In 2024, Canada finds itself at a crossroads of several immense transformations sweeping the world, whether through the rewiring of the global economy and geopolitics, of our energy systems, or with rapid advances in A.I., even of intelligence itself.  In this time of great transitions, Canadians are facing new worries together about their homes, their wages, their kids, and our shared future. How do we rise to these challenges and opportunities? Mark Carney (United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Change and Finance, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and of the Bank of England, and chair of Canada 2020’s Advisory Board) talks about our country’s economic outlook, and what governments, innovators, and economic leaders can do to build growth for all. Eme Onuoha joins him in conversation.

This conversation took place on April 8, 2024 in Ottawa. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

A few weeks back, we spoke with Tiffany Balducci about the Alberta NDP leadership race. This week, we’re keeping on theme, but instead of looking ahead, we’re looking back. 

You may have forgotten Jason Kenney. After his dismal leadership review, the Harper-era Cabinet minister resigned as premier of Alberta and left politics. But Kenney’s legacy continues to shape the country. A new book assesses his career, its effects, and the state of the right in Canada. 

So, what is Kenneyism and why should we care?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Jeremy Appel, an Alberta-based journalist and author of Kenneyism: Jason Kenney’s Pursuit of Power.

There’s no sharper way to assess the state of life in the early 21st century than through a lens of “enshitification,” a term this week's guest coined. 

It’s described as the slow and steady worsening of each and every bit of our daily existence, and as Cory Doctorow has argued, particularly as it pertains to the work of technology companies that have captured our attention, our dollars, or both.

But some people have it worse than others. For instance, the incarcerated, on whom – as this week’s guest explores in his new novel – companies test and roll out strategies and technologies and a surveillance apparatus that is later used to exploit populations at large.

So, just how is life becoming “enshitified?” and how can we make things better?

On this 100th(!) episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Cory Doctorow, best-selling science fiction author, activist, and journalist. His latest book, The Bezzle, is out now.

The Alberta New Democratic Party leadership race is underway. In June, the party membership will select a new leader to replace Rachel Notley and square off against United Conservative Party premier Danielle Smith. 

Let’s meet the candidates and get a sense of what they’re about as we ask: Who wants to lead the Alberta NDP?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Tiffany Balducci, a union organizer, negotiator, and job evaluation specialist with the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Alberta.

Nearly half the people on earth live in countries that will hold national elections in 2024. It's the world's biggest election year ever, with approximately 2 billion people heading to the polls.

No election will have its impacts echo more widely than that of the United States of America. Its effects will be palpable worldwide, and felt especially strongly here in Canada — with Donald Trump in the running for the third straight U.S. presidential election cycle. Hear from Sarada Peri (former Special Assistant to the President, Senior Speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and Senior Fellow with the Dais at TMU) on the state of the Biden presidential campaign, the health of global democracy, the challenges of the new media ecosystem, and the future of our shared economic and security partnerships.

This conversation took place on March 7, 2024 at the Canada 2020 Studio, and was hosted in partnership with The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Canada’s small businesses employ a staggering 11 million people from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and represent an incredible 98% of Canadian-owned enterprises. Moving to a digital-first economy presents unprecedented opportunities for small businesses across Canada to innovate, expand, and spur new job creation and prosperity. Hear from the Honourable Rechie Valdez (Canada’s Minister of Small Business), Debbie Gamble (Chief Innovation Labs Officer at Interac), and Viet Vu (Author and Manager of Economic Research at the Dias) on how can we catalyze digital adoption, level up digital government, ensure the resilience and growth of small businesses, and ensure that no one is left behind.

This conversation took place on February 28, 2024 at the Canada 2020 Studio, and was hosted in partnership with Interac. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Trans rights are under attack throughout Canada. Policy changes in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have already constrained rights and other provinces, most notably Ontario, may be set to follow. At the same time, the Conservative Party is set to go all-in on the culture war ahead of the next federal election, and to throw trans people under the bus in the process.

The struggle for trans rights intersects with similar movements to establish, expand, or preserve social, cultural, economic, and political equality. But trans folks are up against powerful, well-funded opponents and constrained by limited resources, leaving us to ask: What is the future of trans rights?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Fae Johnstone, Executive Director of Queer Momentum.

In January, former New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent died at the age of 87. Outpourings of grief, respect, and gratitude followed throughout the country, culminating in a state funeral in Ottawa. 

Broadbent’s legacy is the product of decades of tireless work as an elected representative and as an ambassador for the left at home and abroad. His commitment to justice and equality is paralleled by few in Canada, and this episode is dedicated to understanding and celebrating his service to this country and to left movements worldwide.

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Luke Savage, columnist, co-host of the podcast Michael and Us, and co-author, with Ed Broadbent and others, of Seeking Social Democracy: Seven Decades in the Fight for Equality. 

Everybody loves a quadrilogy. In March of 2020, host David Moscrop and guest Amanda Watson discussed how we were managing our lives during the early days of the pandemic. Twice more the two discussed the pandemic, anxiety, and managing life during what felt like the end times. Now, Watson is back for a fourth time, at the dawn of 2024, to ask “What does 2024 have in store for us?”  [this was originally “What fresh hell is this?” in the spirit of humour, but I presume you prefer to not have that and so have adjusted. Though it made me laugh!

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks once more with Amanda Watson, feminist theorist, senior lecturer at Simon Fraser University and author of The Juggling Mother: Coming Undone in the Age of Anxiety. She joins the show this week from the south of France.

2024 will be a stress test for democracy, with the election in the United States among the most dangerous potential breaking points. More often than not, awareness and the public debate will be shaped by and in the digital sphere. In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2023 Global Progress Action Summit, Roberta Braga (Director, Counter Disinformation Strategies at Equis, Supriya Dwivedi (Director of Policy and Engagement at McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and member of the Canada 2020 Advisory Board), Ben Scott (Executive Director at Reset Tech) talk with Megan Shahi (Director of Technology Policy at CAP Action) about the responsibility of governments, civil society, and platforms to prepare for these elections, and what’s at stake in 2024.

This conversation took place on September 16, 2023, at the 2023 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

AI presents both enormous risk and as yet unimaginable opportunity. In the next of our series of highlight sessions from the 2023 Global Progress Action Summit, we hear from Dr. Alondra Nelson (Distinguished Senior Fellow at CAP Action, Former Head of the White House Office of Science and Technology), Andy Harrison (CEO of Section 32), and Benedict Macon-Cooney, (Chief Policy Strategist at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change) on regulating the unknowable, managing the risk, and harnessing the power of AI build equitable, progressive societies.

This conversation took place on September 16, 2023, at the 2023 Global Progress Action Summit in Montréal hosted by Canada 2020 and CAP Action. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.