Pod Bless Canada

Pod Bless Canada Ep. 80 - Competition Policy with Aaron Wudrick and Jack Mintz

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:45:42 -0400

This episode features Macdonald-Laurier Institute distinguished fellow Jack Mintz in conversation with Aaron Wudrick, domestic policy director on the possibility of changes to Canada's competition law.

Proposed changes to Canada's competition law might not make headlines but it will absolutely effect Canadian consumers. Despite what some policy makers seem to think, competition law isn't a 'swiss army knife' capable of solving various social and economic issues for government. Instead competition law needs to stay focused on its purpose, serving Canadian consumers.

Pod Bless Canada Ep. 79 - 'Internet Regulation' in Bill C-11 and C-18, Aaron Wudrick and Peter Menzies

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:52:30 -0400

This episode of Pod Bless Canada features Domestic Policy director Aaron Wudrick in conversation with Macdonald-Laurier Institute senior fellow Peter Menzies to discuss Bill C-11 and Bill C-18, both of which are before Canada's parliament. They discuss the legislations' misguided attempts to protect Canadian content and how the bills pose a real threat to Canadian content creators who make their living online.

Pod Bless Canada EP. 78 - From Impossible War to Improbable Peace with Devlen and Muzergues

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 20:00:00 -0400

Was Russia’s most recent invasion of Ukraine an aberration, or a predictable phenomenon? Balkan Devlen sits down with author Thibault Muzergues to discuss his recently published book “War in Europe? From Impossible War to Improbable Peace” and how Russia’s attacks are changing European attitudes regarding continental security. They also discuss why some observers failed to identify the war as it loomed on the horizon, where the next wars could erupt, what must be done to prepare for such a future, and why all this matters to Canada.

Pod Bless Canada EP. 77 - "In Defence of Wealth" with Aaron Wudrick and Derek Bullen

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:00:00 -0500

Inequality makes it easy for many politicians and activists to cast the wealthy as villains who make our society worse. But is this the right way to think about wealth and inequality? MLI Domestic Program Director Aaron Wudrick is joined by Derek Bullen is Founder and CEO of S.i. Systems and the author of the new book "In Defence of Wealth." Bullen and Wudrick discuss the book and how many critics are overlooking crucial considerations: we need business people to build companies and generate wealth to keep our economy going, and that punishing prosperity only makes our society worse.

Pod Bless Canada EP. 76 - Putin's War of Aggression Against Ukraine with Devlen and Shelest

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:00:00 -0500

After months of military build up and threats, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war of aggression against Ukraine. MLI Senior Fellow Balkan Devlen is joined by Hanna Shelest, the Director of Security Programmes at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” and Editor-in-Chief at UA: Ukraine Analytica, to discuss the situation on the ground in Ukraine. Devlen and Shelest analyze what the world might expect in the future from Russia and what Canada and our allies can do to support Ukraine's fight against Russia. This podcast was recorded on March 2, 2022.

Pod Bless Canada EP. 75 - The worrying standard applied to the truckers with Wudrick & Parker

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 19:00:00 -0500

The Freedom Convoy received quick and heavy condemnation and backlash from Canadian politicians and media when it arrived in Ottawa earlier this year. Though criticism was certainly merited, did the vitriol of the response go too far? In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick was joined by Stuart Parker, the President of the Los Altos Institute, to discuss Parker's article in the Hub titled, "Why the coverage of the trucker protest should worry all Canadians." Wudrick and Parker examine how the coverage of this protest may point to worrying potential consequences for Canadian society. This podcast was recorded on February 8, 2022.

Pod Bless Canada Ep. 74 - Global Energy Security with Wudrick, Exner-Pirot & Kucharski

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 13:47:16 -0500

The world needs a reliable and affordable supply of energy not just for economic prosperity, but for national security as well. As both geopolitical tensions and energy prices rise globally, Canada has failed to become a global energy leader. MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick is joined by MLI Senior Policy Analyst Heather Exner-Pirot and MLI Senior Fellow Jeff Kucharski to discuss how Canada can seize a leadership role when it comes to the geopolitics of energy.

Ep. 72 – Understanding Vaccine Passports with Aaron Wudrick, Dr Martha Fulford, and Dr Shawn Whatley

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:23:32 -0400

The concept of vaccine passports, which would entail providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination to gain access to normally accessible venues and services, has ignited a fierce debate in Canada. What are the benefits and trade offs associated with the policy? Would it successfully encourage vaccine uptake among those hesitant to get their jabs? What unforeseen consequences might spring up from such a policy? To make sense of the utility of and challenges associated with vaccine passports, MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick spoke with Drs. Martha Fulford and Shawn Whatley.

Ep. 71 - Fighting Back Against Global Hostage-Taking with Sarah Teich and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:02:23 -0400

September 4th, 2021 marks a grim anniversary for Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor; it is their 1000th day of arbitrary detention at the hands Chinese authorities, as part of the regime's retaliation for the lawful arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. Canada's lack of action in response to Beijing's hostage-taking has signaled to the international community that this belligerent behaviour can occur with impunity. Furthermore, victims and their families are often left in limbo without a coordinated response from Ottawa. MLI Senior Fellow Sarah Teich joined communications officer Ai-Men Lau to discuss the increasing need for a substantive overhaul of Canada's national approach to global hostage-taking. Teich also discusses her joint publication by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Canadian Coalition Against Terror which proposes new legislation titled, “An Act to Address the Taking of Innocent Civilians as Hostages.” She provides policy solutions and recommendations to Canadian decision makers to combat and deter hostage-taking.

Ep. 70 - The Deterioration of Parliament with Jonathan Malloy and Aaron Wudrick

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:59:56 -0400

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a test of resilience for Canada's Parliamentary system. One illustrative example would be the case of the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. In order to prevent the release of documents related to these firings, the federal government took the extraordinary step of applying to the Federal Court of Canada in June, potentially allowing the judiciary to interfere in the functioning of Parliament. Though the court fight was quietly dropped a week ago, the question remains: are our Parliamentary norms being eroded? To discuss Canada's system of parliamentary government, how power is exercised by the federal government, and how the way power is exerted has changed over the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jonathan Malloy joins MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick on the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada. (Note: This podcast was recorded on August 11, 2021 prior to when the 2021 federal election was called.)

Ep. 69 - Combatting Foreign Intimidation Against Canadians with Kolga, Lin, and Shahrooz

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 17:33:14 -0400

Foreign regimes, particularly China, Russia, and Iran, are engaged in efforts to threaten and intimidate critics and activists around the world, including in Canada. However, despite this clear threat posed by foreign actors against Canadians, the federal government has failed to meaningfully act to address this coercion. To discuss this issue and what the federal government should be doing to stop foreign intimidation against Canadians, MLI's Marcus Kolga, Anastasia Lin, and Kaveh Shahrooz joined the podcast.

