CanCon
Jordan Heath-Rawlings, Mat Keselman, Kattie Laur
It's a fascinating time to be Canadian. This is a show that breaks all that wide open. Dangers. Opportunities. The stories that make this country what it is. And what it isn't. Longtime journalist and podcast host Jordan Heath-Rawlings (Elbows Up, The Big Story, The Gravy Train) returns to host critical Canadian Conversations with leading experts and storytellers. These are discussions—about who we are, how we got here, and where we're going—designed to offer more than soundbites and headlines. They'll introduce you to places, people and policies you might not have otherwise met, or perhaps not considered to be w...
Episodes
The case of the Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin
There's no way to sugarcoat the story of Ryan Wedding. Once an aspiring snowboarder from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wedding qualified for the 2002 Olympics as a member of the Canadian team. He didn't medal. Two decades later, he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, being compared to the likes of El Chapo and Pablo Escobar by American officials.After years on the run, Wedding was apprehended in January of this year in Mexico City, and he'll soon head to trial facing up to 19 felonies for his role in allegedly importing nearly 60 tons of cocaine into the US and Canada, working with the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.How did Wedding end up here? Perhaps, as a famous writer once put it, "gradually, then suddenly". But he's well on his way to becoming one of Canada's most infamous criminals, and a new podcast series explores how an athlete from Northern Ontario found himself among the most wanted fugitives in the world.Michelle Shephard, Canadian journalist, documentarian and the host of the CBC/Toronto Star podcast, The Most Wanted Olympian, alongside Toronto Star journalist Calvi Leon, walks us through what we know about Wedding's journey and what we're still waiting to find out... Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Inside the ever-advancing world of grandparent scams
You've been warned about them, undoubtedly. You've probably passed on that warning to your elderly loved ones, or anyone you see as a little digitally naive. But how much do you really know about how so-called 'Grandparent Scams' operate in Canada—from the scale of them to their ever-increasing sophistication to the damage they leave behind in their wake?This week, Rachel Brown walks us through her detailed reporting for The Walrus to give you a detailed look inside what's becoming a huge criminal industry, one that shows no signs of slowing down... Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How a small Canadian business copes with a trade war
Many of us have been lucky enough to experience the ongoing trade war with the United States as a small part of everyday life. We may pay slightly higher prices, or choose not to buy American products. We may read headlines about job losses or plant closures and feel sympathy, but we don't know what it's like to grapple with the ever-changing tariffs playing havoc with our bottom line.But small Canadian businesses have been living this hell for a year and a half now, and we wanted to give you a firsthand look at what that's like—from small annoyances to macro business pressures that force drastic changes. Today on Cancon, Dave Misener, co-founder of OMS Canada, an audio equipment retailer that imports from around the world, including the United States, takes us inside his world... Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
What will private investment in Canada's airports mean for travellers?
Mark Carney's government will open up three major Canadian airports to private investment, raising billions of dollars and fundamentally changing how these facilities are run. It's a strategy used in many countries around the world, but it's a new one for Canadian travellers. So, what's about to happen?John Gradek, Professor Emeritus at McGill University and one of the country's leading aviation experts, walks us through what could be a massive improvement to the Canadian airport experience. And while many Canadians would welcome the upgrades other massive international airports have seen, it remains to be seen what that investment will actually mean to those of us trying to schlepp bags through security and hopefully depart on time... Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The state of local news in Canada
If you're reading this in a big city, congratulations! You have reliable local news options! If you're living somewhere smaller... well, it's a bit of a dice roll, really.While most communities still have at least one options for reporting on their every day lives — everything from city council to education, local hospitals and sports and events — but news deserts are spreading with every closure of small town newspaper or radio station, and while independent publications and podcasts are working hard to replace them, that business mode is difficult to make work in smaller places.Today, we sit down with April Lindgren, professor emeritus at Toronto Metropolitan University and co-founder and director at the Local News Research Project, to discuss what happening to newsrooms across the country and what comes next. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The case for the Alberta referendum. (And other referendums.)
Most Albertans don't want to leave Canada. Most Canadians don't want to see them go. The data is clear, the separatist wing is a small percentage of the population, and is likely buoyed by foreign influence campaigns. To many Canadians, it seems clear there's no need for a referendum at all—that it only raises a question that millions of people already answer every day; that it's a bad faith attempt to steer the political conversation further right. So, why have it?Because we live in a democracy. A democracy that, like most in the West, is under threat. And you don't solve a democratic credibility problem by holding fewer votes.Today, Concordia University political science professor Donal Gill explains why this fall's vote in Alberta, as messy as it might get, is a healthy sign for Canadian democracy. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Canada's economy is ... somehow doing pretty well?
