The House

Looming over the Liberals is whether Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget will pass its final vote on Monday in the House of Commons. So far, no other political party has given a sign they will support it. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May discusses whether she’ll change her mind and vote with the Liberals on the budget. Christopher Nardi of the National Post and Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star weigh in on where the government can get the last two votes it needs or if we’re heading into another election this year. Mark Carney announced more major projects to spur Canada’s economic growth. Rick Smith of the Canadian Climate Institute tells The House how Canada’s push to expand mining and energy projects is going down at the United Nations climate change conference in Brazil. Plus, as Canada loses its measles elimination status Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Vice President of the Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada explains what needs to be done to win it back. And: J.D.M. Stewart, author of The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation they Shaped, takes Catherine Cullen on a tour of the monuments erected on Parliament Hill to commemorate Canada’s leaders. Who were they, what were their funny foibles, and will Canada ever see a statue of Stephen Harper or Justin Trudeau? This episode features the voices of: Elizabeth May, Green Party LeaderChristopher Nardi, National Post parliamentary reporterTonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate InstituteDr. Natasha Crowcroft, Vice President of the Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada J.D.M. Stewart, author of The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation they Shaped

Budget week on Parliament Hill quickly became a stunning political drama after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost two of his MPs in quick succession. One has crossed the floor to join the Liberals and the other says he’ll resign as an MP in the spring. How bad is this for the Official Opposition, and where does Poilievre go from here? Conservative strategist Kate Harrison and Liberal strategist Marci Surkes discuss the impact on Poilievre’s leadership, the mood in caucus and whether more departures could follow.Plus, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer responds to the caucus commotion and lays out his party’s criticism of the budget; and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defends his government’s financial plan.And: Business Council of Canada president Goldy Hyder joins Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers in a debate over whether this budget can spur investment and growth without making cost-of-living concerns worse; and Sahir Khan, co-founder and VP of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy helps tally up a budget scorecard on how the document has landed as a win or loss for Canadians.This episode features the voices of:Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa StrategiesMarci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass RoseSahir Khan, co-founder of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and DemocracyFrançois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of FinanceAndrew Scheer, Conservative House leaderGoldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of CanadaArmine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers

This is a big week in politics: Mark Carney’s first federal budget. To catch you up on what you missed from the government’s big unveiling, The House brings you this special bonus episode from today’s live CBC Radio broadcast. Co-hosts Catherine Cullen and Susan Bonner spoke to politicians, business owners, voters and experts to dig into just how pivotal this federal budget may be — and whether it’ll gain enough support from opposition parties to stave off an election.

He may be known as ‘the little guy from Shawinigan,’ but Jean Chrétien’s impact on his hometown has been anything but small. And at 91, the former prime minister seems far from slowing down. In this exclusive documentary, host Catherine Cullen travels to Shawinigan, Que to spend the day with the former prime minister. She learns about how the small city shaped his political career, what he’d say if he was in a room with Donald Trump, and his fiery take on Albertans who want to separate from the rest of Canada.Plus, as the Liberal government prepares to introduce a much-anticipated federal budget, there aren’t many signs opposition MPs will support the critical legislation, raising questions about a snap election. The House Party election podcast team — Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff — reunite to discuss who could support the government and the likelihood of Canada heading into another federal election in 2026.This episode features the voices of:Jean Chrétien, former Liberal prime ministerDaniel Thibeault, parliamentary bureau chief for Radio-Canada and host of Les Coulisses du PouvoirJason Markusoff, CBC Calgary

