Wonk

These past few years, inflation has been a beast. No sooner under control from the last supply chain shocks, the war in Iran has it rearing its head again. Stephen Poloz was Canada's central bank governor from 2013 to the summer of 2020. He’s now a special advisor at the law firm Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt. He joins host Amanda Lang to talk about inflation risks, dealing with growing uncertainty and the importance of embracing the fourth industrial revolution. This episode — part of a series on economic growth — is sponsored by CPA Ontario.

Global energy supply is suddenly a hot topic — and it puts Canada in a strong position. At a time when we were already looking to increase our exports, the market is more than ready for them. But can we do it fast enough? TC Energy runs natural gas pipelines across North America, including the Coastal GasLink now feeding Canada's first LNG export facility. Host Amanda Lang talks to the company’s CEO Francois Poirier about what’s holding Canada back, keeping up with soaring demand, and the future of electrification.

We talk a lot in Canada about the size - and importance - of our agriculture sectors. But the estimates of what we could be doing are staggering. From new markets to new products, updating ag could be a pretty valuable opportunity. Farm Credit Canada is a Crown corporation that's dedicated to that cause, and it's now armed with a $5 billion kitty to do it. FCC’s CEO Justine Hendricks talks to host Amanda Lang about winning talent, capital and making ag a Canadian superpower. 

Join us in Toronto on May 7 for Canada’s policy event of the y...

Few places in Canada have been as threatened by Trump's tariff war as New Brunswick, with an economy built around forestry, seafood and energy. But there's opportunity arising too. New Brunswick's maritime port is booming with Canadian cargo looking to avoid U.S. tariffs. And the Premier has a strategy to develop new mines in the province. Premier Susan Holt talks to host Amanda Lang about selling Canada to the world, rebooting mining and why 400 km of pipeline could change the country.

Most Canadians are still adjusting to the inflation that has settled across our economy from the last big geopolitical disruptions. Now a new one threatens to send prices higher again... all this at a time when Canada is trying to rebuild its own economic engine. Jim Stanford is the director of the Centre for Future Work and one of Canada’s most prominent economists. He speaks with host Amanda Lang about the far-reaching impact of energy prices, social capital and leaning into Canada’s strengths.

It's hardly a secret that Canada has a housing problem. Usually it's described by the affordability issues around owning a home, but there is another and arguably more pernicious problem. Too many Canadians simply don't have one. Treating housing as a human right is one way to start facing that second housing crisis. Host Amanda Lang talks with Pearl Eliades, a Quebec-based lawyer specializing in human rights and a professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, and Dr. Andrew Boozary, founding executive director of the Gattuso Center for Social Medicine at the University Health Network in Toronto.

Canada has changed tack on its climate efforts from a price on carbon and a philosophical view that fossil fuels might be phased out to a more pragmatic policy that embraces energy development while still aiming to meet climate targets. It's a tricky line to walk at any time, but especially while the economy faces a generational upheaval. Host Amanda Lang talks to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin about industrial carbon pricing, pushing EVs and building out national urban parks.

Some of the thorniest problems of our time won't be solved with the tools and systems that we currently use, but that doesn't make them beyond our capacity to solve. Tom Chi has spent his career at the center of innovation and process design — that includes at Google X, the moonshot factory inside Google. He now has a new book and a message about process and problem solving when it comes to climate. He talks to host Amanda Lang about a new way to think about economics.

Nestled in a tiny fishing outport in Newfoundland, Fogo Island Inn has become a luxury stop for the well-traveled. But it is a lot more than that -- by design. Fogo's part of a social enterprise called Shorefast, and while its success has definitely created wealth for the local economy, its founders believe that the model of community-based entrepreneurship is highly exportable. Host Amanda Lang talks to Zita Cobb about how to build Canada’s economy one community at a time.

