The finish line is in sight for the 44th Federal election. Polls close at 8 pm this evening in eastern Canada in a campaign that was overridden by one nagging issue. Why are we having this election? It was something the Liberals under-estimated and it left the Opposition an opening. Will it work? The 36-day campaign saw the Liberals holding an 8-point lead on the Conservatives and hoping for a majority. Now, Trudeau is in a statistical tie with Erin O’Toole and the Conservatives. This election comes a bit different. For one, the growth of the PPC has been eye opener. Add to the mix, this is Jagmeet Singh’s second election. In the final week the NDP has seen some growth. Then, there’s the Green Party that was hoping for renewed optimism and support, only to have its campaign derailed by infighting. The Bloc Québécois has seen some enthusiasm for its message coming courtesy of a moderator’s question in the English leader’s debate. Our Unpublished.vote question asked: Did the federal leaders’ national debate(s) help you to decide who to vote for? Yes = 32.2%No = 60.6%Maybe = 5.2%Unsure = 1.9% However you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email your MP to tell them why.Guests: Warren Kinsella, Political Commentator/ Special Advisor PM Chretien Darrell Bricker, CEO Ipsos Public AffairsScott Gilmore, Columnist Maclean’s MagazineStephanie Chouinard, Assistant Professor Political Science at Queen’s University

Unpublished.Cafe

Canadian Election Night on UnpublishedTV

Remember when the pandemic started more than a year and a half ago? Lockdowns, masks, fear of the unknown. A vaccine against Covid-19 would spare us those restrictions and pave the way back to normal, or as normal as we might see.  But it hasn’t. Now we have a divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated over mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports. Which side are you on?  Not only have we had to wrestle with the pandemic and the battle over the unvaccinated, it comes in the middle of a federal election campaign. When put to the public, in both cases, the majority of Canadians support mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports. That doesn’t seem to matter to those who oppose vaccines, to the point of protesting in front of hospitals. The places that have been overwhelmed since the beginning of the pandemic.  Our Unpublished.vote vote question asks:  Do you support the use of mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports in Canada?  YesNo Unsure  You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote and make your voice heard.  Coming up on the Unpublished.cafe, we’ll talk about the decision for some employers to make vaccines mandatory as a condition of employment. As well, will vaccine passports make indoor gatherings safer or just a hinderance?  Guests:  Raywat Deonandan, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor at the University of OttawaAlison Braley-Rattai, Assistant Professor Labour Studies at Brock University

COVID: Vaccine Mandates

Canadians are one week away from heading to the ballot box in the country’s 44th Federal election. We have just come out of the first weekend of advanced polling and the leaders and candidates continue to stump for your approval. According to a number of polls, the top issues for Canadians are affordability, housing and the economic recovery from the pandemic. What do you think of the plans to get us on the road to recovery? More than a year and a half after the pandemic arrived on our shores, Canada continues to grapple with the economic impact. Vaccines are available and lockdowns have eased, but the economy continues to be sluggish. Our Unpublished.vote question asked: Which party has the best plan to get the Canadian economy back on track?Our audience responded: Liberals = 3.2%Conservatives = 24%NDP = 0.7%Green = 1.4%PPC = 68.7%Other = 0.7%None of Above = 1.4% However you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—We would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email the candidates in your riding to tell them why. Only at Unpublished.vote! Guests: Ian Lee, Sprott School of Business Carleton University Karl Nerenberg, Political Reporter Rabble.caRyan Mallough, Senior Director of Provincial Affairs, Ontario

ELXN2021 on UnpublishedTV: COVID Economic Recovery

That’s a wrap on the televised leaders debates in this federal election campaign. Thursday’s was the only English language debate and the Liberal leader was in the cross hairs of the other candidates.  Did any of them make an impression?  The one thing not clearly answered by Justin Trudeau is why he called an election. Usually in these debates, everyone wants to make an impression—maybe a knockout punch.  On the table for discussion in the one and only English language debate were: Climate change, indigenous reconciliation, affordability and the COVID-19 pandemic. The issues were selected by the Federal Election Broadcast Group.  Our Unpublished.vote question asks:  Do the debates help you to decide who to vote for?  YesNoUnsure  You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote!  We are 10 days away from heading to the ballot box in the 44th Federal election. Polls are showing a tight race between the Conservatives and the Liberals, but no one is sniffing around majority territory. Coming up on the podcast, we’ll chat with Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. As well, David MacDonald, Senior Economist Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. First, someone who has been around debates and elections, Warren Kinsella, Political commentator and Special Advisor to PM Jean Chrétien, kicks it off… 

