MBP Intelligence Briefing

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Ep 20 MBP Intelligence Briefing – Progressive Economics in the Carney Era: Poverty Reduction, EI vs CERB, the Care Economy, and Industrial StrategyIn this week’s MBP Intelligence Briefing, Shannon Phillips and Tyler Meredith are joined by economist Armine Yalnizyan - Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, for a wide-ranging conversation on what Canada gained in the Trudeau years, what’s at risk (or stalled) under the Carney government, and what a genuinely “progressive” industrial strategy would prioritize—especially the care economy, ownership, and the future of work in an AI- and services-heavy country. In this episode, they discuss:· Meredith: The most consequential legacy of the Trudeau years was poverty reduction, driven in large part by the Canada Child Benefit alongside other targeted transfers.· Yalnizyan: CERB was globally unusual and highly effective, allowing people to stay home safely and supporting a rapid economic rebound.· Meredith: Pre-pandemic labour market tightening created more inclusive job gains for women, racialized workers, and people with disabilities.On Trudeau-era legacy: Poverty, labour markets, pandemic response· Meredith: Poverty fell significantly during the Trudeau era, with the CCB accounting for a major share of measurable gains.· Meredith: Strong pre-COVID labour markets pulled historically sidelined workers into better employment outcomes.· Yalnizyan: Pandemic supports like CERB stabilized households in ways traditional social insurance was never designed to do.On resilience now: EI, coverage gaps, and economic shocks· Meredith: Avoiding recession so far has mattered enormously because many households cannot meaningfully survive on EI alone.· Meredith: Canada needs modernized labour market institutions that reflect gig work, uneven hours, and technological disruption.· Yalnizyan: EI is social insurance; guaranteeing people don’t become destitute is a different policy objective and requires different tools.On the care economy: Guardrails and industrial strategy· Yalnizyan: Care is not a residual sector — it is one of the largest engines of employment and GDP in Canada.· Yalnizyan: Without regulatory guardrails, private equity will move quickly into publicly subsidized care sectors and extract value offshore.· Yalnizyan: A real care strategy must include workforce recruitment, retention, skill ladders, and immigration pathways to stabilize the sector.On industrial strategy: Investment, AI, and ownership· Yalnizyan: An investment-first strategy without conditions risks Canada becoming economically dependent while wrapped in a Canadian flag.· Meredith: Canada’s services-heavy economy makes it uniquely exposed to AI disruption and requires deliberate skills and commercialization strategy.On pensions, power, and worker agency· Yalnizyan: Unions should push harder for governance — trustee seats and deeper literacy — because today’s pension investment model can create a dynamic of “preparing tomorrow’s retirees by squeezing today’s workers.”· Meredith: “Fiduciary” language can become a shield against accountability, allocation decisions, fees, and public-purpose alignment, even though pension wealth is a strategic national asset if governed transparently.· Yalnizyan: Canada once deployed CPP savings directly into municipal infrastructure and housing; liberalized post-2000 rules expanded offshore investing and weakened the link between collective savings and domestic public purpose.Armine Yalnizyan – Atkinson Fellow on the Future of WorkersWebsite: https://atkinsonfoundation.ca/atkinson-fellows/atkinson-fellow-on-the-future-of-workers/LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/armine-yalnizyan-a32b42264Youtube Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters.Invitations to private discussions and events.Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation.Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

