The Backbench

The tale generally goes like this: Gen Z is disconnected, disinterested, and buried so deep into their screens that they don't care about the politics going on around them.

But it's also clear that some young people are ready to ignite change if they have to. From the climate marches to the BLM protests to the Maple Spring, young people have been at the forefront of protests and disruptions for a long time. So, is the stereotype of Gen Z as disconnected and apathetic accurate, or is there something we're missing here?

In this episode of The Backbench, you'll hear from young people across the country who share their perspectives on how they engage with democracy. Additionally, you'll hear a conversation between Mattea Roach and Samantha Reusch, the executive director of Apathy is Boring, to understand WHY Gen Z engages in politics in unconventional ways.

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Samm Reid, Azaad Gill, Alex Stevenson, Jenna Inch, Tannia Vijeyenthiran,

Samantha Reusch

Sponsors: UWO, Douglas

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Host Mattea Roach is joined by Nick Taylor-Vaisey, David Moscrop and Sandy Garossino to talk about the two objects shot down over Canada. Is this a question of national security? Or a weather monitoring program gone wrong? It’s probably not aliens, right?

Also, the Rouleau Report was released shortly after RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki announced the end of her tenure. The RCMP has felt the impact of scandal after scandal, so what kind of leadership is required to move forward and build better?

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

Guests: Nick Taylor-Vaisey, David Moscrop, Sandy Garossino

Background reading:

• U.S. fighter jet shoots down ‘cylindrical object’ flying over Yukon on orders from Trudeau, Biden
• Objects shot out of North American skies likely not used for spying, Biden says
• A hobby club in Illinois is missing a balloon. Was it shot down over Yukon?
• The timing of Brenda Lucki's RCMP departure
• After year of scandals, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki announces retirement
• RCMP’s Brenda Lucki says she will retire next month: ‘I did my best’

Sponsors: Rotman, Athletic Greens

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.

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Richard Warman used to take neo-nazis he found online to the human rights commission. He used an obscure provision called Section 13, which was repealed in 2014.

But it may be coming back.

The long-awaited Online Harms Act includes a section allowing human rights complaints over online hate speech. Free speech advocates are worried, but some say it’s time trolls start behaving.

Who gets to decide what’s hate speech? Is this the end of online hate or the start of something more sinister? To find out, Mattea Roach asked Emily Laidlaw, a Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity Law and an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, and Richard Moon, a law professor at the University of Windsor.

Correction (March 18, 2024): This episode’s description originally stated that the proposed Online Harms Act would permit “users to sue each other for hate speech online.” In fact, it would allow the Canadian Human Rights Commission to consider complaints related to allegedly discriminatory online speech and to refer such complaints to the quasi-judicial Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Host: Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator) Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Richard Moon, Emily Laidlaw

Background reading:

• The government doubles down on censoring the internet - The Hub
• Online harms bill could spark 'an absolute tsunami of complaints' - National Post
• Carson Jerema: Don't believe the Liberals, online harms act targets free speech - National Post
• The history of Section 13, the controversial hate speech law the Liberals just revived - National Post
• Poilievre says online harms should be punished with jail, 'not pushed off to new bureaucracy' - National Post
• #198 Punching Nazis... With The Law! - Canadaland

Sponsors: Douglas, AG1

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.

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The government hired 110,000 workers over the past 10 years, did we get 110,000 times more efficient? It doesn’t look like it, but veteran public servant Michael Wernick breaks it all down for Noor.

And, yes folks, we’re talking about tariffs again, because Donald Trump enacted a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, with NO exceptions. Plus, our nominations for Fentanyl Czar, and the defamation case against Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, CIJA, and Ezra Levant.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Michael Wernick

Background reading:

• How a ballooning public sector is reshaping Canada’s economy - The Globe and Mail
• Attrition is the 'worst way' to shrink federal public service, says former clerk - Yahoo News
• Opinion: Canada can learn from Trump and cut its bloated bureaucracy - The Globe and Mail
• Poilievre says he wants to cut the federal public service, doesn't mind remote work - CBC News
• What does Justin Trudeau's departure mean for federal public servants? - CBC News

Sponsors:

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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.

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While most Canadians are gearing up to head to the polls, some are looking for an escape plan. This week, we’re examining the deep roots of Western alienation, Danielle Smith’s separatist flirtations, and what could erupt if Mark Carney’s Liberals sweep to power. To do that, producer Sam Konnert heads out to Alberta to talk to some voters, and calls up Preston Manning, the man behind the conversation. Later, host Noor Azrieh sits down with Dr. Lisa Young for a serious reality check.

And the latest on the utter sidelining of Indigenous issues, a polling update, and why you should get your arse out to the polls on April 28th.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Preston Manning, Lisa Young

Further Reading on Our Website

Sponsors:

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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.