The Herle Burly

Michael McCain heads up one of Canada’s flagship companies which employs over 11,000 people in Canada and the US, with global sales of over $3B. As President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, Michael has been navigating the relationship between business and politics for nearly 40 years. We’ll discuss his journey, along with growing issues of inequality and food security. When seemingly too few business leaders enter the political fray, Michael’s voice is a refreshing reminder of how the two can work together.

Jim Stanford, one of Canada’s leading economists, joins us to help analyze the changes we’re seeing in the economy—from inequality to automation—and the policy solutions for government. Join us as Jim helps us answer the question: is the economy working for working people?

Today on the pod … political commentator, Pulitzer Prize winner, and the man whom the Wall Street Journal called “perhaps the most powerful journalist in America” … George Will.Mr. Will has been the authority on American conservatism for nearly 50 years. Now he’s out with a new book, called “The Conservative Sensibility”. We’re going to talk about the book and the state of conservatism today in the United States, as well as The Republican Party, President Trump and issues from income inequality to climate change. Be sure to purchase a copy of his new book at your nearest Indigo Books: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-conservative-sensibility/9781549148682-item.html?ikwid=george+will&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0 

Nate Erskin-Smith is the young, bright Member of Parliament for Beaches-East York. In an age of AOC’s and Mayor Pete’s, I’m very pleased to have someone like Nate on the podcast to dive deep on the priorities for next generation leadership. We’ll discuss what drew Nate to the Liberal Party and how a rookie MP found his independence within it. You’ll very quickly learn why everyone tells me Nate is the kind of thoughtful leader we’ll see a lot more of in the years ahead.

Is the national fabric that holds Canada together fraying? Is Western alienation in our prairie provinces real? What do the pipeline and equalization debates reveal about the rise of right-wing populism? To address some of these questions we’re joined by the Honourable Monte Solberg. Mr. Solberg was a long-time Alberta MP, an influential cabinet minister in Ottawa, and one of the founders of the Reform Party of Canada. I’m pleased this unabashed, prairie-populist Conservative joined me on The Herle Burly to talk about Trump, climate change, immigration, and the election of Jason Kenney in Alberta. 

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a 2-million-member union representing some of the most overlooked workers in our economy. You need only look south of the border to see the strength of their political activity as the driving force behind the now global Fight for $15 movement. Sharleen Stewart joins us in her capacity as the SEIU Healthcare President in Canada to share the deeply emotional stories of women who make up the backbone of our health care system who are fighting for dignity, not just for themselves, but for the seniors who rely on them for care.

Dr. Kate Graham is the host of a compelling new podcast, called “No Second Chances,” which explores the experiences of women in politics through the lens of Canada's 12 female first ministers and their rise and fall from power. Kate joins us to share her insights about the gender inequality issues they faced while in office, as well as her own personal experience in running for office herself.

Amanda is the co-founder of the incredibly vital Political Action Committee, “Run for Something” whose mission is to get young, progressive-thinking candidates from non-traditional backgrounds to run for, and win, state and local office. And to create a next generation slate of candidates to seek higher office in the future. When she began “Run for Something”, Amanda hoped to recruit about 100 candidates. So far, over 19,000 have asked for funding or support.  Join us to hear Amanda share her story of how she transitioned from the crushing loss as a Hillary Clinton campaign staffer to being pissed off at Trump and doing something about it. 

My guest is sportswriter, blogger, podcaster, and New York Times best-selling author, Jeff Pearlman. THE Jeff Pearlman. Formerly of Sports Illustrated. Formerly of ESPN. Formerly of Newsweek. Currently of The Athletic. And host of the podcast: Two Writers Slinging Yang. Join us as we nerd out on his new book “Football for a Buck” about pre-president Trump and the insanity that was the United States Football League. 

Paul Martin’s public life has been marked by a willingness to confront the challenges we face with solutions bold enough to meet them. On this episode we’ll look back on a range of policy files during his tenure as Prime Minister—from the Kelowna Accord and his work with Indigenous Peoples to healthcare and child care, as well as multilateralism and the G20—but we’ll also discuss the sources weakening our institutions and the responsibility of government today. Please join me and the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Canada’s 21st Prime Minister, for part two of our conversation on The Herle Burly.