Canadaland

AI chatbots are encouraging violence, social media is hurting kids, and Ottawa is still trying to figure out how to regulate the harms of the internet after two very public failed attempts. Host Noor Azrieh and Taylor Owen, professor and member of the federal task force on AI and online safety, dig into the federal government’s latest Online Harms push. Why does regulating the internet, especially its nastier corners, keep proving so hard to actually do?PLUS, we hear from Thomas Juneau, former defence analyst and current professor of Middle Eastern security & intelligence, on what a possible Canadian intervention in the region could look like.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Mia Johnson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Taylor Owen, Thomas JuneauBackground reading:Canada could be the next nation to ban soci

Canada is home to one of the largest Iranian communities outside of Iran in the world. There are over 280,000 Iranian Canadians living here. The rallies they've held in recent months have been some of the largest that Canada has ever seen. According to the CBC last month, 350,000 people took to the streets in Toronto. And that was before the war had even begun.Today we’re checking in with three Iranian-Canadians as they watch history unfold.Host: Jesse BrownCredits:  Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkPhoto: Sima GhaffarzadehMore information:An estimated 350,000 people rally in Toronto in support of Iran protests, police say — CBCIranian-owned gym in Thornhill hit by gunfire — Global NewsSponsors: Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of fre

Carney travels to India and strikes a landmark deal with Modi, but what about all those allegations of foreign interference by Indian agents in Canada? A senior official in Carney’s government says India is no longer targeting Canadians, but CSIS and other Liberal MPs insist it’s still ongoing. Plus, a new Globe and Mail investigation offers a detailed portrait of the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.Correction:In a previous version of this episode, the driver of the Humboldt Broncos bus, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, was referred to as a temporary foreign worker. He was a permanent resident at the time of the accident.Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Rupa Subramanya Further reading: Carney and India’s Modi strike new energy partnership - National | Globalnews.caEvidence links Indian officials at Vancouver consulate to killing of Sikh activist Hardee

As journalists, our job is to dig deep into stories. And sometimes, we dig far deeper than we ever thought possible. And those deep dives will often become our most interesting stories.And finding those stories usually follows a pattern.Something catches your eye, it draws you in. You start doing a little research on it.Then you find something that makes us go, “Huh…”You start pulling the thread, follow the bread crumbs, and slowly you find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes. And so we wanted to know, what rabbit holes all of you have gone down? We thought it might be things like wellness influencers, grifts, maybe some MLM scheme. But, the reality was both a lot more normal, and to be honest, a little bit weirder.Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Publisher)Photo: Tony WangAdditional music by Audio NetworkThis show is available exclusively to Canadaland supporters. To become one, go to https://canada

Carney’s support of the US and Israel’s attack on Iran raises questions around Canada’s “principled pragmatism” approach to foreign policy. Is it consistent with what he said at Davos?Plus, the Iranian-Canadian response to the killing of Ali Khamenei isn’t as mixed as the headlines suggest. Correction: in a previous version of this episode, a statement was erroneously attributed to Quebec’s Minister of Education, Sonia Lebel. It was made by Parti Quebecois MNA Pascal Paradis.Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Rupa Subramanya Further reading: Statement by Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand on the situation in the Middle EastLloyd Axworthy: Canada once rejected America's aggressive, unlawful foreign policy. Today Mark Carney embraced it - Toronto Star Carney picks a realpolitik side on Iran war - The Globe and Mail  India reset, Iran

More than 24,000 federal public servants have received notices that their jobs could be at risk. That is on top of the 9800 public service employees who were already let go last year. Host Sam Konnert takes us inside the government, specifically, inside a single lab within Environment and Climate Change Canada. A lab tasked with making sure our water is clean and our food is plastic-free. A lab that could go from nine PhD-level scientists, down to one. What happens to the country when these workers get cut, and entire labs are decimated? Who pays the price?Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Mia Johnson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Shirley Tagalik, Christine Bishop Background reading:25,000 public servants warned their jobs could be at risk. Here is the latest on federal job cuts – CTV NewsFive charts to

By some estimates Canada will soon be short thousands of trained aircraft mechanics. The people who keep our flights safe. The government came up with $25 million dollars to help.A whistleblower came to Canadaland to allege that the money bought training materials that were plagiarized, then run through ChatGPT. Those materials resulted in AI slop that included AI hallucinations.Our reporter Gemma Boothroyd brings us her investigation.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Gemma Boothroyd (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkMore information:Grants and Contributions: Industry Led Training for the Aviation and Aerospace Sector — Government of CanadaSponsors: Douglas: 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

