Explore every episode of the podcast MBP Intelligence Briefing

This week on the MBP Intelligence Briefing, Shannon Phillips is joined by Ken Boessenkool and Tyler Meredith for a wide-ranging discussion on the Pacific Link Pipeline and LNG investment, the choices facing Ottawa ahead of the federal budget, and a busy election season in Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia.

In this episode:

• Pacific Link Pipeline & Alberta: Ottawa’s designation of the Pacific Link Pipeline as a project of national interest, how a 35–43.7 billion publicly backed pipeline could be financed, the risks to Alberta and Ottawa, CCUS and royalty questions, and whether expanding pipeline capacity can help diversify Canadian energy exports beyond the United States. The panel also looks at what the announcement means for Alberta’s October 19 referendum and the national unity debate.

• Federal Budget: What Ottawa needs to balance as it prepares its next budget, from investment and competitiveness to affordability and rising borrowing costs. The panel looks at Canada’s changing interest-rate environment, the pressures created by higher yields, and why increasingly attractive risk-free returns could make it harder to unlock the private investment Canada needs.

• Election Season: With voters heading to the polls in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia, the panel looks at which results could matter most to Ottawa. They discuss the changing political landscape in Quebec, the implications of Alberta’s referendum, what a change of government in B.C. could mean for federal-provincial relations, and the potential consequences for upcoming health-transfer negotiations.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing is completely free to listen to and watch, and completely ad-free. Subscribe wherever you listen or watch, and share the show with someone who follows Canadian politics and public policy.

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MBP Intelligence Briefing has relaunched with a new format, now completely free to listen to and watch, and completely ad-free. This week, Shannon Phillips is joined by Ken Boessenkool and Tyler Meredith for a wide-ranging discussion of the federal government’s new labour legislation, the future of Canada’s largest airports and the newly called BC election.

In this episode:

• Labour Reform: The government’s proposed changes to the Canada Labour Code, new guardrails around Section 107 and back-to-work intervention, and what the changes mean for organized labour, employers and future labour disputes.
• Canada’s Airports: Ottawa’s plan to open Canada’s largest airports to private investment, the role Canadian pension funds could play, what it could mean for airport fees and public revenue, and the challenge of getting accountability and regulation right.
• B.C. Election: The rapidly changing political landscape as British Columbians head to an October election, the challenges facing David Eby and the B.C. Conservatives, and how affordability, Donald Trump and the federal government could shape the campaign.

MBP Intelligence Briefing is now completely free to listen to and watch, and no ads. Subscribe wherever you listen or watch, and share the show with someone who follows Canadian politics and public policy.

If you're interested in working with us, visit https://lnk.to/MBPIBriefingPodcast

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Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool and Tyler Meredith for a wide-ranging discussion of Canada’s investment push, its evolving relationship with Europe and what to watch as Parliament returns.

In this episode:

• Canada Investment Summit: The government’s first Canada Investment Summit, the new “mega deduction,” major investment commitments and whether they can translate into real capital and new projects.
• Canada and Europe: The push for a closer relationship with the European Union, what “associate membership” could actually mean and the opportunities and challenges of deeper economic, regulatory and defence cooperation.
• Parliament Returns: What to watch as MPs return to Ottawa, from shifting dynamics inside the Liberal and Conservative caucuses to upcoming legislation and the government’s fiscal agenda.

YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

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Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool and Shannon Phillips for a wide-ranging discussion of the biggest political developments across Canada, from the escalating Canada–U.S. trade war to the Quebec election campaign and growing turmoil inside the B.C. Conservative Party.

In This Episode:

• Canada–U.S. Trade War: What comes next after the collapse of trade negotiations, escalating tariffs and a fundamental shift in the Canada–U.S. relationship.
• Quebec Election: The changing dynamics of the campaign, the resurgence of the CAQ, the Parti Québécois challenge and the possibility of an unpredictable five-way race.
• B.C. Politics: The turmoil inside the B.C. Conservative Party, the departure of multiple MLAs, Carolyn Finley’s upcoming by-election and whether the political instability could create an opening for the B.C. NDP.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation

Join MBP Intelligence here:⁠ https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's special edition of the MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden is joined by Diamond Isinger, trade expert, policy strategist and Fellow at the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, along with Ken Boessenkool and Tyler Meredith, for an in-depth discussion of the escalating Canada–U.S. trade war following the collapse of negotiations with the Trump administration.

The panel begins with Prime Minister Carney’s decision to suspend negotiations and walk away from a potential agreement rather than accept significant last-minute U.S. demands. With new Section 338 tariffs now in effect and Canada preparing dollar-for-dollar retaliation, they examine what went wrong at the negotiating table, whether the United States remains a credible negotiating partner, and why the current trade fight could become a prolonged conflict.

