Let's Talk Politics
Welcome to Let’s Talk Politics, your front-row seat to the political and economic stories driving today’s world. We bring together a diverse lineup of guests to dive deep into the most pressing issues of the day, untangling the complex web of events impacting Canada and the world. From Machiavellian tactics to tech bros shaping policies and the uncertainty of Trump, this podcast aims to bridge the gap between politics, the economy, and the people it affects. We break down complex issues, offering fresh, diverse perspectives to help you understand the pressing challenges of the day. Let’s Talk Politics...
Ep 49: Public Schools, Private Interests—Is Ontario Chasing the U.S. Model?
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A $29 million jet proposal is easy to headline. Lead in school drinking water, mold in portables, and classrooms so hot a student passes out during an exam are easier to ignore, until you realize they’re happening in a province that can afford better.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Politics, we sit down with René Jansen in de Wal, President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), to unpack the reality inside Ontario’s classrooms—and what years of chronic underfunding have actually delivered.
We...
Ep 48: From Band Council to Cabinet—Redefining Indigenous Leadership with Minister Mandy Gull-Masty
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What does it take to move from grassroots community leadership to the federal cabinet table? In this episode of Let’s Talk Politics, host Julia Pennella sits down with Mandy Gull-Masty, the Minister of Indigenous Services of Canada, for a raw and insightful look at the evolution of representation in Canada.
Minister Gull-Masty shares her journey from the Grand Council of the Crees to the halls of Parliament, offering a masterclass in how to bring an authentic local voice to the national stage.
<...Ep 47: Higher Costs. Deeper Divides. What’s Driving Alberta Right Now?
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Alberta can feel like two places at once: a province of mountains, parks, and big ambition, and a province carrying a new political tension that keeps showing up in national headlines.
I sit down with NDP MLA Lizette Tejada, Alberta’s shadow Minister for Immigration and Multiculturalism, to talk through what is actually happening beneath the noise and what it means for everyday life in 2026.
We unpack Alberta’s plan to add citizenship markers to government IDs and why it raises real concerns about privacy, stigma, and discrimination, especially for ne...
Ep 46: Red Tape vs. Rights—Why Inclusion Keeps Getting Stuck in the System
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Red tape can sound responsible until you realize it often means “wait your turn” while people keep getting hurt. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Jade Pichette, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Pride At Work Canada.
We’re continuing the conversation around what’s needed to modernize the Employment Equity Act in Canada and the frustrating gap between what governments say about inclusion and what they actually implement for LGBTQIA2S+ workers.
We also wrestle with the question that keeps coming up in policy rooms: how do you price...
Ep 45: Modernizing Canada’s Employment Equity Act
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Rights don’t live on paper, they live in paycheques, rent payments, and whether you can afford to stay safe. We sit down with Jade Pichette, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Pride At Work Canada, to unpack a blunt idea that cuts through the noise: economic security is the defining issue for queer and trans people right now. When money shapes access to housing and healthcare, it also shapes power, and it helps explain why backlash politics can be so well funded and so persistent.
We walk through Pride At Wo...
Ep 44: The AI Race—Trillions In, Productivity Loading…
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AI is supposed to make life cheaper, faster, and more productive, so why does inflation still feel stubborn and why do rate cuts still feel uncertain?
Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Senior Economist at Indeed, Brendon Bernard.
In this episode, we dig into a counterintuitive idea: the AI boom can be inflationary before it becomes disinflationary. When trillions flow into data centers, chips, and the electricity needed to power them, that investment can lift aggregate demand and add real cost pressure in energy and hardware. The payoff co...
Ep 43: Canada’s Stuck Economy & Quiet Labour Market Crisis with Brendon Bernard
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The numbers say Canada’s economy is stable. Everyday life tells a different story.
We sit down with Brendon Bernard, Senior Economist at Indeed, to explain that disconnect and translate the labor market data into what it means for your job search, your workplace, and your family decisions.
We get into why Canada is stuck in a low hire, low fire cycle, how that freezes opportunity even when unemployment doesn’t spike, and why young workers and career switchers feel the pain first.
From there, we dig into...
Ep 42: The AI Gold Rush: Boom, Bubble, or Both?
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Trillions are pouring into AI, but where does the real value live—and who gets left behind?
We sit down with Chief Economist and EVP Research at Centurion Asset Management, Carl Gomez to unpack the economic engine behind the AI surge, from the debt and equity financing that fuels data centers to the market incentives forcing CEOs to overhaul their playbooks.
