The Hatchet

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://hatchetmedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">hatchetmedia.substack.com</a><br/><br/><p>There’s something about the way we talk about crime that I’ve always found frustrating.</p><p>Whether it’s car theft rings or fentanyl trafficking or targeted killings, we end up having intense political debates about peripheral issues — should we be locking more people up or making it harder to get bail or changing the Youth Criminal Justice Act</p><p>But we rarely, if ever, talk about the central issue — money.</p><p>Organized crime groups have to set up sophisticated operations to launder their money and put it to use. But today, there exists a shadow financial system that has made it easier than ever for criminals to launder their money with ease. It's cryptocurrency.</p><p>And ironically, it’s often the same politicians who run on tough-on-crime agendas — people like Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — who are simultaneously embracing crypto, the preferred currency of the modern criminal.</p><p>What is surprising is how easy it is to turn that crypto into cash. We’re talking about eye-popping sums; hundreds of thousands of dollars at once, without the Canadian government knowing about it.</p><p>Featured in this episode: Emma McIntosh (<em>The</em> <em>Toronto Star)</em></p><p><strong>To Learn More:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-canadas-shadowy-crypto-banking-system-that-makes-it-easy-to-facilitate-an-unlimited-amount/article_7d99c95f-57c0-4b50-909d-63da96848a4d.html">"Inside Canada’s shadowy crypto banking system that makes it easy to facilitate ‘an unlimited amount of crime'"</a> by Sheila Wang & Emma McIntosh in <em>The Toronto Star</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/cryptocurrency-exchanges-binance-okx-money-laundering-crime/">"Crypto giants moved billions linked to money launderers, drug traffickers and North Korean hackers"</a> by Spencer Woodman, Agustin Armendariz, Miguel Fiandor Gutiérrez & Sam Ellefson in <em>The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/canada-has-become-weak-link-in-fight-against-crypto-scams/article_bc0ad357-cff2-4d89-9061-9abe38a44fc6.html">"Why Canada is seen ‘as a very weak link’ in the global fight against crypto fraud — and what can be done to fix it"</a> by Emma McIntosh & Sheila Wang in <em>The Toronto Star</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/stolen-crypto-investigation/article_31ed9112-09e0-41b5-b9fe-f5a22c254caa.html">"The trail had gone cold for millions in stolen crypto. Then came the ‘aha!’ moment that unlocked the mystery"</a> by Sheila Wang & Emma McIntosh in <em>The Toronto Star</em></p><p></p>

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://hatchetmedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">hatchetmedia.substack.com</a><br/><br/><p>There is a spectre haunting British Columbia. </p><p>If you’ve been paying any attention to BC politics over the last eight months, the province has been whipped up into a panic over Indigenous rights. </p><p>And all of it can be traced back to one man — and no, it’s not Premier David Eby.</p><p>The man haunting the province is Joseph Trutch, BC's first Lieutenant-Governor and the individual most responsible for the fact that the province resisted signing treaties with First Nations for a century.</p><p>Instead, provincial government after provincial government closed their eyes, put their fingers in their ears and just pretended that Indigenous title didn’t exist.</p><p>And now, that past is coming back to haunt British Columbia. </p><p>That is the story that is largely missing from all of the panic about land rights in BC. Because if we do what the pundits and right-wing politicians want us to do — which is ignore First Nations and the legal claims they have to their territory — we will be opening the door to true chaos. </p><p>Featured in this episode: Adam Olsen</p><p><strong>To Learn More:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/04/15/Joseph-Trutch-BC-Indigenous-Policies/">“How Joseph Trutch Set the Stage for BC’s Indigenous Policies”</a> by Adam Olsen in <em>The Tyee</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/08/18/True-Threat-Private-Property-Ignoring-Indigenous-Title/">“The True Threat to Private Property? Ignoring Indigenous Title”</a> by Adam Olsen in <em>The Tyee</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/11/21/Indigenous-Relations-Letting-Go-Zero-Sum-Thinking/">“Cowichan Decision and Beyond: Letting Go of Zero-Sum Thinking”</a> by Adam Olsen in <em>The Tyee</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/04/02/Eby-Wrong-Signals-DRIPA-Amendments/">“Eby Sent the Wrong Signals on DRIPA Amendments”</a> by Adam Olsen in <em>The Tyee</em></p>

<p>As I’m sure you all know, the media is not doing well. Layoffs and closures have left the industry in a state of absolute disrepair. Even the so-called new media outlets that were supposed to save us — think <em>BuzzFeed</em> and <em>Vice</em> — have largely packed it in.</p><p>The podcasting bubble has popped and newsletters have flatlined. In short, there just isn’t some magical business model or format waiting in the wings to save journalism, especially here in Canada.</p><p>But some of us just, including us over here at The Hatchet, just can’t help ourselves. We’re going to keep plugging away, hell or high water, because we think that someone has to.</p><p>And there are others like us, including Peter Nowak at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.donotpassgo.ca/"><em>Do Not Pass Go</em></a>, an outlet dedicated to exposing the dirty dealings of Canada’s many many monopolies and oligopolies. And despite the difficulties of trying to build new outlets from scratch in this environment, one nice thing is that folks like Peter and ourselves have been helping each other out in trying to build up a new media ecosystem.</p><p>So I was so happy when Peter invited me and Vass Bednar on to his show to celebrate his 1000th subscriber, just to talk a little bit about the state of competition in the country.</p><p>Give it a listen. And know that behind the scenes, we’re collaborating on some pretty interesting stories together that we think you’re going to love.</p><p>Featured in this Episode: Peter Nowak, Vass Bednar</p><p><strong>To Learn More:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.donotpassgo.ca/p/six-months-and-1000-subscribers-celebrating">"Six Months and 1,000 Subscribers: Celebrating Do Not Pass Go Milestones!"</a> by Peter Nowak in <em>Do Not Pass Go</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.donotpassgo.ca/p/weekly-roundup-manitoba-takes-the">"Manitoba Takes the Power Back and Doug Ford Flip Flops on Scalpers"</a> by Peter Nowak in <em>Do Not Pass Go</em></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe</a>

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://hatchetmedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">hatchetmedia.substack.com</a><br/><br/><p>It’s not surprising that Prince Edward Island gets ignored by most of the press outside of the Maritimes. It’s by far the smallest province, with less than 200,000 residents. And the last time PEI politics were being covered nationally was when PEI senator Mike Duffy was at the centre of a massive expense scandal well over a decade ago.</p><p>But that lack of attention is a disservice. Because PEI isn’t just a collection of small communities. It’s a full-fledged province, with equal standing in Confederation, and with a government responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.</p><p>For a relatively small place, those are some pretty high stakes.</p><p>So I was really interested to read about a possible corruption scandal that’s come out in the province, which has already led to the resignation of a cabinet minister and is being investigated by the RCMP. It involves allegations of a golf course development, sensitive wetlands and allegations of bribery. Which sounds like your cookie-cutter corruption scandal.</p><p>But there’s a lot of things about this story that are out of the ordinary. First off, this alleged bribe wasn’t paid to the politician, but to a sort of do-gooder group of retired francophone teachers. And secondly, it was the premier himself that exposed his alleged corruption.</p><p>So I decided to give a call to Stu Neatby, the political reporter for <em>The Guardian</em>, PEI’s paper of record. Alongside trying to parse through this corruption scandal, Stu also walks us through the state of PEI politics and another strange conflict-of-interest case involving another PEI minister, who just wants to go fishing. It’s the most Prince Edward Island political story you’ll ever hear.</p><p>Featured in this episode: Stu Neatby</p><p><strong>To Learn More:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/pei-rcmp-confirm-gilles-arsenault-under-investigation">"RCMP confirm former P.E.I. cabinet minister under investigation" </a>by Stu Neatby in <em>The Guardian</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/i-never-wanted-to-break-rules-former-p-e-i-minister-arsenault-says-permit-change-was-never-linked-to-donation">"'I never wanted to break rules': Former P.E.I. minister Arsenault says permit change was never linked to donation"</a> by Stu Neatby in <em>The Guardian</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/lobster-fishing-minister-sidney-macewen-receives-10-day-reprieve-from-pei-conflict-of-interest-deadline">"P.E.I. lobster-fishing minister says conflict laws will need to change"</a> by Stu Neatby in <em>The Guardian</em></p>

<p>Nora Loreto comes on <em>The Hatchet </em>to discuss whether Avi Lewis, the NDP's new leader, is set to be the socialist saviour or doomed to be another Dipper dud.</p><p>We recorded this not long after the NDP convention and we dissect the challenges Avi will face as the party’s standard-bearer, including his relationships with labour, the provincial parties, his own party’s bureaucracy and much more.</p><p>Also, an update on <em>The Hatchet.</em></p><p>Featured in this episode: Nora Loreto</p><p><strong>To learn more</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://noraloreto.substack.com/p/the-elephant-in-the-ndp-race">"The Elephant in the NDP race"</a> by Nora Loreto on <em>Substack</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://noraloreto.substack.com/p/five-takeaways-from-the-ndp-convention">"Five takeaways from the NDP Convention"</a> by Nora Loreto on <em>Substack</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://breachmedia.ca/opportunity-or-distraction-5-organizers-debate-how-to-work-with-a-lewis-led-ndp/">"Opportunity or distraction? 5 organizers debate how to work with a Lewis-led NDP"</a> in <em>The Breach</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.readthemaple.com/avi-lewis-victory-is-a-chance-for-labour-to-revitalize/">"Avi Lewis’s Victory Is A Chance For Labour To Revitalize"</a> by Adam D.K. King in <em>The Maple</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/avi-lewis-is-an-intriguing-choice-as-federal-ndp-leader--will-he-be-a-zohran-mamdani-or-a-1970s-throwback/article_9a013e8e-6d05-42f9-b5b6-162e11ccdccc.html">"Avi Lewis as NDP Leader: a new disruptor or a step backwards?"</a> by Rick Salutin in <em>The Toronto Star</em></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe</a>