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If your Twitter feed’s a dumpster fire, and your dinner table discussions aren’t what they used to be, The Backbench has the insights you need on Canada's most important political issues. Each Tuesday, we’ll ask bold questions and offer sharp analysis, giving you the tools to challenge any perspective — maybe even your own. With the next federal election looming, you’ll want us in your ears and your back pocket. The Backbench is made by Noor Azrieh, Aviva Lessard and Sam Konnert. Hosted on A ...
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Political Heat is here to make sense of climate politics. We know the science tells us to phase out fossil fuels. But it’s politics that will determine how we do that, whose voices matter in decision-making, who will benefit - and who might lose out. Host Amy Mount brings two decades’ experience of environmental politics, policy and organising. She interviews a different guest each episode. You’ll hear from seasoned Westminster operators, savvy campaigners, business representatives, opinion ...
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A podcast made by an A level politics teacher and editor of alevelpolitics.com to help students studying the subject. I cover UK and Global routes. Follow me on twitter @patelshop And visit my site https://www.alevelpolitics.com/ Sign up for my weekly news briefing
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Deborah Frances-White quizzes former speaker John Bercow about how British democracy really works. The instruments of power in the UK are often arcane, confusing and bizarre – but understanding how they operate is key to wielding them effectively – and as citizens, we need to be aware of what those in power can and can’t do. With a governing party which is using those instruments more ruthlessly than any government in recent memory, it’s more important than ever to appreciate how we got here ...
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It feels like we’ve never been closer to another world war. If our NATO allies called us, could we answer? This week, host Noor Azrieh, with guests David Pugliese and Stephen Saideman, explore whether NATO targets matter, what we should be spending our money on, and if we’re at the mercy of our beefed-up southern neighbours. And, the latest on Prim…
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While world leaders meet and Israel’s war on Gaza spreads, Canadian MPs are at odds over recognizing a Palestinian state. How much does Canadian recognition really matter? Why are we dragging our feet? Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Michael Lynk, the former Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories, and Mar…
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We’re a week into parliament's new session, and things are getting ugly. Justin Trudeau is trying on a new attitude, Jagmeet Singh ripped up the Supply and Confidence Agreement and Pierre Poilievre is doing everything he can to force an election as soon as possible. So, what are we in for here? An election? A year of mudslinging? Our panelists Max …
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Canadaland just launched its first ever celebrity interview podcast and it’s not great. It’s The Worst Podcast. Celebrities are always talking about their bests. Now hear them at their worst. Join award-winning filmmaker and noted curmudgeon Alan Zweig for refreshingly honest conversations with “notable people” about the worst things in life. Alan …
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He was the immigration minister when we rehauled the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. He’s now the housing minister, tackling Canada’s massive housing crisis. He’s got a huge job. This week, host Mattea Roach asks the hard-hitting questions about mistakes the Liberals have made, and how they plan to fix it. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessar…
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Harassment of MPs has risen around 800% in the past five years. One-off threats can so easily turn to real violence. Many leaders are calling it quits — saying it’s just too much. What does that feel like for those in office? And for the team responsible for keeping these politicians safe? We get into it with MP Marco Mendicino, MP Pam Damoff and S…
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Pierre Poilievre isn’t just on the campaign trail, he’s pounding the pavement. And by jove, he’s following it all the way to the top of the polls relying on several rhyming promises. Nanos polling has the Conservatives at 41 per cent nationally, with the Liberals dragging at 25, and the NDP at 17 per cent. It also has Poilievre as the preferred cho…
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Two team Canadas… two wildly different levels of athleticism. While our athletes head to Paris, our politicians are flooding to the USA to promote Canadian interests in a wildly turbulent time. Our panelists are closely tracking trade, immigration, and our own election. But no matter who wins the next election, the road may get tough for Canadians.…
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What role do protests play in climate activism? How have tactics changed over time? And when is controversy constructive? Amy talks with Hannah Martin, Co Executive Director at Green New Deal Rising, which is a movement of young people fighting to stop climate change. Produced and presented by Amy Mount. Edited by Sarah Eldridge. For more insights,…
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We’re bringing you a special episode of a show we love! The Secret Life of Canada from CBC Podcasts is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. In this episode, “Sorry not Sorry”, they explore the history of…
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Why is it important to think about the places we live, work and experience, when responding to climate change? Why do local communities matter to climate action - and vice versa? And what opportunities and constraints do communities face? Amy talks with Danielle Walker-Palmour, the Director of Friends Provident Foundation, which works towards a fai…
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Strap on your binoculars and lace up your boots: today we’re sharing an episode of the newest show on the network, A Field Guide to Gay Animals. A Field Guide to Gay Animals explores sexuality, gender, and joy in the animal world. Animal enthusiasts Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson take us on a quest to see beyond the natural world as we know it…
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On June 3, a cross-party committee released a redacted document alleging some parliamentarians have been "semi-witting or witting" participants in the efforts of foreign states to interfere in Canadian politics. Trudeau says he has “concerns,” Singh says he’s “alarmed,” May is “relieved,” and Poilievre won’t even look. So who’s right about foreign …
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Is a better world possible? Why are the stories we tell so important in the politics of climate? And what’s the relationship between social and environmental tipping points? Amy talks with Solitaire Townsend, co-founder and Chief Solutionist at “change agency” Futerra. Produced and presented by Amy Mount. Edited by Sarah Eldridge. For more insights…
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How can Parliament force progress on climate when the Government is resistant? What does it take for backbench MPs to amend legislation? And how does their power wax and wane as the composition of Parliament changes? Amy talks with Isabella Gornall, who is Founder and Chair of Seahorse Environmental, a politics and communications agency. Produced a…
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When 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 ex…
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How did scrapping a climate target bring down a First Minister? What would a good transition to net zero look like in Scotland? And what should be the climate priorities for the Scottish Government's new leadership? Amy talks with Miriam Brett, Co-Director of the Future Economy Scotland think tank. Future Economy Scotland is non-partisan and aims t…
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How can the government drive investment into the net zero transition? What opportunities and constraints does it face? And why did the Labour Party adopt - and then drop - its £28bn green investment commitment? Amy talks with Carys Roberts, one of the UK’s leading thinkers on economic policy. She’s executive director of the Institute for Public Pol…
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When 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 pro…
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Today 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 intere…
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How has climate politics in the UK been shaped by this country’s longer history of environmentalism? Do economic arguments fully capture what’s at stake in climate policy? And how can we navigate tensions between action for the climate and the countryside? Amy talks with Dame Fiona Reynolds, a former Director-General of the National Trust, and auth…
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Temporary 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…
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