ELXN2021: The Federal Leader’s Debate

It’s the dream of pretty well every Canadian to own their own home. Do you remember the time you got the keys to your first home? I do. It’s a goal fulfilling feeling. But, it’s a dream out of reach for many Canadians right now, which is why all the federal parties are preaching about their platforms to provide more affordable housing. Will any of the parties’ plans for affordable housing work? Affordable housing is defined as spending no more than 30 percent of the family income on rent or mortgage payments. When it rises above that, it forces people to cut back somewhere else. At the beginning of the election campaign, affordable housing was the top priority for most Canadians. Prices across the country have been on the rise with Toronto and Vancouver leading the way. The average price of a home in T.O is now north of $1 Million. Not exactly an affordable price tag for those entering the real-estate market for the first time. Our Unpublished.vote question asked: Which federal party has the best plan to create affordable housing? The Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Green Party or People’s Party of Canada?The Unpublished audience’s response was…  - Liberals = 6.2%- Conservatives = 70.1%- NDP = 9.3%- Green Party = 2.1%- People’s Party = 12.4%However, you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email the candidates in your riding to tell them why. Guests: Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder, NANOS RESEARCHSteve Pomeroy, Senior Research Fellow for the Centre for Urban Research and Education (CURE) at Carleton UniversityDavid Oikle, President Ontario Real Estate Association

ELXN2021 on UnpublishedTV: Affordable Housing

It appears the money train has rolled out of each party’s campaign platform. In the pursuit of your vote, all parties are willing to spend to get your support at the ballot box. Which one do you feel will help the most? Less than three weeks before we go to the polls, we’re getting a clearer look at how each party plans to get the economy rolling again. To get a better perspective on whether any will actually help the economy, we’ll talk to a number of experts. Coming up later on the show, Jasmin Guenette of The Canadian Federation of Independent Business will join us. First up is Mark Agnew, Sr. VP of Policy & Government Relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Ian Lee from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University will also join us.Our Unpublished.vote question this week asks:  Which party do you feel has the best plan to get the economy back on track? LiberalsConservativesNDPGreen Party People’s Party of Canada You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote. 

ELXN2021: COVID Recovery Plans

We are three weeks away from heading to the ballot box in the country’s 44th federal election. Did Canadians really “deserve a say” on how to proceed with COVID as the Prime Minister claimed? We’re just over two weeks into this campaign and the Liberal campaign is way off course. When the Prime Minister announced the election, it smacked of opportunism. There was no bill defeated to lead to an election. The next vote was to be two years away according to our fixed election dates. But numbers had the Grits flirting with majority territory. Since the pandemic started, the minority Liberal government has been able to govern through the pandemic with the support of the NDP. And, there seemed to be little the two were squabbling about to indicate a loss of confidence. Our Unpublished.vote question asks, “Do you feel the need for a federal election right now? Our audience response: 30.5% Voted Yes67.5% Voted No2.0%   Voted UnsureHowever you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email the candidates in your riding to tell them why.Joining us to discuss whether this election should have been called after two weeks on the campaign trail, I’m pleased to be joined by Quito Maggi, President & CEO Mainstreet Research; Warren Kinsella, Political Commentator/ Special Advisor to PM Chretien; Nelson Wiseman, Professor Political Science U of T; and Katrina Miller, Program Director at the Broadbent Institute.Did we need a say?Is there a ballot question or have the parties defined one?Protesters got nasty in Bolton and then again over the weekend at other Trudeau campaign events in Ontario as anti-vaxers and climate change deniers dogged the Prime Minister to the point of forcing the cancellation of the event in Bolton. 

UTV: Is this the most important federal election in Canadian history?

The dream of home ownership for many Canadians remains out of reach which is why the Political parties are banging the drum of affordable housing in this election campaign, trying to get your support. Will it work?  According to Nanos Research almost 5 million Canadians fear they won’t be able to pay for their housing in the next 30 days. That is an enormous burden on people trying to navigate their way through the fourth wave of the pandemic possibly dealing with employment issues.  Our Unpublished.vote question asks, which federal party has the best plan to create affordable housing? The Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Green Party or the People’s Party under Maxime Bernier.  You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote and have your voice heard.  Coming up on the show, Dr. Paul Kershaw will join us from the University of British Columbia. He is also the founder of Generation Squeeze. First, I’m pleased to be joined by Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder of NANOS RESEARCH. Guests:  Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder of Nanos ResearchDr. Paul Kershaw, UBC and Founder of Generation Squeeze

