• Search
    • Sign up for our newsletter
    Dig into the Canadian election from the best seats in the House

    The Backbench

    Hosted by Fatima Syed

    Dig into politics from the best seats in the House, with host Fatima Syed and our rotating roster of panelists from across the country: Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Jason Markusoff, Drew Brown, Emilie Nicolas, Jaskaran Sandhu, Murad Hemmadi, Leena Minifie, Caroline Elliott, Riley Yesno, and Stuart Thomson.

    Stay on top of things through sharp commentary and incisive analysis. Drops every other Tuesday.

    Latest Episodes Most Popular

    #22 The NDP’s Progressive Struggles

    People have been declaring that they have stopped donating their money and/or time to the NDP recently. Why is the NDP struggling to retain self-described progressives? What is the party's role in federal politics today?
    January 25, 2022

    #21 The So-Called Era Of Reconciliation

    Three generations of Indigenous panelists join us this week on what The Backbench thought was the biggest story of 2021: the unmarked graves on former residential school grounds. We break format to take stock of what has been promised and repromised, the diversity of demands from Indigenous communities, and what a new "interlocutor" position can do to help with healing.
    January 11, 2022

    #20 Economy As Entertainment?

    Political showmanship about #Justinflation abound, just as the Liberal government is set to release their Fall Economic Statement this week. And it's our last episode of 2021! We offer some highlights and lowlights of the year.
    December 14, 2021

    #19 A Bill That’s Ideally Never Used

    BC's emergency on top of emergency has us wondering where the federal government needs to step in. And the latest "lockdown bill" and Throne Speech reveals where our federal government is at.
    November 30, 2021

    #18 A Cynical Guide To COP26

    Prime Minister Trudeau celebrated Canada's role at COP26 - but what is there to celebrate really? And Conservatives MPs try to start a 'civil liberties caucus' while the Liberal caucus vote not to empower themselves. 
    November 16, 2021

    #17 A Money Manel: Equalization & Inflation

    Alberta thinks it made a "powerful" statement to Ottawa this week. And the Bank of Canada says inflation is persistent, which can also be perceived as good news if you look really hard.
    November 2, 2021

    #16 Two Former MPs Dish On China & Climate

    We invited former MPs on because it was supposed to be the first week of Parliament. It got pushed back, but we get into what the first days of Parliament are like and what issues this government will be inheriting anyway. 
    October 19, 2021

    #15 Truth, Reconciliation and China

    Trudeau drops the first apology of his third term and has us wondering how reconciliation can go beyond symbolic actions. And as the Two Michaels make it home, what have we learned from this whole saga?
    October 5, 2021
    all podcasts arrow All Podcasts