iPolitics: Recent Episodes
iPolitics
We go On Background with Ben Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, who is coming up on his first year in the House of Commons following a by-election victory last June. Ben shares insights from his first year as an MP, what it’s like being a prairie Liberal, and flips the script on Fred to discuss the state of the Conservative Party. Ben also talks about honouring the legacy of public service of his late father, the Honourable Jim Carr.
We go On Background with Stephen Maher, award winning writer who has covered Parliament Hill for decades, now contributor to iPolitics, and author of upcoming book The Prince, The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau. Stephen and Fred discuss his upcoming book about Justin Trudeau’s rise to power and offer a behind-the-scenes look into the book writing process.
Pick up a copy of The Prince at your favourite bookstore, coming out May 28th.
We go On Background with Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, Canada’s fastest growing big city. As one of Canada’s most politically experienced mayors, Mayor Brown has leveraged his experience in both federal and provincial politics to become one of the most vocal and influential mayors in Canada. Patrick shares with Fred some of the realities on the ground for Canada’s big cities, not always fully understood by Ottawa’s bubble. They discuss how Brampton is working with all levels of government to address some of the most pressing public policy challenges affecting Canada’s largest cities from auto-thefts to immigration and also importantly, the rise in popularity of cricket.
We go On Background with Dan Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara Strategic Insights and former Director of Research, Advertising, & Correspondence to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to unpack Canadians’ endless obsession with the spectacle of American politics. With the 2024 U.S.election cycle promising to be no different, Dan and Fred discuss Canadians’ views on Donald Trump and consider how the outcomes have the potential to affect the next Canadian federal election.
This episode is brought to you by the Federally Regulated Employers – Transportation and Communications (FETCO).
We go On Background with Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and most importantly for this episode, the Member of Parliament for Central Nova. After almost a decade removed from opposing campaigns to represent their home riding, Fred and Minister Fraser reminisce on their political journeys and how their paths have been shaped by their humble beginnings in rural Nova Scotia. Not to be forgotten, they also discuss Fraser's first year as the Minister responsible for housing policy, a major focus of the recent Federal Budget.
We go On Background with Greg MacEachern, Principal and Founder of KAN Strategies. Greg and Fred, both proud St. Francis Xavier University alumni, reminisce on the late Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, sharing stories of his impact on their lives and others to his transformative policies that shaped the Canada we know today. From his time at StFX to his tenure as Prime Minister, Mulroney left an indelible mark on Canadian politics, leaving behind a legacy that continues to reverberate today across partisan lines.
We go on On Background with Tyler Meredith, former Economic Advisor to PM Trudeau and the Deputy PM and Minister of Finance, now a Founding Partner at Meredith Boessenkool Policy Advisors, and Laura Kurkimaki, former Principal Secretary to the Leader of the Official Opposition, and now a Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies. How are budgets made? There are surely stakeholder consultations and input from experts in policy and economics, but eventually they will need to align with a political agenda. Fred, Tyler, and Laura dive deep into the dynamics of making and selling a budget, unpacking the internal politics and process within government, and how lobbyists can navigate these waters to make their case for funding.
We go On Background with Daniel Lauzon, former Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of Communications to the Liberal Party of Canada, and now Senior Director for Public Affairs and Policy (International) at CAE. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the geopolitical climate around the world has continued to rapidly evolve with Canada facing an imperative moment to define our position in the world. How do governments balance the politics of establishing our international position as well as prolonged military spending at times when Canadians aren’t pushing them to do more, facing economic anxiety about their finances at home?
We go On Background with Kady O'Malley, journalist at iPolitics, and parliamentary procedure expert to dissect opposition obstruction tactics and how they are being used to derail the Liberal government's legislative agenda. Fred and Kady explore tactics being used by the Conservative opposition and muse on what a potentially doomed future for the Liberal-NDP agreement could mean.
We go On Background with Dan Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara Strategic Insights and former Director of Research, Advertising, & Correspondence to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Bringing decades of experience as Trudeau’s top pollster and a key Liberal strategist, Dan and Fred unpack the topic of Trudeau’s infamous broken promise of electoral reform. They discuss the politics of making changes to our electoral system and how examples around the world and within our own political parties might not offer much wisdom.
We go On Background with Stevie O'Brien, Counsel at McMillan LLP, Senior Advisor at McMillan Vantage, and former Chief of Staff to multiple Ministers in the Liberal government. Maintaining caucus discipline is an ongoing battle for any government or leaders’ office, and the combination of social media and the modern political climate have made it more challenging than ever before. Stevie and Fred discuss the delicate dance of caucus discipline including how the Trudeau government can keep the team together despite their recent woes, and how Poilievre's government-in-waiting can avoid any costly mistakes.