In this first of 2026 episode, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips are joined by Rory Johnston of Commodity Context, University of Toronto’s Munk School, and host of The Oil Ground Up Podcast to unpack the shock U.S. operation in Venezuela and the ripple effects for Canada.The conversation focuses on the Canadian angle: what this episode signals about U.S. strategy and instability risk, how Venezuelan heavy crude could affect Western Canadian Select pricing, what it means for TMX and Asia-bound exports, and why the case for additional Canadian egress and demand diversification is strengthening.In this episode, they discuss:• What the U.S. operation in Venezuela signals about American “hemispheric dominance,” and the destabilization risks if there is no credible post-operation plan • The split between strategic rhetoric and resource mercantilism, and why “regime change” framing may not match reality on the ground • How sanctions, blockades, and forced trade flows could reshape heavy crude dynamics and WCS differentia • What the Venezuela shock could mean for TMX utilization, China demand, and Canada’s evolving export geography • The pipeline policy implications for Canada: westbound egress, energy security, and the federal–provincial bargaining terrain in a weaker price environmentKey TakeawaysOn U.S. Strategy, Regime Outcomes, and Instability Risk • WOODFINDEN: The execution may have been “clinical,” but the absence of a coherent follow-through plan elevates risks of prolonged instability and spillover effects (including migration and regional disruption) • MEREDITH: The intervention is notable for how openly transactional it is—less “democracy promotion,” more direct resource monetization and control over proceeds • PHILLIPS: Diaspora expectations and political messaging can diverge sharply from realities on the ground, especially if elections and institutional reform are not central to the planOn Venezuela’s Oil Sector and the Limits of a Quick Production Surge • JOHNSTON: Venezuela has massive reserves, but above-ground constraints are severe—human capital loss, decayed infrastructure, and unattractive fiscal terms make rapid rehabilitation highly uncertain• JOHNSTON: The “low-hanging fruit” is not new production; it is simply allowing blocked barrels to flow—exports can rebound faster than capacity can be rebuilt • JOHNSTON: Large-scale restoration is a multi-year, tens-of-billions proposition, and majors will be hesitant absent credible stability, durable rules, and risk-adjusted returnsOn WCS Differentials and Canada’s Competitive Exposure • JOHNSTON: If Venezuelan barrels resume flowing primarily to China, the immediate impact on WCS at Houston should be limited; the pressure intensifies if barrels are forced into the U.S. Gulf Coast to compete directly with Canadian heavy • JOHNSTON: Market narratives have likely over-shot—Canada has historically competed with Venezuelan heavy; the bigger Canadian vulnerability is policy/egress constraints rather than “existential” competition • PHILLIPS: In a softer market, even modest widening in heavy differentials can translate into material public-revenue hits, amplifying fiscal stress in resource-dependent provincesRory Johnston’s Contact Details: Twitter:  x.com/Rory_Johnston Web: www.commoditycontext.com (www.commoditycontext.com/) Contributor - Venezuelan Article of Interest: thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-energy/trump-venezuela-oil-maduro/YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this year-end episode, Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips for a wide-ranging policy roundtable reflecting on the most consequential, overlooked, and misguided policy developments of 2025, alongside a forward-looking discussion of what to watch in 2026.The conversation focuses on structural policy shifts across fiscal rules, defence spending, climate policy, healthcare reform, democratic institutions, and housing. The episode also examines how geopolitical uncertainty, particularly related to the United States, is reshaping Canada’s fiscal, monetary, and defence posture.This marks the final episode of 2025, with the show returning in early January 2026.In this episode, they discuss:• The most consequential policy shifts of 2025 across fiscal rules, climate, defence, and housing• How geopolitical uncertainty reshaped Canada’s defence spending and fiscal posture• The evolving role of democratic institutions, including the Senate and referendum politics• Diverging provincial approaches to healthcare reform and federal constraints• What policy risks and opportunities to watch as Canada enters 2026Key TakeawaysOn the Most Significant Policy Developments of 2025• PHILLIPS: Continuity under a Liberal government preserved health, social, and childcare programs despite expectations of major change• MEREDITH: Separating operating and capital spending permanently expands federal fiscal capacity• BOESSENKOOL: Ending the consumer carbon tax marks a major retreat from market-based climate policy• WOODFINDEN: Canada’s rapid shift toward higher defence spending represents a structural policy realignmentOn Defence Spending, Fiscal Rules, and Political Alignment• WOODFINDEN: Defence spending has moved from political taboo to broad consensus• MEREDITH: New fiscal rules have reduced concern about deficits and debt financing• PHILLIPS: Defence budgets create opportunities for workforce development beyond procurement• BOESSENKOOL: Political fragmentation has lowered resistance to large-scale defence investmentOn the Senate and Democratic Institutions• BOESSENKOOL: Moving away from a technocratic Senate could significantly alter governance• MEREDITH: An independent Senate has increased scrutiny but slowed legislation• WOODFINDEN: The Senate’s real test may come under a future Conservative government• PHILLIPS: Civil society has a role in shaping how partisanship functions in democratic institutionsOn the “Worst” or Most Misguided Policy Developments• MEREDITH: Ontario’s symbolic megaprojects reflect a lack of economic strategy• BOESSENKOOL: Alberta’s lowered thresholds for recall and referendums empowered destabilizing actors• PHILLIPS: Book bans and separation referendums highlighted symbolic and counterproductive policymaking• WOODFINDEN: Canada’s repeated transit failures reveal systemic infrastructure weaknessesOn Looking Ahead to 2026• WOODFINDEN: Co-hosting the FIFA World Cup risks high public costs for limited return• MEREDITH: U.S. monetary policy leadership changes could destabilize global markets• BOESSENKOOL: Provinces will increasingly diverge on healthcare reform• MEREDITH: The federal government is likely to defend the Canada Health Act if private payer models expandOn Underrated Policy Developments• MEREDITH: Automatic benefits enrollment simplifies access and improves delivery• PHILLIPS: Crackdowns on fraudulent career colleges protect workers and students• BOESSENKOOL: The personal support worker tax credit functions as a targeted wage subsidy• WOODFINDEN: Housing outcomes are increasingly diverging by city and regionYouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.Want the Full Episode?Become a member to unlock:The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this episode Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool, and Shannon Phillips unpack the new federal budget. They discussThe economic outlook and why Canada avoided recession even as growth fallsWhy this is a capital assets budget and what it asks of private investmentThe new fiscal anchors and how markets are reactingThe political risk of long runway payoffs and how to show near-term impactImmigration levels cuts the hit to campuses and minimum wage pressureDefence spending and whether dollars stay in the Canadian industrial baseKey TakeawaysOn the economic outlookWOODFINDEN: A budget that leans heavily on uncertainty and the upending of the global order MEREDITH Canada dodged a recession and the economy shows resilience even with weaker growthBOESSENKOOL Risks are still tilted to the downside and US trade turbulence could bitePHILLIPS This is industrial and capital focused not people focused which leaves exposure if the economy worsensOn what makes this budget differentMEREDITH The document reads like a pension investor wrote it. Prioritizes asset class certainty and competitiveness over retail politicsWOODFINDEN The government owns the productivity slump that predated Trump and is finally acknowledging it at least  BOESSENKOOL A Bay Street style budget that pivots from program expansion to private investmentOn immigration and provincial falloutWOODFINDEN The cut to international student permits is dramatic and will hit university and college financesMEREDITH Expect a tilt back to high skill intake while provinces scramble to fill revenue gapsPHILLIPS Lower intake will tighten low wage labour markets and push pressure onto minimum wage policyOn innovation and financial sector reformMEREDITH The budget packs major moves on competition banking and digital assets with more likely in the Bank Act review cycleOn defenceWOODFINDEN Defence is the signature spend at eighty four billion over five yearsMEREDITH Procurement choices will decide how much of that spend stays in CanadaPHILLIPS Recruitment and culture must improve or the money will not translate into peopleMBP Intelligence Roundtable is produced by Metamorphosis Media Group for Meredith, Boessenkool & Phillips (MBP) Intelligence.Learn more or join the MBP membership for exclusive access to policy briefings and private roundtables at mbpintelligence.com.YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this episode, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith and Shannon Phillips discuss:Projects of national interest and how new polling reveals what Canadians really think about building faster while maintaining environmental and Indigenous safeguardsWhy Bill C-5 could reshape how Canada approves major infrastructure projectsThe shifting dynamics between Carney’s government, Conservative