New government. New PM. New priorities. And no one’s taking a break for the summer. Catherine Cullen & CBC’s best political journalists cut through the noise and make politics make sense.
Every Saturday, join Catherine and her guest hosts on The House for in-depth explorations of the biggest issues facing Canada: negotiating with Donald Trump, Canada's climate goals, military readiness, and more.
We’ll be out on location, we'll speak to decision makers, we'll check in on how the political parties are gearing up for the Fall sitting… and, as usual, hear analysis of the week’s news from across the political spectrum.
Because democracy is a conversation, and we’re here for it.
New government. New PM. New priorities. And no one’s taking a break for the summer. Catherine Cullen & CBC’s best political journalists cut through the noise and make politics make sense.
Every Saturday, join Catherine and her guest hosts on The House for in-depth explorations of the biggest issues facing Canada: negotiating with Donald Trump, Canada's climate goals, military readiness, and more.
We’ll be out on location, we'll speak to decision makers, we'll check in on how the political parties are gearing up for the Fall sitting… and, as usual, hear analysis of the week’s news from across the political spectrum.
Because democracy is a conversation, and we’re here for it.
What did the Trump-Putin summit achieve — and what comes next for Ukraine? CBC senior defence reporter Murray Brewster helms this security-focused episode of The House, featuring a debrief with former U.S. diplomat Michael Carpenter on what came out of the sit-down between the U.S. and Russian presidents late Friday in Alaska.
Then, two Canadian experts — a former NATO assistant secretary general and a former naval commander — dive deep into whether Canada can realistically reduce its dependence on U.S. military equipment and support.
Also: as global leaders watch closely for what could happen next in Ukraine, Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan discusses what possible role Canada could have in any ceasefire — and whether armed forces have the bench strength for a prolonged engagement.
Finally, Canadian researcher and author Alicia Wanless joins The House to explain why she believes the world’s democracies should look to the past — the far past — as governments continue to fight against disinformation.
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Canada has just five years to meet its 2030 climate target: a 40 per cent reduction in emissions below 2005 levels. CBC’s David Thurton covers climate change and the environment for the Parliamentary Bureau, and this week guest hosts a special edition of The House to take stock of why climate experts fear the 2030 goal will not be met. In an age of weakening interest in climate change as other crises take centre stage — is there even the political will to get it done?
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A new nuclear reactor. A natural gas pipeline extension. Thousands of offshore wind turbines. Atlantic provinces have ambitious ideas to generate and transmit more energy across Canada, all under one banner. As Prime Minister Mark Carney renews his call for nation-building projects to strengthen the Canadian economy, will this network of ideas, the Eastern Energy Partnership, make the cut? And how realistic – and expensive – are these plans?
CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick Jacques Poitras speaks to New Brunswick's premier and the federal minister in charge of the Atlantic, Sean Fraser, as well as First Nations leaders, experts and stakeholders about what it could mean for power in eastern Canada for generations to come.
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If you want to stay up to date this summer on everything going on in the world, The House is recommending As It Happens. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories – powerful leaders, proud eccentrics, and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too.
In this episode:
One day after the UK makes a similar statement, Ottawa announces plans to recognize Palestinian statehood in September. We'll reach Canada's former Ambassador to the United Nations.
The head of the Stephen Lewis Foundation tells us what a new million-dollar donation will mean for organizations whose capacity to help was suddenly slashed when the Trump Administration cut billions in USAID funding.
A Maui resident tells us he and his neighbours were lucky to avoid any major damage after living through a tsunami warning last night. But that doesn't mean they should be any less prepared next time.
A St. John's fire chief tells us about the fires that destroyed two historic fishing stages last night and how it felt to watch them burn, helpless to stop the flames.
Canada's 18-year-old swimming sensation Summer McIntosh is chasing five individual golds this week at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Her mother, a former Olympic swimmer herself, tells us what it's like to watch her daughter lean all the way in.
A man in Argentina was shocked, outraged and then really, really embarrassed after a Google Street View camera captured him in his yard – fully naked with his bottom on full display.
As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that imagines he'll be happy when the whole incident is in the rearview.
You can find As It Happens wherever you get your podcasts: https://app.magellan.ai/listen_links/cqSNA1
Over the past 10 years, the Senate has witnessed extraordinary change — namely a radical overhaul to do away with formal partisanship. The driver behind that? Former prime minister Justin Trudeau. But now that he’s gone, will those changes stick?
