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Last week, Pierre Poilievre said tick tock goes your biological clock. This was the first time that host Noor Azrieh noticed, during the campaign, that someone (anyone!) was speaking to women directly and explicitly. And it prompted a wave of pushback…and some praise. The gap between men and women is widening. If the election happened today, and only women voted, Mark Carney would be on track for the biggest landslide in Canadian history. Gender gaps have been a mainstay of Canadian politics for years, but never quite like this. In this episode, we’re diving into the minds of voters. What are they thinking about when they head to the polls? And the latest on Trump’s tariff tantrums, Poilievre’s big news on drug policy, the NDP’s rent control dream, and is it defund the CBC or refund the CBC…we can’t tell anymore. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Direc

In the last 50 or so years the number of independent first-time political candidates elected to office in Canada could fit in a car. Five candidates have made it to, albeit a very small portion of political power, without party support. That covers both provincial and federal elections.As Canadian elections become increasingly presidential affairs, focusing on the personality at the top of the ticket, the quality that seems most necessary in an aspiring MP is fealty to the Party, the leader, the mantra.The pressures of social media, political parties’ reliance on marketing data, and the 24-hour news cycle all play a part in the clamping down on new or maverick voices.What is the cost of canceling out the independent voice in our MPs? And how did we get here?Alex Marland, author of No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics and Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada has interviewed hundreds of politicians trying to answer those questions.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Tech

A lapse in leadership and Canada’s China conundrum. Liberal MP Paul Chiang’s troubling comments gave Carney an opportunity to take a strong stance on Chinese interference, but he fumbled his chance to distinguish himself from Trudeau. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Sandy Garossino Further reading: Liberal candidate Paul Chiang withdraws from race after suggesting people claim China's bounty on Conservative | CBC News Mark Carney rejects boosting trade ties with China, points to Europe - The Globe and Mail Carney set up a blind trust, screens to avoid conflicts of interest. Is that enough? | CBC News Independent MP Han Dong won't seek re-election in suburban Toronto riding | CBC News  Sponsors:Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free dat

There are hundreds of unvetted candidates vying for a seat in Parliament…Canada has 343 federal electoral districts stretching from coast to coast to coast. In every riding, candidates are stepping up…some for the first time. This means there are hundreds of unvetted candidates vying for a seat in Parliament.This week, we’re looking at a few standouts: a candidate who bragged about making coin flipping condos, an MP that’s a “published writer on Mi’kmaw laws, history, and knowledge” but said an appalling thing about Indigenous women, and a candidate who somehow thought the death of Nathan Cirillo was a great opportunity to sell hams. Yes, hams.Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Background reading:MP says she is sorry for antigay remark – Globe and MailMP Gallant compares abortion to Iraq beheading – CTV

The call is coming from inside the party. With reports swirling about Poilievre’s campaign dysfunction at the end of week one, Sandy Garossino joins to unpack why Conservatives are sabotaging their own party. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Sandy Garossino Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors: PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs.oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkoutSquarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10

With 78 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, Quebec isn’t just a battleground…it could decide the entire election. And this time, the usual Bloc-Liberal-NDP tug-of-war is taking some unexpected turns. We hit the streets of Montreal to find out what is on people’s minds, and host Noor Azrieh sits down with Martin Patriquin to unpack what it all means. And, you’ll hear from Philippe J. Fournier, founder of 338, to talk about where the parties are at in the polls, and if we can even trust the polls…at all. Plus, the latest on tensions rising inside the Conservative party, and the phone call heard around the world between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Martin Patriquin, Philippe J. FournierFurther Reading on Our WebsiteSponsors:

Internet trolls, doxing, conspiracy theories, harassment, criminal investigations, all the usual things that spring to mind when you think of small town council meetings. Welcome to Pickering, Ontario, best known for its nuclear power plant.Is the alt-right driving Pickering to political meltdown? Or is the town council trying to silence a duly elected official over political disagreements? Either way things have gotten so out of hand that city council has locked the doors to the public. Council meetings have moved online. Now political foes don’t have to sit in the same room.From Pickering to the wave of recent news stories south of the border where politicians from left to right are being shouted down at town hall meetings by angry constituents, are we witnessing the death of civil discussion in the civic sphere?Host: Jesse BrownCredits: André Proulx (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking b

