CANADALAND
The best newspaper in Canada is a podcast. Original reporting, sharp political analysis, and media criticism you won’t get anywhere else. Keeping you informed about what’s happening now in your country.
Episodes
Canada’s Right-Wing Meme War
A trend of “Blame Canada” memes is causing a schism amongst conservatives. Far-right conservative influencers are gleefully amplifying MAGA-style messaging around Carney and Canada, while more moderate conservative voices are calling them “traitorous.” Under Pierre Poilievre, the CPC embraced right-wing influencers, offering them “content creator” passes and access to events, but now the
How the CBC Screwed Up the Trade War
As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the CBC’s longstanding policy towards reporting on acts of terrorism suddenly became an international story.A leaked internal CBC memo that instructed journalists not to refer to 9/11 as a terrorist attack without attribution sparked backlash on both sides of the border. In the context of the trade war, CBC’s journalistic policy became a flashpoint
A Conservative Catastrophe in BC
BC’s Conservative caucus is hemorrhaging members. In the last three weeks, 8 MLAs have left the Conservative caucus, followed by accusations that paint a pretty clear picture: Whatever crisis is happening inside the BC Conservatives, Kerry-Lynne Findlay is at the centre of it. Host Sam Konnert talks to BC political commentator and host of “This is Vancolor”, Mo Amir, to spell out what e
Garfield Almost Broke Him. Now He Wants Your Vote.
In the history of journalism, there have been a number of iconic interviews. Interviews that defined a generation and uncovered truths from some of the biggest political scandals of the time. Richard Nixon, Monica Lewinsky, the ex-Duke of York formerly known as Prince Andrew, to name only a few.Today, we bring you an interview with Nathen Mazri. Former Garfield Eats proprietor, former PPC candidat
Is The New York Times Taking Over Canadian News?
Canadians are increasingly getting their news from the New York Times. As the NYT increases its global footprint, growing to over 3 million international subscribers, Canada remains its largest international market. With its expansion of staff and Canadian coverage, The Times is competing for scoops with outlets like The Globe and Mail and CBC. Will an American outlet eventually dom
BONUS: How to Survive Back-to-School
Seasonal news items are just a thing in the media biz and Back-to-School is a big one. So we wanted to flip that concept and rather than dish out our own advice, we asked you to call in with your own.Look, we all know starting a school, especially at a new school, can be a stressful experience. But we all do it, and most of us get through it too. But if you’re nervous, or you know someone else who
Is America’s Cultural Rule Over?
There’s been wall-to-wall coverage of the breakdown in trade talks between Canada and the US, on both sides of the border. Whether it’s Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario, gun-toting A.I. Canadian Geese, or continual investigations into what exactly happened during the final hours of trade talks. But the rest of the world is also covering the Canada-US trade war in terms of the “rupture” C
Why Carney isn't Done Negotiating with Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney made a nice speech last weekend. But what happens after you walk away from a blown-up trade deal? This episode host Noor Azrieh asks Matina Stevis-Grindeff, the Canada Bureau Chief for the New York Times. Apparently, it includes a renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America, and a whole lot more.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Pr
Poisoned Trust on Canada's Campuses
In August 2026, the Government of Canada released a report titled Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences. The survey found that “95.7% of Jewish students said they had experienced or witnessed at least one instance of antisemitism over the previous 12 months.”So the back to school jitters are hitting differently for some kids. There have been other issues involving staff, administrations
How the Trade War Just Changed Everything with Canadian Culture and Tech
As trade negotiations broke down, Canadian streaming policy, CanCon requirements, and French language discoverability have taken a surprisingly central role in the narrative. Mark Carney says last minute US trade demands threatened our cultural sovereignty, while US Trade Representative Jameson Greer called this a “funny, fake story.” Digital law expert Michael Geist joins to talk about
Hey! I Thought We Had a Deal? (How it all Fell Apart)
As trade talks break down between Canada and the US, the race is on to fill in the details. Both Carney and US Trade Representative Jameson Greer are offering their versions of the final hours of negotiations. Meanwhile, reporters are talking to sources, all of whom are looking to spin the narrative. What really happened? Plus, the Jamil Jivani of it all, and TMU isn’t satisfied wit
Does War with Trump Mean War on our Unions?
