OPPO

#77 Mao’s Love Poetry and Chinese QAnon

December 1, 2020

Meng Wenzhou was arrested two years ago today in Vancouver and now unlikely MPs are calling for her release. Meanwhile, anti-CCP camps are at odds with each other in Surrey.

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#76 Biden’s Clean Break

November 17, 2020

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s climate plan may seem at odds with Canada’s energy sector — but there’s more to consider than just pipeline politics.

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#75 What’s The Point Of The NDP?

November 3, 2020

It’s Election Day in the U.S. As Joe Biden heads to the polls having run his presidential campaign on one of the Democratic Party’s most progressive platforms yet, OPPO hosts wonder: Is having a party for “the progressive left” like the NDP the best way for such ideas to gain real traction?

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#74 The Pre-U.S. Election Anxiety Show

October 20, 2020

An uncertain outcome in the upcoming U.S. presidential election is a real possibility that Canadians need to navigate. Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute Balkan Devlen explains why and how.

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#73 Made In Canada Without Pride

October 6, 2020

US President Donald Trump’s rallying cry to a hate group warrants a review of where the Proud Boys are at today. Dr. Barbara Perry speaks on this Canadian export and to what extent they pose a threat to Canadian society and the upcoming US election.

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#72 Snap Election Clapback, CERB Forever!

September 22, 2020

BC’s new Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau weighs in on Premier John Horgan’s ‘cynical’ political calculation. And ‘CEO activist’ Floyd Marinescu offers his lobby group’s cost-benefit analysis of a universal basic income.

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#71 Fall Political Preview

September 8, 2020

Snap election this fall? Erin O'Who? How many jobs can Chrystia Freeland have?

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#70 Who’s Afraid of the COVID Alert App?

August 11, 2020

Can you guess which OPPO host has downloaded the app? Citizen Lab’s Christopher Parsons joins us to assuage privacy concerns and/or irrational fears about the federal government’s new app to contain the coronavirus.

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#69 QAnon Comes To Canada

July 28, 2020

Cars, machinery, and now conspiracy theories. The U.S. continues its proud tradition of exports to Canada as QAnon gains traction north of the border. Marc-André Argentino joins to walk us through the origins and future of QAnon in Canada.

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#68 Why Working Moms Are Dreading September

July 14, 2020

The pandemic has already had a disproportionate impact on women, especially those with children. But how much worse could that be if schools don’t reopen soon? Dr. Sylvia Fuller joins to explain.

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#67 Everybody Else Is Abolishing The Police, So Why Can’t We?

June 30, 2020

As calls to defund continue to grow, why not imagine what Canada would look like without police? Robyn Maynard joins us to unpack the idea.

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#66 Get Me Outta Scheer

June 16, 2020

Now that Jen has thrown out her sourdough starter, it’s time to start paying attention to the race to replace Andrew Scheer. James Moore joins us to run through the field of candidates and where the Conservatives stand on the eve of the first party debate.

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#65 Stuck In the Middle With Meng Wanzhou

June 2, 2020

China and the US are facing off in what’s being dubbed a new Cold War. And Canada’s stuck in a tight spot. Last week, a BC judge ruled that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou’s alleged crimes meet the bar of “double criminality,” which means she’s one step closer to being extradited to the US. China is not happy.

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#64 An Epidemic Of Racism

May 18, 2020

Violent attacks on racialized people are on the rise in Canada — especially against those who look East Asian. We’re joined by reporter Joanna Chiu to discuss what happens when we conflate the actions of a government with individual people.

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#63 Under Cover Of Covid

May 5, 2020

What does the new ban on assault-style firearms in Canada mean? And what’s going on with the dog-whistle racism in the Conservative leadership race?

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#62 Why This Recession Is Hitting Women Harder

April 21, 2020

Can Canada get diaper pail-ready? We’re joined by economist Dr. Lindsay Tedds to help make sense of the long-term economic impacts this recession could have on Canada.

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#61 White Trash Hello Kitty

April 6, 2020

It’s everywhere. It’s all anyone’s talking about. It’s dominating headlines and social media feeds. So of course we’re going to talk about Tiger King. There’s also been plenty of erratic behaviour created by the pandemic, from volatile markets to a volatile Albertan health minister and Jen’s emergent prepper tendencies.

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#60 A Virus Designed To Test Society’s Weak Points

March 24, 2020

As the realities of COVID-19 begin to take hold in Canada, the strains on our society become most visible where we're most vulnerable. A veteran of Hong Kong's SARS epidemic, reporter Ian Young of The South China Morning Post joins to help put it all in perspective.