Once again, Canada finds itself in a deep hole in its push to get a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. This time, an advertisement by Ontario that used Ronald Reagan’s own words criticizing tariffs annoyed Trump so much he cut off negotiations entirely. Derek Burney, who worked with former prime minister Brian Mulroney as he hammered out a Canada-U.S. free trade deal with Reagan, weighs in on the latest upset, then Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post discuss where this leaves Canada now.Then, Michael Kovrig, the former diplomat who spent more than 1,000 days detained by China, tells host Catherine Cullen how he feels about Canada’s growing “strategic partnership” with Beijing and what advice he’d offer the Prime Minister before meeting China’s president.Plus, the government is adjusting the rules around bail again, making it harder for some repeat offenders and those charged with serious offences to be released. A victim’s family and a criminal defence lawyer weigh in, and Justice Minister Sean Fraser defends the new legislation.Finally, as Liberals and Conservatives spar over what continues to drive up food costs, economist Christina Caron argues it’s not price gouging or the industrial carbon tax — it’s climate change that’s costing you more at the grocery store.This episode features the voices of:Derek Burney, former ambassador and chief of staff to prime minister Brian MulroneyTonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto StarStuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National PostMichael Kovrig, former Canadian diplomat detained by ChinaMeechelle Best, mother of Kellie VerweyJay Herbert, Ontario criminal defence lawyer and member of Rama First NationSean Fraser, Minister of JusticeChristina Caron, economist

As Canada seeks to land a trade deal with the United States, cracks began to emerge this week over whether some sectors — and corresponding provinces — are getting more attention than others. David Paterson, Ontario’s representative in Washington, joins the show to discuss whether Ottawa is too focused on Canada’s auto industry as B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba ask for more help with their lumber and canola sectors.Plus, while the trade war continues to bubble, Prime Minister Mark Carney is attempting a plan to get tougher on crime — and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called RCMP leadership “despicable.” Political strategists Kate Harrison, Marci Surkes and Jordan Leichnitz join The House to dig into some of the biggest headlines of the week.Then, Catherine Cullen speaks with former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, who’s been tapped by the B.C. government to improve the city’s Downtown Eastside amid ongoing complex problems surrounding drugs, crime and homelessness.And: even with cuts to government spending on the horizon, Carney says he’s making the Trudeau-era National School Food Program permanent. Debbie Field, national coordinator for Coalition for Healthy School Food, discusses the state of the program and whether the funding is still far from hitting the mark.This episode features the voices of:David Paterson, Ontario’s representative in Washington, D.C.Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa StrategiesMarci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass RoseJordan Leichnitz, NDP strategist and Canada Director at the Friedrich Ebert FoundationLarry Campbell, B.C.’s new adviser on Vancouver’s Downtown EastsideDebbie Field, national coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food

The Carney government is charging ahead with AI development in an effort to supercharge the Canadian economy and make Canada a global powerhouse — but experts warn that if handled poorly, the technology could be disastrous. Host Catherine Cullen takes a deep dive this week on The House and visits an inventor in Montreal leveraging AI to make a big leap in health care. The CEO of Canada’s largest AI research institute shares her perspective on needing more guardrails to protect Canadians, and experts explore the potential impacts of AI on the environment and job market. Plus, Catherine sits down with Canada’s first-ever AI minister to learn how the federal government plans to straddle the line between innovation and safety.This episode features the voices of:Frédéric Leblond, founder of Reveal Surgical and co-inventor of the SentryTommy Brasseur, master’s student at Polytechnique MontréalValérie Pisano, CEO of Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence InstituteAngela Adam, senior vice-president of government relations at eStruxtureHamish van der Ven, head of the University of British Columbia’s Business, Sustainability and Technology LabNoel Baldwin, executive director of the Future Skills CentreEvan Solomon, Minister of AI and Digital Innovation

Mark Carney and Donald Trump met Tuesday in the White House to try and hammer out a resolution to the U.S. trade war that has wreaked havoc on critical Canadian sectors like steel, aluminum, auto manufacturing and forestry. Later in the day, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters that the talks were "substantive," but made no announcement on a deal or tariff relief — saying conversations with his American counterparts will continue. So was Carney’s visit to Washington a win, a waste of time or a wash? Co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff tackle the big meeting in this last — for now — episode of House Party.  