Mark Carney’s government is reviewing Canada’s Labour Code, and one of the biggest questions on the table is the right to strike.In recent years, the federal government has increasingly used Section 107 to intervene in strikes involving workers in industries like rail, airlines, and the postal service. Now, employers are pushing for new rules that could give the government more tools to prevent ma
How Canada Wins at Defence
As recent events in Ukraine, Russia, and Iran have clearly demonstrated, the nature of modern warfare is changing fast (think: drones). Canada will get left behind if it doesn’t start innovating fast. And that could have not just a winning effect on its defence capabilities but also it’s an opportunity to stimulate other industries. Host Stephen Marche explores the advent of drone warfare wit
Are e-Scooters a Public Menace or the Future of Transportation?
E-scooters are making headlines as a dangerous transportation option. From Xav Trudeau not wearing a helmet in an e-Scooter ad, to editorials calling them a scourge. Are they a dangerous public nuisance or a sign that we haven’t yet embraced the future of transportation? Arno Kopecky joins Julian Abraham to kick around the coverage of electric micromobility options, and to consider if Canada is a
British Columbia is Burning
B.C.’s wildfires spread at unprecedented speeds, resulting in tens of thousands of evacuations and a province-wide state of emergency. Yet, nationally, the fires didn’t garner the same level of media attention as Northern Ontario’s fires last month. Why the disconnect? Arno Kopecky joins to unpack the coverage of the BC wildfires and explain why climate change should be a bigger part of the c
Kory Teneycke on Why he Called Poilievre a P***y
Pierre Poilievre has a lot of haters. But his biggest hater might just be Kory Teneycke. This is a guy who comes from inside the Conservative machine. He was Stephen Harper's communications director. He helped Doug Ford win. Then win again. Then again.And for months, Teneycke’s been publicly dragging Pierre Poilievre through the mud. No holds barred. He questioned Poilievre’s strategy. His leaders
The Prime Minister in Exile Who Drives a Bus in Edmonton
Abdulahat Nur grew up in East Turkistan. That’s what many Uyghurs, a Muslim Turkic people of Central Asia, call it. But if you’re a Chinese state official the region is called Xinjiang, or “New Frontier.” For many it echoes the same sort of arguments that surround Tibet.China's treatment of the Uyghurs has led to intense international scrutiny, particularly its use of internment camps or what Chin
NATO Says they Caught a Spy – From Canada!
A Canadian intern, Biwei Zhang, is alleged to have spied on NATO for China, raising questions about the persistence of Chinese espionage in Canada. The former civil servant held positions for a number of Canadian agencies including StatsCan, the National Research Council, and the Canadian Space Agency. In 2023, she was found to have committed fraud on her application to the Canada Border Serv
Money Mark or Concession Carney?
A report in the Globe and Mail says Canada is offering concessions to get a trade deal. Canadians and pundits aren’t happy with the idea. Is it just a trial balloon or is Carney willing to pay the political price to reduce tariffs? Meanwhile, rolling back Trudeau’s digital policies targeting tech giants is one concession Carney seems happy to make. But how will it impact Canadian media fundin
Prediction Markets Come to Canada via Wealthsimple. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Wealthsimple just launched its new betting platform, but for now, Canadians can only bet on the economy, financial markets, and the weather.So what happens when we start betting on politics?Host Sam Konnert talks to Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Katherine Long about the wild world of Polymarket and Kalshi, the scandals that have followed them in the US, and what Canada can learn befor
Repugnant Markets: Where Blood is Sold and Kidneys Swapped
They’re shamed, banned, or driven underground but “repugnant markets” have a way of surviving. Organ sales, MAID, even blood sales fall into the category. Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth comes to Canadaland to discuss his latest book, Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal about How Markets Work.Further Reading:The Nobel Prize - Alvin E.
Does Canada have Israel Derangement Syndrome?
