Maclean's On the Hill Politics Podcast - Maclean’s on the Hill: 150 years of Canadian politics

Maclean’s on the Hill: 150 years of Canadian politics

12/30/16 • -1 min

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, we have a special episode of Maclean’s on the Hill. In 2017, Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, and to kick off that we look back at the last 150 years of our political history. We’ll take a look at the early years when politicians like Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier were building our nation, take you through the war years with Robert Borden and Mackenzie King, then on to the 1950s and 1960s, and the first Trudeaumania. We wrap things up with a look at the modern era of politics. To walk us through all of this, Cormac is joined by author John Duffy, author of Fights of Our Lives, an entertaining work detailing Canadian elections from 1867 to Brian Mulroney’s second majority win.

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The full episode

Part 1. Canadian politics at Confederation

Sir John A. Macdonald. (1815-1891) National Archives of Canada/CP

In 1867, Canada was a very different place: it was far more dependent on agriculture, and its cities were much smaller than today; railroads were only in their infancy, and Canada’s political landscape was divided along religious and cultural lines. John Duffy and Cormac explore that early era in Confederation.

Part 2. Canadian politics during the war effort

Poppies in full bloom in a field on a hilltop near Sommepy-Tahure, France on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Canada entered a new political era when war broke out in 1914 and Canadians fought in Europe. Cormac and John Duffy explore the influence of the world wars on Canadian politics, unpack the King-Byng affair that launched a constitutional crisis in the interwar years, and make sense of the postwar era that extended through Lester Pearson’s years as PM.

Part 3. Trudeaumania hits Canada, and modern politics come of age

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (second from left) wearing dark glasses, arrives with members of his new cabinet for swearing in ceremonies at Government House in Ottawa, July 6, 1968. (Doug Ball/CP)

Trudeaumania hit Canada in 1968. Cormac and John Duffy talk about the genesis of the movement that thrust Pierre Trudeau into the spotlight, including the quiet revolution that transformed Quebec. They also enter the modern era of Canadian politics, which saw Brian Mulroney sweep into power and make free trade with the United States a top priority.

Part 4. The NDP’s influence

Ed Broadbent, photographed at his Ottawa home November, 2016, will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Maclean’s Magazine Parliamentarian of the Year Awards later this month. (Photograph by Blair Gable)

The New Democratic Party has never formed a federal government, but the party has played a central role in Canada’s political life since its predecessor, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, first ran candidates in the Great Depression years. Cormac and John Duffy discuss the influence of the NDP in Canadian politics over the years.

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The post Maclean’s on the Hill: 150 years of Canadian politics appeared first on Macleans.ca.

Subscribe on iTunes today or play below.

The full episode

Part 1. Canadian politics at Confederation

Sir John A. Macdonald. (1815-1891) National Archives of Canada/CP

Part 2. Canadian politics during the war effort

Poppies in full bloom in a field on a hilltop near Sommepy-Tahure, France on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Part 3. Trudeaumania hits Canada, and modern politics come of age

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (second from left) wearing dark glasses, arrives with members of his new cabinet for swearing in ceremonies at Government House in Ottawa, July 6, 1968. (Doug Ball/CP)

Part 4. The NDP’s influence

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The post Maclean’s on the Hill: 150 years of Canadian politics appeared first on Macleans.ca.

Previous Episode

Maclean’s on the Hill: 2017 predictions, selfie kings—and rom-coms

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, a look back at a controversial, progressive, historic year that produced probably the longest honeymoon any new Canadian government has ever seen. 2017 may be a different story, and joining Cormac to kick off the show is Ottawa bureau chief John Geddes, who will break down the year that was and the year ahead in federal politics.

Have you ever wondered who takes the most selfies, who talks the most and who plays the most hooky? These questions may matter in your kid’s high school class, but Cormac is actually talking about the House of Commons. Assistant editor Nick Taylor-Vaisey joins the show to crunch the numbers—and you may be surprised which MPs top the list for some of those questions.