Since Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his major projects goals, Alberta has been crystal clear — it wants a new pipeline to the west coast. Now, the province is planning to submit a formal application to Canada’s Major Projects Office, but B.C. won’t play ball. The House checks in with B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix to get the west coast perspective, as well as Alex Pourbaix, Cenovus Energy’s board chair, who is co-leading the advisory group assisting the Alberta government on its pipeline pitch.Plus, as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, Palestinians in Canada are calling on Ottawa to bring their family members to safety through an emergency temporary immigration program. CBC’s Raffy Boudjikanian shares the story of Eman Alatbash, who worries about her sister’s fate in Gaza and the rest of her family stuck in Cairo.Next, in the two years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, incidents of antisemitism have risen dramatically around the world. What has to happen to stop it? Human rights lawyer and former justice minister Irwin Cotler joins Catherine Cullen to talk about the rise of antisemitism in Canada and how to address it.  Then, a new report from an RBC research team suggests Canada’s farming workforce is drying up. Author Lisa Ashton joins the show to discuss what the federal government needs to do to shore up Canada’s farms.Finally, On his first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation as prime minister, Mark Carney spoke in detail about a piece of art he’s recently had installed on Parliament Hill. Catherine Cullen speaks with artist Luke Parnell, who created A Brief History of Northwest Coast Design back in 2007, about the prime minister’s reflections on his work and the road ahead for reconciliation.This episode features the voices of:Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of EnergyAlex Pourbaix, board chair of Cenovus EnergyRaffy Boudjikanian, CBC NewsIrwin Cotler, former special envoy on combatting antisemitismLisa Ashton, agriculture policy lead for RBC Climate Action InstituteLuke Parnell, creator of A Brief History of Northwest Coast Design

Canada Post is on strike for the second time in less than a year, after the government authorized significant changes like ending home delivery across the country and closing some post offices. The Crown corporation is on track to lose $1.5 billion this year and the minister in charge of the file said it was “effectively insolvent.” So: what’s the future for Canada Post? And as the federal government tightens its belt ahead of next month’s federal budget, what does Prime Minister Mark Carney’s tough stance on Canada Post signal about what services he'll keep or cut? Co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff are here to talk about it all. 

World leaders gathered at the United Nations HQ this week in New York to discuss a wide-ranging set of issues — and Canada made headlines by announcing it now recognizes the state of Palestine. Ambassador Bob Rae joins The House to talk about the federal government’s decision, Trump’s change of heart over Ukraine and what to make of the U.S. president’s hour-long, combative address to the world. Plus, Canada and Greenland already had plenty in common before facing threats of annexation from the White House — but all that attention could make for a timely reason to strengthen a key relationship. CBC's Emma Godmere travels to Greenland’s capital of Nuuk to hear from residents about being in the international spotlight and pursuing stronger ties with Canada. Her reporting was made possible by the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship.Then, two Hill watchers discuss how Prime Minister Mark Carney is managing the fallout from the leaked audio recording of his public safety minister appearing to undermine the Liberals’ long-promised gun buyback program.Finally, as a group of federal and provincial privacy commissioners raise alarms over how much information TikTok collects from Canadian users, Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute, explains why these concerns matter and how Canada should manage the social media powerhouse.This episode features the voices of:Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United NationsMiilu Gehlert and Hans Peter Leibhardt, Nuuk boat tour operatorsJoint Arctic Command Deputy Commander Lars NielsenChristian Keldsen, director of the Greenland Business AssociationCarolyn Bennett, Canada’s ambassador to DenmarkSara Olsvig, international chair of the Inuit Circumpolar CouncilNikoline Ziemer, biologist and resident of Nuuk, GreenlandFrederik Fuuja Larsen, curator at the Greenland National Museum and ArchivesShannon Proudfoot, columnist for The Globe and MailPaul Wells, author and podcasterVess Bednar, managing director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute

The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says he’s disappointed in what he calls the “anti-American” sentiment of the elbows up campaign. So this week on House Party, we’re asking: are those hurt feelings getting in the way of Prime Minister Mark Carney being able to strike a trade deal with President Donald Trump? Was the ambassador warning Canada’s politicians to stand down? And what does the business community — to whom Ambassador Pete Hoekstra was speaking — make of the ambassador’s message? Co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff talk about all of that… and whether there’s a good alternative to U.S. bourbon for your party cocktails.