Last Wednesday, Foreign Policy CAN tweeted that "Canada condemns the ongoing violence in the West Bank..." So later that day, the Embassy of Israel in Canada responded with "Israel condemns the ongoing violence against Jews in Canada..." Which begs the question, just what exactly is Canada’s social media strategy? Does it even have one? It also got us thinking about the responsibility both th
BONUS: Three Interviews We Never Aired, and Why
Last year, we published an episode about all the tape that didn’t make it into one of our shows. Today is different… but similar. Here are three interviews we did that just never made it to air. And we’ll tell you why they never made it to air.Next month on Off The Record we are back to our call-in show format. On Thursday August 27, 2026 we will be taking your calls on a new question.Seasonal new
Wet Hot Libel Summer: the Caylan Ford/Press Progress Fiasco
Seven years in, we're looking at what might just be the longest and most involved media defamation trial in Canadian history: former Alberta United Conservative Party candidate Caylan Ford is suing PressProgress, the CBC, Toronto Star and several others, for $7.65 million. She says that they wrongly portrayed her as a white supremacist, they say that they were only quoting her… Host: Jesse Br
Mark Carney Wants You to Send Cash for his Home Reno
Stories about The Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex just won’t die. Lumber barons, dead brides, Trudeau’s secret pool, nacho machines, you name it.But now, the Prime Minister’s crumbling, rat-infested, maybe haunted official residence is getting a re-vamp. Carney just launched a fifty-million-dollar national campaign to actually fix the place. What is he planning? And what does it say
A Palestinian Activist on What's Wrong With the Pro-Palestine Movement
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a Palestinian-American writer who grew up in Gaza City. When he was eleven years-old he survived an Israeli airstrike that killed two of his friends and left him with permanent hearing loss in one ear. He travelled to the United States as a teenage exchange student in 2005 and later received political asylum after Hamas took over in Gaza. He now leads Realign for Palestine,
Minority vs Minority Racism is Exploding
San Grewal and Rahim Mohamed discuss Robyn Urback's opinion piece in the Globe and Mail, titled, “Like a bad ex, Donald Trump is accidentally making Canada become its best self”. Indeed, national pride seems to be at an all-time high, but is it warranted? After all, hate crimes are on the rise, two Jewish bakeries were vandalized last weekend, and a group of white supremacists just threw a "family
Is Doug Ford Dead in the Water?
After the Premier's meeting in PEI last week hosts San Grewal and Rahim Mohamed look at who got the media's attention, who didn't, and what strategies Premiers are using to capture the nation's interest.Correction: In this episode, host San Grewal gives an example of a "Sikh physician would not be allowed to wear his turban in a public hospital." Bill 21 provides an exemption for hospital workers.
Mexico is Giving Trump What he Wants. Is it Working?
Canada's relationship with Donald Trump feels like it's one big, messy, public fight. Meanwhile, Mexico seems... strangely calm. Has President Claudia Sheinbaum figured out how to deal with Trump in a way we haven’t? Host Noor Azrieh talks to journalist David Agren, who has covered Mexico for more than two decades, about Trump's latest tariff threats, the CUSMA negotiations, and whether there's ac
Fastened to a Dying Animal: How to Survive the Collapse of the U.S. Empire
Is the American empire officially in its "dying animal" era? Author and cultural critic Stephen Marche certainly thinks so and for the first time in his career, he’s feeling downright optimistic. In Stephen's view, the collapse of U.S. global dominance isn't a tragedy for Canada; it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ditch our toxic relationship with American markets, invest in our own sovere
Carney is Brilliantly Bullsh*tting Alberta on Energy
Decoding Carney’s climate pivot. Despite the headlines about pipelines and Carney’s offer to double oil exports to the US, Canada’s future as an energy superpower may still be clean and green. Max Fawcett joins to explain why Carney is distancing himself from Trudeau’s climate policies, while laying the groundwork for Canada’s energy transition.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (
Surprise! More Trump Tariffs
After threatening to tariff Canada in response to wildfire smoke crossing the border, Trump announces 50% tariffs on a long list of products, ostensibly in response to Canada’s "discriminatory" trade practices.Trump says these aren’t the wildfire tariffs, but are they the wildfires tariffs?Meanwhile, will Canada finally get serious about wildfires as a result of Trump’s absurd threats?Host: Jesse
Inside the Bishnoi Gang
Unsealed U.S. indictments allege that India-based organized crime networks orchestrated political assassinations, extortion schemes, and large-scale drug trafficking across North America and Europe. And according to prosecutors, Canada wasn't just another country caught in the crossfire. It was both a target for extortion and a hub for cross-border operations.Host Noor Azrieh asks Punjab-based jou
The Canadaland Guide to Kevin O’Leary
Kevin O'Leary is not just a rich Canadian businessman — he's a phenomenon. He's a media phenomenon both here in Canada and in the US. And he's known for one thing: being an asshole. But is he really an asshole? Is it just a schtick? A character? A clown that he plays on TV to entertain us all? Or is it all sincere? Does he mean all of the stuff he says? And if he does mean it, why should we b
Meta's Gas-Guzzling $13 Billion Data Centre Coming to Alberta
Danielle Smith announces a $13 billion Meta data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, set to be the largest in Canada.In contrast to Carney’s federal A.I. strategy, which promised clean, sovereign, and ethical A.I., Smith refers to the Meta project as a “digital refinery,” fuelled by a natural gas plant that will be built to power it. Instead of digital sovereignty, is Canada going to en
Canada Wins at Booze but Did Trump Win at Bridge?