Ep. 68 - Happy Canada Day with Aaron Wudrick, Ken Coates, and Christopher Dummitt

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:00:30 -0400

Happy Canada Day! While this greeting might seem like standard fare on July 1st, there are growing calls by a vocal minority to stop celebrating Canada Day (and indeed, Canada more generally). In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick spoke with Professors Ken Coates and Christopher Dummitt to make sense of this push and argue why Canada, despite its faults, is well worth celebrating.

Ep. 67 Managing COVID isn't "economy vs. health, it's health vs. health": Dr. Whatley & Dr. Fulford

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 28 May 2021 09:47:16 -0400

In the latest episode of MLI's Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Dr. Shawn Whatley speaks with Dr. Martha Fulford, associate professor of infectious diseases at McMaster University, about how Canadian policy makers have handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fulford describes a mindset that has taken hold and has not evolved since the early days of the pandemic, when the country was understandably locked down in the face of an unknown threat. "There are still some people who seem to feel that this is a deadly virus for anyone who might get it," says Dr. Fulford, when it remains a serious threat mostly to the elderly, which is where our focus should be. "I thought we could have talked about a targeted approach. We didn't do a very good job," says Dr. Fulford. She urges policy makers to base their pandemic plans on past experience with this pandemic and previous ones, with the following priorities: - Protect the most vulnerable, primarily the frail elderly - Focus on where the virus is really being transmitted, hot spots where front line workers are living - Build surge capacity into the health care system - Don't destroy the fabric of our society in the effort Dr. Fulford stresses that schools have not caused high levels of transmission and students need to return to class as soon as possible. "The impact on our children with school closures is going to be felt for their entire lifetimes," she says. "COVID has clearly had a devastating impact, but our response to it has been also very devastating," adds Dr. Fulford. "It's not really economy versus health, it's really health versus heath. ... We mustn't forget that there are many other aspects of public health that have been neglected."

Ep. 66 - Why a Canadian Presence in Eastern Europe Matters with Balkan Devlen & Christian Leuprecht

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 26 May 2021 11:48:37 -0400

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellows Balkan Devlen and Christian Leuprecht discuss Canada's presence in Eastern Europe and Canadian contributions to NATO missions in the region. Devlen and Leuprecht go on to discuss why a Canadian presence in Eastern Europe matters, and what can we learn from missions like the Enhanced Forward Presence going forward. They also discuss how these missions not only contribute to Canada's security, but to our allies' security as well, which has become increasingly imperative in a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

Ep. 65 - The Importance of the Oil Sands with Philip Cross and Aaron Wudrick

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 19 May 2021 11:22:34 -0400

As blue-collar work is being devastated, Canada’s natural resource sector continues to be a pillar of stability and opportunity in the economy. On the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Domestic Policy Program Director Aaron Wudrick and MLI Munk Senior Fellow Philip Cross discuss Cross' latest paper titled “A national project: How oil sands investment and production benefit Canada's economy.” Cross and Wudrick examine the sector in terms of production and investment and how, despite roadblocks and pessimism, the oil sands continue to develop. They go on to discuss how the oil sands provide substantial and wide-ranging benefits to Canada as a whole.

Ep. 64 - UNDRIP Bill fails to address Indigenous Issues: Chris Sankey, Melissa Mbarki & Ken Coates

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 11 May 2021 14:58:34 -0400

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has many valuable and vital elements. It outlines a range of rights and standards to provide measures of social, economic and cultural justice to Indigenous peoples. However, the federal government's proposed legislation to implement UNDRIP is unacceptably vague, noncommittal, and perhaps counterproductive. In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates is joined by MLI Senior Fellow Chris Sankey and MLI Policy Analyst and Outreach Coordinator Melissa Mbarki to discuss the proposed federal legislation. They delve into how the legislation fails to address Indigenous issues in Canada, and fails to live up to the stated principles of UNDRIP. They go on to propose viable solutions for Canada to move forward in Indigenous reconciliation.

Ep. 63 - Where Hong Kong Stands Now with Sharon Hom, Alvin Y.H. Cheung, and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:24:56 -0400

Beijing's sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system has further crushed democractic hopes in Hong Kong. The new measures, which by passed Hong Kong's legislature, aims to ensure the majority of the city's lawmakers will be selected by a reliably pro-Beijing committee. The Hong Kong government has also announced more electoral system changes favouring pro-Beijing candidates by amending voting laws and criminalizing calls for voters to leave ballots blank. Sharon Hom, Executive Director of Human Rights in China, and Alvin Y.H. Cheung, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill University, joined MLI communications officer Ai-Men Lau to discuss Beijing's tightening grip on Hong Kong and where the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong stands now. They also discuss the international community response to the Hong Kong and the role of the disapora community in the movement.

EP. 62 - DisinfoWatch with Marcus Kolga and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:05:16 -0400

Launched in 2020, DisinfoWatch is the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s new COVID-19 and foreign disinformation monitoring and debunking platform. During the COVID pandemic, it has become increasingly evident that western democratic societies are more exposed to malign foreign and domestic actors seeking to confuse and polarize our societies through conspiracy theories, blatant fabrications and propaganda. Now more than ever is it important to expose and raise awareness of mis/disinformation to build long-term and broad resilience against it in society. In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow and founder of DisinfoWatch Marcus Kolga joins communications officer Ai-Men Lau to discuss disinformation operations and how DisinfoWatch is combatting it. They also discuss the steps the Canadian government should take in addressing the dis/misinformation.

Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads: An MLI Conversation with Boomer Desjarlais

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 13:49:04 -0500

This podcast is part seven of MLI’s ongoing series, titled "Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads," which features interviews with Indigenous community and business leaders who are on the forefront of economic reconciliation, particularly with respect to Indigenous rights and interests in the natural resource economy. This series goes beyond the headlines and partisan politics to delve deeper into how Indigenous peoples are shaping the economic futures of their own communities. This episode features a conversation between MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates and Boomer Desjarlais, co-owner of Top Notch Oilfield Contracting and a member of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta.

Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads: An MLI Conversation with Esther Peterson

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 08:21:16 -0500

This podcast is part six of MLI’s ongoing series, titled "Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads," which features interviews with Indigenous community and business leaders who are on the forefront of economic reconciliation, particularly with respect to Indigenous rights and interests in the natural resource economy. This series goes beyond the headlines and partisan politics to delve deeper into how Indigenous peoples are shaping the economic futures of their own communities. This episode features a conversation between MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates and Esther Peterson, a member of Cowessess First Nation and heavy equipment operator.

