Playbook Canada

The recession debate has taken over Parliament Hill, and Pierre Poilievre wants Mark Carney to wear it. Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric dissect the fight over the exact meaning of two quarters of negative growth. The Liberals move to reverse a rule forcing US streaming giants to fund Canadian content, one day after Dominic LeBlanc met Trump's trade rep in Washington. Plus a look inside the Senate before a tsunami of June bills rolls in. And a 200-second interview with Liberal operative and legendary Hill tour guide Kevin Bosch.

A special edition of Playbook Canada: Google chief economist Fabien Curto Millet was in Toronto for Tech Week, and he sat down for a conversation that ran well past our usual 200 seconds. He makes the economic case for AI as the one force that could pull Canada out of two decades of sluggish productivity and offset the drag of an aging population. But he warns that Canada and the U.S. sit at the back of the global queue on the ratio of anxiety to enthusiasm. He argues AI is barely a factor in youth unemployment when the real driver is a soft labour market, why encouragement from employers is what moves hesitant workers to start using AI, and reveals that for all the overlap in their training, he has never met fellow economist Mark Carney. And finally, the chess game he wants with Mark Carney.

Steven Guilbeault resigns from the Liberal caucus over the government's diluted climate plans — and he's not alone, with 14 Liberal MPs signing an anonymous letter criticizing the Alberta pipeline deal. Mark Carney lands in New York City to pitch Wall Street investors on Canada, and CANSEC is back in Ottawa, bigger and thirstier than ever, as the defense industry descends on the capital.

Little irritants are piling up ahead of the July 1 USMCA deadline: a suspended defense board, revived potato tensions, mushrooms duties and renewed attacks on the Online Streaming Act. Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric unpack the friction. POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy joins to discuss her interview with Chrystia Freeland in Europe, including a Mark Carney nickname and a “lubricious” dinner from their Kyiv days. Plus, Steve Outhouse replaces Ian Todd as Pierre Poilievre’s chief of staff, and former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole sits down for a 200-second interview.

A grand bargain between Ottawa and Edmonton appears to be taking shape, and details leaking out of Alberta connect carbon, pipelines and national unity. As Carney's Cabinet turns one, insiders are whispering about who should go. And finally, the first time Ottawa faced a separatist threat, they wrote it all down. What 50-year-old Cabinet minutes tell us about today's national unity battles.

U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra pulls back the curtain on why Canada-U.S. trade talks fell apart in October: Danielle Smith keynotes the Canada Strong and Free conference in Ottawa, and the separatism question walks in with her: The childcare agreements that helped define the Trudeau era are coming up for renewal. Carney keeps citing them. Now he has to fund them.

A decision on 24 Sussex is coming, raising questions about where Mark Carney will end up living: The Spring Economic Update was called boring, but buried inside it is a political play targeting voters Poilievre thought were his. And finally, the Hill has a new energy this week, but it's not flowing in the Conservatives' direction.

On this special edition, Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric speak with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne ahead of the release of his Spring Economic Update. They press him on how the government plans to attract investment in a time of global uncertainty, and find out how it is balancing fiscal prudence with mounting economic pressures. And finally, the most contentious question of all: What color apple is best?

Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre take their rivalry off the Hill and onto YouTube. Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric explore what it means when the House of Commons stops being the main event: The Carney government has a hushed approach to trade talks. What the silence signals, and how long it can hold: And finally, Canada is the only G7 country that can't put a payload into orbit. A new bill aims to finally change that.

Reaction to the Liberal majority ripples through the Conservative caucus as Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric dig into what the result means inside the opposition benches. Carney and Poilievre present duelling policies for high gas prices — each with its own gloss on tax relief at the pump. Finally, an international bromance blossoms. Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb put their partnership on display. What it signals about Canada's place in a shifting global order.

POLITICO's Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Calder McHugh break down the latest Ottawa bombshell, as another Conservative MP crosses the floor to join Mark Carney’s Liberals ahead of the party’s convention in Montreal. Plus, a closer look at the Liberal mood on the ground as delegates gather for a high-energy weekend. Finally, what the U.S.-Iran ceasefire could mean next, including the potential fallout on gas prices in Canada.

Hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric examine the latest developments in Canada’s deepening trade relationship with China, with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and executives courting business in Beijing. Plus, a closer look at the Conservatives’ shift against high-speed rail. Finally, reflections on the life and legacy of NDP icon Stephen Lewis.

POLITICO’s Deborah Kahn joins from CERAWeek in Houston to unpack Canada’s latest pitch to the global energy market with hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric. Then, as the NDP prepares to elect a new leader, Nick and Mickey dig into a race defined more by low energy than momentum, and Mickey speaks one on one with one of the front-runners, Edmonton MP Heather McPherson. Finally, the pair digs into the prime minister’s pick for parliamentary budget officer – and why it feels like déjà vu.

Hosts Mickey Djuric and Nick Taylor-Vaisey invite “China watcher” Phelim Kine to the show to discuss a stunning new POLITICO poll. The survey of thousands of people in Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., and the United States revealed how people around the world really feel about MAGA — and what is happening as a result. Speaking of polls: Will Carney’s soaring popularity hold? We discuss. Plus, Mickey talks truths and optics with Angus Reid president Shachi Kurl.

Co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric talk through the latest floor crosser, Lori Idlout, who abandoned Canada's progressive party this week to join the Liberals. Nick reflects on his recent trip to Washington and his conversation with U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer. Plus, Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar joins for the 200-second interview.

Co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric dig into the prime minister's latest thoughts on the strikes in the Middle East. Pierre Poilievre takes his first trip abroad as opposition leader and offers his best rebrand yet. And Manitoba's man in Washington, Richard Madan, joins the show.

Co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric break down Prime Minister Mark Carney’s latest global tour, starting with a politically delicate reset in India, followed by stops in Australia and Japan as Ottawa looks to diversify trade beyond the U.S. Plus: the Liberal government ramps up pressure on OpenAI over AI safety after the Tumbler Ridge shooting revelations. And Finance Committee Chair Karina Gould joins for this week’s 200-second interview on the budget, Andrew Scheer’s nervous tell and whether she and Carney are actually pals.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada

A new POLITICO/Public First poll finds what one pollster calls “a sort of unrequited hatred” shaping the Canada-U.S. relationship, with Canadians increasingly skeptical of Washington even as Americans maintain a warmer view of their northern neighbor. Meanwhile in Ottawa, another Conservative floor crosser shifts the balance in the House and revives fresh election speculation around Mark Carney’s minority government. Plus, Conservative MP Scott Aitchison joins from Milan to talk Olympic gold, housing lessons from Italy and the temperature on Parliament Hill.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden joins Playbook Canada from the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, where he’s watching Team Canada compete and looking ahead to a potential Canada–U.S. hockey showdown. But back home, the mood shifts dramatically as news of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., brings Parliament to a halt and forces Prime Minister Mark Carney to confront a national tragedy.  Also on the show: Donald Trump’s outburst over the Gordie Howe bridge, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s Washington trip and the leadership chatter it sparked, plus the debate over whether hybrid sittings in Parliament should come to an end.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

It’s been referred to as “Harperpalooza” in Ottawa this week: a prolonged celebration of the 20th anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first election victory. Conservatives celebrated past glories at reunions and a swanky gala, but present-day obstacles loom.   On this episode of the Playbook Canada podcast, co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric examine how Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party is still searching for a winning message, while Mark Carney’s Liberals project confidence — perhaps even hubris — by tapping MPs for diplomatic posts, brushing off House vacancies, and moving quickly to lock in candidates ahead of looming by-elections.  Also on the show: what that confidence could mean in the weeks ahead, from cross-party cooperation on affordability to Canada’s renewed focus on the Arctic. Plus, Rachel Curran, a former top policy adviser to Harper and now a senior executive at Meta, joins the podcast to reflect on working for Harper, the evolving tech-policy landscape, and whether news could soon return to Facebook and Instagram in Canada.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Election vibes are back on Parliament Hill as Prime Minister Mark Carney rides a post-Davos bump and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre prepares for a critical leadership review. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon joins Playbook Canada to discuss playing nice in the House, election speculation and floor crossers.   Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