The story goes far beyond gadgets and hype: AI spending is now a visible pillar of U.S. growth, reshaping capital flows, valuations, and how firms hire, train, and...
Ep 41: So Many Condos, So Few Buyers
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A housing boom can feel like prosperity—until the numbers stop adding up.
We sat down with chief economist and EVP Research at Centurion Asset Management, Carl Gomez to examine Canada’s great housing reset and why an economy so tied to mortgages, pre-sales, and condo construction is now confronting record-low business investment and stagnant productivity.
From Toronto to Vancouver, investor-driven micro-units crowd the skyline while families search for livable, mid-sized homes. That mismatch sits at the heart of today’s slowdown: oversupply where demand is thin, and scarcity where p...
Ep 40: How Cheap Debt Broke The Old Economy with Carl Gomez
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Prices climbed faster than paychecks, bonds rewrote the cost of money, and the old promises of globalization fell apart in plain sight.
We sit down with Carl Gomez, chief economist and EVP of research at Centurion Asset Management, to map the Great Reset: why term premiums are back, why “higher for longer” isn’t just a headline, and how a K-shaped economy is sorting winners and strugglers by birth year and balance sheet.
Carl brings decades across capital markets and real estate research to explain how a security-first world reshape...
Season 2: Democracy is a Verb.
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Welcome back to Season 2 of Let’s Talk Politics.
And welcome to another year of… whatever this is.
Another year where economists whisper “recession” as affordability slips further out of reach.
Another year where genocide plays out on our phone screens in real time. Another year of rising global tension, where democracies are stress-tested daily and “World War III” no longer feels entirely hypothetical.
Wildfires. Hurricanes. Climate disasters intensifying — while some politicians still debate whether climate change is real.
And on top of it all, we’re rac...
Ep 38: “Less Grease, More Code” – The Future of Canadian Manufacturing
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Canada’s manufacturing sector stands at a pivotal crossroads. With U.S. protectionist trade policies sending shockwaves through global markets, supply chains, and the manufacturing industry, the golden age of free trade and globalization is behind us. In its place is a new era where national resilience and strategic autonomy take precedence—one that demands a complete reimagining of Canada’s industrial strategy.
Joining me in this episode to unpack the challenges and innovations shaping Canada’s manufacturing sector is Alex Greco, Senior Director of Manufacturing and Value Chains at the Canadian...
Ep 39: Skills, Supply Chains, and National Resilience - Canada's Manufacturing Renaissance
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This is part 2 of my conversation on all things manufacturing and industrialization with Alex Greco, Senior Director of Manufacturing and Value Chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Manufacturing's future in Canada hinges not on machines but on people. The sector faces what Alex describes as a "skills mismatch" rather than just a labor shortage. While companies struggle to find workers, the real challenge lies in finding people with the right skills in data analysis, cybersecurity, electronics, and robotics that modern manufacturing demands.
Solving this requires a multi-faceted approach...
Ep 37: 10 Million Hungry - Inside Canada’s Food Insecurity Crisis
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Hunger doesn't discriminate, but our systems often do. In 2024, Statistics Canada reported that 10 million Canadians — including 2.5 million children — lived in households that couldn’t reliably afford food. That’s families skipping meals, parents making impossible choices, and children going to school hungry in one of the world's wealthiest nations.
And while food insecurity touches every province, it cuts even deeper in the territories. In Nunavut, nearly half the population struggles with access to food. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon, it's more than 1 in 5. These numbers don’t just tell...
Ep 36: Made in Canada - Navigating Trade Turbulence
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Tariff threats, labor shortages, and political uncertainty are creating unprecedented challenges for Canadian manufacturers. Matt Conley, Manager of International Trade and Skills Policy at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), provides a powerful perspective on navigating these turbulent waters while building resilience in Canada's manufacturing sector.
What once seemed settled — the free trade relationship between Canada, the US, and Mexico — has been thrown into question. As Conley notes, "You should always expect the unexpected in politics." Despite these challenges, he emphasizes that the USMCA agreement has generated billions in pros...
Ep 35: Manufacturing Resilience - Canada’s Fight for Industrial Survival
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Trade wars have real consequences, and right now Canada's manufacturing sector is absorbing the shock of escalating US tariffs firsthand. When steel and aluminum tariffs jumped from 25% to 50%, they didn't just change numbers on paper – they fundamentally altered the landscape for thousands of businesses and workers across the country.
Matt Conley, Manager of International Trade and Skills policy at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), takes us inside the industry's fight to navigate this uncertain terrain. The data paints a sobering picture: manufacturing has shed 55,000 jobs since February, merchandise exports pl...