Ep. 61 - The COVID Misery Index with Rick Audas and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:07:17 -0500

A year has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada with full force, and the results are in on how severely the impact of the virus has been felt in this country compared to similar advanced economies. But how does Canada compare to the rest of the world? The Macdonald-Laurier Institute launched the COVID Misery Index this week and is based on data analysis conducted by Richard Audas, the lead methodologist on the Misery Index. To discuss this, Audas joined communications officer Ai-Men Lau to discuss how Canada’s performance has been compared to the rest of the world on the COVID Misery Index. The two examine the measures Audas used in developing the Index, how countries responded, and where we stand now.

Ep. 60 – Understanding Russia’s anti-democracy crackdown with Marcus Kolga and Vladimir Ashurkov

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 14:59:49 -0500

The world has followed closely the attempted assassination via poisoning, recent arrest, and now conviction of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. With thousands of Russian citizens having taken to the streets to protest the corrupt and authoritarian rule of President Vladimir Putin, many have asked whether countries like Canada will do anything in response to Russia’s brazen attempts to target, kill, or otherwise stifle the voices of Russian pro-democracy figures. To discuss these recent events and what the world ought to consider doing, MLI Senior Fellow Marcus Kolga spoke with Vladimir Ashurkov, the Executive Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and a close colleague of Alexei Navalny. The two examine how measures like Magnitsky Sanctions could be used to hold corrupt and abusive officials in Russia (and beyond) to account. This episode of Pod Bless Canada is a joint podcast between the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, the University of Toronto’s Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES), and UpNorth Magazine.

Ep. 59 – Indo-Pacific Trade & Economy: Viewpoint from Japan with Jonathan Miller & Tomoaki Ishigaki

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 13:11:50 -0500

Spanning from the West coast of the Americas to the East shores of Africa, the Indo-Pacific region contains four of the world’s five largest economies and accounts for over half of global GDP. Of those economies, few are as large and share as many values as Japan. Japan and Canada continue to share many interests in the region, and both leaders recently reiterated their shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. To better understand the leadership role that Japan plays in the region, MLI Senior Fellow and Director of the Institute’s Indo-Pacific Program, Jonathan Berkshire Miller, spoke with Tomoaki Ishigaki who serves as Director of the Economic Policy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. During their conversation, Miller and Ishigaki examine the economic challenges posed for the region due to COVID-19, Japan’s involvement in international trade, the role of multilateral institutions, and Japan’s vision for the Indo-Pacific.

Ep. 58 - Canada and the Indo-Pacific with Jonathan Berkshire Miller and Brett Byers

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:00:04 -0500

In an effort to improve Canada’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute has launched a dedicated “Canada and the Indo-Pacific Initiative.” To discuss this important new project, MLI Communications Manager Brett Byers was joined by Senior Fellow and Director of MLI’s Indo-Pacific Program, Jonathan Berkshire Miller. Miller and Byers examine the challenges and opportunities in the region - ranging from security, to trade, to multilateral cooperation, and more - as well as the role that Canada can play. They outline the importance of Canada embracing its status as an Indo-Pacific nation, urging policy-makers to develop a clear-eyed view of Canada's priorities in the region.

Ep. 57 - The Future of Brexit with Blair Gibbs and Shuvaloy Majumdar

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:35:37 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow and Foreign Policy Program Director Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Blair Gibbs, former advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to discuss the future of Brexit.

Ep. 56 - Combatting Information Warfare with a Resilient Society

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 12:03:12 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Balkan Devlen is joined by fellow MLI Senior Fellow Marcus Kolga and Elisabeth Braw, Visiting Fellow at the American Entreprise Institute, to discuss countering information warfare from hostile foreign states with a resilient society.

Ep. 55 - Indigenous Prosperity at the Crossroads with Ken Coates and Karen Ogen-Toews

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:16:01 -0500

This episode of Pod Bless Canada continues our ongoing series that examines Indigenous prosperity at the crossroads. Particularly, MLI is seeking to amplify the voices of Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs who are on the frontline of economic reconciliation, often by way of securing meaningful partnerships for their communities in the natural resource economy. To that end, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates spoke with Karen Ogen-Toews, the CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance. Previously, she served as elected Chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation for six years, and is currently an elected council member for that nation. Coates and Ogen-Toews discuss the issues at play within First Nations as often divided communities seek to responsibly engage in the energy economy.

Ep. 54 - Canadians are just waking up to a new Indigenous reality with Ken Coates and JP Gladu

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 15:20:24 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates was joined by and JP Gladu, one of Canada’s foremost Indigenous entrepreneurs. Coates and Gladu cover a wide range of issues, particularly looking at how new, meaningful partnerships with Indigenous people in the natural resource sector serve as the frontline of economic reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples. This is the first entry in a series on this important subject.

Ep. 53 - Greek-Turkish Tensions in the Mediterranean with Balkan Devlen and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 09:14:36 -0400

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Balkan Devlen is joined by Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, the Director of the Centre for International and European Studies. Devlen and Triantaphyllou discuss the tensions between Greece and Turkey which has been exacerbated by the global pandemic . Some are worried there may be a military conflict within the region. Sharing personal anecdotes to illustrate the geopolitics of the two countries, Triantaphyllou also makes the case for why Canada should pay attention to this issue as we move forward.

Ep. 52 - The Silent Invasion of our Academic Institutions with Chemi Lhamo and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:36:10 -0400

This episode of Pod Bless Canada features a conversation between MLI’s communication officer Ai-Men Lau and Chemi Lhamo. Lhamo, an outspoken Tibetan activist and former president of the University of Toronto Scarborough student president, found herself in the middle of a political firestorm. But it wasn't the usual dirty politics that can accompany of student government; rather, Lhamo's social media was quickly flooded with threatening comments from Chinese international students and petitions began circulating calling for Lhamo to step down. Lhamo and Lau discuss the intimidation and harassment Lhamo faced during her tenure as student president. They also delve into why the Canadian government should be paying attention the issue of foreign interference in our academic institutions.

Ep. 51 - Standing up for freedom and democracy in Tibet with Sherap Therchin and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:34:59 -0400

This episode of Pod Bless Canada features a conversation between MLI’s communication officer Ai-Men Lau and Sherap Therchin. Therchin is the executive director of the Canada Tibet Committee, an organization that promotes human rights and democratic freedoms in Tibet. Therchin and Lau discuss the recent motion that was passed by the Special Committee on Canada-China relations which supported the resumption of dialogue between the representatives of Tibet and the Chinese government. Additionally, they also delve into the current situation in Tibet under Chinese rule as it pertains to freedom, human rights, and democracy. Lau and Therchin also explore what Tibet means for Canada-China relations and how Canada should move forward.

