addressing foreign interference? We’ll look ahead at what you should be keeping your eye on once parliament returns. With a new cabinet on the h...
The Controversial Carbon Tax
August 08, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 53.8 MBDespite two catastrophic climate emergencies earlier this year, Nova Scotia has faced yet another devastating crisis - intense flash flooding. Our Scotian host, Mattea Roach, is joined by Halifax-based reporter from the National Observer, Cloe Logan to interrogate Nova Scotia’s climate emergency response. And in the wake of this climate catastrophe all eyes are on the recently implemented carbon tax in the province. Why does it seem like we’re blaming the carbon tax for all our climate relat...
What’s Up With Canada’s Political Left?
July 25, 2023 07:05 - 37 minutes - 69 MBMattea kicks it with esteemed Backbencher and political journalist David Moscrop at a café in Ottawa to talk about the current climate in Canadian politics, the impact of social media on discourse, the state of Canada’s political left, and are we in for an election next year? Editor's Note: In this episode of The Backbench, The Black Squirrel neighbourhood is incorrectly identified as being in Sunnyside. It is correctly located in the Ottawa, Ontario neighbourhood named The Glebe. Host: Ma...
The Musical Voice of the Nation
July 11, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 48.3 MBWhen Dr. Andrea McCrady first heard the sound of the carillon, she was hooked. Her passion led her to become the first woman Dominion Carillonneur on Parliament Hill where she plays for thousands. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Parliament Hill and the history of this booming instrument. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Tony Wang (Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette...
A Conversation With Erin O’Toole
June 27, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 90.8 MBFormer Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has officially stepped away from Canadian politics, leaving behind the Conservative party he called home for over a decade. O’Toole addressed parliament for the last time on June 12th 2023, warning Canadians with the polarization of politics, the dangers of algorithms (their role in political discourse) and his overarching concerns with politics in this country. In this episode, Mattea Roach is joined by Erin O’Toole to unravel the layers of his tenure...
These Rights Are Precarious: A History of LGBTQ+ Liberties
June 13, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 61.3 MBIt’s Pride month! So we’re taking you back to notable moments in Canada's 2SLGBTQ+ history, so we can remember the people and work that can have made Canada the place it is today. The history of LGBT rights in Canada is not as simple as pride campaigns, parades and vibrant gay villages. It’s a history of resilience, courage, and a determination to redefine what it means to be free and equal in this country. Increasingly, we can’t take these rights for granted. Host: Mattea Roach Credit...
Ctrl+Alt+Regulate: Can Canada's AI Act Save Us?
May 30, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 65.2 MBAre Canadian policy makers ready for the AI revolution? How effective are our current regulations? what should we be worried about? AND, are immigrants going to save our economy, or break it? From controversial rhetoric, a housing crisis, & more…How can we navigate this immigration conversation? Host: Riley Yesno Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Guests: Meagan Simpson, Nicholas...
Alberta’s Wildfires Meet an Even Wilder Election
May 16, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 67.3 MBA fiery election in Alberta. No, literally Alberta’s on fire this provincial election. AND, a $95 billion dollar lawsuit against the Ontario and Canadian Government challenging a lack of consent around resource extraction and the way treaty rights are upheld. This week longtime guest, first time host Riley Yesno is filling in for Mattea Roach. Host: Riley Yesno Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor ...
PSAC Strike and the Future of Labour
May 02, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 83.9 MBThis week host Mattea Roach is joined by Riley Yesno, Karen Restoule, and Ethan Cox to unpack the The Public Service Alliance of Canada Strike, and the increase of police involved deaths. PSAC has reached a tentative contract agreement after almost two weeks of striking against its employer – the Government of Canada. AND, there’s a sharp rise in police-involved deaths peaking in 2022. What is really going on here? Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Produce...
Who Benefits From Public Safety?
April 18, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 71.9 MBThis week Mattea Roach, is joined by Ziya Jones, Riley Yesno, and Frances Bula, to talk about public safety. A few weeks ago unhoused folks in Vancouver were met with displacement and decampment by police and bylaw officers. Who is this supposed solution meant for? AND, transgender and queer people have been facing a new wave of violent attacks globally. What kinds of protections might actually help? Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), C...