Ep 34: Separatism or Scapegoating? Jim Stanford on Power, Profits, and Politics
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Welcome back to Let’s Talk Politics! This is Part 2 of my conversation with economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work, Jim Stanford. In this episode, Stanford brings clarity to contentious economic debates and issues — from wealth inequality and corporate power to the misleading narratives that shape our political discourse. It’s a candid, eye-opening discussion you won’t want to miss.
Born and raised in Alberta, Stanford dismantles the province's separatist rhetoric with insider precision, revealing how record-breaking oil industry profits have fai...
Ep 33: Debunking Interprovincial Trade with Jim Stanford
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Canada at a Crossroads: Jim Stanford on Tariffs, Recession Risk, and Rethinking Economics
What happens when a leading economist breaks down the storm clouds gathering over Canada’s economy? Jim Stanford, Director of the Centre for Future Work, delivers a compelling analysis of how looming U.S. tariffs could trigger a recession on par with the downturns of the 1980s and ’90s.
Stanford argues we’re living through “a hinge point in history”—a moment demanding a shift in economic thinking. He outlines how Trump’s threatened tariffs could...
Ep 32: Beyond the Water - Reimagining a Waterfront City
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The transformation of Toronto's waterfront represents a microcosm of urban challenges and opportunities facing major cities across North America. Tim Kocur, Executive Director of the Waterfront BIA, takes us deep into how this iconic area is evolving while tackling some of the most pressing urban issues of our time.
Toronto stands at a crossroads of urban development. With housing prices soaring to globally significant levels and condos shrinking to "shoebox" proportions, families face difficult choices about city living. Kocur offers a refreshingly candid perspective on where urban housing must...
Ep 31: Unlocking Toronto’s Waterfront Potential with the Waterfront BIA
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Toronto's shoreline holds untapped potential that could transform the city's global standing. Tim Kocur, Executive Director of the Waterfront BIA, reveals that what we see today represents only half of what's possible for the 10-kilometer stretch connecting Exhibition Place through the central harbor to the developing Port Lands.
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) occupy a unique space in urban development—technically agencies of the city but independently funded and operated by local businesses. The Waterfront BIA raises $2.5 million annually to support everything from social media promotion and street cleaning to...
Ep 30: Money Talks - Why Canada’s Economy Needs Women Now
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Money talks, and what it's saying about gender equality in Canada isn't pretty. We've left $180 billion of GDP growth on the table by failing to ensure women's full participation in our economy. That's not just a moral failing—it's economic malpractice.
Joining us once again to break it all down is Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab — and what she uncovered is nothing short of sobering. At our current pace, we won't see gender equality in our lifetimes, our daughte...
Ep 29: Billion-Dollar Blind Spot - The Cost of Excluding Women
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What’s the real economic cost of excluding women from the workforce, business opportunities, and leadership roles in Canada? The answer might shock you – nearly $180 billion in lost GDP according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This eye-opening figure represents more than just a moral failure; it's a massive missed business opportunity that Canada simply can't afford.
Our conversation with Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Data Lab, goes beyond the standard talking points on gender equity to explore the hard economic real...
Ep 28: Are We Living in a Two-Party Canada?
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Polling has quietly revolutionized Canadian politics, transforming from occasional front-page news to a constant stream of data that shapes both voter behavior and party strategy. Political analyst Éric Grenier joins us to unpack this evolution and what it means for democracy in the digital age.
"The fact that polling numbers come out adds credence, adds urgency to political conversations," Grenier explains, highlighting how data doesn't just measure public opinion—it actively shapes it. This was dramatically demonstrated in the recent federal election when daily polling reinforced a two-party narr...
Ep 27: Underfunded and Overwhelmed - The Crisis in Ontario's Public Services
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The chronic underfunding of Ontario's public services has reached a critical tipping point, and the latest provincial budget has only deepened concerns among experts and citizens alike. This eye-opening conversation with Kelly Baker, founder of Informed Advocacy, pulls back the curtain on what's really happening with healthcare and education funding in Ontario.
Baker doesn't mince words when analyzing the provincial budget's impact on healthcare: "They're showing a 2% growth in healthcare year over year. I think that's just not realistic." With an aging population, millions without access to family...
Ep 26: Parliament’s Back, But Where’s the Budget?
