The Orchardcast

Featured Stories* Strike notice served by union representing Alberta nursing care staff, Mrinali Anchan, CBC News (Nov. 19)* Alberta’s COP30 delegate is a former oil industry lobbyist, Brett McKay, Investigative Journalism Foundation (Nov. 19)* Alaska tribal nations demand a say on Canadian resource projects, Nathan VanderKlippe, Globe and Mail (Nov. 19)* Despite congressional action, quick release of Epstein files is in doubt, Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck and Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post (Nov. 19)* Saudi Arabia Backs Elon Musk’s xAI With Data Center Deal, Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur, New York Times (Nov. 19) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgThe Toronto Blue Jays came as close as it gets to winning the World Series, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in extra innings in game seven.Andrew Stoeten of THE BATFLIP joins the podcast to discuss how the Jays went from last place in the AL East to making the Dodgers fight hard for a repeat championship. Related Links* Why Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber decided he isn’t goin…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgIt’s been almost 15 years since Canada participated in NATO’s overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Winnipeg-based author and journalist Owen Schalk has a new book out, Targeting Libya, which details the history of Canada’s relationship to the country and its outsized role in bringing about its destruction. Related Links* Targeting Libya: How Canada went…

Thank you Laurence Miall, Revolution Party of Canada, Thought Matters, MakeUsGreat.ca, Jill, and many others for tuning into my live video with Luke Savage! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Featured Stories* Inquiry into suicides of 4 Indigenous teens says fear of child welfare system barrier to care, Wallis Snowdon, CBC News (Aug. 27)* Burnaby council votes unanimously to ask Ottawa to impose arms embargo on Israel, CBC News (Aug. 26)* Armoured vehicles from Canadian-owned company deployed in Sudan’s war zones, Geoffrey York, Globe and Mail (Aug. 27) * Trump wants expanded death penalty, longer control over police in D.C., Emily Davies and Salvador Rizzo, Washington Post (Aug. 26)* Ukraine to allow young men to leave the country, Fabrice Deprez, Financial Times (Aug. 26) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Stories Featured* Internal documents show how Alberta measles outbreak began to spiral out of control, Alanna Smith, Globe and Mail (Aug. 21)* Air Canada flight attendants vote on labour deal starting next week, Eric Atkins, Globe and Mail (Aug. 21)* Meta banned the Epoch Times from advertising. Then it accepted $300k in new ads targeting Canadians, Rory White, Canada’s National Observer (Aug. 21)* Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war, Emma Graham-Harrison and Yuval Abraham, The Guardian (Aug. 21)* Ukrainian man arrested in Italy over Nord Stream attacks, Laura Pitel, Financial Times (Aug. 21) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Air Canada to start cancelling trips after flight attendants’ union issues strike notice, Vanmala Subramaniam, Globe and Mail (Aug. 13)As Trump takes over Washington, the city watches for potential fallout, Adrian Morrow, Globe and Mail (Aug. 12)U.K. Secretly Spent $3.2 Million to Stop Journalists From Reporting on Data Breach, Lizzie Dearden, New York Times (Aug. 13)Sudanese RSF fighters kill more than 40 people in Darfur camp, Al Jazeera (Aug. 12) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgThe Alberta government’s decision to wade into school library curation is part of a broader trend towards censoring books that has intensified in the past several years. Lethbridge native Ira Wells, director of the free expression group PEN Canada, published a book, On Book Banning, earlier this year. He joins the Orchardcast to discuss the origins of t…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgWith Donald Trump’s tariffs fundamentally altering Canada’s relationship with its largest trading partner, oil and gas pipelines have been put back on the agenda as a purported means of enhancing Canadian self-reliance. Fossil fuel industry employee-turned-critic Jenny Yeremiy argues that building more pipelines will only exacerbate the economic and env…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgMatt Fodor is the author of From Layton to Singh: The 20-year conflict behind the NDP’s deal with the Trudeau Liberals. He joins the Orchardcast to explain the NDP consultant class’s efforts to shape the outcome of the upcoming leadership race. Related Links* Statement from Leah Gazan, Lori Idlout & Jenny Kwan: Leaked Internal email, Twitter* NDP caucus mem…

Thank you Ian Weniger, Candace Northey, gail.harmer2@gmail.com, and many others for tuning into my live video with Bad + B****y Podcast! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Over the past five weeks, the Orchard has been releasing weekly election update podcasts with a different guest each episode. Joining me this week is Nora Loreto, a Quebec City-based independent journalist and author who likely needs no introduction. Nora’s latest book, the second part of her series on Canadian decline for Dundurn Press, Corporate Control, comes out May 6. Related Links* Corporate Control (Dundurn, 2025)* Carney says Trump raised ’51st state’ during their call but ’the president says a lot of things’, Radio-Canada* 'DOGE' and 'DOGE-lite': Public service unions react to costed federal party platforms, CBC* Conservative plan to tackle tent cities looks like ‘political theatre,’ experts say, CP* Conservatives update platform to include omitted 'anti-woke' promise, CBC This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Pierre Poilievre was supposed to be Canada’s next prime minister. As the 2025 federal election progresses, it’s looking increasingly less likely, but even if he loses, Poilievre will have made his imprint on right-wing politics in Canada for the foreseeable future. Martin Lukacs has written a brief book, The Poilievre Project: A radical blueprint for corporate rule, which details the progression of Poilievre’s political career and the ideology that defines him.Related Links* The Poilievre Project (Breach Books, 2025)* Conservative election platform pledges $75-billion in tax cuts, referendums before future tax hikes, Globe and Mail* ‘Hard and fast from every direction’: inside the group plotting Poilievre’s blitzkrieg of cuts, The Breach* The Trudeau Formula (Black Rose Books, 2019) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

From now until the election day, the Orchard will be releasing weekly election update podcasts with a different guest each episode. The entirety of each election update episode will be free for anyone to listen to or watch.Joining me this week is David Moscrop, author of Too Dumb for Democracy? Why We Make Bad Political Decisions and How We Can Make Better Ones. He’s also a prolific columnist, whose work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Washington Post, Canada’s National Observer and Jacobin. (Apologies for the poor sound on my end for the first bit. I don’t know what happened there.) Related Links* Mark Carney promises $129 billion in new spending as Liberals unveil full election platform, Toronto Star* NDP pledges mental-health coverage, non-Tesla EV rebates in costed platform, CP* Post-debate press scrum scrapped at last minute over lack of ‘proper environment’, Globe and Mail* Debates commission unaware Rebel News registered as advocacy group, official says, CBC* Poilievre says he'd pass a law that overrides a Charter right. That would be a first for a PM, CBC* Deputy Conservative leader invested in Brookfield while attacking Mark Carney for running the investment giant, Investigative Journalism Foundation* Bloc Québécois takes campaign to Ottawa to defend use of notwithstanding clause, CP* Singh promises to protect tenants with national rent control, CP* Did Mark Carney Just Lap The NDP On Affordable Housing? Not So Fast. David Moscrop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

From now until the election day, the Orchard will be releasing weekly election update podcasts with a different guest each episode. The entirety of each election update episode will be free for anyone to listen to or watch.Joining me this week is York University humanities professor Shama Rangwala, who co-hosts the Replay podcast with journalist Desmond Cole. Related Links* Canada’s Tory leader vows to deport foreigners for antisemitic crimes, AFP* Poilievre proposes American three-strikes plan for repeat offenders, reviving a failed Harper proposal, Globe and Mail* Poilievre promises to raise up to $1B by cracking down on offshore tax havens, CBC* By Attacking Science, Poilievre Takes a Page from Trump’s Playbook, The Tyee This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Thank you Judy Haiven, Gail Silvius, Glenn Toddun, and many others for tuning into my live video with Jordan Cornish and Arshy Mann! Join me for my next live video in the app.If you enjoyed this video, then why not share it? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

From now until the election day, the Orchard will be releasing weekly election update podcasts with a different guest each episode. The entirety of each election update episode will be free for anyone to listen to or watch.Joining me this week is MacEwan University communications professor and freelance journalist Dani Paradis.Related Links* Carney pledges $150M boost to 'underfunded' CBC, CBC* Conservatives drop Quebec candidate for accusing Polytechnique survivor of exploiting shooting, CBC* Conservative Candidate Used a Secret Signal Group Chat With Freedom Convoy Leaders, Right-Wing Media and Far-Right Influencers, PressProgress* Canada slaps 25% counter-tariffs on U.S.-made cars, but not parts, National Post* NDP proposes reviving war-era Victory Bonds to raise money for trade fight with U.S., CBC* First Nations leaders in B.C. call for Conservatives to drop candidate Aaron Gunn, CBC* Liberals drop Edmonton candidate who praised Hamas, Hezbollah in video, National Post* CPC Candidate Don Patel's Online Activity Raises Foreign Interference Concerns, Baaz * Conservative candidate booted after CTV News uncovers audio of joke about Justin Trudeau and the death penalty, CTV* CTV Cancelled a Fact-Checking Segment in Response to Political Pressure From Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, PressProgress* Amid bleak polling numbers, Edmonton could be an essential NDP stronghold: expert, CBC* Liberal candidate Paul Chiang ends re-election bid after ‘bounty’ comments about former rival, Toronto Star This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

From now until the election day, the Orchard will be releasing weekly election update podcasts with a different guest each episode. Unlike other Orchardcast episodes, the entirety of each election update episode will be free for anyone to listen to or watch. Joining me this week is fellow Substacker Jake Landau. Related Links* Carney promises $2B auto industry fund as Trump hits sector with tariffs, CBC* Carney's green funds at Brookfield used Bermuda tax haven to attract investors, Radio-Canada* NDP proposes boost to untaxed income threshold, removal of GST on 'essentials', CP* Poilievre tries to outflank Carney with boosted plan to axe GST on new homes, National Post* Poilievre pledges $14B annual income tax cut, saving average worker $900 a year, CBC* New Democrats promise to get more homes built by using Crown land, CP* Vote Palestine This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgOntario premier Doug Ford has become a political juggernaut, in large part by cultivating an image of himself as a strong, steady leader in times of political crisis. But does the image match reality?Eric Wickham, Ontario reporter for PressProgress joins me to answer this question, talk a bit about the upcoming federal election and reminisce about Ford …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.readtheorchard.orgThe NDP, Canada’s traditional party of the left, is sitting stagnant in the polls with an impending federal election campaign. Avi Lewis, who was acclaimed as the party nominee in Vancouver Centre, joins the Orchardcast to discuss his view that the NDP is the party Canadians need at this moment of intersecting crises.Related Links* Singh says pipelines wo…