rabble radio

Queens University gave former Prime Minister Paul Martin an honorary doctorate of laws on Friday, and Monday he joined the program Alternative Frequency at Kingston's community radio station CFRC to talk about all about it. But host Elamin Abdel Mahmoud couldn't let the opportunity to ask the former Prime Minister about the Gaza Flotilla. Here's part of their conversation. Even before the attack on the Free Gaza Flotilla, demonstrations against Israel's policies in the middle east had been scheduled. They were to coincide with Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu's visit to Canada. Monday, demonstrators added their condemnation of the nighttime attack on the flotilla to those protests. Tariq Jeeroburkan attended a Montreal demonstration. Here he is, speaking with Yves Engler, the author of Canada and Israel: Building Apartheid. Aaron Lakoff is with the group Tadamon. Here he is, speaking to Jeeroburkan at the demonstration. Rabble radio spoke to Canadian Peace activist Kevin Neish as he was boarding his boat in the Free Gaza Flotilla. We haven't been able to reach him since then. He's been detained, but survived the attack and should be released some time in the next three days. That said, his interview still stands.

This week, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme of 'A Spirit of Dialogue.'  On Tuesday, January 20, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a 17-minute special address in which he condemned the "old order" of the world and said the longstanding American-led rules-based international order is over. He called on "middle powers" such as Canada to work together and resist domination by larger, wealthier, and more heavily armed nations. The reaction from Canadians has been overwhelmingly positive. Across the political spectrum, many have praised Carney's speech for its measured, inspiring tone and for firmly positioning Canada in opposition to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump—without ever mentioning him by name. This response is hardly surprising. As last year's election showed, few things currently unite Canadians as effectively as drawing a clear line against Trump and his actions. But should progressive Canadians be so quick to celebrate Carney's speech? What was left unsaid beneath the polished rhetoric? Which elements rang hollow or hypocritical, and which genuinely deserve recognition? Today on the show, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and rabble editor Nick Seebruch discuss the speech and what it might mean for Carney's plans in the year ahead.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

Labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with Kelly Botengan to discuss the recent changes by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has paused the intake of new applications for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots.  Advocacy groups argue the pause leaves many migrant workers, predominantly women from racialized communities, in a precarious situation. If their work permits expire while waiting for a permanent residency decision, and they are unable to apply for an extension under the paused program, they risk becoming undocumented or losing their legal status in Canada. About our guests Kelly Botengan came to Canada via the live in caregiver program in 2006. She was involved in community organizing for a few years, then worked as a settlement counsellor with migrant caregivers for 13 years. worked exclusively with caregivers. Botengan is currently in her last term as a paralegal student at Seneca Polytechnic and works part time as a legal assistant in an immigration law firm.  To learn more about the causes Botengan organizes around, check out the Caregivers Collective of Canada on Facebook.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

The NDP will pick their new leader at the end of March. rabble's Off the Hill political panel took a look at the race and broke down the major issues, endorsements, and events of the campaign so far. This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was 'Analyzing the NDP leadership race.' Our panel featured Libby Davies, Judy Rebick, James Adair and Karl Nerenberg.  About our guests Libby Davies is a former NDP deputy leader and former co-host of Off the Hill. Davies has expressed her support for Avi Lewis in this race. Judy Rebick is a renowned activist and author and is the founder of rabble.ca. Rebick has also expressed her support for Lewis. James Adair is the co-president of the University of Ottawa NDP Association and has expressed his support in this leadership race for Rob Ashton. Karl Nerenberg is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, working in both English and French languages. He is rabble's senior parliamentary reporter. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

It has been a very eventful year in Canada, to put it simply. As rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian noted on last week's show, Canadian politics went through one of its most dramatic periods in recent memory—including a federal election that reshaped the national conversation. And politics were only part of the picture. Environmental challenges, major labour actions, and Canada's shifting role on the international stage all kept the news cycle moving. Throughout it all, rabble's reporters and freelance writers worked to make sense of these developments on our site and here on the podcast.  Today, we're sharing the last episode of rabble radio for 2025. And, in the fashion of our last episodes of the past few years, we're highlighting some of our best interviews of this year on rabble radio.  Thank you for listening to rabble radio  Our show would not be possible without listeners like you. So thank you!  From all of us here at rabble, we want to wish you and your communities a very merry holiday season and a safe and happy new year! If we've caught you in the giving mood and would like to support our show today, please visit rabble.ca/donate. rabble radio will return January 9, 2026.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. Or, if you have feedback for the show, get in touch anytime at editor@rabble.ca.