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The political winds have shifted dramatically in Canada following a transformative federal election that has ushered Mark Carney into the Prime Minister's Office. This episode dives deep into the new government's first moves with expert analysis from Kelly Baker, founder of Informed Advocacy and one of Canada's top lobbyists.
Carney's approach to governance already shows stark contrasts to his predecessor. His cabinet, notably slimmed down to 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, with many political newcomers filling key roles. This business-oriented cabinet structure raises questions about whether government can—or...
Ep 25: Minority Rule - Carney’s Balancing Act Begins
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The political ground beneath Canada has shifted dramatically. In the wake of a historic federal election that saw both major parties crack 40% of the vote, Prime Minister Mark Carney now leads a Liberal minority government facing extraordinary challenges on multiple fronts.
Stepping into the House of Commons with a freshly appointed cabinet, Carney must immediately navigate Alberta separation threats, tariff pressures from Trump's America, and the delicate dance of leading a parliament where his predecessor's ghost still lingers. His cabinet selections reveal a calculated balance – enough fresh faces to...
Ep 24: The King’s Speech and Carney’s Gamble
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The political landscape has shifted dramatically following Canada's historic election, and we're here to make sense of it all. Political analyst Éric Grenier joins us to decode the fascinating demographic shifts that defined this election – older voters surprisingly breaking for the Liberals while younger Canadians moved toward the Conservatives.
We also explore why King Charles reading the throne speech created a moment of historical significance but reveals the monarchy's limited relevance for most Canadians. Grenier offers a candid assessment: "While some people are still very attached to the mon...
Ep 23: Western Alienation - Is Alberta's Separation Threat Real?
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Western alienation and Alberta separatism take center stage as Dan Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara Strategic Insights breaks down the complex dynamics fueling separatist sentiment in Canada's oil-rich province.
Political influencers like Preston Manning have significantly amplified separatist messaging, claiming "a vote for Carney liberals is basically a vote for the breakup of Canada." Arnold explains how public opinion follows political leadership, potentially growing separatist support from 20% to 30%, though likely not enough to win a referendum. The conversation explores an Alberta separatist group's proposed referendum question and...
Ep 22: Polling the Shift - Carney’s First Days as PM
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Prime Minister Mark Carney's early days as Prime Minister have been defined by bold moves and high-stakes diplomacy. Joining us today to unpack the fast moving political scene, is Dan Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara Strategic Insights.
The Prime Minister's first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump provided a defining moment when Carney firmly but diplomatically responded to Trump's jest about acquiring Canada with "You're in real estate, and there are some things that aren't for sale. And Canada’s Not for Sale." This exchange, which went viral acr...
Ep 21: Can Canada Build Its Way Out of its Housing Crisis?
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The ice-cold reality of Canada's housing market takes center stage in our latest deep dive with Chief Economist at British Columbia Real Estate Association, Brendon Ogmundson. Housing sales have plummeted nearly 10% compared to last year as buyers retreat in the face of tariff uncertainty and stubbornly high interest rates. This market stagnation, persisting since 2022, raises critical questions about where we're headed—especially as newly-appointed Housing Minister Gregor Robertson sidesteps questions about whether home prices should actually fall.
What's particularly fascinating is the contradicting signals we're receiving about consumer fi...
Ep 20: The Economic Twilight Zone - How Uncertainty Is Reshaping Canada's Financial Landscape
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Economic uncertainty hangs like a fog over Canada’s future — and in this episode, Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist at the British Columbia Real Estate Association, helps us cut through it. He breaks down the complex forces reshaping our financial landscape, from housing markets to global trade tensions.
But beyond the usual indicators lies something harder to pin down: what Ogmundson calls “uncertainty as more of a vibe than something that can be quantified.” It’s a vibe that’s freezing consumer confidence and sidelining homebuyers, with BC home sales now si...
Ep 19: From the Rock to the 905 - Political Shifts Across Canada’s Electoral Battlegrounds
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The political landscape of Canada underwent a seismic shift in the 2025 federal election, with dramatic changes from Newfoundland and Labrador to Southwestern Ontario. From historic nail-biters to unexpected flips, this episode takes you behind the curtain of a transformative campaign.
Pierce Collier, a seasoned Liberal strategist with deep roots in Newfoundland and Labrador, walks us through the remarkable story of Terranova's 12-vote margin – likely the closest federal race in Canadian history. We explore how demographic shifts, particularly among rotational workers traveling between Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta, are gr...