Sparks were markedly absent from the final NDP leadership debate, replaced instead by “violent agreement” amongst candidates. Meanwhile, the federal Liberals’ rightward shift leaves a wide gap on the left side of the political spectrum. What does the NDP need to do to shake off the sleepies, and meet the current political moment?Freelance journalist Luke Savage joins host James Nicholson to give Canada’s traditionally left-leaning party pointers.Host: James NicholsonCredits: James Nicholson (Host), Kallan Lyons (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio, Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Luke Savage Additional music by Audio Network Further reading: The NDP leadership race is a nail-biter. But is anyone paying attention? | CBC NewsOpinion | NDP leadership candidates look inward as their party crumbles around them | Toronto StarNew Abacus Poll: Liberals Open Their Largest Lead Since Carney Became Leader as Opti

 " What in the Silicon Valley ethos of move fast and break stuff would make us expect that they are going to have any real safety concerns at all?"A new report from the Wall Street Journal reveals the U.S. tech company OpenAI knew of troublesome ChatGPT usage by Jesse van Rootselaar, months before the Tumbler Ridge shooting, and did nothing. The news stoked ongoing calls for better guardrails on A.I. chatbots and beyond.Will Canada’s A.I. Minister Evan Solomon decide to “ignore all previous instructions” from Silicon Valley, and ramp up regulation of A.I.?Freelance journalist Luke Savage joins host James Nicholson to discuss.Host: James Nicholson Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Luke SavageCall in to Off The Record and tell us about your research rabbit hole on and Thursday Feb 26th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm EST by going to callinstudi

Mark Carney is busy trying to Trump-proof Canada with a flurry of trade deals and whispers of a mega anti-Trump alliance linking Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Trade researcher Stuart Trew joins host Noor Azrieh to argue that more free trade isn’t a master plan; it’s diminishing returns with nicer branding.Plus, Ottawa reporter Sam Konnert breaks down Canada’s newly released Defence Industrial Strategy: 70% Canadian content, massive growth targets, and a promise to rebuild both the military and the domestic defence industry at the same time. The catch? Canada’s notoriously slow procurement system, and big questions about bureaucracy, “maple-washing,” and whether Ottawa can actually move at the speed it’s promising.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Mia Johnson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Stuart TrewBackground read

When shots rang out in Tumbler Ridge there was one reporter in town. He was used to covering local events like town council meetings, local hockey, or even, once, a mother duck leading her chicks through town. Then on February 10 came one of the worst shootings in Canadian history.For the first five hours after the attack local reporter Trent Ernst was the sole journalist in the town. Then the international media descended and for a few days everyone from CBC to the BBC to CNN wanted to talk to Ernst. A few days later the new cycle shifted and the world’s media withdrew. Ernst stayed. He kept reporting, kept talking to his community. And today he talks to Canadaland about what happened before, during, and after Tumbler Ridge moved into the world’s headlines.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Featured Guest: Trent ErnstFact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional mu

Another floor crossing MP spoils Pierre Poilievre’s entry into the men’s fitness ecosystem. Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux’s decision to unresign and join Carney’s Liberals has resurfaced questions around Poilievre fitness for leadership. Pierre can swing a kettlebell, but can hold onto his own caucus?Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Julian Abraham Further reading: MP Matt Jeneroux leaves Conservatives to join Liberals, citing 'national unity crisis' | CBC News How Strength Training Builds Mental Resilience | Pierre Poilievre [YouTube] Matt Jeneroux leaves Conservative party after being too intimidated by Poilievre's workout regime - The Beaverton Matt Jeneroux's defection has Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives wondering if there will be more - Opinion The post-Poilievre leadership race has b

Project South uncovers one of the worst cases of police corruption in Canadian history. The investigation into Toronto Police offers a staggering portrait of corruption, with allegations connecting officers to attempted assassinations, illegal firearms, drug trafficking, extortion, bribery, and leaking confidential information.Plus, the death of “the last man in Africville” and the targeting of Jewish summer camps.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio Network Further reading: Who are the Toronto police officers accused of assisting organized crime? Here’s what we know so far | CBC News York Regional Police Press Conference - Project South Results [YouTube] 'A few bad apples': Doug Ford responds to police corruption arrests - North Bay News The

Surrey, BC has already recorded 51 extortions this year. 11 of them ended with shots fired. That might sound surprising until you realise last year there were 133 cases, and 49 related shootings. So what’s actually driving this? And how is it possible that after more than a year of this, no level of government (municipal, provincial, federal) and no police force has managed to get it under control? Host Noor speaks with former MP Jinny Sims, who was targeted in these campaigns, and Wade Deisman, a criminologist at the University of the Fraser Valley.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Jinny Sims, Wade DeismanBackground reading:B.C. politicians call on federal government to get tough on extortion crisis – CBC NewsProtest held against extortion wave in Surrey as 3 foreign nationals charged – CBC New

