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This podcast features analysis of current Canadian legal news, and stories with important legal angles. Previous episodes covered the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Inquiry proceedings, arising out of the tragic events of April 18-19, 2020 in Portapique and other locations throughout Central Nova Scotia.
Adam Rodgers has been a leading Nova Scotian litigation and criminal defense lawyer, as well as a business and political advisor, for 15 years. He has represented clients on many ground-breaking and prominent cases, including his most recent responsibilities with the Desmond Fatality Inquiry.
Adam Rodgers has been a leading Nova Scotian litigation and criminal defense lawyer, as well as a business and political advisor, for 15 years. He has represented clients on many ground-breaking and prominent cases, including his most recent responsibilities with the Desmond Fatality Inquiry.
231 Episodes
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This week we are thrilled to welcome Janet Merlo to the show. Janet is a former RCMP officer, who was central to the exposing of sexual abuse within the force. Her efforts resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement, involving over 3000 complainants from all provinces and territories, and all ranks and ages. Janet describes her time in the Force, talks about the barriers in reporting, and also expresses some hope that things will improve within the RCMP.Also covered in this episode are the reactions of the Halifax Police Board on proposed changes to the structure of policing in Nova Scotia, a dispute between the Edmonton Police and Crown prosecutors about a homicide plea deal, the Manchester (England) police admission that they shot an innocent civilian, as well as Maxwell Apartment and a new line of skincare products featuring the RCMP branding.
This week, Paul and Adam discuss the news that Lisa Banfield (along with two co-authors, her sister Maureen, and writer Sherri Aikenhead) has written a book about her experiences with NS mass shooter Gabriel Wortman. The book is set for release in January, 2026. The guys deconstruct the news release, and predict what might be included in the upcoming work.Also covered this week is the news that dogs have been brought in from out of province by the RCMP to assist with the search for missing Pictou County children Jack and Lilly Sullivan, the arrest of Deputy Commissioner David Teboul, and the arguments before the Supreme Court of Canada on whether provinces are entitled to use and reuse the notwithstanding clause of the constitution (the Federal gov't says that invoking the notwithstanding clause every five years undermines the rights of Canadians such that it should not be permitted).
This week, Paul is joining from BC, having spent an eventful week on an Alaskan cruise. In a very 'Paul' coincidence, he had dinner one night with a woman who worked on the Swiss Air investigation for Delta Airlines, who had some interesting details to pass on.For this week's show, Adam and Paul discuss the Charlie Kirk assassination, Amy Hamm's article comparing Vancouver's approach to drug use to that of Boston, and Sam Cooper's piece on former Canadian Olympian (and now FBI's top 10 most wanted drug kingpin) Ryan Wedding. The Wedding story describes why Canada is seen internationally as a preferred drug transshipment location.
In the second part of our conversation with forensics expert, and author of a book detailing the cover up of the true cause of the Swiss Air 111 crash off of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Tom Juby. In this part of the discussion, Mr. Juby details the efforts he made to make his (verified) findings accepted by those in authority, and the direct pushback and interference he experienced as he did so. We discuss the potential ties to MI6 and the FBI, as well as what may have happened to the half billion worth of diamonds and jewels that were never located.
Tom Juby joins the show again for an in-depth discussion of Swiss Air Flight 111, which crashed into the ocean off Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia just over 27 years ago, on September 2, 1998. Mr. Juby was assigned to document and catalogue the recovered bodies, and hundreds of thousands of plane parts that were recovered from the water. In the face of direction from his superiors to alter his notes and avoid any discussion of potential criminality, Mr. Juby persisted in his investigation, showing that the fire that brought down the plane was deliberately set. Adam and Paul go through his compelling claims with him, and discuss potential theories about what may really have taken place.
This week, Paul and Adam welcome retired undercover operator and supervisor Claude Chapados to discuss how undercover operations unfold, how officers from different police forces are trained, and many other topics. He gives his view on what involvement Gabriel Wortman may have had with the police.Also discussed are the updates on the Jack and Lilly Sullivan disappearance in Nova Scotia, the $94K fine levied against BC nurse Amy Hamm for comments on transgender people, the Kawartha Lakes homeowner who is charged with assaulting someone breaking into their home, and the limited impact of Hurricane Erin on the dry weather in Nova Scotia.
This week, we are happy to welcome our friend, citizen investigator Chad Jones. Chad is here to give us new insight into how the final moments of the NS mass shooting lend credence to theories about the killing of Corie Ellison. Before speaking with Chad, Adam and Paul discuss the recent criticism of NS Premier Houston from the Canadian Bar Association over the NS Court of Appeal's refusal to answer the reference on the Chignecto Isthmus. Also discussed is the Conservative Party announcement that they will introduce legislation banning judges from considering immigration consequences of those being sentenced for criminal offenses.
