The Line

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Carney Era Day 0, or March 14, 2025 on the old calendar, your hosts offer sincere welcome and best wishes to the new prime minister, and we're counting on all of you to not ruin this moment for us.Really. We can be nice sometimes.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.We have a purely housekeeping announcement to make first. The Line is changing how we release our podcasts. This shouldn't make a difference to audio listeners, but video viewers will notice alerts that we're going live when the episodes are about to be released. Please make sure you have our notifications turned on! Also, we are launching a revamped social media strategy. We have a bunch of new accounts set up, and you can find a list (with links) below. If you use these platforms, please give us a follow! Many of these platforms only become useful once we clear 50 or 100 followers, so we're counting on you all to put us over the top.Phew! Okay! Sorry. Anyway. Carney's in. We wish him well. We comment on his cabinet. Some surprises there. Also some signs that the PM plans on taking his party to the right, or at least back into the centre. Speaking of the right, we have some pretty tough talk for the CPC. You're losing this, guys. It's slipping away from you. This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.We also spend some time on Justin Trudeau's legacy. The heavy lifting on that is going to be done by historians, but Matt goes full Munich Conference and demands to know why Trudeau didn't build more Hurricanes and Spitfires. They talk about how what Trudeau will be best remembered for looks pretty weird today, in an era of global upheaval. They also talk about some of the buzz around his scandals. We expect that won't go away for a while.They end up by recapping a bit of the Trump madness down south. Doug Ford tried to get tough. It didn't stick. Portugal makes an interesting decision. And we keep seeing some interesting signs of worry about Trump even from people quite close to the president. Matt proposes a strategy for fighting back, and Jen gives it an, ahem, unfortunate name. You'll have to listen. If we put it into the text box here, it would get flagged.All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like, subscribe and check us out at ReadTheLine.ca.New social accounts!FB: On The Line Podcast FB: The Line Podcast InstagramTikTokTwitterBlueSkyLinkedIn

In this week's episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks with Adam Sadinsky, a refugee lawyer and member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers about the Safe Third Country Agreement — and why lawyers like him think it needs to be radically altered in the Donald Trump era. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the United States threaten jobs and investment, Canada’s own approval processes and regulations are blocking critical projects that increase our self reliance. The Canadian government has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/They discuss how the agreement was established, its impact on refugee claims, and the differences in how Canada and the U.S. handle asylum seekers. The conversation also touches on recent changes in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration and how these changes affect Canada's responsibilities towards refugees. This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. In 1967, government officials ordered a Métis village on Agawa Bay to move to clear room a provincial park. For generations, Métis families had lived along the shores of Lake Superior. Suddenly, they were forced to pack their belongings, and then, the government officials burned their homes. These Métis families, already pushed off their River Lots in Sault Ste. Marie generations earlier, had no choice but to leave. But they did not disappear. The Métis of Agawa Bay lost their homes, but never their identity. For more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/, and check out the brand-new song here https://youtu.be/uhsILAMMi2U?si=jicYoUpoH7LHbZ8F about this story by Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume “One of These Days.” Adam Sadinsky recaps the complexities of the Safe Third Country Agreement and its implications for asylum seekers in Canada. He highlights the challenges faced by refugees, the capacity limits of the Canadian refugee system, and the political dynamics surrounding immigration policy. The discussion also touches on legal challenges to the agreement and the need for reforms to better accommodate those seeking refuge in Canada.As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 7, 2025, your hosts spend a good long while talking about the various new stories to come out of Washington, D.C. this week. A trade war is on! But now it's off! Sort of, maybe! No one really knows! Also, President Donald Trump put on a real masterclass this week in reminding us all that he's a showman, not a career politician. That's a strength in some ways, but it's going to cause problems. They also agree that Canadians should probably start tuning him out a bit until he settles down, and that anyone who would seriously use the term "TDS" — yes, we see you in the comments — is, uh, dumb. (Matt uses stronger language in the podcast. Be warned.)This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/They also touch on federal politics. Another pointless gun ban that no one takes seriously seems to be one of Justin Trudeau's last acts while in office, and sure. Why not go out the way you governed, with ever-more aspirational announcements that lead to nothing. Makes sense. We also do a quick chat about the upcoming Carney coronation, or not? And also gab a little bit about a New York Times report that added some fascinating colour to the behind-the-scenes talks between U.S. and Canadian officials. Matt also yells at his sump pump, if anyone is wondering what kind of a day he's having.This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/After that, they wrap up with a quick chat about provincial politics and their continued efforts to monitor the Ice Bucket Challenge for National Survival. We still wish that list was longer!All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like and subscribe to our main page at https://www.readtheline.ca/