The conversation then turns to the future of CUSMA and whether the agreement still offers Canada meaningful protection as the United States increasingly acts outside its existing trade commitments. They discuss how Canada should retaliate, what support affected businesses and workers may need, and why trade diversification and new international investment relationships are becoming increasingly important.

Finally, the panel considers the broader implications for Canadian sovereignty. If Washington is seeking to restrict Canada’s ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries, they argue, the dispute is no longer simply about tariffs—it raises fundamental questions about Canada’s economic independence and its ability to pursue its own relationships around the world.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why Prime Minister Carney walked away from the latest Canada–U.S. trade negotiations.
• Whether last-minute U.S. demands reveal a deeper problem with Washington as a negotiating partner.
• What the new Section 338 tariffs and Canada’s planned retaliation mean for the escalating trade war.
• Whether CUSMA still provides Canada with meaningful protection and preferential access to the U.S. market.
• How Canada can design targeted tariff and non-tariff retaliation that creates political and economic pressure in the United States.
• What support Canadian businesses and workers may need if the trade war becomes prolonged.
• Why trade diversification and new investment relationships are becoming increasingly important.
• What potential U.S. restrictions on Canada’s relationships with other trading partners could mean for Canadian sovereignty.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden and Ken Boessenkool welcome back commodity economist Rory Johnston to the podcast, founder of Commodity Context, to unpack one of the most significant developments in global energy markets in decades.

The discussion begins with the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints—and why many analysts believed oil prices were headed toward US$200 per barrel. Rory explains why that prediction never materialized, revealing the surprising role China played in stabilizing global markets through an unprecedented collapse in crude oil imports and what may be the use of vast underground strategic oil reserves hidden from public view.

The panel explores how Saudi Arabia, Russia, China and the United States have all influenced the current energy landscape, why global oil markets remain far more fragile than many realize, and how geopolitical instability is permanently changing investor perceptions of energy security.

Finally, the conversation turns to Canada. Could this crisis strengthen the case for new pipelines? Should governments—not private industry—be responsible for strategic energy infrastructure? And what role could Canada play as one of the world's most reliable democratic energy suppliers in an increasingly unstable world?

In this episode, they discuss:

• The ongoing Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz crisis
• Why analysts expected oil to reach US$200 per barrel
• How China prevented a global energy shock
• China's mysterious underground strategic oil reserves
• The collapse of Chinese crude imports
• Russia's refinery outages and their impact on global fuel supplies
• Whether geopolitical risk has permanently changed oil markets
• Why Canada may be entering a new era for pipeline development
• The strategic value of energy infrastructure beyond simple economics
• What higher geopolitical risk means for Canadian energy exports

• Johnston: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz represented the largest oil supply disruption in modern history, removing roughly 13 million barrels per day from global markets almost overnight.
• Roundtable: While many expected oil prices to spike above US$200 per barrel, the anticipated global energy crisis never fully materialized.
• Johnston: Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline provided an important release valve, allowing millions of barrels per day to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and reducing some of the market shock.
• Roundtable: Although oil prices remained below worst-case forecasts, the geopolitical risk surrounding global energy supplies has fundamentally changed.

• Johnston: China's crude oil imports fell by an astonishing 5–6 million barrels per day, one of the largest demand swings ever recorded.
• Johnston: One of the leading theories is that Beijing has quietly relied on enormous underground strategic petroleum reserves that cannot be tracked using satellite imagery.
• Roundtable: China's lack of transparency has become one of the biggest challenges for global energy analysts attempting to forecast future oil markets.
• Johnston: The global oil market is now heavily dependent on decisions made inside Beijing—decisions that remain largely hidden from public view.

• Johnston: Existing pipeline corridors offer lower-cost expansion opportunities, but entirely new export routes may provide Canada with much greater strategic flexibility.
• Roundtable: The discussion around pipelines has shifted from environmental politics toward energy security, economic resilience, and international competitiveness.
• Johnston: Infrastructure that appears underutilized during normal periods can become invaluable during geopolitical crises.

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The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation

Join MBP Intelligence here:⁠ https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special roundtable edition of the MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden and Tyler Meredith are joined by leading experts in energy policy, economics, and electricity regulation to unpack the federal government's new National Electricity Strategy, Powering Canada Strong. The discussion explores what it will take to double Canada's electricity system by 2050, the trillion-dollar investment challenge, affordability concerns, electrification, economic competitiveness, and the role of natural gas in Canada's future energy mix. The panel examines whether the strategy is truly a roadmap or simply the beginning of a much larger national conversation.

Segment Highlights

• Why the federal government shifted from a "Clean Electricity Strategy" to a broader National Electricity Strategy.
• The goal of doubling Canada's electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and storage by 2050.
• The balance between economic competitiveness, affordability, sovereignty, and emissions reduction.
• The evolving role of the federal government in a sector traditionally led by provinces.