In a special documentary edition of The House, guest host J.P. Tasker carves out some frank and revealing conversations with Senators Andrew Cardozo, Marc Gold, Leo Housakos, Paul Prosper, Paula Simons and Pamela Wallin about their place of work.
Professor and author Jonathan Malloy also weighs in on representation in the Senate and whether reform is realistic, while Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon explains the new government’s strategy when it comes to dealing with the chamber of sober second thought.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney met with First Nations leaders this week to get their support for his nation-building plans — but some right-holders left with more questions than answers or outright blasted the meeting. Host Catherine Cullen checks in with Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand and Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee on the sidelines of the summit in Gatineau, Que.
Then, ahead of next week’s premiers’ meeting in Huntsville, Ont., Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe explains why he believes a deal with Trump on tariffs is likely, but he doesn’t think “elbows up” is the right way to get there.
Plus, as federal data shows inequality is widening and the federal government is going big on military spending and national projects, two economists offer their views on the most pressing priorities for Canadians and whether Ottawa’s spending matches their needs.
Finally, two Hill watchers weigh in on the uphill path Carney faces on trade and energy projects, as well as the Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's shift in tone.
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Once again, U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to slap more tariffs on Canada — and Pierre Poilievre has thoughts. The Conservative leader speaks with Catherine Cullen in his first national English interview with CBC since becoming party leader to discuss how he’d tackle the Canada-U.S. trade war differently and why he thinks he deserves a second shot at holding a seat in the House of Commons.
Then, national security expert Wesley Wark explains why Trump’s latest move should elicit a bigger response from north of the border.
Plus, the new head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, tells The House her priorities for the new role in a “volatile and uncertain” time.
Finally, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s chief of staff and the new Clerk of the Privy Council officially take the reins of the federal government, Janice Charette, a former clerk who assisted with the Carney transition, and Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, lift the curtain on the high-pressure roles and examine the challenges of executing the prime minister’s ambitious agenda.
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Canada-U.S. trade once again became the hottest topic in town after Donald Trump said he was walking away from the negotiating table over the federal government’s digital services tax. Just a few days later, Prime Minister Mark Carney rescinded the tax. Was that a smart move? Two trade experts join The House, guest hosted by CBC’s trade reporter Janyce McGregor, to discuss the retreat and the looming July 21 deadline for a deal.
Plus, The House talks to cheesemakers at a festival in Kingston, Ont. about concerns Trump’s tariff threat will spell the end of Canada’s protection of its dairy industry. Then, a Saskatchewan cattle rancher explains why she’s frustrated over a recently passed bill that protects that supply management system from Canada-U.S. trade talks.
Next, as Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. remains uncertain, it needs other allies more than ever. In his first broadcast interview since being named to cabinet, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu explains why making up for lost trade with the U.S. is hard to do.
Finally, trade policy and negotiations used to be dominated by economic data, legal rules and a ton of fine print — until Donald Trump flipped the table. Dimitry Grozoubinkski, an Australian trade consultant, discusses his book, Why Politicians Lie About Trade, and how to spot the misformation to be able to make sense of (and even poke fun at?) the current state of trade debates.
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It was all going well — until it wasn’t. On Friday afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was ending all trade discussions with Canada and blamed the federal government’s digital services tax, set to take effect June 30. So what now? Former deputy prime minister John Manley joins The House to discuss what Ottawa can do next.
After that, as federal parties hit the summer barbecue circuit and prepare for the fall session of Parliament, Liberal strategist Marci Surkes, Conservative strategist Kate Harrison and NDP strategist George Soule reflect on what’s changed for their parties and look at the political road ahead.
Plus, some disabled Canadians will be able to receive up to $200 a month from the new Canada Disability Benefit — but not everyone qualifies. B.C. resident Shauna Milne explains how she tries to make ends meet. Then Heather McCain, Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society, weighs in on how Ottawa can make it easier to apply for the benefit.
Finally, Catherine Cullen asks politicians about the best political advice they’ve ever received and hears a wide range of tips and tricks. For starters: don’t eat the free cookies.
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The House of Commons has risen for summer break, but political leaders won’t be poolside for very long. For this season's final episode of House Party, Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault sort through the to-do lists of the major parties – from PM Mark Carney’s deadline to get a U.S.-Canada trade deal done, to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s task of getting himself elected.
After a flurry of amendments and a series of Friday evening votes, Prime Minister Mark Carney has passed his One Canadian Economy Act through the House of Commons. The bill accelerates approvals for projects deemed in Canada’s national interest, but not everyone is pleased with the Liberals fast-tracking the legislation. Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta joins The House to explain why some First Nations are concerned about the government’s need for speed. Plus, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon argues for why Ottawa needs to move fast.