Ep. 50 - Exploring China and Iran's COVID-19 Liabilities with Sarah Teich and Shuvaloy Majumdar

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:46:58 -0400

This episode of Pod Bless Canada features a conversation between MLI’s Director for the Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad, Shuvaloy Majumdar, and Sarah Teich, a Canadian attorney and consultant who is the author of the Institute’s most recent paper titled “Not Immune – Exploring liability of authoritarian regimes for the COVID-19 pandemic and its cover-up.” Teich’s paper argues that hundreds of thousands of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damages could have been prevented had countries like China and Iran not engaged in illegal cover-ups regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, Teich outlines that there are a wide array of domestic and international legal tools available to hold regimes like China and Iran to account. Majumdar and Teich explore the paper and what the next moves are for policy makers as they consider state liability for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ep. 49 - Dissecting Russia's Disinformation with Michael Weiss and Marcus Kolga

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:15:40 -0400

Like other authoritarian regimes, the Russian government has taken full advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to spread disinformation. However, while the crisis may serve as a convenient backdrop for Moscow’s campaigns of disinformation, this is only a small part of a much larger trend. To make sense of this situation, MLI Senior Fellow Marcus Kolga was joined by the Daily Beast’s Editor-at-Large, Michael Weiss. In addition to his role at the Daily Beast, Weiss is also writing a forthcoming book on the history of Russian military intelligence. Kolga and Weiss discuss the Kremlin’s long-running campaigns of disinformation, particularly in the context of the current US political climate. Rather than attempting to achieve a specific political goal, they explain that Russian disinformation serves to undermine social cohesion, catalyze chaos, and undermine democratic institutions.

Ep. 48 - Have We Lost Hong Kong? With Davin Wong, Alex Lee, and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 27 May 2020 16:37:19 -0400

In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Communications Officer Ai-Men Lau was joined by Alex Lee and Davin Wong from Alliance Hong Kong Canada (ACHK) to discuss the recent turbulent events in Hong Kong as a result of China's proposed the controversial National Security Law. Davin Wong is the Director of Youth Engagement and Policy Initiatives and Alex Lee is the Director of Strategy and Policy at ACHK. Lau, Lee, and Wong also discuss the overall response from Canada’s federal government, Canada-China relations, and the how Canada should approach future relations with China in the context of Hong Kong.

Ep. 47 - Canada's Brain Waste Problem: How Canada has Overlooked Immigrant Doctors

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:54:12 -0400

In this latest of episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Communciation Officer Ai-Men Lau was joined by Robert Falconer, a reserach associate at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary. Falconer is a leading expert on refugee, immigration, and border policy with a specific focus on the inclusion of immigrants in the economy, healthcare system, and social life in Canada. Lau and Falconer discuss the burdensome and challenging process immigrant doctors face in becoming accredited to practice medicine in Canada. As Canada fights the COVID-19 pandemic, many immigrant doctors are unable to join on the frontlines as they face a lengthy and expensive regulatory process. Lau and Falconer also discuss other professions that face similar challenges, why Canada has this accreditation process in place, and how this red tape status quo impacts Canadian healthcare.

Ep. 46 - The Philosophy of a Pandemic with Balkan Devlen and David Manheim

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:08:47 -0400

In this latest of episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Balkan Devlen was joined by David Manheim, a post-doc at the University of Haifa in the Health and Risk Communication Research Center. Manheim has done extensive work in terms of modeling risk across a wide variety of domains. Both he and Devlen are superforecasters with the Good Judgement project, currently forecasting global spread and impact of COVID-19. In their discussion, Devlen and Manheim reflect on existential risks, philosophy, pandemics with a particular eye toward the pandemic the world is currently experiencing: COVID-19. They reflect on the current actions taken by governments, how long the pandemic might last, and what advice they have for policy-makers navigating this challenging crisis.

Ep. 45 - The Natural Resource Economy in Turmoil with Jack Mintz and Ai-Men Lau

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:25:20 -0400

In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Communications Officer Ai-Men Lau was joined by MLI Distinguished Fellow Dr. Jack Mintz to discuss the problems facing Canada's natural resource sector, particularly in Alberta. In their discussion, Dr. Mintz reflects on the turmoil facing the industry, particularly as a result of an ongoing oil price war that has arisen as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting oil demand. Lau and Dr. Mintz also discuss some of the longer-term structural issues facing the industry, tax policy in Alberta, and the federal government's approach to the economy and innovation more generally. **Note: this podcast was recorded before emergency measures associated with Canada's COVID-19 response were fully implemented. Stay tuned to Pod Bless Canada - we have expert reflections on the ongoing pandemic situation on route in the coming days.

Ep. 44 - Understanding China's "Stealth War," with Gen. Robert Spalding and Charles Burton

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:41:32 -0400

In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Charles Burton was joined by Brig. Gen. (Ret) Dr. Robert Spalding, the author of “Stealth War.” During their conversation, Gen. Spalding outlines how China has leveraged an increasingly globalized, interconnected, and digitally-mediated world to infiltrate and influence Western economies and societies. According to Gen. Spalding, linkages between democracies and authoritarian regimes like China have largely failed to change China for the better, and in fact risk undermining the integrity of our democratic systems. Gen. Spalding and Burton also examine contemporary issues in Canada-China relations, including China’s hostage diplomacy, the role of foreign influence agents, coercive trade tactics, and Canada’s pending decision regarding Huawei’s involvement in Canada’s 5G infrastructure.

Ep. 43 – Putting the Rail Blockades and Teck Frontier in Context with Ken Coates and Brett Byers

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:18:12 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates comments on the ongoing protests and rail disruptions caused by opponents of BC's Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Moreover, given the withdrawal of the Teck Frontier oil sands mine project, Coates takes a critical look at the government's approach to the situation. Despite the popular narrative, Indigenous peoples across Canada are becoming increasingly involved as partners in natural resource development projects, including the Wet'suwet'en people through their elected chiefs. But despite these productive partnerships, projects are often disrupted, delayed, or cancelled. Coates discusses whether Canada's recent failures to develop energy projects speaks to larger, more concerning issues for Canada.

Ep. 42 – What the Taiwanese Election & Coronavirus mean for China with Charles Burton & Brett Byers

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 20:42:32 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Charles Burton discusses the recent Taiwanese national elections, and what these important democratic contests mean for Taiwan, Canada, the region, and the world. Moreover, given the outbreak of the so-called "coronavirus," (COVID-19), Burton examines the political pressure that this crisis is putting on China. He discusses how Beijing's own actions have been making its situation more difficult in the long term.