Ep 18: Finance Daddy vs. The Backbencher - Canada's Political Plot Twist
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The 2025 Canadian federal election will be remembered as one of the most remarkable political comebacks in the country’s history. Against overwhelming odds, Mark Carney led the Liberal Party from a staggering 24-point deficit to a minority government victory — just shy of a majority — while also securing the popular vote. A sweet triumph over Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.
This wasn’t your typical election. Canadians were casting their votes with an eye on the global stage — in a world where Donald Trump’s America posed direct threats to Canada’s sovereignty...
Ep 17: Voices in the Classroom - Inside Ontario's Education System
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The politics of education run deeper than most of us realize. When Vito Totino, a councillor on the York Catholic Teachers Executive, joined me to discuss Ontario's education landscape, he revealed startling realities about what's happening in our classrooms.
Since 2018, Ontario's education system has been systematically underfunded by more than $1,500 per student annually. This isn't just a number – it's manifested in overcrowded classrooms, teachers lacking basic resources, and most alarmingly, a dramatic rise in classroom violence. Contrary to public perception, this violence isn't happening in high school hallways bu...
Ep 16: Election Pulse - Unpacking Canada's Divided Vote
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The political landscape is shifting rapidly as Canada's federal election reaches its climax. In this timely conversation, Neil McKenna brings his sharp strategic insights to unpack the forces shaping voter decisions in one of the most unpredictable races in recent memory.
McKenna cuts through the noise surrounding recent campaign controversies, including the "stop the steal" button incident, explaining why such political theatre might grab headlines but ultimately undermines public trust without significantly moving votes. His analysis of Pierre Poilievre's persistent struggles with female voters highlights a critical strategic failure - "...
Ep 15: The Atlantic Lens - Federal Election Through New Brunswick's Eyes
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Neil McKenna brings nearly a decade of experience from Parliament Hill, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Senate to deliver a refreshing Atlantic Canadian perspective on Canada's federal election landscape. As Senior Associate at Porter O'Brien, one of New Brunswick's top public affairs firms, McKenna offers unique insights that mainstream political coverage often overlooks.
The conversation begins with a striking revelation: St. John is considered "the most tariff-exposed city in Canada." This vulnerability creates a palpable anxiety among voters whose livelihoods in export-dependent industries like oil refining and pulp manufacturing...
Ep 13: Talk Is Cheap. Growth Isn’t: Canada’s Economic Crossroads
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The political landscape in Canada has never been more volatile, with leadership changeovers, looming elections, and economic uncertainty creating a perfect storm for businesses and citizens alike. How can organizations navigate this chaos while preparing for an uncertain future? What does the rise of economic nationalism mean for Canadian policy and prosperity?
Conal Slobodin, Vice President at Crestview Strategy, brings his unique perspective from both government and corporate worlds to address these pressing questions. Drawing from his experience at Walmart and in government relations, he offers candid insights about the...
Ep 14: Rooted in Resistance: Power, Politics & Community with Nneka Allen
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What does it mean when your very existence becomes political? When a simple lawn sign signals far more than party preference? When motherhood itself becomes a political act?
Nneka Allen, founder of the Empathy Agency Inc., guides us through these profound questions in an unforgettable conversation that transcends typical political discourse. Drawing from her family's deep roots in the Underground Railroad and growing up in Windsor's historic Sandwich Town, Allen reveals how socialism and communalism shaped her worldview long before she understood political labels.
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Ep 12: Politics & Pucks - How Trump Changed the Game
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The political landscape in Canada stands at a critical juncture as the 2025 federal election looms just one week away. In this riveting conversation with Conal Slobodin, Vice President at Crestview Strategy, we unpack the seismic shifts reshaping voter demographics and campaign strategies across the country.
A fascinating phenomenon emerges as young men gravitate toward Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives while older women align with Mark Carney's Liberals—a complete reversal from the 2015 election dynamics. Social media has revolutionized political outreach, with Poilievre masterfully engaging disaffected young voters by validating their frustrations and of...
Ep 11: Riding the Orange Wave: Jack Layton’s Legacy and the NDP’s Moment
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George Soule takes us behind the curtain of NDP strategy, revealing the fascinating disconnect between federal idealism and provincial pragmatism that shapes progressive politics across Canada. With rare candor, this veteran political strategist unpacks why the NDP appears more centrist and economically-focused in prairie provinces while taking different positions federally.
Having worked directly with Jack Layton during the historic 2011 Orange Wave, Soule shares never-before-heard stories about what truly drove that unprecedented breakthrough. "Jack Layton wasn't Jack Layton until after 2011," he reveals, detailing how years of grassroots organizing, Quebec outreach, and fortuitous...
