CanCon

Decades ago, our government, and the body that oversees Canadian broadcasting, decided that homemade content was in danger of being overwhelmed by the vast flood of music, television, and film coming from the United States. The solution? A policy that required broadcasters to fill a certain amount of their programming with Canadian-made content, or "CanCon" as it came to be known. But the media landscape looks very, very different today than it did in 1991. And while Canadian-made content still manages to break through (see: Rivalry, Heated), and the CRTC has periodically updated the regulations, there's no question the CanCon policy no longer covers all it was intended to. Should it change? Did it work? Is it still needed? Not at all, or more than ever? Michael Geist is the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, and one of the country's foremost experts in media policy in the digital age. He joins Jordan to explain 35 years of CanCon, and if we need 35 more. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Welcome to CanCon!From (most of) the team that brought you Elbows Up, comes a show dedicated to telling Canadian stories, rather than focusing our energy on the rhetoric of our neighbours. These are conversations about who we are, how we got here, and where we're going. We hope you'll join us. Episode 1 debuts in two weeks, on Jan. 28, 2026. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

This summer, given ... everything going on down there, Canadians are more interested in exploring their own backyard than traveling to the United States. And since we've spent four months exploring everything about this country we need to fix, we wanted to spend Canada Day looking around at everything we don't. No matter where you live, this episode will give you some incredible ideas for your next getaway.Bestselling author Robin Esrock (The Great Canadian Bucket List) takes us on a tour from coast to coast to coast, starting in the North, then moving from West to East. There are so many beautiful, meaningful, fun and just plain weird places in this country that we thought we'd try to celebrate them all. Later, Esrock shares travel tips for everyone from those with the money for a cross-country train ride to those who need to stick closer to home, and their budget.After that, Jordan, Laura and Mat share the podcast's plan for this summer and beyond. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

One of the biggest problems Canadians face—that anyone faces—is the onslaught of misinformation online. Plenty of studies, including a new Reuters News survey, have shown that social media has passed traditional media as the go-to source of news for most Americans and plenty of Canadians. So we can talk about it all day, but what are we doing about it?Canadian journalist Kevin Newman—who has also anchored American news broadcasts—is one of the leads behind a new venture called Get Fact, a non-partisan coalition of volunteers that applies traditional fact-checking principles to AI tools, to offer news consumers a way to determine the veracity of what they're seeing in their feeds, or anywhere else. Jordan and Kevin discuss the state of journalism, the problem of misinformation and disinformation and what we can do beyond simply lamenting a past that's never coming back. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Millions of Canadians are voting with their feet, and their wallets, refusing to travel to the United States this summer—or even cancelling plans they've already made. But not everyone has that luxury. Some travel may not come with cancellation options. Some Canadians need to travel south, for work or to grow their business. And others may have family across the border they need to see. Some of those might even be dual citizens, wondering when they can go home again.Between tariffs and the threat of immigration officials—one arm of which has inspired a week-long protest in Los Angeles, which the Canadian government has advised travellers to stay far away from—the prospect of crossing the border can be daunting. In this episode, Jordan and Laura discuss what, if anything, it would take to get them heading through customs, then Jordan speaks to Canadian immigration lawyer Cindy Switzer, who works with MKS Immigration Lawyers and is the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Immigration Law Section, on what you need to consider if you have to—or want to—make the trip. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Jim Stanford, an economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work, dives into the looming impacts of U.S. tariffs on Canadian products. He discusses Canada’s surprising economic resilience amid uncertainty. As the G7 approaches, they analyze the potential for public protests and the significance of the 'buy Canadian' movement. Stanford emphasizes the need for government action to bolster key industries and provides insights into consumer behavior amidst troubling tariff implications, blending economics with a touch of light-heartedness about local strawberries.

Canada's new defence minister has promised an effort unseen since World War II to replenish and revitalize our military. How serious is he? Canada has a history of talking about improving its defence but doing very little to make it happen. Is this time different?After Jordan and Laura wonder why we're even pretending to entertain President Trump's latest and greatest attempt to add 'gold' to something, Jordan interviews Stephen Saidman a Carleton University Political Scientist in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and Director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network, about what this new government needs to do to change the narrative around Canada's military. How do we meaningfully increase our capacity, in terms of equipment and actual boots on the ground. And, yeah, we ask him to explain the Golden Dome, too.All that, and listener feedback, too! Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

For a whole lot of Canadians outside the prairie province—and a good number of Albertans, too—the province's recent flirtation with an independence referendum seems ... unhelpful, to put it mildly. At a moment Canadian unity has never been more important, Alberta's premier seems to be undermining that effort. Is this a cheap political ploy? A well reasoned approach to real provincial greivances? Or something else?Jordan and Laura discuss how the rest of Canada is feeling about Alberta these days, then Jordan interviews Senator Paula Simons to get to the bottom of what's really happening in the province. The independent senator has a long career as a journalist, a fierce love of the province and a view that accounts for the whole of Alberta, not just the loudest voices. So where is this coming from? Why now? And will it actually amount to anything? Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Canada has a doctor shortage. Many of you are living it right now. For most of the past few decades, the brain drain for physicians has gone one way: Canada to the United States. It's not the only reason so many of us can't find a family doctor, but it's been a big part of the problem.The past couple of years, however, have shifted that. From restrictive abortion legislation to a near-total disregard for medical science from the Trump Administration, thousands of American doctors are looking for somewhere else to practice. And for a lot of them, Canada is a preferred destination. John Philpott, CEO and founder of CanAm Physician Recruiting joins Jordan and Laura to explain why we've lost so many doctors, what physicians and medical professionals are looking for right now, and how Canada can set our health care system up for a generation by making sure we're their destination of choice. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Taylor Owen, Chair in Media, Ethics and Communication at McGill University and founding director of The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, delves into the nuances of a recent diplomatic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Donald Trump. He highlights the chasm between calm political discourse and the chaotic narratives on social media. Owen discusses the erosion of trust in Canadian media due to misinformation and foreign influence, emphasizing the urgent need for reform and accountability in digital communication.