Ep. 41 - What's Putin up to? With Balkan Devlen and Hanna Shelest

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:19:25 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Balkan Devlen was joined by Dr. Hanna Shelest, Editor-in-Chief of Ukraine Analytica and one of Ukraine’s sharpest analysts of international affairs. The two discuss last week’s announcement of sweeping changes to Russia’s constitution and their potential implications. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Shelest weighs in on what she suspects Russian President Vladimir Putin is up to as he sets about radically reforming Russia’s political institutions. Dr. Shelest unpacks how the proposed amendments could serve to maintain Putin’s grip on various levers of power in Russian politics, even after he ends his tenure as President. The discussion also extends to the potential impact of these changes with respect to Canada’s relationships with Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in the region.

Ep. 40 - Why MLI Chose Xi Jinping as Policy-Maker of the Year with Charles Burton and Brett Byers

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:11:55 -0500

Every year, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute names the person or institution that has had the greatest impact—for good or ill— on Canadian public policy as Canada’s Policy-Maker of the Year. In this special episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Communications Manager Brett Byers was joined by MLI Senior Fellow Charles Burton to discuss why the Institute named Chinese Communist Party General-Secretary, Xi Jinping, as our 2019 Policy-Maker of the Year. Though his influence and his impact on public policy is hardly in the best interests of Canadians, few can deny that Xi Jinping has forced more policy responses on Canada than anyone else.

Ep. 39 - A New NATO to counter Putin's Challenge with Quentin Hodgson and Elliot Tepper

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:31:50 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Research Advisory Board Member Dr. Elliot Tepper was joined by Quentin Hodgson, a senior international and defense researcher at the RAND Corporation focusing on cybersecurity, cyber operations, risk management, and command & control. Their discussion explores how NATO can (and must) update itself to better prepare for 21st century threats. With the recent celebration of NATO's 70th Anniversary and a meeting of NATO leaders in London, serious questions remain about how the Alliance can tackle a myriad of important challenges - both internal and external. Perhaps chief among these is how NATO should respond to "Putin's Challenge" to Eastern Europe and indeed the entire North Atlantic Region. Throughout their conversation, Tepper and Hodgson discuss the future of the Alliance, how it can better prepare for cyber threats, and the role that NATO should play in upholding international rules and norms in the face of revisionist authoritarian actors.

Ep. 38 - Understanding The Rising Tide of Populism with Michael Ignatieff and Marcus Kolga

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:34:53 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Marcus Kolga was joined by historian, political scientist, former Liberal Party of Canada leader, and the President and Rector of Central European University, Michael Ignatieff. The two discuss the seemingly growing conflict between liberalism and rising populism, particularly in Eastern Europe. Throughout their wide-ranging discussion, Ignatieff shares his insights on the challenges posed by populist forces, the role of Russian disinformation, the tensions between climate action and resource development, the burgeoning "Wexit" movement, and many more salient and important topics. Ultimately, Ignatieff argues that while there are worrying elements within populism, it is a democratic response to real problems, and he remains an optimist that the institutions of Western liberalism will continue to hold in the face of mounting challenges.

Ep. 37 - Turkey, the Kurds, and the ‘Syria Problem’ with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Balkan Devlen

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 17:36:30 -0500

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar was rejoined by Balkan Devlen, a frequent MLI author and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen. Devlen is a foremost expert when it comes to the security policies of Turkey and Russia. Following up on their discussion from earlier this year, the two discuss Turkey’s recent invasion of Kurdish held territories in Northern Syria and what the situation means for Ankara’s position vis-à-vis NATO and Russia. Majumdar and Devlen explore the complex geopolitical fallout that has emanated from President Trump’s abandonment of the West’s Kurdish allies, and what Canada’s interests are in the region.

Ep. 36 - Canada’s ‘Middle Power’ Role in the Indo-Pacific with Elliot Tepper and Stephen Nagy

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 17:35:26 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Research Advisory Board Member Dr. Elliot Tepper was joined by Dr. Stephen R. Nagy, a leading expert on international relations in the Indo-Pacific region. Their discussion explores how Canada, as a middle power, can better engage with countries in this region to promote both our economic and security interests. Dr. Nagy provides an overview of Canada’s current relationships with significant countries in the Indo-Pacific. In so doing, he distinguishes between our ‘natural’ and ‘necessary’ partners, both with whom it will be critical to engage as the region continues to wield greater global economic, security, and geostrategic influence.

Ep. 35 - Canada's "Forgotten People and Places" with Sean Speer and Brett Byers

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 13:34:58 -0400

In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI communications manager Brett Byers was joined by MLI Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer, who is the author of an important new paper titled “Forgotten People and Forgotten Places: Canada’s Economic Performance in the Age of Populism.” Byers and Speer discuss the paper, which delves into the headline data on employment, labour force participation, income, and other key economic indicators to better understand where there may be economic challenges and who is most at risk of falling behind in the modern economy. As Speer explains, drilling down into the data can better inform the political debate and target policies for vulnerable populations and communities. According to Speer, while headline economic data may seem positive, not all Canadians are benefiting equally. For instance, those without post-secondary qualifications and those who live in rural areas are experiencing far worse labour market conditions, stagnant wages, declining opportunity, and a growing dependence on government transfers. With the election day mere weeks away, Speer warns that, if the concerns of these "forgotten" people and places are not properly addressed by policy makers, there could be seriously negative economic, political, and social consequences.

Ep. 34 - Mediation and International Conflict Resolution with Elliot Tepper and Andrew Ladley

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 09:39:23 -0400

In this latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Research Advisory Board Member Dr. Elliot Tepper was joined by Dr, Andrew Ladley - a leading expert in mediation and international conflict resolution. Dr. Tepper and Dr. Ladley explore a variety of historic crises around the world that have benefited from mediation, touring through the past, present, and future of mediation as a conflict resolution tool. Dr. Ladley cites examples such as the Tamil-Sri Lankan conflict, the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as the crisis in Syria to illustrate the need for realistic goals in mediation, and how Canada could position itself as a leader in the mediation arena.

Ep. 33 - Healthcare, Pharmacare, and the Election with Sean Speer and Shawn Whatley

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 17:05:54 -0400

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer was joined by Dr. Shawn Whatley, also an MLI Munk Senior Fellow, to discuss healthcare and pharmacare reform in anticipation of the upcoming Canadian federal election. Recent polling indicates that Canadians are increasingly prioritizing healthcare on their list of voting issues. As a healthcare practitioner who has sat on local and provincial health boards across Ontario, Whatley is a leading expert on the future of Canadian healthcare. Throughout their conversation, Whatley and Speer discuss the way forward for federal-provincial funding relationships regarding pharmaceuticals and effective healthcare. Whatley and Speer also debunk some myths about regarding single-payer pharmacare plan, suggesting that it is not the most effective model for Canada. With an election coming up, this comprehensive conversation sets the stage for better understanding the debate around healthcare in Canada.

