The Line

Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson
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The Line is a Canadian magazine dedicated to covering local, national and international politics, news, current events and occasionally some obscure stories.  Hosted by Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson.

  1. 9 hr ago

    No Experience Necessary

    In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks with Ronnen Harary, co-founder of Spin Master, the Canadian company behind some of the world’s most successful toys and entertainment franchises, including PAW Patrol. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we're focusing on the "made-in-Canada" part. Since 2015 BioCanRx has supported the Canadian-Led Immunotherapies Collaborative, or CLIC, in building a truly Canadian pipeline so Canadian patients don't have to wait for cancer therapies developed elsewhere to reach a clinical trial here. In the first iteration, genetic engineering happened in labs in Vancouver, a lab in Ottawa created a viral delivery system, and a facility in Victoria modified each patient's immune cells. The resulting therapy was shipped to a research-intensive hospital where the patient received it. More than 100 patients in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario received treatment. Now the network is growing: new biomanufacturing facilities are preparing to produce cells in Calgary and Ottawa, and new clinical trial sites are being onboarded in other provinces. CLIC technology is being used in three active Canadian clinical trials, with more on the way. So when it comes to producing made-in-Canada cancer immunotherapies, Canada isn't starting from scratch. Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to help us share these stories. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. Harary takes Jen through the early days of Spin Master and the risks that he and his partners were willing to take while they were still young enough — and perhaps naive enough — to take them. They discuss why your twenties can be an unusually valuable time to take big swings, what entrepreneurs can learn from failure, and why intuition and an understanding of history can matter when trying to distinguish a durable trend from the latest industry bubble. The conversation then widens to Canada’s entrepreneurial culture. Harary argues that Canada has enormous creative talent but needs to become more comfortable with ambition, risk and the possibility of failure. He and Jen discuss the difference between building and servicing, the importance of protecting time for deep creative work, and why a successful innovation economy needs diversity not simply of backgrounds, but of ideas, experiences and ways of thinking. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Every budget season brings endless ideas for how Ottawa should spend. But some of the best ways to strengthen Canada’s economy don’t require a massive price tag. For Canada’s forest products sector, real growth starts with dismantling made-in-Canada barriers: cutting regulatory duplication, fixing supply chain bottlenecks, securing predictable, cost-competitive access to fibre, and creating more certainty for investment. We can’t control every global challenge facing our industry, but we can remove the barriers created right here at home. Discover how smarter policy drives economic growth at FPAC.ca. Finally, they look at what Canada could do differently. Harary offers ideas for encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, attracting and developing talent, and creating a culture in which more Canadians are willing to build companies capable of competing globally. It’s a conversation about toys and business, but also about ambition, creativity, risk and what Canada needs to do if it wants to produce more globally successful companies. This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Canada is entering a decisive decade for energy, and the nuclear reactor we choose now matters. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns, and we cannot afford to spend years designing a reactor before construction begins. That is why Cameco believes the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada. It is already operating globally and ready now, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. The AP1000 reactor means job creation and supplier contracts, energy security at home, and significant investment staying right here in Canada. A proven design, built on time and on budget. That is how we build Canada. Learn more at ap1000.cameco.com. As always visit our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and don't forget to like and subscribe! #OnTheLine #RonnenHarary #SpinMaster #PAWPatrol #Entrepreneurship #CanadianBusiness #Innovation #Canada #Startups #BusinessAdvice #JenGerson

