Political Traction

Faced with volatile economic circumstances, the federal government presented its 2023 budget, which Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Freeland argue will help Canada and Canadians respond to global trends like friendshoring and the shift to green energy. Billed as a plan to build a stronger, more sustainable and more secure economy, Budget 2023 includes substantial tax credits for clean tech, new taxes on stock buybacks, and modest efforts to address affordability. Adam is joined by Alex Ballingall, a reporter for the Toronto Star's Parliament Hill Bureau, and Navigator’s own Daniele Medlej, a Liberal strategist and former communications director, to dive into what implications this budget holds for Canadians.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented his third provincial budget – signalling a shift in focus from COVID-19 to weathering the coming economic headwinds. On this week’s episode of Political Traction, Adam is joined by Laura Stone, Queen’s Park reporter for the Globe and Mail, Colin D’Mello, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for Global News and President of the Queen’s Park Press Gallery and Navigator’s very own Brayden Akers, to unpack Budget 2023.

Last month, the federal government banned TikTok from being installed on all government-issued devices, citing security concerns related to the app's ownership by a company with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This week, Adam Owen is joined by Chris Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post, to discuss the government's decision and its framing within the larger issue of CCP’s interference in Canada's internal affairs.

Following more than a decade in some of the highest-ranking positions in the previous Ontario government, Charles Sousa has returned to public service as a Member of Parliament in Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. This week, Adam Owen is joined by Charles to explore his decision to come out of political retirement, and the role he sees himself playing at Parliament Hill.

With Chinese weather balloons, an American news anchor threatening war against Canada, and public broadcasters getting political, silly season has officially begun. This week, Adam is joined by Tasha Kheiriddin, a principal in Navigator’s Toronto office, and Catherine Moar, an associate principal in Navigator’s Calgary office, to discuss these recent issues and the impact they’ve had on the current political landscape.

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premiers from across Canada unveiled the federal government's plan for healthcare funding over the next 10 years. Despite high expectations, some experts consider the plan to have fallen short and believe that much more funding and innovation is needed to repair the strained system. This week, Adam is joined by University Health Network's President and CEO, Kevin Smith, to discuss the challenges facing the healthcare system and if Ottawa's offer is sufficient to address its systemic issues.

Following two historic electoral losses, the Ontario Liberal Party is facing an existential crisis as it prepares to pick its next leader. Some veteran members and former cabinet ministers made headlines recently by releasing a letter asking Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner to ditch his party and run for OLP leadership. First, Adam is joined by Kate Graham, a former Ontario Liberal leadership candidate and candidate in London North Centre, who signed the letter. Then, he catches up with Sharan Kaur, a Liberal strategist and political analyst who has vocally criticized the campaign, to discuss both sides of the issue, and the future of the party.

We have seen successive governments purposefully cater policy to the oldest among us, and ask the younger generations to pick up the tab. What kind of impact will this have on the opportunities and optimism our youth have for their futures? This week, Adam is joined by Sean Speer, who has sat on Canada’s leading think tanks, acted as a leading policy analyst to Stephen Harper, and currently teaches at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, to discuss whether this imbalance will create a divide amongst Canadians, or if it’s a necessary part of growing up in an aging society.

Rising incidents of crime are causing anxiety amongst Canadians. With all parties pointing fingers, the Trudeau Liberals have been silent on the issue. What will it take to finally see decisive action? This week, Adam is joined by Tristin Hopper, a columnist for the National Post, to discuss the alarming rise in crime, and what it means for Canadians’ trust (or lack thereof) in the country’s legal system.

In our final episode of 2022, host Adam Owen is joined by Navigator colleagues Michael Cooke, Rosa Ellithorpe and Tasha Kheiriddin. The panel unpacks this year’s top events and highlights what 2023 may bring from foreign affairs and healthcare to grocery prices and the possibility of a federal election.

Toronto, among many cities across Canada, is facing a generational housing crisis. With soaring costs, those looking to buy in the city are being shut out of the market and renters are faced with limited options for an affordable place to call home. This week, Adam sits down with Brad Bradford, Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the City’s Planning and Housing Committee to talk about the “Housing Action Plan” that City Council recently adopted, and to discuss whether it has what it takes to overcome the city’s biggest challenge.

Parents are feeling left behind as children’s hospitals fill up and local medicine shelves remain empty. This week, Adam is joined by Melanie Paradis, the president of Texture Communications and a veteran political communicator, and Jen Gerson, a freelance writer and co-founder of “The Line”, a Canadian commentary website, to discuss the political implications of government delay and mismanagement as flu, RSV, and COVID season continues to disproportionately affect children and debilitate households.

This week, host Adam Owen is joined by a panel of Navigator’s public affairs experts – principals Tasha Kheiriddin, Colin MacDonald and Danielle Parr - to unpack two issues causing major controversy around the globe: Elon Musk’s shaky takeover of Twitter and the excitement, problems and perils of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Tension between Canada and China is on the rise, with the two countries’ dissension taking centre stage at this year’s recent G20 summit. On this episode of Political Traction, Adam is joined by Vina Nadjibulla, Adjunct Professor at UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs to contemplate what Canada’s new approach in the Indo-Pacific might look like and what steps should be taken to solve Canada’s Xi problem.

Seeking to short circuit negotiations with CUPE, the Ontario Government invoked the notwithstanding clause to declare strike action illegal and impose a new contract, but big labour fought back, and Premier Ford backed down. This week, host Adam Owen speaks with The Globe and Mail’s future of work reporter Vanmala Subramaniam to break down what this means for labour, unions and collective bargaining.

From grocery stores to gas stations, prices are up and the cost of living is top of mind for Canadians with the highest inflation in 40 years. This week, Adam is joined by Brett House, former Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank, and André Turcotte, a principal at Discover, Navigator’s public opinion research firm, to unpack the Fall Economic Statement and discuss how the federal government is addressing affordability.

In a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland set out her views on “friend-shoring” and how liberal democracies should address the issue of trade in a global economy. This week, Adam is joined by Heather Scoffield, Ottawa Bureau Chief and Economics Columnist for the Toronto Star to unpack what the Freeland doctrine means for the Liberal Party and all Canadians amidst rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Reporting on the front lines (w/ Adam Zivo) This week, Adam is joined by Adam Zivo, a political columnist with The National Post. Joining the episode from Kyiv, Adam provides a firsthand glimpse of current events and political dynamics in Ukraine. The duo discuss what more Canada can be doing to help Ukraine, and how information operations and communications are influencing the war.

Reporting on the front lines (w/ Adam Zivo) This week, Adam is joined by Adam Zivo, a political columnist with The National Post. Joining the episode from Kyiv, Adam provides a firsthand glimpse of current events and political dynamics in Ukraine. The duo discuss what more Canada can be doing to help Ukraine, and how information operations and communications are influencing the war.

In a special edition of the podcast, host Adam Owen is joined by Jason Hatcher, Managing Principal of Navigator’s western operations and host of the Western Edge, a Navigator Podcast. Adam and Jason discuss new polling conducted by Navigator’s in-house research division, Discover, on the mindset of Albertans and what they want from their government. The duo conclude the episode with an introduction to the panel discussion Navigator hosted on October 18 with experts on politics and policy in western Canada. If you’d like to see highlights of the research firsthand, visit the Navigator website.