Are Canadian policy makers ready for the AI revolution? How effective are our current regulations? what should we be worried about? AND, are immigrants going to save our economy, or break it? From controversial rhetoric, a housing crisis, & more…How can we navigate this immigration conversation? Host:  Riley Yesno Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Guests: Meagan Simpson,...

A fiery election in Alberta. No, literally Alberta’s on fire this provincial election. AND, a $95 billion dollar lawsuit against the Ontario and Canadian Government challenging a lack of consent around resource extraction and the way treaty rights are upheld. This week longtime guest, first time host Riley Yesno is filling in for Mattea Roach. Host:  Riley Yesno Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor...

This week host Mattea Roach is joined by Riley Yesno, Karen Restoule, and Ethan Cox to unpack the The Public Service Alliance of Canada Strike, and the increase of police involved deaths. PSAC has reached a tentative contract agreement after almost two weeks of striking against its employer – the Government of Canada. AND, there’s a sharp rise in police-involved deaths peaking in 2022. What is really going on here? Host:  Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer),...

This week Mattea Roach, is joined by Ziya Jones, Riley Yesno, and Frances Bula, to talk about public safety. A few weeks ago unhoused folks in Vancouver were met with displacement and decampment by police and bylaw officers. Who is this supposed solution meant for? AND, transgender and queer people have been facing a new wave of violent attacks globally. What kinds of protections might actually help? Host:  Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer),...

It’s that time of the year again! Budget season… AND, the story about Chinese government influence just keeps getting even more complicated. This week Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Stuart Thomson to unpack how the complex issue of government interference is being seized on by various parties, and how feasible Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland’s proposed budget is for this country’s future.  Host:  Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh...

Dig into Canadian politics from the best seats in the House. Join host Mattea Roach and our rotating roster of panelists from across the country while we engage in discussions about what is happening in Canadian politics right now, and why it matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, marking it as the biggest bank failure in the United States since the 2008 Financial Crisis. AND, our three top grocers testified at the House of Commons recently, but Canadians learned very little. This week host Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Meagan Simpson, and Arshy Mann to unpack the future of the bank and tech industries, and why many Canadians are feeling the strain every time they step into a grocery store, all while grocers are making...

Host Mattea Roach is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Stuart Thomson and Les Perreaux to talk about the latest at Roxham Road, the irregular border crossing where thousands of asylum seekers flock to Canada. What’s bringing them here and what’s happening once they arrive?    And a subset of Google users in Canada have discovered a bunch of Canadian news mysteriously disappearing from their search results… whose fault is this, and should we be concerned? We unpack the Online News Act, Bill...

Host Mattea Roach is joined by Nick Taylor-Vaisey, David Moscrop and Sandy Garossino to talk about the two objects shot down over Canada. Is this a question of national security? Or a weather monitoring program gone wrong? It’s probably not aliens, right?  Also, the Rouleau Report was released shortly after RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki announced the end of her tenure. The RCMP has felt the impact of scandal after scandal, so what kind of leadership is required to move forward and build...

A proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit has been reached between the federal government and 325 First Nations, which applies to Indigenous children who attended residential schools during the day—students who were left out of the 2006 residential schools settlement. This episode gets into the legal elements of this lawsuit, how we got here, and what impacts it might have going forward.  And, all 13 provinces and territories are calling for “immediate action” to strengthen Canada’s...

Armed conflicts across the world are increasingly demanding the attention of Canadians and prompting the federal government to get involved. This episode, host Mattea Roach is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Arshy Mann, and Steven Chase to talk about what Canadian intervention in Haiti could and should look like, and they also tackle the existential questions we have about our military: What is the state of our military? Are we prepared to take on an expanded role? Should we? Host: Mattea...

We tackle two crises facing our country – healthcare and climate change. Host Mattea Roach asks our panelists Riley Yesno, Drew Brown, and Sara Birrell about what we are doing to solve the major problems that exist in our splintered healthcare system and where we are really at when it comes to climate change policy. Does throwing money at the problem actually help? Host:  Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capachionne (Audio Editor and...

On December 14th, we brought The Backbench to you LIVE and in-person from the Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto. It was an evening of “serious” political discourse and endless laughs. Our host Mattea Roach and our expert panelists, Emilie Nicolas, David Moscrop, and Murad Hemmadi unpacked the seriously eventful year that was 2022 – from faulty infrastructure, to the Pope’s visit, to our 2023 political wish list, and more.  Taking inspiration from David Moscrop's powerful questions: Show of...

