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The West Block with Mercedes Stephenson digs deep into the breaking news and major stories that impact Canadians’ lives. Through in-depth conversations with political, national, and international newsmakers, Stephenson pushes for answers to what’s really going on and why it matters.
348 Episodes
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Are the RCMP currently investigating the allegations of some MPs ‘wittingly’ colluding with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme to discuss foreign interference and whether the names of MPs flagged in the NSICOP report should be publicized. Duheme also addresses the national security threats facing Canada and the growing threats facing politicians.
Plus, Stephenson is joined by Bob Fife, the Globe and Mail’s Ottawa bureau chief, and Stephanie Levitz, the Toronto Star’s deputy Ottawa bureau chief, to look back on the key issues that dominated the spring sitting and look ahead to the parties’ summer strategy.
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As Canada’s top soldier, Gen. Wayne Eyre, is set to step down from his post as chief of the defence staff this summer, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Gen. Eyre about the Canadian Armed Forces being a target of foreign interference. Gen. Eyre also discusses the state of Canada’s military, the major challenges during his tenure as CDS, and more.
Plus, Stephenson sits down with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to discuss the impact of foreign interference allegations levelled against China and India on her government’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Minister Joly also addresses calls for Canada to meet its NATO defence spending targets.
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What is the fallout from the bombshell NSICOP report that alleges some parliamentarians “wittingly” co-operated with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Garry Clement, former RCMP superintendent, and Thomas Juneau, former analyst at the Department of National Defence, about the ability and limitations of the RCMP to investigate these alleged incidents of collusion, the calls to release the names of those alleged parliamentarians, and more.
Plus, Stephenson sits down with Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, about her efforts in documenting Russian war crimes, abducted Ukrainian children, and more.
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Crime has been on the rise, according to Statistics Canada’s Violent Crime Severity Index. RCMP officials have told Global News that 53 per cent of the homicides committed in their jurisdiction have been perpetrated by someone on community release, parole or probation. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Justice Minister Arif Virani about his government’s bail reforms for violent repeat offenders. Minister Virani also addresses the recent attacks at two Jewish schools and a synagogue.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with David Frum, political commentator and staff writer at The Atlantic, about the significance of Donald Trump’s criminal conviction and its potential impact on his bid to be re-elected U.S. president.
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Ahead of the summer NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., a bipartisan group of U.S. senators have written a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to meet the NATO two per cent of GDP defence spending target. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, to discuss if the White House shares the senators’ disappointment that Canada won’t reach its NATO commitment this decade. Ambassador Cohen also addresses Canada’s response to the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth (President of Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) and RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jodie Boudreau about the impacts of the federal government’s new bail reforms on the front lines for police.
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The shooting of Slovakia’s prime minister highlights the growing threat of violence towards politicians. So what does it take to be an officer of a VIP detail for a high-profile politician? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson gets exclusive access to the RCMP program to train protective policing officers to keep politicians of all political stripes safe from the rising threat of political violence.
Plus, Stephenson interviews former correctional investigator of Canada Howard Sapers about the secrecy surrounding the prison transfer of notorious convicted murderer Luka Magnotta to a medium-security institution. Sapers also addresses reports of increased prison violence and concerns over Canada’s parole system.
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With the rise of pro-Palestinian encampments across North American university campuses, concerns have been raised over police response and safety of Jewish students. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera to discuss the campus protests. Minister Khera also addresses concerns from disability advocates about the Canada Disability Benefit’s ability to lift Canadians out of poverty.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with former British intelligence officer Philip Ingram about the U.K.’s calls for NATO members to boost their defence spending, geopolitical threats, and more.
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The issue of foreign interference returns to the spotlight as the public inquiry into election meddling releases its first report and the RCMP make an arrest of suspected foreign hitmen. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc to discuss the new arrests in the 2023 killing of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. LeBlanc also addresses the findings of the foreign interference inquiry, which found that instances of foreign meddling did occur but did not alter the outcomes of Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue also concluded that foreign interference did undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with former CSIS executive manager Dan Stanton and Global News’ national security journalist Stewart Bell about the arrest of three suspected hitmen and their alleged ties to the Indian government.
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Following the federal government’s announcement of a $15-billion Honda electric vehicle plant in Ontario, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson asks Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne for a follow-up to his government’s efforts to increase grocery store competition. Minister Champagne discusses his talks with foreign grocery chains, as well as Canada’s electric vehicle infrastructure.
Plus, Stephenson sits down with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to talk about her life in exile, her jailed husband, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ties to the current Belarusian regime.