Ep. 32 - Putting the Economy in Context with Brett Byers and Sean Speer

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 22:42:09 -0400

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Communications Manager Brett Byers was joined by MLI Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer to discuss the economy and the economic dimensions of ongoing tensions with China. The conversation covered the labour market, economic growth, place-based economic policies, and the China-US trade war. In their wide-ranging conversation, Byers and Speer also explored the apparent disconnect between low unemployment numbers and sluggish economic growth. Given Canada's slow but consistent economic growth, Speer shared his insights on why he believes economic dynamism ought to be on the top of Canadians' minds as consider their vote for the October election.

Ep. 31 - Turkey's Geopolitical Role in the Levant with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Balkan Devlen

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:26:24 -0400

In the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar sat down with Balkan Devlen, an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen and a foremost expert when it comes to the security policies of Turkey and Russia. The two discussed recent developments in the Levant region of the Middle East, with a particular eye towards Turkey’s interests and geopolitical goals in the region vis-à-vis Russia. Other topics of discussion include the ongoing civil war in Syria, what potentially warming relations between Russia and Turkey may mean for NATO, Turkish defence procurement, Iran’s actions in the region, political Islam, and more.

Ep. 30 - Hong Kong's Imperilled Freedoms with Charles Burton and Martin Lee

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 21 May 2019 16:52:31 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Senior Fellow Charles Burton was joined by Martin Lee - the founder of Hong Kong's Democratic Party who is known as “the Father of Democracy” in Hong Kong. Burton and Lee discuss the extradition issue gripping Hong Kong in the larger context of democratic rights and freedoms in the region. The recent sentencing of nine leaders of Hong Kong’s pro-democratic Umbrella Movement shows that Beijing’s grip is tightening over Hong Kong’s free society, including the judiciary. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is trying to put in place measures that critics fear would allow for the arrest and rendition to China of anyone in Hong Kong, whether living there, working, vacationing or just passing through, including Canadians. The passing of this amendment to Hong Kong's extradition law seriously threatens the security of Hong Kong people, and the more than 300,000 Canadians residing and doing business there. On May 7th, 2019, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute was proud to host Mr. Lee and a delegation from Hong Kong for a talk and panel discussion on Hong Kong's Imperilled Freedoms and their Impact on Canada. More information can be found here: https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/videos-photos-hong-kongs-imperilled-freedoms-panel-discussion/

Ep. 29 - The World's Largest Democratic Exercise with Irfan Yar and Constantino Xavier

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:29:36 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI counterterrorism analyst and research intern Irfan Yar is joined by Constantino Xavier, a leading expert on Indian political institutions, decision-making processes, and security relationships with other Indo-Pacific nations. This discussion continues MLI’s examination of India’s ongoing general elections, the world’s largest democratic exercise. Mr. Xavier shares his expertise on leading election issues, such as economic growth, infrastructural modernization, and bureaucratic reforms. The two also discuss the electoral implications of hacking and misinformation, growing global populism and extremism, large-scale data governance, and relations with other Indo-Pacific nations—particularly China. Constantino Xavier is a Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings India in New Delhi and the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. He previously worked as an advisor to the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi, held fellowships at the Institution for Defence Studies and Analyses and Observer Research Foundation, and received awards from the United States Fulbright program and Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Mr. Xavier holds a Ph.D in South Asian studies from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Ep. 28 - Decoding the Mueller Report with Sean Speer and Ken White

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 14:04:46 -0400

In this special episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer is joined by Ken White to discuss the Mueller report and contemporary legal and policy issues in the United States. A criminal defence lawyer, civil litigator, former federal prosecutor, legal expert, and public policy commentator, White has particular expertise when it comes to free speech issues, public corruption, and government fraud. As the world eagerly awaits the public disclosure of further details from the Mueller report, speculation and politicization abound. This discussion helps listeners make sense of what is known, what is unknown, and what can be expected as more details come to light. Additionally, the Speer and White discuss topics of criminal justice, free speech in Canada and the US, and the role of Presidential power in American democracy. Ken White currently practices law in Los Angeles as a partner at Partner at Brown White & Osborn LLP. More recently, he has become a trusted public commentator on all happenings surrounding the Mueller investigation, offering his unique perspective as a former federal prosecutor and current defence attorney. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He can be followed online on Twitter: @Popehat.

Ep. 27 - The Geopolitical Challenges Facing India with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Dhruva Jaishankar

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:21:50 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Dhruva Jaishankar, one of India’s foremost experts on international affairs. With India’s elections – the world’s largest democratic exercise – fast approaching Majumdar and Jaishankar discuss the top geopolitical issues facing the country. Topics of discussion include the role of China in the Indo-Pacific region, India’s careful but constructive economic engagement with China, the need for macro-economic reforms in India and their role the upcoming election, the recent escalation of tensions in Indo-Pakistani relations, and opportunities for greater collaboration between Canada and India. Dhruva Jaishankar is Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings India in New Delhi and the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. He was previously a Transatlantic Fellow with the German Marshall Fund (GMF) where he managed the India Trilateral Forum. Before that, he was a David Rockefeller Fellow with the Trilateral Commission and Brent Scowcroft Award Fellow with the Aspen Strategy Group. He holds a master's degree in security studies from Georgetown University.

Ep. 26 - "Claws of the Panda" with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Jonathan Manthorpe

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:42:49 -0400

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Jonathan Manthorpe, a legend in Canadian journalism and international affairs and recent author of the timely Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada. The two discuss the central themes and fortuitous timing of Claws of the Panda, which first hit bookshelves shortly after Canada’s arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou cast Canada-China relations into chaos this past December. Mr. Manthorpe argues that this event reveals the true character of China’s Communist Party, the frailty of Canada-China relations, and why—now more than ever—Canada must stand up for our values, international institutions, and the security of us and our true allies abroad. Jonathan Manthorpe has toured the world as a foreign correspondent and international affairs columnist for the last 40 years, heading up bureaus in Europe, Africa, and Hong Kong for several leading newspapers. Based today in Vancouver, he now operates as freelance columnist, commentator, and consultant in addition to being a highly demanded speaker. Claws of the Panda is his fourth book.

Ep. 25 – NATO’s Role in the Baltics with Marcus Kolga, Col. Ilmar Tamm & Maj. Gen. Andis Dilāns

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 09:43:17 -0500

In this episode, MLI Senior Fellow Marcus Kolga is joined by Col. Ilmar Tamm of the Estonian National Armed Forces and Maj. Gen. Andis Dilāns of the Latvian National Armed Forces, both also managers of the multi-nation Baltic Defence College. They begin by introducing the Baltic Defence College, which just celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Founded to help integrate former-Soviet military officials within the Western defence architecture, the College is shared, managed, and financed by the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The three also discuss present security threats facing the Baltics and the importance of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in checking Russian aggression. In addition to their military duties, Maj. Gen. Dilāns serves as Commandant of the Baltic Defence College and Col. Tamm as Director of the Joint Command and General Staff Course. Marcus Kolga is an international award winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, digital communications strategist, and a leading Canadian expert on Russian and Central and Eastern European issues.

