The House

It’s the final countdown to election night. On Monday, millions of Canadians will cast their ballots and choose their next federal government at a critical moment for Canada. Catherine Cullen sits down with David Coletto to find out what pollsters will be watching as results roll in from coast to coast.Next, CBC reporters on the road send us their final audio postcards from the campaign trail — with analysis on the Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québécois campaigns so far.Plus, our panel of political strategists dissect the final moments of the campaign, including new information about Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s call with U.S. President Donald Trump, reports that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is at odds with Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative premier and concerns that NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will lose his seat.Then, The House does a deep dive into the new Ontario riding of Milton East-Halton Hills South. The residents of two towns have been pulled together this election — and some are delighted to now be in a battleground riding where every vote counts.Finally, a look into the classroom of a Vancouver Island University professor who’s using a game to teach students how hard it is to be a politician.This episode features the voices of:David Coletto, CEO of Abacus DataMarci Surkes, Liberal strategistKate Harrison, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategistKristen Everson, CBC producerMichael MacKenzie, political science professor at Vancouver Island University

The political nerds hosting this podcast eagerly await the ritual release of costed party platforms during an election campaign: those line-by-line expenses and revenues that detail how much each party plans to spend on – and how they’ll fund – their promises. But, with so few days to go until the end of this campaign, is there much room to actually sway a voter with a fully-costed deficit strategy? And what are the most important promises in these platforms, especially those by the Liberals and Conservatives? Jason Markusoff, Daniel Thibeault and Catherine Cullen have some answers.

A special Sunday offer from our friends at World Report: As Canadians prepare to head to the ballot box, the integrity of this vote matters more than ever. From foreign agents to fake influencers... how serious are the risks to Canada's democracy? And what are officials doing about these threats? Parliamentary reporter Janyce McGregor will tell you where we're most vulnerable, why meddling keeps happening, and what you need to know in this season of spin.

There was no shortage of clashes and controversy as major party leaders’ squared off against each other in Montreal in both French and English. There were battles over pipelines, crime, change and how to deal with Donald Trump. Behind the scenes — concerns over how the debates were managed by organizers. Who came out on top and what’s the future of the debates? Party strategists share their thoughts.Plus, political parties have made lots of promises, but they’re dragging their feet on how much those promises cost. A former federal budget watchdog explains why fully costed platforms matter and what it means when they’re unveiled so late in the campaign.Next, host Catherine Cullen meets the Bloc Québécois candidate for LaSalle-Émard-Verdun on location in the recently flipped riding to ask how he hopes to hold on to his seat – as his party tries to win over voters across the province.Finally, The House does a deep dive into the riding of Calgary Centre, where Premier Danielle Smith’s interjections into the campaign have provoked reactions from some voters.This episode features the voices of:Marci Surkes, Liberal strategistKate Harrison, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategistSahir Khan, executive vice-president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and DemocracyLouis-Philippe Sauvé, Bloc Québécois candidate for LaSalle-Émard-VerdunAllison Dempster, CBC reporter and producer based in Calgary

For Canadian political nerds, election debates are like the Stanley Cup finals - the one chance to see leaders from all the major parties face off in real time, and maybe even land a few blows against their opponents. But how much power do these debates have to actually change how people vote? In the lead up to the French and English federal leaders’ debates this week, hosts Catherine Cullen, Jason Markusoff and Daniel Thibeault unpack the debate moments that make a difference, and the strategy the parties are prepping.NOTE: This episode was recorded on Tuesday, April 15, and contains a reference to the Green Party participating in the debates. On the morning of Wednesday, April 16, the party leader's invitation to the debates was rescinded by the Leaders' Debates Commission.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are spurring renewed interest in Canada for oil and gas development and a possible national energy corridor — with the Liberals and Conservatives promising action. Are these pledges realistic? And what about climate change? Host Catherine Cullen talks to a pollster, a political scientist and an oil market researcher about pipeline politics.Then, Kitchener Centre Green candidate Mike Morrice joins the program to discuss how big a challenge his party is facing this election if more Canadians support the prospect of pipelines.Next, as the federal election campaign crosses the halfway point, CBC reporters on the road send us postcards from the campaign trail — with analysis on the Liberal, Conservative and NDP campaigns so far.After that, party strategists discuss the hot topics of this week of the campaign, including Carney returning to Ottawa yet again as prime minister, Poilievre boasting about crowd sizes and what they’re expecting from the leaders’ debates next week.Finally, The House’s Emma Godmere breaks down the closely-watched race in Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville, where a Bloc Quebecois incumbent is facing off against a Liberal star candidate and longtime gun control advocate in a race that’s all about ground game versus party pull.This episode features the voices of:Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid InstituteSarah E. Sharma, political science professor at the University of OttawaRory Johnston founder of Commodity ContextMike Morrice, Green Party candidate for Kitchener CentreMarina von Stackelberg, CBC reporter following the Conservative campaignKarina Roman, CBC reporter following the Liberal campaignAshley Burke, CBC reporter following the NDP campaignBrian Clow, Liberal strategistKate Harrison, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategist

The West wants out, Quebec wants in, and Canadian unity turned into a campaign issue this week after former Reform Party and opposition leader Preston Manning claimed increasing numbers of Westerners – particularly Albertans – may see secession as the only option if the Liberals win. Yet in Quebec, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet took the opposite tack, downplaying separatist sentiment and arguing Canada needs to be united in its response to Donald Trump’s tariffs. So is separatism REALLY a ballot box issue this time around? Catherine Cullen in Ottawa, Jason Markusoff in Calgary and Daniel Thibeault in Montreal try to unite their 3 solitudes with an answer.

An elder statesman to many Conservatives is warning the country: a Liberal victory could fuel western secession. What’s the appetite for that message? Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning joins The House to explain why Canadian unity is on the ballot.Next, as union leaders say more pain from U.S. tariffs is likely around the corner, NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre Matthew Green shares his party’s vision for a path forward. Then, CBC’s Jacques Poitras profiles the riding of Saint John-Kennebecasis in New Brunswick where tariffs and party drama play into a Liberal-Conservative tug-of-war.Plus, our panel of political strategists discuss the Liberal and Conservatives candidates dropped by their parties this week and how the campaigns should try and meet the moment on Trump’s tariffs.Finally, CBC producer Chris Rands takes the aux cord and walks through a playlist of pump-up songs party leaders keep on repeat at rallies and campaign stops this election.This episode features the voices of:Preston Manning, former Reform Party leaderMatthew Green, NDP candidate for Hamilton CentreJacques Poitras, provincial affairs reporter for CBC New BrunswickMarci Surkes, Liberal strategistFred DeLorey, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategistChris Rands, producer for CBC’s parliamentary bureau

If votes were based on social media stats, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh would be on top with his latest “get ready with me” TikTok – racking up nearly 5 million views. But when it comes to polling, something is lost in translation, with Liberals and Conservatives pulling way ahead in securing support from the under-40 voters. So how are the parties targeting these voters, and who is doing the best job of campaigning on what matters to Gen Z and Millennials? “Elder millennials” Jason Markusoff and Catherine Cullen, and Gen X-er Daniel Thibeault, try not to sound too old as they analyze the strategies of Singh, Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre.

There’s been no shortage of drama one week into this sprint election campaign, which is already affected by U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump spoke with each other for the first time ever, the day after Carney said Canada's old economic and military relationship with the U.S. is “over.” Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, explains the impact of Trump’s tariffs and the bigger economic risk of retaliatory tariffs that could drop next week. Then, Liberal candidate Marc Miller discusses how his party is prepared for the intensifying Canada-U.S. trade war.Then, as federal party leaders fan out across Canada, CBC reporters on the road send us postcards from the campaign trail — with analysis on the Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québécois campaigns so far.After that, party strategists explore the biggest takeaways from the first week of the campaign and what they want their team to do next.Finally, The House hears from a CBC Manitoba provincial affairs reporter about the tight NDP-Conservative battle in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood-Transcona, where strategic voting is coming up at the doorstep.This episode features the voices of:Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of CanadaMarc Miller, Liberal candidate for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-SœursJohn Paul Tasker, CBC reporter following the ConservativesTom Parry, CBC reporter following the LiberalsMarina von Stackelberg, CBC reporter following the NDPRaffy Boudjikanian, CBC reporter following the Bloc QuébécoisMarci Surkes, Liberal strategistKate Harrison, Conservative strategistGeorge Soule, NDP strategistBartley Kives, CBC Manitoba senior reporter