  2. 3 days ago

    American Chaos meets Canadian Pride

    In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, Jen Gerson speaks with Bloomberg senior White House correspondent Josh Wingrove about the collapse of the Canada–U.S. trade deal, the politics behind it, and why Canadians and Americans increasingly seem to be talking past each other. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. Canada is entering a decisive decade for energy, and the nuclear reactor we choose now matters. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns, and we cannot afford to spend years designing a reactor before construction begins. That is why Cameco believes the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada. It is already operating globally and ready now, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. The AP1000 reactor means job creation and supplier contracts, energy security at home, and significant investment staying right here in Canada. A proven design, built on time and on budget. That is how we build Canada. Learn more at ap1000.cameco.com. Jen and Josh unpack the breakdown of the latest negotiations, including the competing Canadian and American accounts of what happened and the domestic political pressures shaping both governments. They discuss what Washington actually wants from Canada, how the dispute looks from inside the United States, and what Canadians may be misunderstanding about the political forces driving American policy. This episode is also brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementors, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage. Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how. Find them Fractional-Execs.ca. They then widen the lens to the broader state of U.S. politics: Donald Trump’s hold over the Republican Party, the strength of America’s democratic guardrails, the coming midterms, and where the country may be heading politically. Finally, they consider what all of this means for Canada—and for a bilateral relationship that Canadians can no longer take for granted. This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. Over the summer we partnered with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September, we want to better understand the “made-in-Canada” part. Many drugs discovered in Canada leave to be developed and commercialized in the United States –– with the benefits accruing there. Completely made-in-Canada immunotherapies are rare because Canada doesn’t have a major domestic pharma company to support the development costs or regulatory requirements. BioCanRx is one of the rare not-for-profits with the capacity and expertise to help move Canadian-discovered and manufactured immunotherapies towards the market, both through translational research funding and regulatory support. Promising examples include several therapies now in clinical trials through the Canadian-Led Immunotherapies Collaborative, or CLIC, which are fully designed and manufactured in Canada to target certain blood cancers and, more recently, solid tumours. More on those next time. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe! #TheLinePodcast #CanadaUSRelations #TradeWar #DonaldTrump #MarkCarney #CanadianPolitics #USPolitics #JoshWingrove #USMidterms #CurrentAffairs

  3. 1 Sept

    B.C. goes bonkers. And Canada needs to grow up, fast

    In this episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests for conversations about political chaos on the west coast and why Canada may need to start thinking very differently about its maritime security. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. Over the summer we partnered with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September, we want to better understand the "made-in-Canada" part. Many drugs discovered in Canada leave to be developed and commercialized in the United States –– with the benefits accruing there. Completely made-in-Canada immunotherapies are rare because Canada doesn’t have a major domestic pharma company to support the development costs or regulatory requirements. BioCanRx is one of the rare not-for-profits with the capacity and expertise to help move Canadian-discovered and manufactured immunotherapies towards the market, both through translational research funding and regulatory support. Promising examples include several therapies now in clinical trials through the Canadian-Led Immunotherapies Collaborative, or CLIC, which are fully designed and manufactured in Canada to target certain blood cancers and, more recently, solid tumours. More on those next time. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. First up is Rob Shaw, who has spent more than 18 years covering British Columbia politics and now reports for CHEK News in Victoria. He also hosts the weekly Political Capital podcast and YouTube show, serves as a political correspondent for CBC Radio’s All Points West and Radio West, and contributes columns to Business in Vancouver and BC Business Magazine. Rob joins Matt to try to make sense of the unfolding chaos in B.C. politics, where the provincial Conservative Party is in full-on meltdown and Premier David Eby may have an increasingly tempting opportunity to call a snap election and secure a majority as the trade war heats up. The situation is moving so quickly that news was breaking even as Matt and Rob were recording. God only knows what will have happened by the time you hear this. Things are crazy over there. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Every budget season brings endless ideas for how Ottawa should spend. But some of the best ways to strengthen Canada’s economy don’t require a massive price tag. For Canada’s forest products sector, real growth starts with dismantling made-in-Canada barriers: cutting regulatory duplication, fixing supply chain bottlenecks, securing predictable, cost-competitive access to fibre, and creating more certainty for investment. We can’t control every global challenge facing our industry, but we can remove the barriers created right here at home. Discover how smarter policy drives economic growth at FPAC.ca. Then Matt is joined by Jamie Carroll of Carroll and Co. Consulting. Carroll is a former national director of the federal Liberal Party, but this time he’s not here to talk politics — at least not initially. Instead, the two discuss Carroll’s recent proposal in The Hill Times arguing that Canada needs to grow up, recognize that the rules have changed, and start organizing itself accordingly. His proposal is pragmatic: Canada should find ways to get the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard working much more closely together. Matt and Jamie discuss how that could strengthen Canada’s ability to patrol and defend its enormous maritime approaches, make better use of existing resources, and build national capacity at a time when sovereignty and security are no longer abstract concerns. And then, yes, Matt asks him about the politics of it all. This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. Canada is entering a decisive decade for energy, and the nuclear reactor we choose now matters. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns, and we cannot afford to spend years designing a reactor before construction begins. That is why Cameco believes the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada. It is already operating globally and ready now, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. The AP1000 reactor means job creation and supplier contracts, energy security at home, and significant investment staying right here in Canada. A proven design, built on time and on budget. That is how we build Canada. Learn more at ap1000.cameco.com. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, like and subscribe, and take good care. #OnTheLine #BCPolitics #BritishColumbia #BCConservatives #DavidEby #RobShaw #CanadaPolitics #CanadianNavy #CanadianCoastGuard #NationalSecurity #JamieCarroll #MattGurney