This week, Donald Trump enjoyed a second state visit to the United Kingdom and was feted by King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle — a move some Brits saw as the United Kingdom sucking up to the U.S. president. Canadian podcaster and author Stephen Marche and former Mexican politician Agustín Barrios Gómez discuss whether their countries should suck up or stand up to Donald Trump.Plus, this week has seen high-profile Liberals from the Trudeau era announce their departure from Parliament Hill to take on diplomatic roles, including Chrystia Freeland and David Lametti — and there’s rumours of more on the way. Catherine Cullen sits down with Lametti Then, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson talks about major projects, oil pipelines, and whether Canada — in the midst of this push to build big — can meet its upcoming emissions reduction targets.Finally, political strategists Mitch Heimpel and Carlene Variyan go into sportscaster mode to review the tape from the first-ever Mark Carney/Pierre Poilievre question period faceoff in the House of Commons this week.This episode features the voices of:David Lametti, Canada’s incoming ambassador to the United NationsStephen Marche, author and host of “Gloves Off”Agustín Barrios Gómez, former Mexican congressmanTim Hodgson, minister of energy and natural resourcesMitch Heimpel, Conservative strategistCarlene Variyan, former chief of staff to Liberal ministers

Parliament is back. And so is House Party. As Prime Minister Mark Carney faces off against newly re-elected Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre while grappling with the trade war, the rising cost of living, the housing crisis, the climate crisis, a budget that ain’t gonna be pretty, two overseas wars, a possible national unity crisis or two… need we go on? Sure, because co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff have got the party started and are here to talk about how Mark Carney is handling it all.

Ahead of MPs returning to the House of Commons, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre joins The House for a sit-down interview in studio to discuss the federal government’s major projects list, his views on climate change and his worries about his family’s security in a time of growing political violence.Then, Catherine Cullen talks to Dan Myerson, CEO of the Foran copper mine in Saskatchewan that made the top tier of Carney’s projects list, and Martin Imbleau, the CEO of Alto, the high-speed rail project connecting Toronto to Quebec City that still has work to do before moving up to the A-list.Plus, Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post evaluate whether Carney can walk the political tightrope and keep provinces and territories happy. Finally, former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna discusses her new memoir, Run Like A Girl, and explains how she coped with sexist attacks and the increasingly toxic nature of political life in Canada.This episode features the voices of:Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of CanadaDan Myerson, CEO of Foran MiningMartin Imbleau, CEO of AltoTonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto StarStuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National PostCatherine McKenna, former federal environment minister and author of Run Like A Girl

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced billions of dollars in funding and a new Buy Canadian policy to help Canadians fight back against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Does that mean we’re in it for the long haul with this trade war? Industry Minister Mélanie Joly joins The House to answer that question and more about whether Canada is straying away from international free trade.Then, as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre demands the federal government axe the temporary foreign worker program, Catherine Cullen speaks to industry leaders and an immigration lawyer about the impact this proposal could have.Plus, the Public Health Agency of Canada is shaving roughly 10 per cent of its employees as it continues to shrink in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard explains what those cuts will mean for Canada’s ability to counter vaccine misinformation as skepticism rises in Canada and the United States.Finally, some of Canada’s NATO allies have been preparing their citizens for war or natural disasters for decades. Alex Wilner, director of Carleton University’s Infrastructure Protection and International Security program and Eva Cohen of Civil Protection Youth Canada join the show to discuss whether Canada too should ask ordinary citizens to be ready to help in the event of everything from weather-related emergencies to terror attacks.This episode features the voices of:Mélanie Joly, Minister of IndustryKelly Higginson, CEO of Restaurants CanadaGabriel Miller, CEO of Universities CanadaMark Holthe, immigration lawyerAndré Picard, health columnist for the Globe and MailAlex Wilner, director of Carleton University’s Infrastructure Protection and National Security programEva Cohen, Founder of Civil Protection Youth Canada

