Our Future Pod: Recent Episodes
Our Future Now
Presented by Our Future Now, this is the Our Future Pod - where hosts Jesse Martin and Ian Stecher break down all things politics in Canada. They cut through the news to discuss what matters and keep you in the know on current political events at every level of government. The Our Future Pod offers radical, but pragmatic solutions to Canada's biggest political challenges. Each week, Jesse also hosts a special guest, including experts, former politicians, NGO leaders, and activists - where they will dive deeper into a relevant issue impacting the lives of Canadians now and into the future.
In this episode Jesse speaks with Réal Lavergne about Canada's attempts at electoral reform, citizen assemblies, and proportional representation. They discuss what needs to change in advocacy, what the best electoral system for Canada looks like and new pathways towards electoral reform.
You can learn more about Fair Vote Canada here: https://www.fairvote.ca/
You can learn more about the Charter Challenge here: https://www.charterchallenge.ca/
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Jesse sits down with Kevin Milligan, a Professor of Economics at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, who also affiliated with the CD Howe Institute and the National Bureau of Economic Research.
They discuss what the baby boomer generation retiring means for Canada's labour market and economy, including healthcare and social services. They discuss what policies have contributed to an outsized exit from the labour market and how Canada could mitigate its effects on both retirees and those still in the labour market.
Possible solutions range from changing retirement incentives, social policy, and immigration.
You can find Kevin Milligan at https://economics.ubc.ca/profile/kevin-milligan/ and https://twitter.com/kevinmilligan
Find more podcasts, videos and articles at www.ourfuturenow.ca
FB: www.facebook.com/ourfuturenowcan
IG: www.instagram.com/ourfuturenow_can
TW: twitter.com/Our_FutureNow
Patreon: www.patreon.com/forourfutureCAN
The CAQ won a huge, second majority last night winning 71% of the seats with 41% vote. Potentially reshaping the political landscape in Quebec and Canada.
The Liberals and Conservatives have competing views of how to solve Canada’s inflation and cost of living crisis.
This week’s readout looks at racial recognition and its use by police
We have an update on the storm recovery and Ontario’s election.
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Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Beaches-East York. He currently sits on the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Nate has maintained a relatively independent streak despite being part of a major political party. He has long been an animal rights activist and introduced multiple private member bills in the House of Commons to support animal rights.
We discuss the state of cultured meat from a government perspective. Cultured meat is the real meat grown from stem cells from livestock such as cows or chickens. This type of meat is grown in labs or industrial facilities free from harm to animals. If you have not heard about cultured meat before, I encourage you to listen to my podcast with Future Fields first.
This discussion was frank and honest. We covered a range of challenges with cultured meat including how the government can ensure a fair market, building up scale, whether farmers will need to be protected, and if the meat lobby is creating barriers for cultured meat.
This is my first discussion with an MP and based on how frank and open Nate was I will try to have more MPs on. Let me know who you would like me to talk to.
Nuclear energy and its future. This week I speak with Canon Bryan from Terrestrial Energy about nuclear technologies and its impact in Canada.
Terrestrial Energy, is developing clean, cost-competitive, and resilient energy technology using Generation IV fission technology for a thermal and electric plants. These small modular reactors (SMRs) can be manufactured in a plant and shipped to a job site instead of being a mega project.
The international panel on climate change has said nuclear must be part of countries’ climate solutions and our guest today is bullish on nuclear’s ability to be a leading energy in Canada.
Jesse sits down with Matt Anderson-Baron, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Future Fields - a company is growing the food of our future food - cultured meat.
They discuss how cultured meat can tackle climate change, help animal welfare, and prevent the next pandemic.
Matt details what growth media and how Future Field's formula is driving down costs so cultured meat can be in your grocery store sooner rather than later.
Jesse and Matt talk how the federal government, regulation, and lobby groups could impact cultured meats success and when it will become cost competitive with traditional meats.
Professor Emmett Macfarlane joins Jesse in this episode on Senate reforms including the possibility of an elected Senate. They discuss the purpose of the Senate and how it is different than the House of Commons; what reforms were made in 2016 to the Senate; the unexpected outcomes from those reforms; whether the Senate is effective and legitimate; what further reforms are needed or likely; can the Senate be a mechanism to ensure Canada can plan for the long-term instead of for a 4-year election cycle; and if the Senate can be elected.
Jesse and Ian discuss the recent call from premiers for greater healthcare funding; the recent carbon rebate that Canadians received; rising inflation and its effects on jobs; and how the Conservative Party will do under a Pierre Poilievre leadership
Jesse interviews Adam Zivo, a columnist at National Post and previously was the founder and director of LoveisLoveisLove, an LGBTQ advocacy campaign. They discuss competing rights in a polarized world. They focus on how LGBTQ rights fit into this space and whether there can be a framework for resolving competing rights in a polarized world.
Jesse interviews Professor Peter Loewen, Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. They discuss the virtues and vices of mandatory voting - increased participation, engagement, and equality; what the root cause of dropping voter turn out; what mechanisms of mandatory voting work best and whether Canada should adopt it.
Ian and Jesse discuss the repercussions of Patrick Brown's disqualification from the federal Conservative leadership race, the extent of Chinese interference in Canada's elections, and the future of Canada's healthcare systems.
This week's readout is an article on Brad Wall's, former Saskatchewan Premier, involvement in the February Freedom Convoy.
Jesse interviews Philipp Bien, a PhD candidate, on his research of the role that national parliaments play in international politics and how they network with one another globally.
Ian and Jesse comment on the implications of Canada Day protests in Ottawa, discuss the appointment of Doug Ford's nephew, Michael Ford, to his cabinet, and question the implications of a new data privacy and artificial intelligence bill in front of the federal government. This week's readout digs into Michelle Rempel Garner's letter about the state of the Alberta and federal conservatives and what it means for her and the parties' futures.
This week's interview is with Professor Jonathan Rose from Queen's University where Jesse goes in depth about the values and assumptions we make about the Canadian electoral system and how it just might be improved.
Jesse and Ian breakdown the fallout from the recent automatism ruling from the Supreme Court; the right to disconnect legislation in Ontario and whether it will make a difference; and whether there will be government action to create a pathway for permanent residents to use their foreign credentials as doctors, engineers, and nurses. This week's excerpt highlights the recent Canada - Denmark agreement regarding Hans Island. Jesse and Ian discuss the recent Our Future Now article arguing that Canada could be an electric energy power.
Jesse then dives into an interview with Stephen Thomas, from the David Suzuki Foundation on how Canada can create a 100% renewable electricity grid by 2035. Find more information about their report at www.davidsuzuki.org
Presented by Our Future Now, this is the Our Future Pod - where hosts Jesse Martin and Ian Stecher break down all things politics in Canada. They cut through the news to discuss what matters and keep you in the know on current political events at every level of government. The Our Future Pod offers radical, but pragmatic solutions to Canada's biggest political challenges.
Each week, Jesse also hosts a special guest, including experts, former politicians, NGO leaders, and activists - where they will dive deeper into a relevant issue impacting the lives of Canadians now and into the future.