August 10, 2021
SHARE
The Backbench
#8 Erin O’Toole Doesn’t Want to Fight
With massive childcare announcements and talk of abortion access, the Liberal government seems to be focusing on women lately. Is it pre-election pandering or just good governance? And we look at the state of the Conservative Party, whose leader says he does not want an election.
Tiffany Lam
Producer
Tristan Capacchione
Audio Editor & Technical Producer
Kevin Sexton
Producer

This week’s contributors: Celina Caesar-ChavannesLeena MinifieStuart Thomson

Links:

UPDATE: Since recording the episode, the federal government has announced its commitment to support Manitoba’s childcare program with $1.2-billion over the next 5 years to achieve $10-a-day childcare for kids under the age of six by 2025-26.

This episode is supported by Aussie Hair, CIBC Aventura, and The Peak

More from this series
This week, host Mattea Roach asks the hard-hitting questions about mistakes the Liberals have made, and how they plan to fix it.
September 10, 2024
Harassment of MPs has risen around 800% in the past five years. One-off threats can so easily turn to real violence. Many leaders are calling it quits — saying it’s just too much.
August 27, 2024
Pierre Poilievre isn’t just on the campaign trail, he’s pounding the pavement. And by jove, he’s following it all the way to the top of the polls relying on several rhyming promises.
August 13, 2024
Two team Canadas… two wildly different levels of athleticism. While our athletes head to Paris, our politicians are flooding to the USA to promote Canadian interests in a wildly turbulent time.
July 30, 2024
We’re bringing you a special episode of a show we love! The Secret Life of Canada from CBC Podcasts is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't.
July 2, 2024
On June 3, a cross-party committee released a redacted document alleging some parliamentarians have been "semi-witting or witting" participants in the efforts of foreign states to interfere in Canadian politics. 
June 18, 2024
When B.C. decriminalized small amounts of drugs in January 2023, it was seen as a promising weapon in the battle against the drug crisis. In May, B.C. walked that policy back, saying it caused disorder in the streets.
June 4, 2024
When the first group of students parked up at Columbia University, it sparked a movement that has gripped schools across the world. These encampment protests have now gripped universities across Canada- at U of T, U UOttawa, McMaster, U of C, McGill, U of A, UBC, and Dalhousie.  
May 21, 2024
all podcasts arrow All Podcasts
The Backbench