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
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
Michelle Rempel Garner is Tired of Conservative Drama and Ready to Fight Mark Carney
PM Mark Carney has managed to stitch together a majority in the House of Commons and has approval numbers we haven't seen in forever. Host Noor Azrieh thinks this is the kind of political moment that demands opposition. But, how exactly is the Opposition supposed to oppose Carney… when they can’t even get their own house in order? We put this to Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner. Host: N
The A.I. App for Rich People to Fight Journalists Who Embarrass Them
Objection.ai is the new AI-powered tool from Aron D’Souza and Peter Thiel. The duo who helped bankrupt Gawker ten years ago. They're also teaming up to bring the world the steroid-embracing Enhanced Games later this month. D’Souza says Objection.ai is about restoring public trust in journalism and making it more transparent. Critics worry about its ideological bent and what it means to subject jou
Does Canada Have the World's Worst Housing Market?
Buyers. Sellers. Real estate porn. With so many Canadians locked out of the market, should the coverage shift to reflect the realities of the housing crisis? Sabrina Nanji joins San Grewal to talk about the generational disconnect between homeowners and those who will never own a home. Does Canada have the political will to actually address the housing crisis? Host: San GrewalCredits: Ja
Did We Double Our Audience This Month?
All month, we’ve been asking you to share Canadaland with as many people as possible. Our goal was to double our audience.Did we pull it off?Let’s put it this way: Our investigations budget will be increasing substantially and our freelance and fellowship rates are going up by a whopping 50%.More money is going to go into the pockets of working journalists outside of Canadaland and across the coun
Doug Ford, Political Genius
Doug Ford is facing public scrutiny for his changes to Freedom of Information and his “gravy plane” fiasco. But throughout his career, Ford has leveraged his folksy persona to deflect and distract from his scandals. Behind the shtick is a calculated and effective political communications strategy, but has the “Uncle Doug” routine finally run out of steam? Off The Record Call-in De
Alberta Separatism, meet MAGA Slopaganda!
Is Alberta separatism being boosted by foreign “slop”? Today host Sam digs into a network of faceless YouTube channels pushing 51st state fantasies, grievance-fueled separatist content, and AI-generated political sludge that’s racked up tens of millions of views. But is this covert foreign interference, or just click-farming wrapped in geopolitics?Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Seni
The Fantasia Cold Case
A random Facebook post. A strip club that burnt down long ago. A mother missing for 30 years.It wasn’t much. But it was enough for reporter Kallan Lyons to start digging into The Fantasia Cold Case.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Kallan Lyons (Reporter), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editing & Post Production), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publish
Does Canada Need Government Supermarkets?
Grocery prices are back in the news… again. How are they ripping us off this time?It turns out the whole system looks a lot like three kids in a trench coat, except each kid is a different layer of the supply chain, and they’re all insisting their margins are razor-thin while your grocery bill gets higher and higher.So are tax rebates or public grocery stores the solution, or just bandages on a mu
Mark Carney, YouTuber
Mark Carney is a YouTuber now.Over the weekend the Prime Minister released the first episode of his new YouTube series Forward Guidance. It’s a tightly scripted, “intimate” video designed to project calm authority while walking Canadians through an increasingly shaky relationship with the United States. It’s part history lesson, part recycled campaign slogans, and highly reminiscent of FDR’s fire
Did BC Premier David Eby Just Reconcile Himself Out of a Job?
A few years ago, British Columbia made history by becoming the first province to turn the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into law through the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). It passed unanimously, with just 14 minutes of debate.Seven years later, DRIPA is at the center of one of the most divisive political fights in the cou
Academy of Dunces: A Decade of Campus Censorship
Today we're talking about the breakdown of discourse — the culture wars.It's not just in universities, it affects our interactions with everything from the government to schools, workplaces, and more. After over ten years of it, it seems more pointless and degrading than ever. Ric Bienstock is a director of the new two-part CBC documentary series, Speechless. It explores a variety of st
Now It's Time for Carney to Actually Fix Something
With his new majority, the timer really starts on Carney’s ability to provide meaningful results for Canadians. San Grewal and Kaveh Shahrooz consider if Carney has made headway on key issues like affordability, housing, immigration, and crime. He said he’d move fast, but what’s the hold up? It’s crowd-finding time at Canadaland! Share this episode with three people or send them over to
Why Did Carney Support Trump's War on Iran?
With peace talks stalled, Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the ceasefire set to expire next week, the situation in Iran is precarious.Meanwhile, in Canada, the mood in the large Iranian-Canadian diaspora is changing, as the Iranian regime remains in place while the impacts of the war on civilians and infrastructure accumulate. With the geopolitics of the Middle East in flux, coul
Live from LibFest: is Canada Now a One-Party System?
Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals took over Montreal for their convention. But it felt less like a meeting of the minds and more like a lame Coachella. With a Liberal majority already assumed after socially conservative MP Marilyn Gladu crossed the floor last week, host Noor Azrieh was there trying to figure out what it means to be a Liberal right now, and if Mark Carney can manage
Who Is Spoonkymonkey and why we Phished Reddit
Did Jesse break the law? Why did an anti-Canadaland subreddit explode in popularity? And why did today's episode infuriate so many people before it was even published? Finally, who is Spoonkymonkey, and what does he have to do with it all?Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact
Carney’s Majority of Convenience
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu crosses the floor to the Liberal government. Known for her socially conservative views, Carney’s newest MP has some questioning just how big the Liberal tent has become.Meanwhile, reports of Poilievre’s disgruntled caucus intensify. Is there more blood in the water? Host: Sam KonnertCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate producer and Fact Ch
Musk to Monetize Moon
Jeremy Hansen makes history as the first Canadian to travel to the moon, but why is Canada on board with this latest iteration of the space race? China plans to reach the moon by 2030, and future US efforts will involve Musk’s SpaceX and Bezos’ Blue Origin. Meanwhile, Canadian companies are bidding to put nuclear reactors on the moon. Are we sure we should be colonizing the moon?Host: Sa
Canada Is Built on a Clause That Nobody Is Supposed to Use. What Happens Now That Everyone Is Using It?
The notwithstanding clause has been controversial since it was written into Canada’s Constitution, and now it’s facing its biggest test yet. The Supreme Court of Canada just wrapped up its longest-ever hearing on Bill 21 — Quebec’s law on religious symbols. What started as a debate over laïcité has become a major constitutional showdown. Host Noor speaks with Pearl Eliadis to break down what’s rea
Nardwuar: An Oral History
Nardwuar the Human Serviette is one of the biggest media personalities to come out of Canada. He’s a prolific interviewer with a knack for shocking his guests by bringing up little-known personal details about their lives during interviews. He’s an absurd figure beloved by hip hop stars. He’s a punk from Vancouver who has 100s of millions of views on YouTube but still does his weekly community rad
The Real Way to Stop Big Tech From Harming Kids
Two major legal rulings against social media giants in the US are being heralded as the “Big Tobacco” moment for Big Tech. But will the courts actually be able to protect users from harm on these platforms? Here in Canada, attempts to regulate big tech companies have largely failed, but Carney’s government has signalled a renewed focus on addressing online harms. Will the government comm
BONUS: A Fake News Podcast
Here’s the thing — spotting fake news is harder than we like to admit. At Canadaland, we spend all day in the media. We’re supposed to know what’s real and what’s not.But when you want something to be true? You let it slide. You give it the benefit of the doubt.So we put it to our staff and you, the audience: tell us your fake news stories. The harmless ones, the ones that fooled you for a second,
Air Canada CEO’s French Exit
Air Canada’s CEO retires early following backlash around his inability to speak French. An English-only statement from Michael Rousseau following the tragic accident at LaGuardia airport sparked a heated debate around bilingualism. Politicians expressed their disappointment, columnists and commenters online debated Air Canada’s language requirements. Even Elon Musk weighed in. Shou
Can Carney Break Canada's High Speed Rail Curse?