We want to warn listeners that segment one talks about suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners. If you'd like to skip it go to 23:37. If you’re struggling with mental health please connect with a crisis responder to get help without judgment: Call 1-833-456-4566 / Text: 45645 (4 pm – midnight ET).  In this episode, host Mattea Roach, and panelists, Karen Restoule, Jaskaran Sandhu, and Arshy Mann, unpack the controversial expansion for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) set to change...

The six weeks of dramatic testimony have officially come to an end with testimony from the Prime Minister himself. Join our host, Mattea Roach, and an exceptional panel with Stuart Thomson, David Moscrop, and Sandy Garossino for a deep retrospective on Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act against the 'Freedom Convoy' this past February. Also, the Green Party has a “new” leader. Welcome back Elizabeth May. This episode Mattea and our panelists discuss the future of the Green Party.  If...

Financial Minister Chrystia Freeland’s mini-budget is at your service to save us from inflation. Or is it Justin-flation? This week our host, Mattea Roach, is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey to talk about the effectiveness of the proposed budget, the impending recession, and the “costly-coalition.” They also tackle the increasingly common use of the notwithstanding clause—what does it mean, and should we be worried? Get tickets to The Backbench live show on...

BC NDP leadership candidate Anjali Appadurai had the rug pulled out from under her. This week Mattea Roach is joined with Stuart Thomson, Jaskaran Sandhu, and Arno Kopecky to talk about how and why the BC-NDP ended up disqualifying Appadurai, leaving David Eby to be sworn in as Premier of British Columbia. Also, this week the backbenchers talk about the Federal handgun freeze that is supposedly the strongest action in a generation. We’ll see about that… Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva...

Meet David Wallace, political fixer. After decades in the game he says he’s getting out, telling all, and dumping his files in public. The result is the viral "Klondike Papers" theory of conspiracies, conservatives, and cults. But are the allegations true? And why is he really implicating himself, and so many others? A wild, true story. Series launches October 31st. Subscribe now (link). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is going on in the Wild Rose Country? Mattea Roach is joined by experts Catherine Griwkowksy, Emilie Nicolas, and David Moscrop. Together they unpack the implications of Alberta’s new premier's calls for more sovereignty and the possible unravelling of our beloved Canadian federalism. This week we also get into Canada’s complicated diplomatic response to the Iranian protests. Host: Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione...

Our host Mattea Roach, tackles the “new” and “exciting” Federal dental plan with Riley Yesno, Stuart Thomson, and Nick Taylor-Vaisey. The NDP are patting themselves on the back for getting something done in Ottawa—but how much have they really accomplished here? Speaking of “new” and “exciting” we need to talk about the IRCC’s new proposed immigration pathways that seem to be recycled old ones. Links: Dental: Politico piece re: dental Immigration: CTV piece: Migrant workers continue to call...

Our new host, Mattea Roach, ponders Poilievre’s political playbook with Riley Yesno, David Moscrop and Catherine Griwkowsky on this week’s panel episode. And you know the saying, leaders come and go. As Pierre Poilievre makes his way into the Conservative leadership, Queen Elizabeth II has left us. Is it time to crack open our constitution and jettison the monarchy once and for all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re thrilled to announce that Mattea Roach will be hosting the brand new season of the Backbench. She’s best known for her 23-game winning streak on Jeopardy!, but Mattea also has a keen interest in politics and has a background in sexual diversity studies, political science, and women and gender studies. In this teaser episode, Mattea is joined with Backbench Producer Aviva Lessard and Associate Producer Noor Azrieh for a sneak peak at what they hope to accomplish in the new...

Where are the fresh faces in Canadian politics? Today, we dive into career politicians—the good the bad, and the ugly. Plus, why can’t our various levels of government just work together? It’s time to end the federal, provincial and municipal war. Also, guest contributors join Fatima’s last episode for her last point of order segment. Panelists:  Emilie Nicolas, Murad Hemmadi, Stuart Thomson Guest Contributors:  Raisa Patel, David Moscrop, Jason...

In this week’s episode, we talk about what constitutes good leadership, and why our leaders are struggling to meet the moment amid a global ripple of failed democratic leadership. Plus, is provincial immigration autonomy going to save us from the 2.7 million applicant backlog? Producers note: Due to technical difficulties, Fatima's voice may sound a little different. Panelists: Drew Brown, Riley Yesno, Jaskaran Sandhu Sponsors: Oxio, Douglas Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8,...

In this episode, Jerry DeMarco, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, delves into the Canadian federal response to climate change, and why our response is still insufficient. DeMarco unpacks 30 years of failed climate progress and offers an analysis of our government’s actions and inactions to deal with our seemingly impending doom. Links: 2022 Reports 1 to 5 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of Canada Federal...