Toxic political polarization is on the rise around the world – and it’s making a mess of things. Ordinary people who might otherwise disagree, even strongly, and yet get on with one another, are at each other’s throats over just about everything. Too many political and economic elites reap short-term benefits from this divide, but the long term consequences for democracy – and society – are devastating. So, where does toxic political polarization come from and what can we do about it?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Kurt Gray, University of North Carolina psychologist and neuroscientist and author of Outrage: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.This is the final episode of Open to Debate. We’re winding down after five years and 112 conversations. We’ve run our course. And we’ve run it well. Thanks so much for listening.

Women’s hockey has surged in popularity in recent years. That growth has been a long time coming. The history of the women’s game stretches back more than one hundred years, and includes the rise and fall of teams, leagues, and legends. With the arrival of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, however, the game has entered a new era, and is set to be bigger than ever before. So, how did women’s hockey become so popular?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks once more again with Ian Kennedy, women’s hockey writer for the Hockey News and author of Ice in Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck.

Everybody loves a pentalogy. In March of 2020, host David Moscrop and guest Amanda Watson discussed how we were managing early pandemic life. In the months and years that followed, the two rejoined to talk about anxiety and late-pandemic life. Twice. In early 2024, they covered what the new year might have in store for us. Now, for a record-shattering fifth time on the pod, Watson is back to talk culture wars, elections, affordability, academia, censorship, and to ask: Is anything getting better?This episode was recorded before the U.S election. Now, in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory and return to the White House, the themes we discuss are, alas, even more relevant – and reason for grim concern.On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks once more again with Amanda Watson, feminist theorist, Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University and author of The Juggling Mother: Coming Undone in the Age of Anxiety.

In the last of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, Antti Lindtman (Leader, Social Democratic Party of Finland), Kati Piri (Member of Parliament, Netherlands), and Gerald Butts (Vice Chairman, Eurasia Group, Canada) have an essential and timely discussion with Tarek Ghani (Professor, Washington University, US) on human rights, peace and security, and building solidarity in a more divided world.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit,  Daniel Sachs (Chair, Daniel Sachs Foundation), Tonje Brenna (Minister, MP, and Deputy Party Leader, Norway), Alejandra Parra (Strategy Director, Instituto Update, Mexico), Muthouni Wambu Kraal (Founder & Principal Dunia, US), Gregor Robertson (Special Envoy for Cities in CHAMP, Global Covenant of Mayors, Canada), and Ari Rabin-Havt (Chair, WPC) share their thoughts with moderator Amy Dacey (Executive Director SINE Institute, American University) about creeping authoritarianism around the world and the work of defending democracy without losing your base.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, Patrick Gaspard (CEO of the Center for American Action Fund) has an inspirational conversation with Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland about securing inclusive prosperity, fundamental rights, and stronger democracies in an a time of enormous global transformation.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and co-founder and CEO of Rappler Maria Ressa joins MP Anna Gainey (NDG-Westmount) on stage to talk about the nuance and policy challenges of navigating new frontiers in AI, social media, and democracy.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, we hear from Mark Carney (former Governor of the Bank of Canada & Bank of England,UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, and Chair of Canada 2020 Advisory Board) and Frances Colón (Senior Fellow International Climate, CAP Action) on our changing economic landscape and turning several enormous global transformations into generational opportunities for progress.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and CEO of Center for American Progress Action Fund Patrick Gaspard are joined in conversation by Field Fellows from four countries: Effie Achtsioglou (Member of Parliament and former Minister, Greece), Klara Dobrev (Member of European Parliament, Hungary), Romina Kuko (Deputy Minister of Interior, Albania), and Kati Piri (Member of Parliament and former Member of European Parliament, Netherlands) on strength in today’s divided politics, connecting with voters, and human-centred leadership.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

“We’re fighting for our institutions, and for ourselves.” Canada has worked to be a North Star for the global progressive movement over the years, and like so many democracies, is now reflecting on how it adapts to the tumult and transformations of the coming decade on the world stage. In this featured session of the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Centre for American Progress Action Fund about shaping a just future and what it will take.This conversation took place on September 21, 2024, at the 2024 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

Democratic life is increasingly marked by toxic polarisation and partisan hostility. Public institutions are overrun by the few, leaving the many on the sidelines. Many of us are left to assume there’s only one way to self-govern, to let others do it; or else we are so turned off by what we see that we want nothing to do with politics. But what if things didn’t have to be this way? What if there were some hope that we could do better? What if there were a better way to do democracy? Well, is there?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Diana Smith, an author with a career that has included community organizing, journalism, consulting and more. Her latest book is Remaking the Space Between Us: How Citizens Can Work Together To Build A Better Future For All. 

