Connected North Podcast

How CUSMA went from renewal talks to a full trade war in 2026What the trade war really looks like from a border city built on steelWhy bridge traffic matters to every small business in townWhat Washington actually wants from Northern Ontario, from critical minerals to defenceWhether the old Canada and U.S. relationship is over, or this is just a hard negotiationWhat a Northern operator should be doing in the next 12 monthsWhere the opportunity is for the North if we play this rightWHY THIS MATTERS FOR NORTHERN ONTARIONorthern Ontario sits on the front line of Canada and U.S. trade. Our mines, mills, steel, forestry and tourism all depend on a border that works. When that border slows down, every business feels it, from the big employers to the coffee shop down the street. Laura brings the inside view from Ottawa and Washington, and we bring the view from the North.ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Canada U.S. Future Borders Coalition, a binational group focused on a smarter, more secure and more efficient border.Future Borders Coalition: futureborderscoalition.orgLaura on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com

Our International Bridge lost about a quarter of its traffic. Algoma Steel shut its blast furnace. In Sault Ste. Marie, the trade war isn't a headline. It's a bridge, a payroll and a family deciding whether to stay.So we sat down with the person who has spent her career inside the Canada and U.S. relationship and asked the hard questions: what happened, who is paying for it, and what does a border town do now?On this episode of Connected North, host Brad Gregorini and co-host Steve Cormier welcome Dr. Laura Dawson, Executive Director of the Canada U.S. Future Borders Coalition, to Studio 726 in Sault Ste. Marie. Laura has worked this file from the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, from the Wilson Center in Washington, and today leads a binational coalition of organizations working to keep people and goods moving across the border.This is a straight talk conversation about trade, tariffs and the future of the North. No spin, no talking points. Just the questions Northern business owners, workers and families are asking right now.IN THIS EPISODEHow CUSMA went from renewal talks to a full trade war in 2026What the trade war really looks like from a border city built on steelWhy bridge traffic matters to every small business in townWhat Washington actually wants from Northern Ontario, from critical minerals to defenceWhether the old Canada and U.S. relationship is over, or this is just a hard negotiationWhat a Northern operator should be doing in the next 12 monthsWhere the opportunity is for the North if we play this rightWHY THIS MATTERS FOR NORTHERN ONTARIONorthern Ontario sits on the front line of Canada and U.S. trade. Our mines, mills, steel, forestry and tourism all depend on a border that works. When that border slows down, every business feels it, from the big employers to the coffee shop down the street. Laura brings the inside view from Ottawa and Washington, and we bring the view from the North.ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Canada U.S. Future Borders Coalition, a binational group focused on a smarter, more secure and more efficient border.Future Borders Coalition: futureborderscoalition.orgLaura on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.comCHECK OUT CONNECTED NORTHConnected North is the show where Northern builders, operators and leaders have the conversations that matter. Every week we sit down with the business owners, mayors, Chiefs, entrepreneurs and change makers shaping communities right across Northern Ontario, from the biggest cities to First Nations and small towns.New full episodes every week. Connected North airs on Rogers tv across Northern Ontario starting November 1, 2026.Subscribe: www.youtube.com/@connectednorthssmWatch more episodes: www.youtube.com/@connectednorthssm/videosFOLLOW CONNECTED NORTHFacebook: www.facebook.com/connectednorthssmInstagram: www.instagram.com/connectednorthssmTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@connectednorthssmLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/connected-north-ssmX: x.com/connectednorth1FOLLOW YOUR HOST, BRAD GREGORINIYouTube: www.youtube.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/bradgregoriniTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@bradgregoriniLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/brad-gregoriniPARTNER WITH CONNECTED NORTHWant your business in front of leaders and families across Northern Ontario? We have a limited number of partner spots, and the first partner in each category owns it. Reach out to Tammy Lawrence, Director of Media Partnerships and Guest Relations: [email protected] A GUESTKnow a Northern leader, business or community with a story to tell? Send us a message. We want to hear from every corner of the North.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONWhat has the trade war changed for your business or your family in the North? Tell us in the comments. We read every one.If this episode gave you something to think about, hit like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Hogan Homestead is a family-owned maple syrup producer and agricultural enterprise founded by Spencer and Erica Hogan in the Algoma District of Northern Ontario. Starting from a small-scale hobby, it has grown into one of the largest maple operations in the region, featuring roughly 30,000 taps across active and access land.

Hogan Homestead is a family-owned maple syrup producer and agricultural enterprise founded by Spencer and Erica Hogan in the Algoma District of Northern Ontario. Starting from a small-scale hobby, it has grown into one of the largest maple operations in the region, featuring roughly 30,000 taps across active and access land.

This week on Connected North, we sit down with Sault Ste. Marie mayoral candidate Joel Rowswell for a candid conversation about his decision to run for mayor and his vision for the future of the city.Joel shares his perspective on some of the biggest issues facing Sault Ste. Marie, including downtown safety, roads and infrastructure, property taxes, economic development, job creation, the future of the port, and how City Hall spends taxpayer dollars. We also talk about the impact of recent job losses, attracting new investment to the community, and what he believes needs to change moving forward.