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#59 Double Trouble: Oil’s Burst Bubble

March 10, 2020

What does the largest single-day drop in the price of oil in almost two decades mean for Canada’s economy? How will it affect growing frustration in Alberta? And have you washed your hands since you started reading this? Wash your hands.

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Introducing: Cool Mules

March 2, 2020

A new investigative series about the cocaine smuggling ring inside Vice Media.

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#58 A Seizure Of Political Power In Wet’suwet’en Territory

February 25, 2020

A look at the ongoing crisis around pipelines and rail blockades, Teck withdraws its plans for a $20 billion mine and Conservative MPs demand justice for Alberta.

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#57 Peter MacKay’s Yoga Tweet Apology Tour

February 11, 2020

The race to replace Andrew Scheer as Conservative leader is on. Who are the key players, and what issues do they face in their bid for the job? For insight, we’re joined by former Harper strategist Ken Boessenkool.

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#56 A Huawei Executive Defends Their Record

January 28, 2020

What are Huawei's plans in Canada? How can we be sure our data is safe with them? And did they pay for the protesters outside the Meng Wangzhou hearing? We’re joined by Alykhan Velshi, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Huawei Canada, to talk all things Huawei.

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#55 Canada Gets Kicked In The Teeth

January 16, 2020

Jen Gerson and Sandy Garossino break down where exactly Canada fits amid the ongoing hostilities between Iran and the U.S., and then discuss the prospect of a royal relocation.

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#54 The Biggest Resignation Of The Year

December 17, 2019

Andrew “Everybody’s Second Choice” Scheer is no longer the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. OPPO unpacks the latest in Western Alienation and takes a deep dive into the most significant political resignation of the year.

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#53 OPPO Goes Nuclear

December 10, 2019

By popular demand, we take a look at nuclear energy in Canada. Plus a check-in with the bubbling oilsands of resentment that is Western Alienation Corner, and OPPO’s newest segment: Andrew Scheer Leadership Deathwatch.

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#52 The Guy Behind Ontario Proud

December 3, 2019

A very special interview with the person behind your least favourite meme pages, Ontario Proud and Canada Proud. Plus, an update on Canada-China relations by way of an interview with two Hong Kong pro-democracy figures.

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#51 Ministry Of Pandering

November 26, 2019

We take a look at the Liberal government’s cabinet appointments, check in on the scandals and simmering resentment in Canada's "West," and read some highlights from the listener mailbag.

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#50 – 50 Things We Want From The 43rd Parliament

November 19, 2019

For our 50th episode, we have 50 demands for the government.

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#49 Lisa Raitt’s Conservative Party Autopsy

November 12, 2019

The former deputy leader of the Conservative Party just lost her seat. She opens up about what went wrong in the election.

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#48 Useful Losers

November 5, 2019

A look at the smaller parties' fates, a farewell to Elizabeth May, and the cabinet prediction that's giving Justin nightmares.

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#47 Is Scheer Done?

October 29, 2019

Jen's back! And she's kept a list of the worst election moments. Plus, will the Conservatives kick out Andrew Scheer? And what the rest of Canada needs to know about #Wexit.

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#46 About Last Night

October 22, 2019

OPPO breaks down the election results from the midst of the Liberal victory (sort of) party.

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# 45 We Haven’t Gotten To Truth Yet

October 18, 2019

It's a pre-election bonus OPPO! We talk about the party platforms and issues that actually matter to Indigenous peoples this election.

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#44 Oppo’s Big Queer Foreign Policy Extravaganza!

October 15, 2019

What do the federal parties say about LGBTQ issues? (No, we're not talking about gay marriage). And uh...why is no one talking about foreign policy?

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#43 The First Official Leaders’ Debate

October 8, 2019

We survived debate night! Mostly. Plus, we break down the parties' environmental platforms with energy and environmental economist Andrew Leach.

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#42 Coasts With The Mosts

October 1, 2019

Why does Trudeau want an underwater tunnel to Newfoundland? Who has the biggest battle in British Columbia? OPPO goes east and west for an election view from Canada's edges. 

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#41 Let’s Talk Tech! … And Blackface

September 24, 2019

Could all those images of Trudeau in blackface open the door for a more meaningful campaign? And we talk Canada's growing tech scene. What's it done with federal money—and what are the parties talking about now?

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#40 A Modest Plan To Eat The Rich

September 17, 2019

The campaign is on! Finally! Who won the first Trudeau-less debate? And why the other parties should actually listen to the NDP's wealth tax plan.

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#39 Who Has The Whitest Candidates? (It’s Not The PPC!)

September 10, 2019

How representative are the federal party candidates (so far)? We crunched the numbers. And the meth crisis was a provincial election issue in Manitoba — here's why the rest of Canada should take note. 