Jay Baruchel, if you don’t know that name, you likely know his face from the string of hit movies he’s been in: Knocked Up, This Is The End, Blackberry, Million Dollar Baby, Almost Famous, and Tropic Thunder, among many others. He’s been in the belly of Hollywood’s beast for over two decades. But he’s also a self-proclaimed Canadian patriot with the maple leaf literally tattooed over his heart. So who better to join us to try and figure out where Elbows Up goes from here, and tease out some of its unlikely roots. Hint: Canadian censors were already cutting American flags out of films in the 1920s…Host: Stephen MarcheCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Featured Guest: Jay BaruchelFact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkPhoto: Gage SkidmoreMore information:Elbows Up! Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance — McClelland & StewartSponsors: D

While the Canadian mainstream media was reluctant to reveal unverified information, far right outlets and bad actors swarmed to score political points for their anti-trans agenda.Why is Jesse Van Rootselaar’s gender the focus of the online discussion? And how should it fit into the coverage? Mel Woods of Xtra Magazine joins Noor Azrieh. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Mel Woods Further reading: What we know about the teenager behind the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting | CBC News Deadly B.C. shooting is one of Canada's worst school shootings | CBC NewsThe Tumbler Ridge shooting is already fuelling anti-trans hate in Canada | Xtra MagazineAt least 43 outlets shared anti-trans misinfo after Charlie Kirk shooting: TJA | Xtra MagazineOLDCORN: Another transgender mass shooter, and no, gun laws aren’t th

Playing rules-based games at the end of the rules-based order. With the heated rivalry between the US and Canada, athletes speaking out against ICE, and the rupture of old world order in the background, the Olympics are especially political this time around.Where do politics fit into the winter games and how did hockey become a symbol of geopolitical conflict? Rahim Mohamed of the National Post gets “Canada Down” with Noor Azrieh.  Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Masteringr), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Rahim Mohamed Further reading: Trump’s geopolitical tensions spill into the Winter Olympics - Politico‘Boots on the Ice’: Hockey and politics are about to collide at the Milan Olympics - The Globe and MailU.S. Olympians speaking up about politics at home face online backlash — including from Trump | CBC SportsWelcome to new cold war as world descends

NATO is building something new: a Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. Basically a World Bank for war, and Canada wants it.From Toronto to Montreal to Ottawa to Halifax, mayors are campaigning hard, pitching their cities as the future headquarters of a global military finance hub. Thousands of high-paying jobs, direct access to defence capital and a front-row seat to the new security order are all at stake.At the same time, Mark Carney is preparing to unveil his long-awaited Defence Industrial Strategy, a plan to pump billions into Canada’s military sector. After years of defence being politically taboo, hard power is suddenly a growth strategy.So what does that actually mean for the companies building the tech? For the cities fighting to host the bank? And for a country that once prided itself on being defence-averse?Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director

The government of New Brunswick has released its much-anticipated report on the mysterious neurological illnesses afflicting many in the province. The report doesn’t just aim to identify what’s behind the “cluster” of disease. It’s far more fundamental than that. Its findings raise questions as to whether the disease itself exists. Is it a single disease or a mass misdiagnosis of unrelated illnesses?The physician at the heart of the controversy for much of the last decade, Dr. Alier Marrero, has blasted the report and labelled it as a “shockwave” to himself and his patients. He joins us today.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Julian Abraham (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Featured Guest: Dr. Allier MarreroFact checking by Kallan LyonsAdditional music by Audio NetworkMore information:The battle over Canada's mystery brain diseaseN.B. report finds herbicides, heavy metals not the ca

Poilievre’s landslide victory at his leadership review raises questions about the flurry of coverage about his political demise only months ago. Why was there such a disconnect? With Carney riding high, and Poilievre’s likeability still a concern, Conservatives are betting on the long game (and hoping to avoid a spring election.) Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Harrison Lowman Further reading: Poilievre clears leadership review with 87% support, following a rousing, campaign-style speech - CTV NewsI’m a former senior aide to Stephen Harper. Pierre Poilievre is dismantling the principled, trustworthy Conservative Party we tried to build  - Toronto StarWhen a Harper Conservative goes after Pierre Poilievre, you know there’s blood in the water  - Toronto StarBraid: Poilievre's team gets ready for epic leade