Épisodes

  • Matthew Boswell on Canada’s fight against anti-competitive behaviour

    Matthew Boswell on Canada’s fight against anti-competitive behaviour
    Nov 13 2025
    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".
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    40 min
  • Fara Dabhoiwala on the meaning of free speech

    Fara Dabhoiwala on the meaning of free speech
    Nov 7 2025
    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.
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    42 min
  • The biggest issues in Canada's next federal budget

    The biggest issues in Canada's next federal budget
    Oct 30 2025
    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.
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    40 min
  • Stéfane Marion on Canada’s business investment crisis

    Stéfane Marion on Canada’s business investment crisis
    Oct 23 2025
    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
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    29 min
  • David Frum on Donald Trump’s tariff problem

    David Frum on Donald Trump’s tariff problem
    Oct 16 2025
    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.
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    34 min
  • Catherine McKenna on climate costs and polarization

    Catherine McKenna on climate costs and polarization
    Oct 10 2025
    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.
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    40 min
  • The fight to save kids from social media harm

    The fight to save kids from social media harm
    Oct 2 2025
    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.
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    36 min
  • Energy Minister Tim Hodgson on Canada's new economic ambitions

    Energy Minister Tim Hodgson on Canada's new economic ambitions
    Sep 25 2025
    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.
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    34 min