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Wonk

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Rating
★★★★★
5
from
3 reviews
This podcast has
193 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2020/03/31
Latest episode
2026/10/15
Average duration
35 min.
Release period
13 days

Description

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Amanda Lang, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays. This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking.

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Lisa Raitt and Anne McLellan: Canadian democracy is working
2026/10/15
The largest survey on Canadian views on foreign policy in over 50 years suggests that Canadians are united on a whole host of issues, from trade diversification to global health. It also shows a surprising confidence that democracy in Canada is working well, despite the challenges and unity questions facing the country. Host Michael Serapio talks to Anne McLellan, a former deputy prime minister in Paul Martin's government and Lisa Raitt, a former minister in the government at Stephen Harper, who were involved in the report, called Foreign Policy by Canadians 2026. Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can the auto industry survive Trump?
2026/10/08
When it comes to Canada's auto industry, the U.S. President is very clear: Donald Trump does not see the need for it and he is doing everything he can to force car makers to bring their operations to America. The rupture would undermine an industrial relationship that goes back decades, and lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. Host Michael Serapio talks to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, about the state of the highly integrated industry and what Donald Trump gets wrong about it. Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/ Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Premier RJ Simpson on northern investment the need for better Arctic defence
2026/10/01
Canada’s Arctic is getting a level of attention it hasn't seen in decades. The federal government is promising to put some $35 billion towards asserting Canada's Arctic sovereignty, creating economic opportunities and, it is hoped, long-term prosperity for Northern communities. But how will these investments do that? When will we see shovels in the ground? Host Michael Serapio is joined by the Premier of the Northwest Territories, RJ Simpson to talk about Arctic resources, building roads and why Canada needs to up its Arctic defence. Subscribe to PPF’s Build Big Things newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Canada’s search for $1 trillion — and new friends
2026/09/24
Canada's push to diversify its economy has taken some big steps: An international investment summit in Toronto; a trip by PM Mark Carney to the European Parliament to explore becoming an associate member of the EU; and a meeting in Saint-Pierre with French President Emmanuel Macron. What do these developments tell us about Canada's efforts? How interested is the world in what Canada has to offer? And what will it take to turn that interest into growth? Host Michael Serapio is joined by Gitane De Silva, Executive Director of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics & Democracy at the University of Alberta and Brett House, an economist and professor at Columbia Business School. Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/ Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Canada’s former top trade negotiator Steve Verheul: Moving beyond the U.S.
2026/09/17
Ever since Donald Trump was reelected in 2024 and started talking about Canada as a 51st state, cross border trade has been a sore point. But in recent weeks, there has been great urgency as the United States slapped tariffs on many goods and the fate of CUSMA hangs in the balance. PM Mark Carney has said “America is trying to break us so that they can own us.” So what can Canada really do to diversify its trade and thrive next to a suddenly unfriendly neighbour? Host Michael Serapio talks to Canada’s former chief trade negotiator and PPF Fellow Steve Verheul about his new report From Reliance to Resilience and what could happen next.  Read Verheul’s report for PPF: https://ppforum.ca/publications/from-reliance-to-resilience/ Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/ Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gov. Josh Shapiro on Canada-U.S. relations
2026/06/25
Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania. He talks to host Amanda Lang about fixing CUSMA, the importance of the U.S. midterms and the trade instability caused by President Donald Trump. This is the final episode of season 4 of WONK. We’ll be back this fall with a brand new season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to make a nation of supertraders
2026/06/18
The need to pivot away from our dependence on the U.S. as a trading partner has definitely been driven home to Canadian businesses. But actually doing that is a different story. If there's a base camp for that climb, it's Export Development Canada (EDC), the Crown Corporation whose mission is to help Canadians develop new markets. Alison Nankivell, EDC's CEO, joins host Amanda Lang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Evan Solomon on the promise and perils of AI
2026/06/11
Few innovations have held the amount of promise and — let's face it — peril as artificial intelligence. Will it be mankind's greatest leap forward or its absolute demise? Into this uncertainty comes Canada's new AI strategy, one which tries to walk the line between promise and peril. Host Amanda Lang talks to Evan Solomon, Canada's first Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Building an economy that helps people flourish
2026/06/04
More than 25 years ago, management consultant Joseph Pine introduced a revolutionary concept he called the experience economy. It helped shape how companies would reframe their businesses, but also their approaches to customers. Pine described the economy as being divided into progressions of economic value, from the lowest, commodities, to goods or manufacturing, to services, and finally, experiences. Now he's introducing a fifth level of value, which he calls transformation. His new book is called The Transformation Economy. He joins host Amanda Lang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The big risks facing Canada and the world
2026/05/28
Anyone who thinks that insurance is dull hasn't thought about it in the right way. The ability to offset risk is the structural foundation of everything in a modern economy, including our own individual ability to avoid personal financial ruin. Charles Brindamour is CEO of Intact Financial, the largest property and casualty insurer in Canada. He talks to host Amanda Lang about climate change, natural disasters and tech vulnerabilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why the Canadian economy will be okay
2026/05/21
One of the dangerous things about constantly talking about the challenges that our economy faces is losing the sense of urgency that it needs. With the new fiscal update under our belts, and plenty of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead, host Amanda Lang checks in with one of Canada’s top economists, Frances Donald, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at RBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gregor Robertson on the housing dilemma
2026/05/14
When it comes to affordability, few issues hit more than housing. We need homes of all types without cratering the value of the existing housing stock. That's not an easy task, but it is one the federal government is lending its policy to. Host Amanda Lang talks to Gregor Robertson, the federal minister of housing and infrastructure and former mayor of Vancouver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Frank McKenna on Canada’s future and dealing with America
2026/05/07
The challenges facing Canada are pretty enormous, from our aging population to trade issues changing the fabric of our economy. It's a hard time to be a young person thinking about the future. Canada's universities are at the center of this struggle to equip them with the skills they need. Host Amanada Lang talks to former N.B. premier and former ambassador to the U.S. Frank McKenna about his gift to St.FX University, creating future leaders, and managing Canada-U.S. relations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to get investment flowing back to Canada
2026/04/30
One of the key goals the federal government has laid out is to attract more investment to Canada after years of outflows. So have we finally turned a corner? Host Amanda Lang talks to TMX Group CEO John McKenzie about building home-grown talent, focusing on long term growth and unlocking Canada’s potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Could Canada be energy independent?
2026/04/23
The conflict with Iran has raised a lot of questions about Canadian oil, gas and energy. If we produce so much of the stuff, why are we at the mercy of bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz? Jay Khosla is executive director of economic and energy policy at the Public Policy Forum. Susannah Pierce is the former CEO of Shell Canada and also led the development of the LNG Canada terminal. They join host Amanda Lang to talk about strategic reserves, east-west pipelines and the missing electricity link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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