Booze, bridges, and the fog of the trade war.Canada’s booze boycotts are working, and Senator Adam Schiff says it’s unfair and devastating for the California wine industry. Isn’t that the point? Meanwhile, Carney offers concessions to Trump on the Gordie Howe Bridge deal. Did we get bamboozled? Plus, a Wall Street Journal deep dive paints Carney as the leader of the resistance against Tr
Mark Carney's System of Secrecy
Canada’s Access to Information Act was supposed to give Canadians a window into their government. But more than 40 years later, critics say the system is failing — with delays, redactions, and a culture of secrecy. Host Noor Azrieh speaks with transparency activist Ken Rubin, journalist Dean Beeby, and lawyer Matt Malone about the fight over the future of access to information in Canada, and why p
Cash for Eggs — Canada’s Fertility Industry Secret
Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Act made it illegal to pay a woman to donate her eggs in Canada. The goal was to avoid incentivizing women to donate their eggs without fully understanding the risks of the procedure. But loopholes and a lax regulatory system have let a “grey market” prosper.In her investigation Gemma Boothroyd spent months meeting egg donors, doctors, researchers, lawyers — t
Is A.I. a Threat or an Opportunity for Canadian Newsrooms?
Canadian newsrooms are hesitant to embrace A.I. but new tools offer the potential to revolutionize workflows and expand the capacity of individual journalists. Rather than a threat to journalism, Kevin Newman joins Julian Abraham to explain why A.I. should be viewed as an opportunity for newsrooms to create new business models and do more in-depth reporting. Host: Julian AbrahamCredits:
New Canadian Social Media Platform is Too Canadian
A new strictly Canadian social media platform is promising a friendlier alternative, but is it too Canadian to succeed? Gander Social launched on Canada Day with an ambitious plan to “fix” social media with a bot-free, less divisive approach that includes moderation based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But, do people really want social media that “makes them smile”? 
Alberta's Trillion Dollar Mistake
Fifty years ago, Alberta had a chance to build one of the greatest sovereign wealth funds in the world. It could have been a trillion-dollar province.This episode, host Sam traces the full story of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund: the booms, the busts, and the mistakes made along the way. How did the richest province in Canadian history end up with almost nothing saved? And now
Canada’s Goal to Save Footballers’ Lives
Investigative reporter Laura Robinson and Senator Marilou McPhedran were accused of faking government documents. The RCMP were called in followed quickly by the Senate Ethics Committee. Several weeks ago that committee finally handed down their verdict. For years Robinson could say little about the case. But today she brings the whole story to Canadaland. The story of her part in an operation
The End of the True Crime Industrial Complex?
You might not be super familiar with the name Corus Entertainment, but you definitely know their work: Global News, Teletoon, YTV, Treehouse, Showcase etc. Since 1987 Corus has dominated Canadian media across TV and radio, but just last month (June 2026) they reported a $36.5-million loss in the third quarter! With yet another Canadian legacy media company, Corus Entertainment, at risk of being ta
BONUS: State of the Podcast
Today we’re talking about Canadaland the company the show.Where is Canadaland going in 2026? CBS, CNN, maybe The Rivoli? CanCon jokes aside, today Sam sits down with Jesse to talk all about the state of Canadaland. We have a new collective bargaining agreement, we have a new Journalistic Standards and Practices document, we have new hosts coming on board.And what new shows are we working on?A
The Risks and Rewards of Tolerating FIFA
It's hard not to be swept up into the overflowing joy and national pride gripping millions across the country, as Canada’s men’s national soccer team plays on the world’s largest stage, and it’s certainly an accomplishment that deserves a huge celebration. But as the economic benefits promised by FIFA don’t seem to be meeting reality, we have to ask: are the good vibes really worth the financial r
Is Iran Behind Attacks in Canada?
An Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, is at the center of a major U.S. terrorism case. Federal prosecutors allege he helped coordinate nearly 20 attacks across Europe and North America as an operative of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In a recorded conversation cited in the criminal complaint, Al-Saadi allegedly claimed members of his network carried out two attacks
Why it's Illegal to Spy on Cows in Ontario
From Upton Sinclair to modern day animal activists, going undercover has been a staple of animal cruelty reporting. But in Ontario, a court recently ruled that it might be illegal to get that footage, that reporting, in the first place — you can no longer take a job under false pretences on farms in Ontario. Why do animal rights activists believe they should have a right to lie?What do farmers and
Is Mark Carney Trump's Bossy Bottom?
In advance of the trilateral CUSMA negotiations, Carney’s relationship with Trump has gone from Elbows Up to Heated Rivalry. Will Carney’s flattery of Trump pay off for Canadians? Rahim Mohamed of the National Post joins to explain why, whatever happens with CUSMA, Carney is lucky to have Pierre Poilievre around as a convenient foil. Plus, politicians get noisy about the Calgary Stampede
The Montreal Shooter’s Manifesto
A tragic shooting in Montreal resulted in the deaths of a police officer, a civilian, and the shooter. Following the incident, Canadian media withheld the shooter’s manifesto from the public, offering cursory summaries of the contents. Rahim Mohamed of the National Post joins Jesse Brown to consider what was actually in the shooter’s manifesto. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nichol
Is the Era of Conservative Premiers Over?
Progressive Conservative Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston had been one of the most popular politicians in the country. Mark Carney-level popular. Regina George-level popular. For a while, it looked like Nova Scotia would be Houston’s forever. But now his popularity is at its lowest point since he took on the top job. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with his former Justice Minister turned Liberal MLA Bec
Cluster-F**ked! How Media Derailed Scientists in New Brunswick's Medical Mystery
For the past four years Canadaland has been investigating a cluster of terrible illnesses in New Brunswick. A group of people were suffering from debilitating symptoms that nobody could explain. Those people lost neurological function. Some lost their lives. What was afflicting them? Was it a prion illness like mad cow disease? Was it somehow linked to shellfish? Might it have to do with blue
Should Robert Fife be Celebrated, or Should Reporters Retire Friendless and Despised?
Journalists and politicians are honouring Robert Fife, who retired after 48 years. Known for his big scoops, Fife leveraged anonymous sources to hold the powerful accountable. But Fife’s brand of “access journalism” also runs the risk of being used as a political tool. Jan Wong joins Jesse Brown to explain why journalists shouldn’t get too cozy with the politicians they cover. Host: Jes
Teenage Gunmen? There's an App for That (also, that Kielburger stuff)
A gun-for-hire network is revealed after a Toronto Police Officer is killed in a raid investigating a shooting at the US consulate. The network is potentially linked to a slew of shootings across the GTA, including synagogues. Meanwhile, a US Dept of Justice indictment suggests some of these shootings may have been contracted by Iranian proxies. Plus, an update on Canadaland’s settlement
Shouty Carney Gets Sh*t Done
Mark Carney’s Liberals are trying to push a whole stack of bills across the finish line–and it’s no small stack. Bail reform, hate crimes, gender-based violence, housing, election financing, digital safety, lawful access, and privacy.Is this what an efficient Parliament looks like? Or is this what it looks like when a very determined Carney turns urgency into pressure, and pressure starts to feel
Kick to the Balls: MAGA’s World Cup
The World Cup finally came to Canada. But has MAGA turned the Beautiful Game into something ugly? According to the BBC fans from about a quarter of the countries taking part in this World Cup are facing travel bans, tighter restrictions, or high visa rejection rates.What about supporters who are already in the U.S. who might fall under the gaze of ICE agents? If you were a Senegalese, Haitian, or
Poilievre Trolls Carney With Help From A.I.
So it looks like technically Canada is in the midst of a “technical” recession, but, technicalities aside, is a 0.2% drop in growth really that big a deal?Carney hasn’t said much on the subject, just that this is just a “settling-in period” while his policies take effect. On the other hand, Poilievre seems almost gleeful, saying that it’s a result of a “banker who can’t budget”. Oh, and he’s made
Did Carney Invest in A.I. Right Before it Crashes?