This week on rabble radio, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and rabble editor Nick Seebruch discuss the major news in Canadian politics of 2025; including the resignation of Justin Trudeau, to now-Prime Minister Mark Carney—and his first months as leader, his budget and pipeline plans; the NDP leadership race; and more.  This marks our final interview of the year! Next week on the show, we'll feature a collection of our favourite interviews of 2025 in the yearly fashion of the "best of rabble radio" episode. Tune in next week to see if your favourite interview made the cut!   If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

In its newly tabled budget, the federal government announced that over the course of four years there would be a $2.7 billion reduction in international assistance.  As Bridget Potasky writes in her November 13th piece on rabble.ca, this announcement has drawn the ire of NGOs who warn it could cause long-term, irreversible harm leaving vulnerable communities without essential medical care, food, and protection at a time when global needs have dramatically risen. This week on rabble radio, we tune in to her conversation with the director of policy and advocacy with Cooperation Canada, Paul Farran. Cooperation Canada is an umbrella group representing more than 100 Canadian non-profits engaged in humanitarian aid efforts and international development.  About our guest Paul Farran is the director of policy and advocacy with Cooperation Canada. He works closely with the CSO sector in Canada on parliamentary and government engagement. He has a background working internationally with the United Nations and NGOs in different regions of the world on partnership and government relations issues. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

The New Democratic Party of Canada is currently looking for its new leader after the resignation of Jagmeet Singh and a colossal decline in support in the most recent federal election.  It seems the NDP's reduced support stems from competition with the Liberals, strategic voting, demographic shifts, and difficulties uniting diverse voter groups across Canada.  The new leader of the NDP must unite the party's diverse voter groups, rebuild national support and clearly differentiate the NDP's vision from its rivals. But how can this be done? rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and assistant professor at the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University Daniel Westlake discuss this question and more this week on rabble radio.  About our guest Daniel Westlake is a term assistant professor at the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University. He teaches courses on Canadian politics, quantitative methods, and multiculturalism and immigration policy. Westlake completed his PhD in political science at the University of British Columbia and has previously held positions at the University of Victoria, Queen's University, and the University of Saskatchewan. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

Content warning: This interview centers around domestic violence. Please listen with care and sensitivity. Family and child protection lawyer Bobbi Olsen joins rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian to talk about the legal systems in Canada which handle issues of domestic and family violence. The two explore what is working and what needs to be improved.  About our guest Bobbi Olsen is a dual-call (Ontario and Alberta) high conflict family and child protection lawyer who has practiced in Toronto for many years, and now practices with MD Law Group in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to her LL.B., she holds a Masters of Law in Family Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a certificate from the Master Class of Negotiation, Harvard Law School, Executive Education. An army reservist during undergrad, she jokes that she has spent her adult life learning to protect people's freedom, a value she holds dear. She is known for spontaneous solo travel, running, and spending too much time alone with her dog, Ted Mosby. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, we're looking at how unions and employers bargain in Canada and whether it's time for a new approach.   Right now, most unions negotiate with one employer at a time, which can make it tough to raise standards across an industry. Some experts are calling for sectoral bargaining which may help create fairer pay and conditions for everyone.    Today on the show, we're joined by Dr. Adam King, assistant professor in Labour Studies at the University of Manitoba, to talk about what a move toward sectoral bargaining could mean for workers and the future of Canada's labour movement. About our guest Adam D.K. King is an assistant professor in the Labour Studies Program at the University of Manitoba. He is the coauthor of Work and Labour in Canada: Critical Issues, 4th Edition and writes a weekly newsletter about work and the labour movement called "Class Struggle" at The Maple.  On November 19, join Dr. Adam King and Dr. Sara Slinn (Osgoode Hall Law School) in a webinar focused on sectoral bargaining here. Hosted by the Labour Studies Department at Brock University.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney shared Budget 2025: a budget that Carney says is "to build Canada strong." The budget emphasized the importance of investing over spending—but what does that really mean?  Here to break it down is economist Jim Stanford.  About our guest Jim Stanford is economist and director of the Centre for Future Work, a progressive labour economics institute based in Vancouver. He has a PhD in economics from the New School for Social Research in New York, and also holds economics degrees from Cambridge University and the University of Calgary. He is the author of Economics for Everyone, which has been translated into six languages. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

