Harassment of MPs has risen around 800% in the past five years. One-off threats can so easily turn to real violence. Many leaders are calling it quits — saying it’s just too much.

What does that feel like for those in office? And for the team responsible for keeping these politicians safe?

We get into it with MP Marco Mendicino, MP Pam Damoff and Senator Bernadette Clement. We also speak with Assistant Commissioner Michele Paradis.

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Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Production Manager (Max Collins), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: MP Mendicino, MP Damoff, Senator Clement, Assistant Commissioner Michele Paradis

Background reading:

• Harassment of MPs spiked almost 800% in 5 years, says House sergeant-at-arms - CBC News
• Former safety minister wants 'protective zones' for MPs' offices as threats increase - CBC News
• Why Canadian Politics Is Still Unsafe For Female Politicians - Chatelaine

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Pierre Poilievre isn’t just on the campaign trail, he’s pounding the pavement. And by jove, he’s following it all the way to the top of the polls relying on several rhyming promises.

Nanos polling has the Conservatives at 41 per cent nationally, with the Liberals dragging at 25, and the NDP at 17 per cent. It also has Poilievre as the preferred choice as PM by 14 percentage points.

How do you approach an upcoming election when you’re so clearly ahead? Who's he meeting with? Where is he focusing his energy?

This week, host Mattea Roach welcomes Fred Deleroy, Host of iPolitics' On Background podcast and former National Campaign Manager for the Conservatives, Stuart Benson, a reporter with The Hill Times and Tyler Meredith, the lead author of the 2019 and 2021 winning election platforms of the Liberal Party.

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Fred DeLorey, Stuart Benson, Tyler Meredith

Background reading:

• ‘It could be a great night for the NDP’: potential byelection wins could trigger end of Lib-NDP agreement, say political players | Hill Times
• Liberal donations up, but Conservatives still lead fundraising | CBC
• Conservatives launch attack ads on NDP, calling leader 'Sellout Singh' | CBC
• Tory fundraising on track to smash 2023 record as Liberal donations, ad spending tick up ‘slowly but surely’: politicos | Hill Times

Sponsors:

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 purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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Two team Canadas… two wildly different levels of athleticism. While our athletes head to Paris, our politicians are flooding to the USA to promote Canadian interests in a wildly turbulent time.

Our panelists are closely tracking trade, immigration, and our own election. But no matter who wins the next election, the road may get tough for Canadians. How do we prevent this? What's actually at stake?

To find out, Mattea Roach asked Laura Dawson, executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition, Senior Washington Correspondent for Capital Forum Paul Mcleod, and Toronto Star staff reporter Richard Warnica.

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Laura Dawson, Paul McLeod, Richard Warnica

Background reading:

• Canada already in talks to avoid Trump tariffs | CBC News
• Trump destabilized Canada in 2016. Trudeau doesn’t want it to happen again. | POLITICO
• Opinion: Kamala Harris is better for Canada – and the world – than another Trump White House

Sponsors: 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 purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland.

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/BACKBENCH

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.