Show Notes
On this episode, Erin is joined by Vass Bednar, public policy expert, podcast host, and co-author of The Big Fix, for a wide-ranging conversation on competition law and anti-trust issues in an age of technological and geopolitical change. They also discuss affordability issues and how different generations of Canadians view the Canadian economy differently. Vass shares her unique insights on high profile sectors like telecom, grocery, AI and data, as well as what Canadian policy makers should take from global anti-trust trends. If you’ve ever wondered why your bills may be too high and what Canada needs to do to become more competitive and productive, this episode is for you.
More from Blue Skies Podcast with Erin O'Toole
In this episode, Erin is joined by Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the country’s most prominent energy policy expert, to explore what it will take for Canada to live up to our role as a modern energy superpower. From oil and gas to nuclear energy, hydroelectricity to critical minerals, they look at Canadian resource potential and the opportunities to strengthen our economy while leveraging energy security as part of Canada’s new ‘variable geometry‘ on the world stage. They also dig into the future of major energy projects, the race to secure global energy supplies and whether Canada is truly ready to seize this moment.
In this episode, Erin is joined by defence policy expert Professor Philippe Lagassé, author of Debating Canadian Defence, to explore whether Canada can turn its ambitious new defence spending commitments into real military capability. They look at the push to meet NATO targets, the challenges holding back defence procurement, the future of Canada’s fighter jets and submarines, and what it will take to build a stronger Canadian defence industry.
In this episode, Erin is joined by transit policy expert Reece Martin, author of The Transit Brief, to discuss why transportation projects in Canada cost far more than in other countries and why many have recently been coming in well over budget. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the Alto high-speed rail project and the ongoing debate surrounding more stops, speeds and public engagement.
In this episode, Erin sits down with Ryan Manucha, author of Booze, Cigarettes and Constitutional Dust-Ups and one of the leading commentators on internal trade in Canada. They discuss the economic opportunity of breaking down internal trade barriers and the history of how we got here including the history behind the famous Gold Seal and Comeau Supreme Court cases. They explore the barriers between provinces that continue to hold back the ‘One Canadian Economy’ concept that the Carney government is promoting.
Erin is joined by Dr. Alika Lafontaine for a discussion about his new book The Outrage Cure. The book is a reflection from Lafontaine on his leadership of the Canadian Medical Association during the challenging years of the pandemic and the personal toll of that time. They discuss how to bridge differences and take the temperature down in this period of polarization.