With gambling in the palm of everyone's hand, it's not just big business: it's changing the world of sports. It also ignores the harms that come along the way. Danny Funt is a journalist and the author of a new book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. He talks to host Amanda Lang about the dark side of sports betting, why professional sports has embraced it and why the public can’t get enough.

Prime Minister Carney's recent speech in Davos was hailed globally as a pivotal moment. But, as is always the case, the question becomes, what's next? In Canada, finding new trade partners is obviously top of the agenda. So is getting out of our own way on internal trade barriers. David Eby is the Premier of British Columbia. He talks to host Amanda Lang about this new reality, LNG and global trade.

A Toronto startup recently launched 10 low earth orbit satellites as part of a new commercial satellite network. Meanwhile, a Canadian astronaut is poised to be one of the first to orbit the moon, and new investments are being made in space technology in this country. Chris Hadfield is one of Canada's best known astronauts, the first Canadian to walk in space, commander of the ISS, an engineer, former fighter pilot, musician and a best-selling author. He speaks with host Amanda Lang about why 2026 will be a critical year in space.

Even by recent standards, the world right now feels precarious with the U.S. attack on Venezuela and saber rattling over taking over other countries, all while abandoning international cooperation. It's hard not to wonder, where does it leave the rest of us? Host Amanda Lang talks to former UN ambassador Bob Rae about dealing with Donald Trump, the future of the UN and why it’s time to worry.

If ‘uncertainty’ was the word of 2025, what will the new year bring for Canada's economy and the world? On top of the now familiar trade and tariff worries for Canada, we are facing technological change and new geopolitical concerns. So what lies ahead? Kevin Carmichael is The Logic’s economics columnist and editor at large. Jean-Francois Perreault is the chief economist at Scotiabank. They speak with host Amanda Lang about what’s on their lists of the big issues to watch in the year ahead.

You've heard of agentic AI, the next generation of smart technology that will, we're told, transform our lives. But what about identic AI? That's a term coined by Don Tapscott, the author and thought leader who's built a career on seeing what's coming in technology from one of the first books about the internet to a seminal book on blockchain. Now Tapscott and his co-author Joseph Bradley have written You to the Power of Two, How the Next Stage of AI Needs to be Decentralized.

When it comes to unprecedented times, 2025 did not disappoint. It was a year of upheaval and change, both at home and abroad. In the year ahead, Canada will grapple with big issues and daunting policy files, from housing to AI to tariffs and trade. Host Amanda Lang speaks with Inez Jabalpurwala, the president and CEO of the Public Policy Forum, about the urgent need for broader policy discussions, their impact on all Canadians and how to chart a better path forward in 2026.

Steven Pinker has spent his academic and literary career thinking about thinking, and the ways societies have been shaped by our neurology and what we do with it. He is a professor at Harvard University and author of 13 books. The latest: "When Everyone Knows What Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Science of Harmony, Hypocrisy and Outrage". On this episode of Wonk, he speaks with host Amanda Lang about the book, the impact of social media, AI and more.

Despite some big advantages, world-leading research and a lot of early promise, Canada does not have a thriving life sciences and biotech sector. Could the elements that would fuel this much sought after industry also fuel growth in other places? Gordon McCauley is the head of adMare BioInnovations, a national life sciences accelerator. He talks to host Amanda Lang about how to lure more anchor companies, investment and entrepreneurs to Canada.

Canada’s recent federal budget has been called generational and transformational. Of course, it's been called that by the government that passed it, but there's no question that this budget comes at a pivotal moment for Canada. Host Amanda Lang talks to Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne about changing the investment climate, affordability and following the German economic example.

When it comes to the Team Canada approach to fighting tariffs, the rubber hits the road in the provinces and territories — and with a growing list of major projects. Missing from the list so far is a pipeline from Alberta to B.C., a lightning rod for some very familiar-feeling inter-provincial disputes. Host Amanda Lang talks to Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith, about her optimism around pipeline plans, dealing with separatist sentiment and why Alberta recently used the notwithstanding clause.