  4. 28 Aug

    Trade war!

    In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 28th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with the rapidly escalating Canada-U.S. trade war, which somehow managed to get very stupid, very quickly. Ontario Premier Doug Ford told Donald Trump to kiss his ass; Trump responded by signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America.” Your hosts discuss just how weird this confrontation could get—and whether what we're watching now is merely the opening phase of something much longer and more serious. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com Next, Matt and Jen argue that Canada still needs to get much better at fighting the communications and information war. The United States has recently confronted Chinese influence operations aimed at shaping its domestic politics, which raises an uncomfortable question: how confident should Canadians be that nobody is trying the same thing here? And if information operations are becoming a normal instrument of state power, should Canada be thinking seriously about developing the capacity to play offence as well as defence? This episode is also brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage. Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how. Find them Fractional-Execs.ca. Finally, your hosts turn to a CBC controversy that sounds considerably crazier in the headlines than it actually is. CBC's longstanding journalistic policy is to avoid independently designating particular acts as “terrorism,” preferring to use the term with attribution—a policy shared in various forms by several major international news organizations. But an internal reminder applying that rule to the 9/11 attacks has predictably exploded into a controversy suggesting that Canada's public broadcaster somehow doesn't believe 9/11 was terrorism. Matt and Jen explain why the underlying policy isn't nearly as stupid as it looks—and also why, in this particular case, it's still dumb enough that CBC should fix it. This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. Through our partnership with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx this summer, we’re talking about potential solutions for the problems that are limiting Canada’s ability to domestically develop new drugs, especially immunotherapies for cancer. Today: new methods for biomanufacturing. Immunotherapies are created using living components –– sometimes even our own cells — so they’re extremely complex and costly to create and deliver to patients. That’s why in the United States, only one in five people who could be treated by a personalized therapy like CAR T can afford to receive it. Fortunately, new manufacturing paradigms have the potential to increase accessibility. Similar to how 3D printers can efficiently produce individual mechanical components, closed-system manufacturing creates immunotherapy drugs in self-contained, benchtop machines that enhance efficiency through automation. This turns many hospitals across Canada into potential manufacturing sites and makes scaling up the delivery of personalized therapies to individual Canadian patients a real possibility. Some new manufacturing technologies can even scale from producing a single patient’s personalized dose to mass-producing doses for 100,000 patients per day — meaning they could mass-produce vaccines during an emergency. BioCanRx is working with federal partners to understand where this technology can fit within our biomanufacturing regulatory structure, and how AI might help. More on that next time. Learn more at BioCanRx.com. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. #TheLinePodcast #CanadaUSRelations #DonaldTrump #DougFord #MarkCarney #TradeWar #ForeignInterference #CBC #CanadianPolitics #CurrentAffairs

