The Hill Times' Hot Room

The Hot Room is a podcast by The Hill Times, Canada's all-politics, all-the-time newspaper in the heart of Parliament Hill. We talk to politicians, experts, and other reporters about the biggest stories of the day. Hot Room podcast theme music written and performed by Gavin Gardiner for The Hill Times.

'Amateur hour on the Rideau,' with Sheila Copps

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Sheila Copps, a former deputy prime minister in Jean Chrétien's Liberal government, about Chrystia Freeland's resignation from the cabinet and the troubles plauging the Liberal Party. 

12-20
21:11

The sales tax holiday, with Corinne Pohlmann

Host Peter Mazereeuw explains how the government might pass legislation to create a two-month sales tax holiday through a House of Commons paralyzed by a Conservative filibuster. Then, he speaks with Corinne Pohlmann, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business's vice-president of advocacy, about the challenges facing businesses that will have to implement the temporary tax break. 

11-22
13:30

How to lower housing prices, with Carolyn Whitzman

The Hot Room takes another look at the housing shortage with Carolyn Whitzman, a PhD in urban planning and author of, Home Truths: Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis. 

11-15
25:07

How dirty money gets into Canadian politics, with Jessica Davis

Foreign actors have been funding crime and democratic corruption in Canada. Jessica Davis of Insight Threat Intelligence explains how the money gets in, what it's used for, and how we can help authorities to stop it. 

11-08
26:11

Lots of cash, no strings attached: Jerry DeMarco on the Net Zero Accelerator program

Canada's environment commissioner, Jerry DeMarco, rejoins The Hot Room to talk about his audit of the government's Net Zero Accelerator initiative. DeMarco's team found that the government has awarded billions to businesses without requiring any commitment that the money will be spent effectively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

11-01
23:04

The immigration cutback, with Elizabeth Long

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a significant cut this week to the number of temporary and permanent immigrants who will be admitted to Canada in the coming years. Peter Mazereeuw speaks to Elizabeth Long, an immigration lawyer and partner at LM Law Group in Toronto, to get her perspective on this shift and what it could mean for immigrants who have already settled in Canada, and those who want to. 

10-25
23:09

India vs. Canada, with Bhagwant Sandhu

Hill Times columnist Bhagwant Sandhu weighs in on the dispute between Canada and India, and what you need to know about the politics of Indo-Canadian communities.

10-18
27:54

What the heck is going on in the House?

Hill Times reporter Irem Koca joins The Hot Room to explain the fight over documents that has led to a week-long filibuster in the House of Commons. 

10-11
15:31

Health Minister Mark Holland, on the new pandemic readiness organization

Peter Mazereeuw talks to Health Minister Mark Holland about the launch of HERC, or Health Emergency Readiness Canada, a new organization that will fund pharmaceutial research and manufacturing, and help coordinate the government's response to future pandemics.

10-04
19:46

Confidence votes: how, why, and when

Peter Mazereeuw talks with Yaroslav Baran, a Pendulum Group consultant and former chief of staff to a government House leader, about how confidence votes work, and how the big parties will strategize around them in the coming months.

09-27
23:10

EVs from China? The Hot Room debates

Hill Times columnist David Crane and Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association president Flavio Volpe debate the best way forward for Canada, as China aims to export high-quality, low-price electric vehicles around the world.

09-13
27:04

The end of S&C, confidence votes, and the NDP

Former NDP strategist Karl Bélanger joins The Hot Room to discuss NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's move to withdraw from his party's "supply and confidence" deal with the governing Liberals, and what it means for the months ahead.

09-06
18:07

Fall priorities, with NDP House Leader Peter Julian

Peter Julian, the House leader for the New Democratic Party, speaks with Peter Mazereeuw about the upcoming return of Parliament, the NDP's supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals, and more. 

08-30
23:42

Fixing the temporary foreign worker program with Ratna Omidvar

Senator Ratna Omidvar speaks with Peter Mazereeuw about the problems with Canada's temporary foreign worker program, and how the federal government could make it better for migrant workers and businesses that rely on them.

08-23
27:33

$9.1-million out the door, and counting: checking in with the Foundation for Black Communities

Peter Mazereeuw talks with Nneka Otogbolu and Leah Sanford of the Foundation for Black Communities about the 100-plus Black charities funded by their organization so far, their call for more Black community members to help them choose new recipients, and more. 

08-16
16:45

The crisis in Venezuela, with Ben Rowswell

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Ben Rowswell, the convenor of the Circle for Democratic Solidarity and Canada's last ambassador to Venezuela, about the crisis unfolding in that country. 

08-02
28:15

Palace intrigue in the PMO, with Sheila Copps

Former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to discuss rumours, leaks, and the fortunes of Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, and Mark Carney. 

07-19
26:33

Trump, NATO, and submarines, with Steve Saideman

Peter Mazereeuw talks with Stephen Saideman, the director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network and Paterson chair in international affairs at Carleton University, about the NATO leaders' summit in Washington; what a Trump presidency would mean for the alliance; Canada's commitment to the two per cent target; and its plan to buy a new batch of attack submarines. 

07-12
27:16

Inside the Senate, with Raymonde Saint-Germain

Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain talks to Peter Mazereeuw about the Senate reforms passed this spring, what will top the Red Chamber's agenda this fall, and gives a warning to the government about its use of omnibus bills. 

06-28
25:51

Heading into summer, with MP George Chahal

Host Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Calgary MP George Chahal about the city's water crisis, the last weeks of the parliamentary session, the life of an MP in the summer, and his advocacy to stop the deportation of Jaskirat Singh Sidhu.

06-21
28:44

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