This week on the podcast we try something new. In addition to this week’s feature interview with Halifax-Needham MLA, Lisa Roberts, we add a new segment where we unpack stories in Atlantic Canadian politics with a rotating co-host. This week, Lisa Buchanan (also co-host of LOL UR GAY - A Gay Comedy Podcast) joins Mark as co-host to help him unpack some of the stories of Atlantic Canada politics last week. 

In the first half-hour of podcast (0:00 - 28:00 ), Mark and Lisa explore the following stories: 

• Justin Trudeau’s town hall tour of Canada, which started in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia last week; and specifically what Trudeau’s style of public conversation, empathy, and crowd-work means for activists, advocates and Trudeau himself (4:00 - 13:20 )
• PEI Premier Wade MacLauchlan’s Cabinet Shuffle, how it’s being interpreted as a signal that MacLauchlan won’t stick to the legislated fixed election date, and what that means for women (13:20 - 26:30 )

In the latter half hour of the podcast (28:30 - End), Mark sits down with Halifax-Needham MLA Lisa Roberts (NDP) Some of the things they talk about include: 

• Lisa shares her big takeaway from our interview with former PC Environment Minister (and Church Minister) Mark Parent (30:20 ) 
• Mark learns what superpowers Lisa has discovered she has as an MLA (33:40 ), and Lisa shares how constituency concerns can better translate into legislation and policy change. 
• Lisa shares how she focuses her efforts in opposition on amplifying the voices of the unheard, using her public platform to shape the public consciousness on issues, and how PTSD legislation is an example of parties working together to do important work. (40:00 - 52:00 ).
• Mark floats the idea that the problem with legislature politics isn’t necessarily that it’s all theatrical, but that it’s pretty bad theatre (52:30 ).

Stories Referenced:

• Trudeau turns to Seinfeld tactics to tame town hall hecklers (CBC)
• PEI: Female MLA view on cabinet shuffle (Actual CBC Headline)
• When will Islanders head to the polls? Preparation, speculation abounds
• Off Script's interview with former PC Environment Minister (and Church Minister) Mark Parent

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