premiers, and public expectations around trade-offs, consultation, and speedTrump’s latest trade war escalation, what it means for Canada, the provinces, and global leverageSection 107 and the Notwithstanding Clause: how back-to-work powers are reshaping Canada’s labour relations landscape“Around the Horn” the key political, economic, and social developments to watch across CanadaKey TakeawaysPHILLIPS: Canadians want it all; environmental safeguards, Indigenous consultation, and faster approvals. “They want all of the things. That is a distinctly Canadian approach.”MEREDITH: The public is open to conditions, unionized labour, Indigenous participation, environmental offsets, not to bypassing them.WOODFINDEN: “If something extraordinary continues long enough, it becomes ordinary.” Carney’s mandate to move fast risks fading if delivery lags.PHILLIPS: “Politics are not fixed.” The ‘don’t know’ responses in polling reveal opportunity, or danger, for both sides of the national projects debate.MEREDITH: C-5 gives Cabinet power to act as “traffic cop” coordinating approvals, Indigenous engagement, and environmental conditions, a new form of transactional nation-building.PHILLIPS: The bill could accelerate transmission lines, renewable energy projects, and AI infrastructure, “That’s where you’ll get Canadians at 70% support.”WOODFINDEN: Conservatives and Liberals may share short-term goals but differ fundamentally on regulatory reform, “A branding and messaging divide.”MEREDITH: Canada’s leverage works when used strategically, not bombastically, “Pain may need to be felt on the U.S. side first.”PHILLIPS: “No deal is better than a bad deal.” A strong, united Canada is better positioned to face Trump’s negotiating style.WOODFINDEN: “The united front is fading.” Provincial freelancing is eroding national coordination, a gift to Trump’s divide-and-conquer tactics.MEREDITH: Lack of communication between Ottawa, provinces, and business is fueling anxiety “We cannot manage our own agenda if we do not have a coordinated response.”PHILLIPS: Alberta’s pre-emptive use of the Notwithstanding Clause to end the teachers’ strike “opens a five-alarm fire” for labour rights across Canada.MEREDITH: Section 107 was never designed as a permanent tool,  “It’s become a relief valve governments now reach for too easily.”WOODFINDEN: Conservatives’ outreach to labour complicates future debates, “The dynamic in Parliament has changed more than people realize.”PHILLIPS: Expect deeper divides between approaches to public- and private-sector unions in conservative politics.MEREDITH: EI reform is overdue, “If a recession hits, the system isn’t ready.”PHILLIPS: Alberta plans to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause again, this time to shield transgender legislation. “If the state can insert itself in your individual decisions, it will not stop there.”WOODFINDEN: Budget brinkmanship in a minority parliament is not chaos, it’s normal. “This is what minority governments look like.”MBP Intelligence Roundtable is produced by Metamorphosis Media Group for Meredith, Boessenkool & Phillips (MBP) Intelligence.Learn more or join the MBP membership for exclusive access to policy briefings and private roundtables at mbpintelligence.com.YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this episode of MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool and Shannon Phillips discuss:The “teaser budget” and how Prime Minister Trudeau and Mark Carney are framing a transformational moment for Canada’s economyWhat the language of sacrifice and “transformation” really signals for Canadians and how it landed with studentsThe political balancing act between fiscal discipline, industrial policy and trade diversification“Buy Canadian,” AI investment, and talent strategy as pillars of the new industrial visionCanada’s evolving housing landscape and the impact of Alberta’s municipal elections“Around the Hall”  the developments and signals to watch in the weeks aheadKey TakeawaysOn the Teaser Budget and Carney’s FramingMEREDITH: The decision to deliver a pre-budget address was about setting expectations, signalling a generational budget and framing the conversation before it lands.BOESSENKOOL: Carney is setting the bar extremely high, a “Paul Martin problem” of over-promising transformation before delivery.PHILLIPS: Doubling non-U.S. exports is a massive lift that would require a complete retooling of Canada’s economy.MEREDITH: “Buy Canadian” signals an industrial strategy that goes beyond steel and aluminum to technology and manufactured goods.On Sacrifice, Youth and Fiscal BalanceMEREDITH: “Sacrifice” was framed as unity, a shared commitment to tough choices, but it also