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news.In this episode, Matt Gurney speaks with Richard Shimooka, a Canadian defence expert and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. They talk about the state of world affairs, especially after last week's dramatic Oval Office shouting match. They agree that America isn't turning into a dystopia, but it's absolutely returning to isolationism. And what's that going to mean for little ole us?This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the United States threaten jobs and investment, Canada’s own approval processes and regulations are blocking critical projects that increase our self reliance. The Canadian government has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/Matt and Richard spend a long time talking about the state of the Canadian military today — what can it do, and what can't it do? They also talk about the decades of political decisions that led us here. What is the military for, and what do the politicians think it's for? When you ask those questions, you don't always get the same answer! And that's a problem.This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. In 1879, food supplies ran out in Sault Ste. Marie and Bruce Mines. Survival hinged on teams of Métis mail carriers travelling 600 kilometres by dogsled through winter storms to restock stores. Through skill and sacrifice, Métis kept people alive so the Upper Great Lakes in what is now Ontario could grow and thrive. To learn more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/To wrap up, they talk about the kind of military that Canada should have. What does it need to be able to do? Why will our European allies probably not like the answer? And how can we start to reduce the amount of leverage that this White House, and any future White House, will have over us? By becoming stronger at home. But that won't be easy.As always, like and subscribe. Visit our main site at https://www.readtheline.ca/. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 28, 2025, your hosts open with a chat about federal politics. Mark Carney had some good stuff going, but then he got caught in a dumb lie. We aren't sure if this will break outside the Twitter bubble, but it's an interesting reminder that the man is pretty new at politics ... This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/They chat about a lot of other stuff, too. High-speed rail. Matt's travel woes this week. (These are not separate topics.) Weird federal polls. Why the CPC and Poilievre need to get serious. Lots of fun and lots to discuss.This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/Having covered off the federal stuff, your hosts move onto some provincial updates. We stay on the topic of the Ice Bucket Challenge for National Survival and give some updates on that. We also ask our viewers and listeners in Nova Scotia to help us out with an answer to an important question! We also discuss a growing scandal in Alberta and a weird election in Ontario. Jen also makes a comparison that'll piss everyone off. It turns out Doug Ford reminds her of ... Mark Carney.After that, they make a quick point about who speaks for Canada, and who doesn't, or won't. And Matt makes a proposal even he finds surprising: we should consider being a republic, or maybe just find ourselves a new king. Wayne Gretzky, anyone?All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like and subscribe to our main page at https://www.readtheline.ca/

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news.In this episode, Jen Gerson speaks with Duncan Dee, an airline analyst and former chief operations officer of Air Canada. Jen shares her recent harrowing experience with air travel, highlighting the inefficiencies and frustrations faced by travellers in Canada. They discuss the broader implications of air travel networks, the impact of any disruption at major hubs like Pearson Airport, and the need for more regional airports. The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn’t when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It’s time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. Go here to learn more.https://www.mpa-canada.org/press/ottawas-streaming-regulations-will-hurt-canadian-consumers-and-workers/?utm_source=the_line&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=sa_mpac_choice&utm_content=canadianThey chat about the recent crash of Delta Endeavor Flight 4819 at Pearson, which shut down two runways at the airport for days. This was just the latest in a rash of terrible aviation tragedies, and it was wonderful that no one died in the Toronto crash. But the aftermath was a sight to behold. They discuss the poor communication by the airport authority (and Canadian officialdom in general), and why the airline networks are less resilient to shocks like a major airport closing two runways than they used to be. At Fort Frances, a group of Métis leaders signed the “Halfbreed Adhesion” to Treaty 3 with Canada in 1875, becoming the only Métis community in Canada to be included as a distinct Métis party to one of the Numbered Treaties. By standing together, they ensured their place in Canada’s story—one that will never be erased. For more information, visit https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/They also touch on a recent announcement of a $3.9 billion plan to .... announce another plan in five years for high-speed rail between Toronto and Montreal while asking the perennial Canadian question: Why don't we build stuff good here? Sigh.As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 21, 2025, your hosts continue to bask in the afterglow of Connor McDavid's overtime goal for Team Canada last night. How sweet it was.They also talk about the news and politics and stuff, but, man. Thank you, McJesus.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/We don't get to start a lot of podcasts with good news. So yeah, we lean into the hockey a bit. But we also talk about what might be the first major sign of a true structural shift in response to the threat posed by Donald Trump's America. Tim Houston in Nova Scotia has made a fantastic proposal, and one pretty close to what Line editor Gurney had been suggesting in recent weeks. If Houston follows through, and if he can get the other premiers on board, this could be a big deal. To sweeten the pot, The Line hereby makes this pledge: if Houston does what he says he is going to do, Gurney and Gerson will fly to Halifax, throw a party and present the premier with a plaque declaring him the true captain of Team Canada.Unless, of course, another premier beats him to it ...This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/Having committed themselves to a bash in Halifax, your hosts move onto expressing some sympathy for Chrystia Freeland, who is clearly being largely abandoned by her Liberal compatriots and probably regrets running for leader in the first place. But they also talk at length about how long it will be until there is a Canadian political leader who is truly of this moment. It might take 10 or 15 years for someone actually suited to the 2020s to work their way up into a position of real political power. Can we wait that long?Also, your hosts take a quick jaunt around the world and provide many updates. Things could be going better is the key takeaway. Lookin' decidedly suboptimal on a lot of fronts. And not for nothing, if someone would like to sell us some nuclear weapons, we'd be into that. Look, we frontloaded all the optimism for this episode, okay? All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like and subscribe to our main page at https://www.readtheline.ca/

