The Hill Times' Hot Room

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with World Wildlife Fund Canada president and former NDP MP Megan Leslie about the government's new plan to conserve land and water, and the sluggish progress towards Canada's target of protecting 30 per cent of both by the year 2030.

Peter Mazereeuw talks with political science professor Alex Marland about MPs crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party, the fate of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and Liberal Party indifference to Mark Carney's small-c conservative policies. Marland holds the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia University, and has written books about party discipline and loyalty in Canadian politics.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with senator and former judge Pierre Dalphond about the government's bill to toughen up criminal bail and sentencing rules.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Jocelyne Bourgon, a former clerk of the Privy Council who served as Jean Chrétien's right hand. They discuss Canada's move away from the United States, national unity, public service cuts, and Bourgon's new book, A Public Servant's Voice: Through the Words of the First Woman Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada.

Mark Norman, formerly Canada's second-highest ranking military officer, weighs in on the government's new plan to build up Canada's defence industry.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Mireille Lalancette (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) and Éric Bélanger (McGill University), the co-holders of the Quebec Research Chair on Democracy, Living Together and Common Values, about the rise in support for the provincial Parti Québécois, which has promised another referendum on leaving Canada.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps about Mark Carney's big speech at Davos, China, Trump and Greenland, a 2026 election, floor crossing, and more.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with comedian Mark Critch about Donald Trump, comedy in dark times, Canadian culture, and his new book, Sorry, not sorry: An unapologetic look at what makes Canada worth fighting for.

Abacus Data CEO David Coletto joins The Hot Room to share what his latest polls say about public support for each party, why Pierre Poilievre is the "definition of polarizing", which party stands to gain or lose from an election, and more.

Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University, about his new book detailing how political parties in Canada control what members of Parliament do and say. The book, "No I In Team", was co-authored by Jared Wesley and Mireille Lalancette, and is available for purchase beginning on Oct. 28.

Former NDP MP Peter Julian joins The Hot Room to talk about his campaign along with Matthew Green to rebuild the NDP into a major player on the national scene.

Peter Mazereeuw and Hill Times reporter Stuart Benson recap a hectic week in Canadian politics, including the return of Parliament, Chrystia Freeland's resignation from cabinet, and the setting of a date for the government's fall budget. Benson also gives us an inside look at the party circuit surrounding Parliament Hill. Editor's note: This episode includes a reference to the government's hate crime bill, which was released shortly after the recording was finished. You can see details of the government's bill here.