  5. 25 Aug

    No Religion Allowed in the Canadian Military

    In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson sits down with Brian Dijkema, president of Cardus Canada, to discuss a new Department of National Defence directive that would move military chaplaincy away from explicit religious language, symbols and prayer in favour of more generic forms of “spiritual reflection.” This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. Through our partnership with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx this summer, we’re talking about potential solutions for the problems that are limiting Canada’s ability to domestically develop new drugs, especially immunotherapies for cancer. Today: new methods for biomanufacturing.  Immunotherapies are created using living components –– sometimes even our own cells –– so they're extremely complex and costly to create and deliver to patients. That's why in the United States, only one in five people who could be treated by a personalized therapy like CAR T can afford to receive it. Fortunately, new manufacturing paradigms have the potential to increase accessibility.  Similar to how 3D printers can efficiently produce individual mechanical components, closed-system manufacturing creates immunotherapy drugs in self-contained, benchtop machines that enhance efficiency through automation. This turns many hospitals across Canada into potential manufacturing sites and makes scaling up the delivery of personalized therapies to individual Canadian patients a real possibility. Some new manufacturing technologies can even scale from producing a single patient’s personalized dose to mass-producing doses for 100,000 patients per day –– meaning they could mass-produce vaccines during an emergency.  BioCanRx is working with federal partners to understand where this technology can fit within our biomanufacturing regulatory structure, and how AI might help. More on that next time. Learn more at BioCanRx.com. Dijkema argues that the change isn’t actually neutral. Instead, he sees it as part of a longer-running bureaucratic effort to reduce the visible role of religion within the Canadian Armed Forces. He and Gerson dig into the philosophical question at the heart of the dispute: is secular humanism really a neutral baseline for a diverse society, or is it itself a worldview that the state risks imposing on everyone else? They also talk about what military chaplains actually do. Dijkema argues that chaplains serve a special purpose. Questions about death, war, morality and meaning are not simply clinical problems, and military personnel should have access to people capable of engaging with them through their own religious traditions. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canada’s resilience will not be built through diversified trade and good intentions alone. It will be built with strong domestic supply chains, reliable Canadian materials, and industries that invest in workers and communities here at home. Two months ago, the federal government acknowledged the Forest Sector Transformation Task Force Report and the practical path it set out. Now the focus must be action. Canada’s forest products sector can help deliver the homes, infrastructure, and economic potential the country needs. But that requires predictable access to manage our forests, transportation systems that work, and a regulatory environment that rewards investment rather than delays it. The direction is clear. Now Ottawa needs to turn recognition into results. Learn more at FPAC.ca. Gerson and Dijkema also examine the directive’s special treatment of Indigenous spiritual practices, which Dijkema argues is both logically inconsistent and ultimately patronizing. His preferred alternative is straightforward: expand the space available to religious and non-religious Canadians alike rather than trying to make everyone conform to a supposedly neutral middle ground. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe. #OnTheLine #CanadianForces #MilitaryChaplaincy #ReligiousFreedom #Pluralism #BrianDijkema #Cardus #CanadaPolitics #CanadianMilitary #JenGerson

