The House

After a long wait, Canada's AI strategy has arrived — a document that encourages people to learn and adopt the technology in the hopes of creating 250,000 new jobs. Host Catherine Cullen speaks with AI experts and skeptics Jake Hirsch-Allen, Kristen Thomasen and Hamish van der Ven about what it means for employment, children’s safety and the environment. Then, Minister of AI Evan Solomon joins the program to explain why Canadians need to understand this technology despite their low trust in it.

Plus, there seemed to be a little bit of movement in trade negotiations with the United States this week – despite more trolling from President Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state. Lisa Raitt is on the advisory committee on Canada-U.S. economic relations and tells The House what progress has been made as the July 1st deadline inches closer.

And, in a wide ranging exit interview at Rideau Hall, outgoing Governor General Mary Simon tells Catherine Cullen why she wasn’t sure she would be able to finish her five years in the role and reflects on how Canada is doing on reconciliation and national unity.

This episode features the voices of:
Sumaiya Ahmed, librarian at the Toronto Public Library
Prachi Salvi, director and marketing consultant
Jake Hirsch-Allen, director of partnerships at The Dais
Hamish van der Ven, associate professor at the University of British Columbia
Kristen Thomasen, chair in Law, Robotics, and Society at the University of Windsor
Evan Solomon, Minister of AI
Lisa Raitt, member of the Advisory Committee on Canada–U.S. Economic Relations
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

The House is on the ground at the country’s biggest defence and security show, for an in-depth look at Canada’s plan to spend big on the military. Catherine Cullen meets Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, former Defence Minister Peter MacKay, New Brunswick premier Susan Holt, as well as defence contractors to hear about unmanned fighter jets, AI in warfare, and whether Canada is prepared to tick off Donald Trump with some of its military purchases.

Plus, former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced his resignation from Parliament over concerns about Carney’s climate commitments. Parliament Hill watchers Paul Wells and Shannon Proudfoot discuss whether Guilbeault’s departure will hurt — or possibly help — the Prime Minister.

And, in the days before the World Cup begins across North America, president of the Canada Border Services Agency Erin O’Gorman joins The House to discuss Canada’s new entry requirements over Ebola, and whether an increase in spending on the Canada-U.S. border has made it harder to get into the country.

This episode features the voices of:
Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement
Peter MacKay, former defence minister
Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick
Paul Wells, author and podcaster
Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer for the Globe and Mail
Erin O'Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has a plan: Hold a referendum in October to decide whether to push for a legally binding referendum on independence in the future. Confused? Host Catherine Cullen has it covered. Pro-separation lawyer Keith Wilson and federalist champion Thomas Lukaszuk will share their thoughts on Smith's decision. And the godfather of Prairie populism, former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, weighs in on the vote.

Plus, environmental groups are concerned about Canada's climate commitments after Carney signed an agreement with Alberta that could usher in a new oil pipeline. Is the Prime Minister simply being pragmatic or has he largely given up the fight against climate change? Current and former climate advisors Michael Bernstein and Simon Donner explain their opposing reactions to Carney's new deal.

And, Conservative MP Michael Chong went to Taiwan this week… specifically because Chinese officials warned Canadian parliamentarians not to go. Chong talks to The House about his defiant trip, his hopes of shoring up peace in the region and whether he believes his travel could hurt Canada’s growing economic ties to Beijing.

This episode features the voices of:
Keith Wilson, pro-separation lawyer
Thomas Lukaszuk, leader of the Forever Canadian petition
Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform Party of Canada
Michael Bernstein, CEO of Clean Prosperity
Simon Donner, climate scientist and professor at the University of British Columbia
Michael Chong, Conservative MP

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney have made another stride in their important MOU: A new carbon pricing agreement that is far less than the targets set by Justin Trudeau. Is the deal enough to calm down separatists? Could it anger environmentalists within Carney's team? Ottawa bureau chiefs Tonda MacCharles of the Toronto Star and Stuart Thomson of the National Post lay out the stakes.

Plus, the House takes an in-depth look at whether the government should ban social media accounts for kids. We visit a high school to hear how teenagers feel about a ban; Anxious Generation research partner Ravi Iyer lays out what’s at stake if restrictions are not put in place; Meta’s Rachel Curran defends the company’s practices; tech company CEO Steve Borza describes how age verification technology works (or doesn’t); then Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew explains how his province’s social media and AI Chatbot ban for kids could work.

This episode features the voices of:
Stuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star
Ravi Iyer, managing director of the University of Southern California Marshall School’s Neely Center and research partner with the Anxious Generation Movement
Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada
Steve Borza, CEO of Bluink Ltd
Wab Kinew, premier of Manitoba

Alberta is experiencing a political earthquake after the provincial NDP claimed they had a video showing a separatist organizer showing people how to use a database that included leaked voter information. The House Party podcast team — Catherine Cullen, Daniel Thibeault and Jason Markusoff — reunite to discuss the fallout and how seriously Carney needs to take the separatist movement.
And, in a rare and wide-ranging interview the director of Canada’s spy agency, Dan Rogers, sits down with host Catherine Cullen to talk about foreign interference in Alberta, the presence of the IRGC in Canada, and what the government’s efforts to re-engage with India and China mean for Canadian security.

Plus, you've probably heard of Kalshi and Polymarket — online platforms that let users effectively bet on just about anything, even Canadian politics. Now, two Canadian companies have gotten regulatory approval to launch their own prediction markets. Werner Antweiler, an associate professor at UBC and national security expert Wesley Wark join The House to discuss whether these markets could exacerbate gambling concerns and if they pose a risk to Canadians' security.

This episode features the voices of:
Daniel Thibeault, parliamentary bureau chief for Radio-Canada and host of Les Coulisses du Pouvoir
Jason Markusoff, CBC Calgary
Dan Rogers, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Werner Antweiler, associate professor at the UBC Sauder School of Business
Wesley Wark, senior fellow at at the Centre for International Governance Innovation