New tariffs have hit us. Our government will respond in kind next week. A trade war has begun in earnest. And there's no doubt Canadian businesses will suffer and jobs will be lost. And yet. After more than a year and a half of economic turmoil, the numbers tell a story of resiliency. Of an economy that did not, in fact, enter a technical recession. An economy that, in the last quarter, actually posted a very impressive number. Is this our economic diversification at work? Is it the calm before the storm? What do good numbers in the middle of uncertainty really mean for the months to come? And how will your wallet experience the new phase of the trade war? Economist and director of the Centre for Future Work Jim Stanford joins Jordan to explain the recent economic reports, and look ahead to what happens now. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How Canada is taking the lead on Arctic security
Canada's going to become one of three "framework nations" taking the lead on Arctic defence. The government is moving to purchase military equipment outside the United States or even (gasp!) build it here at home. Is all that talk about taking national defence seriously starting to show up in action? Alistair Edgar, Associate Dean at the School of International Policy and Governance at Wilfred Laurier University, joins us to analyze the Carney government's recent defence decisions. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Has the Carney government abandoned climate policy? It's complicated
You may have noticed that we're talking about building another pipeline. And our acknowledgement that we'll probably blow past our emissions targets. You may have also noticed all the trees burning. Again. And the smoke and the flooding and the ... you get it. But the country faces economic and non-economic threats as extreme as any in recent memory, and in times of trouble we often look to the oil fields. So has Prime Minister Carney's government sacrificed our climate future for dollars and jobs right now? Or can the Liberals have their cake and electrify it, too? Environmental journalist Arno Kopecky helps us parse through what has changed and what hasn't since Justin Trudeau's government crafted the Liberals' signature climate policies. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
IN REVIEW: How do we keep Canada's automotive industry rolling?
This week, as another set of US tariffs loom, we're revisiting a previous episode about an industry that is particularly vulnerable to them. We'll be back next week with fresh CanCon in your feed! More than 120,000 Canadians work in Canada's auto industry...for now. As tariffs imposed by the US President kick into gear, only to change and then change again, plants and shifts are adjusting by the day, and some have already shut down some production lines, at least temporarily. Right now, we're at the mercy of these tariffs, as our production is so entwined with the US and Mexico's that cars cross the border several times before they're finished. But does it have to be that way? What does Canada need to make our auto industry less dependent on America? Could we even, perhaps, make our own cars here at home? The whole car, from start to finish? Or is that an impossible dream. Jordan talks to Lorraine Sommerfeld, a longtime auto journalist about how to keep Canadian jobs safe from American tariffs, and how to keep our plants running despite the trade war—including the possibility of a totally Canadian-made automobile. Then, Laura grills Lorraine about how, exactly, a Canadian needing a new car should navigate the current situation. Buy now? Wait a while? Go used? Forget the whole thing? This is your guide to auto tariffs, from the macro down to the micro. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
IN REVIEW: Exploring Canada's Hidden Gems
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be revisiting a couple of our previous episodes—beginning with a trip through some of Canada's least-known but most worthy places to visit if you've still got some time to explore this summer: This summer, given ... everything going on down there, Canadians are more interested in exploring their own backyard than traveling to the United States. And since we've spent four months exploring everything about this country we need to fix, we wanted to look around at everything we don't. No matter where you live, this episode will give you some incredible ideas for your next getaway. Bestselling author Robin Esrock (The Great Canadian Bucket List) takes us on a tour from coast to coast to coast, starting in the North, then moving from West to East. There are so many beautiful, meaningful, fun and just plain weird places in this country that we thought we'd try to celebrate them all. Later, Esrock shares travel tips for everyone from those with the money for a cross-country train ride to those who need to stick closer to home, and their budget. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
This Canadian social media platform wants to be in your neighbourhood
Last week, we examined the Canadian Tech from a 10,000-foot perspective. This week, we take you inside the launch of Eh!, a Canadian social media platform that aims to get users out into their cities, towns and neighbourhoods, rather than lost in an algorithm. It's been around for almost a year now, and boasts tens of thousands of users—which is great, but is also a drop in the ocean compared to Facebook and Instagram. So what makes Eh! different? How can it grow? And what won't its creator sacrifice to get there, even if that means it stays in its small corner of the internet? This week, Jordan talks to Jessica Glowacki, founder and CEO of Trailmix Technology, which launched Eh! in 2025. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
So...how's that digital sovereignty thing going?
It's been well over a year since Canadians (and our governments) realized just how dependent we are on American technology—for everything from our day-to-day lives to the infrastructure of Canadian businesses and even our defence capabilities. We knew then that Canada had the talent and the resources, all we needed was the will. Well, that and hundreds of billions of dollars. And a tech industry that doesn't keep losing talent to the US. And a whole bunch of other things that threaten to overshadow the progress we have made by driving home just how difficult it is for any country in the world to detach its digital needs from the global leader. Today, Douglas Soltys, editor in chief of BetaKit and host of the BetaKit podcast, takes us inside Canada's tech industry and shows us what we've managed to accomplish and the barriers still standing in our way. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A trip inside Vancouver Island's dark history
Laura Palmer has been investigating and reporting on crimes on Vancouver Island for years. It's changed the way she sees one of Canada's most gorgeous places, and made her something of a local celebrity. But she's never dug into a case as old as the one she's chasing on her current season of Island Crime. In this episode, Laura (one of the founders of this podcast) takes us inside what it's like to be something of a public detective, how chasing crimes changes the way you see your own hometown, and who a cold case file belongs to several decades later. We also revisit the 'Elbows Up' days, and discuss how we're feeling about Canadian sovereignty more than a year later, in this special reunion episode of CanCon. (Please pay a visit to our sponsor, GoRVing Canada; especially if you're thinking of exploring Vancouver Island, in all its natural beauty, and dark underbelly...) Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Did Canada just become a 'soccer nation'?
Nothing much had ever been expected from soccer in Canada—or at least from men's soccer in Canada, and mainstream soccer fandom. Until recently. After our women's team showed the world we could punch well above our weight in the 2000s, the game started to gather steam. Now, after a successful run by the mean's team at the World Cup, and what has been by all accounts a superb atmosphere at the games played in Toronto and Vancouver, are we finally a 'soccer nation'? And is it worth the hundreds of millions of dollars it cost to do it? James Sharman, one of Canada's leading soccer analysts and commentators, and a co-host of Footy Prime, joins us to explain how soccer in Canada came this far, both on and off the pitch, and where it might be going next. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The strange, silly and sad stories you've never heard about Canadian Parliament
The House of Commons is a staid, formal institution. Right? It's been that way for well over a century. Gentlemen (and eventually Gentlewomen) debating important issues in a dignified manner? Not always. The real history of our halls of power includes exploding protesters, lots of cats and nudity and myriad other strange situations that crop up when flawed people hold power, public citizens protest and everyone pushes for their own proposals. On this special Canada Day episode, we're joined by Charlie Feldman, author of Unparliamentary: Tales from Canada's colourful Parliamentary past. He shows us exactly how wild it's been at times on Parliament Hill, and how all of that comes together to make us who we are. Please show some love to our sponsor, Go RVing Canada, if you're thinking of getting out and exploring this massive country this summer. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How Canada's great outdoors became a ticking time bomb
Ticks in this country used to be a minor, if dangerous, annoyance. That's changing quickly. Not only are the traditional deer ticks that we've lived with in some areas of the country spreading further north than ever before, other species that carry different tick-borne disease than what we've come to expect. Some of them increasingly harmful. Driving this explosion are a combination of factors. Climate change, of course. But it goes beyond that. So what do you need to know about which ticks are where? What can you do to protect yourself and your family? And what can Canada do, as a whole, to beter prevent and treat tick-borne illnesses? Just before the long weekend, when we all head out in tick-filled paradise, Toronto-based journalist Rebecca Gao delivers some straightforward tick talk to help you understand how we got here and what happens next. Also: Tick puns! Please take a moment to check out our sponsor, Go RVing Canada, to learn more about how you can explore the wilds of Canada in your own (tick-free!) paradise on wheels. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Could Halifax's housing strategy be an example for Canadian cities?
Halifax, like many cities in Canada, faces a housing crunch. Not because of how big it is geographically. There's plenty of room. But because of how hard it can be for cities to rezone for increased density and create more affordable housing. If you live in a city of decent size, you're probably familiar with why: NIMBYs, lobbyists and all the assorted complaints and opposition and money that tends to stop ambitious city-planning in its tracks. And governments that can't look further than all that opposition in the next election. A little while ago, Halifax simply ... ignored that. Council passed an ambitious plan to rezone much of the downtown. A few years later, the results are visible to everyone, and the next step is planned. The question is, will council be willing to buck the most stubborn of all city growth opponents: The suburbs? Today's episode features local independent journalist and founder of Grand Parade Matt Stickland, describing Halifax's ambitious housing plan. And its uncertain future. (Please take a moment to visit our sponsor Go RVing Canada, and learn a little more about how easy it is to get out there and explore our country this summer.) Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Why is Canada getting a brand new police force?
Well, let's just say that if everything's going great, you don't generally need to spin up an entire law enforcement agency out of thin air. But after years of failing to meaningfully cope with financial crimes, and the subsequent hits to our reputation in the international community that failure brings, the federal government has seen enough. Instead of the RCMP, which has murders and kidnappings and daily small-town policing on its plate as well, the new Financial Crimes Agency will deal solely with the sort of crime that may seem less urgent, but actually funds some of the ugliest crime in the world. How will they do it? How successful will they be? How do you actually go about creating a brand new agency from scratch? Jess Davis, PhD and President at Insight Threat Intelligence, as well as the host of the Secure Line podcast, joins us to discuss financial crime in Canada and if we can make a dent in it. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
What happened to Canada's Pharmacare plan?