This week we are very pleased to be joined by Prof. Wayne MacKay. If you have listened or read any Nova Scotia story about law in the past decade, you will be familiar with Prof. MacKay. Here, he shares his views on the recent NS Police Review, issues with transparency in government, and the proceedings of the Mass Casualty Commission. Prof. MacKay also discusses the recent ban on forest-based activity, and compares it to the pandemic restrictions in terms of Charter-compliance.
This week, we are very pleased to be joined by former Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP, Curt Allen. He discusses the policing review recently released by the NS government, as well as his experiences with the upper levels of RCMP management. Before Dep. Comm. Allen joins the show, Paul and Adam discuss the recent Junior hockey player sexual assault trial verdict and the fallout from it, as well as important recent decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada dealing with adult sentencing for youth, as well as fitness to stand trial issues. Also covered, the Lyle Howe appeal, where the NS Court of Appeal critiques the Ruck Report on racism in the NS bar society, where the Report compared Mr. Howe to Donald Marshall Jr.
This week, Paul discusses some unexpected, and knowledgeable, visitors he had who came to discuss his book, and the podcast. Paul and Adam also discuss a central figure in the Government of Nova Scotia's response to the policing review, Executive Director of Public Safety, Haley Crichton. A witness for the government of NS at the Mass Casualty Commission, Ms. Crichton has been involved in decision making on policing in Nova Scotia in recent years. Paul examines her connections to the RCMP, which calls into question some of the policy decisions being made. Curt Allen had been expected to join the discussion, but made a Godot-like performance for this episode. He will be making an appearance in the coming weeks.
This week we welcome back forensics expert, and author of a book on his experiences with the Swiss Air disaster, Tom Juby. Tom discusses the DNA evidence that was presented at the Mass Casualty Commission, and theorizes on what the presence of two unknown DNA samples might mean. Paul and Adam discuss the missing children case out of Pictou County, where police have announced that they have received over 5000 videos from the area where they were reported missing. Is this the new norm for investigations? What might it mean that the person speaking for the RCMP is a behavioral analyst?
This week, Paul and Adam are pleased to welcome retired RCMP forensics expert, Tom Juby, to the show. Tom has reviewed the forensics evidence surrounding the shooting of Corrie Ellison, and gives us his insights into what they reveal, and how the case should have been handled.Before speaking with Tom Juby, Paul and Adam discuss the Federal Court decision this week ordering the RCMP to disclose the legal advice they received in the case of Abdulrahaman El Bahnasawy. When he was 18 years old, Mr. El Bahnasawy was arrested in New York on terrorism charges, related to plans he had discussed online with undercover FBI agents while he was off his anti-psychotic medications. He is now serving a 40 year sentencing in a Colorado supermax prison. The RCMP had cooperated with the FBI on the case, and there are allegations that the RCMP accessed medical records, and generally facilitated the arrest taking place in the US, rather than Canada, where the accused would have been dealt with in a less harsh legal system.Also discussed, the OPP communications around the Quadeville case of the 8-year old girl who was originally suspected to be the victim of an animal attack, the Halifax Mooseheads player acquitted of a DUI after the police officer failed to show for court, and reactions from municipal police forces in Nova Scotia to the government plans to expand the RCMP in this province.
This week, Paul and Adam are very pleased to welcome retired RCMP Deputy Commissioner, Curt Allen. Mr. Allen has continued to be involved in policing since his retirements, and here shares his thoughts on the RCMP response to the NS mass shootings, as well as the future of policing in Canada.Before the guest joins the show, Paul and Adam discuss the latest investees to the Order of Canada, including former NS Chief Justice, and lead Commissioner of the Mass Casualty Commission, J. Michael MacDonald.
This week, we are pleased to welcome citizen-investigator extrodinaire, Chad Jones. Chad has been working with Paul from the beginning, digging through forensics reports, interviewing witnesses, and whatever else is needed to get to the truth of what happened during the NS mass shootings. He joins Adam and Paul to discuss the death of Cst. Heidi Stevenson at the hands of Gabriel Wortman, and how the RCMP has tried to re-frame those events to suit their own ends.Before welcoming Chad, Paul and Adam discuss the newly released Comprehensive Policing Review 2025, the report that is intended to guide police reform in Nova Scotia. Despite the recommendations of the MCC that were highly critical of the RCMP, the Deloitte report recommends that the RCMP become the default NS Provincial Police. The report reads as though it was written in 2019, not even alluding to any controversy associated with the RCMP's policing of our province.