We go On Background with Dimitri Soudas, former Director of Communications for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to demystify Quebec's current political landscape . The latest polls have Pierre Poilievre leading Justin Trudeau in every province, with one exception. Fred and Dimitri discuss what it will take for Conservatives to win the hearts of Québécois voters, and how volatile provincial politics could bring back the National Question.
In an ode to the countless hard working political staffers, we go On Background with former Liberal, Conservative and NDP staffers to discuss the highs and lows of working on Parliament Hill:
Steve Outhouse is a former federal Conservative Staffer, and Founder of Intercede Communication and Just Campaigns.
Melissa Cotton is a former Liberal staffer for the federal and Ontario governments, and currently Director for Government Affairs (Canada) at CN Rail.
Mélanie Richer is a former federal NDP staffer, and currently a Senior Consultant at Earnscliffe Strategies.
Matthew Conway is a former Conservative staffer for the federal and Ontario governments, and currently the National Vice President of the Conservative Party, as well as President of Conway Direction Public Relations.
We go On Background with Dave Sommer, Associate Creative Director at Creative Currency and VP at Enterprise Canada, former Deputy Director of Communications, Digital, for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and former Head of Politics and Government at Instagram. Dave played a major role in Liberals’ 2015 majority winning campaign, where the party’s digital strategy was well ahead of their opponents. He and Fred discuss why Trudeau should return to the authenticity of his earlier campaigns to counter Poilievre's populist appeal.
We go On Background with Cole Hogan, digital strategist and Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies. Fred and Cole dissect Pierre Poilievre’s recently released housing mini-documentary that has received millions of views online, discussing how the Conservatives are winning the social media war with content and messaging that is resonating with Canadians. Also not to be missed: a passionate discussion on the correlation between the current state of Canadian politics and pro wrestling.
We go On Background with Tausha Michaud, SVP at McMillan Vantage, and former Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition. Is it majority or bust for Pierre Poilievre? Tausha and Fred discuss their experience working with opposition parties under Erin O’Toole and potential strategies for forming a government as a Conservative leader in a minority Parliament.
We go On Background with Glen McGregor, award-winning journalist, with decades of experience on Parliament Hill and covering federal election campaigns. Glen and Fred trade war stories as they battled through some of politics’ biggest “scandals” in this century, and talk about what the relationship between media and campaigns could look like with Pierre Poilievre.
We go On Background with David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, to discuss MRP, an innovative polling method that offers a more accurate look at the state of Canadian politics at a riding-by-riding level, and what it could mean for the future of campaigning.
We go On Background with Karl Bélanger, veteran NDP campaign strategist and President of Traxxion Strategies, to discuss the elephant in the room – should Justin Trudeau stay on as leader or make way for another Liberal to take on Pierre Poilievre.
We go On Background with spark*insights' Alex Kohut, an expert in public opinion research at the highest levels of Canadian politics, to look at the leadership of Poilievre and Trudeau, and what the polls are really telling us about who will be Prime Minister after the next election.
Every week, veteran political strategist Fred DeLorey takes you On Background with guests from across the political spectrum for an off the record view on what’s really happening in Canadian politics, and the intricate ballet of power and governance.
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 21
Thursday, Feb 24
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics | Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Jacques Gallant, Toronto Star
Topic 1: The government revoked the Emergencies Act this week, 10 days after invoking it. What happens next? And how effective was the Act at ending the protests and blockades in Ottawa and across the country?
Topic 2: Russia invaded Ukraine late Wednesday, after Canada announced earlier this month it was sending lethal weapons and increasing loans to Ukraine. What more can Canada do to help, now the country's under attack?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 20
Thursday, Feb 17
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics | Althia Raj, Toronto Star
The government invoked the Emergencies Act earlier this week to finally deal with the protests around the country of mandatory COVID vaccination, including those that have immobilized parts of downtown Ottawa. Will the opposition support the motion? And how have the protests affected politics on the Hill?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 20
Thursday, Feb. 10
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Heather Scoffield, Toronto Star | Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star
Topic 1: Protesting truckers are still causing gridlock in downtown Ottawa, on the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, and at the border crossing in Coutts, Alta. — all of which is taking a toll on federal-party unity. What should Ottawa do to end the blockades?