It's Islamic History Month in Canada; and this week on the show, we're joined by Sadaf Ahsan and Sarah Sahagian to discuss Muslim representation in Canadian pop culture. In this conversation, the two explore common trends and stereotypes surrounding Muslim characters in the media, discuss the figures who are offering more nuanced and multifaceted representations, and share some of their favourite books, musicians, television shows and films that showcase Muslim talent. About our guest Sadaf Ahsan is the senior editor at 3 Magazine, co-host of Frequency Podcasts' The Reheat, columnist at The Globe & Mail, contributing editor at RepresentASIAN Project, and a Humber College journalism professor. Her work has appeared in The Walrus, CBC, The Cut and more. She previously worked at The Juggernaut, Canadian Press, The Discourse, NOW Magazine, and the National Post.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

The New Democratic Party of Canada will select its next leader at the Winnipeg Convention in March next year. As of now, there are five officially approved candidates seeking the leadership of Canada's NDP. They are: Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and Tony McQuail.  This week on rabble radio, rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian sit down to discuss the federal NDP leadership race. The two weigh in on the "insiders" and "outsiders" of the race, the concept of political "purity tests" and the importance of English-French bilingualism for a federal leader.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.   

This week on rabble radio, we share a clip from a recent episode of the Courage My Friends series featuring co-executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Karen Cocq, advocacy and media relations coordinator at The Refugee Centre in Montreal, Alina Murad and President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, Aisling Bondy. The three join Courage My Friends series host Resh Budhu to discuss Prime Minister Mark Carney's new border security acts, Bill C-2 and its questionable make-over with the recently tabled Bill C-12 and how they effectively rewrite Canada's approach to refugee rights and protections. If passed, what will these acts mean for those seeking asylum—and for Canada as a whole?  About our guests and the Courage My Friends series  Aisling Bondy is the current president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), a national organization comprised of several hundred lawyers who practice in refugee law. She is the founder of Bondy Immigration Law and is a member of the Refugee Lawyers' Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association. Karen Cocq is co-executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC), a membership-based organization of migrants. MWAC is the secretariat of the cross-country Migrant Rights Network, the largest coalition of migrant led organizations in Canada. She has been active in migrant justice and workers' rights organizing for 20 years. Alina Murad is the advocacy and media relations coordinator at The Refugee Centre in Montreal. She leads policy research and advocacy initiatives addressing systemic barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Canada. Follow them on Instagram @therefugeecentre and @pointofentrypodcast.  Listen to the full episode here. And, if you'd like to hear more from the Courage My Friends podcast series, please subscribe to Needs No Introduction. Available on rabble.ca, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.  The Courage My Friends podcast is a co-production between rabble.ca and the Tommy Douglas Institute at George Brown College. Produced by Resh Budhu of the Tommy Douglas Institute, Breanne Doyle of rabble.ca and the TDI planning committee: Chandra Budhu and Ashley Booth. For more information about the Tommy Douglas Institute and this series, visit georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on the show, Nick Seebruch sits down with Inori Roy, co-founder of Canadian Journalists for Justice in Palestine, to discuss why many journalists in Canada remain hesitant to cover Palestine. They explore how the organization is helping newsrooms report on Gaza with greater fairness and accuracy, and the broader efforts underway to promote ethical journalism across the country. To learn more about the work Canadian Journalists for Justice in Palestine does, visit cjjp.org.  About our guest  Inori Roy is a co-founder at Canadian Journalists for Justice in Palestine. She works as a Toronto-based feature writer and associate editor at The Local magazine. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

Labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with Gauri Sreenivasan of the Canadian Council for Refugees to discuss the current state of Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the issues surrounding the closed work permit system. Sreenivasan last joined us on rabble radio in July to talk about the Lush Cosmetics x Canadian Council for Refugees 'Neighbours' campaign. Tune into that episode here.  About our guest  Gauri Sreenivasan (she/elle) is co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, a leading voice for the rights, protection, sponsorship, settlement, and well-being of refugees and migrants, in Canada and globally. She has over 30 years of experience in policy and advocacy, working in leadership roles across civil society, Parliament Hill, and with academia and researchers to build alliances for change on Turtle Island and around the world.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was 'Off the Hill: Parliament's back in session.' Our panel featured Ontario Federation of Labour president Laura Walton; former Ontario NDP MPP and former federal NDP candidate Joel Harden; researcher and activist Chuka Ejeckam; and rabble's own parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg.   About our guests Laura Walton is the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, the largest provincial labour federation in Canada, which represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. Chuka Ejeckam is a writer and policy researcher. His work focuses on inequity and inequality, drug policy, structural racism, and labour. He is also a columnist for rabble. Joel Harden is a lifelong community organizer who represented Ottawa Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2018 to 2025 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party. During his time at Queen's Park, Harden served as the party's Critic for Transit and Active Transportation, where he championed accessible, affordable, and sustainable public transit solutions across the province. Karl Nerenberg is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, working in both English and French languages. He is rabble's senior parliamentary reporter. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, we continue our ongoing discussion on the state of public education in Ontario. Over the past few weeks, we've heard from various education union leaders about the growing pressures facing students and workers alike—pressures made worse by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's education agenda.  One major concern raised again and again: Bill 33. Tabled in May and still making its way through the legislature, the so-called Supporting Children and Students Act would give the Minister of Education sweeping new powers to supervise school boards and mandate police presence in schools.  Today, rabble editor Nick Seebruch sits down with David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) to talk about why smaller class sizes are critical to student success and why having police in classrooms is not the answer.  About our guest  David Mastin was elected ETFO president in 2025, after representing ETFO members since 2002. He was elected to the provincial executive in 2013, as vice-president in 2019, and first vice-president in 2021. With public education, equity, and workers' rights under threat, he knows our greatest strength lies in unity, action, and hope. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week, we continue our conversation about the evolving landscape of education in Canada—this time, in post-secondary education.  Labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, to discuss the importance of academic freedom and why a strong, well-funded public post-secondary system is essential—not just for Canada's economy, but for the well-being of its society as a whole. About our guest  David Robinson is the executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and has served as a senior consultant on higher education, copyright and international trade issues to EI for the past several years. Prior to joining CAUT, David was the senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada's leading progressive think-tank. He has also been a lecturer at Simon Fraser University and at Carleton University.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

With a new political season underway, Amy Robichaud (CEO at Mothers Matter Canada) and rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian look at how Carney's government might impact mothers and families this fall. From shifts in funding for women and gender equality to the vital role of both formal and informal supports, they break down what to watch for and advocate for in the months ahead.  About our guest  Amy Robichaud is the CEO at Mothers Matter Canada, Amy served as executive director of Dress for Success Vancouver, director of engagement at the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, and as a development and governance consultant to organizations such as the RBC Foundation, the Global Centre for Pluralism, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Mothers Matter Canada — previously known as the Mothers Matter Centre and the Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Canada — is a not-for-profit, registered charity incorporated in October 2001. We are a virtual, national consortium of organizations dedicated to serving socially isolated and low economic status mothers and their families. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.