This week, Paul Palango and Adam Rodgers discuss the launch of Paul's latest book, "Anatomy of a Coverup - The Truth About the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Massacres", which took place at The Old Triangle in Halifax. There were some special guests on hand, and discussion on excerpts from the book. The chapter on the death of Corrie Ellison has attracted significant attention from readers. Paul shows how it is likely that an RCMP officer, not Gabriel Wortman, actually killed Mr. Ellison. Adam and Paul review the key findings and pieces of evidence that make this conclusion more likely than not. Next week, the show will in part focus on the new revelations around the death of Cst. Heidi Stevenson.
In this special episode in advance of the June 10th book release, author Paul Palango and Adam Rodgers discuss Anatomy of a Cover-Up: The Truth about the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Massacres.This book is a follow-up to Paul's bestseller, 22 Murders, and can be ordered here;https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/anatomy-of-a-cover-up-the-truth-about-the-rcmp-and-the-nova-scotia-massacres/9781039010123.htmlPaul and Adam go through 11 excerpts from the audio book, including new revelations about Wortman's escape from Portapique, an explosive letter from the judge who was the head of the police oversight organization SiRT, and evidence that Wortman may not have killed one of the victims.
This week, Paul Palango gives an update and preview of his upcoming book, and the guys discuss how podcasts are emerging as a trusted news source. In stories, Paul and Adam Rodgers discuss the London World Junior hockey trial, which is not going well for the prosecution. This week, the first defendant to testify, Carter Hart, explained his perspective. The judge also heard from the initial police investigator, who had decided against laying charges. A key text message exchange was excluded from evidence, against the prosecutions wishes.Also, the guys review the New Brunswick case where the defense is looking for more information on a confidential source being handled by an officer who is himself accused of stealing drugs from the RCMP exhibit locker.In Nova Scotia, the Court of Appeal overturned a decision to exclude evidence after an improper strip search of the accused. Dante Cromwell had pointed a handgun at another motorist in a road rage incident, and was later found to be in possession of 25g of cocaine after a strip search by Halifax police. Finally, the guys discuss the land acknowledgement from King Charles, and Paul reminisces about covering a royal visit in his early days as a reporter.
This week, Paul Palango starts the show with a look at the cover of his upcoming book, Anatomy of a Coverup. The book will be released June 10th, and Paul is already taking interview requests.The World Junior hockey players trial featured Las Vegas Golden Knights forward, Brett Howden testifying by video. He was called by the Crown prosecutor, who then made an application to the judge to be permitted to cross-examine Howden on his alleged memory lapses. Adam explains why this is another bad sign for the Crown case.Two drug related homicides in Calgary made the news this week when they reached their sentencing stage. One involved an indigenous offender, and he received an 8 year sentence for a killing that appeared worse than that committed by a non-indigenous offender who received 11 years. What might this mean for the repute of the justice system.The Kelowna RCMP detachment is the largest in Canada (after Surrey, BC adopted a municipal police force), and now the city has commissioned a review of their policing structure.
This week, Paul and Adam discuss the continuing search for Jack and Lilly Sullivan, two children who have been missing for over two weeks in rural Nova Scotia, under very suspicious circumstances. Many signs point to an active police investigation, but authorities have not specified who might be under investigation, or whether they have any promising leads.The other main story for this week is the trial of the five former World Junior hockey players, which is taking place in London, Ontario. This week saw a second jury dismissed, and the trial will now continue as a judge-alone trial. The conduct of the lawyers involved, one of whom is alleged to be at fault for both juries having been dismissed, is analyzed, along with whether the judge made the right decision in refusing to declare a second mistrial.The guys also discuss how artificial intelligence was recently used in an Arizona case two bring a deceased victim back to life for a sentencing hearing.Finally, Paul talks about the malaise that is settling in for the city of Toronto following another game seven disappointment.
This week, Paul is joining the show from Raratonga, in the South Pacific. The guys discuss how justice issues may have affected the federal election results, and what comes next for the Conservatives after losing a 25 point lead. The BC Premier has (sort of) called for an inquiry into the mental health treatment and decisions surrounding the tragedy in Vancouver at the Lapu Lapu Festival. Should there be more involuntary institutionalizations of those with mental health conditions?In the past two days, two young children have gone missing in Nova Scotia. We discuss the criticism the RCMP has been receiving about not issuing an Amber Alert at the earliest opportunity.Finally, we discuss the first week of the jury trial for the five former Canadian World Junior hockey players on trial in London, ON. The trial centers on two videos made by the complainant, in which she claims to have consented to the activity in question. We discuss how the jury might weigh that evidence, and other issues that have arisen in the trial, including how the trial had to restart with a new jury after a mistrial was declared on day two of the trial.
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