Mark Sutcliffe reflects on his first year as Ottawa's mayor, discussing challenges like the Freedom Convoy and the ill-fated LRT project. Topics include saving the downtown core, getting the LRT back on track, networking with other mayors, and the importance of effective communication in politics and public service.

Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, talks about reconciliation, drug policy, and her journey from working with the vulnerable to sitting in Trudeau's Cabinet. They discuss addressing gaps in Indigenous education, stories of racism in Thunder Bay, their role at Shelter House and involvement in cannabis legalization, compassion for Indigenous mental health, travel experiences and learning opportunities, and reflections on attending the Press Gallery dinner.

John Ibbitson, Author and Globe and Mail writer, discusses his new book about the rivalry between Diefenbaker and Pearson and its impact on modern Canada. Topics include the controversies surrounding the Trans-Canada Pipeline, Pearson's strengths and shortcomings, the influence of the suburban middle class, and the Harper-Diefenbaker political rivalry.

Timothy Garton Ash has chronicled some of the biggest moments in European history for over 40 years. In his new book, Homelands: A Personal History of Europe, he offers a history of postwar Europe, told through personal memoir. He talks to Paul about the future of Europe, the war in Ukraine, advising George W. Bush on how to think about the European Union, having Victor Orbán as a student, and why these days, his main concern is about the United States. This episode was recorded at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com

The part of King Lear has a storied history, with classic performances by actors like William Hutt, Brian Cox and James Earl Jones. At 64, Paul Gross has taken on the role at Stratford, and he thinks the whole mythology around it is “just bullshit.” He reflects on the weight of the role, making Lear his own, and why Shakespeare still feels relevant.  In the episode, we mention Paul Gross's age as 62, but he is 64. We regret the error. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com

B.C. Premier David Eby discusses the housing crisis, opioid epidemic, healthcare, foreign interference, federal-provincial relations, and energy needs. Impact on BC Sikh community and health care funding. Championing opioid/housing policies and addressing addiction treatment challenges. Meeting energy challenges and seizing clean energy opportunities.

Village Media, a thriving online local news network, is struggling due to the government's standoff over Bill C-18. The CEO discusses how the bill has hurt his business. They explore the impact of the bill on the news industry, lack of consultation, and the positive impact of Village Media on local communities.

Kennedy Stewart is a former federal NDP MP and was mayor of Vancouver from 2018 to 2022. In his new book, Decrim: How We Decriminalized Drugs in British Columbia, he writes about how he worked with the federal government — and, eventually, with a provincial NDP government he saw as far less cooperative — to decriminalize simple possession of street drugs in British Columbia. He joins Paul to talk about that experience, as the national conversation around drug policy heats up. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com.

The job of Government House Leader is always a challenge, but it's especially so in a minority Parliament. For Justin Trudeau's outnumbered Liberals, that minister is Mark Holland. One of the Liberals' longest-serving MPs, he's responsible for steering the government's legislative agenda through Parliament. He speaks frankly about the perils of political life, his own struggles with mental health, and about navigating a partisan landscape to get stuff done.

k.d. lang reflects on her four decade-long musical career, which may have reached its end. “All music tends towards silence and I have to honour the silence,” she tells Paul in an open and wide-ranging conversation in Calgary.