Mark Carney has proposed a 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail line connecting Toronto to Quebec City, with trains reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h. It would be Canada’s first true high-speed rail system. On paper, the idea is appealing. But building it is far from straightforward. Host Noor Azrieh, tries to answer the question: how do you build ambitious, nation-shaping infrastructure in a coun
Reality is a Casino as Prediction Markets Enter Canada
Why are media companies like CNN and Substack joining forces with prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi?Both Polymarket and Kalshi have been all over the news and editorial pages: will these markets be a blight of insider trading and foreign interference? The next step on the slippery slope to online gambling addiction? Should we really be able to bet on kidnapping, war, the timing of some
Is Avi like Mamdani or a Jagmeet with No Seat?
The NDP is picking a new leader, but can any of the candidates lead them back to relevance? In Manitoba this weekend, the NDP is gathering to name a new leader, but a recent poll suggests that almost half of previous NDP voters don’t recognize the names of the candidates. Avi Lewis is the frontrunner, with impressive fundraising and big ideas, but will his playbook translate into nationa
The Pierre Poilievre Experience
How does Rogan fit into Poilievre’s larger strategic shift?Pierre Poilievre’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience has already been viewed by millions, and, surprisingly, many political commentators in Canada are applauding his performance. Zain Velji joins Noor Azrieh to consider what Poilievre’s longform bro-fest can tell us about his political strategy going forward.Host: Noor AzriehCred
How to Cut A Trade Deal Amid Trump’s Tariff Chaos
The scramble for CUSMA has begun. Lobbyists are lobbying. Negotiators are negotiating. And, while that’s all kicking off, there’s another less visible channel of diplomacy. The Canada-US Interparliamentary Group. A network of Canadian MPs, senators, and members of Congress who meet every year to keep our relationship going and talk through issues that could otherwise spiral into major dispute
The Long Fight for a Little Justice in Burns Lake
Over a decade ago journalist Laura Robinson broke this story of alleged abuse against Indigenous children at a school in Burns Lake, B.C.. The man at the centre of the allegations is someone who had risen to international prominence in the sports world. It's been a tale of twists and turns with the RCMP investigating the abuse allegations and declining to press charges. Robinson and the accus
Doug Ford’s Secret, Private, Personal Cell Phone
The scandals of Doug Ford and Danielle Smith continue to make headlines, but it appears to have little impact on them politically. Now, Ford is changing the rules around Freedom of Information to make it harder to hold him accountable. Smith has also been criticized for her government’s approach to information requests. This clawback on the access of information is a trend in other government
Peak Oil! Carney, Cash, and Carbon
Gas prices are back in the news as the Iran War disrupts global oil supply. Columnists are weighing in on what it all means for Canada’s energy future. With Carney’s commitment to making Canada an energy superpower, do we barrel forward with increased oil production or renew our commitment to renewables?Max Fawcett of Canada’s National Observer joins San Grewal to drill beneath the headlines. 
Iran's Crypto Pipeline to Toronto
Investigative reporters have uncovered a network of these crypto-to-cash desks operating across Canada. And some of the transactions moving through them appear linked to crypto wallets allegedly associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.So how could money tied to a sanctioned regime end up moving through Toronto?Host Noor Azrieh speaks with reporters behind the global investigation, Th
My Chatbot Encouraged my Psychosis
Anthony Duncan turned his chatbot into his therapist. That was the start of a journey that ended in the psych ward. How did Anthony’s bot go from helping him write emails to egging on the wildest, and darkest, of his delusions?Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Julian Abraham (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Aud
Travis Dhanraj: Whistleblower or Pickle Thrower?