• What it will take to double Canada's electricity capacity.
• Challenges around transmission infrastructure, permitting, workforce shortages, and utility planning.
• The importance of interprovincial transmission and grid connectivity.
• Whether Canada can build at the pace required to meet future demand.

• The trillion-dollar investment challenge facing Canada's electricity system.
• The debate between taxpayers, ratepayers, and private capital.
• The role of federal tax credits, infrastructure funding, and public financing.
• How pension funds and institutional investors could help fund grid expansion.

• The strategy's argument that electrification can lower overall household energy costs.
• Why consumers may struggle to see long-term savings when facing higher upfront costs.
• The role of EVs, heat pumps, and home retrofits.
• The political challenge of communicating affordability benefits.

• Electrification as a foundation for Canada's future economy.
• Opportunities in AI data centres, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and industrial growth.
• Canada's ability to compete globally for investment.
• Workforce shortages and the need for skilled labour.

• The role natural gas will continue to play in Canada's electricity system.
• Reliability, affordability, and emissions tradeoffs.
• Regional differences in generation needs and energy policy.
• How governments balance energy security with climate objectives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden, Ken Boessenkool, and Shannon Phillips discuss the latest provincial budgets, Pierre Poilievre’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, and the global economic risks emerging from the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. They break down what the Manitoba and Ontario budgets reveal about political strategy, how long-form media is changing political communication, and why rising oil and energy prices could have major consequences for Canada’s economy.

In this episode, they discuss

· Manitoba’s budget focused heavily on affordability, including tax relief on groceries and homeowner credits, as the government prepares for a likely election.

· Ontario’s upcoming budget is expected to prioritize housing affordability, deficit management, and tariff-related economic pressure.

· Pierre Poilievre’s Joe Rogan interview highlights the growing importance of long-form media and podcast audiences in modern politics.

· The ongoing Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict is pushing up oil, gas, fertilizer, and shipping costs, with ripple effects across the global economy.

· Higher energy prices may benefit resource-producing provinces but could increase inflation and economic pressure across Canada.

On the Manitoba budget and affordability politics

· Phillips: The government has picked affordability as the central political issue and is designing policy to match what voters say they need most.

· Boessenkool: Wab Kinew is effective at presenting policy without sounding ideological, which makes his approach appealing to a broad audience.

· Woodfinden: The budget reads like an election-ready document focused on groceries, taxes, and cost-of-living relief.

On the Ontario budget and housing policy

· Woodfinden: Removing HST on new homes could help affordability and encourage construction, but taxes remain a major cost in housing.

· Boessenkool: Ontario faces pressure from tariffs, rising energy prices, and slow growth, making fiscal choices more difficult.

· Phillips: Opposition parties still lack a clear economic development strategy, which gives the government political room.

On Poilievre, podcasts, and long-form politics

· Phillips: Long-form interviews allow politicians to build trust and show personality in ways traditional media rarely allows.

· Boessenkool: The Rogan appearance reached a specific audience, while clips from the interview shaped broader public perception.

· Woodfinden: Political communication is shifting from short soundbites to long conversations, especially through podcasts and online media.

On the Iran conflict and global economic risks

· Boessenkool: Oil markets assume the conflict will calm down, but that depends on decisions by multiple governments that may not want to de-escalate.

· Woodfinden: The Strait of Hormuz disruption affects oil, gas, fertilizer, and supply chains, not just energy prices.

· Phillips: Higher oil prices could boost provincial revenues in Canada, but inflation and global instability could offset those gains.

On the Canadian political impact

· Phillips: Energy price spikes could affect provincial politics, especially in resource-producing regions.

· Boessenkool: Economic shocks often expose regional differences inside Canada.

· Woodfinden: Canada’s stability makes its resources more valuable in uncertain global markets.

Youtube Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Bloomberg Television, CNBC, Reuters, Motion Array, balcony et-al, Videoscape, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s MBP Intelligence Briefing, Shannon Phillips and Tyler Meredith are joined by economist Armine Yalnizyan - Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, for a wide-ranging conversation on what Canada gained in the Trudeau years, what’s at risk (or stalled) under the Carney government, and what a genuinely “progressive” industrial strategy would prioritize—especially the care economy, ownership, and the future of work in an AI- and services-heavy country. 

· Meredith: The most consequential legacy of the Trudeau years was poverty reduction, driven in large part by the Canada Child Benefit alongside other targeted transfers.

· Yalnizyan: CERB was globally unusual and highly effective, allowing people to stay home safely and supporting a rapid economic rebound.

· Meredith: Pre-pandemic labour market tightening created more inclusive job gains for women, racialized workers, and people with disabilities.

On Trudeau-era legacy: Poverty, labour markets, pandemic response

· Meredith: Poverty fell significantly during the Trudeau era, with the CCB accounting for a major share of measurable gains.

· Meredith: Strong pre-COVID labour markets pulled historically sidelined workers into better employment outcomes.

