The Backbench

What do the federal parties say about LGBTQ issues? (No we're not talking about gay marriage). And uh...why is no one talking about foreign policy?   Guests: Erica Lenti, senior editor at Xtra, and National Post columnist Colby Cosh. Follow Erica at @ericalenti and find Colby @colbycosh.    Read Xtra's story on their LGBTQ2 candidate survey here. Read Canadaland's reporting on the unfounded Trudeau story rumours here.   Tell us what you think of the show! Email oppo@canadalandshow.com or tweet @OPPOcast.   This episode was sponsored by: Audible: https://www.audible.ca/canada Freshbooks: https://www.freshbooks.com/ Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/548115/highway-of-tears-by-jessica-mcdiarmid/9780385687577Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We survived debate night! Mostly. Plus, we break down the parties' environmental platforms with energy and environmental economist Andrew Leach. Get in touch at OPPO@canadalandshow.com or on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast.Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does Trudeau want an underwater tunnel to Newfoundland? Who has the biggest battle in British Columbia? OPPO goes east and west for an election view from Canada's edges.  Guests: Drew Brown, editor of The Independent, and Melanie Green, reporter for the Vancouver Star. Contact OPPO at Oppo@canadalandshow.com and on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOCast.Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could all those images of Trudeau in blackface open the door for a more meaningful campaign? And we talk Canada's growing tech scene. What's it done with federal money—and what are the parties talking about now?  Murad Hemmadi, policy and tech reporter for The Logic, co-hosts.  Read his piece on the parties' election promises around innovation here.   Get in touch at oppo@canadalandshow.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast.Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The campaign is on! Finally! Who won the first Trudeau-less debate? And why the other parties should actually listen to the NDP's wealth tax plan. National Post columnist Chris Selley co-hosts.  Get in touch at oppo@canadalandshow.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast. Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How representative are the federal party candidates (so far)? We crunched the numbers. And the meth crisis was a provincial election issue in Manitoba — here's why the rest of Canada should take note.  Fatima Syed, investigate reporter with National Observer, guest hosts.  Get in touch at oppo@canadalandshow.com or on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast. We relied on Global Winnipeg’s reporting on meth use in Manitoba. Read some of that coverage here: https://globalnews.ca/news/5826445/manitoba-election-meth/Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's everything you missed in Canadian politics this summer. Plus, we talk housing with Employment Minister Patty Hajdu. And ... what's happening with the NDP?   Note: The NDP did not respond to a request for comment regarding Sid Ryan's bid for candidacy. This episode was recorded on August 29, 2019.    Get in touch at oppo@canadalandshow.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast.Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alberta's premier wants a referendum on ... what exactly? And Justin Ling wants you to calm down about climate change "muzzling." Plus, meet some intriguing candidates to keep an eye on.   P.S. OPPO has news!   Get in touch at oppo@canadalandshow.com or find OPPO on Twitter and Facebook @OPPOcast.Support the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Mounties' massive manhunt for two murder suspects, Justin questions whether the RCMP's mandate is overstretched — and makes the case that their role in local policing should be an election issue.   And with an election looming, there's a frenzy over fake news. But is it even a problem? And who's being served by this idea? From the show:  The RCMP's thin red line: Is contract policing unsustainable? (Globe and Mail) Inside the impossible work of Canada’s biggest Indigenous police force (Maclean's) Twitter trolls stoked debates about immigrants and pipelines in Canada, data show (CBC News) Twitter bots boosted the trending #TrudeauMustGo hashtag (National Observer)   Support Canadaland media at patreon.com/canadalandSupport the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While some provinces are still trying to figure out booze, others have already gotten a good start on weed. Who’s doing sin best? Why do we keep hearing about the same four political operatives in Canada when none of them are good at winning? And unsolicited advice for who to blame next time you're woken up by a shrieking Amber Alert. This episode is brought to you by FreshBooks and The Big Story podcast. CORRECTION: We stated that cannabis is only available online in Manitoba. It is in fact available in retail stores.  Support CANADALAND at Patreon.com/canadalandSupport the show: https://backbench.supercast.tech/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.