Former CBC host Travis Dhanraj promised to “pull the curtain back” and reveal what is really happening inside the CBC. On Tuesday, he testified in parliament that he experienced bias, tokenism, and bullying at the public broadcaster. Conservative voices are calling his testimony “explosive” and “shocking,” while others consider his concerns “pedestrian” and “absurd.” Wh
The Killing of Nancy Grewal
In February, controversial Sikh YouTuber Nancy Grewal told CBC News that she feared for her life. Days later, she was stabbed to death outside of Windsor, Ontario. Was her murder related to her criticism of the Khalistan movement? San Grewal of The Pointer joins to unpack the political pressures and misinformation shaping the reporting of the case.Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Ni
Why Governments Want to Ban Kids From AI and Social Media
AI chatbots are encouraging violence, social media is hurting kids, and Ottawa is still trying to figure out how to regulate the harms of the internet after two very public failed attempts. Host Noor Azrieh and Taylor Owen, professor and member of the federal task force on AI and online safety, dig into the federal government’s latest Online Harms push. Why does regulating the internet, espec
A Reality Check with Iranian-Canadians
Canada is home to one of the largest Iranian communities outside of Iran in the world. There are over 280,000 Iranian Canadians living here. The rallies they've held in recent months have been some of the largest that Canada has ever seen. According to the CBC last month, 350,000 people took to the streets in Toronto. And that was before the war had even begun.Today we’re checking in with thr
Why India Thinks Canada is Soft on Terrorism
Carney travels to India and strikes a landmark deal with Modi, but what about all those allegations of foreign interference by Indian agents in Canada? A senior official in Carney’s government says India is no longer targeting Canadians, but CSIS and other Liberal MPs insist it’s still ongoing. Plus, a new Globe and Mail investigation offers a detailed portrait of the killing of Har
BONUS: Extreme Body Mods, Christian Nationalists, and Other Rabbit Holes
As journalists, our job is to dig deep into stories. And sometimes, we dig far deeper than we ever thought possible. And those deep dives will often become our most interesting stories.And finding those stories usually follows a pattern.Something catches your eye, it draws you in. You start doing a little research on it.Then you find something that makes us go, “Huh…”You start pulling the thread,
Carney's Position on War with Iran: Sure, Why Not?
Carney’s support of the US and Israel’s attack on Iran raises questions around Canada’s “principled pragmatism” approach to foreign policy. Is it consistent with what he said at Davos?Plus, the Iranian-Canadian response to the killing of Ali Khamenei isn’t as mixed as the headlines suggest. Correction: in a previous version of this episode, a statement was erroneously attributed to Quebec’s M
Carney Cuts The Scientists Who Test For Toxins
More than 24,000 federal public servants have received notices that their jobs could be at risk. That is on top of the 9800 public service employees who were already let go last year. Host Sam Konnert takes us inside the government, specifically, inside a single lab within Environment and Climate Change Canada. A lab tasked with making sure our water is clean and our food is plastic-free. A lab th
Scoop: AI Slop Training for Aircraft Mechanics
By some estimates Canada will soon be short thousands of trained aircraft mechanics. The people who keep our flights safe. The government came up with $25 million dollars to help.A whistleblower came to Canadaland to allege that the money bought training materials that were plagiarized, then run through ChatGPT. Those materials resulted in AI slop that included AI hallucinations.Our reporter Gemma
NDP: the Quest for Relevance
Sparks were markedly absent from the final NDP leadership debate, replaced instead by “violent agreement” amongst candidates. Meanwhile, the federal Liberals’ rightward shift leaves a wide gap on the left side of the political spectrum. What does the NDP need to do to shake off the sleepies, and meet the current political moment?Freelance journalist Luke Savage joins host James Nicholson to give C
Could OpenAI Have Stopped Tumbler Ridge?