Carney just released his new 55-page strategy, “AI for All,” to much fanfare, over $2B in funding commitments, and…very few details on how he’s going to accomplish any of it.Canadians were at the forefront of AI’s creation, yet we’re already falling behind in harnessing this revolutionary technology. But most of us aren’t convinced that AI is safe: not for the environment, or the kids, or our pers
Ottawa’s Killer Robot Problem
Host Sam spent a day at Canada's biggest defence trade show asking about autonomous weapons.The good news: Canada says humans must always be part of the decision to kill. The bad news: nobody can define what that means, the US just voted against a UN resolution banning killer robots, and Pete Hegseth wants the Pentagon to be an "AI-first warfighting force."Sam talks to an AI researcher, an underwa
A Cohere Founder on What A.I. Critics Get Wrong
Last week, Mark Carney announced his big A.I. strategy. Two billion dollars to support creating jobs, providing free A.I. literacy training, and protection against some of the potential harms and risks around A.I., especially with kids. Oh, and he wants to build a world-leading supercomputer. Canada's leading A.I. company is Cohere. Cohere isn't like OpenAI or xAI or Anthropic or any of those
What the Media (Including Us) Got Wrong About Residential School Graves
The Globe and Mail’s editorial board calls the initial reporting on Kamloops residential school graves a “failure of journalism.” Five years later, debate continues over small errors in the language used to report on the preliminary findings of an investigation into unmarked graves. Is the Globe’s decision to address these issues productive or will it fuel denial of the impact of residen
BONUS: Local Legends and Lore
As journalists, our work brings us to stories that fall into one large category: the public interest. If something is happening in your community that people need to know about, it’s our job to tell it.But of course, there are many other interesting stories that we would probably never publish. So we wanted to hear your stories, the ones that might not be fit for print, but have a good hook, a goo
Mark Carney's First Big Failure
Carney’s big address on antisemitism didn’t amount to much. Acknowledging what he called a “crisis,” Carney spoke at a Toronto synagogue, highlighting measures taken to address antisemitism in Canada, including changes in hate crimes laws and a council that will study the problem. Jewish Canadians expecting tangible action were disappointed, so why did he bother?NOTE: This episode makes
Carney Wants Your Data. Why Won't Big Tech Give it to Him?
This is the Liberal government’s second attempt at passing lawful access legislation. Last year, the government pushed Bill C-2, their marquee border security bill that didn’t even make it to committee because of the backlash. But now, Bill C-22 is here, and things are feeling a little deja vu. Host Noor Azrieh asks Robert Diab what new powers this bill actually creates. Why are tech companies, pr
Introducing the Nuance: Chrystia Freeland on Trump and Putin
Trump and Putin both hate Chrystia Freeland. But her ability to unite world leaders under a single banner isn't her greatest accolade. Freeland is quite simply one of the most acrcomplished public servants in Canada's history. For starters, she was the first woman to serve as finance minister. She helped introduce $10 a day daycare in this country. She was also instrumental in the fall of th
Sorry! We Were Wrong about Alberta Separating from Canada
Danielle Smith sidesteps the courts to ask Albertans a question about a referendum on separation. Carney calls it a “dangerous bluff,” reminiscent of Brexit, and Smith’s question is being criticized as confusing and potentially misleading.Rahim Mohamed of the National Post joins to explain why he predicted this would happen (but he didn’t say it would make sense) and why he thinks Danielle Sm
Do You Know Someone Who Should Work at Canadaland?
This industry is notorious for exploiting interns. Thanks to our supporters, we’ve been able to build a program that does the opposite: pay a fair wage to emerging journalists to work on their own stories, not ours.Applications for the 2026 Canadaland Audio Journalism Fellowship are now open. This is a paid 4-month opportunity in the fall for two journalists to pitch, develop, and produce an origi
The Whole Megillah on the Gaza Flotilla
After Israeli minister Ben-Gvir posts a video of the inhumane treatment of detained protestors, Canada joins the global condemnation of Israel’s treatment of Gaza flotilla participants, including 12 Canadians. Rahim Mohamed of the National Post joins Jesse Brown to discuss why Jewish Canadians are reluctant to voice their criticism of Israel, and what’s left out of the coverage of the Gaza fl
Is Carney Chinamaxxing?
As Canada inches closer to China to escape the US's “global swagger,” do we even know who we're dealing with?As Canada inches closer to China’s “global swagger” to escape the US's orbit, do we even know who we're dealing with? This week, Noor sits down with Jonathan Cheng, The Wall Street Journal's China Bureau Chief, a Canadian who's been based in Beijing since 2019, to get an inside look a
Ebola: 28 Years Later
Ebola. Hantavirus. Here we go again. Tracking outbreaks to see if they are going to spread across the world. Triggering fear: virus, epidemic, pandemic. And a flood of headlines. The locations, the numbers, the details change but the gist of the message is always the same. Keep the disease away from us. But today we meet someone who heard the news of an Ebola outbreak and ran straight at it.
