We look back on the coverage of an absolutely underwhelming, demoralizing election. And we contend with a troubling aspect of Norm Macdonald’s legacy.
September 23, 2021
The Backbench
#13 An Unconsequential Election
At the time of recording this episode, #elxn44 literally has yielded the same number of seats (give or take several seats) for all of our federal parties. Here's a coast-to-coast-to-coast chat on what this outcome suggests and where Canadian politics goes from here.
September 21, 2021
CANADALAND
#713 Violence At Fairy Creek
Is it possible to police the police at Fairy Creek?
September 20, 2021
Short Cuts
#712 We Get What We Deserve
Trudeau is getting upset and it seems to be working for him. And the English leaders' debate was widely derided. Was it deserved?
September 16, 2021
Wag the Doug
#32 Anatomy Of A Flip-Flop
Doug Ford used to oppose vaccine passports. Now’s he super in favour. That he changed his mind wasn’t surprising; that he did so before Ontario hit a new crisis point was. With Allison in New York, where she’s coming to love her vaccine passport, she and Jonathan pore over clues as to why Ford reversed himself sooner rather than later. What does it take to change the premier’s mind?
September 15, 2021
The Backbench
#12 Fairy Tales & Picture Books
What issues did the federal leaders not speak on throughout the campaign? We get into some of them. And a look into what pandemic debts and costed platforms tell us.
September 14, 2021
CANADALAND
#711 Gagged By Law
Non-disclosure agreements are incredibly common. But they protect abusers, and block journalism. They are also, as it turns out, often unenforceable. Zelda Perkins, who blew the whistle on Harvey Weinstein, has joined forces with law professor Julie Macfarlane to launch a global campaign against NDAs, called Can't Buy My Silence.
September 13, 2021
The White Saviors
Chapter Five – The Bottom Line
Where did the money go? Where are all the schools that WE says it built? A political scandal breaks the dam on decades of silence. Revelations pile up of donor fraud, racism, child abuse, "dirty trick" campaigns against WE's enemies and other financial misconduct. Then, the Kielburgers silence the scandal with a shocking announcement...
September 13, 2021
Short Cuts
#710 Semen Retention Soldiers
After protestors threw gravel at the Prime Minister during a campaign stop, we ask: has this gotten too much coverage, or not enough? And we scrutinize a budding conspiracy about Michael Spavor, the Canadian entrepreneur detained in China.
September 9, 2021
The Backbench
#11 An Emergency, But First An Election
The show after Labour Day warrants a look at federal parties' commitments to workers and how they say they will grow our economy. And when it comes to climate change proposals, will voters respond to ambition or reality?