· Yalnizyan: Pandemic supports like CERB stabilized households in ways traditional social insurance was never designed to do.

On resilience now: EI, coverage gaps, and economic shocks

· Meredith: Avoiding recession so far has mattered enormously because many households cannot meaningfully survive on EI alone.

· Meredith: Canada needs modernized labour market institutions that reflect gig work, uneven hours, and technological disruption.

· Yalnizyan: EI is social insurance; guaranteeing people don’t become destitute is a different policy objective and requires different tools.

On the care economy: Guardrails and industrial strategy

· Yalnizyan: Care is not a residual sector — it is one of the largest engines of employment and GDP in Canada.

· Yalnizyan: Without regulatory guardrails, private equity will move quickly into publicly subsidized care sectors and extract value offshore.

· Yalnizyan: A real care strategy must include workforce recruitment, retention, skill ladders, and immigration pathways to stabilize the sector.

On industrial strategy: Investment, AI, and ownership

· Yalnizyan: An investment-first strategy without conditions risks Canada becoming economically dependent while wrapped in a Canadian flag.

· Meredith: Canada’s services-heavy economy makes it uniquely exposed to AI disruption and requires deliberate skills and commercialization strategy.

On pensions, power, and worker agency

· Yalnizyan: Unions should push harder for governance — trustee seats and deeper literacy — because today’s pension investment model can create a dynamic of “preparing tomorrow’s retirees by squeezing today’s workers.”

· Meredith: “Fiduciary” language can become a shield against accountability, allocation decisions, fees, and public-purpose alignment, even though pension wealth is a strategic national asset if governed transparently.

· Yalnizyan: Canada once deployed CPP savings directly into municipal infrastructure and housing; liberalized post-2000 rules expanded offshore investing and weakened the link between collective savings and domestic public purpose.

Website: https://atkinsonfoundation.ca/atkinson-fellows/atkinson-fellow-on-the-future-of-workers/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/armine-yalnizyan-a32b42264

Youtube Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first of 2026 episode, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips are joined by Rory Johnston of Commodity Context, University of Toronto’s Munk School, and host of The Oil Ground Up Podcast to unpack the shock U.S. operation in Venezuela and the ripple effects for Canada.

The conversation focuses on the Canadian angle: what this episode signals about U.S. strategy and instability risk, how Venezuelan heavy crude could affect Western Canadian Select pricing, what it means for TMX and Asia-bound exports, and why the case for additional Canadian egress and demand diversification is strengthening.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What the U.S. operation in Venezuela signals about American “hemispheric dominance,” and the destabilization risks if there is no credible post-operation plan

• The split between strategic rhetoric and resource mercantilism, and why “regime change” framing may not match reality on the ground

• How sanctions, blockades, and forced trade flows could reshape heavy crude dynamics and WCS differentia

• What the Venezuela shock could mean for TMX utilization, China demand, and Canada’s evolving export geography

• The pipeline policy implications for Canada: westbound egress, energy security, and the federal–provincial bargaining terrain in a weaker price environment

Key Takeaways

On U.S. Strategy, Regime Outcomes, and Instability Risk

• WOODFINDEN: The execution may have been “clinical,” but the absence of a coherent follow-through plan elevates risks of prolonged instability and spillover effects (including migration and regional disruption)

• MEREDITH: The intervention is notable for how openly transactional it is—less “democracy promotion,” more direct resource monetization and control over proceeds

• PHILLIPS: Diaspora expectations and political messaging can diverge sharply from realities on the ground, especially if elections and institutional reform are not central to the plan

On Venezuela’s Oil Sector and the Limits of a Quick Production Surge

• JOHNSTON: Venezuela has massive reserves, but above-ground constraints are severe—human capital loss, decayed infrastructure, and unattractive fiscal terms make rapid rehabilitation highly uncertain

• JOHNSTON: The “low-hanging fruit” is not new production; it is simply allowing blocked barrels to flow—exports can rebound faster than capacity can be rebuilt

• JOHNSTON: Large-scale restoration is a multi-year, tens-of-billions proposition, and majors will be hesitant absent credible stability, durable rules, and risk-adjusted returns

On WCS Differentials and Canada’s Competitive Exposure

• JOHNSTON: If Venezuelan barrels resume flowing primarily to China, the immediate impact on WCS at Houston should be limited; the pressure intensifies if barrels are forced into the U.S. Gulf Coast to compete directly with Canadian heavy

• JOHNSTON: Market narratives have likely over-shot—Canada has historically competed with Venezuelan heavy; the bigger Canadian vulnerability is policy/egress constraints rather than “existential” competition

• PHILLIPS: In a softer market, even modest widening in heavy differentials can translate into material public-revenue hits, amplifying fiscal stress in resource-dependent provinces

Rory Johnston’s Contact Details:

Twitter: x.com/Rory_Johnston 

Web: www.commoditycontext.com (www.commoditycontext.com/) 

Contributor - Venezuelan Article of Interest: thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-energy/trump-venezuela-oil-maduro/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this year-end episode, Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips for a wide-ranging policy roundtable reflecting on the most consequential, overlooked, and misguided policy developments of 2025, alongside a forward-looking discussion of what to watch in 2026.

The conversation focuses on structural policy shifts across fiscal rules, defence spending, climate policy, healthcare reform, democratic institutions, and housing. The episode also examines how geopolitical uncertainty, particularly related to the United States, is reshaping Canada’s fiscal, monetary, and defence posture.

This marks the final episode of 2025, with the show returning in early January 2026.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The most consequential policy shifts of 2025 across fiscal rules, climate, defence, and housing

• How geopolitical uncertainty reshaped Canada’s defence spending and fiscal posture

• The evolving role of democratic institutions, including the Senate and referendum politics

• Diverging provincial approaches to healthcare reform and federal constraints

• What policy risks and opportunities to watch as Canada enters 2026

Key Takeaways

On the Most Significant Policy Developments of 2025

• PHILLIPS: Continuity under a Liberal government preserved health, social, and childcare programs despite expectations of major change

• MEREDITH: Separating operating and capital spending permanently expands federal fiscal capacity

• BOESSENKOOL: Ending the consumer carbon tax marks a major retreat from market-based climate policy

• WOODFINDEN: Canada’s rapid shift toward higher defence spending represents a structural policy realignment

On Defence Spending, Fiscal Rules, and Political Alignment

• WOODFINDEN: Defence spending has moved from political taboo to broad consensus

• MEREDITH: New fiscal rules have reduced concern about deficits and debt financing

• PHILLIPS: Defence budgets create opportunities for workforce development beyond procurement

• BOESSENKOOL: Political fragmentation has lowered resistance to large-scale defence investment

On the Senate and Democratic Institutions

• BOESSENKOOL: Moving away from a technocratic Senate could significantly alter governance

• MEREDITH: An independent Senate has increased scrutiny but slowed legislation

• WOODFINDEN: The Senate’s real test may come under a future Conservative government

• PHILLIPS: Civil society has a role in shaping how partisanship functions in democratic institutions

On the “Worst” or Most Misguided Policy Developments

• MEREDITH: Ontario’s symbolic megaprojects reflect a lack of economic strategy

• BOESSENKOOL: Alberta’s lowered thresholds for recall and referendums empowered destabilizing actors

• PHILLIPS: Book bans and separation referendums highlighted symbolic and counterproductive policymaking

• WOODFINDEN: Canada’s repeated transit failures reveal systemic infrastructure weaknesses

On Looking Ahead to 2026

• WOODFINDEN: Co-hosting the FIFA World Cup risks high public costs for limited return

• MEREDITH: U.S. monetary policy leadership changes could destabilize global markets

• BOESSENKOOL: Provinces will increasingly diverge on healthcare reform

• MEREDITH: The federal government is likely to defend the Canada Health Act if private payer models expand

On Underrated Policy Developments

• MEREDITH: Automatic benefits enrollment simplifies access and improves delivery

• PHILLIPS: Crackdowns on fraudulent career colleges protect workers and students

• BOESSENKOOL: The personal support worker tax credit functions as a targeted wage subsidy

• WOODFINDEN: Housing outcomes are increasingly diverging by city and region

YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

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• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
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• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

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The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape.

Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy.

Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics.

This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy.

You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence.

Want the Full Episode?

Become a member to unlock:

• The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)
• Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newsletters
• Invitations to private discussions and events
• Access to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversation
• 
  

Join MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/

YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

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In this episode Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool, and Shannon Phillips unpack the new federal budget. They discuss

• The economic outlook and why Canada avoided recession even as growth falls
• Why this is a capital assets budget and what it asks of private investment
• The new fiscal anchors and how markets are reacting
• The political risk of long runway payoffs and how to show near-term impact
• Immigration levels cuts the hit to campuses and minimum wage pressure
• Defence spending and whether dollars stay in the Canadian industrial base

Key Takeaways

On the economic outlook

• WOODFINDEN: A budget that leans heavily on uncertainty and the upending of the global order 
• MEREDITH Canada dodged a recession and the economy shows resilience even with weaker growth
• BOESSENKOOL Risks are still tilted to the downside and US trade turbulence could bite
• PHILLIPS This is industrial and capital focused not people focused which leaves exposure if the economy worsens

On what makes this budget different

• MEREDITH The document reads like a pension investor wrote it. Prioritizes asset class certainty and competitiveness over retail politics
• WOODFINDEN The government owns the productivity slump that predated Trump and is finally acknowledging it at least  
• BOESSENKOOL A Bay Street style budget that pivots from program expansion to private investment
• 
  

On immigration and provincial fallout

• WOODFINDEN The cut to international student permits is dramatic and will hit university and college finances
• MEREDITH Expect a tilt back to high skill intake while provinces scramble to fill revenue gaps
• PHILLIPS Lower intake will tighten low wage labour markets and push pressure onto minimum wage policy

On innovation and financial sector reform

• MEREDITH The budget packs major moves on competition banking and digital assets with more likely in the Bank Act review cycle

On defence

• WOODFINDEN Defence is the signature spend at eighty four billion over five years
• MEREDITH Procurement choices will decide how much of that spend stays in Canada
• PHILLIPS Recruitment and culture must improve or the money will not translate into people

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In this episode, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith and Shannon Phillips discuss:

• Projects of national interest and how new polling reveals what Canadians really think about building faster while maintaining environmental and Indigenous safeguards
• Why Bill C-5 could reshape how Canada approves major infrastructure projects
• The shifting dynamics between Carney’s government, Conservative premiers, and public expectations around trade-offs, consultation, and speed
• Trump’s latest trade war escalation, what it means for Canada, the provinces, and global leverage
• Section 107 and the Notwithstanding Clause: how back-to-work powers are reshaping Canada’s labour relations landscape
• “Around the Horn” the key political, economic, and social developments to watch across Canada

Key Takeaways

• PHILLIPS: Canadians want it all; environmental safeguards, Indigenous consultation, and faster approvals. “They want all of the things. That is a distinctly Canadian approach.”
• MEREDITH: The public is open to conditions, unionized labour, Indigenous participation, environmental offsets, not to bypassing them.
• WOODFINDEN: “If something extraordinary continues long enough, it becomes ordinary.” Carney’s mandate to move fast risks fading if delivery lags.
• PHILLIPS: “Politics are not fixed.” The ‘don’t know’ responses in polling reveal opportunity, or danger, for both sides of the national projects debate.

• MEREDITH: C-5 gives Cabinet power to act as “traffic cop” coordinating approvals, Indigenous engagement, and environmental conditions, a new form of transactional nation-building.
• PHILLIPS: The bill could accelerate transmission lines, renewable energy projects, and AI infrastructure, “That’s where you’ll get Canadians at 70% support.”
• WOODFINDEN: Conservatives and Liberals may share short-term goals but differ fundamentally on regulatory reform, “A branding and messaging divide.”

• MEREDITH: Canada’s leverage works when used strategically, not bombastically, “Pain may need to be felt on the U.S. side first.”
• PHILLIPS: “No deal is better than a bad deal.” A strong, united Canada is better positioned to face Trump’s negotiating style.
• MEREDITH: Lack of communication between Ottawa, provinces, and business is fueling anxiety “We cannot manage our own agenda if we do not have a coordinated response.”

• PHILLIPS: Alberta’s pre-emptive use of the Notwithstanding Clause to end the teachers’ strike “opens a five-alarm fire” for labour rights across Canada.
• WOODFINDEN: Conservatives’ outreach to labour complicates future debates, “The dynamic in Parliament has changed more than people realize.”
• PHILLIPS: Expect deeper divides between approaches to public- and private-sector unions in conservative politics.

MBP Intelligence Roundtable is produced by Metamorphosis Media Group for Meredith, Boessenkool & Phillips (MBP) Intelligence.

Learn more or join the MBP membership for exclusive access to policy briefings and private roundtables at mbpintelligence.com.

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In this episode Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips to discuss:

• The “teaser budget” and how Prime Minister Trudeau and Mark Carney are framing a transformational moment for Canada’s economy
• What the language of sacrifice and “transformation” really signals for Canadians and how it landed with students
• The political balancing act between fiscal discipline, industrial policy and trade diversification
• “Buy Canadian,” AI investment, and talent strategy as pillars of the new industrial vision
• Canada’s evolving housing landscape and the impact of Alberta’s municipal elections
• “Around the Hall”  the developments and signals to watch in the weeks ahead

Key Takeaways

On the Teaser Budget and Carney’s Framing

• MEREDITH: The decision to deliver a pre-budget address was about setting expectations, signalling a generational budget and framing the conversation before it lands.
• BOESSENKOOL: Carney is setting the bar extremely high, a “Paul Martin problem” of over-promising transformation before delivery.
• PHILLIPS: Doubling non-U.S. exports is a massive lift that would require a complete retooling of Canada’s economy.

On Sacrifice, Youth and Fiscal Balance

• MEREDITH: “Sacrifice” was framed as unity, a shared commitment to tough choices, but it also prepares Canadians for spending restraint in some areas.
• WOODFINDEN: The line landed awkwardly before university students who have seen house prices double and job prospects tighten, a telling communications moment.
• BOESSENKOOL: It was written for national media, not the room, a preview of the government’s tough-talk tone heading into budget day.