At Davos, Mark Carney laid out Canada’s place in a volatile world. Playbook Canada examines the political moment at home and what comes next as MPs head back to the Hill. Then, forecaster Philippe J. Fournier, founder of 338Canada, joins the show to give his predictions, including whether there will be an election in 2026.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

As Mark Carney heads to China and Donald Trump talks tough about Greenland, Canada’s place in a shifting world order feels constantly fragile. Veteran columnist Paul Wells and POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent Phelim Kine join Playbook Canada to unpack what’s at stake — and how closely Washington and Beijing are watching.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Phelim Kine is POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Another floor-crosser brings Mark Carney within one vote of a majority, leaving Pierre Poilievre scrambling for a defense as questions mount about his grip on the Conservative caucus. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins the Playbook Canada podcast to talk pipelines “north, south, east and west” and her relationship with Carney and the broader Conservative moment. Plus, Mickey shares details from a rare interview with Kevin Brosseau, Carney’s fentanyl czar, on what Trump gets right about fentanyl and how Ottawa is responding.    Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Parliament may be heading into winter break, but a wave of ambassadorial openings in Washington, London and Brussels could upend the fragile political math for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government. Nick and Mickey also track Steven Guilbeault’s decision to break with Liberal policy — while sticking around as a Liberal MP; the Conservatives’ recent momentum; and interview U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Mark Carney battles pipeline fallout and adds a new and potentially disruptive face to his Cabinet: Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller. Then, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson joins the Playbook Canada podcast. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have come up with an energy deal that could reshape the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa. Playbook’s Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric break down what’s really driving their tentative alliance — and whether it marks the dawn of a new era in Canadian politics.  Meanwhile, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has brought in Steve Outhouse to replace longtime campaign chief Jenni Byrne, raising fresh questions about the direction Poilievre is headed next. And political analyst and podcast virtuoso Ryan Jespersen joins for a 200-second interview. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

As Mark Carney takes his tenth trip to enlist “reliable partners” in the trade war and to ease Canada’s reliance on the United States, Donald Trump is feeling the burn from political setbacks across the border. POLITICO’s Mickey Djuric and guest co-host Jack Blanchard, from Playbook Washington, D.C., break down how Carney’s personal rapport with Trump may be a big advantage when tariffs are back on the table — and why a bipartisan revolt in Congress could be evidence that Trump's power is slipping.   Back in Ottawa, the show dissects Carney’s razor-thin budget win, the NDP’s visible caucus tensions, Conservative unrest around would-be floor-crosser Matt Jeneroux, and what the vote revealed about all parties’ election readiness. And in this week’s 200-second interview, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani discusses DEI, surviving cancer, and Bud Light.  ⁠⁠Mickey Djuric⁠⁠ is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Jack Blanchard⁠ is Playbook's managing editor in Washington, D.C. ⁠⁠⁠Alex Keeney⁠⁠⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠⁠⁠Steve Bone⁠⁠⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney enters a make-or-break confidence vote on Monday still short of support, all while projecting confidence and bypassing the U.N. COP climate summit. On this episode of the Playbook Canada podcast, co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric dive into the budget math in the House, Carney’s climate calculations and Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia’s pending shake-up of deputy ministers. Elizabeth May drops in for a 200-second interview about the Green Party’s leverage — and what Canada loses when its prime minister skips global climate talks.  ⁠Nick Taylor-Vaisey⁠ is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Mickey Djuric⁠ is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠⁠Alex Keeney⁠⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠⁠Steve Bone⁠⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Ottawa is abuzz after Conservative MP Chris d'Entremont crossed the floor Tuesday — and suddenly an outright majority for Prime Minister Mark Carney looks within reach. On this week's show, hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric break down the latest from Ottawa and beyond, including Carney’s efforts to recruit more floor-crossers; the next chapter in British Columbia’s ostrich saga; and a very special 200-second interview with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  ⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer  ⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

On the world premiere Playbook Canada podcast, hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric take you inside the budget brinkmanship, leadership jitters and diplomatic dust-ups driving this week in Canada — plus 200 seconds with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand.  Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

POLITICO’s Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric bring to life the stories that are driving the news in Ottawa and beyond  — drawing on their deep reporting from Parliament Hill and across the provinces. New episodes every Thursday, starting October 30.   Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter  Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter