CANADALAND

Quebec has elected Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Parti Québéois to a minority government, whose platform includes a referendum on sovereignty.
Even though St-Pierre Plamondon intends to hold off on a referendum until after Trump has left office, Canada now has a two-headed separatism problem.
The current version of Quebec’s sovereignty movement is led by young people, who signal their support through reels and memes.
Meanwhile, in Alberta an investigation in the Globe and Mail details meetings between separatists and the US administration, where fresh water, oil royalties, and a train route to Alaska were reportedly offered in exchange for US support.

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Julian Abraham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Harrison Lowman

Further reading:
PQ in power, CAQ wiped off the map: Key takeaways from Quebec's election | CBC News
Quebec Sovereigntists Are Back. This Time They’re All Young | The Walrus
How St-Pierre Plamondon Learned to Stop Worrying and Blame Immigrants | The Walrus
Who is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Quebec's new separatist premier? | National Post
PQ sought meeting with U.S. officials in Washington, State Department says - Montreal Gazette
How some Alberta separatists are courting U.S. support for independence - The Globe and Mail
Jen Gerson: Oh, so you want to send Ottawa a message, eh? - The Line
How some Alberta separatists are courting U.S. support for independence - The Globe and Mail
‘A new beginning’: Ottawa council votes to rename Trump Avenue | Globalnews.ca
Ex-defendant apologizes to Steven Galloway as defamation trial set to begin - The Globe and Mail

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It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to start in less than a year. That timeline is a big test for Carney, because it will be the first project to use the fast-tracking powers his government passed through the controversial Bill C-5. But, there are still a ton of unanswered questions, Falice Chin of the Hub joins host Noor Azrieh to answer them. What exactly has the government signed us up for?

Plus, an update on David Eby’s snap election in BC with Mo Amir from This is VANCOLOUR.

Host: Noor Azrieh
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Falice Chin, Mo Amir

Background reading:
6 unanswered questions hanging over Alberta’s ‘Pacific Link’ oil pipeline – The Hub
Carney’s expensive Alberta truce: the Pacific Link pipeline – The Narwhal
Carney, Smith say new West Coast pipeline could get oil companies building again – CBC News
How a new oil pipeline could open new markets for Canada — and deepen U.S. ties – Edmonton Journal
Indigenous, local leaders optimistic about new pipeline despite “host of issues” Carney says Federal government is yet to address – Edmonton Journal
Canada’s Proposed Oil Pipeline Offers Carney Relief From Domestic and Global Turmoil – The New York Times
Fast-tracked pipeline project to squeeze Indigenous consultation timelines – CTV News

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On last week’s episode of Off The Record senior producer James Nicholson asked you to tell him stories about whats going on in your backyard. We wanted to hear your local stories, and y’all did not disappoint!

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Today we’re reopening the files on what might be the strangest and most shocking Canadian media story in recent memory. The Ottawa Citizen journalist, David Pugliese, who was allegedly compromised by the KGB.

On October 24th, 2024, Chris Alexander, former MP and former Harper cabinet minister, also a former Canadian diplomat to Russia, gave sworn testimony at a parliamentary inquiry into Russian interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada. And that’s where the allegations first came to public light.

The story stunned the Canadian media world. David Pugliese has been a fixture in Canadian journalism for almost 40 years. He does serious in-depth reporting about national defense. And the idea that all this time he's been a secret Russian agent, it just seemed nuts.

But these were serious, potentially career-ending, potentially criminal allegations. Pugliese denied the allegations outright in clear and emphatic language. The Canadian Association of Journalists stood by his side and decried the allegations as a McCarthy-esque smear job. And the story, well, google it now, and the internet’s collective wisdom will tell you that the story is debunked.

So why are we talking about it now? Because our investigation raises new questions about the allegations against Pugliese and about the Canadian media’s role in the story.

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Written and Reported by, Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)
Additional music by Audio Network
Fact checking by Julian Abraham
Photo: David Pugliese’s X Profile

More information:
Canadaland’s Substack
Forged KGB Documents Used to Smear Journalist in Parliament | The Walrus
So You've Become a Russian Asset - by Justin Ling

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Who is Daniel Robson?

Since 2025, Robson quickly established himself as a prolific freelance columnist, with bylines in the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, The Hub, Western Standard, and Policy Options.

But there’s one problem: he doesn’t seem to exist.

When a Turkish journalist began asking Canadian editors to verify Robson’s biographical details, they realized they couldn’t and that Robson’s persona and writing was A.I. generated.

Who or what is behind this mysterious A.I. entity and what does it have to do with Morocco?

Stuart Benson of the Hill Times joins Julian Abraham to go down the Daniel Robson rabbit hole.

Host: Julian Abraham
Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Gökçe On (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Stuart Benson

Additional music by Audio Network

Vote for CANADALAND at the Signal Awards! Nominations include “My Chatbot Encouraged my Psychosis” for Best Writing and “The Freelancer’s Guide to Getting Revenge When You’ve Been Ripped Off” in Arts and Culture

Further reading:
Why Policy Options removed an article published under the name Daniel Robson - Policy Options
Exclusive—Fake AI columnist dupes Canadian press to target Moroccan dissidents, and a Turkish 'middleman' - Türkiye Today
AI fabrication suspected of writing dozens of articles in Canadian publications - The Globe and Mail
Why the Citizen removed articles by Daniel Robson — and what we're doing next | Ottawa Citizen
A statement on articles by ‘Daniel Robson’ - The Hub
Industry 'frustrated' as Liberals' Bill C-39 falls short of proactive strike-prevention powers - The Hill Times
Baked potato offered as incentive for attendees of Nova Scotia MAID info night - Toronto Sun

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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.
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Earlier this year, we asked you to call in and tell us about news stories that were a big deal in your town, but were not necessarily getting much, if any, national attention. We ended up hearing some incredible stories and even got a few leads out of that episode.

This week, we decided to dive back into the world of local news and pose the same question to our listeners — and you did not disappoint.

On this episode, we hear what it’s really like to weather a referendum storm from an Alberta citizen, we experience an Ontario town’s “gift of nuclear waste,” and our host James reconnects with an old friend of the forest.

Host: James Nicholson

Credits: Caleb Thompson (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), Jesse Brown (Publisher)
Additional music by Audio Network & Kale Beaudry

Further Reading:
'It's not a done deal': Community nearest nuclear waste site to hire lawyer - NWO News Watch
As Alberta separatism referendum looms, flags become symbol of voting intention — and tension - CBC
Cat in the Hat suspect who chased a teen girl in B.C. appears to be a trend copycat - CBC
This B.C. woman accidentally sold toxic mushrooms to customers - CBC
Kale Beaudry & dangertree - Bandcamp

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