And finally: sometimes at Maclean’s on the Hill, we like to take a step away from politics. With our final segment of the show, we’ll take a look at romantic comedies. Associate editor Shannon Proudfoot wrote a piece that tore them apart—especially the holiday favourite Love Actually. The post garnered a lot of reaction online, and Cormac speaks with Shannon about why she thinks we need to break up with rom-coms.

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The full episode

Part 1. A look back at Parliament Hill in 2016

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a town hall with high school students in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, November 3, 2016. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

a look back at a controversial, progressive, historic year that produced probably the longest honeymoon any new Canadian government has ever seen, and joining Cormac to kick off the show is Ottawa bureau chief John Geddes, who breaks down the year that was.

Part 2. A look ahead to Parliament Hill in 2017

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet arrive at Parliament Hill for their first Cabinet meeting after being sworn-in earlier in the day. November 4, 2015. (Prime Minister’s Office)

2017 will surely bring the government challenges and opportunities. Cormac and John run down the list of likely hot-button issues, from big budgetary files to electoral reform, and from marijuana legalization to Donald Trump’s emergence as U.S. president. They also debate the likelihood of a cabinet shuffle and parliamentary prorogation.

Part 3. Who takes the most selfies in Ottawa?

Canada’s Immigration Minister John McCallum speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Canada November 24, 2015. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

Part 4. Down with the rom-com!

A still from the movie, Love Actually, 2003. (Universal/Everett Collection)

Sometimes at Maclean’s on the Hill, we like to take a step away from politics. With our final segment of the show, we’ll take a look at romantic comedies. Associate editor Shannon Proudfoot wrote a piece that tore them apart—especially the holiday favourite Love Actually. The post garnered a lot of reaction online, and Cormac speaks with Shannon about why she thinks we need to break up with rom-coms.

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Next Episode

Maclean’s on the Hill: Jane Philpott on her 2017 priorities

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, where does the government stand on supervised injection sites, legalized marijuana and rejigged food-labelling laws? How much can they hope to accomplish in 2017? Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to discuss.

This year, Canada marks its 150th birthday, and the capital is planning a year-long celebration. But what will Ottawa offer to all Canadians—and will all the projects be ready for 2017? To speak more about the sesquicentennial plans, we’re joined by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Every year, senior editor Jason Kirby asks economic experts to highlight the one chart that reflects something surprising, telling, or predictive about the Canadian economy. This year’s package of 75 charts is a veritable charts-travaganza. John Geddes talks to Jason about the charts that stood out, and some shocking data about housing, jobs, venture capitalism, and more.

Finally: Every day, beautiful songs ring from the bells of the Peace tower on Parliament Hill. We sit down with the woman behind the sound. Canada’s Dominion Carillonneur discusses her work and the future of the music that echoes through the capital.

Subscribe on iTunes today or play below.

The full episode

Part 1. Jane Philpott on health priorities

Minister of Health Jane Philpott speaks with the media during a break in meetings at the Finance Ministers meeting in Ottawa, Monday, December 19, 2016. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

Where does the government stand on supervised injection sites, legalized marijuana and rejigged food-labelling laws? How much can they hope to accomplish in 2017? Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to discuss.

Part 2. Ottawa’s mayor prepares for Canada150

REUTERS/Ammar Awad

This year, Canada marks its 150th birthday, and the capital is planning a year-long celebration that includes hosting the Grey Cup—and giant mechanical spiders. To speak more about the sesquicentennial plans, we’re joined by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Part 3. Charting a path forward

Part 4. The bells of Parliament Hill

The Peace Tower is seen on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on November 5, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Every day, beautiful songs ring from the bells of the Peace tower on Parliament Hill. We sit down with the woman behind the sound. Canada’s Dominion Carillonneur discusses her work and the future of the music that echoes through the capital.

Download this podcast.

The post Maclean’s on the Hill: Jane Philpott on her 2017 priorities appeared first on Macleans.ca.