ELXN2021: Affordable Housing

We’ve been hearing the drums beating since the spring. A federal election is on the horizon. Maybe early summer, maybe mid-summer. Well, here we are in the first week of the 44th federal election campaign. Is this what Canadians want?  The federal Liberals have governed through the pandemic with a minority government propped up by the NDP. In this country we have fixed election dates. This election comes early as there was no need to have one until 2023 unless the government lost a vote of confidence on a money Bill. That hasn’t happened.  Pollsters have been touting the Grits are within striking distance of a majority, which many observers say is the driving force behind this election. Many see it as opportunistic of the Liberals to call it while the country deals with the fourth wave of the pandemic, fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant.  At the same time, BC is being ravaged by wildfires, ground penetrating radar continues to find more children victims of the residential school system and just last weekend, 20 years of work in Afghanistan went up in smoke as the Taliban (remember them?) has taken control of the country again.  Our Unpublished.vote question asks: Do you feel Canadians need a federal election now?  YesNo Unsure  You can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote and have your voice heard.  Coming upon the Unpublished Cafe, we’ll take a look where the parties are now with Abacus Data. Later, Stéphanie Chouinard will join us from Queens University to look at how the provinces could impact the results. First up is Warren Kinsella, political commentator as well as former PM Jean Chrétien‘s Chief of Staff. Guests:  Warren Kinsella, Political commentator and former Chief of Staff for PM Jean ChretienIhor Korbabicz, Executive Director Abacus DataStephanie Chouinard, Assistant Professor in Political Science at Queens University

ELXN 2021: Is this the most important federal election in Canadian history?

It has all the twists and turns of an espionage thriller... missing scientists, questionable security, tight lipped police and a government trying to hide information from Parliament. What could possibly be in those documents? The husband and wife team of researchers were escorted out of Winnipeg‘s National Virology Lab in the summer of 2019. All the Public Health Agency of Canada will say is that it was an “administrative issue” and will not elaborate. The pair also had many Chinese students working alongside them. This is one of the most secure facilities in Canada. Parliament’s committee on Canada China relations has been demanding the documents regarding the removal of the scientists, but the Public Health Agency won’t release them citing national security issues. The Liberals have even gone as far as filing a lawsuit against the Speaker to keep the documents hidden.Our Unpublished.vote question this week asked: Should the federal government respect the wishes of Parliament and provide the documents on the Chinese scientists?97.9% = Yes1.6% = No0.5% = Unsure However you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email your MP to tell them why. Show Guests: Joining us to discuss this complex issue is: Mel Cappe, Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, at the University of Toronto; and former Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada Elliott Tepper, Senior Fellow Norman Paterson School of International Affairs

UTV: What happened in Canada’s National Virology Lab?

It hasn’t happened in over 100 years in the House of Commons and it’s now setting up for a showdown between Parliament and the Courts. Who will come out on top? This is a saga of twists and turns. Back in March, a House of Commons Committee asked the head of the Public Health Agency of Canada to produce documents regarding two Chinese scientists at the National Virology Lab in Winnipeg. It was unclear why the two scientists were escorted out of the building and dismissed. The head of the Agency, Iain Stewart, refused as it could have potentially sensitive or injurious information. He was admonished in the House for the refusal, but it sparked a bizarre situation where the sitting Liberals are suing the Speaker of the House to keep those documents secret. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Party take the Speaker, who is also a member of the same party, to Court. It brings up a number of issues... Which is supreme, the courts or Parliament? As well, what we’re Chinese scientists working on at Winnipeg’s National Microbiology Laboratory and why it’s so secret as to their removal? Our Unpublished.vote question asks: Should the federal government respect the wishes of Parliament and provide the documents on the Chinese scientists? YesNo UnsureYou can log on and vote right now at Unpublished.vote! Guests: Steven Chaplin, former Senior Parliamentary Counsel for the House of Commons and uOttawa Faculty of Law memberElliott Tepper, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University

Ignoring the will of Parliament—What happened in a Manitoba virology lab?

2021 Canada Day celebrations were a bit muted this year, not just because of the pandemic, but due to the discovery of three unmarked grave sites near residential schools in Canada. At this point more than one thousand graves have been discovered with ground penetrating radar. It’s expected many more will soon be uncovered. The residential school system in Canada saw indigenous children pulled from their traditional homes and family with the intent of driving out their culture and language. About two thirds of them were run by the Catholic Church although others were run by the United, Anglican and Presbyterian churches. The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report outlined the many abuses suffered by the children as well as the knowledge of these grave sites. But as that report aged, it seemed the knowledge of the horror dimmed in the public eye. Then when the first discovery was announced in Kamloops, there was wide-spread outrage and condemnation. It’s surprising that after six years, Canadians finally remember. We realize we’re past the holiday, but the Cancel Canada Day movement grew across the country as many reflected on the tragic discovery. Our Unpublished.vote question asked: Do you feel Canada Day celebrations should be cancelled in light of the discoveries in Kamloops and Saskatchewan?Yes: 12%No: 87.5 %Unsure: 0.5%However you’re watching and listening to our show, whether through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on our podcast channels—iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more—I would like to remind you that you can “cast your vote” on this topic at Unpublished.vote, and then email your MP to tell them why.Joining us to discuss the issue and where it could lead is: Melissa Mbarki Policy Analyst and Outreach Coordinator, Indigenous Policy Program, Macdonald-Laurier Institute @MelissaMbarki Karl Nerenberg, Political Reporter @Rabble.ca