  6. 21 Aug

    If the deal sucks, Carney is in trouble

    In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 21st, 2026, Matt Gurney joins remotely from Chicago as he makes his way home to Canada after a family event. Sorry, elbows uppers. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com The first segment is, admittedly, a bit of a placeholder. Until there is an actual Canada-U.S. trade deal to read, it's difficult to have firm opinions about it — assuming there even is a deal. Your hosts walk through what's been reported so far and explain why they're reserving judgment until the details are public. That said, Matt highlights one rumoured provision that, if true, would represent a uniquely Canadian style of spectacularly self-inflicted policy failure. For the deeper analysis, look for Sunday's Dispatch. This episode is also brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage. Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how. Find them Fractional-Execs.ca. Next, Matt and Jen examine the early political reaction to both the negotiations themselves and the rumours surrounding the deal. Both were struck by comments this week from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. With a combination of clarity and folksy charm, Kinew articulated what your hosts believe is the strongest criticism of Mark Carney's handling of the America file they've heard so far. They're not suggesting Kinew is about to jump into federal politics. He doesn't need to. If someone can make a compelling case that this deal is bad for Canada, Carney could find himself under pressure from both the left and the right. This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. Through our partnership with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx this summer, we’re talking about potential solutions for the problems that limit Canada’s ability to domestically develop new drugs, especially immunotherapies for cancer. Today: Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity. A biomanufacturing industry, like any other industry, does not appear at the swipe of a bureaucrat’s pen. Simply allocating money to a new economic development program doesn’t replace the years of effort necessary to help a sector put down lasting roots. Canada already has many building blocks in place. For example, infrastructure developed for pandemic readiness after COVID, and money invested in research facilities across Canada, can be leveraged to give us a head start — but they need to be coordinated and given steady work. BioCanRx supports core Canadian biomanufacturing facilities and connects them with active Canadian research projects, making sure both sides have resources and the chance to gain experience. But more activity is needed to ensure these facilities can build up expertise, maintain readiness, and foster innovation. Building this capacity can position Canada to develop new drugs more quickly — and to be ready for a health emergency, all while delivering products to Canadian patients today. There are promising paradigm shifts on the horizon that could change the way we manufacture biologic products like immunotherapies. More on that next week. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. Finally, Matt reflects on his recent travels through the United States. There are many ways Canada will never compete directly with America — they're simply bigger and richer. But there are also areas where Canada once had a visible edge and has quietly lost it. Chicago has always had more crime and a higher murder rate than Toronto. That's nothing new. What is new, Matt argues, is that downtown Chicago is now noticeably cleaner and better maintained than downtown Toronto. That's not a consequence of American military power, economic dominance, or Donald Trump. That's a Canadian policy failure.  And the really damning part? Downtown Detroit is cleaner than Toronto now, too. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe!  #TheLinePodcast #MarkCarney #CanadaUSRelations #TradeDeal #CanadianPolitics #WabKinew #Toronto #Chicago #PoliticalAnalysis #CurrentAffairs

  7. 18 Aug

    It's time for Canada to abandon a cherished national myth

    In this episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests for conversations about service, sacrifice, and Canada’s place in the world. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. Through our partnership with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx this summer, we’re talking about potential solutions for the problems that limit Canada’s ability to domestically develop new drugs, especially immunotherapies for cancer. Today: Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity. A biomanufacturing industry, like any other industry, does not appear at the swipe of a bureaucrat’s pen. Simply allocating money to a new economic development program doesn’t replace the years of effort necessary to help a sector put down lasting roots. Canada already has many building blocks in place. For example, infrastructure developed for pandemic readiness after COVID, and money invested in research facilities across Canada, can be leveraged to give us a head start –– but they need to be coordinated and given steady work. BioCanRx supports core Canadian biomanufacturing facilities and connects them with active Canadian research projects, making sure both sides have resources and the chance to gain experience. But more activity is needed to ensure these facilities can build up expertise, maintain readiness, and foster innovation. Building this capacity can position Canada to develop new drugs more quickly –– and to be ready for a health emergency, all while delivering products to Canadian patients today. There are promising paradigm shifts on the horizon that could change the way we manufacture biologic products like immunotherapies. More on that next week. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. First up is Anthony Robb, a 24-year veteran of the Canadian Army who now serves with Canada Company. He joins Matt to discuss the organization’s work strengthening the connection between Canadians and their military, and why that relationship matters more than ever. They also talk about one of Canada Company’s most meaningful initiatives: supporting the children of Canadian Armed Forces members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country, and ensuring those families know their sacrifices have not been forgotten.  This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canada’s resilience will not be built through diversified trade and good intentions alone. It will be built with strong domestic supply chains, reliable Canadian materials, and industries that invest in workers and communities here at home.Two months ago, the federal government acknowledged the Forest Sector Transformation Task Force Report and the practical path it set out. Now the focus must be action. Canada’s forest products sector can help deliver the homes, infrastructure, and economic potential the country needs. But that requires predictable access to manage our forests, transportation systems that work, and a regulatory environment that rewards investment rather than delays it. The direction is clear. Now Ottawa needs to turn recognition into results. Learn more at FPAC.ca. Then Matt is joined by Peter Jones, professor of international relations at the University of Ottawa, for a conversation about one of Canada’s most enduring national stories. Canadians often describe their country as a “middle power,” but Jones argues that label hasn’t accurately described Canada for quite some time. If we aren’t a middle power anymore, what are we? And, more importantly, what should we aspire to be in a world that is becoming less stable, more competitive, and increasingly defined by great-power rivalry? For more on the professor's thoughts on this topic, please read his recent essay in The Walrus. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com. If you like this — or hey, even if you hated it, we don't mind — check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Be sure to like and subscribe! #OnTheLine #CanadaCompany #CanadianForces #Veterans #AnthonyRobb #PeterJones #ForeignPolicy #CanadaPolitics #NationalSecurity #MattGurney