It was long overdue, and began with a promise: It might start small, covering just a few common drugs, and expand until Canadians without benefits were no longer struggling to afford medication prescribed by doctors under our universal health care system. Less than two years later, however, the program seems set to contract instead of expand. It never got beyond the first couple of drugs, and the funding might well be squeezed to zero by the federal government. What happened here? Does Pharmacare still have a chance? And why weren't necessary drugs part of a "universal" health care system in the first place? Nikolas Barry-Shaw, a campaigner at the Council of Canadians, joins us to discuss how such a promising program became at risk of vanishing as quickly as it became reality. (We're welcoming our first sponsor to CanCon. Go RVing Canada wants to help you explore the country this summer, without leaving behind the comforts of home. If you've ever been curious about RVing, but have questions, they can help.) Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The US just paused a joint defence effort. How worried should Canada be?
You may not have heard about it, but the Permanent Joint Board on Defense has been a part of Canada and America's shared strategy for decades. Evidently, however, it may not be as "permanent" as its name suggests. Recently, the US announced it was pausing the board, citing Canada's need to contribute more to mutual defence in North America and a suggestion that we're talking the talk more than walking the walk when it comes to military spending. It's easy to take offence to that, given recent defence spending announcements from the Canadian government. It's easy to assume this is yet another poke to the eye from a US administration that exists only to troll or threaten Canada. But ... what if those claims aren't exactly wrong? What if we should perhaps, get off our high horse, this one time, when it comes to continental security? This week, Joe Varner, Senior Fellow at the MacDonald-Laurier institute, joins us to make the case for focusing on what really matters, and not the rhetoric from the White House. (We're welcoming our first sponsor to CanCon. Go RVing Canada wants to help you explore the country this summer, without leaving behind the comforts of home. If you've ever been curious about RVing, but have questions, they can help.) Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Why are gas prices so high in Canada if we produce our own? It's complicated.
Canada, as you may know, produces a ton of oil. Billions of tons every day, actually. Nearly all the oil we use was taken from the ground, one way or another, right here. And yet! When the Strait of Hormuz shut down, the price Canadians pay for Canadian-produced oil and gas went through the roof, just as it's done in nations that need to import almost all their oil. The answer to why that happened goes back to a policy that Canada has flip-flopped on over decades. It touches on Western Alienation and separatism, the legacy of Pierre Trudeau and a system that we theoretically could change, but practically cannot. Today, Economist Jim Stanford, of the Centre For Future Work, welcomes you to the world of Canadian energy policy! Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Midseason update: Surveillance pricing, listener feedback and more
This week we're checking in with the audience on the first few months of CanCon, discussing episodes we did or didn't (yet!) create, reading some of your feedback and getting a feel for where we're at before we dive back in to another few months of Canadian stories. If you haven't yet, don't forget to let us know what you think, and what you'd like us to cover. And thanks, as always, for listening. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The emotional side of the Canadian housing crisis
A roof over one's head has been a necessity of life since we lived in caves. But when that roof also represents Canada's class struggle, our income inequality issues and potentially the owner's entire retirement portfolio...things get complicated. More than half of young Canadians don't expect they'll ever own a home. There are millions of Canadians right now who own their homes thanks to privilege, timing, relationships and...just plain ol' luck. Some of those lucky Canadians, including Cancon's host and today's guest, look around and see the generations following them stuck in shoebox apartments with no hope of qualifying for a mortgage and feel guilty for owning their homes. Not enough to do much about it, mind you, but still, guilty. Are we part of the problem? Today we unpack the complicated dynamics of home ownership, at a time when a human right has become an investment strategy. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
What is YouTube 'Slopaganda'? And why is it pushing Alberta separation?
In recent weeks, dozens of videos pushing Alberta separation (and frequently US annexation) have driven tens of millions of views on YouTube. But there's a problem. All these videos and accounts are remarkably similar, and to someone who actually knows the province, there are signs the people making them ... do not. Who's behind these videos and what's their goal? To truly drive an independent Alberta, or to sow division during a tumultuous political time for Canada? How do they manage to pump out so many, and why do they drive so much engagement? And most importantly, what do Canadians need to know about who's messing with our political discussions? We invited Alex Boyd, a Calgary-based reporter on the Toronto Star's investigations team, to join us to take the temperature on the Alberta separatist movement, break down a study of these videos and explain what and who might be behind them. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
When music went digital Canada was at the front of the line. What happened?