Topic 2: Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre has announced he's running to become his party's new leader. What's his message to supporters?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 19
Thursday, Feb. 3 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Althia Raj, Toronto Star | Alex Ballingall, Toronto Star
Topic 1: The Conservative caucus has voted out leader Erin O’Toole and Candice Bergen has taken the helm as interim leader. Can the party unite? And what direction will it take?
Topic 2: As the truck convoy continues to paralyze downtown Ottawa, the prime minister says he won't meet with the protesters, and residents want the truckers removed. What can we expect in the coming days? And what are the protest's political implications?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Eighteen
Thursday, Dec. 16 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Jacques Gallant, Toronto Star
Topic 1. Omicron: The government warns Canadians not to travel outside the country, are further restrictions coming as this new COVID variant spreads across the country?
Topic 2. Apology : Defence Minister Anita Anand and top military brass apologized on Monday for sexual misconduct and treatment of victims in the CAF. Did this apology go far enough for those inside?
Topic 3: Accomplishments: The House rises tomorrow, since MPs return to Parliament on Nov. 22, four weeks ago, what has been accomplished on the Hill?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Seventeen
Thursday, Dec. 9 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Althia Raj, Toronto Star | Raisa Patel, Toronto Star
Topic 1. As new cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant are confirmed across the country, confusion about testing and travel mounts. What is the government advising?
Topic 2. MPs voted in support of adding another committee to the House, this one on Afghanistan. The government opposed the committee’s creation, why?
Topic 3:Next week Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will present the Fall Economic Statement and, we may hear more news from the government on COVID. Our chattering class weighs in on what they will be watching on these two fronts.
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Sixteen
Thursday, Dec. 2 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Alex Ballingall,
Toronto Star
Topic 1. In a surprise move the Conservatives asked for unanimous consent to move the government’s conversion therapy bill through the House and on to the Senate. Why?
Topic 2. All three parties of the official opposition are calling for the government to boycott the winter Olympics in China by not sending any diplomatic representation. Who is leading the charge and will the government comply?
Topic 3: Interim Green Party Leader Amita Kuttner says they will “listen and love” to “heal the party.” Can the Greens save themselves?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 15
Thursday, Nov.25 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Althia Raj, Toronto Star
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Gov. Gen. Mary Simon delivered the speech from the throne on Tuesday. Did the government successfully set a new tone for the 44th Parliament?
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The Liberals are pushing a return to a hybrid sitting of the House for the rest of this session. What effect will that have?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 14
Thursday, Nov.18 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star
Topic 1: Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole has given Sen. Denise Batters the boot from caucus. Will this quiet the dissent? How is this sitting with the socially conservative wing of the party?
Topic 2: The prime minister meets with his U.S. and Mexican counterparts today. What are Canada’s key concerns?
Topic 3: Parliament resumes on Monday, followed by the throne speech on Tuesday. What’s expected on the government’s agenda?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Thirteen
Thursday, Nov.11 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Alex Ballingall, Toronto Star
Topic 1. Annamie Paul formally resigns as Green party leader. Who will lead the party as it tries to move forward given the turmoil of the past year?
Topic 2. Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole faces internal party divisions over vaccines. His recent shadow cabinet announcement excluded critics and vaccine skeptics in caucus. How will this play out as MPs prepare for Parliament’s return?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Twelve
Thursday, Nov. 4 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star
Topic 1. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a cap on oil and gas emissions while he was at COP26 in Scotland earlier this week. Why was Alberta Premier Jason Kenney so upset about this announcement?
Topic 2. Are high level officials from the Liberals and NDP negotiating a deal for the NDP to support the government over the next three years, and if so, why?
Topic 3. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is staying quiet when asked about the vaccination status of his caucus members. What are the politics behind his silence?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 11
Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Althia Raj, Toronto Star | Kady O’Malley, iPolitics
Topic 1: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his new cabinet earlier this week. Who's in, who's out, and what signals do they send?
Topic 2: Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says his MPs will be fully vaccinated when Parliament returns on Nov. 22 . So why is he promising to challenge the mandate in the House?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 10
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star / Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star/ Kady O’Malley, iPolitics
Topic 1: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced new vaccine passports for international travel. What does this mean for Canadians heading overseas?
Topic 2: The Board of Internal Economy has voted to make sure anyone entering buildings on Parliament Hill are fully vaccinated. Why are the Conservatives resisting this mandate?
Topic 3: The Green Party of Canada let 11 staff members go earlier this week. Can the party survive federally?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Nine
Thursday, Oct.14 , 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Alex Ballingall, Toronto Star
Topic 1: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to name his cabinet later this month. Will he increase the size of it? Who could be sitting on the front bench?