Canada’s sudden political reorientation.As Trump continues to escalate the trade war, Paul Wells joins to consider the lasting impact on our relationship with the US. What started as anger is reshaping our politics. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Paul Wells Further reading: Trump says larger tariffs could be imposed on Canada, EU if they cause US 'economic harm' | ReutersTrump’s auto tariffs a ‘direct attack,’ Carney says as leaders react | Globalnews.caI’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped | US immigration | The Guardian‘Breakdown of rule of law’: McGill professor cancels trips to U.S. amid immigration crackdown - CTV NewsHere’s what experts say when it comes to U.S. border agents looking at your phone - CTV NewsFederal leaders' debates scheduled for April 16-17 in Montreal | CBC

First on the list of Paul Wells’s 4 Rules of Canadian Politics: “For any given situation, Canadian politics will tend toward the least exciting possible outcome.” In an election marked by foreign interference, an unelected newcomer leading the incumbent party, and annexation fears, what does “least exciting” even look like? Journalist and aforementioned rule-maker Paul Wells joins Jesse to review possible outcomes of the snap federal election.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Paul Wells Further reading: CSIS alleges India organized support for Poilievre’s 2022 Conservative leadership bid - The Globe and Mail‘Let’s just put things on pause': Alberta premier under fire for Breitbart interview - CTV NewsPaul Wells’s Rules of Canadian Politics, Annotated - MacleansMike Myers joins Mark Carney in Liberal ad supporting ‘elbows up’ movement - CTV NewsOPINION: Pier

And we’re off to the races! It’s time for the matchup, and election, of a generation. Newly minted Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking on former front-runner Pierre Poilievre on April 28th. It’s a 5-week campaign. In the backdrop of a trade war, Trump’s annexation threats, And almost 10 long years of Liberal leadership. For over a year, Poilievre pretty much held a 20-point lead. A landslide Poilievre win wasn't just possible, it felt inevitable. But now? The game has changed. Somehow, against all odds, the Liberals have clawed their way back to the top. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with conservative strategist Amanda Galbraith and progressive strategist Jordan Leichnitz to dissect what went so wrong for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.And the latest on, Mark Carney’s long-awaited seat announcement coupled with the ousting of Liberal MP Chandra Arya, and Premier Danielle Smith’s untimely appearance on Breitbart.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh

It’s possible that this will be the most consequential vote you’ll ever cast. With our sovereignty, our nation, our very future on the line Jesse breaks down the big questions for you. How can Miss Manners help Carney? And why is Poilievre’s Schwarzenegger impersonation glitching?Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor, Mixing & Mastering), Julian Abraham (Fact Check) Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher) Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther Reading:Canada's housing bubble can be traced to Mark Carney and his bias for easy policy - Financial PostHousing hell: How we got here and how we get out [Video]WACKOS: the weird, wild, woke & wonderful world of the people running our country [Video]Carney in the coal mine  [Video]Canada, Pierre Poilievre Is Just Like Donald Trump [Video]This is Carbon Tax Carney—he's Just Like Justin! [Video]Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our list

Poilievre bans journalists from travelling with him on the campaign trail, but did he get a free  ride in the press so far? Dougald Lamont joins San Grewal to discuss coverage of Poilievre heading into the next election. Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Dougald Lamont Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors: Douglas:  Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today.  Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offerPolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs.Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.BetterHelp:  Visit BetterHelp.c

Mark Carney’s visit to Europe signals Canada’s new approach to the trade war with the US. Dougald Lamont joins The Pointer’s San Grewal to discuss the economic reality behind the trade war theatrics. Plus, pulling the plug on Doug Ford’s electrical fiction. Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Dougald Lamont Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors:Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs.Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows

Is AI slop the ultimate weapon for foreign interference? Or are we spiraling into another internet-fueled moral panic?Last week several AI-generated photos of Mark Carney and Ghislaine Maxwell looking chummy went viral. It was easy to spot the fake, but it raised an important question: should we be worried about AI in this election?Ryan Broderick, author of the Garbage Day newsletter, and host of his own podcast Panic World, doesn’t think so.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Ryan BroderickFurther Reading On Our WebsiteSponsors: Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off & 10GB of free data. Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs. Whether you'reprotec

Take your pick: censoring, banning, removing, or “weeding.” However you want to describe it, Canadians are pulling books from library shelves.  The books in question range from The Handmaid's Tale, Gender Queer: A Memoir,  to the works of Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl. The drive to rid our shelves, particularly school library shelves, of books comes from both left and right. Both sides censor. You can frame their motivation as opposition to woke indoctrination, or you could call it diversifying the cannon. But does it really matter what you can or can not access with your library card when your phone can give you, or your child, access to almost anything? With all that “anything” implies. And if you’ve taken the time to read this far you’re an exception. People are reading less and less. So does any of this matter? According to Ira Wells, author of On Book Banning it does. For him it’s central to art, crucial to democracy, and fundamental to our basic respect for each other, and of course, our child

Trudeau rides off into a ‘Sunny Ways’ sunset.As Mark Carney takes over as Prime Minister, Stuart Benson joins to consider Trudeau’s legacy and whether his trade war finale will reshape how he is remembered. Plus, Trudeau’s impact on the media might get overlooked, but it will have lasting effects on the viability of Canadian news outlets. Click here to complete the Canadaland survey—thank you!Host: Sam KonnertCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Stuart Benson Further Reading on Our Website Sponsors:Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data. PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs. Douglas:  Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with

The Liberal’s Carneycopia is betting big on Dad Energy. Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership in a landslide,  but is he a saviour or a snoozefest? Plus, Tesla’s surprising sales spike and BC salmon farming courtroom drama. Click here to complete the Canadaland survey—thank you!Host: Sam KonnertCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Stuart Benson Further Reading on Our Website Sponsors: Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data. PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.Visit policyme.com to explore insurance plans that cover your needs. BetterHelp:  Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll als

Canada is deep in the trenches of a trade war with the United States. After U.S. President Trump unpaused the 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports, all hell has broken loose: the federal government has fired back, provincial leaders are firing shots of their own, and more threats have been made - and then walked back - by the White House. All this, while Canadians are caught in the middle. What sense can we make from the mudslinging? If the chaos unfolding only covers one week of this dispute, what could possibly come next?Host Noor Azrieh catches up on the longest week in Canadian politics with Max Fawcett, lead columnist for the National Observer. Together, they sift through the madness, and they argue whether or not Canada’s new, un-elected prime minister, Mark Carney, is up for the task of wartime leadership.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Edito

When Trudeau prorogued Parliament 26 bills were binned. Bills are the democratic process made concrete and the laws that they can turn into are the end product of the whole political machine. They decide whether you have the right to die by choice. They decide what you can and cannot say. They tell you whether or not you can go back to work or not because you can or cannot afford to send your kid to daycare. Each bill is the end result of years of campaigning, research, fundraising, debates, and compromise. So, multiply that by 26, then throw it all out.What bills were trashed? Are they gone forever? What should come back and what should stay in the bin?Jesse sorts the trash with conservative pundit and former Communications Director for Pierre Poilievre’s leadership campaign, Ginny Roth, as well as Katherine Scott from the Canadian Centre for Political Action, and digital law expert Michael Geist from the University of Ottawa.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Prod

Battle lines are being drawn in the Canadian tech industry around a policy initiative that is drawing comparison to Elon Musk’s DOGE. Plus, updates on tariffs, and The Breakdown podcast’s legal battle. CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this episode, producer James Nicholson suggests reports of the number of USMCA-compliant goods imported from Canada to the United States are between 62% and 95%. The number reported is actually between 38% and 95%; the CBC reported Canada-imported good to the U.S. could be as high as 62% non-compliant. The episode was edited to remove the mention of this range.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Douglas Soltys Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors: Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes—No Hassle, No Hidden Fees.V