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. And this week, in something of a break from the routine, we're here with good news. There are ways we can build this country and make it stronger. And a group of Canadians isn't waiting for a task force or government panel to do it. They're getting to work.The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn’t when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It’s time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. To learn more visit  https://www.mpa-canada.org/press/ottawas-streaming-regulations-will-hurt-canadian-consumers-and-workers/?utm_source=the_line&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=sa_mpac_choice&utm_content=canadianOur guest is Daniel Debow. He's a long-time Canadian tech entrepreneur. He gives his own abbreviated bio during the pod, so don't worry about the CV. What matters is that Daniel is part of a group of Canadians who are all volunteering their time to create policy papers on things Canada can do, quickly, to become more competitive. They're calling it Build Canada, and you can read about it at BuildCanada.com. Their focus is on growth. As Daniel notes, the difference between two-per-cent growth and four-per-cent isn't two per cent. It's 100 per cent! What are areas where Canada can make big changes fast, to become more prosperous in a fast-changing, dangerous world?This week's episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis in what is now Ontario have always fought for their rights. In 2003, they took that fight to the Supreme Court and won. To learn more about their journey, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/Daniel talks about how the experience of COVID-19 showed him what Canada can accomplish, but also how hard it is to get Canadians to see a threat coming. He shares some of what he and his fellow volunteers are focused on, and talks about whether tech is really right-wing. And he also talks about the surprising amount of hate mail he's been getting since the project was announced. Matt welcomes him to the club on that one.As always, like and subscribe and check out our main page at https://www.readtheline.ca And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 14, 2025 — Valentine's Day, bummer  — your hosts are skeptical that the premiers have accomplished much by their recent jaunt down to Washington, D.C., but we hope they had a lovely time.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/It's not that we object to them going. We are a little cynical about their motives, but we understand that navigating this new era is going to involve a measure of diplomacy. But do we think we're better off sending 13 people to be politely received by the deputy White House chief of staff? Who then dismissively tweeted about the entire visit and said Canada being annexed was still on the table? Like does that make us look stronger? Does Trump respect us more now? Are we sure we know what we're doing?This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/After that, your hosts move onto chatting about the polling bump that the Liberals have clearly received ... but the latest poll, which came out as we were sitting down to record, actually muddies the water somewhat. Something is happening in the polls, certainly. But is it what people think? They discuss. They also discuss, at some length, matters of identity. How Canadians see themselves, how Americans see us, and what Americans are blind to in their own country. Jen also makes a confession: she's more sympathetic to American progressives than she was last week. She explains why.All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like and subscribe to our main page at ReadtheLine.ca.

Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. In this episode, Jen Gerson interviews Rob Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, and director at the Centre of Military, Security and Strategic Studies, to discuss Arctic sovereignty and security. Is Trump serious about Canada becoming a 51st State — and if so, what does the Arctic have to do with his overall strategy? The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn’t when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It’s time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. To learn more visit https://www.mpa-canada.org/They talk about Arctic geopolitics, particularly in light of climate change and the shifting military dynamics involving the U.S., Canada, Russia, and China. With a growing potential for conflict in the region, Canada's military unpreparedness has never been more obvious, or more alarming to our allies in Washington. This week's episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis in what is now Ontario were not just traders or voyageurs — they were strategists and warriors ready to defend their lands and water from invaders, who chose self-determination and freedom from the United States generations before Canada even existed. To learn more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/They also talk about America's rapidly shifting foreign policy goals under the second Donald Trump administration, the notion of hemispheric security as laid out recently by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, the urgent need for Canada to bolster its military capabilities, and the dangers of complacency in the face of emerging threats. As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.On The Line will be distributed through the same channels as The Line Podcast, which will continue to release episodes on Friday. To never miss an episode of either of our offerings, you should obviously sign up at https://www.readtheline.ca/ but you can also follow us at the most popular podcast viewing/listening destinations.