prepares Canadians for spending restraint in some areas.WOODFINDEN: The line landed awkwardly before university students who have seen house prices double and job prospects tighten, a telling communications moment.BOESSENKOOL: It was written for national media, not the room, a preview of the government’s tough-talk tone heading into budget day.PHILLIPS: When workers are facing weekly plant closures, deficits feel secondary to economic reality.On Industrial Strategy and AIMEREDITH: Expect direction on AI sovereignty, data centres, cloud capacity and digital infrastructure, with details to follow after the budget.WOODFINDEN: Carney’s focus on critical minerals, AI, and education highlights Canada’s core comparative advantages.BOESSENKOOL: Expanding Canada Research Chairs to attract top global talent would be a small but strategic move with outsized impact.PHILLIPS: The speech underplayed existing wins like childcare and middle-class tax relief, missed chances to show tangible progress.On Housing and Regional RealityWOODFINDEN: The housing story has shifted, prices stabilizing, condo markets softening, and starts declining in Toronto and Vancouver while mid-sized cities grow.MEREDITH: Roughly $50 billion in housing initiatives (Build Canada Homes, MERB, modular construction, DC cuts) are coming, the challenge is execution and coordination.PHILLIPS: Co-operative and mixed-model housing is absent from today’s debate, civil society needs to reclaim that space.On Alberta’s Municipal Elections and CoordinationPHILLIPS: Calgary’s new leadership opens space for fresh federal-municipal collaboration; there’s room for constructive reset.BOESSENKOOL: Incoming councils inherit old agreements, like blanket rezoning, that now require federal renegotiation.MEREDITH: Real housing progress depends on provincial alignment, that’s where the legal and policy levers sit.On Parliament and Political TimingMEREDITH: Passing the budget is only step one, implementation and supply votes create multiple points of leverage in a minority Parliament.BOESSENKOOL: Minorities often last longer than expected, election threats are constant but rarely materialize.WOODFINDEN: Moving the budget to fall forces discipline and changes how opposition parties plan their moves.YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this episode Ben Woodfinden and Shannon Phillips talk with National President of UNIFOR Lana Payne and discuss:Stellantis, subsidies and Trump Pressure 03:02:18Government Tools and Leverage 05:49:12On a Team Canada Strategy, and potential divergence between federal and provincial governments 10:36:15On the Future of the Canadian Auto Sector 22:00:01On Labour Power and Policy 32:06:10Unifors Position and it’s members 42:20:10Key TakeawaysOn Stellantis, Subsidies and Trump PressurePAYNE: This is the most blatant example of a corporation appeasing Trump. Canada must play hardball, enforce commitments negotiated in 2023, and make companies feel consequences when they move Canadian jobs.PAYNE: Failure to act risks a domino effect — if Stellantis escapes accountability, others like GM could follow.PHILLIPS: What matters now is not rhetoric but tools — what governments can actually do to make firms fulfill their obligations.On Government Tools and LeveragePAYNE: Canada has powerful levers if it chooses to use them, beginning with a tariff-remission strategy that rewards companies meeting Canadian production commitments and penalizes those that don’t.PAYNE: If you’re going to sell here, you need to build here. Market access, energy supply, and public subsidies are all bargaining chips.PAYNE: Governments can no longer rely only on incentives. The world has changed — we must use sticks as well as carrots.On a Team Canada StrategyPHILLIPS: The provinces, especially Ontario, have meaningful leverage; their willingness to act matters.WOODFINDEN: Emerging divergence between Ford and Carney that was not there a few months ago. Ford is fighting openly while Ottawa appears more cautious.PAYNE: Canada risks fragmentation as provinces pursue separate interests. We need a strong Team Canada approach uniting unions, industry, and all levels of government.PAYNE: Trump’s trade posture is an existential threat. He’s coming for our auto jobs.PAYNE: Need to think about and plan for long-term resilience. We can’t just export raw materials and help someone else build their economy — we must build our own industrial base.On the Future of the Canadian Auto SectorPAYNE: Before Trump’s trade war, Canada was finally rebuilding its footprint — battery plants, EV supply chains, and domestic R&D. U.S. backtracking threatens that progress.PAYNE: Warns that China’s massive overproduction of vehicles