MBP Intelligence Briefing

Metamorphosis Media Group
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The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. COMPLIMENTARY FULL EPISODE - MBP Ep 12: Intelligence Briefing – 2025 Policy Wrap-Up and What to Watch in 2026 (Complimentary Episode)

    20 DEC

    COMPLIMENTARY FULL EPISODE - MBP Ep 12: Intelligence Briefing – 2025 Policy Wrap-Up and What to Watch in 2026 (Complimentary Episode)

    In this year-end episode, Ben Woodfinden is joined by Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips for a wide-ranging policy roundtable reflecting on the most consequential, overlooked, and misguided policy developments of 2025, alongside a forward-looking discussion of what to watch in 2026. The conversation focuses on structural policy shifts across fiscal rules, defence spending, climate policy, healthcare reform, democratic institutions, and housing. The episode also examines how geopolitical uncertainty, particularly related to the United States, is reshaping Canada’s fiscal, monetary, and defence posture. This marks the final episode of 2025, with the show returning in early January 2026. In this episode, they discuss: • The most consequential policy shifts of 2025 across fiscal rules, climate, defence, and housing • How geopolitical uncertainty reshaped Canada’s defence spending and fiscal posture • The evolving role of democratic institutions, including the Senate and referendum politics • Diverging provincial approaches to healthcare reform and federal constraints • What policy risks and opportunities to watch as Canada enters 2026 Key Takeaways On the Most Significant Policy Developments of 2025 • PHILLIPS: Continuity under a Liberal government preserved health, social, and childcare programs despite expectations of major change • MEREDITH: Separating operating and capital spending permanently expands federal fiscal capacity • BOESSENKOOL: Ending the consumer carbon tax marks a major retreat from market-based climate policy • WOODFINDEN: Canada’s rapid shift toward higher defence spending represents a structural policy realignment On Defence Spending, Fiscal Rules, and Political Alignment • WOODFINDEN: Defence spending has moved from political taboo to broad consensus • MEREDITH: New fiscal rules have reduced concern about deficits and debt financing • PHILLIPS: Defence budgets create opportunities for workforce development beyond procurement • BOESSENKOOL: Political fragmentation has lowered resistance to large-scale defence investment On the Senate and Democratic Institutions • BOESSENKOOL: Moving away from a technocratic Senate could significantly alter governance • MEREDITH: An independent Senate has increased scrutiny but slowed legislation • WOODFINDEN: The Senate’s real test may come under a future Conservative government • PHILLIPS: Civil society has a role in shaping how partisanship functions in democratic institutions On the “Worst” or Most Misguided Policy Developments • MEREDITH: Ontario’s symbolic megaprojects reflect a lack of economic strategy • BOESSENKOOL: Alberta’s lowered thresholds for recall and referendums empowered destabilizing actors • PHILLIPS: Book bans and separation referendums highlighted symbolic and counterproductive policymaking • WOODFINDEN: Canada’s repeated transit failures reveal systemic infrastructure weaknesses On Looking Ahead to 2026 • WOODFINDEN: Co-hosting the FIFA World Cup risks high public costs for limited return • MEREDITH: U.S. monetary policy leadership changes could destabilize global markets • BOESSENKOOL: Provinces will increasingly diverge on healthcare reform • MEREDITH: The federal government is likely to defend the Canada Health Act if private payer models expand On Underrated Policy Developments • MEREDITH: Automatic benefits enrollment simplifies access and improves delivery • PHILLIPS: Crackdowns on fraudulent career colleges protect workers and students • BOESSENKOOL: The personal support worker tax credit functions as a targeted wage subsidy • WOODFINDEN: Housing outcomes are increasingly diverging by city and region YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  2. MBP Ep 12: Intelligence Briefing – 2025 Policy Wrap-Up and What to Watch in 2026 (Free Version)

    19 DEC

    MBP Ep 12: Intelligence Briefing – 2025 Policy Wrap-Up and What to Watch in 2026 (Free Version)

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
  3. MBP Ep 11: Intelligence Roundtable – Parliamentary Wrap Up, US National Security Strategy and Canada–US Trade Signals (Free Version)

    12 DEC

    MBP Ep 11: Intelligence Roundtable – Parliamentary Wrap Up, US National Security Strategy and Canada–US Trade Signals (Free Version)

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  4. MBP Ep 10: Intelligence Roundtable – Energy MOU, Carbon Pricing Battles and the Future of Canadian Energy Politics

    5 DEC

    MBP Ep 10: Intelligence Roundtable – Energy MOU, Carbon Pricing Battles and the Future of Canadian Energy Politics

