The Andrew Lawton Show

It’s been nearly four years to the day since the Liberal government prohibited more than 1,500 types of firearms and set in motion a “buyback” to confiscate the lawfully-owned guns from their owners. Since then, not a single gun has been acquired. In fact, Alberta and Saskatchewan have put up roadblocks making it next to impossible for the government to confiscate guns in those provinces, and now Canada Post has said it wants nothing to do with the buyback, dashing federal hopes that the Crown corporation could manage the firearm pickups and transfers. True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, a massive U.N. summit has convened in Ottawa with the goal of setting up a “plastics treaty.” Andrew discusses with Chris DeArmitt of Phantom Plastics. Plus, is defunding CBC as easy or desirable as it sounds? Andrew shares an interview with Jen Gerson, co-founder of the Line, recorded at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference. Antisemitism has become the new normal in Canada with the tacit or even explicit endorsement of political leaders. Andrew talks about it with author and broadcaster Dahlia Kurtz, author of the new book “Dear Zionist, You Are Not Alone.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Footage from a weekend anti-Israel rally shows protesters openly cheering for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, referring to it as a sign that Palestinians are almost free and calling for Oct. 7 to become “every day” for Israelis. Antisemitic protesters feel safe enough in their views that they no longer feel the need to mask their Jew hatred with terms like “anti-Zionist,” True North’s Andrew Lawton points out, noting that calls for dead Jews should terrify, but not surprise, us. The federal government spent $2.2 million in legal fees trying to defend its use of the Emergencies Act in Federal Court, only to get a decision that broke the law in doing so. Also, CBC is getting tens of millions of dollars more from the feds but the president of the state broadcaster won’t even do an interview with a CBC journalist. Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins to weigh in. Plus, a United Nations summit taking on plastic is starting up in Ottawa this week. What does this mean for Canadian consumers and businesses? Vinyl Institute president Aiñe Curran joins to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An increasing number of young Canadians can’t afford to buy a home, but Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek says not to worry: a lifetime of renting can give “more freedom” and make people feel “liberated,” calling home ownership an outdated concept. True North’s Andrew Lawton says it’s a convenient way to avoid solving the housing crisis, and also markedly similar to the controversial “own nothing and be happy” trope advanced a few years back by a World Economic Forum author. Also, Andrew shares his full fireside chat with Premier Blaine Higgs about federalism, conservatism, and parental rights, filmed live at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s annual conference in Ottawa last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government unveiled its latest budget yesterday and, surprise surprise, it’s full of big spending with no plan to balance the budget. But the Liberals did find room to shovel more money to CBC and over a billion dollars to “combat hate.” True North’s Andrew Lawton unpacks it with Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Catherine Swift of the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada. Plus, Andrew shares his interview with Christine Van Geyn of the Canadian Constitution Foundation from the Canada Strong and Free Network conference about the dismal state of civil liberties in Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada’s Governor General is supposed to be apolitical and above partisanship, but Her Excellency Mary Simon opted to convene a panel about the dangers of “online harms” while the federal government is championing a controversial law that uses such harms as a pretext to regulate internet speech. The panel had no critics of the legislation, but plenty of people championing it. True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, it’s budget day, so Andrew checks in Canadian Federation of Independent Business vice-president of legislative affairs Ryan Mallough to see how rough a ride Canadians are in for. Plus an interview with former federal finance minister Joe Oliver from last week’s Canada Strong and Free Network conference. Lifelong Liberals are breaking with their party over Justin Trudeau’s leadership of it. Andrew checks in with former Liberal member of Parliament Dan McTeague about why that is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices