It's Political with Althia Raj – Details, episodes & analysis

Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont's decision to cross the floor to the Grits handed them a crucial vote to pass their budget and triggered a chain of events that left Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to maintain his grip on his caucus.

In this episode of "It's Political," the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau reporters — Raisa Patel, Mark Ramzy, Ryan Tumilty and deputy bureau chief Alex Ballingall — join Althia to discuss the events since the tabling of the Liberals' budget and what factors will play in Monday's crucial budget vote.  Can Mark Carney's government survive?

But before that discussion, the Canadian Tax Observatory's CEO Heather Scoffield breaks down the content of that budget. 

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Our sound engineer is Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

The audio clips this week were sourced from ParlVu, CPAC, CBC and CTV.

U.S. President Donald Trump is clear and consistent: he wants Canadian auto sector jobs on his side of the border.

He's refused to craft a side deal on autos and has plainly said he'll increase tariffs until it makes no economic sense for Canada to build cars.

This week on "It's Political" we look at whether the auto industry is worth saving, and how it could be propped up – despite the uncertainty Trump creates.

Then, we'll shift gear and talk about uncertainty of a different kind.

In Alberta, this week, the UCP government invoked the notwithstanding clause to end a three-week teacher strike. What's behind the move? We'll talk to the Alberta Federation of Labour which is trying to organize a potential general strike, and a constitutional lawyer about the greater meaning and consequence of Alberta's decision.

In this episode:

• 3:23 — Saving the auto sector with Unifor Local 200 President John D'Agnolo, Former Toyota Canada executive Stephen Beatty, Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford, and Western University's Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing's Managing Director Brendan Sweeney.
• 41:33 — The fight against Alberta's use of the notwithstanding clause with Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan
• 55:48 — Why the debate over the notwithstanding clause matters with Conway Litigation Partner and constitutional lawyer Marion Sandilands.

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Our sound engineer is Matt Hearn. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from ParlVu, CPAC, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Alberta Federation of Labour's Facebook page, CTV, Global, CP24, CBC, 10 Tampa Bay, Fox News, and the Manitoba Museum.

Listen here and follow or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

In this episode: Toronto Star Ottawa deputy bureau chief Alex Ballingall and Ottawa bureau reporters Ryan Tumilty, Raisa Patel and Mark Ramzy. Hosted by Althia Raj.

Mark Carney will remain prime minister. On Monday, he led the Liberals to a fourth consecutive term. It was a close two-way race that saw the Liberals underperform their own expectations. The NDP lost official party status and their leader, Jagmeet Singh, announced his intention to resign. The Conservatives made gains in Ontario, with one big exception — their leader, Pierre Poilievre, lost his seat in Carleton. 

Poilievre signalled on Monday that he had no plans to resign.  

But can he stay on? 

Toronto Star Ottawa bureau reporters join host Althia Raj to discuss the 2025 federal election campaign, Monday's surprising result and what the next weeks and months may look like.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. This episode was also mixed by Kevin. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

The federal election campaign is in the final stretch with just a few days to go. 

The party leaders are crisscrossing the country, trying to shore up support in new ridings and protect turf they've long considered their own.

With the platforms finally released — most with large deficits and some creative accounting — what is really on the voters' mind?

Our panel of recovering partisans will offer their thoughts.

We've also hit the campaign trail asking electors across the country, what's behind their vote and what they are looking for.

In this episode: Karen Vecchio, the outgoing Conservative MP for Elgin—Middlesex—London; David Christopherson, the former NDP MP for Hamilton Centre; Kristina Michaud, and Rodger Cuzner, the former Liberal MP for Cape Breton—Canso, and now an independent Senator. Hosted by Althia Raj.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

Canada's political parties have now released their election platforms and put a price tag on their plans. Some of their costing is a little suspect, some uses creative accounting, it all fails  to go far enough to address the problem economists say political leaders should be grappling with: increasing the country's productivity. 

This week, on "It's Political," we look at productivity. What is it, and what should Canada be doing to increase it. 

Then, we'll sit down and dissect the party's platforms: their math and what they are really doing to increase economic growth in the country. Does any party go far enough? 