In Defence of CBC’s Prank Show
CBC is pausing its production of an elaborate “prank show” led by Indigenous creators after outrage online. Critics say “Northland Tales” is political activism that has no place on the national broadcaster.But Ryan McMahon joins San Grewal to explain why pranking is fair game, even on the CBC, and why it would be a shame if the show gets cancelled. Host: San GrewalCredits: James Nicholso
Carney Spins, The Star Bullies, Erskine-Smith Loses
Nate Erskine-Smith lost his bid for nomination for the Ontario Liberals in Scarborough Southwest, putting his plans for leadership in question. He’s alleging serious voting irregularities, and that the Ontario Liberal establishment has it in for him. Meanwhile, the Toronto Star publishes a curious Editor’s Note, retracting a statement from the PMO that Carney did not in fact endorse Erskine-S
The Canadian Defence Gold Rush
Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to turn Canada into a defence powerhouse — and venture capital is racing to cash in. Host Sam Konnert talks to defence experts and industry insiders about the new military-tech gold rush, and asks: can Silicon Valley mentality fix Canada’s stagnant defence sector, or are we scaling up its worst instincts?CORRECTION: at the 26 minute mark, the reporter mistakenly sa
Death of a Journalist: Remembering Elaine Dewar
Elaine Dewar was tough. Contrary. The reporter who wrote an article that brought upon her the wrath of billionaires. It was a piece on the Reichmann family resulting in a $102 million dollar libel case that nearly killed Toronto Life Magazine. She argued against the Bering Strait theory on migration of humans to the Americas. She ruffled feathers with her views on the origins of Covid. Questioned
Canada Doesn’t Deserve Drake
Everyone is talking about Drake’s new album ICEMAN (except Canadian media.)Why is Canadian media more interested in the provenance of ice blocks than the next chapter in the career of one of Canada’s biggest stars?Drake is one of Canada’s biggest cultural exports. He represents Canada and Toronto on the global stage, and yet at home he isn’t given the same acclaim as other Canadian icons. Wri
Alberta Askew! Data Leaks and Pipeline Freaks
Inside the scoop that launched the Alberta data breach into the headlines.How independent media broke the story of the Alberta separatists' access to voter information.Plus, Danielle Smith visits Carney and makes progress on the Alberta MOU. Can Smith leverage separatism to get a pipeline?It’s our biggest sale of the year! Save 80% on a Canadaland subscription and become a supporter for only
Avi Lewis: the Canadaland Interview
NDP Leader Avi Lewis has a massive task ahead of him. When host Noor Azrieh last spoke with him before the leadership election, he said he had a plan. Well, how’s that working out for him? Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jes
The Truth About Residential School Graves
The Kamloops Indian Residential School made headlines five years ago this month. What followed was tears across the country, marches, statues torn down, and the Prime Minister bending a knee while holding a teddy bear. Then came the counter narrative fuelled by books with titles like Grave Error and Dead Wrong.Today we talk to Dr. Kisha Supernant, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Alb
Leafs’ New GM vs. The Press
The new GM for the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the press and it did not go well. With scathing questions and confounded columnists, Toronto reaffirmed its reputation as a tough media market. What is it about sports that creates unique regional media markets with their own tone and style of coverage? Dan Robson of The Athletic joins Sam Konnert to talk sh*t about sports reporting. It’s
BONUS: Chat, Does Anyone Like Social Media?
As journalists, we are pretty online. Terminally online. Our screen time apps? Let’s not go there…Now our social media feeds are likely different from many of yours. So we wanted to ask all of you, who probably lead less online lives, what you love, hate, and how you balance your online from your IRL. And you all had so much interesting stuff to share.Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Tristan Capacchione
Is the CBC a Local News Predator?
CBC is expanding its regional news coverage and not everyone is happy about it. Some local news outlets say that the CBC is poaching their staff and stories. Plus, Carney’s government is planning a massive extension of journalism tax credits to include radio and broadcast, propping up legacy platforms owned by the big telcos. Are subsidies stifling competition and innovation?Host: Sam Ko
