The Hatchet

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit hatchetmedia.substack.comThis episode is available immediately to paid supporters. For unpaid supporters, we're providing a short preview. Please consider supporting us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThere’s a story we like to tell ourselves about how Canada was built. It’s about John A. Macdonald’s fearless vision and how Canadians across the continent came together in a noble quest to create a nation.And then there’s what actually happened.This is the second instalment in our series on the Canadian Pacific Railroad and the founding of Canada. Paid supporters can listen to it immediately. And if you aren’t already supporting us, please consider joining The Hatchet family, it’s only $11 a month.In this episode, we're looking at what happens when the most powerful politician in the land gets into bed with the richest man in the country. And how the workers caught in the wake of their machinations end up paying the price. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald promised to build a railroad that would unite Canada, and went so far as to rig an election to get his way. But the robber barons who financed his corruption ended up turning on him. They blackmailed Canada’s first prime minister and plunged the country into a crisis. And after the rich and powerful were done destroying each other, thousands of workers risked life and limb to build an industrial marvel that would benefit everyone except them. Many of the men who crossed an ocean to do this work wouldn’t make it home alive. And even those who survived saw their rights stripped away, year after year.This is the story of how Canada was really built — political corruption, exploitation and a willingness to sacrifice everyday people at the altar of the progress.Sound familiar?The final episode in our series will be available to paid supporters tomorrow.Featured in this episode: Stephen BownTo Learn More:Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada by Stephen BownThe Diary of Dukesang Wong: A Voice from Gold Mountain by Dukesang Wong, David McIlwraith & Wanda Joy HoeThe North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel's People, the Métis Nation by Jean TeilletThe National DreamSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe Hatchet is a podcast and newsletter dedicated to exposing power and money in Canada. We deliver important, original and fascinating journalism about how this country actually works.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

In this insightful discussion, Stephen Bown, an accomplished author of 11 books including works on Canadian history, delves into the pivotal role of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in shaping Canada's identity. He highlights the engineering marvels and hardships faced during its construction. The conversation also touches on the cultural impact of the CPR, the struggles of Indigenous peoples, and the economic booms during the Gold Rush era. Bown shares the complexities surrounding figures like Louis Riel, illustrating the deep interconnections of Canada's past with the railway.

During my lifetime, there have only been a handful of times that quote unquote Canadian nationalism has been a potent force of any kind.The first, actual wave of Canadian patriotism I ever encountered was in the year 2000. That’s when Molson put out their “I Am Canadian” ad.You know the one I’m talking about.And for many people, that kind of came to encapsulate what it meant to be Canadian. Even though, at the end of the day, they’re paper-thin slogans from a beer company’s advertising campaign.And to tell you the truth, that’s kind of what I’ve been feeling about the surge in Canadian nationalism over the last few months. Aside from most people agreeing that Trump is a b*****d and we don’t want to join the United States, this much-vaunted, much-discussed nationalistic wave lacks substance. It’s paper-thin.It’s Mike Myers, a guy who hasn’t lived here in three decades. It’s shopping at Loblaws instead of Walmart. And, weirdly, it’s loosening regulations on mining and oil companies in the name of patriotism.But I do think there could be another way. There have been moments in our country’s history where we really wrestled with what it should mean to be Canadian. When different political parties and social movements put forward their own visions of nationalism.That’s why I wanted to talk to Luke Savage. Savage is a long-time journalist and one of the smartest thinkers on the left in Canada. He’s been one of the people I’ve been reading throughout the last few months to try to figure out how this moment of nationalistic fervour fits in with the rest of Canadian history.In our conversation, we cover a lot of ground, including Mark Carney’s cynical deployment of patriotic sentiment and why the left should once again embrace nationalism.And we spend a good amount of time talking about the most important Canadian political book every published, Lament for a Nation, which came out sixty years ago, but is still incredibly relevant today.Featured in this episode: Luke SavageTo learn more:“Why a 60-year-old surprise hit about the fall of John Diefenbaker is the most important Canadian read of 2025” by Luke Savage in The Toronto Star“Canadian Nationalism Is Back. Now What?” by Luke Savage in The Walrus“Canadian socialism against US domination” by Luke Savage on SubstackSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe Hatchet is a podcast and newsletter dedicated to exposing power and money in Canada. We deliver important, original and fascinating journalism about how this country actually works.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