Cancel Canada Day UTV

Canada Day is just around the corner. It’s a celebration of the beginning of our Nation. Barbecues, parties, fireworks are all part of the tradition. But in light of the discovery of 215 bodies at a residential school in Kamloops and now 751 in Saskatchewan, for some people, there is nothing to be proud of or to celebrate.  The residential school system in Canada is one of the dark moments in our history. Between the government and predominantly the Catholic Church, the aim was assimilation. While tragic and deplorable, many countries have an inconvenient past. Does that mean you can’t celebrate the positive despite the negative?  The hashtag “cancelCanadaDay” has been picking up steam. Several communities are scrubbing their plans for July 1st. Should the holiday be cancelled?  Victoria, Penticton and Port Hardy have pulled the plug for this year. Kelowna and Belleville Ontario have also pressed pause. Several communities in New Brunswick are backing off plans for July 1st.  Our Unpublished.vote question asks: Do you feel Canada Day celebrations should be cancelled in light of the discoveries in Kamloops and Saskatchewan? Yes, No or Unsure.  You can log on and vote anytime at Unpublished.vote and email your MP to tell them why you think what you do.  Guests: Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail columnistDavid Pratt, Vice Chief of Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Ellis Ross, Liberal MLA for Skeena and a former chief with the Haisla Nation

Cancel Canada Day?

Locked up for 15 months, the Canada US border will remain closed to non essential travel for at least another 30 days. What will it take to see traffic crossing over to both sides? Vaccines are being distributed, cases are coming down as are deaths and hospitalizations. The border has been closed since March 2020 and it has had a devastating effect on business, in particular travel and tourism. Cross border towns in Canada and the US have felt it dramatically with much fewer customers. PM Trudeau is calling for 75% of Canadians to be vaccinated with their first shot which Canada just passed this weekend. 20 percent of Canadians now have their second shot. US politicians are getting antsy about reopening and have been putting a bit of pressure on the President. Apparently, Trudeau and Biden spoke briefly about it last week at the G 7 meetings. The US has also declared the border closed for another 30 days.Our Unpublished.vote question asks you. Do you support the reopening of the Canada—US border to non-essential travel?Yes 88.2No. 11.7Unsure 0.1.  Guests:Maryscott (Scotty ) Greenwood. CEO Canadian American Business CouncilMark Agnew VP Policy & International Canadian Chamber of CommerceBeth Potter President & CEO Tourism Industry Association of CanadaMarvin Ryder Professor DeGroote School of Business McMaster University @DeGrooteBiz

Re-opening the Canada—US Border

The grisly discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in Kamloops BC has stunned the world. The remains were found using ground penetrating radar. The RCMP has launched an investigation into the case.  The horrors of the residential school system was laid bare in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2008, then PM Stephen Harper apologized to Canada’s aboriginal people for the pain and suffering they had endured.  Last week, many Canadians were watching Pope Francis after the announcement but there was no apology. The residential school system in Canada was primarily run by the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1997.  Surprisingly, few Canadians actually know about the dark history. It is an unbelievably tragic story. One that is a stain on this country’s history, yet so few know about it. Very little is taught about it in our schools. Last week, the House of Commons unanimously voted to have the federal government withdraw from its legal battle with First Nations children. The government is arguing against compensating children engaged in a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. While the vote was unanimous, it was non-binding and many of the Liberal cabinet abstained from voting.  The story of residential schools in Canada is horrific. It is something that needs to be taught in school across the country. Just because it’s uncomfortable, doesn’t mean it should be ignored or sanitized. Far too often this is the approach Canada has taken.  Coming up on the Unpublished Cafe, we’ll take a look at the impact of the discovery on Indigenous people across the country. And, we’ll hear from an expert on Church Apologies and why he feels the Catholic Church has no choice.   Guests:  Pam Palmater, Professor and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University / Mi’kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation Joanna Quinn Director and Graduate Chair, Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction; Associate Professor, Department of Political Science at Western UniversityJeremy Bergen, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies, Director of Theological Studies, University of Waterloo

Residential Schools in Canada

Unpublished.Cafe, hosted by veteran radio journalist Ed Hand, provides an unfiltered prospective on Canadian current affairs free of bias and political partisanship. Unpublished.Cafe is the official podcast of UnpublishedOttawa.com.