" What in the Silicon Valley ethos of move fast and break stuff would make us expect that they are going to have any real safety concerns at all?"A new report from the Wall Street Journal reveals the U.S. tech company OpenAI knew of troublesome ChatGPT usage by Jesse van Rootselaar, months before the Tumbler Ridge shooting, and did nothing. The news stoked ongoing calls for better guardrails
Carney Brokers a "Mega Anti-Trump Alliance"
Mark Carney is busy trying to Trump-proof Canada with a flurry of trade deals and whispers of a mega anti-Trump alliance linking Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Trade researcher Stuart Trew joins host Noor Azrieh to argue that more free trade isn’t a master plan; it’s diminishing returns with nicer branding.Plus, Ottawa reporter Sam Konnert breaks down Canada’s newly released Defence Industrial Strat
The Only Reporter in Tumbler Ridge
When shots rang out in Tumbler Ridge there was one reporter in town. He was used to covering local events like town council meetings, local hockey, or even, once, a mother duck leading her chicks through town. Then on February 10 came one of the worst shootings in Canadian history.For the first five hours after the attack local reporter Trent Ernst was the sole journalist in the town. Then the int
How Pierre Poilievre Became the Justin Trudeau of the Conservative Party
Another floor crossing MP spoils Pierre Poilievre’s entry into the men’s fitness ecosystem. Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux’s decision to unresign and join Carney’s Liberals has resurfaced questions around Poilievre fitness for leadership. Pierre can swing a kettlebell, but can hold onto his own caucus?Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate Producer and F
The Dirty Cops of Toronto
Project South uncovers one of the worst cases of police corruption in Canadian history. The investigation into Toronto Police offers a staggering portrait of corruption, with allegations connecting officers to attempted assassinations, illegal firearms, drug trafficking, extortion, bribery, and leaking confidential information.Plus, the death of “the last man in Africville” and the targeting
The Bishnoi Gang’s Extortion Campaign in BC
Surrey, BC has already recorded 51 extortions this year. 11 of them ended with shots fired. That might sound surprising until you realise last year there were 133 cases, and 49 related shootings. So what’s actually driving this? And how is it possible that after more than a year of this, no level of government (municipal, provincial, federal) and no police force has managed to get it under control
Jay Baruchel's CanCon Manifesto
Jay Baruchel, if you don’t know that name, you likely know his face from the string of hit movies he’s been in: Knocked Up, This Is The End, Blackberry, Million Dollar Baby, Almost Famous, and Tropic Thunder, among many others. He’s been in the belly of Hollywood’s beast for over two decades. But he’s also a self-proclaimed Canadian patriot with the maple leaf literally tattooed over his hear
How to Score Cheap Political Points off a Mass Shooting
While the Canadian mainstream media was reluctant to reveal unverified information, far right outlets and bad actors swarmed to score political points for their anti-trans agenda.Why is Jesse Van Rootselaar’s gender the focus of the online discussion? And how should it fit into the coverage? Mel Woods of Xtra Magazine joins Noor Azrieh. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer
The Most Political Olympics Ever?
Playing rules-based games at the end of the rules-based order. With the heated rivalry between the US and Canada, athletes speaking out against ICE, and the rupture of old world order in the background, the Olympics are especially political this time around.Where do politics fit into the winter games and how did hockey become a symbol of geopolitical conflict? Rahim Mohamed of the Nation
The "Canadianization of NATO" and our Fight to Host the World's Military Bank
NATO is building something new: a Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. Basically a World Bank for war, and Canada wants it.From Toronto to Montreal to Ottawa to Halifax, mayors are campaigning hard, pitching their cities as the future headquarters of a global military finance hub. Thousands of high-paying jobs, direct access to defence capital and a front-row seat to the new security order are a
Was New Brunswick's Medical Mystery a "House of Cards"?
The government of New Brunswick has released its much-anticipated report on the mysterious neurological illnesses afflicting many in the province. The report doesn’t just aim to identify what’s behind the “cluster” of disease. It’s far more fundamental than that. Its findings raise questions as to whether the disease itself exists. Is it a single disease or a mass misdiagnosis of unrelated illness
The Press Said Poilievre Was Finished. Were they Trying to Tank Him, or Just Very Wrong?
Poilievre’s landslide victory at his leadership review raises questions about the flurry of coverage about his political demise only months ago. Why was there such a disconnect? With Carney riding high, and Poilievre’s likeability still a concern, Conservatives are betting on the long game (and hoping to avoid a spring election.) Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer)
BONUS: The Buddhist Monks Buying Up PEI and Other Hot Gossip?
A lot of the time, local news sucks. It’s important, but it sucks. City council meetings, school board meetings, police board meetings… just plain boring.But every once in a while, there’s a gold mine.But at Canadaland we just don’t have the resources to find these little golden nuggets, these hyper local stories. We’re not on the ground, our audience is national, and we don’t usually get the scoo
