CANADALAND

Unsealed U.S. indictments allege that India-based organized crime networks orchestrated political assassinations, extortion schemes, and large-scale drug trafficking across North America and Europe. And according to prosecutors, Canada wasn't just another country caught in the crossfire. It was both a target for extortion and a hub for cross-border operations.

Host Noor Azrieh asks Punjab-based journalist and author Jupinderjit Singh: who and what, exactly, are we dealing with?

Plus a conversation with Sikhs for Justice organizer Inderjeet Gosal, who says he’s got a bounty on his head.

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

Guests: Jupinderjit Singh, Inderjeet Gosal

Background reading:
International Crackdown on India-Based Organized Crime Gangs Results in 24 Arrests in U.S., Canada, and Europe – United States Department of Justice
Gangs of Punjab: Guns, Greed, and Girlfriends – Jupinderjit Singh
Indictments tying Bishnoi to Surrey, B.C., killing detail alleged global criminal network – CBC News
The story of a Bishnoi foot soldier – Global News
CBC INVESTIGATES | Extortion, drugs, assassination and transnational Indian crime syndicates: ’Operation Hard Ball’ explained – Radio Canada
Deportation order issued against Bishnoi associate linked to gun used in B.C. shootings – CBC News
Canadian border agency investigates almost 200 extortion-related cases in Greater Toronto – Toronto Star
Ontario Sikh leader explains why he refused protection: 'I’d rather take India’s bullet' – CBC News

Sponsors:
Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN40 to get 40$ off and 10GB of free data.

Did you know we have a monthly supporter-exclusive show?

Last episode, on Off the Record, Sam Konnert asked Jesse Brown all about the state of the company and where we're going in 2026. Also, why did Jesse cave to the union's demands in contract bargaining?

If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin O'Leary is not just a rich Canadian businessman — he's a phenomenon. He's a media phenomenon both here in Canada and in the US. And he's known for one thing: being an asshole.

But is he really an asshole? Is it just a schtick? A character? A clown that he plays on TV to entertain us all? Or is it all sincere? Does he mean all of the stuff he says? And if he does mean it, why should we believe anything he says? Is he actually an expert? In life, in business, in politics?

We tracked down the people who worked with him as his legend was being spun, including the guy that "discovered" him.

Further Reading:
Kiddies’ Togs Manufacturing Company Ltd. — McCord Museum
Learning from Mattel — Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
MATTEL – How the Giant Toy Maker Fell So Far So Fast — L.A. Business Journal
Kevin O'Leary: He's not a billionaire, he just plays one on TV — Globe & Mail
Richard Stursberg leaves CBC — CBC
Lawsuits in fatal cottage country boat crash involving Kevin O’Leary finally settled. Here's what we know — National Post
Wonder Valley — O’Leary Ventures

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer, Senior Production Supervisor), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editing & Production), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by: Julian Abraham
Additional music by: Audio Network
Photo: Philip Romano

Sponsors:

oxio: Head over to https://canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.ca

BetterHelp: Visit https://betterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Smith announces a $13 billion Meta data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, set to be the largest in Canada.

In contrast to Carney’s federal A.I. strategy, which promised clean, sovereign, and ethical A.I., Smith refers to the Meta project as a “digital refinery,” fuelled by a natural gas plant that will be built to power it.

Instead of digital sovereignty, is Canada going to end up being a branch-plant, resource economy at the service of Big Tech?

Plus, the best Canadian films you probably haven’t seen, and Big Tech’s new hiring target: philosophers.

