The Chiefs: A Country Spoiling for a Fight

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Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! The Chiefs are back. This franchise has spawned more sequels than The Fast and the Furious, but unlike Vin Diesel, these three bring something new every time. David is joined by Brian Topp, Ian Brodie and Tim Murphy for a wide-ranging hour on a country being tested from three directions at once:

Quebec. The Parti Québécois has won a weak minority. They discuss whether the new government will use every tool it has to build “winning conditions” for a referendum, and whether Ottawa should confront it the way Trudeau and Dion did or quietly take its issues away one by one.

Alberta. With the referendum entering its final week, they look at what Prime Minister Carney should say when he lands in the province. They also ask whether the vote could be the beginning of the end for the UCP. And one of the things they discussed with an emerging throughline in both of those votes: the potential of immigration becoming a real wedge issue in Canada again. 

Canada–U.S. There’s no deal in sight. Can Canadians hold together as the economic pain mounts, and what would it take to keep that solidarity intact?

Plus, the ever important role of the Opposition. Carney’s consensus is unusually strong. Should the Conservatives and NDP keep chipping away at it, or concede the moment and position themselves for the fight that comes after Trump?

Brian Topp was the former chief of staff to Rachel Notley and deputy chief of staff to Roy Romanow, and is now a founding partner at GT & Company. Ian Brodie was Stephen Harper’s first chief of staff and helped found the CPC; he is now a political science professor at the University of Calgary and senior advisor at New West Public Affairs. And Tim Murphy, former chief of staff to Paul Martin and now executive vice president and chief strategic affairs officer at Aecon.

Settle in for an hour of the kind of conversation you only get from people who’ve actually run government at the highest levels of Canadian government..

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