This week on "It’s Political," we focus on the inflation crisis and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s fall economic update. First, we’ll look back on what policies, decisions and events contributed to the current inflation numbers that are putting the squeeze on many Canadian households with Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief and economics columnist Heather Scoffield; Kevin Page, the president and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa; and Rebekah Young, Scotiabank’s vice-president and head of inclusion and resilience economics. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the CBC, CPAC, CTV, the House of Commons, Policy Speaking, NBC, the BBC, Sky News, BNN Bloomberg, and Omar Alghabra’s Twitter feed. “It’s Political” is produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Sean Pattendon makes our show sound great. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.  

“It’s Political" will be coming to you a little bit later today because of yesterday’s Fiscal update. We’ll have a round table discussion on Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest numbers, and look back on what’s led to these rising interest rates and the possible recession around the corner.

This week on "It’s Political," we take a deep dive into the controversial Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act. Is it really about censorship and government control over what you see and listen to on the internet? Or is it about safeguarding and promoting Canadian culture and the French language in Quebec on new streaming platforms? In this episode: Toronto Star reporter Raisa Patel, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin, Alberta Senator Paula Simons, Quebec Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, Canadian Association of Broadcaster President Kevin Desjardins, University of Ottawa Professor Michael Geist, YouTuber J. J. McCullough, Carleton University Professor Dwayne Winseck, YouTube’s Director of Product Todd Beaupré, YouTuber ClydeDoSomethin, former heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, Independent Ontario Sen. Donna Dasko, Anthony Furey formerly of the Toronto Sun, Conservative MP Tim Uppal, TikTok Canada’s Steve de Eyre, and Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters President Noah Segal. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were taken from Facebook, YouTube, the CBC, the House of Commons and the Senate’s Standing Committee on Transport and Communications. “It’s Political” is produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Sean Pattendon mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

This week on “It’s Political,” we focus on the threads connecting François Legault’s big win in Monday’s election in Quebec and the United Conservative Party leadership race in Alberta — culminating in Danielle Smith's victory — and ask what if we are having a constitutional crisis and no one is noticing? In this episode: Constitutional lawyer Marion Sandilands from Conway Litigation, former journalist and independent senator André Pratte, University of Calgary political science professor Lisa Young, and Business Council of Canada vice-president of policy Robert Asselin. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from the Montreal Gazette, CBC, CPAC, CTV, CityTV, Radio-Canada, Global News, TVA, The Big Story podcast and the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. “It’s Political” is produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Sean Pattendon mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

This week on "It’s Political," we focus on Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. First, we’ll take a look back at the divisive leadership race and Poilievre’s big win. Then we’ll sit down with Yan Plante, the former chief of staff to transport minister Denis Lebel in Stephen Harper’s government, and Melanie Paradis, a long-time advisor and deputy campaign manager to Erin O’Toole during his successful leadership bid, to discuss Poilievre’s first few days as Official Opposition leader, his messaging and voter coalition and what to watch for as he puts his mark on the party. In this episode: Toronto Star reporter Stephanie Levitz, Hamish Marshall from Pierre Poilievre’s leadership campaign, former Conservative staffer Rudy Husny and Philippe J. Fournier of 338Canada.com, as well as TACT vice-president Yan Plante and Texture Communications’ president Melanie Paradis, both former senior Conservative advisors. Hosted by Althia Raj. Thanks this week to Toronto Star reporter Kieran Leavitt, as well as CBC, CPAC, CTV, and Pierre Poilievre’s Facebook page. “It’s Political” is produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Sean Pattendon mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Now that the House is back in session, Althia Raj will be returning every other Friday, with Canada's top political insiders. Keep an eye on your feed this Friday, September 23.

This week on It’s Political, we focus on political polarization and the political advantages and drawbacks of sowing division, and whether Canadians are really that divided. Guests: Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Marci Surkes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former executive director of policy and cabinet affairs, Karl Bélanger, former NDP principal to Jack Layton, Melanie Paradis, the former communications director to Erin O’Toole, as well as True North broadcaster Andrew Lawton and Riwi’s Rikki Sargent.

Guests: Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Ottawa City Councillor Diane Deans, the former chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board. This week on It’s Political, we unpack the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act, the never-before-used legislation that was invoked to bring an end to the so-called Freedom Convoy’s occupation of Ottawa. First, we’ll look at the occupation through the eyes of longtime Ottawa City Councillor Diane Deans. Deans was chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board while the force struggled to get resources and restore order, a crisis that eventually led to the departures of chief of police, Peter Sloly, and Deans herself. Then, we sit down with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino to discuss the act's use, whether or not it was necessary, and if it was a political answer to a policing problem.

This week on It’s Political, we focus on the Conservative leadership race. First, we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each of the six candidates and their strategies. Then, we go behind the scenes at campaign events to hear directly from members and potential party members about what they want to see from a new Conservative leader. And then, we sit down with leadership contestant and former Quebec premier Jean Charest

Guests: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, along with Jennifer Howard, Singh’s chief of staff, NDP National Director Anne McGrath, Star columnist Susan Delacourt, former NDP staffer Brad Lavigne, Liberal Government House Leader Mark Holland and Abacus Data CEO David Coletto. Hosted by Althia Raj This week on "It’s Political," we take stock of the NDP-Liberal supply and confidence agreement. First, with a behind-the-scenes look at how the deal came together, with the voices of those who did the negotiating. And then, we sit down with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. He accuses the Liberals of already breaking the spirit of the agreement, but hear why he’s not ready to pull the plug.