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WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Amanda Lang, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays.
This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking.
This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking.
147 Episodes
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One thing most people assume about stock markets is that they're an accurate reflection of what's happening in the economy. Yet nothing about markets or politics feels typical right now. Despite global tariffs and unprecedented uncertainty, markets continue to soar. Howard Marks is co-chair of Oaktree Capital Management. He's something of a legend in the investing world and in-depth regular memos are must-reads among those in the industry and well beyond. He speaks with host Amanda Lang about what’s going and what it all means.
Jean Chretien, Canada’s oldest living prime minister, isn't taking Western separatism lying down. Having seen Canada through the threat of Quebec separation, his Clarity Act of 2000 could find new currency today. Chrétien — now 91, mentally sharp and still not pulling his punches — talks to host Amanda Lang about Donald Trump, Team Canada and his message to Alberta.
This episode originally aired on June 12, 2025
In her incredible career as a journalist and author, Sally Armstrong told stories no one else would about the atrocities of war and became a towering figure for women's rights. She speaks with host Amanda Lang about the ongoing fight for rights, the ‘small group of greedy men' who start wars and how a former phys-ed teacher at a magazine called Homemaker became a groundbreaking war correspondent.
This episode originally aired on May 1, 2025.
Once eradicated in Canada, measles is making a comeback in Canada. Is it part of a bigger, post-pandemic trend we're seeing of vaccinations declining? What will it take to get public health back on track? Host Amanda Lang talks to Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, and Dr. Michael Gardam, a leading infectious disease expert about confronting misinformation, acknowledging COVID mistakes and why we’re still not ready for another emergency.
This episode originally aired May 15, 2025.
Canadians are feeling patriotic these days and acutely aware of what we think makes Canada great. But like a lot of good things, our successes should not be taken for granted. In fact, it's been suggested that our democratic processes have fallen so far over time, we’ve lost sight of what "good" even looks like. Host Amanda Lang talks to Andrew Coyne about his new book The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, and how Canada’s political system and structures are under siege.
The housing market dominates conversation for many Canadians, especially when it comes to the lack of affordable homes. Absent a trade war, it is the subject that ranks most important to many of us. And it’s not just about the real estate market — housing now dominates the Canadian economy. Peter Gilgan founded the largest private home builder in North America, Mattamy Homes. He talks to host Amanda Lang about what’s been driving up prices, the impact of investors and his bet on modular home building.
The risks the world faces today feel not just numerous, but in some cases existential. Ian Bremmer is one of the top political scientists and risk experts in the United States. He’s the head of Eurasia Group, a global consultancy, a highly regarded media commentator and the author of 11 books. He talks to host Amanda Lang about America’s ‘dysfunctional democracy’, the threats leading up to the midterm elections and how Canada lacks the infrastructure of a sovereign nation.
The One Canadian Economy Act is supposed to streamline new projects in Canada, including big resource projects. Can the government pursue these nation-building efforts while also answering other aims, including securing sovereignty over Canada's Arctic and working in partnership with Indigenous groups? Sean Boyd helped grow Agnico Eagle into the largest miner in the country and one of the biggest builders in the Arctic. He talks to host Amanda Lang about why his company is so invested in Canada, the importance of building trust on big projects and why the Northwest Passage needs to be developed.
AI is both a massive opportunity and a big threat. And that is especially true for Google, a tech innovator whose bread and butter business (search) faces an uncertain future in the age of artificial intelligence. Kent Walker is the president of global affairs at Google and its parent company Alphabet. He talks to host Amanda Lang about fending off anti-trust allegations, why Sergey Brin is coming back into the office and the “most fundamental transformation” of the tech giant.
Tim Snyder is one of America’s most important scholars. While his work has focused on Eastern Europe, Russia and on the Holocaust, more recently he's written hugely popular books about the nature of tyranny and freedom. He recently moved with his family to Canada, where he is in high demand as someone who can help make sense of what is happening in the world. He talks to host Amanda Lang about America’s slide toward tyranny, the importance of local media in democracy and what keeps him hopeful for the future.
This episode originally aired on April 24, 2025.
Within five years, ‘agentic AI’ could make 40 percent of today’s skills irrelevant. Valérie Pisano is the president and CEO of MILA — Quebec AI Institute, founded by one of the godfathers of AI, Joshua Bengio. She speaks to host Amanda Lang about why the latest technology is being dramatically underestimated and whether it’s time for governments to put the brakes on its unregulated development.
Canada needs to get moving on some big nation-building projects that will boost our economy and enhance our sovereignty. It’s a key part of the government’s ‘one Canadian economy’ legislation now being debated. Host Amanda Lang talks to Jay Khosla and Yiota Kokkinos about their ‘Build Big Things’ report and what it will take — from financing to political will — to get this trillion-dollar-opportunity right.
Jean Chrétien, Canada’s oldest living prime minister, isn't taking Western separatism lying down. Having seen Canada through the threat of Quebec separation, his Clarity Act of 2000 could find new currency today. Chrétien — now 91, mentally sharp and still not pulling his punches — speaks with host Amanda Lang about Donald Trump, Team Canada and his message to Alberta.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Canadian economy is improving what we already do: Better efficiency, more open trade. It's what Ottawa is calling ‘one Canadian economy.’ Trevor Tombe is one of Canada's most sought after economists and the go-to expert on interprovincial trade barriers. He talks to host Amanda Lang about how we get there and the winners and losers of cross-Canada trade.
Job number one of Canada's new Liberal government is salvaging our trade relationship with the United States. Next is the job of uniting the country — doing away with internal trade barriers and getting big projects built. All of that is the unwritten mandate of Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc. He talks to host Amanda Lang about his plan to get to ‘zero tariffs’ with the U.S. and the need to turn down the volume on partisan politics.
One of the biggest clean energy storage facilities in the world — the Oneida Energy Storage Project in Ontario — connected to the grid this month. It's a big clean energy win, but it's also a model for how Indigenous partnerships can propel energy projects in Canada. The driving forces behind the project, Matt Jamieson, president and chief executive officer of Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, and Annette Verschuren, chair and CEO of NRStor Inc., speak with host Amanda Lang about the challenges they faced and why their project represents the future of how to get big infrastructure projects built.
Once eradicated in Canada, measles is making a comeback in Canada. Is it part of a bigger, post-pandemic trend we're seeing of vaccinations declining? What will it take to get public health back on track? Host Amanda Lang talks to Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, and Dr. Michael Gardam, a leading infectious disease expert about confronting misinformation, acknowledging COVID mistakes and why we’re still not ready for another emergency.
Paul Wells is the de facto dean of political journalism in Canada — a longtime observer and interpreter of what happens in Ottawa. He talks to host Amanda Lang about some surprising shifts in the wake of the federal election, including an easing of the 'ever-deepening animosity' that’s become a trademark of politics, evidence of a common understanding of what's good for Canada and why we should be grateful Trump isn’t better at his job.
In her incredible career as a journalist and author, Sally Armstrong told stories no one else would about the atrocities of war and became a towering figure for women's rights. She speaks with host Amanda Lang about the ongoing fight for rights, the ‘small group of greedy men' who start wars and how a former phys-ed teacher at a magazine called Homemaker became a groundbreaking war correspondent.
Tim Snyder is one of America’s most important scholars. While his work has focused on Eastern Europe, Russia and on the Holocaust, more recently he's written hugely popular books about the nature of tyranny and freedom. He recently moved with his family to Canada, where he is in high demand as someone who can help make sense of what's happening in the world. He talks to host Amanda Lang about America’s slide toward tyranny, the importance of local media in democracy and what keeps him hopeful for the future.
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