The Backbench

What does an apology mean? And what happens next? Fatima speaks to two people who were in Rome to hear the Pope’s apology to Indigenous people over the Residential School system: Norman Yak’e ula, a survivor who has been waiting for 58 years to hear these words; and Taylor Behn-Tsakoza, co-chair of the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council, who was part of the delegation that got an audience with the Pope. Links:Watch the Pope’s full apology here: Read the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Watch the APTN video we mentioned of Taylor Behn-Tsakoza preparing to go to Rome:Sponsors: Skipper Otto, Ground News, The Peak, 22 MurdersAdditional music by Audio Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With deals for affordable childcare now in place across the country, we compare what each province got and discuss what this process might reveal for future programs, like pharmacare.  And we dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of the government’s Emissions Reductions Plan. This week’s contributors: Emilie Nicolas, Drew Brown, Stuart Thomson  Links:- A comparsion of childcare deals across the country.- The Emissions Reduction Plan Sponsors: Oxio, Freshbooks, The Peak Daily Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jagmeet Singh’s Chief of Staff Jennifer Howard was in the room during negotiations for the Liberal-NDP supply and confidence agreement. She breaks down how politicians can work together, even if looks like they hate each other on TV. Further Reading:“Going Inside the Room: How the Liberal-NDP Confidence Deal Happened”https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/03/24/news/going-inside-room-how-liberal-ndp-confidence-deal-happenedSponsors: FreshBooks, The Peak Daily, Ground NewsIf you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of The Backbench, Wag the Doug and COMMONS:https://apple.co/3wjxaRW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As nations around the world cut off business with Russia, can Canada help fill the international demand for oil and gas? More importantly, should we? And the pandemic caused unprecedented government spending, as well as shifting priorities on everything from work to healthcare. How will that all play out in the upcoming budget?This week’s contributors: Jason Markusoff, Caroline Elliott, Murad HemmadiLinks:Shannon Proudfoot’s Maclean’s profile of Pierre Pollievre: [https://www.macleans.ca/longforms/why-is-pierre-poilievre-so-angry/]And the accompanying Q&A [https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/pierre-poilievre-on-his-combative-style-of-politics-and-his-plans-for-canada/]Sponsors: The Peak Daily, FreshBooks, Ground News, Oxio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As escalation between Russia and Ukraine continues, what is Canada’s role in this ever-changing world? And how do conversations we have on the international stage impact our decisions here at home - and vice versa? Canada's UN Ambassador Bob Rae weighs in.Sponsors: Skipper Otto, Rotman, Ground News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the next few months, The Backbench is going to bring you weekly episodes!Expect us to chat with those who are impacted by or impacting what’s happening in Ottawa. We want to put the people back in politics so if you're either of those categories, get in touch at backbench@canadaland.com.Don't worry - We’ll still be bringing you the panel you’ve come to know and love.Our first episode drops next Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine escalates and Canadian leaders head to Europe, we assess the economic and military responses so far. And despite fully grasping the severity of Russian aggression, we want to know: Why does Canada's response to conflict vary so much depending on the country?This week's contributors: Drew Brown, Caroline Elliott, Jaskaran SandhuLinks:The Narwhal's piece about Canadian players still dealing in Russian resourcesMore context on the Canadian discourse re: Sikhs written by JaskaranMore on Ottawa's decision to delay the decision on Newfoundland's Bay du Nord oil projectSponsors: Oxio, Freshbooks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Emergencies Act passes and border blockades come down, we examine what impacts the Act and the satellite protests had domestically and internationally. And Canada decides to step up in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia - and it's unclear exactly why.This week's contributors: Murad Hemmadi, Jason Markusoff, Emilie NicolasSponsors: Rotman, The Big Story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2022 Freedom Convoy has taken over Ottawa, both the city and the political discourse. Why is the federal government so paralyzed by it and will it have a long-term impact on Canadian politics? And as the Conservative Party steps into the post-Erin O'Toole era, we try to figure out what "true blue" means now and whether it has Trumpian characteristics.Sponsors: Rotman & The Big Story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People have been declaring that they have stopped donating their money and/or time to the NDP recently. Why is the NDP struggling to retain self-described progressives? What is the party's role in federal politics today?This week's contributors:Lori Idlout, NDP MP (Nunavut) Peggy Nash, Former NDP MP & Finance Critic (Parkdale-High Park, Ontario)Des Bisonnette, President of NDP EDA (Lakeland, Alberta) & Member of the Democratic Socialists of Canada Sponsors: Hot Docs Podcast Festival, Island Crime Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.