In the late '90s and early '00s, the music industry fundamentally changed. Within a decade, fans went from buying CDs in a local music store to purchasing $0.99 singles on iTunes. But before iTunes was available in Canada, and before the US giants took over the industry, Canadian startups were at the front of the pack. In this episode, we reminisce on a very strange and transformative time in media--you might remember the first CD you ever bought, but you probably don't remember the last one. We speak to Cam Gordon, author of Track Changes: The Origin Story of Canadian Music on the Internet, about Maple Music and Puretracks. And if you were a Canadian music fan in the early '00s ... you might know what we're talking about. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Can Canadian tech fix 911 wait times? Do we trust AI enough to let it try?
It's not just a Canadian problem, though it has likely cost some Canadians their lives. Staff answering 911 calls in centres the world over are overworked, stressed and sometimes ... there just aren't enough of them. As a result, callers are sometimes left on hold in the most awful circumstances possible. Money has been spent on recruitment, but talent is tough to come by. Enter Hyper. A Canadian startup that was just acquired by Motorola, Hyper is already helping 911 operators in several cities—but not in the way you might imagine. Not yet, anyway... Award-winning reporter Katherine Laidlaw joing the show to discuss her piece on Hyper, which was written for a brand new Canadian publication called Be Giant, which aims to report on the people, places, ideas and breakthroughs shaping Canada's future. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
What makes a company "Canadian" enough for government contracts?
Would you call Walmart Canada a "Canadian" company? It's a much more complex question than it appears—but I think most of us would agree on the general answer. It's a Canadian subsidiary of a giant US retail behemoth. But when it comes to procurement spending from the federal government, often these are kinds of companies that can meet qualifications to describe themselves as "Canadian" and earn an edge over their competitors. It shouldn't be a surprise that government spending can get complicated, but it does raise a fascinating question: For the past year many of us have learned a lot about what makes a food item or a retail product Canadian—but what about a company? Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian Shield Institute, joins Jordan to puzzle through that question, and how our tax dollars are spent because of it. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Canadian happiness scores are dropping fast. Why?
When the World Happiness Report first began scoring countries on their self-reported levels of happiness in 2012, Canada was consistently in the top 10. It felt right, we were pretty happy. Over the past several years, things have been changing, first slowly and now rapidly. In the recently published edition of the report, Canadians' happiness levels ranked 25th in the world, by far a new low. And that precipitous drop has been driven predominantly by one demographic... UBC Professor Emeritus and co-creator and editor of the World Happiness Report John Helliwell joins us to discuss what's changed, who's unhappy and what we know about how to generate happiness in our own lives from two decades of scientific research. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Canada's a video game powerhouse. Why don't we ever talk about it?
In any other entertainment medium, a Canadian-made product winning the equivalent of a Best Picture Oscar would be historic, headline-grabbing news. But when Canadian-made games win Game Of The Year—and they have, multiple times—the country barely bats an eye. Games are big business in Canada, and we have some of the world's premier talent, in both massive corporate studios and tiny indie development houses. Yet unless you're really, really into video games, you'd never know. Why? Jonathan Ore of the CBC hops on the show to talk about video games in Canada, how good they are, and why nobody even knows where the games they play are made. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Inside Canada's struggling emergency rooms, six years after Covid struck
One might've thought we'd learned our lesson in 2020. That being hit with waves of deeply ill patients that pushed our health care system—especially its front lines in hospitals and ERs—to the brink would have woken us up to just how close to disaster we were operating. Alas. On this episode of Cancon, Emergency Room physician, podcaster and author Dr. Brian Goldman takes us inside the ongoing low-level crisis that happening in emergency rooms across the country. Like any good doctor, he diagnoses the root of the problem, outlines the kind of long-term treatment it requires, and gives us some take-home instructions for the next time we find ourselves with a loved one in need of emergency care. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A year after a major flip, Canada's polls are shifting again
The federal Liberals miraculous early-2025 comeback was one of the biggest sudden shocks in Canadian political history. In response to Justin Trudeau's resignation, Donald Trump's threats and tariffs and the ascendance of Mark Carney, Canadian voters flocked back to the party that had been in power for a decade. The party they appeared ready to abandon. In the wake of that, things seemed to settle into a new normal—something resembling a two-party system, with the Liberals and Conservatives neck and neck. But in the first two months of this year, the tides seem to have turned again, but not in a way many predicted. The political landscape in this country, at least according to the polls, is looking different by the day. And upcoming byelections could push the Liberals into a majority. What's happening here? How much of this is real? And what have we learned about Canadian polling at a time when misinformation is a major part of many people's news diet? Canadian polling expert Philippe J. Fournier, creator of 338Canada, joins Jordan for a conversation on the recent federal shift, what it tells us about the year to come, and the state of political polling in Canada. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Is Canadian podcasting in trouble?