The Hockey Canada trial has been going on for two months now. And during that time, the Canadian media has meticulously covered every twist and turn that’s taken place in the London, Ontario courthouse.Five men — Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote and Carter Hart — have been accused of sexually assaulting a twenty-year-old woman, who is only being identified as E.M., after a Hockey Canada gala in 2018.All of them have pled not guilty and the judge is set to render a verdict on July 24.And while I’ve been following the trial closely, I’ve been especially interested in how the media has been covering the story, and the way that the public has been reacting to it all.Two years ago, Jordan and I made a series at Canadaland that focused specifically on the deep, systemic issues with hockey culture.And what became incredibly clear to us is that most of the media and the powers-that-be in the hockey world don’t understand or are unwilling to acknowledge what’s going on in the sport.During this trial, that’s become even more obvious. Because hockey doesn’t just have a problem with sexual violence. It has a problem with gang rape.Between 1989 and 2018, there was, on average, one alleged case of gang rape by professional hockey players every two years. And those are just the accusations that went public.And yet, every time this happens, the hockey world acts like it’s the first time. And the media tends to go along with it. Even when the press talks about the problem of sexual violence in hockey, they refuse to acknowledge the specificity.A handful of journalists and researchers — foremost amongst them Laura Robinson, who has been covering this for years, — have tried to explain what’s really happening.The truth is that, from a young age, many junior hockey players are hazed, beaten and sexually abused. And then are groomed by older players into engaging in group sex with their teammates. Sometimes these encounters are consensual for the girls and women involved. But too often, they’re not.All of this broader context has been missing from much of the coverage around the Hockey Canada trial.And that’s why I was relieved when I read a piece in The Globe and Mail by Andrea Werhun on this topic. Werhun is a writer and performer, best known for her memoir Modern W***e, which details her experience working as an escort and stripper. She was also a consultant on the most recent Academy Award Best Picture winner, Anora.And Werhun’s piece digs into all of this necessary context. And she also focuses in specifically on one piece of testimony from the complainant, in which she describes taking on a “porn star persona” during that night in the hotel room, as a coping mechanism.That quote became a cornerstone in the defence’s narrative disputing the allegations. And something that I’ve seen constantly brought up again and again in online comments that accuse EM of being a liar.My conversation with Werhun isn’t about trying to evaluate the criminal guilt or innocence of the men who are on trial. We won’t be digging into the conflicting stories or analyzing the specific evidence.This is about trying to understand the broader cycles of violence within men’s hockey.Featured in this episode: Andrea WerhunTo learn more:“Porn isn’t to blame for sexual assault” by Andrea Werhun in The Globe and Mail“The Problem Hockey Won’t Name” from Canadaland COMMONS“Anatomy of a scandal” by CBC’s The Fifth Estate“Legal decision for the ‘Hockey Canada 5’ won’t come for weeks, but judgment can be rendered” by Dan Robson and Katie Strang in The AthleticSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe Hatchet is a podcast and newsletter dedicated to exposing power and money in Canada. We deliver important, original and fascinating journalism about how this country actually works.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

Samira Mohyeddin, a Toronto-based Iranian-Canadian journalist focused on nationalism and minority rights, dives deep into the complexities surrounding the recent Israeli bombardment of Iran. She critiques mainstream media narratives, emphasizing the lack of evidence for Iran's nuclear threat. Samira shares her personal journey from Iran during the 1979 revolution while discussing the harsh realities Iranians face under sanctions. She challenges the moral implications of military actions and highlights the dangers of misinformation in shaping public perception.

Arshy and Jordan sit down to give a quick update about how things have been going, a sneak peak at some upcoming projects, and the future of The Hatchet. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

The discussion kicks off with an analysis of the recent Canadian government's actions post-election, focusing on resource development and law enforcement. Skepticism mounts around the optimism surrounding AI, with hosts questioning its promised benefits and drawing parallels to past tech hype. Ethical concerns and the dark side of AI usage are explored, highlighting its potential risks. Additionally, the podcast tackles the delicate issue of Canada-India relations, scrutinizing national sovereignty and the ramifications of cross-border collaboration.

In this engaging discussion, Krystal King, co-owner of Cora's Corner and the Rubber Duck Museum, shares her insights on the unique enclave of Point Roberts. She elaborates on the rubber duck's journey as a cultural icon and the challenges faced by this border community due to rising trade tensions. The conversation highlights the historic significance of Point Roberts and its vibrant new museum as a beacon of hope, aiming to revitalize local businesses while fostering cross-border connections and empathy amid geopolitical challenges.

Jen Gerson, co-founder of The Line and keen observer of Alberta's political scene, dives into the tumultuous world of Danielle Smith. They dissect Smith's odd alliances with figures like Trump and her controversial proposal for a referendum on Alberta's independence. Gerson critiques the rising separatism, examining its historical roots and implications for both Alberta and Canada. The conversation raises pressing questions about political manipulation and the future of Alberta's identity amidst increasing tensions.

The last time we spoke with John Rapley, economic columnist for the Globe and Mail, it was right after Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister, creating a crisis for the Trudeau government.Remember that? It feels like quite a long time ago.Here’s some of what’s happened since then — Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, Donald Trump began to joke about Canada as the 51st state, and then everyone realized that he wasn’t joking, Mark Carney creamed Chrystia Freeland in a Liberal leadership race and became Prime Minister, Trump announced across-the-board tariffs against Canada and Mexico, Trump delayed the across-the-board tariffs against Canada and Mexico, Trump tariffed our aluminum and steel industries, he announced tariffs against the entire world, almost tanked the global economy in the matter of a week, and then delayed his global tariffs, and we had a federal election, with Mark Carney winning a fourth-in-a-row government for the Liberals.In other words, it’s been a crazy few months.So we wanted to catch up with Rapley and talk through all of this stuff and about where Canada goes next.To learn more:“God save Mark Carney, the man with the simple job of completely remaking Canada’s economy”, “Why Canada must align with Europe, the new boomtown” and “Perhaps more trade with China is not a bad idea after all” by John Rapley in The Globe and MailSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe Hatchet is a podcast and newsletter dedicated to exposing power and money in Canada. We deliver important, original and fascinating journalism about how this country actually works.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe