Friday, April 18, 2025

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Friday, April 18, 2025 | Latest Paper

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Political insiders and policy experts weigh in on the biggest stories in Canadian politics every week. The Hill Times’ reporters take you behind the curtain, and reveal details that didn’t make it into the final version of their latest stories.

The Hill Times Hotroom is hosted and edited by deputy editor Peter Mazereeuw. The show is a Hill Times production. Art was created by senior online and graphic designer Joey Sabourin. Music attribution: Gavin Gardiner.

Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves joins The Hot Room to discuss the historic Liberal collapse and resurgence in opinion polls over the past year, why men and women are so far apart in their party preference, and the conservative activists rejecting opinion polls that show their party trailing. 

Former ethics commissioner Mario Dion joins the Hot Room to recount his investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and discuss the state of ethics and government, and why we still don't have a permanent ethics commissioner to replace him. 

Former ethics commissioner Mario Dion joins the Hot Room to recount his investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and discuss the state of ethics and government, and why we still don't have a permanent ethics commissioner to replace him. 

Former ethics commissioner Mario Dion joins the Hot Room to recount his investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and discuss the state of ethics and government, and why we still don't have a permanent ethics commissioner to replace him. 

Who's responsible for fixing health care, housing, and other seemingly intractable issues in Canadian public policy? Constitutional expert Carissima Mathen explains political jurisdiction—how power is divided between governments in Canada.

Who's responsible for fixing health care, housing, and other seemingly intractable issues in Canadian public policy? Constitutional expert Carissima Mathen explains political jurisdiction—how power is divided between governments in Canada.

Who's responsible for fixing health care, housing, and other seemingly intractable issues in Canadian public policy? Constitutional expert Carissima Mathen explains political jurisdiction—how power is divided between governments in Canada.

In the last episode, economist Matt Mitchell argued that Canadians would be better off if our governments did not subsidize select businesses. This week, economist Armine Yalnizyan joins The Hot Room to make the case in favour of corporate subsidies, under the right circumstances.

In the last episode, economist Matt Mitchell argued that Canadians would be better off if our governments did not subsidize select businesses. This week, economist Armine Yalnizyan joins The Hot Room to make the case in favour of corporate subsidies, under the right circumstances.

In the last episode, economist Matt Mitchell argued that Canadians would be better off if our governments did not subsidize select businesses. This week, economist Armine Yalnizyan joins The Hot Room to make the case in favour of corporate subsidies, under the right circumstances.

Summertime means cabinet ministers are doubling down on the funding announcement circuit. Canada's federal and provincial governments award billions in subsidies to Canadian businesses each year through a variety of programs. Does that make the economy stronger? Peter Mazereeuw interviews Matt Mitchell, an economist at the Fraser Institute, to get his take.

Summertime means cabinet ministers are doubling down on the funding announcement circuit. Canada's federal and provincial governments award billions in subsidies to Canadian businesses each year through a variety of programs. Does that make the economy stronger? Peter Mazereeuw interviews Matt Mitchell, an economist at the Fraser Institute, to get his take.

Summertime means cabinet ministers are doubling down on the funding announcement circuit. Canada's federal and provincial governments award billions in subsidies to Canadian businesses each year through a variety of programs. Does that make the economy stronger? Peter Mazereeuw interviews Matt Mitchell, an economist at the Fraser Institute, to get his take.

The president of the Canadian Medical Association, Alika Lafontaine, joins The Hot Room to talk about the jurisdictional divide over health care, who should fix it, and how.

The president of the Canadian Medical Association, Alika Lafontaine, joins The Hot Room to talk about the jurisdictional divide over health care, who should fix it, and how.

The president of the Canadian Medical Association, Alika Lafontaine, joins The Hot Room to talk about the jurisdictional divide over health care, who should fix it, and how.

Pollster Shachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute fills us in on how Canadians feel about the federal party leaders, and the issues of the day, as summer begins. 

Pollster Shachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute fills us in on how Canadians feel about the federal party leaders, and the issues of the day, as summer begins. 

Pollster Shachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute fills us in on how Canadians feel about the federal party leaders, and the issues of the day, as summer begins. 

Jennifer Ditchburn, the CEO of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, fills us in on what she heard from government officials, former political leaders, and other experts during a recent IRPP conference on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Ditchburn, the CEO of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, fills us in on what she heard from government officials, former political leaders, and other experts during a recent IRPP conference on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Ditchburn, the CEO of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, fills us in on what she heard from government officials, former political leaders, and other experts during a recent IRPP conference on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Late nights, little sleep, and tactical tricks: the NDP's House leader, Peter Julian, joins The Hot Room to talk about Commons strategy, hybrid Parliament, and what his party wants done before MPs leave Ottawa for the summer.

Late nights, little sleep, and tactical tricks: the NDP's House leader, Peter Julian, joins The Hot Room to talk about Commons strategy, hybrid Parliament, and what his party wants done before MPs leave Ottawa for the summer.

Late nights, little sleep, and tactical tricks: the NDP's House leader, Peter Julian, joins The Hot Room to talk about Commons strategy, hybrid Parliament, and what his party wants done before MPs leave Ottawa for the summer.

What are the parliamentary House leaders in for as we dive into the June legislation crunch? Peter Mazereeuw tees up the final three weeks of sittings before summer in 11 minutes. 

What are the parliamentary House leaders in for as we dive into the June legislation crunch? Peter Mazereeuw tees up the final three weeks of sittings before summer in 11 minutes. 

What are the parliamentary House leaders in for as we dive into the June legislation crunch? Peter Mazereeuw tees up the final three weeks of sittings before summer in 11 minutes. 

Canada's competition commissioner joins the Hot Room to talk about the connection between high prices and poor competition policy, as well as the changes he wants the government to make to Canada's competition law.

Canada's competition commissioner joins the Hot Room to talk about the connection between high prices and poor competition policy, as well as the changes he wants the government to make to Canada's competition law.

Canada's competition commissioner joins the Hot Room to talk about the connection between high prices and poor competition policy, as well as the changes he wants the government to make to Canada's competition law.

Senator and legal expert Marilou McPhedran joins The Hot Room to discuss her new bill to crack down on the use of non-disclosure agreements for harassment victims by the government.

Senator and legal expert Marilou McPhedran joins The Hot Room to discuss her new bill to crack down on the use of non-disclosure agreements for harassment victims by the government.

Senator and legal expert Marilou McPhedran joins The Hot Room to discuss her new bill to crack down on the use of non-disclosure agreements for harassment victims by the government.

Former deputy prime minister and current Hill Times' columnist Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to discuss the Liberal Party's convention in Ottawa, and the state of the party.

Former deputy prime minister and current Hill Times' columnist Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to discuss the Liberal Party's convention in Ottawa, and the state of the party.

Former deputy prime minister and current Hill Times' columnist Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to discuss the Liberal Party's convention in Ottawa, and the state of the party.

The Hill Times' public service reporter, Mike Lapointe, walks us through the causes and sticking points in the strike that has put more than 150,000 civil servants on picket lines.

The Hill Times' public service reporter, Mike Lapointe, walks us through the causes and sticking points in the strike that has put more than 150,000 civil servants on picket lines.

The Hill Times' public service reporter, Mike Lapointe, walks us through the causes and sticking points in the strike that has put more than 150,000 civil servants on picket lines.