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What are the risks of a greater escalation between Iran and Israel after more retaliatory strikes are exchanged between the two countries? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews the Atlantic Council’s Jonathan Panikoff, the former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the National Intelligence Council, about the possibility of a greater conflict between Iran and Israel, fears over the potential use of nuclear weapons, and more.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with John Manley, former Liberal finance minister, and Lisa Raitt, former Conservative deputy leader, about the new federal budget. The panel also discusses proposed capital gains tax changes, the housing crisis, and how the budget might impact the Liberals’ polling numbers.
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Heightened tension in the Middle East after Iran launches missile and drone attacks against Israel. Tehran says the attack is in retaliation for Israel’s suspected strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett to discuss the threat of a wider conflict with Iran, the crisis in Gaza, and more.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with Steven Chase, The Globe and Mail’s senior parliamentary reporter, and Vina Nadjibulla, an international security specialist at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s testimony at the foreign interference inquiry.
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Big revelations have emerged from the latest rounds of foreign interference inquiry hearings. At the inquiry, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director David Vigneault said the agency had intelligence before Canada's 2019 election that China's government attempted to funnel about $250,000 through a network, possibly to interfere in Canadian elections. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson is joined by Steven Chase, The Globe and Mail’s senior parliamentary reporter, and Dick Fadden, former CSIS director, to discuss the latest round of testimony from intelligence officials and MPs, as well as the potential political fallout.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with retired Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire, former UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda Force Commander, about the 30th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide.
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Ahead of the federal carbon price rise in April, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault about the push by some provincial premiers and Conservative MPs to scrap the levy, the role of large emitters in reducing emissions and more.
Plus, Stephenson is joined by retired U.S. general David Petraeus, a former CIA director, to discuss concerns over terror attacks from the Islamic State (ISIS), the Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in Ukraine. Petraeus also addresses Canada’s capabilities to respond to global threats.
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The federal government introduced new legislation to reform the Canadian military justice system, which will transfer military sexual misconduct cases to the civilian justice system. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with Defence Minister Bill Blair to discuss the court reforms. Blair also addresses his comments saying the Canadian Armed Forces is facing a “death spiral” when it comes to recruitment.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with Canadian Climate Institute President Rick Smith about his new report tracking emission reductions, the political debate over the carbon tax, and more.
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The crisis in Haiti continues to grow more and more precarious following the rise in gang violence and the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Canadian Ambassador to Haiti André François Giroux about the situation on the ground, preparations for a possible evacuation, and the role Canada can play in resolving the crisis.
Plus, Stephenson is joined by Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, who discusses the international response, the flow of illegal U.S. weapons to Haitian gangs, and more.
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Canada has committed to upgrading its NATO mission in Latvia, Operation REASSURANCE, to a brigade-level force by 2026. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with Andris Sprūds, Latvia’s defence minister, to discuss Latvia’s preparations for Russian threats, Canada’s defence spending, and the future of the NATO alliance under a possible re-elected Donald Trump.
Plus, Stephenson speaks with retired general Tom Lawson, former chief of defence staff, about Defence Minister Bill Blair’s comments on the state of Canada’s military recruitment.
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Former prime minister Brian Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Thursday, Feb. 29. Mulroney, Canada’s 18th prime minister, governed from 1984-1993 and oversaw the signing of NAFTA and international treaties on acid rain. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Frank McKenna, the former N.B. premier and former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., about Mulroney’s legacy.
Plus, Stephenson is joined by Justice Minister Arif Virani who addresses criticisms that the online harms bill is government overreach and impedes on free speech.
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Fallout continues over former U.S. president Donald Trump’s comments suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin could do whatever he wanted to NATO allies who didn’t meet the alliance’s 2-per cent defence spending targets. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with John Bolton, the former U.S. national security adviser to Donald Trump, about the seriousness of the Republican frontrunner’s NATO comments. Bolton also discusses the threat of Iranian foreign interference in North America and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Plus, Stephenson interviews Defence Minister Bill Blair about how Canada might respond to Navalny’s death and pressures to boost its defence spending.
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The federal government convened a national summit to combat the growing problem of auto thefts in Canada. ‘The West Block’ guest host Eric Sorensen interviews Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc about the jurisdictional roadblocks in tackling organized car thefts, possible new penalties for repeat car thieves, and more.
Plus, Sorensen is joined by Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman to discuss the ‘Team Canada’ strategy, preparations for a possible Donald Trump re-election, and concerns over PM Trudeau’s anti-MAGA rhetoric.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a suite of new policy proposals aimed at gender identity and transgender youth, triggering political shockwaves across Canada. Some of the proposed changes impact gender-affirming medical treatments for minors and pronoun changes at school. ‘The West Block’ guest host David Akin speaks with Premier Smith about what prompted her to announce these LGBTQ2S+ policy proposals, her government’s plan for sex education in schools, the potential use of the notwithstanding clause, and more.
Plus, Akin interviews Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, the only Alberta MP in PM Trudeau’s cabinet, for the federal reaction.
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