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 min
  5. MBP Ep 9: Intelligence Roundtable – Ontario’s Fiscal Picture, Tariff Turmoil and the Future of Provincial Power

    28 NOV

    MBP Ep 9: Intelligence Roundtable – Ontario’s Fiscal Picture, Tariff Turmoil and the Future of Provincial Power

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
  6. MBP Ep 8: Intelligence Roundtable – Provincial Volatility, Referendums & Resource Politics Across Canada (Free Version)

    21 NOV

    MBP Ep 8: Intelligence Roundtable – Provincial Volatility, Referendums & Resource Politics Across Canada (Free Version)

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 min
  7. MBP Ep 7: Intelligence Roundtable - National Projects, Pipelines and a Precarious Parliament (Free Version)

    14 NOV

    MBP Ep 7: Intelligence Roundtable - National Projects, Pipelines and a Precarious Parliament (Free Version)

    The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. You’re listening to the first 10 minutes of this week’s episode, the full one-hour roundtable is now available exclusively to members of MBP Intelligence. Want the Full Episode? Become a member to unlock: The full, ad-free weekly MBP Intelligence Briefing podcast (1-hour roundtable)Exclusive reports, policy briefings, and member newslettersInvitations to private discussions and eventsAccess to a growing community of policymakers, business leaders, and thinkers shaping the national conversationJoin MBP Intelligence here: https://mbpolicy.com/intelligence/ YouTube Video Credits: CBC News, CTV News, Global News, 4K Films By Adnan, Videoscape, Pierre Poilievre, balcony et-al, Luis Vega, Shape Properties, GommeBlog, Exploring Stunning Landscapes From Above, Motion Array Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
  8. MBP Ep 6: MBP Intelligence Roundtable: The Budget and What It Actually Signals

    7 NOV

    MBP Ep 6: MBP Intelligence Roundtable: The Budget and What It Actually Signals

    In this episode Ben Woodfinden, Tyler Meredith, Ken Boessenkool, and Shannon Phillips unpack the new federal budget. They discuss The economic outlook and why Canada avoided recession even as growth fallsWhy this is a capital assets budget and what it asks of private investmentThe new fiscal anchors and how markets are reactingThe political risk of long runway payoffs and how to show near-term impactImmigration levels cuts the hit to campuses and minimum wage pressureDefence spending and whether dollars stay in the Canadian industrial baseKey Takeaways On the economic outlook WOODFINDEN: A budget that leans heavily on uncertainty and the upending of the global order MEREDITH Canada dodged a recession and the economy shows resilience even with weaker growthBOESSENKOOL Risks are still tilted to the downside and US trade turbulence could bitePHILLIPS This is industrial and capital focused not people focused which leaves exposure if the economy worsensOn what makes this budget different MEREDITH The document reads like a pension investor wrote it. Prioritizes asset class certainty and competitiveness over retail politicsWOODFINDEN The government owns the productivity slump that predated Trump and is finally acknowledging it at least  BOESSENKOOL A Bay Street style budget that pivots from program expansion to private investment On immigration and provincial fallout WOODFINDEN The cut to international student permits is dramatic and will hit university and college financesMEREDITH Expect a tilt back to high skill intake while provinces scramble to fill revenue gapsPHILLIPS Lower intake will tighten low wage labour markets and push pressure onto minimum wage policyOn innovation and financial sector reform MEREDITH The budget packs major moves on competition banking and digital assets with more likely in the Bank Act review cycle On defence WOODFINDEN Defence is the signature spend at eighty four billion over five yearsMEREDITH Procurement choices will decide how much of that spend stays in CanadaPHILLIPS Recruitment and culture must improve or the money will not translate into people Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
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About

The MBP Intelligence Briefing delivers exclusive, insider insight into the policies, decisions, and dynamics shaping Canada’s political and economic landscape. Hosted by Ben Woodfinden, Director of MBP Intelligence and Senior Advisor at Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, the series features weekly conversations with MBP partners Ken Boessenkool, Tyler Meredith, and Shannon Phillips, along with a monthly guest bringing fresh perspective from business, media, or public policy. Listeners can expect a mix of roundtable discussions unpacking the week’s biggest developments and in-depth interviews exploring emerging ideas and long-term trends. From fiscal outlooks and trade strategy to the forces influencing governance, regulation, and public life, each episode delivers context and clarity rooted in real experience inside government, policy, and politics. This is your exclusive MBP Intelligence Briefing, context, clarity, and strategy for Canada’s evolving political economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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