Ep. 24 - Returning to Long-Term Thinking and Sustained Growth with Sean Speer and Tyler Cowen

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 12:32:56 -0500

In this episode, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer is joined by Tyler Cowen to discuss his latest book, “Stubborn Attachments: A Vision for a Society of Free, Prosperous, and Responsible Individuals.” A leading US economist and intellectual, Dr. Cowan was ranked among the “Top 100 Global Thinkers” by Foreign Policy Magazine. Dr. Cowen describes Stubborn Attachments as a defence of a free society with a particular emphasis on long-term thinking and the power of compounding economic growth. He argues that decreasing growth in the US economy is largely to blame for the zero-sum thinking that marks today’s political climate. The conversation also touches on the future Canada’s economy, the geography of political gridlock, effective philanthropy, and the current health of civil society. Tyler Cowen holds the Holbert C. Harris chair in economic at George Mason University and serves as Chairman and Faculty Director of the Mercatus Centre. He is also co-author of popular economic blog Marginal Revolution, co-founder of online education platform Marginal Revolution University, and hosts Conversations with Tyler, a diverse and wide-ranging podcast that “engages today’s deepest thinkers.”

Ep. 23 - Huawei and the Future of Canada-China Relations with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Ward Elcock

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:01:31 -0500

In this episode, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined once again by the venerable Ward Elcock, one of Canada most decorated public servants and a leading national security expert. The two discuss recent developments in Canada’s relationship to China, an issue now receiving unprecedented global attention in the wake of Canada's arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. The conversation locates this event in the broader context of China’s role as a rising power and the increasingly salient question of just how Canada ought to engage a country that is a key trading partner but no ally. A distinguished public servant of over 40 years, Ward Elcock served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for over a decade (1994-2004) as well as in many senior advisory capacities to the Privy Council Office on matters of intelligence and national security.

Ep. 22 - The Shifting Sands of Middle East Diplomacy with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Ambassador Barkan

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:08:07 -0500

In this episode, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Nimrod Barkan, to discuss recent developments in the shifting sands of diplomacy in the Middle East. Ambassador Barkan explains the recent cooperation between Israel and Gulf states, an emerging alliance in which Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi also acknowledged membership in earlier this month. The Ambassador points to the threat posed by Iran, now supported by Turkey, as the primary force animating this new diplomatic landscape. This episode also covers several other issues, including how Israel navigates its relationship with Russia vis-à-vis Iran, Hezbollah’s tunnel program to attack Israeli civilians, and Iran’s new strategic position from Syria to Yemen. Tune in for a frank and world-class briefing with Canada’s friend and ally, the State of Israel.

Ep. 21 - The Working Class and the Rise of Populism with Brett Byers and Sean Speer

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 09:14:31 -0500

In this episode, MLI Communications and Digital Media Manager Brett Byers is joined by Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer to discuss his recent commentary paper, "Working-Class Opportunity and the Threat of Populism in Canada." Speer's piece locates the cause of rising populism - as witnessed in the US, UK, and elsewhere - in the anxieties felt by working-class people facing economic dislocation. From this premise, he contends that preventing the rise of populism in Canada will require policymakers to address the uncertain economic futures of Canadians without post-secondary education. This episode considers this argument in the context of an ongoing national discussion about diversity and political representation. It also touches on several related topics such as identity, differing models of income support, and natural resource development. Speer's commentary can be read in full here: http://macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/MLICommentary_Dec2018_Speer_F.pdf

Ep. 20 - The Concept of "Indigenomics" with Ken Coates and Carol Anne Hilton

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 16:56:05 -0500

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, Ken Coates is joined by Carol Anne Hilton to further an enduring dialogue at MLI around Indigenous economic development and opportunity. Their conversation explores how the last 20 years of Indigenous legal and economic progress have created a platform for collaborative, nation-to-nation economic growth. Hilton explains the concept of Indigenomics, that is, 'economics from an Indigenous worldview', and highlights its importance when it comes to reaching the ambitious target of $100 billion generated directly through Indigenous commercial activity. Carol Anne Hilton is the Founder and CEO of The Indigenomics Institute where she has made a name as one of Canada’s most thoughtful speakers on Indigenous economic development. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor on both the Canadian Federal Economic Growth Council and the BC Economic Task Force. She holds an MBA from the University of Hertfordshire.

Ep. 19 - The Resource Economy and Indigenous Rights with Ken Coates and Dwight Newman

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:14:09 -0500

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, Ken Coates is joined by MLI Senior Fellow Dwight Newman to discuss the current state of affairs in Canada with respect to Indigenous rights in law, recent court cases, and what this all means for the resource economy. Their discussion traces watershed events in Canadian legal history to the present, clarifying the legal standing of claims now at the heart of a national debate around Bill C-69. Dwight Newman is Professor at the University of Saskatchewan and holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights in Constitutional and International Law. Dwight is a foremost scholar and regular commentator concerning the topics discussed in this episode. He holds a doctorate in Legal Philosophy from Oxford University where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

Ep. 18 - Canada and the Future of Work with Linda Nazareth and Ken Coates

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:09:03 -0500

In this episode of Pod Bless Canada, Ken Coates is joined by MLI Senior Fellow Linda Nazareth to discuss her upcoming book, Work is not a Place: Our Lives and Our Organizations in the Post-Jobs Economy. Her book considers the future of work in Canada questions the traditional notion of a ‘job’ in today’s economy. This episode takes listeners through several issues addressed in the book, which ultimately argues that the future may be brighter than we think. Linda Nazareth is an economist, author, blogger, broadcaster and speaker who has also authored several books about how labour is changing in today’s economy. She previously worked as a senior economist in the public and private sectors and spent a decade with BNN Bloomberg as Canada’s only full-time on-air economist.

Ep. 17 - Exploring how the federal agenda can overcome disruption with Sean Speer and Ken Coates

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:38:30 -0400

As the federal government heads into the last year of its majority mandate, MLI Munk Senior Fellows Sean Speer and Ken Coates discuss how the Trudeau government's agenda can overcome disruptions created by the election of Donald Trump, a changing economy, declining business investment, challenges to developing resource infrastructure, and complex relations with Indigenous peoples. This conversation was recorded in September, 2018.