On Industrial Strategy and AI

• MEREDITH: Expect direction on AI sovereignty, data centres, cloud capacity and digital infrastructure, with details to follow after the budget.
• WOODFINDEN: Carney’s focus on critical minerals, AI, and education highlights Canada’s core comparative advantages.
• BOESSENKOOL: Expanding Canada Research Chairs to attract top global talent would be a small but strategic move with outsized impact.
• PHILLIPS: The speech underplayed existing wins like childcare and middle-class tax relief, missed chances to show tangible progress.

On Housing and Regional Reality

• BOESSENKOOL: Canada faces multiple regional crises, not one national problem, solutions must reflect local realities.
• MEREDITH: Roughly $50 billion in housing initiatives (Build Canada Homes, MERB, modular construction, DC cuts) are coming, the challenge is execution and coordination.
• PHILLIPS: Co-operative and mixed-model housing is absent from today’s debate, civil society needs to reclaim that space.

On Alberta’s Municipal Elections and Coordination

• PHILLIPS: Calgary’s new leadership opens space for fresh federal-municipal collaboration; there’s room for constructive reset.
• MEREDITH: Real housing progress depends on provincial alignment, that’s where the legal and policy levers sit.

On Parliament and Political Timing

• MEREDITH: Passing the budget is only step one, implementation and supply votes create multiple points of leverage in a minority Parliament.
• BOESSENKOOL: Minorities often last longer than expected, election threats are constant but rarely materialize.
• WOODFINDEN: Moving the budget to fall forces discipline and changes how opposition parties plan their moves.

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IIn this episode Ben Woodfinden and Shannon Phillips talk with National President of UNIFOR Lana Payne and discuss:

• Stellantis, subsidies and Trump Pressure 03:02:18
• Government Tools and Leverage 05:49:12
• On a Team Canada Strategy, and potential divergence between federal and provincial governments 10:36:15
• On the Future of the Canadian Auto Sector 22:00:01
• On Labour Power and Policy 32:06:10
• Unifors Position and it’s members 42:20:10

Key Takeaways

On Stellantis, Subsidies and Trump Pressure

• PAYNE: This is the most blatant example of a corporation appeasing Trump. Canada must play hardball, enforce commitments negotiated in 2023, and make companies feel consequences when they move Canadian jobs.
• PAYNE: Failure to act risks a domino effect — if Stellantis escapes accountability, others like GM could follow.
• PHILLIPS: What matters now is not rhetoric but tools — what governments can actually do to make firms fulfill their obligations.

On Government Tools and Leverage

• PAYNE: Canada has powerful levers if it chooses to use them, beginning with a tariff-remission strategy that rewards companies meeting Canadian production commitments and penalizes those that don’t.
• PAYNE: If you’re going to sell here, you need to build here. Market access, energy supply, and public subsidies are all bargaining chips.
• PAYNE: Governments can no longer rely only on incentives. The world has changed — we must use sticks as well as carrots.

On a Team Canada Strategy

• PHILLIPS: The provinces, especially Ontario, have meaningful leverage; their willingness to act matters.
• WOODFINDEN: Emerging divergence between Ford and Carney that was not there a few months ago. Ford is fighting openly while Ottawa appears more cautious.
• PAYNE: Canada risks fragmentation as provinces pursue separate interests. We need a strong Team Canada approach uniting unions, industry, and all levels of government.
• PAYNE: Trump’s trade posture is an existential threat. He’s coming for our auto jobs.
• PAYNE: Need to think about and plan for long-term resilience. We can’t just export raw materials and help someone else build their economy — we must build our own industrial base.

On the Future of the Canadian Auto Sector

• PAYNE: Before Trump’s trade war, Canada was finally rebuilding its footprint — battery plants, EV supply chains, and domestic R&D. U.S. backtracking threatens that progress.
• PAYNE: Warns that China’s massive overproduction of vehicles could soon flood the global market. Canada must plan now to compete.

On Labour Power and Policy

• PAYNE: Section 107 is a very dangerous path. It conditions employers to expect government rescue instead of bargaining fairly. Using 107 will not bring labour peace; it prolongs workplace problems.
• PHILLIPS: Government may need clearer guardrails before invoking 107.
• PAYNE: You don’t get to use 107 — that’s the starting point. Supports mediation and conciliation instead of forced arbitration.
• WOODFINDEN: Notes shifts in the political landscape as unionized and blue-collar voters move toward conservatives.

Shifting Political Coalitions and Realignments 

• PAYNE: Unifor stays non-partisan. We build our own power. Every party is chasing the working vote, which strengthens labour’s influence.
• PAYNE: The voter shift is about bread-and-butter issues — housing, wages, inflation — not ideology. People felt heard.

