NAFTA renegotiation and a Prairie showdown: Maclean’s on the Hill

Maclean's On the Hill Politics Podcast

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, the clock started ticking on NAFTA renegotiations. The Trump administration formally gave 90-day notice to launch trade talks with Canada and Mexico. Now that the trigger has been pulled, what is the Trudeau government in for—and how should it handle these critical economic negotiations? We speak with John Weekes, Canada’s chief negotiator during the first NAFTA deal.

Are the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan heading to a legal battle over carbon pricing? Premier Brad Wall called a recently released discussion paper on the carbon pricing plan a ransom note, and threatened a court challenge. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna joins us to say the announcement is not meant as a pressure tactic, and she’s confident the feds are standing on solid constitutional ground.

The Trudeau government is planning to make a formal apology to the LGBTQ2 community by the end of the year. But critics are wondering why it’s taking so long, and where the details are about pardons and compensation. MP Randy Boissonnault, the Prime Minister’s special adviser on LGBTQ2 issues, joins the show to explain the government’s plan.

Finally, we end our show with the Ottawa Power Rankings, which let you know the three political stars—and the three duds—over the last week.

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The full episode

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Part 1. What’s next on Canada-U.S. trade?

U.S. President Donald Trump points to the audience at the conclusion of the United States Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony in New London, Connecticut U.S., May 17, 2017. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The clock started ticking on NAFTA renegotiations. The Trump administration formally gave 90-day notice to launch trade talks with Canada and Mexico. Now that the trigger has been pulled, what is the Trudeau government in for—and how should it handle these critical economic negotiations? We speak with John Weekes, Canada’s chief negotiator during the first NAFTA deal.

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Part 2. The latest federal-provincial showdown

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall arrives for a meeting of provincial premiers in Whitehorse, Yukon, Thursday, July 21, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)

Are the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan heading to a legal battle over carbon pricing? Premier Brad Wall called a recently released discussion paper on the carbon pricing plan a ransom note, and threatened a court challenge. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna joins us to say the announcement is not meant as a pressure tactic, and she’s confident the feds are standing on solid constitutional ground.

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Part 3. When will the government apologize to LGBTQ2 Canadians?

CANADA, Montreal: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau takes part in Montreal’s Pride Parade on August 14, 2016. The parade took place on Rene-Levesque st. A minute of silence was observed in memory of Orlando’s shooting victims. (Cristian Mijea/CP)

The Trudeau government is planning to make a formal apology to the LGBTQ2 community by the end of the year. But critics are wondering why it’s taking so long, and where the details are about pardons and compensation. MP Randy Boissonnault, the Prime Minister’s special adviser on LGBTQ2 issues, joins the show to explain the government’s plan.

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Part 4. Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings

We end our show with the Ottawa Power Rankings, which let you know the three political stars—and the three duds—over the last week.

Download this podcast.

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