The House

François-Philippe Champagne, the Federal Minister of Finance, defends his government's ambitious budget plan amid a surprising shift in the Conservative Party, with members crossing the floor and resigning. Andrew Scheer, the Conservative House Leader, outlines the party's staunch opposition to the budget, questioning its impact on affordability. Discussion includes whether the budget can stimulate business investment without aggravating economic concerns, as well as its broader implications for leadership and party morale within the Conservatives.

Peter Armstrong, CBC's Senior Business Correspondent, delves into the implications of the federal budget. He discusses the alarming $78 billion deficit and the $70 billion allocated for defense and infrastructure. Armstrong highlights the government's shift towards capital projects and corporate investment, assessing the potential risks of recession. He also examines tax incentives aimed at boosting productivity and critiques the long timeline for industrial strategy benefits. The insights into how these changes will affect various sectors make for a compelling listen.

Join Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada, as he shares insights from his illustrious political career and discusses pressing national issues. At 91, he reflects on his hometown Shawinigan, emphasizing its influence on his leadership. Chrétien offers a humorous take on how he'd interact with Trump, critiques Alberta's separatist sentiments, and defends Canada's interests in trade wars. He also highlights the importance of unity during external pressures, recalling the legacy of his late wife Aline, which shaped his public service.

Once again, Canada finds itself in a deep hole in its push to get a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. This time, an advertisement by Ontario that used Ronald Reagan’s own words criticizing tariffs annoyed Trump so much he cut off negotiations entirely. Derek Burney, who worked with former prime minister Brian Mulroney as he hammered out a Canada-U.S. free trade deal with Reagan, weighs in on the latest upset, then Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post discuss where this leaves Canada now.Then, Michael Kovrig, the former diplomat who spent more than 1,000 days detained by China, tells host Catherine Cullen how he feels about Canada’s growing “strategic partnership” with Beijing and what advice he’d offer the Prime Minister before meeting China’s president.Plus, the government is adjusting the rules around bail again, making it harder for some repeat offenders and those charged with serious offences to be released. A victim’s family and a criminal defence lawyer weigh in, and Justice Minister Sean Fraser defends the new legislation.Finally, as Liberals and Conservatives spar over what continues to drive up food costs, economist Christina Caron argues it’s not price gouging or the industrial carbon tax — it’s climate change that’s costing you more at the grocery store.This episode features the voices of:Derek Burney, former ambassador and chief of staff to prime minister Brian MulroneyTonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto StarStuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National PostMichael Kovrig, former Canadian diplomat detained by ChinaMeechelle Best, mother of Kellie VerweyJay Herbert, Ontario criminal defence lawyer and member of Rama First NationSean Fraser, Minister of JusticeChristina Caron, economist

As Canada seeks to land a trade deal with the United States, cracks began to emerge this week over whether some sectors — and corresponding provinces — are getting more attention than others. David Paterson, Ontario’s representative in Washington, joins the show to discuss whether Ottawa is too focused on Canada’s auto industry as B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba ask for more help with their lumber and canola sectors.Plus, while the trade war continues to bubble, Prime Minister Mark Carney is attempting a plan to get tougher on crime — and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called RCMP leadership “despicable.” Political strategists Kate Harrison, Marci Surkes and Jordan Leichnitz join The House to dig into some of the biggest headlines of the week.Then, Catherine Cullen speaks with former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, who’s been tapped by the B.C. government to improve the city’s Downtown Eastside amid ongoing complex problems surrounding drugs, crime and homelessness.And: even with cuts to government spending on the horizon, Carney says he’s making the Trudeau-era National School Food Program permanent. Debbie Field, national coordinator for Coalition for Healthy School Food, discusses the state of the program and whether the funding is still far from hitting the mark.This episode features the voices of:David Paterson, Ontario’s representative in Washington, D.C.Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa StrategiesMarci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass RoseJordan Leichnitz, NDP strategist and Canada Director at the Friedrich Ebert FoundationLarry Campbell, B.C.’s new adviser on Vancouver’s Downtown EastsideDebbie Field, national coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food

Valérie Pisano, CEO of Mila, emphasizes the need for responsible AI governance to protect Canadians while harnessing research strength. Hamish van der Ven highlights the environmental impacts of AI, urging for caution and sustainable practices in tech development. Evan Solomon discusses Canada's national AI strategy, focusing on privacy legislation and the balance between innovation and safety. The conversation navigates the risks of AI on jobs, societal relationships, and the urgent need for robust regulatory measures.

Mark Carney and Donald Trump met Tuesday in the White House to try and hammer out a resolution to the U.S. trade war that has wreaked havoc on critical Canadian sectors like steel, aluminum, auto manufacturing and forestry. Later in the day, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters that the talks were "substantive," but made no announcement on a deal or tariff relief — saying conversations with his American counterparts will continue. So was Carney’s visit to Washington a win, a waste of time or a wash? Co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff tackle the big meeting in this last — for now — episode of House Party.  

Since Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his major projects goals, Alberta has been crystal clear — it wants a new pipeline to the west coast. Now, the province is planning to submit a formal application to Canada’s Major Projects Office, but B.C. won’t play ball. The House checks in with B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix to get the west coast perspective, as well as Alex Pourbaix, Cenovus Energy’s board chair, who is co-leading the advisory group assisting the Alberta government on its pipeline pitch.Plus, as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, Palestinians in Canada are calling on Ottawa to bring their family members to safety through an emergency temporary immigration program. CBC’s Raffy Boudjikanian shares the story of Eman Alatbash, who worries about her sister’s fate in Gaza and the rest of her family stuck in Cairo.Next, in the two years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, incidents of antisemitism have risen dramatically around the world. What has to happen to stop it? Human rights lawyer and former justice minister Irwin Cotler joins Catherine Cullen to talk about the rise of antisemitism in Canada and how to address it.  Then, a new report from an RBC research team suggests Canada’s farming workforce is drying up. Author Lisa Ashton joins the show to discuss what the federal government needs to do to shore up Canada’s farms.Finally, On his first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation as prime minister, Mark Carney spoke in detail about a piece of art he’s recently had installed on Parliament Hill. Catherine Cullen speaks with artist Luke Parnell, who created A Brief History of Northwest Coast Design back in 2007, about the prime minister’s reflections on his work and the road ahead for reconciliation.This episode features the voices of:Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of EnergyAlex Pourbaix, board chair of Cenovus EnergyRaffy Boudjikanian, CBC NewsIrwin Cotler, former special envoy on combatting antisemitismLisa Ashton, agriculture policy lead for RBC Climate Action InstituteLuke Parnell, creator of A Brief History of Northwest Coast Design

Canada Post is on strike for the second time in less than a year, after the government authorized significant changes like ending home delivery across the country and closing some post offices. The Crown corporation is on track to lose $1.5 billion this year and the minister in charge of the file said it was “effectively insolvent.” So: what’s the future for Canada Post? And as the federal government tightens its belt ahead of next month’s federal budget, what does Prime Minister Mark Carney’s tough stance on Canada Post signal about what services he'll keep or cut? Co-hosts and political nerds Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff are here to talk about it all. 

Bob Rae, Canada's UN Ambassador, discusses the significance of recognizing Palestine amidst global security concerns and Trump’s provocative UN address. Emma Godmere shares firsthand accounts from Nuuk, Greenland, revealing local sentiments about international attention and strengthened ties with Canada. Paul Wells analyzes the political repercussions of a leaked audio involving the public safety minister's comments on gun policy, shedding light on internal government dynamics. The conversation touches on pressing geopolitical trends and the evolving role of Canada in global affairs.