A little less than a decade ago, the podcast industry was ascendant in Canada. Independent shows were finding an audience, major media companies were starting podcast network and buying up podcast production houses, and it was assumed the medium would continue to grow alongside the American industry. Podcasting had arrived. Today, despite audience growth that surged during the pandemic and continues today, the industry is struggling. It's not for lack of quality, as Canadian shows win international awards and Canadian hosts and producers often go on to work on massive shows in the United States. So why is the industry shrinking in Canada? Do Canadian audiences want Canadian shows? And what does the future of the format in this country look like? Jordan sits down with longtime producer Kattie Laur, who runs Canada's podcast newsletter Pod The North, hosts her own show, Canardian, and has had just about every job there is in podcasting, as she explains just what happened to the Canadian podcast boom that never came. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How did Canada become a country of monopolies? It started as one.
You know the joke about Canada being three (insert sector here) companies in a trench coat? Well, it's kind of always been that way. When Canadians complain about the lack of choices for consumers in so many industries, they're continuing a long tradition that began with the founding of our nation. Ever since the Hudson's Bay company was handed control of the fur trade and our railroad was built by Canadian Pacific we've had it in our DNA. But now, when global competition is supposed to define the landscape, little has changed. Why is that? And why has our government been so unsuccessful in stopping it? This week, Jordan is joined by Peter Nowak, host of Do Not Pass Go, a podcast dedicated to exploring monopolies across Canadian sectors to unpack why, exactly, a nation that recently claimed to be beefing up the powers of its competition bureau struggles to offer its citizens real choices in their everyday lives. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A look inside Canada's largest wholesale produce market
Marshall Cohen is one of the last of the old masters. His job, for more than four decades, has been to personally select from the tons and tons of fresh produce that roll through the Ontario Food Terminal every day, the best and freshest fruits and vegetables possible. It's an art form, and he's widely regarded as the best around.The terminal itself, the largest fruit and vegetable wholesale market in Canada, is a uniquely fascinating place, offering a glimpse into how massive supply chains operate to bring food from Canadian farms and international sellers to local grocery stores—and eventually to your fridge. But the game has been changing, and Marshall Cohen's well-earned, hands-on wisdom is being replaced by more modern, "efficient" methods.Last year, Jake Edmiston, a business reporter at the Toronto Star, shadowed Cohen as he made his rounds. Jake takes us inside how the terminal works, what makes Cohen a "legend" (just ask anyone who's worked with him) and how the old masters of the food terminal may give way to whatever comes next... Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Can Canada's travel industry seize a golden opportunity?
As you may have heard (over and over again), travel to the United States by Canadians is way down. Other countries are also avoiding the US, whether due to political stances or security concerns. But Canadians, Europeans and others are still part of the post-pandemic travel boom. So where are they going? You got it!Canadians are looking to explore their own country more than ever before. Foreigners are still looking to visit North America, just maybe not ... you know. All this has created the best chance Canada has had in decades to supercharge its growing travel industry. The only questions are if we're ready to seize it, and how we go about doing that...Jordan speaks to Erin Hynes, a longtime travel industry expert and the host of Curious Tourism: A Responsible Travel Podcast, about what the past year has taught us about Canadian travel and where it might be headed this year. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The past, present and future of "Canadian" whisky
You may wonder, in the middle of a trade war, why Ontario's premier was pouring out a gigantic bottle of Crown Royal whisky, the spirit perhaps associated with this country more than any other. And why Doug Ford is now threatening to remove Crown Royal products from the shelves of Ontario's liquor stores. Well ... it's complicated. Part of it is political theatre, of course. Part of it is intimidation. And part of it is perhaps because Crown Royal is not as Canadian as you might think, and there's a decent chance that, whatever your preferred brand, your favourite Canadian whisky isn't either... In Episode 2 of Cancon, Jordan Heath-Rawlings is joined by Emily Osborne, a policy research associate at the Canadian SHIELD Institute, for a deep dive into exactly who makes what in Canada when it comes to the booze the rest of the world sees as "Canadian". Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
What exactly is CanCon? And is the policy still working?