The non-profit sector is massive. According to Statistics Canada, in 2022 the non-profit sector accounted for over 8 percent of GDP – contributing more than $216 billion to the economy. Non-profits operate in many spaces, but are essential parts of the healthcare, housing, and education systems. Non-profits exist to serve communities and fill essential functions not covered, or only partially covered, by the state or private market; they’re also sometimes in competition with other sectors, or at least in tension with them, and with one another.It’s complicated stuff. And when you add changing technologies, trends, economic conditions, and domestic and geopolitical considerations, making a non-profit work is even trickier. So how do non-profit organizations work – or not? On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Brooke Struck, strategy facilitator and the founder and CEO of the firm Converge.

Is Canada ready to get serious about tackling monopolies and oligopolies?You’ve heard it before, the old joke that Canada is three telecom companies in a trench coat. Or airlines. Or grocery stores. You’ve probably heard it here before. That’s because Canada has a monopoly and oligopoly problem – and it has for a long time.The United States has long faced its own challenges with market concentration — and for or once, Canada might not be too far behind.To understand the state and future of competition in this country, we ask: Is Canada ready to get serious about tackling monopolies and oligopolies?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Denise Hearn, writer, applied researcher, and c0-author of the upcoming book The Big Fix, which is out this October.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annual Economic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought  together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all.  In the next  of our series of highlight conversations from this gathering, Chief Crystal Smith speaks with Braeden Caley (President & CEO, Canada 2020) about Haisla Nation’s long term project of own source revenue generation and careful but robust economic development practices.This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annual Economic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all. In the next of our series of highlight conversations from this gathering, we hear from Chief Sharleen Gale (Chief of Fort Nelson First Nation and Chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition) and Katherine Kootstachin (VP, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Sussex Strategy Group) on the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, implementing major projects, leveraging capital, and more.This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annual Economic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all. In the next of our series of highlighted conversations from this summit, we hear Chief Dylan Whiteduck (Kitigan Zibi First Nation), Hillary Thatcher (Managing Director, Indigenous and Northern Investments, Canada Infrastructure Bank), Mihskakwan James Harper (Business Development Manager, NRStor Inc.), and Steve Berna (COO, First Nations Finance Authority) in conversation with Fred Di Blasio (Co-Founder, Managing Partner and CEO of Longhouse Capital Partners) about catalyzing investment, access to capital, and essential infrastructure projects from coast to coast to coast.This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annual Economic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all. In the next of our series of highlight conversations from this gathering, Cassidy Caron (President of the Métis National Council) and Heidi Todacheene (Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the Office of the Secretary, US Department of the Interior) speak with Braeden Caley (President & CEO, Canada 2020) about relationship-building, co-development, investing in Indigenous communities, and comprehensive and thoughtful policy-making toward reconciliation. This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.

Canada has passed a law preventing federally-regulated businesses from using scab workers. Bill C-58 passed in June and marked a significant milestone in the progress of worker’s rights. That it passed is notable; that it passed unanimously in an era of increasingly toxic polarization is quite remarkable, and speaks to the moment that labour is having in this country.To understand the government’s thinking on the law and the broader context in which it passed, we talk to the man in charge of the legislation and ask: What does an anti-scab worker bill tell us about the state of labour in Canada?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Labour and Seniors.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annual Economic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all. In the fourth of our series of highlighted conversations from this summit, we hear Tiara Folkes (Manager, Indigenous Relations Public Policy, TC Energy) in conversation with Mary Mg (Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development) on the what Indigenous entrepreneurs and exporters offer Canada and the world.This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.

On May 29 and 30 in Ottawa, Canada 2020 hosted our annualEconomic Reconciliation Summit: The Indigenous-led Economy 2024. This gathering brought together Indigenous leaders from across sectors and territories for a vital day of conversation and engagement to explore the balance between growth and sustainability, and ensure that reconciliation is at the heart of future prosperity for all. In the third of our series of highlighted conversations from this summit, we hear Griffin Marsh (Program Director, Martin Family Initiative) talk to Heidi Todacheene (Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the Office of the Secretary, US Department of the Interior) about how the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Biden is investing in Indigenous land and communities, and what we can learn about progress being achieved by our closest neighbours.This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity ahead of publication.