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#38 Our House In The Middle Of An Election

September 3, 2019

Here's everything you missed in Canadian politics this summer. Plus, we talk housing with Employment Minister Patty Hajdu. And ... what's happening with the NDP?

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#37 Is Jason Kenney Stoking Alberta Separatism?

August 27, 2019

Alberta's premier wants a referendum on ... what exactly? And Justin Ling wants you to calm down about climate change "muzzling." Plus, meet some intriguing candidates to keep an eye on.

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#36 Fake News Election Panic

August 13, 2019

After the Mounties' massive manhunt for two murder suspects, Justin questions whether the RCMP's mandate is overstretched — and makes the case that their role in local policing should be an election issue. And with the election looming, there's a frenzy over fake news. But is it even a problem?

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#35 How Alberta Got Weed Right

July 29, 2019

While some provinces are still trying to figure out booze, others have already gotten a good start on weed. Who’s doing sin best?

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#34 Does Québec Get A Pass On Racism?

July 15, 2019

Québec’s secularism bill is a godawful tragedy, the NDP’s platform leaves a lot to be desired, and Andrew Scheer is feeling cramped in Doug Ford’s clown car.

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#33 Don’t Worry Britain, Stephen Harper Will Fix Brexit

July 2, 2019

Who should be allowed to pay for political advertising in Canada? Conservative MP and Foreign Affairs Critic Erin O’Toole explains what’s wrong with the current set of rules. And things have gotten so bad in the United Kingdom that they’ve brought in noted public relations authority Stephen Harper to help broker Brexit.

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#32 You Have No Constitutional Right To An Abortion

June 17, 2019

Who better than a pregnant woman and a gay man to walk you through access to abortion in Canada? Then, Courtney Skye, research fellow at Yellowhead Institute, explains what most people missed in the recent MMIWG report. Finally, Justin yells at Trudeau for failing the queer community.

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#31 Jody Wilson-Raybould And Jane Philpott

June 3, 2019

The two most “difficult” women in Ottawa join us for an in-depth talk about policy, politics, the "most dysfunctional place" to work in the country, and that whole SNC-Lavalin thing.

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#30 The Best And Worst Election Ads So Far

May 21, 2019

Grab a bowl of all-dressed Ruffles and settle in for this review of the first run of federal election ads. Then, a look at what the Green Wave means for Canada. Finally, a recap of the election in Jesse Brown's favourite province: Newfoundland and Labrador.

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#29 The Case For Guns In Canada

May 7, 2019

Is the government coming to take your guns? Was scrapping the long-gun registry a mistake? Do we need stricter gun laws? Does the Liberal plan to ban handguns actually make sense? We scope out the current stock of firearm laws in Canada and take a look at what's coming down the barrel.

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#28 Provinces At War

April 22, 2019

With the election of Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party in Alberta, the national alliance of conservative premiers has gained a key member in its battle against the federal Liberals. In this episode, we take look at what's going on in Canada from coast to coast to coast.

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#27 Bozo Volcano

April 8, 2019

The Alberta election was Jason Kenney's to lose, and with bozos raining down like a nauseating Vesuvius, it looks like he just might. And in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin scandal, there are now 21 MPs who aren't members of the three major parties. How did it get this way, and what kind of influence can they wield?

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#26 Jason Kenney’s $60,000 Problem

March 26, 2019

The Alberta election is around the corner and, in characteristic fashion, it is looking bananas. And we read the federal budget so you don't have to. Plus, an update on the scandal that keeps giving. Finally, some serious news from the OPPO team.

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#25 Trudeau’s OTHER Festering Scandal

March 11, 2019

What's going to be the downfall of the Trudeau administration? It might not be the scandal you're thinking of. Then again, it might be that scandal.

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#24 Everybody Loves Raybould

March 5, 2019

Justin Ling was wrong. Listen to Jen Gerson deservedly drag him over the coals as they unpack the latest in the SNC-Lavalin scandal in this bonus episode.

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#23 This Scandal Will Live And Die In February

February 26, 2019

Was the whole SNC-Lavalin affair a big nothingburger or does it still have the potential to completely rock the Liberal government? And with dozens of trucks rolling into Ottawa, a look at all things oil in Canada.

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#22 The Political Parties’ Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

February 12, 2019

It was not a good week for the main political parties in Canada. From the SNC-Lavalin affair, to the Conservative Google Ad, to the NDP's confused position on Venezuela, here's a dive into the morass.

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#21 Sino The Times

January 28, 2019

This is the most strained Canadian-Chinese relations have been in years. How did we get here? David Mulroney, former ambassador to China, and James Moore, former Minister of Industry, join OPPO to shed some light on what's going on.

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#20 Where’s Jagmeet Singh? He’s On OPPO!

