J.D.M. Stewart on The Prime Ministers

Allan welcomes journalist and author Ken Cuthbertson to discuss his new book, Seven Bucks a Head: The Scandalous Child Resettlement Scheme That Built a Nation, published by Sutherland House Books in October 2026 , that tells the story of British “Home Children.” Between 1869 and 1939, more than 100,000 children were collected from the streets of some of the grittiest neighbourhoods of London, Glasgow and Liverpool and sent to work as farm labourers and domestic servants in Canada. The conversation covers the motivations and methods of Maria Rye, Annie McPherson, and Dr. Thomas Barnardo, three of the key figures behind the scheme in its early days, the reactions of the program’s critics as well as its supporters, and the experiences and of the children themselves, including the last-surviving British Home Child, George Beardshaw, who died at age 103 in July 2026.

Allan welcomes Jason Kenney, former Premier of Alberta, former federal cabinet minister, and spokesperson for the stay-in-Canada campaign, to discuss the upcoming referendum in Alberta and the deep historical roots of Western alienation. Prompted by the October 19th referendum, Kenney explores the origin of Alberta’s distinct political culture, the legacy of political dynasties like the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), Social Credit and Progressive Conservatives, and key moments in federal-provincial tension—from early natural resource disputes to the National Energy Program and modern energy policy debates.

Allan welcomes guest Michael Hill, former history teacher, former artistic director of the Mariposa Folk Festival, and author of The Lost Prime Ministers: Macdonald's Successors Abbott, Thompson, Bowell, and Tupper, to discuss the four prime ministers who led Canada between the death of Sir John A. Macdonald and the election of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Prompted by the recent unveiling of "The Unfortunate Four" sculpture in Bancroft, Ontario, Hill explores the unique backgrounds, political challenges, and brief tenures of John Abbott, John Thompson, Mackenzie Bowell, and Charles Tupper.

Allan welcomes back Barbara Messamore, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Fraser Valley, to discuss the 1925 Canadian federal election, the subsequent King-Byng affair, and the 1926 election. Messamore addresses common misconceptions regarding Governor General Julian Byng’s refusal of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s request for a dissolution of Parliament, examining how the crisis unfolded amidst the Customs Department scandal and Arthur Meighen’s short-lived government. She also reflects on the political dynamics between King and Meighen, the evolving constitutional role of the Crown in Canada, and how similar parliamentary situations have played out in Canadian political history.

Allan welcomes historian Barbara Messamore, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Fraser Valley, to discuss her book Times of Transformation: The 1921 Canadian General Election and the broader political landscape of post-WWI Canada. Messamore, who also serves as president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, explores the rise of the Progressive Party, the political fortunes of leaders like Arthur Meighen and Mackenzie King and the historic election of Canada's first female MP Agnes MacPhail.