When it comes to setting the stage for a healthy economy, competition laws are among the most important tools. A lot of Canadians looking at our banks, telcos and airlines might wonder if we're getting it right. Recent reforms have put Canada on a stronger footing, but are we ready for the massive challenges ahead? Canada's competition commissioner, Matthew Boswell, talks to host Amanda Lang about the new laws, enforcement efforts and fixing some old economic "own goals".

For most of human history, free speech was not a welcome concept. The notion that all ideas or expressions are equal is a pretty new one, and it could be argued a dangerous one. Fara Dabhoiwala, a senior research scholar at Princeton and author of ‘What is Free Speech?’ talks to host Amanda Lang about truth, and the history and unexpected outcomes of free speech.

Canada's upcoming federal budget is, by any measure, going to be big. It'll be big in size, symbolism and substance. And it's going to have to find support somewhere in the House to be passed at all. To talk about what’s at stake, we’ve reconvened our policy panel, featuring Armine Yalnizyan and Sean Speer. They talk to host Amanda Lang about the need to fortify the economy, fight tariffs and make concessions.

Canada has a few immediate economic problems, like tariffs and a potential recession. But there are also some long-standing structural problems, including our poor productivity and the erosion of business investment. National Bank Chief Economist Stéfane Marion has highlighted the decimation of investment by Canadian business and the sharp divergence with the U.S. as key factors. He talks to host Amanda Lang about what happened to manufacturing and why Canada needs a red tape czar. You can review the charts here: https://www.nbc.ca/content/dam/bnc/taux-analyses/analyse-eco/hot-charts/hot-charts-250912.pdf

President Donald Trump is having a sizable impact on America and the world. Canada knows that all too well. For better or worse, there's a new economic order afoot. Will the new vision outlast the president? David Frum is a former Bush speech writer, now a senior editor at the Atlantic, author of many books, including two about Trump and the modern Republican movement. He talks to host Amanda Lang about the trouble with tariffs, what Canada should do and America’s looming economic issues.

As Canada’s environment minister in 2015, Catherine McKenna emerged as a leading voice in the climate debate. She also faced some of the unprecedented and disturbing abuse that was aimed at public officials, and became an advocate for the voice of women in politics. McKenna is still a force at the centre of Canada's climate discussion and the global one. She talks to Wonk host Amanda Lang about the urgent economics of climate change, her new memoir and why Canada needs to deal with rising polarization.

Sophisticated algorithms, endless scrolling and harmful content have affected a generation of children and young adults in alarming ways. Host Amanda Lang talks to Ava Smithing, advocacy director of the Young People's Alliance, about the addictiveness of social media platforms, advice for parents and the legal efforts underway to hold tech firms more accountable.

The time for slow rolling major energy projects in Canada appears to be ending. The resources sector is increasingly seen as both the low-hanging fruit of economic growth and a core component of clean technology in the future— a seeming contradiction that Ottawa is eagerly embracing. Host Amanda Lang talks to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson about attracting capital, the Major Projects Office and what success looks like.

Canada’s Central Bank lowered rates this week to the surprise of no one. Tens of thousands of jobs were lost over the summer, and inflation, if not easing, does appear to be contained. But as the Bank said in its statement, the path ahead will still be very much determined by what happens on trade. Host Amanda Lang speaks to Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, about the decisions ahead and how friction with the US will continue to affect our economy.

Canada just recorded a quarter of negative growth and sits on the edge of a potential recession. U.S. tariffs continue to hit the economy hard. Meanwhile, the country is plowing ahead with plans to build mega projects and diversify trade. We are, to put it mildly, at a pretty consequential fork in the road. Host Amanda Lang talks to one of Canada's top economists, Frances Donald, about the challenges ahead and the surprising case for optimism. As chief economist at RBC, Canada's biggest bank, Donald’s insights and pronouncements on both the Canadian and the U.S. economies are vi...

One thing most people assume about stock markets is that they're an accurate reflection of what's happening in the economy. Yet nothing about markets or politics feels typical right now. Despite global tariffs and unprecedented uncertainty, markets continue to soar. Howard Marks is co-chair of Oaktree Capital Management. He's something of a legend in the investing world and in-depth regular memos are must-reads among those in the industry and well beyond. He speaks with host Amanda Lang about what’s going and what it all means.

Jean Chretien, Canada’s oldest living prime minister, isn't taking Western separatism lying down. Having seen Canada through the threat of Quebec separation, his Clarity Act of 2000 could find new currency today. Chrétien — now 91, mentally sharp and still not pulling his punches — talks to host Amanda Lang about Donald Trump, Team Canada and his message to Alberta. This episode originally aired on June 12, 2025

In her incredible career as a journalist and author, Sally Armstrong told stories no one else would about the atrocities of war and became a towering figure for women's rights. She speaks with host Amanda Lang about the ongoing fight for rights, the ‘small group of greedy men' who start wars and how a former phys-ed teacher at a magazine called Homemaker became a groundbreaking war correspondent. This episode originally aired on May 1, 2025.

Once eradicated in Canada, measles is making a comeback in Canada. Is it part of a bigger, post-pandemic trend we're seeing of vaccinations declining? What will it take to get public health back on track? Host Amanda Lang talks to Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, and Dr. Michael Gardam, a leading infectious disease expert about confronting misinformation, acknowledging COVID mistakes and why we’re still not ready for another emergency. This episode originally aired May 15, 2025.

Canadians are feeling patriotic these days and acutely aware of what we think makes Canada great. But like a lot of good things, our successes should not be taken for granted. In fact, it's been suggested that our democratic processes have fallen so far over time, we’ve lost sight of what "good" even looks like. Host Amanda Lang talks to Andrew Coyne about his new book The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, and how Canada’s political system and structures are under siege.

The housing market dominates conversation for many Canadians, especially when it comes to the lack of affordable homes. Absent a trade war, it is the subject that ranks most important to many of us. And it’s not just about the real estate market — housing now dominates the Canadian economy. Peter Gilgan founded the largest private home builder in North America, Mattamy Homes. He talks to host Amanda Lang about what’s been driving up prices, the impact of investors and his bet on modular home building.

The risks the world faces today feel not just numerous, but in some cases existential. Ian Bremmer is one of the top political scientists and risk experts in the United States. He’s the head of Eurasia Group, a global consultancy, a highly regarded media commentator and the author of 11 books. He talks to host Amanda Lang about America’s ‘dysfunctional democracy’, the threats leading up to the midterm elections and how Canada lacks the infrastructure of a sovereign nation.

The One Canadian Economy Act is supposed to streamline new projects in Canada, including big resource projects. Can the government pursue these nation-building efforts while also answering other aims, including securing sovereignty over Canada's Arctic and working in partnership with Indigenous groups? Sean Boyd helped grow Agnico Eagle into the largest miner in the country and one of the biggest builders in the Arctic. He talks to host Amanda Lang about why his company is so invested in Canada, the importance of building trust on big projects and why the Northwest Passage needs to be developed.

AI is both a massive opportunity and a big threat. And that is especially true for Google, a tech innovator whose bread and butter business (search) faces an uncertain future in the age of artificial intelligence. Kent Walker is the president of global affairs at Google and its parent company Alphabet. He talks to host Amanda Lang about fending off anti-trust allegations, why Sergey Brin is coming back into the office and the “most fundamental transformation” of the tech giant.

Tim Snyder is one of America’s most important scholars. While his work has focused on Eastern Europe, Russia and on the Holocaust, more recently he's written hugely popular books about the nature of tyranny and freedom. He recently moved with his family to Canada, where he is in high demand as someone who can help make sense of what is happening in the world. He talks to host Amanda Lang about America’s slide toward tyranny, the importance of local media in democracy and what keeps him hopeful for the future. This episode originally aired on April 24, 2025.