January 14, 2019

Where are the NDP? On OPPO, of course. Jagmeet Singh gives us the rundown on party policy, his plans to not lose a by-election and the federal one, and how he'd get along with Trump.

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#19 All I Want For Christmas Is A New Justice Minister

December 18, 2018

How could Canadian politics be better in 2019? OPPO presents our top 10 wishes for the new year.

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#18 OPPO Flop House

December 4, 2018

Zdravstvuj! OPPO turns its piercing focus on to the spectre haunting Canada in this look at the state of the left across the country.

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#17 The Fascists Are Calling From Inside The House

November 20, 2018

What is going on with conservatives across the country? And what the hell is Stephen Harper doing on the Ben Shapiro show?

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#16 The Canadian Military’s Radicalism Problem

November 6, 2018

We talk with Mack Lamoureux about the ongoing problem of the far-right in the Canadian Armed Forces and what the military is doing about it. And should David Frum have debated Steve Bannon at the Munk Debates?

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#15 Sure Climate Change Is Bad, But Do We Need Florida?

October 23, 2018

Well if nobody else is going to talk about the IPCC report on our impending doom, we guess we will. Justin sits down with MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, the most outspoken member of the Liberal caucus. And is Andrew Scheer really going to make us keep talking about pot?

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#14 The Liberals Are Doing A Shit Job On Justice

October 9, 2018

A look at the state of justice in Canada, as explained by the fervour over a convicted killer's move to a healing lodge and the utter failure of the Liberals to enact judicial reform.

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#13 CAQ-Blocked

September 24, 2018

This fall's Québec election might be a vital indicator of what's to come in federal politics. We take a deep plonge into the issues at hand, and then discuss the Governor General's scandale d'estime. Oh, and Doug Ford posed for a picture with a white supremacist.

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#12 Weekend At Bernier’s

September 10, 2018

They're baaaaack! Jen and Justin catch you up on what's been happening with NAFTA, Maxime Bernier, pipelines, and more. Also, we reveal the real author of the NY Times op-ed.

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#11 This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: The Year In Review

June 25, 2018

The honeymoon for Trudeau's honeymoon is over. We take a look at the batshit year that was, and leave things in a light and summery mood by discussing child detention.

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#10 Why’d You NAFTA Go And Make Things So Complicated?

June 12, 2018

Who invited Donald Trump to Justin Trudeau's nice party? He arrived late and hung over, skipped meetings, vomited in the plants, hid a fish in the air ducts, left early, and then complained about it. How in all of God's green pastures could he be right about any of his trade policy?

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#9 Ontario Election Spectacular!

May 29, 2018

Ford scandals! Wynne gaffes! Horwath ... is doing pretty well. Plus an interview with Mike Schreiner.

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#8 What Is David Frum Doing On OPPO?

May 15, 2018

Everything you've ever wanted to know about Quebec. Everything. And we attempt to answer the question: what the hell is David Frum doing on OPPO?

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#7 Convicted Criminal, Fraudster, Financial Bandit

May 1, 2018

We tear into the Liberals' "convention," call the chaplain for NAFTA, finally solve Alberta's David Suzuki problem, and sit down with Bill Browder, the man behind the Magnitsky Act.

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#6 Decentralized Hot Mess

April 16, 2018

You've got a better shot getting a drink than information from the government's open data infrastructure, Jason Kenney goes full (okay, not full) Mel Gibson, and an interview with Jocelyn Coulon, whose new book explains what's wrong with Trudeau's foreign policy.

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#5 Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sussex Street

April 3, 2018

Guns! Abortion! Now more OPPO than ever! Jen and Justin take on firearm legislation and the summer jobs funding attestation before asking Ontario NDP candidate Marit Stiles how her party plans on not losing in this election.

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#4 Counter-PsyOps is a Good Place to Start

March 19, 2018

Could the NDP actually win in Ontario? Will we ever reach a consensus on carbon tax vs. cap and trade? And what role will Canada play in the New Cold War? Correction: While the image accompanying this podcast was produced and distributed by a member of the NDP, it is not an official party advertisement. We regret the error.

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#3 Oh Great, A Trade War

March 5, 2018

Trump might lead us into a trade war, Big Tobacco wants your sympathy, the federal budget misses the mark on gender equality and we get some much-needed facts on Sikh politics.

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#2 Patrick Brown Goes Full Shitstorm

February 19, 2018

Patrick Brown’s apeshit strategy, Justin Trudeau promises Indigenous people a New Deal, and could Trump happen here?

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#1 So about those Justin Trudeau rumours…

February 5, 2018

Jen Gerson vs. Justin Ling on the dubious Trudeau scandal buzz, the revenge of Jenni Byrne, the nation’s obsession with pipelines, and the Iran protests that everyone forgot about.

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