Topic 2: Still no date for when Parliament will resume, whether MPs will sit in the House, or if they’ll need to be fully vaccinated. What are some of the issues parties are weighing?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 8
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Stephanie Levitz/ Toronto Star; Alex Ballingall/ Toronto Star; Kady O’Malley/ iPolitics
Part One: Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have announced formal reviews of their parties' performances in the last election. Will their conclusions be made public? And will they change their parties' approach in the next election?
Part Two: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this week that federally regulated employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the month, with few exceptions. What does this mean for Parliament’s return?
No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Seven
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Chattering Class: Raisa Patel /Toronto Star; Stephanie Levitz/ Toronto Star; Kady O’Malley/ iPolitics
Part One: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces he will name his new cabinet in October and Parliament will resume before fall ends. Who is expected to be in cabinet and what will a return to the House of Commons look like?
Part Two: Following the election results, calls for some party leaders to step down made headlines. Earlier this week Green Party Leader Annamie Paul announced she’d had enough. What's really happening behind the curtain?
No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 6
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Guests: Quito Maggi, president and CEO Mainstreet Research, Amy Go, Chinese Canadian Council for Social Justice, Karamveer Lalh, former UCP researcher and Conservative Party assistant, and Kady O’Malley, iPolitics.
In this special post-election edition of No Talking Points, we drill down in ridings with a majority of Chinese-Canadian voters who delivered a surprise at the ballot box . How did this affect the overall election results, and what concerns caused this community to change their votes?
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No Talking Points: Season Two, Episode Five
Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Guest: Quito Maggi, Mainstreet Research
Chattering Class: Kady O’Malley, iPolitics |Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star | Alex Ballingall, Toronto Star
Topic 1. As the race gets tighter ahead of voting day on Monday, Quito Maggi joins us to talk about the polling numbers and why this race is too close to call.
Topic 2. O’Malley, MacCharles and Ballingall weigh in on campaign strategy and leaders’ messages in the final days of this election.
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No Talking Points: Season 2, Episode 5
Friday Sept. 10, 2021
Moderator: Janet E Silver, iPolitics
Guest: Marilène Gill, Bloc Québécois MP
Chattering Class: Stephanie Levitz, The Toronto Star l Kady O’Malley, iPolitics
Today we look at the Bloc Québécois' campaign in Quebec. Polls show the party's support is down, but what's happening on the ground? We'll also break down the English-language leaders' debate and discuss what to look for in the final week of the election campaign.
Welcome to No Talking Points, a show about how politics and government really work. Unscripted straight talk from the folks who cover the Hill at iPolitics and the Toronto Star. When the House is in session, we’ll be here every Thursday to break down the politics, the policy, and the players behind it all. Season […]
iPolitics reporters Kady O’Malley and Kyle Duggan sit down for a chat about the upcoming committee hearings on Bill C-45, the Liberal government’s recreational cannabis legalization bill. Recorded Friday September 8, 2017.
Senate vs. House budget-booze debacle, the new access to information bill, and, now that Parliament has risen for the summer, we take a look at what’s in store in the coming months. There’s even some cabinet shuffle speculation! In this episode: host and iPolitics executive editor Stephen Maher, political reporters Kady O’Malley, BJ Siekierski and […]
CPC ballot debacle, foreign and defence policy, and officers of parliament. In this episode: host and iPolitics executive editor Stephen Maher, political reporters Kady O’Malley, Beatrice Britneff, Amanda Connolly, and Janice Dickson. You can find all our stories and more at iPolitics.ca.
Leadership look back, voting discrepancies and how Andrew Scheer has fared in his first week as Tory leader. Also, a look at the Liberals’ Meilleur headache in the House. In this episode: host and iPolitics executive editor Stephen Maher, political reporters Kady O’Malley, BJ Siekierski and Janice Dickson, and Mainstreet Research President and CEO Quito […]
Kellie Leitch is “going to have to deal with” the consequences of her highly controversial push to impose ‘values’ screening on would-be immigrants, rival Conservative leadership candidate Lisa Raitt said today after hearing about a protest banner draped over Leitch’s constituency office last night. “Obviously she’s made a choice in her campaign,” Raitt told reporters […]
Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch refused to answer a direct question about whether she's worried racists will support her leadership bid.
In an interview with AM640's Kelly Cutrara Monday afternoon, Leitch was asked about comments she made one day earlier on CTV's Question Period. Leitch was defending her embrace of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump — and accused rival candidate Michael Chong, who she was debating on the show, of calling her a racist.