Decades ago, our government, and the body that oversees Canadian broadcasting, decided that homemade content was in danger of being overwhelmed by the vast flood of music, television, and film coming from the United States. The solution? A policy that required broadcasters to fill a certain amount of their programming with Canadian-made content, or "CanCon" as it came to be known. But the media landscape looks very, very different today than it did in 1991. And while Canadian-made content still manages to break through (see: Rivalry, Heated), and the CRTC has periodically updated the regulations, there's no question the CanCon policy no longer covers all it was intended to. Should it change? Did it work? Is it still needed? Not at all, or more than ever? Michael Geist is the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, and one of the country's foremost experts in media policy in the digital age. He joins Jordan to explain 35 years of CanCon, and if we need 35 more. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Introducing: CanCon
Welcome to CanCon!From (most of) the team that brought you Elbows Up, comes a show dedicated to telling Canadian stories, rather than focusing our energy on the rhetoric of our neighbours. These are conversations about who we are, how we got here, and where we're going. We hope you'll join us. Episode 1 debuts in two weeks, on Jan. 28, 2026. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A Canada Day tour of our country's hidden gems
This summer, given ... everything going on down there, Canadians are more interested in exploring their own backyard than traveling to the United States. And since we've spent four months exploring everything about this country we need to fix, we wanted to spend Canada Day looking around at everything we don't. No matter where you live, this episode will give you some incredible ideas for your next getaway.Bestselling author Robin Esrock (The Great Canadian Bucket List) takes us on a tour from coast to coast to coast, starting in the North, then moving from West to East. There are so many beautiful, meaningful, fun and just plain weird places in this country that we thought we'd try to celebrate them all. Later, Esrock shares travel tips for everyone from those with the money for a cross-country train ride to those who need to stick closer to home, and their budget.After that, Jordan, Laura and Mat share the podcast's plan for this summer and beyond. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How to get totally fact up
One of the biggest problems Canadians face—that anyone faces—is the onslaught of misinformation online. Plenty of studies, including a new Reuters News survey, have shown that social media has passed traditional media as the go-to source of news for most Americans and plenty of Canadians. So we can talk about it all day, but what are we doing about it?Canadian journalist Kevin Newman—who has also anchored American news broadcasts—is one of the leads behind a new venture called Get Fact, a non-partisan coalition of volunteers that applies traditional fact-checking principles to AI tools, to offer news consumers a way to determine the veracity of what they're seeing in their feeds, or anywhere else. Jordan and Kevin discuss the state of journalism, the problem of misinformation and disinformation and what we can do beyond simply lamenting a past that's never coming back. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Going to the US? Here's what you need to know.
Millions of Canadians are voting with their feet, and their wallets, refusing to travel to the United States this summer—or even cancelling plans they've already made. But not everyone has that luxury. Some travel may not come with cancellation options. Some Canadians need to travel south, for work or to grow their business. And others may have family across the border they need to see. Some of those might even be dual citizens, wondering when they can go home again.Between tariffs and the threat of immigration officials—one arm of which has inspired a week-long protest in Los Angeles, which the Canadian government has advised travellers to stay far away from—the prospect of crossing the border can be daunting. In this episode, Jordan and Laura discuss what, if anything, it would take to get them heading through customs, then Jordan speaks to Canadian immigration lawyer Cindy Switzer, who works with MKS Immigration Lawyers and is the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Immigration Law Section, on what you need to consider if you have to—or want to—make the trip. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
As the G7 looms, the worst tariff impacts are yet to come
It's been a few months now since the United States placed the first in an ever-changing series of tariffs on Canadian products. And our economy, so far is doing ... alright? Not great, of course, but Canada has not yet been plunged into a recession. Does that showcase our resilience? Might we not suffer as much as originally thought? That's still to be determined.The next couple of months will tell us a great deal about the impact of Trump's tariffs, and meanwhile the American president himself is coming to Canada next week for a G7 meeting. With that milestone approaching, and new economic data on the horizon, Jordan speaks to Jim Standford, an economist and the Director the the Centre for Future Work, to get a sense of what we might see over the next few months, how we can prepare for it, and what the Canadian government should hope to achieve at the G7—in spite of the presence of Donald Trump. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A new government, more defence spending and ... a Golden Dome?!
Canada's new defence minister has promised an effort unseen since World War II to replenish and revitalize our military. How serious is he? Canada has a history of talking about improving its defence but doing very little to make it happen. Is this time different?After Jordan and Laura wonder why we're even pretending to entertain President Trump's latest and greatest attempt to add 'gold' to something, Jordan interviews Stephen Saidman a Carleton University Political Scientist in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and Director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network, about what this new government needs to do to change the narrative around Canada's military. How do we meaningfully increase our capacity, in terms of equipment and actual boots on the ground. And, yeah, we ask him to explain the Golden Dome, too.All that, and listener feedback, too! Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
We're talking separation now, Alberta? Really?!
For a whole lot of Canadians outside the prairie province—and a good number of Albertans, too—the province's recent flirtation with an independence referendum seems ... unhelpful, to put it mildly. At a moment Canadian unity has never been more important, Alberta's premier seems to be undermining that effort. Is this a cheap political ploy? A well reasoned approach to real provincial greivances? Or something else?Jordan and Laura discuss how the rest of Canada is feeling about Alberta these days, then Jordan interviews Senator Paula Simons to get to the bottom of what's really happening in the province. The independent senator has a long career as a journalist, a fierce love of the province and a view that accounts for the whole of Alberta, not just the loudest voices. So where is this coming from? Why now? And will it actually amount to anything? Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Can Canada import American doctors?