The Federal Budget: Betting on Clean Tech
April 04, 2023 07:05 - 38 minutes - 71.3 MBIt’s that time of the year again! Budget season… AND, the story about Chinese government influence just keeps getting even more complicated. This week Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Stuart Thomson to unpack how the complex issue of government interference is being seized on by various parties, and how feasible Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland’s proposed budget is for this country’s future. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Asso...
Welcome to The Backbench
March 21, 2023 07:30 - 2 minutes - 2 MBDig into Canadian politics from the best seats in the House. Join host Mattea Roach and our rotating roster of panelists from across the country while we engage in discussions about what is happening in Canadian politics right now, and why it matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Food Costs Soar, Banks Collapse
March 21, 2023 07:05 - 40 minutes - 73.8 MBThe Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, marking it as the biggest bank failure in the United States since the 2008 Financial Crisis. AND, our three top grocers testified at the House of Commons recently, but Canadians learned very little. This week host Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Meagan Simpson, and Arshy Mann to unpack the future of the bank and tech industries, and why many Canadians are feeling the strain every time they step into a grocery store, all while grocers are making rec...
A Ruckus at Roxham Road
March 07, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 74 MBHost Mattea Roach is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Stuart Thomson and Les Perreaux to talk about the latest at Roxham Road, the irregular border crossing where thousands of asylum seekers flock to Canada. What’s bringing them here and what’s happening once they arrive? And a subset of Google users in Canada have discovered a bunch of Canadian news mysteriously disappearing from their search results… whose fault is this, and should we be concerned? We unpack the Online News Act, Bill C-18. ...
99 Spy Balloons & 1 Rouleau Report
February 21, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 64.2 MBHost Mattea Roach is joined by Nick Taylor-Vaisey, David Moscrop and Sandy Garossino to talk about the two objects shot down over Canada. Is this a question of national security? Or a weather monitoring program gone wrong? It’s probably not aliens, right? Also, the Rouleau Report was released shortly after RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki announced the end of her tenure. The RCMP has felt the impact of scandal after scandal, so what kind of leadership is required to move forward and build be...
Bail Reform And National Reconciliation
February 07, 2023 08:05 - 30 minutes - 55.6 MBA proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit has been reached between the federal government and 325 First Nations, which applies to Indigenous children who attended residential schools during the day—students who were left out of the 2006 residential schools settlement. This episode gets into the legal elements of this lawsuit, how we got here, and what impacts it might have going forward. And, all 13 provinces and territories are calling for “immediate action” to strengthen Canada’s b...
Should Canada Intervene In Haiti?
January 24, 2023 08:05 - 36 minutes - 66.3 MBArmed conflicts across the world are increasingly demanding the attention of Canadians and prompting the federal government to get involved. This episode, host Mattea Roach is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Arshy Mann, and Steven Chase to talk about what Canadian intervention in Haiti could and should look like, and they also tackle the existential questions we have about our military: What is the state of our military? Are we prepared to take on an expanded role? Should we? Host: Mattea Roach ...
Flatlining On Healthcare
January 10, 2023 08:05 - 44 minutes - 80.8 MBWe tackle two crises facing our country – healthcare and climate change. Host Mattea Roach asks our panelists Riley Yesno, Drew Brown, and Sara Birrell about what we are doing to solve the major problems that exist in our splintered healthcare system and where we are really at when it comes to climate change policy. Does throwing money at the problem actually help? Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capachionne (Audio Editor and...
The Backbench Live: A Year in Review
December 27, 2022 08:05 - 47 minutes - 87.6 MBOn December 14th, we brought The Backbench to you LIVE and in-person from the Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto. It was an evening of “serious” political discourse and endless laughs. Our host Mattea Roach and our expert panelists, Emilie Nicolas, David Moscrop, and Murad Hemmadi unpacked the seriously eventful year that was 2022 – from faulty infrastructure, to the Pope’s visit, to our 2023 political wish list, and more. Taking inspiration from David Moscrop's powerful questions: Show of hands.....
A Matter Of Life And Death
December 13, 2022 08:05 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBWe want to warn listeners that segment one talks about suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners. If you'd like to skip it go to 23:37. If you’re struggling with mental health please connect with a crisis responder to get help without judgment: Call 1-833-456-4566 / Text: 45645 (4 pm – midnight ET). In this episode, host Mattea Roach, and panelists, Karen Restoule, Jaskaran Sandhu, and Arshy Mann, unpack the controversial expansion for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) set to chan...