NATO’s secretary general has warned Russia could launch an attack on the alliance within the next five years. Talk to NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden, and they’ll tell you preparation involves a lot more than just boosting military spending. As Canada seeks to strengthen ties with both countries, what can we learn from our newest NATO allies about preparing for the worst?Supported by the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship, CBC's Emma Godmere travelled to the two Nordic countries to visit bomb shelters, the Russian border and military training grounds north of the Arctic Circle to see and hear how Finns and Swedes are steeling themselves for whatever the future may bring.This episode features the voices of: Elina Valtonen, Finland’s minister of foreign affairsViktoria Hjort Malmer, defence policy director at Sweden’s Ministry of DefenceJanne Kuusela, director general, defence policy department at Finland’s Ministry of DefenceAntti Virta, deputy commander, Southeast Finland Border Guard DistrictSamuel Siljanen, head of operations, Southeast Finland Border Guard DistrictLt.-Col. Mikael Dalin, Swedish ArmyLt.-Col. Jukka Vuorisalmi, Finnish ArmyNina Järvenkylä, Helsinki City Rescue DepartmentHarri Mikkola, programme director for Finnish foreign policy, northern European security and NATO at the Finnish Institute of International AffairsNiklas Granholm, deputy director of studies, Swedish Defence Research AgencySara Myrdal, director of international affairs, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agencyand residents of Lappeenranta, Rovaniemi, and Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden

Pierre Poilievre is returning to the House of Commons after winning an Alberta byelection this week — and he’s already laid out his priorities for the fall, including tackling crime, increasing affordability and making Canada self-reliant. But despite these goals, the Conservative Party of Canada has lost the last four federal elections — and some party insiders worry it may be difficult to ever win again. Political reporter Kate McKenna covers the Conservative Party for CBC News, and in this special episode of The House, she hears from party insiders who offer their frank analysis of how to move forward if they want to return to government.This episode features the voices of:Melissa Lantsman, deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Jason Kenney, former Alberta premier and former Conservative cabinet ministerSean Speer, editor-at-large for The Hub and former adviser to Prime Minister Stephen HarperBen Woodfinden, former director of communications for Pierre PoilievreRob Batherson, former president of the Conservative Party of CanadaDimitri Soudas, former director of communications to Prime Minister Stephen Harper Daniel Allain, former New Brunswick Progressive Conservative MLAShachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid InstituteRob Russo, Canada correspondent for The EconomistShannon Proudfoot, feature writer for the Globe and Mail

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.This episode features the voices of:Michael Carpenter, former U.S. ambassador and permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, now senior fellow for transatlantic affairs at the International Institute for Strategic StudiesWendy Gilmour, former NATO assistant secretary general for defence investment Mark Norman, retired vice-admiral of the Royal Canadian NavyGeneral Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staffAlicia Wanless, author and director of the Information Environment Project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 

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?This episode features the voices of:Mikyla Tacilauskas, Salvation Army outreach and housing services managerSimon Donner, co-chair of the Net-Zero Advisory BodyNichole Dusyk, senior policy advisor at the International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentDave Sawyer, principal economist at the Canadian Climate InstituteSerge Dupont, head of Bennett Jones’ Public Policy GroupEulalie Reesink-Babillon, with the climate action group Last GenerationBenjamin Welchner, with the climate action group Last GenerationShannon Joseph, chair of Energy for a Secure FutureOliver Anderson, vice-president of communications and growth for water charity AquaAction