Ep. 16 Part 2 - Canada-US relations and the NAFTA talks with Chris Sands and Brian Lee Crowley

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 10:04:17 -0400

Ep. 16 Part 2 - Canada-US relations and the NAFTA talks with Chris Sands and Brian Lee Crowley by Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Ep. 16 Part 1 - Canada-US relations and the NAFTA talks with Chris Sands and Brian Lee Crowley

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 15:58:51 -0400

Ep. 16 Part 1 - Canada-US relations and the NAFTA talks with Chris Sands and Brian Lee Crowley by Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Ep. 15 - Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs and the Future of Indigenous Prosperity

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 13:12:41 -0400

In this episode, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates is joined by Julie Ann Wriston to discuss her role in some major projects that have brought prosperity to Indigenous communities in Canada. As the former CEO of Pinehouse Business North and currently a Strategist at Creative Fire, Wriston is among Canada's most preeminent young business leaders. Her trailblazing successes as a young entrepreneur and Métis woman demonstrate the vast and untapped opportunity for inclusive economic growth in natural resource development. Wriston shares her experience of embracing her Métis identity while also describing the importance of aligning prosperity with cultural and community values.

Ep. 14 - Pursuing Indigenous and Northern Prosperity with Ken Coates and Dr. Greg Finnegan

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:44:23 -0400

In this episode, Ken Coates is joined by Dr. Greg Finnegan to discuss his role as Chief Executive Officer at Na-cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation. Na-cho Nyak Dun is a vibrant and unique northern Yukon community with natural resource mining at its backbone. Coates and Finnegan elaborate its long history of Indigenous entrepreneurship as well as how Na-cho Nyak Dun has been successful in confronting several challenges along the way. A long-time Yukoner and economic geographer, Dr. Finnegan brings exceptional insight to the very timely issues of Indigenous reconciliation, natural resource development, and the continued prosperity and independence of northern communities.

Ep. 13 - Elevating Canada's Creative Industries with Sean Speer and Jill Golick

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:49:00 -0400

In this episode, Sean Speer is joined by Jill Golick, one of Canada's leading thinkers on broadcasting and cultural policy. An award-winning screenwriter, former President of the Writers Guild of Canada, and current Director of Women in View, Ms. Golick is among the most experienced leaders and advocates for Canada's creative sector. This episode explores her extensive vision for taking Canadian media to new levels of commercial success and creative achievement. In light of the federal government's recent decision to review Canadian broadcasting, telecommunications, and radiocommunications policy, Speer and Golick drill down on the outdated aspects of current policy that must be overhauled to allow Canada's content creators to thrive in the digital media age.

Ep. 12 – Confronting Cybersecurity Threats to Canada with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Dick Fadden

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:34:07 -0400

In this episode, Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Richard (Dick) Fadden, one of Canada's most decorated civil servants and foremost experts on issues related to national security. Most notably, Mr. Fadden has served as National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and as Director of CSIS. In this episode, his deep expertise is applied to questions surrounding the current state of cybersecurity in Canada. The conversation differentiates various forms of cyber threats while challenging Canadians to be more mindful of the lurking dangers posed by cyber warfare and cybercrime, as well as by online propaganda, misinformation, and politically-motivated "fake news."

Ep. 11 – Understanding the Russian Threat with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Dr. Stephen Blank

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 14:53:12 -0400

In this episode, Shuvaloy Majumdar is joined by Dr. Stephen Blank, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, D.C., and former Professor of Russian National Security Affairs at the US Army War College. Majumdar and Blank discuss the nature of and rationale behind the multidimensional threat posed by Russia to the West.

Ep. 10 - Indigenous-Led Energy Generation with Ken Coates and Guy Lonechild

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:53:37 -0400

In this episode, Ken Coates is joined by Guy Lonechild, Indigenous leader and CEO of First Nations Power Authority (FNPA). FNPA's mandate is to support and derisk the development of First Nations-led renewable energy projects. Coates and Lonechild discuss how groups like FNPA create new opportunities for Indigenous communities to contribute significantly to decision making and productivity in Canada's growing renewable energy sector.

Ep. 9 - Trans Mountain Pipeline and Canada's Constitution With Brian Lee Crowley and Dwight Newman

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 25 May 2018 13:49:26 -0400

In this episode, Brian Lee Crowley is joined by Dwight Newman, MLI Munk Senior Fellow for Constitutional Law, to discuss the current status of the Trans Mountain Pipeline and negotiations between Kinder Morgan and the Canadian Government. Dwight's deep constitutional expertise is applied to questions around British Columbia's legal position for challenging the construction of the pipeline. The conversation also touches broadly on themes of federalism, Indigenous rights, interprovincial trade, and the implications of legal uncertainty for Canada's investment climate.

Ep. 8 - Safeguarding Canada's National Security with Shuvaloy Majumdar And Ward Elcock

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Mon, 07 May 2018 11:43:20 -0400

MLI Munk Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy Shuvaloy Majumdar discusses Canadian national security and interests with Ward Elcock, former special advisor to the Privy Council Office and CSIS director.

Ep. 7 - Sino-Indian rivalry in the Indo-Pacific and beyond with Shuvaloy Majumdar and Mohan Malik

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:41:39 -0400

MLI Munk Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy Shuvaloy Majumdar discusses the Sino-Indian rivalry in the Indo-Pacific and beyond with Dr. Mohan Malik, professor in Asian security at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu.

Ep. 6 - Canadian History and the Political Uses and Abuses of Memory with Crowley and Patrice Dutil

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:43:33 -0400

Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley and Ryerson University's Patrice Dutil discuss Canada's history and its impact on the current political agenda on the latest episode of Pod Bless Canada.

Ep. 5 - Crowley and J. Michael Cole, Senior Fellow at the China Policy Institute

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:57:25 -0400

Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley and J. Michael Cole, Senior Fellow at the China Policy Institute discuss Taiwan, China, and how the two play a role in Canada's interests.

Ep. 4 - Canadian Business and Political Decision Making in Canada with Crowley and Speer

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:29:26 -0500

MLI's Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley and Munk Senior Fellow Sean Speer discuss public attitudes, the Canadian business community and its role in political decision making in Canada.

Ep. 3 - Indigenous People and the Natural Resource Economy with Brian Lee Crowley and Ken Coates

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:43:58 -0500

MLI's Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley and Munk Senior Fellow Ken Coates discuss the issues facing Indigenous People and the Natural Resource Economy.

Ep. 2 - Trudeau in India & the Canada-India relationship with Brian Lee Crowley & Shuvaloy Majumdar

Macdonald-Laurier Institute — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:27:39 -0500

MLI's Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley and Munk Senior Fellow Shuvaloy Majumdar discuss Prime Minister Trudeau's upcoming trip to India and the Canada-India relationship at large.