TL;DR – Emergencies Act Inquiry
November 29, 2022 08:05 - 41 minutes - 76.5 MBThe six weeks of dramatic testimony have officially come to an end with testimony from the Prime Minister himself. Join our host, Mattea Roach, and an exceptional panel with Stuart Thomson, David Moscrop, and Sandy Garossino for a deep retrospective on Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act against the 'Freedom Convoy' this past February. Also, the Green Party has a “new” leader. Welcome back Elizabeth May. This episode Mattea and our panelists discuss the future of the Green Party. I...
Lost In Inflation
November 15, 2022 08:05 - 45 minutes - 83.4 MBFinancial Minister Chrystia Freeland’s mini-budget is at your service to save us from inflation. Or is it Justin-flation? This week our host, Mattea Roach, is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey to talk about the effectiveness of the proposed budget, the impending recession, and the “costly-coalition.” They also tackle the increasingly common use of the notwithstanding clause—what does it mean, and should we be worried? Get tickets to The Backbench live show on D...
Who's Afraid Of A Contested Election?
November 01, 2022 07:05 - 48 minutes - 89.5 MBBC NDP leadership candidate Anjali Appadurai had the rug pulled out from under her. This week Mattea Roach is joined with Stuart Thomson, Jaskaran Sandhu, and Arno Kopecky to talk about how and why the BC-NDP ended up disqualifying Appadurai, leaving David Eby to be sworn in as Premier of British Columbia. Also, this week the backbenchers talk about the Federal handgun freeze that is supposedly the strongest action in a generation. We’ll see about that… Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Le...
Introducing our new series: Ratfucker
October 27, 2022 12:38 - 42 seconds - 1.29 MBMeet David Wallace, political fixer. After decades in the game he says he’s getting out, telling all, and dumping his files in public. The result is the viral "Klondike Papers" theory of conspiracies, conservatives, and cults. But are the allegations true? And why is he really implicating himself, and so many others? A wild, true story. Series launches October 31st. Subscribe now (link). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Guns And Wild Roses
October 18, 2022 07:05 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBWhat is going on in the Wild Rose Country? Mattea Roach is joined by experts Catherine Griwkowksy, Emilie Nicolas, and David Moscrop. Together they unpack the implications of Alberta’s new premier's calls for more sovereignty and the possible unravelling of our beloved Canadian federalism. This week we also get into Canada’s complicated diplomatic response to the Iranian protests. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (A...
NDP - New Dental Plan
October 04, 2022 07:05 - 41 minutes - 75.4 MBOur host Mattea Roach, tackles the “new” and “exciting” Federal dental plan with Riley Yesno, Stuart Thomson, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey. The NDP are patting themselves on the back for getting something done in Ottawa—but how much have they really accomplished here? Speaking of “new” and “exciting” we need to talk about the IRCC’s new proposed immigration pathways that seem to be recycled old ones. Links: Dental: Politico piece re: dental Immigration: CTV piece: Migrant workers continue to ...
Picking Apart Pierre's Populism
September 20, 2022 07:05 - 43 minutes - 79.5 MBOur new host, Mattea Roach, ponders Poilievre’s political playbook with Riley Yesno, David Moscrop and Catherine Griwkowsky on this week’s panel episode. And you know the saying, leaders come and go. As Pierre Poilievre makes his way into the Conservative leadership, Queen Elizabeth II has left us. Is it time to crack open our constitution and jettison the monarchy once and for all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Meet Mattea Roach, Our New Host! (Teaser)
September 06, 2022 07:00 - 4 minutes - 4.54 MBWe’re thrilled to announce that Mattea Roach will be hosting the brand new season of the Backbench. She’s best known for her 23-game winning streak on Jeopardy!, but Mattea also has a keen interest in politics and has a background in sexual diversity studies, political science, and women and gender studies. In this teaser episode, Mattea is joined with Backbench Producer Aviva Lessard and Associate Producer Noor Azrieh for a sneak peak at what they hope to accomplish in the new season. Su...