In this episode: Don Drummond, fellow-in-residence at the CD Howe Institute and former TD chief economist, and Tim Sargent, a senior fellow and director of the domestic policy program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Hosted by Althia Raj. 

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Kevin also mixed this program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

With less than two weeks left until election day, the leaders' debates were a crucial time for the parties to make a pitch to voters and take their opponents down a peg. Our panel of 'recovering partisans' weighs in on the highlights of the debates and the Leaders' Debate Commission's decision to exclude the Green Party and  accredit right-wing "media" to the debates.

In this episode: Karen Vecchio, outgoing Conservative MP for Elgin—Middlesex—London; David Christopherson, the former NDP MP for Hamilton Centre; Kristina Michaud, the outgoing Bloc Quebecois MP for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; and Rodger Cuzner, the former Liberal MP for Cape Breton—Canso, and now an independent Senator. Hosted by Althia Raj.

"It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Kevin also mixed this episode. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed this week that if elected prime minister, his government would invoke the notwithstanding clause to ensure mass murderers serve consecutive sentences without a chance for parole. "They should only come out in a box," the Tory leader said Monday. 

In this episode of "It's Political," we look at the impact of Poilievre's decision and what the main parties are suggesting to tackle crime. We'll also discuss what they should be proposing instead.

In this episode: Irvin Waller, professor emeritus of criminology at the University of Ottawa, Anthony Doob, professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto's Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, and Lisa Kerr, Associate professor and Director of the Criminal Law Group at Queen's. Hosted by Althia Raj.

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Kevin also mixed this episode. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, CTV, TV Ontario and the BBC. 

Pierre Poilievre held massive rallies in Alberta this week and received an endorsement from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. But why is he spending precious campaign time in a province with solid Conservative support? 

We've also seen members of the media increasingly speaking out against the Conservative campaign for exerting too much control over the press. Our "recovering partisans" compare the parties' media strategies, weigh in on what the leaders' movements can tell us about the campaign, and look ahead to next week's debates.

In this episode: David Christopherson, the former NDP MP for Hamilton Centre; Kristina Michaud, the outgoing Bloc Quebecois MP for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; Karen Vecchio, the outgoing Conservative MP for Elgin—Middlesex—London; and Senator Rodger Cuzner, the former Liberal MP for Cape Breton—Canso. Hosted by Althia Raj. 

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

Halfway through this five-week federal election campaign, no major party has yet released its platform and there have been no big climate change announcements either.

With U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and affordability concerns top of voters' minds, addressing our heating planet seems to be taking a back seat to other considerations, namely how to build up Canada's economy through energy exploration and diversifying our international markets. But what will that mean for Canada's climate commitments? 

In this episode of "It's Political," Rick Smith, the president of the Canadian Climate Institute, catches us up on the state of Canada's current fight against climate change and Chris Severson-Baker, the executive director of the Pembina Institute, joins host Althia Raj to discuss what the parties' policy proposals mean, and what questions are still left unanswered by their plans. 

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Kevin also mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and the CBC.

Canada was spared  Wednesday when the U.S. President Donald Trump announced new punishing tariffs on the rest of the world. But many Canadian industries are already feeling the pinch from tariffs Trump had imposed earlier, and big job losses are on the horizon. 

This week, Liberal Leader Mark Carney headed to Ottawa and put on his prime minister's hat to respond to the crisis, just as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was attempting a different strategy to address the Trump threat — to the country and to his own election campaign.

This week, our panel of "recovering partisans" joins us to discuss the campaign's second week, from Trump's tariffs and who they politically benefit, to the policy offerings and the response  — or lack of response — to candidates saying things they simply shouldn't. 

But first, Abacus Data's David Coletto gives us the lie of the land: what's moved, what hasn't and what to make  of it.

In this episode: David Christopherson, the former NDP MP for Hamilton Centre; Kristina Michaud, the outgoing Bloc Quebecois MP for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; Karen Vecchio, the outgoing Conservative MP for Elgin—Middlesex—London; John McKay, the outgoing Liberal MP for Scarborough—Guildwood; and David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data. Hosted by Althia Raj. 

This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Matt Hearn is our sound engineer. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, CTV, Global, CNBC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN and ABC.