Is Ottawa Broken… or Are We?

Is Ottawa Broken… or Are We?

From Politics Is Broken by Brittlestar

March 29, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

Brittlestar explores the realities of Canadian politics in Ottawa, revealing a different perspective on its perceived dysfunction.

What happens when you stop watching politics… and actually go see it? This week on Politics Is Broken , Brittlestar heads to Ottawa to speak at Carleton University’s Kesterton Lecture… and ends up going behind the scenes of Canadian politics. From touring Parliament Hill and sitting in on Question Period… to meeting politicians in the hallway and eating in what may or may not be called “the cafeteria of power”… this episode is a firsthand look at how politics feels in real life. And the biggest takeaway? It doesn’t feel less broken… …but it does feel different. Less like chaos… more like choreography. Less like villains… more like very tired humans trying to do a very public job. Plus, an Alberta update featuring: The ongoing “Temu Tylenol” saga RCMP investigations And a golden cat that may or may not explain everything So… is Ottawa really a bubble? Or are we just watching it through one? If you want a slightly punchier version (or one with more humour baked into the first two lines), I can tighten it even further.

People in this episode

Host: Brittlestar

Topics covered

  • Canadian politics
  • Parliament
  • Question Period
  • political culture
  • Alberta update

Keywords

  • Ottawa
  • politics
  • Parliament Hill
  • Kesterton Lecture
  • Alberta update
  • Temu Tylenol
  • RCMP investigations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Carleton University, RCMP

Products: Temu Tylenol

Places: Ottawa, Parliament Hill, Alberta

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