Then, Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief Tonda MacCharles and La Presse Ottawa bureau chief Joel-Denis Bellavance discuss whether Carney is right to rush his major projects bill through Parliament — and how long the Liberal-Conservative alliance on the legislation can last.
Finally, As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets set to meet NATO leaders next week, Catherine Cullen talks to former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO Wendy Gilmour and former Canadian Military Representative to NATO, retired Vice-Admiral Bob Davidson, for insight into how the alliance will seek to find unity in an age of war and U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Despite all the nail biting about how U.S. President Trump would show up at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, relief descended Monday after a reportedly jovial and productive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. But by Monday night, Trump was gone – bailing from the G7 early to deal with the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran. Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault analyze the effect Trump had on his fellow leaders – and whether Canada actually had more space to get more done on day two without him.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is gearing up for a critical G7 meeting with leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies on his home turf in Alberta — but the renewed conflict between Iran and Israel could shake up the agenda. Catherine Cullen sits down with Anita Anand for her first interview as foreign affairs minister to discuss the airstrikes, the upcoming meeting and how close Canada is to reaching a deal with the United States.
Plus, Jason Stanley, an American facism expert who’s moving to Canada over concerns about the Trump administration, joins The House to argue why he thinks the U.S. is no longer a democracy — and how world leaders should treat the U.S. president. Then, former G7 sherpa Senator Peter Boehm pulls back the curtain on what Trump is like in world meetings.
After that, former Conservative leader and officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Erin O’Toole comments on Mark Carney’s plans for military spending. Finally, as a number of Conservatives have applauded the Carney government’s moves, writer Paul Wells and Globe and Mail columnist Shannon Proudfoot discuss: Is Mark Carney a C(c)onservative?
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Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Canada will increase defence spending to 2% of GDP, meeting our NATO commitment 5 years earlier than expected. After a decade of nudging, foreign allies are celebrating the military investment. But where exactly will the extra $9.3 billion come from? Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault analyze the strategy behind the sudden funding increase, the government’s capacity to move quickly, and what might end up getting left behind.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal is government is planning to speed up approvals for resource projects deemed to be in the national interest — but there are already concerns over the environment and Indigenous treaty rights. Host Catherine Cullen talks to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce CEO and two First Nations chiefs about Carney’s plan and who’s at risk of getting left behind.
Then, provincial and territorial premiers gear up up for a key meeting with Carney in Saskatoon. Can this meeting reset the federal-provincial relationship? Two legislature reporters from Ontario and Alberta weigh in.
Finally, The House delves into what we know about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to get the federal government back into the business of building homes with housing experts Mike Moffat and Steve Pomeroy, then Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow weighs in on whether the Liberal goal of building a half a million homes a year is realistic.
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King Charles spent a whirlwind 24 hours in Ottawa at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney, capped off by his delivery of the Speech from the Throne. It was the first time a sovereign had delivered the throne speech in nearly 5 decades, and many saw this as a chance for the King to affirm Canada’s sovereignty and independence, in the face of 51st-state threats from Donald Trump. But could one speech possibly deliver on that hope? And what did the King’s visit actually accomplish? Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault wade through the pomp and circumstance for some answers of substance.
There’s an air of excitement in Ottawa as it prepares for King Charles III to arrive and deliver the speech from the throne, which lays out the Liberal government’s plan and priorities. His visit is also widely seen as pushback against U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to turn Canada into the 51st state.
But according to the new U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, that saga is over and Canada should move on. He sits with Catherine Cullent to discuss that and the next steps in the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Plus, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Canada of emboldening Hamas, a Middle East expert joins The House to talk about if there’s been a shift in Canadian-Israeli relations.
Then, a constitutional expert, a royal watcher, an Indigenous leader and members of Quebec’s sovereignty parties talk about what message King Charles’ speech will send to Trump — or whether the whole thing ultimately means nothing to the U.S. president.
Finally, the parliamentary bureau chief of the National Post and the Ottawa bureau chief of La Presse explain what to look for in the government’s to-do list.
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Mark Carney won the Canadian election on a promise to deal with Donald Trump – to quash his tariffs and threats about the 51st state. But with big domestic issues rearing their heads, from a looming Canada Post strike to threats of an Alberta succession referendum and growing demands from premiers – should Trump still top the PM’s to-do list? Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault debate what issues Carney should tackle first.