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In this episode of MBP Intelligence Briefing, Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool and Shannon Phillips discuss:

• Changes to the timing and presentation of the upcoming Federal Budget (1:08)
• The latest in pipeline politics with Premier Danielle Smith proposing a new West Coast pipeline and the revival of Keystone XL talks (25:02)
• The state of Canada's auto sector and the existential threat it faces (41:10)
• What we’re paying attention to (51:56) 

Key takeaways:

On changes to the budget:

• MEREDITH: We learned something about Carney and how he operates from this move to the fall. Wasn't in the platform.
• MEREDITH: Carney was Governor of the Bank of England when the UK changed budget timing to the fall, not a coincidence.
• BOESSENKOOL: You're forecasting a budget six months in advance before it starts happening. So that's a benefit when you're spending, but it's downside when you're doing revenue.
• PHILLIPS: This will aid policy design and help stakeholders navigate budgets by clarifying upcoming allocations. With Carney's changes to the cabinet, stakeholders can now better align their requests with existing allocations.
• MEREDITH: Change is important because this is the first of many big steps this government is going to take where it departs from the Trudeau government. Carney government less focused on things like spending on social policy, transfers to people, transfers to governments that aren't actually about building assets. Stakeholders should think about this in social policy area.

On pipelines:

• PHILLIPS: A West Coast pipeline is unlikely to succeed unless supportive Indigenous nations along the route agree—constitutional treaty rights are a near‑insurmountable hurdle that C-5 cannot override. Prince Rupert is probably unrealistic, and overall demand uncertainty means such a project would likely require public backing.
• BOESSENKOOL: There’s a real question whether only governments can now build major pipelines given Indigenous and provincial veto points. Hypothetical pipeline talk should not distract investors from concrete projects that could attract real capital.
• MEREDITH: Provincial sponsorship of pipeline projects can be constructive and may vindicate past federal intervention, but meaningful progress requires BC’s buy‑in. Routing and negotiations will be protracted, and reuse or expansion of existing routes (for example, further using or adding capacity to Trans Mountain) is worth considering.
• WOODFINDEN: If Conservatives had won federally, they would likely have pursued repeal or major reform of laws that deter investment (C-69, the tanker ban), testing whether regulatory barriers rather than macro market conditions are the primary obstacle to pipeline investment.

On the auto sector:

• MEREDITH: The U.S. objective is explicit—shift vehicle assembly (high‑value jobs) to U.S. soil while allowing Canada to remain a parts supplier; Canada must defend its assembly capacity to preserve advanced manufacturing and national economic sovereignty.
• BOESSENKOOL: This is a very serious threat that requires a clear Canadian auto strategy and cautious negotiation—don’t rush into deals with Trump that could unravel later; Canada should fight rather than fold to protect jobs and exports.
• PHILLIPS: Losing large numbers of auto jobs would trigger wide economic fallout requiring a whole‑of‑government fiscal and policy response (comparable in scale to pandemic-era measures) to support affected workers, communities, and domestic demand.

YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

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In the inaugural episode of MBP Intelligence Briefing, Director of MBP Intelligence Ben Woodfinden talks with Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith and Shannon Phillips to get their insights into:

• The ongoing trade war, the return of Trump’s 51st state talk and the upcoming CUSMA renegotiations (1:38).
• The PBO’s fiscal warnings and the federal fiscal outlook in advance of the first Carney budget (14:45).
• The NDP leadership race, relevance and future direction (29:23). 
• Parliament’s return - what we’ve noticed and what to watch for (46:27).

Key takeaways:

On tariffs and trade: 

• Boessenkool: No one other than Trump himself knows what he’s thinking, policymakers need to show some humility and plan accordingly. Canada should plan for the worst and hope for the best, including the potential cancellation of CUSMA.
• Meredith: The government is pursuing a two-track trade strategy, addressing both existing tariffs and renegotiating CUSMA. Sectoral tariffs are increasing and the government is becoming less vocal and quiet in response, including less direct engagement with stakeholders. 
• Phillips: The provinces will increasingly play a role in tariff response due to the regional specific impacts of tariffs.

On PBO and Fiscal Outlook: 

• Meredith: It's likely true that the deficit will come in somewhere between 2-3 % of GDP, but according to PBO’s own analysis, we are still on a sustainable fiscal track. It’s important to note that the parliamentary budget officer is interim. It may explain some of his public pronouncements.
• Boessenkool: We don't need a government-funded body to tell us what the fiscal situation is. That's the job of the opposition to criticize and the job of the government to put forward a plan. Let the opposition do the hard work of opposing, don’t outsource it. 

On NDP:

• Phillips: The NDP leadership race boils down to a question of whether members want a leader who will prioritize making them feel good or one who will prioritize winning. McPherson is likely that person but she needs to distinguish herself, grab some of the attention in the attention economy and try and define herself as in the camp of provincial New Democrats who want to win, not just feel good.
• Woodfinden: Conservatives successfully stole many NDP working class votes at the last election, and so face a challenge now. They need a stronger NDP but they also need to keep those working class votes, which also means not wanting the return of an NDP that can appeal to those voters.

YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array

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