The Backbench
CANADALAND
Recent Episodes
Starting January 1st, the criminal interest rate on predatory lending will be lowered, meaning it should be safer to take out payday and installment loans. But these businesses have a tendency to skirt the law, adding unexpected fees and insurance rates to keep borrowers in the hole.
Sam welcomes Donna Borden to the show - an organizer with ACORN. She’s been a victim to these loans, and is now fighting against them. Will the crackdown work and really help lower people’s payments? How can we make short term loans a real option for people struggling, without the sky-high payments?
Host: Sam Konnert
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Donna Borden
Background reading:
- Debt struggles spark concerns - Toronto Star
- Anti-poverty advocates call payday lenders 'criminal,' urge feds to cap interest rates | CBC
- New rules to curb predatory lending still leave many vulnerable - Globe and Mail
- How a $200 payday loan cost over $31,000 - CBC Radio
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It was a hell of a day for the Liberals yesterday, as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly abandoned her post. Now, all fingers are pointed at one man: Justin Trudeau.
So what happened? And where do we go from here? Reporter for the Hill Times Stuart Benson sits down with Sam to break down Justin’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Host: Sam Konnert
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Stuart Benson
Background reading:
- Federal deficit balloons to $61.9B as government tables economic update on chaotic day in Ottawa – CBC
- Trudeau taps Dominic LeBlanc to serve as finance minister after Chrystia Freeland's shock resignation | CBC
- Chrystia Freeland’s years of loyalty culminate in a humiliating and tragic end | Globe and Mail
- Freeland’s grenade brings crisis on top of crisis to a flailing Trudeau government | Globe and Mail
Sponsors:
Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland
Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more
To claim, visit article.com/backbench and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
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The political gender divide isnt just a U.S. phenonmenon, its showing up globally, from the U.K. to South Korea. It’s only a matter of time before the next Canadian election wherethese political dynamics could soon take center stage. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Jack Gordon, a young conservative, to ask what he’s thinking about politics these days? And, why conservative politics are resonating with young Canadian men?
Host: Noor Azrieh
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Jack Gordon
Background reading:
- Young Canadians now more politically conservative than their elders – National Post
- Poilievre’s Youth: Meet the young voters supporting the Conservatives – Global News
- Hasan Piker on how Trump seized online culture – CBC Podcasts, Frontburner
- Abacus Data Poll: Conservatives lead by 22 as surrounding impressions hold steady
- What’s behind the global political divide between young men and women? – The Guardian
- Why Trump Thinks He Needs Young Men to Win – TIME
Sponsors:
Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more
To claim, visit article.com/backbench and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
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Last Monday, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump posted to his beloved Truth Social with a hefty threat. If Canada and Mexico don't get the border in order, or the drugs in check, he’ll slap a 25 per cent tariff on all goods. These tariffs could crash several major U.S. industries and ruin Canada’s economy. But this isn’t the first time Trump’s threatened Canada. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Vipal Monga to ask, did Canadian politicians learn anything from dealing with Trump the first time around, or are they stumbling into Trump 2.0 just as clueless?
And, the latest on a BC lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors and alleged interference in the Conservative leadership race that got Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre elected.
Host: Noor Azrieh
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Post Production), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Vipal Monga
Further Reading On Our Website
Sponsors:
Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland
Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more
To claim, visit article.com/backbench and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
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Parliament froze in late September after the Conservatives launched a privilege motion, bogging down the government and demanding the Liberals hand over documents relating to a “green slush fund.”
Since then, the House has been on pause – no bills, no legislation, no nothing. Despite important government matters, this freeze could go on for a very long time, costing taxpayers millions.
Laura Osmon, The Logic’s Ottawa reporter, joins the show to make sense of this procedural nightmare, and explain how we could get out of this gridlock.
Host: Sam Konnert
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio), Cherise Seucharan (Editor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)
Guests: Laura Osmon, MP Peter Julian
Background reading:
- No clear end in sight as House of Commons gridlock approaches 2-month mark | CBC News
- Trudeau to unveil GST relief in multibillion-dollar affordability announcement | Globe and Mail
- House filibuster is putting money for military, dental care, and keeping the government lights on at risk | The Hill Times
Sponsors:
Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland
Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more
To claim, visit article.com/backbench and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
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