could soon flood the global market. Canada must plan now to compete.On Labour Power and PolicyPAYNE: Section 107 is a very dangerous path. It conditions employers to expect government rescue instead of bargaining fairly. Using 107 will not bring labour peace; it prolongs workplace problems.PHILLIPS: Government may need clearer guardrails before invoking 107.PAYNE: You don’t get to use 107 — that’s the starting point. Supports mediation and conciliation instead of forced arbitration.WOODFINDEN: Notes shifts in the political landscape as unionized and blue-collar voters move toward conservatives.Shifting Political Coalitions and Realignments PAYNE: Unifor stays non-partisan. We build our own power. Every party is chasing the working vote, which strengthens labour’s influence.PAYNE: The voter shift is about bread-and-butter issues — housing, wages, inflation — not ideology. People felt heard.YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

In this episode of MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool and Shannon Phillips discuss:Changes to the timing and presentation of the upcoming Federal Budget (1:08)The latest in pipeline politics with Premier Danielle Smith proposing a new West Coast pipeline and the revival of Keystone XL talks (25:02)The state of Canada's auto sector and the existential threat it faces (41:10)What we’re paying attention to (51:56) Key takeaways:On changes to the budget:MEREDITH: We learned something about Carney and how he operates from this move to the fall. Wasn't in the platform.MEREDITH: Carney was Governor of the Bank of England when the UK changed budget timing to the fall, not a coincidence.BOESSENKOOL: You're forecasting a budget six months in advance before it starts happening. So that's a benefit when you're spending, but it's downside when you're doing revenue.PHILLIPS: This will aid policy design and help stakeholders navigate budgets by clarifying upcoming allocations. With Carney's changes to the cabinet, stakeholders can now better align their requests with existing allocations.MEREDITH: Change is important because this is the first of many big steps this government is going to take where it departs from the Trudeau government. Carney government less focused on things like spending on social policy, transfers to people, transfers to governments that aren't actually about building assets. Stakeholders should think about this in social policy area.On pipelines:PHILLIPS: A West Coast pipeline is unlikely to succeed unless supportive Indigenous nations along the route agree—constitutional treaty rights are a near‑insurmountable hurdle that C-5 cannot override. Prince Rupert is probably unrealistic, and overall demand uncertainty means such a project would likely require public backing.BOESSENKOOL: There’s a real question whether only governments can now build major pipelines given Indigenous and provincial veto points. Hypothetical pipeline talk should not distract investors from concrete projects that could attract real capital.MEREDITH: Provincial sponsorship of pipeline projects can be constructive and may vindicate past federal intervention, but meaningful progress requires BC’s buy‑in. Routing and negotiations will be protracted, and reuse or expansion of existing routes (for example, further using or adding capacity to Trans Mountain) is worth considering.PHILLIPS: BC’s current government is more open to development—including filling or expanding TMX and port dredging—than past governments, so political opposition is not as monolithic as before and could enable different outcomes than prior fights.WOODFINDEN: If Conservatives had won federally, they would likely have pursued repeal or major reform of laws that deter investment (C-69, the tanker ban), testing whether regulatory barriers rather than macro market conditions are the primary obstacle to pipeline investment.On the auto sector:MEREDITH: The U.S. objective is explicit—shift vehicle assembly (high‑value jobs) to U.S. soil while allowing Canada to remain a parts supplier; Canada must defend its assembly capacity to preserve advanced manufacturing and national economic sovereignty.BOESSENKOOL: This is a very serious threat that requires a clear Canadian auto strategy and cautious negotiation—don’t rush into deals with Trump that could unravel later; Canada should fight rather than fold to protect jobs and exports.PHILLIPS: Losing large numbers of auto jobs would trigger wide economic fallout requiring a whole‑of‑government fiscal and policy response (comparable in scale to pandemic-era measures) to support affected workers, communities, and domestic demand.YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array