Canada has a doctor shortage. Many of you are living it right now. For most of the past few decades, the brain drain for physicians has gone one way: Canada to the United States. It's not the only reason so many of us can't find a family doctor, but it's been a big part of the problem.The past couple of years, however, have shifted that. From restrictive abortion legislation to a near-total disregard for medical science from the Trump Administration, thousands of American doctors are looking for somewhere else to practice. And for a lot of them, Canada is a preferred destination. John Philpott, CEO and founder of CanAm Physician Recruiting joins Jordan and Laura to explain why we've lost so many doctors, what physicians and medical professionals are looking for right now, and how Canada can set our health care system up for a generation by making sure we're their destination of choice. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
The Carney-Trump meeting and life in the disinformation economy
Last week's meeting between Canada's new prime minister and his counterpart in Washington was, by recent standards, civil and non-confrontational. Mark Carney was firm in his dismissal of the 51st state rhetoric, and Trump was mostly accepting of that reality. Broadly speaking, nothing much happened, though it was good to hear a simple, "No. Never," from Canada's leader.But if you happened upon social media in the hours following the summit, that's likely not what you saw. Depending on your platform and feed, Carney was either a Canadian hero slapping down a bully, or a pathetic clown who was "owned" and "humiliated". Canada gets vast majority of its media from the United States. And that media, especially the social kind, has become increasingly distorted and unreliable. Meanwhile, our own media struggles with resources and—increasingly—public distrust. How can we protect our citizens from the distortions they're exposed to every time they—by accident or necessity—venture beyond a handful of reliable Canadian sources?After Jordan and Laura break down the Oval Office meeting, Jordan speaks to Taylor Owen, the Chair in Media, Ethics and Communication at McGill University, the founding Director of The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and principal investigator at the Media Ecosystem Observatory, to try to get a handle on the firehose of falsehoods we're blasted with today. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
How do we keep Canada's automotive industry rolling?
More than 120,000 Canadians work in Canada's auto industry...for now. As tariffs imposed by the US President kick into gear, only to change and then change again, plants and shifts are adjusting by the day, and some have already shut down some production lines, at least temporarily. Right now, we're at the mercy of these tariffs, as our production is so entwined with the US and Mexico's that cars cross the border several times before they're finished.But does it have to be that way? What does Canada need to make our auto industry less dependent on America? Could we even, perhaps, make our own cars here at home? The whole car, from start to finish? Or is that an impossible dream. Jordan talks to Lorraine Sommerfeld, a longtime auto journalist about how to keep Canadian jobs safe from American tariffs, and how to keep our plants running despite the trade war—including the possibility of a totally Canadian-made automobile.Then, Laura grills Lorraine about how, exactly, a Canadian needing a new car should navigate the current situation. Buy now? Wait a while? Go used? Forget the whole thing? This is your guide to auto tariffs, from the macro down to the micro. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
A history lesson for Canada's new Parliament
These might feel like unprecedented times, with the US President dropping his latest annexation proposal on Canada's election day—but in truth, we have been here before. Sort of. While the chaotic, bullying approach of the current administration may be unique, Canada's faced threats of tariffs leading to financial ruin and eventual annexation before. And we survived. We've faced down America on a few occasions without blinking, and as some newly elected MPs and their parties get ready to do it again, Jordan and Laura are sitting down with Craig Baird, host of Canadian History Ehx, to learn a few thing we might have forgotten—and yes, to talk about that whole 'burning down the White House' thing.(Note: this episode was recorded before this weekend's horrifying tragedy in Vancouver cast a pall over final days of the election.) Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Going to therapy for the Canada-US divorce
The past five years have featured one global upheaval after another, so it's no surprise every Canadian's nerves were a little frayed even before Donald Trump began to talk about annexing Canada. But now that the Prime Minister has said the relationship is "over", and since the White House has refused when given the opportunity to back off the 51st state rhetoric, we think it's a good time to try to process this new reality.Our guest today is Stefanie Peachey , a therapist and mediator whose specialties include divorce, intimate partner violence and workplace mental health—all of which are applicable in their own way to what Canadians, and some Americans, are dealing with right now. So in the middle of an election, it's worth breaking out the big feelings and trying to grapple with them. Because this isn't going away, and it's not gonna get easier when our next government has to reengage with the White House...Also, Laura and Jordan discuss the assertion that asking about Trump's recent rhetoric is "provoking" the administration, if the divorce metaphor actually applies, and JHR breaks down our very first one-star review! Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.