  8. 14 Aug

    Carney can fight now, or he should surrender

    In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 14th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with a lengthy discussion of the state of the Canada–U.S. trade war.  This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers.To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.comYour hosts are in complete agreement: Canada should not accept a bad deal. A bad deal wouldn't buy lasting peace, they argue — it would simply set the stage for the next round of American demands. In their view, there is no stable middle ground. Canada either resists now or surrenders now. They also examine the unusual political psychology of the Americans currently running the White House, while cautioning listeners not to expect salvation from the Democrats. A future Democratic administration may be less abrasive, but it won't undo the underlying shift in American policy. As Matt puts it, quoting the late Chris Cornell, "Arm yourselves because no one else here will save you." That includes the likes of Gavin Newsom and Chuck Schumer. This episode is also brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage. Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how. Find them Fractional-Execs.ca. From there, the hosts turn to Alberta and a fascinating Toronto Star investigation tracking the flow of money supporting the separatist movement. The reporting closely matches what both Line editors had already concluded independently. Jen offers an update from the ground in Alberta, while Matt steps back to consider the national implications. Both arrive at the same frustrating conclusion: it would be helpful if Canada's institutions were capable of recognizing foreign interference when it was happening. Recent history suggests we're not only bad at it — we don't even seem particularly interested in trying. Finally, Matt and Jen close with a friendly disagreement over the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Mark Carney's vacation in Italy. They don't see eye to eye, and by the end of the conversation it's clear Matt is unlikely to invite Jen along on his next European vacation. If you'd like to help fund that hypothetical trip, your hosts suggest the usual: like, subscribe, and donate generously. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx, a federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit. This summer, BioCanRx and The Line have been talking about potential solutions for the problems that are limiting Canada’s ability to domestically develop new drugs, especially immunotherapies for cancer. We ask a lot of Canadian cancer researchers. The work required to discover new therapies for numerous diseases, and get them to patients, costs far more than the half-billion dollars invested in cancer research by all levels of government and charities — and often the available grants specialize in only one part of the spectrum: discovery. We need to be sure we’re supporting researchers at every step of this complex scientific and regulatory process. BioCanRx has proved you can meaningfully support this part. The entire team is only 12 people, but they know what it takes to do things like submit a clinical trial application or safely manufacture a drug, so the researchers they fund are held to firm, realistic standards that make sense in the real world of Canadian health-care systems and industry. That’s how a tiny not-for-profit has helped bring 16 new drugs to clinical trials that have treated more than 400 people in just 10 years. But research is only one part of the puzzle — can we manufacture new therapies in Canada? More on that next time. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. #TheLinePodcast #MarkCarney #CanadaUSRelations #TradeWar #CanadianPolitics #AlbertaPolitics #ForeignInterference #GavinNewsom #ChuckSchumer #CurrentAffairs

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About

The Line is a Canadian magazine dedicated to covering local, national and international politics, news, current events and occasionally some obscure stories.  Hosted by Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    228
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Line
  • Show Website
    The Line

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