Heckling’s pretty common during House of Commons debates. But with tensions running high as the Liberals fight to keep the government afloat, one stray quip can set off a barrage of accusations and criticism. The House sits down with two Hill watchers to discuss Conservative MP Garnett Genuis’ allegedly homophobic comment and what it tells us about civility in Parliament.

Then, as the Middle East remains on the brink of all-out war, Canada’s national defence minister tells The House how the government has been preparing over the summer to possibly evacuate tens of thousands of people with Canadian connections stuck in Lebanon.

Plus — Chinese dissidents living in Canada share their stories of alleged harassment and intimidation by Beijing. Canada’s former ambassador to China listens in and tells us what steps should be taken to protect free speech and assembly rights for all students across Canadian campuses.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Shannon Proudfoot, writer for The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa bureau
• Paul Wells, author and podcaster
• Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
• Craig Desson, CBC News
• Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to China

The House. Is. Back! And everyone’s flexing their muscles. 

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet joins the show to talk about how his party might use its strength to get what they want from the government.

Plus, after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had a standoff with protesters who’d hurled insults at him, MPs talk about just how much harassment they’ve faced in politics. 

Then we’ll hear from a panel of political strategists about whose flex was best over an upcoming attempt to bring the government down.  

Finally, the second phase of the foreign interference inquiry kicked off on Monday. CBC’s Marina von Stackleberg will bring us up to speed. 

This episode features the voices of: 

Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois

Lori Idlout, NDP MP

Gord Johns, NDP MP

Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal MP 

Yasir Naqvi, Liberal MP

Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist

Vandana Kattar, Liberal strategist

George Soule, former NDP communications director

Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News

Liberal MPs met this week in Nanaimo, B.C., quick to tell reporters they’ve got full confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The House is on the ground, taking the temperature, talking to Liberals about how they think they can turn their fortunes — even as one of Trudeau’s own MPs says people are “tired of his face.”

We also hear from Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer about how his party hopes to force a non-confidence motion to bring down the government as soon as possible.

Then, we head up Vancouver Island to Campbell River, which is likely to become a battleground between the Conservatives and the NDP. The CBC’s Emma Godmere speaks with voters there about the issues that matter most to them.

Finally, with British Columbians going to the polls next month, Premier David Eby said he’d scrap the carbon tax if Ottawa removes the requirement to have it. The Toronto Star’s Tonda MacCharles, and the National Post’s Stuart Thomson break down what to expect ahead of Parliament resuming on Monday.

This episode features the voices of: 

• John McKay, Liberal MP for Scarborough—Guildwood
• Francis Drouin, Liberal MP for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell
• Hedy Fry, Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre
• Andrew Scheer, Conservative House leader
• CBC’s Emma Godmere
• Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star.
• Stuart Thomson, Parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post

Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. The NDP’s decision to end its deal with the Liberals — which for two years brought stability to the minority government — has raised the spectre of a snap federal election. The House sits down with one of the NDP architects of the deal to find out why the party chose to back out now, and what comes next.

Then, months after a Toronto byelection loss that rocked the governing Liberals, another test is on the way later this month in a Montreal race. We travel to LaSalle-Émard-Verdun to find out how the campaign — with national implications — is playing out on the ground.

Also, a Liberal minister and national campaign committee co-chair sits down with Catherine Cullen to talk through her party’s plan to regain their mojo and win — they hope — a fourth term.

Plus — Germany has embraced a novel diplomatic arrangement: two ambassadors for the price of one. A married couple who will rotate in and out of the posting in Ottawa explain what’s behind the arrangement.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Anne McGrath, principal secretary to Jagmeet Singh
• Craig Sauvé, NDP candidate
• Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Bloc Québécois candidate
• Philippe J. Fournier, founder, 338canada.com
• Soraya Martinez Ferrada, tourism minister, Liberal campaign committee co-chair
• Matthias Lüttenberg and Tjorven Bellmann, German ambassadors-designate

A show about nothing: that’s at least how some are cheekily describing the Liberals’ last few months. Host Catherine Cullen sits down with a panel of former top political advisers to discuss what moves the Liberals have left to make, with two weeks to go until Parliament returns and two more byelections arrive.

Plus — we revisit our conversation with Pulitzer Prize finalist John Valliant about his book Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast, and why our brains struggle to accept the reality of climate change.

And for too many Canadians, justice delayed is justice denied. It’s not just annoying — delays in the system are causing some cases to be thrown out. The House returns to a documentary digging deep into the issue.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Marci Surkes, chief strategy officer at Compass Rose and former Liberal adviser
• Garry Keller, vice president at StrategyCorp and former Conservative adviser
• John Vailliant, author of Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast
• CBC’s Kristen Everson

Ontario’s premier says “the worst thing” that can happen to a neighbourhood is a supervised drug consumption site. He’s closing nearly half the centers in the province — and wants to ban new ones. We talk to one centre about what this means for drug users and a mayor who wishes the premier had gone further.

Also — a rail work stoppage that threatened the Canadian economy is … almost resolved? Some trains are rolling, but there’s still risk. The House digs into the political forces at play in the complex case.

Finally, the last instalment of our Book Smart Summer Series is here. Jane Philpott sits down with Catherine Cullen to talk about her book Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada and how she thinks primary care in this country can be fixed.

This episode features the voices of:

• CBC’s Janyce McGregor
• Juanita Lawson, CEO, NorWest Community Health Centres
• Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton
• Jane Philpott, former federal health minister, author, Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada

How quickly things change. The 2024 campaign was supposed to be a rematch of the 2020 race, but in a matter of a few weeks, the lagging Democrats have ditched U.S. President Joe Biden as the candidate, crowned Harris — and surged in the polls. Now, they’re set to meet in Chicago for their national convention, with the aim of keeping their momentum going. Guest host Katie Simpson sits down with a Democratic insider to talk about the role governors will play in the new campaign, before two journalists break down what the convention might hold.

Plus — author David R. Samson talks about his book, Our Tribal Future, digging deep into the origins of the “us versus them” mentality, how it pervades our politics today and how humanity may be able to inoculate itself against it.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Ofirah Yheskel, director of external affairs, Democratic Governors Association
• Amie Parnes, senior political correspondent, The Hill
• Rob Russo, correspondent, The Economist
• David R. Samson, evolutionary anthropologist, author, Our Tribal Future: How to channel our human instinct into a force for good

The Canadian government is blaring the alarm for citizens in Lebanon, with the Middle East teetering on the brink of a wider war. The House sits down with two experts to talk about what needs to be done to bring Canadians to safety.

Then, an expert on social media and disinformation helps dig into a peculiar bot campaign that promoted a Pierre Poilievre rally. What’s behind the bot barrage?

Plus — Benjamin Perrin, author of Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial, sits down to talk about his change of heart from an advocate of tough on crime policies to calling for the abolition of traditional prison abolition and sweeping criminal justice reforms.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Jon Allen, former Canadian ambassador to Israel 
• Denis Thompson, retired major-general
• Craig Silverman, reporter, ProPublica
• Benjamin Perrin, author, Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial

There’s been a lot of talk about a new Cold War — and this week the world was surprised by an old Cold War throwback: a major prisoner swap between the Western countries and Russia. But why did Putin agree to such a thing, and what does it mean for the war in Ukraine? Two military experts join guest host Murray Brewster to discuss.

Plus: Roméo Dallaire has spent three decades since the Rwandan Genocide on a journey towards inner peace — and he has some ideas about peace between nations as well. He sits down with The House as part of our Book Smart Series series to talk about his new book, The Peace: A Warrior's Journey.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Sean Maloney, professor, Royal Military College of Canada
• Matthew Schmidt, associate professor, University of New Haven
• Roméo Dallaire, retired lieutenant-general, author, The Peace: A Warrior's Journey

Yet another devastating wildfire has caused significant damage, this time at one of Canada’s iconic sites: Jasper, Alberta. The House speaks to a wildfire expert to dig into how the fire reached the town — and what can be done to stop the next devastating blaze.

Plus — we look into Kamala Harris’s astonishing ascent to become the likely Democratic nominee, and two provincial representatives talk about what the dramatic developments in the U.S. presidential campaign could mean for Canada.

And: Author Gregor Craigie talks about his book, Our Crumbling Foundation: How We Solve Canada's Housing Crisis, his timely survey of worldwide solutions to the housing crisis that might work here at home.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Mathieu Bourbonnais, assistant professor, UBC
• David Paterson, Ontario Representative in Washington, D.C.
• James Rajotte, Alberta’s Senior Representative to the United States
• Gregor Craigie, author, Our Crumbling Foundation: How We Solve Canada's Housing Crisis

What a week, on both sides of the border. In Canada, cabinet minister Seamus O’Regan’s departure necessitated a mini shuffle. With the prime minister expected to head off to vacation soon, will the summer provide a bit of a pause — or are there more moves to come from the beleaguered government? Two keen Hill watchers join The House to discuss.

Also — premiers gathered in Halifax this year for their annual meeting. They weren’t too happy with the government. Host Catherine Cullen talks with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew about provincial gripes with Ottawa, as well as Canada’s approach to a potential second Trump term.

Finally — author Matthew Morris sits down for an in-depth look at his book Black Boys Like Me: Confrontations with Race, Identity, and Belonging, discussing how his own Black identity was formed and how education should be reformed to ensure the success of Black students.

This episode features the voices of: 

• Paul Wells, author and journalist
• Catherine Lévesque, National Post
• Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew
• Matthew Morris, author, Black Boys Like Me: Confrontations with Race, Identity, and Belonging