The Backbench

Three generations of Indigenous panelists join us this week on what The Backbench thought was the biggest story of 2021: the unmarked graves on former residential school grounds. We break format to take stock of what has been promised and repromised, the diversity of demands from Indigenous communities, and what a new "interlocutor" position can do to help with healing.Guests: Leena Minifie, Riley Yesno feat. Romeo SaganashLinks:Trudeau’s promises to Assembly of First Nations in 2015Globe and Mail piece re: interlocutorCBC's piece re: pending $40-billion settlement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political showmanship about #Justinflation abound, just as the Liberal government is set to release their Fall Economic Statement this week. And it's our last episode of 2021! We offer some highlights and lowlights of the year.This week's contributors: Murad Hemmadi, Jason Markusoff, Jaskaran SandhuLinks:Since recording, Justin Trudeau has said he will not yet intervene in Quebec's Bill 21Sponsors: Rotman Negotiations Program Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BC's emergency on top of emergency has us wondering where the federal government needs to step in. And the latest "lockdown bill" and Throne Speech reveals where our federal government is at.This week's contributors: Caroline Elliott, Leena Minifie, Stuart Thomson ft. MP Dan AlbasLinks: Did you miss the Throne Speech? Read it here.Sponsors: Rotman, Amnesty International Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support The Backbench at canadaland.com/joinPrime Minister Trudeau celebrated Canada's role at COP26 - but what is there to celebrate really? And Conservatives MPs try to start a 'civil liberties caucus' while the Liberal caucus vote not to empower themselves. This week's contributors: Caroline Elliott, Emilie Nicolas, Riley YesnoSponsors: Rotman, Amnesty International Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s crowdfunding season at Canadaland! Please consider supporting us at canadaland.com/joinAlberta thinks it made a "powerful" statement to Ottawa this week. And the Bank of Canada says inflation is persistent, which can also be perceived as good news if you look really hard.This week's contributors: Drew Brown, Murad Hemmadi, Jason MarkusoffLinks: Trevor Tombe's tool that helped us understand equalization payments a bit betterThe Conversation's piece on equalization overhaulThe TikTok on inflation from KyneChrystia Freeland's statement about reining in COVID-19 measuresThis episode is supported by Amnesty International. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s crowdfunding season at Canadaland! Please consider supporting us at canadaland.com/joinWe invited former MPs on because it was supposed to be the first week of Parliament. It got pushed back, but we get into what the first days of Parliament are like and what issues this government will be inheriting anyway. This week's contributors: Former MP Kenny Chiu & Former MP Catherine McKennaLinks:Kenny Chiu references this page on the BC government website on how emissions have increased in the provinceCatherine McKenna references economists Andrew Leach and Trevor Tombe who have both argued carbon pricing does reduce emissions. Follow their work here and here respectively.When we followed up with Catherine McKenna for links, she pointed us to this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trudeau drops the first apology of his third term and has us wondering how reconciliation can go beyond symbolic actions. And as the Two Michaels make it home, what have we learned from this whole saga?This week's contributors: Joanna Chiu, Stuart Thomson, Riley YesnoLinks:Riley's piece on the spring federal budgetMore on what Land Back & Cash Back are aboutHow to order Joanna's book, "China Unbound"This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we bring you something different: an in-depth chat with a People’s Party of Canada supporter. Derek Taylor emailed Fatima after she called the party racist. He agreed to an interview. Derek gets into how he heard about the party, why he supports them, and the direction the party has taken since its creation in 2018. This is the extended version of an interview featured on Canadaland.This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee and Rotman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the time of recording this episode, #elxn44 literally has yielded the same number of seats (give or take several seats) for all of our federal parties. Here's a coast-to-coast-to-coast chat on what this outcome suggests and where Canadian politics goes from here.  This week's contributors: Drew Brown, Jason Markusoff, Leena Minifie, Jaskaran Sandhu, Stuart Thomson.This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee, The Peak Daily and Rotman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What issues did the federal leaders not speak on throughout the campaign? We get into some of them. And a look into what pandemic debts and costed platforms tell us.This week’s contributors: Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Murad Hemmadi feat. Pam PalmaterLinks:Murad’s past Maclean’s piece on why the ethnic vote isn't real;The Institute of Fiscal Studies’ assessments of NDP, Liberals, and Conservatives’ costed platforms.This episode is supported by The Peak, Aussie Hair, Rotman, and Canadian Politics Is Boring.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.