CANADALAND

Quebec has elected Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Parti Québéois to a minority government, whose platform includes a referendum on sovereignty.

Even though St-Pierre Plamondon intends to hold off on a referendum until after Trump has left office, Canada now has a two-headed separatism problem.

The current version of Quebec’s sovereignty movement is led by young people, who signal their support through reels and memes.

Meanwhile, in Alberta an investigation in the Globe and Mail details meetings between separatists and the US administration, where fresh water, oil royalties, and a trai...

It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to start in less than a year. That timeline is a big test for Carney, because it will be the first project to use the fast-tracking powers his government passed through the controversial Bill C-5. But, there are still a ton of unanswered questions, Falice Chin of the Hub joins host Noor Azrieh to answer them. What exactly has the government signed us up for?

Today we’re reopening the files on what might be the strangest and most shocking Canadian media story in recent memory. The Ottawa Citizen journalist, David Pugliese, who was allegedly compromised by the KGB.

On October 24th, 2024, Chris Alexander, former MP and former Harper cabinet minister, also a former Canadian diplomat to Russia, gave sworn testimony at a parliamentary inquiry into Russian interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada. And that’s where the allegations first came to public light.

The story stunned the Canadian media world. David Pugliese has been a fixture in Cana...

Who is Daniel Robson?

Since 2025, Robson quickly established himself as a prolific freelance columnist, with bylines in the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, The Hub, Western Standard, and Policy Options.

But there’s one problem: he doesn’t seem to exist.

When a Turkish journalist began asking Canadian editors to verify Robson’s biographical details, they realized they couldn’t and that Robson’s persona and writing was A.I. generated.

Who or what is behind this mysterious A.I. entity and what does it have to do with Mo...

Earlier this year, we asked you to call in and tell us about news stories that were a big deal in your town, but were not necessarily getting much, if any, national attention. We ended up hearing some incredible stories and even got a few leads out of that episode.

This week, we decided to dive back into the world of local news and pose the same question to our listeners — and you did not disappoint.

On this episode, we hear what it’s really like to weather a referendum storm from an Albe...

Mark Carney sat down for a wide-ranging hour-long interview with the New York Times. The headlines focused on Canada’s preparations for the “extreme tail risk” of a US invasion, but what else can we learn about Carney’s political approach from the 8000 word transcript?

The interview drew criticism in Canada, centered around Carney’s choice of a foreign outlet, rather than a Canadian one. But what can that tell us about his intended audience and communications strategy?

Zain Velji joins San Grewal to discuss our Prime Minister’s global messaging and the domestic concerns waiting at h...

Elizabeth May is a fierce, dogged critic. No matter the government. Mark Carney’s Liberals are no exception. I wanted to know what she’s actually seen and heard, because even though Elizabeth May has been pissed before, host Noor Azrieh is sensing a rage she hasn’t seen before.

Plus, after a long hiatus, Parliament reconvened last week. And Mark Carney’s Liberals wasted no time tabling their Building Canada Strong Act. So, what is it?

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Th...

You can't really call Regina a news desert. They still have a newspaper. But if you actually look under the hood you’ll discover that they stopped printing the newspaper in Regina. They stopped editing it in Regina. The editor lives somewhere else. And as far the CBC goes, well, that acronym is now synonymous with layoffs.

Everyone from the legacy media who purports to be telling people in Regina what is going on in their own community is doing so with less resources than ever before. These are zombie news organizations. That creates a news vacuum. A...

The announcement that the EU is “opening the door” to Canada for associate membership overshadowed how the story initially broke.

Following detailed reporting in the Wall Street Journal, Carney denied that Canada was seeking membership in the EU.

Days later, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that Canada was in fact being considered for associate membership.

Why did Carney and government sources initially deny the story? And should Canadian media hold him accountable for misleading the public?

Host: Julian Abraham

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Gökç...

Apocalyptic A.I. headlines are all over the news, following a former Anthropic employee’s whistleblowing on the threat to humanity posed by out of control A.I. systems.

But that was just the start: a flurry of safety-related announcements from major A.I. companies underscored the tangible risk of the technology.

Douglas Soltys of Betakit joins to explain A.I.’s existential media moment, and how it affects Canada’s push for adoption and innovation.

Could Canada emerge as a leader on A.I. regulation?

Host: Julian Abraham

Cred...

Prime Minister Mark Carney came into office promising to turn Canada into an investment destination. One of the biggest tests of that promise is happening in Saskatchewan.

In this episode, host Noor Azrieh and senior producer Aviva Lessard take you inside the politics that made Bell’s $50 billion AI data centre behemoth in Saskatchewan possible.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

...

He was the doctor who almost got Joe Rogan cancelled. The controversy he roiled on Rogan brought the show some its highest ever ratings. So you might have been among the 40 million who caught Dr. Peter McCullough on Rogan where he spoke out against the COVID vaccine near the start of the pandemic. He was accused of undermining public health efforts and spreading misinformation.

And last week Dr. McCullough was on Parliament Hill. But chances are you didn’t hear about that appearance. Most of the mainstream media, and nearly all the nation’s MPs, took a pa...

There was no shortage of retrospective 9/11 coverage in Canadian outlets, but the tone and focus was a lot different than south of the border. Jean Chretien’s address in Gander foregrounded how much has changed in the Canada/US relationship, while a Canadian Press article focusing on Islamophobia caused outrage online.

Jan Wong joins Jesse Brown to talk about journalistic approaches to covering historical tragedies, and to reflect on 9/11’s impact. 

Plus, Mao’s unspoken legacy in China and why no one wants to report on vaccine injuries.

Host...

A report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that Carney’s is pushing for Canada to join the EU as an “associate member.” Carney says he’s pursuing an “unique alliance,” rather than membership. 

As Carney heads to France to address the EU parliament on Thursday, questions swirl around what exactly this new relationship between Canada and the EU will entail. 

Meanwhile, the President of the EU parliament announces a new “antenna” office in Ottawa. 

Jan Wong joins Jesse Brown to consider the likelihood of Canada’s European future.

Host: Jesse...

South of the border, billionaires are getting eaten alive. Up here, Mark Carney is trying to court them. This week, host Sam talks to three wealthy Canadians who think that's a mistake, and who are actually asking the government to tax them more.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Claire Trottier, Emma Davis, Floyd Marinescu

Background reading:

It is the biggest leveraged buyout in history. 

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) just bought EA Games: one of the world’s biggest video game companies. 

PIF joined forces with two American investment firms (one run by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner) to buy the gaming giant for $55 billion.

But this could be about a lot more than just video games. 

EA has more than 700 million players worldwide, and it’s collecting vast amounts of data on them. 

What are the national security and...

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 they’re trying to distance themselves.

Is the turf war between establishment conservatives and edgy memelords overblown? 

Harrison Lowman of the Hub joins Julian Abraham to explore the AI slop that is dividing conservatives in Canada. 

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 for Republicans, with US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra suggesting it further jeopardized trade relations between Canada and the US. 

Jen Gerson of The Line joins Julian Abraham to explain how th...

 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 exactly is going on. 

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchio...

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 candidate, and now, running for Toronto City Council in Ward 1 Etobicoke North. Will this interview be as era-defining as the others? 

His CV is likely stranger than any other c...

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 dominate Canadian news? 

Host: San Grewal

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer),  Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checker), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Tristan Capacchione (Senio...

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 nervous, here’s some advice from Canadaland’s audience to help you.

...

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” Carney described in his speech at Davos. 

Are we missing the rupture for details about the deal? Is it possible that Canada is ready to d...

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 Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Photo: The White House

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, and unions too, affecting both Jewish professors and non-Jewish professors. 

 Today we hear from three Canadian academics bringing you their stories from campuses that, nearly 3 years after October 7, might be unrecognizable to you.

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 where digital policies fit into the trade discussion, the future of Canadian digital policy, and whether recent developments in the trade war present an opportunity to decouple from US tech giants. 

Host: J...

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 with the report it commissioned on antisemitism on campus. 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nichol...

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 major work stoppages in the first place.

So what could change? Why do employers want it? What do unions think? And if the government already has Section 107, why rewr...

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 with Tim Mak, Kyiv-based publisher of The Counteroffensive; and Cameron Chell, a Canadian  aerospace and defence tech entrepreneur at Dragonfly, shares how the nascent Canadian drone industry can drive technological innovation, not jus...

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 regressive country when it comes to transportation. 

Plus, why we shouldn’t refer to any agreement with Trump as a “deal.”

Host: Julian Abraham

Credits: James Nic...

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 coverage, and why wildfires have sparked a growing trend of misinformation and AI-generated slop online. 

Plus, hear the resurfaced hip hop tracks that have advocacy groups calling...

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 leadership. His campaign. And even his character.

What’s his beef with Pierre Poilievre, and is this just an old political grudge or is he diagnosing something bigger that’s...

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 China calls “vocational training centres.” The level of allegations against China has risen to accusations of genocide.

Raising awareness of the Uyghur cause is one of Abdulahat...

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 Services Agency. 

Combined with other high profile cases of Chinese spying in the Canadian civil service, Harrison Lowman of The Hub joins to discuss why Canada is a soft target for Ch...

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 funding?

Plus, Canada continues to scale back its peacekeeping efforts, and a crime wave hiding in new StatsCan data.

Hos...

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 before prediction markets inevitably expand.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), imogen sayers...

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:

<...

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 the government and the media have when it comes to discussing Israel, and how the hyperfocus on one country impacts the safety of Canadian Jews.

Host: Jesse Brown

C...

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 news hooks are really common in the news business, they’re practical, easy to plan for, and...

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 an white supremesist, they say that they were only quoting her… 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Andrea Varsany (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Jen Gerson

Photo

Fur...