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Douglas Soltys

Further reading:
Big Tech joins Calgary Stampede oil bash, as Alberta courts data centres | CBC News
Meta to build $13 billion data centre in Alberta, largest outside the U.S. | Globalnews.ca
'Responsible corporate citizen:' Meta, Premier Danielle Smith defend $13B Alberta mega data centre plan - Edmonton Journal
Supersized data centres are coming to Canada. One province is at the epicentre | CBC News
Meta to build Canada’s largest data centre north of Edmonton | BetaKit
Meta axes feature that allowed tagging Instagram users to generate AI images of them | CBC News
Vancouver’s Growing Anti-AI Movement | The Tyee
Meta’s AI Data Center Caught Leaking Deadly Bacteria Into Water Town Uses for Irrigation - Futurism
The Revenge of the Philosophy Majors - NY Times
The 100 best Canadian films ever made - The Globe and Mail

Join Jesse Brown at the University of Waterloo for:

Campus Town Hall - Civil Conversations
7pm | July 21st, 2026
University of Waterloo
Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building
PSE 7303
Supported by Heterodox Academy

Sponsors:
Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN40 to get 40$ off and 10GB of free data.

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.ca


If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Booze, bridges, and the fog of the trade war.
Canada’s booze boycotts are working, and Senator Adam Schiff says it’s unfair and devastating for the California wine industry. Isn’t that the point?

Meanwhile, Carney offers concessions to Trump on the Gordie Howe Bridge deal. Did we get bamboozled?

Plus, a Wall Street Journal deep dive paints Carney as the leader of the resistance against Trump.

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Douglas Soltys

Further reading:
Canada’s boycott of U.S. wines ‘causing devastating harm,’ California senator says - CTV News
Republican bill targets Canada's provincial booze bans | CBC News
U.S. “We demand Canada stop this alcohol boycott that isn’t working and also we don’t even care” - The Beaverton
Ontario runs $8M tab storing U.S. alcohol, as province's plans for stockpile still uncertain | CBC News
How will Gordie Howe Bridge profit-share deal work between Canada, U.S.? | Globalnews.ca
Canada gives share of Gordie Howe Bridge profits to U.S. to get Trump go-ahead - Financial Post
Truckers say Gordie Howe bridge changes everything - CTV News
42% of Canadian manufacturing companies have moved to the U.S. or are considering it, and Ottawa is running out of time to stop them - The Hub
John Ivison: Carney may lead the Trump ‘resistance,’ but Canadian casualties are mounting - National Post
The Reverse-Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI (05 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
The First Chinese EVs Reaching Canada Aren’t The Bargains Buyers Were Promised | Carscoops


Join Jesse Brown at the University of Waterloo for:

Campus Town Hall - Civil Conversations
7pm | July 21st, 2026
University of Waterloo
Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building
PSE 7303
Supported by Heterodox Academy

Sponsors:

Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN40 to get 40$ off and 10GB of free data.

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada’s Access to Information Act was supposed to give Canadians a window into their government. But more than 40 years later, critics say the system is failing — with delays, redactions, and a culture of secrecy. Host Noor Azrieh speaks with transparency activist Ken Rubin, journalist Dean Beeby, and lawyer Matt Malone about the fight over the future of access to information in Canada, and why proposed changes could make it even harder to hold governments accountable.

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

Photo: Tony Wang

Guests: Ken Rubin, Dean Beeby, Matt Malone

Background reading:

Ottawa experts raise alarm over ‘regressive’ government proposals for access-to-information law – Ottawa Citizen
Information commissioner 'disappointed' by lack of federal ambition on access reform – The Canadian Press
Federal transparency law changes could shield government emails, text messages – The Narwhal
Off to a bad start: Treasury Board already wants to make access to information worse – The Hill Times
Liberal government's addiction to secrecy – Dean Beeby
Canada's Bad Boy of Freedom of Information – Dean Beeby
Open By Default – Investigative Journalism Foundation
Dean Beeby's FOI Tip Sheet

Sponsors:
Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Did you know we have a monthly supporter-exclusive show?

Last week, on Off the Record, Sam Konnert asked Jesse Brown all about the state of the company and where we're going in 2026. Also, why did Jesse cave to the union's demands in contract bargaining?

If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.