Dig into Canadian politics from the best seats in the House.

The Backbench

Hosted by Mattea Roach

Dig into politics from the best seats in the House, with host Mattea Roach.

Join Mattea and our rotating roster of panelists from across the country while we engage in discussions about what is happening in Canadian politics right now, and why it matters.

Latest Episodes Most Popular

#65 Ctrl+Alt+Regulate: Can Canada’s AI Act Save Us?

This week Riley Yesno, our interim host, is joined by Meagan Simpson, Nicholas Keung, and longtime panelist David Moscrop to talk AI regulation and economic immigration. 
May 30, 2023

#64 Alberta’s Wildfires Meet an Even Wilder Election

A fiery election in Alberta. No, literally Alberta’s on fire this provincial election.
May 16, 2023

#63 PSAC Strike and the Future of Labour

This week host Mattea Roach is joined by Riley Yesno, Karen Restoule, and Ethan Cox to unpack the The Public Service Alliance of Canada Strike, and the increase of police involved deaths.
May 2, 2023

#62 Who Benefits From Public Safety?

This week Mattea Roach, is joined by Ziya Jones, Riley Yesno, and Frances Bula, to talk about public safety. A few weeks ago unhoused folks in Vancouver were met with displacement and decampment by police and bylaw officers. Who is this supposed solution meant for?
April 18, 2023

#61 The Federal Budget: Betting on Clean Tech

It’s that time of the year again! Budget season… AND, the story about Chinese government influence just keeps getting even more complicated. This week Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Stuart Thomson to unpack how the complex issue of government interference is being seized on by various parties, and how feasible Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland’s proposed budget is for this country’s future.
April 4, 2023

#60 Food Costs Soar, Banks Collapse

The Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, marking it as the biggest bank failure in the United States since the 2008 Financial Crisis. AND, our three top grocers testified at the House of Commons recently, but Canadians learned very little. This week host Mattea Roach is joined by Murad Hemmadi, Meagan Simpson, and Arshy Mann to unpack the future of the bank and tech industries, and why many Canadians are feeling the strain every time they step into a grocery store, all while grocers are making record profits. 
March 21, 2023

#59 A Ruckus at Roxham Road

Host Mattea Roach is joined by Emilie Nicolas, Stuart Thomson and Les Perreaux to talk about the latest at Roxham Road, the irregular border crossing where thousands of asylum seekers flock to Canada. What’s bringing them here and what’s happening once they arrive? 
March 7, 2023

#58 99 Spy Balloons & 1 Rouleau Report

Host Mattea Roach is joined by Nick Taylor-Vaisey, David Moscrop and Sandy Garossino to talk about the two objects shot down over Canada. Is this a question of national security? Or a weather monitoring program gone wrong? It’s probably not aliens, right? 
February 21, 2023
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