The Red Passport

Canadians are unusually anxious about the world, polling suggests, but relatively confident about Canada. Jeremy Kinsman and Peter Donolo welcome back former Canadian ambassador Jon Allen for a wide-ranging discussion on the Middle East, Cuba, U.S. power and Canada's place in a more volatile international order. Meanwhile, to help with the Quebec government's efforts in trade, co-host Louise Blais has stepped away, for now, from her regular role on The Red Passport after being named the province's Special Envoy for the renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

What could Trump's latest threats toward Cuba mean for a country already in deep economic and humanitarian crisis? Peter and Jeremy welcome former Canadian ambassador to Cuba Mark Entwistle to unpack the pressure now bearing down on the island: the long aftermath of COVID, the collapse of tourism and tightening US sanctions. Is Washington pursuing regime change, a transactional economic opening or some mix of the two? And if Cuba becomes another testing ground for the Donroe Doctrine, should Canada defend international law, sovereignty and its own long relationship with the Cuban people?

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund is often in the background of global crises, but what does it deliver for children on the frontlines of war, displacement, and climate shocks? And where can't UNICEF go? Louise and Jeremy speak with Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO of UNICEF Canada, about the organization's work in 190+ countries, from emergency response in Ukraine and Gaza to long-term investments in health, education, water, and child protection.

Did the Prime Minister's Davos speech really shift Canada's place in the world, or just poke the bear? Jeremy, Louise and Peter unpack the Trump Administration's backlash, Mexico's alternate strategy and what a post‑USMCA Plan B could look like for Canada.

A special edition of Red Passport on Donald Trump's surprise raid on Venezuela. Louise, Jeremy and Peter discuss what the implications are for international law and global stability. They examine the why, the how and what might be next.

Louise, Jeremy and Peter discuss the challenges - and opportunities - facing Canada's next ambassador in Washington. The coming year will be make-it-or-break-it for CUSMA. Can a new ambassador make the difference? And given the dark, threatening tone of the recently-released US National Security Strategy, should we really get our hopes up?

As we are rattled by the news every day with something astonishing, often horrifying—scandals, political collisions and war—it becomes hard to keep our connection to the concept of international law. Why is the rules-based order under so much strain? Joining Jeremy and Louise are former ambassadors Sabine Nolke, a Visiting Fellow at Western University and practitioner of international law, and Jon Allen, Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto's Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Canadian International Council.

In this episode of The Red Passport, Jeremy, Louise, and Peter unpack Canada's place in a fractured world order from the stakes in Ukraine and Gaza to the shifting dynamics between Washington, Europe, and Ottawa. With candid analysis and decades of diplomatic insight, they explore how Canada can balance values and interests in an era of unpredictable leaders, stalled peacekeeping, and global crises. It's a conversation about hard choices, skilled diplomacy, and what it will take to navigate turbulent times. Recorded Tuesday August 12, 2025.

The smoke has barely cleared from the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites. Jeremy Kinsman and Peter Donolo contemplate the geopolitical consequences of Trump's decision. And - yes - even what it means for Canada. Recorded Sunday June 22, 2025

Senator Peter Boehm was Canadian sherpa for a record six G7 summits. He joins Jeremy, Louise and (the other) Peter to talk about an early challenge that will face whoever wins Canada's April 28 election - hosting the G7 in Kananaskis in June. One member (guess who?) has launched a trade war against the other six. Should he even be part of the club?

Former Prime Minister Joe Clark joins The Red Passport Podcast for an unfiltered conversation on Canada's shifting role in global affairs. From dismantling apartheid to shaping the end of the Cold War, he was at the forefront of historic diplomacy. But today, as nationalism rises and global alliances falter, has Canada lost its voice? In this episode, Clark, alongside hosts Jeremy Kinsman and Louise Blais, reflects on past successes, critiques today's challenges, and offers a bold vision for Canada's future on the world stage. A must-listen for anyone invested in Canada's global impact.

Dive into this timely episode as Peter Donolo, Louise Blais and Jeremy Kinsman unpack the implications of Donald Trump's second inauguration and its ripple effects across North America and beyond. They explore Canada's evolving relationship with the U.S., the rise of protectionism, and how Canadians can adapt to a new era of uncertainty.

It's been a month since Donald Trump's victory, and things aren't looking great for Canada. Louise, Jeremy and Peter discuss why - and what we can do about it. Meanwhile, as the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria shows, new geopolitical opportunities and challenges continue to demand our attention. Photo by The Now Time on Unsplash