Wonk

Public Policy Forum
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Michael Serapio, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays. This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2h ago

    Canada’s former top trade negotiator Steve Verheul: Moving beyond the U.S.

    Ever since Donald Trump was reelected in 2024 and started talking about Canada as a 51st state, cross border trade has been a sore point. But in recent weeks, there has been great urgency as the United States slapped tariffs on many goods and the fate of CUSMA hangs in the balance. PM Mark Carney has said “America is trying to break us so that they can own us.” So what can Canada really do to diversify its trade and thrive next to a suddenly unfriendly neighbour? Host Michael Serpaio talks to Canada’s former chief trade negotiator and PPF Fellow Steve Verheul about his new report From Reliance to Resilience and what could happen next.  Read Verheul’s report for PPF: https://ppforum.ca/publications/from-reliance-to-resilience/ Subscribe to PPF’s Canada-U.S. newsletter: https://ppforum.ca/newsletters/ Learn more about PPF Academy’s learning program, Managing Canada’s interests under Trump 2.0: https://ppforum.ca/academy/canada-united-states-policy-program/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Canada’s former top trade negotiator Steve Verheul: Moving beyond the U.S.

  2. Jun 25

    Gov. Josh Shapiro on Canada-U.S. relations

    Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania. He talks to host Amanda Lang about fixing CUSMA, the importance of the U.S. midterms and the trade instability caused by President Donald Trump. This is the final episode of season 4 of WONK. We’ll be back this fall with a brand new season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jun 18

    How to make a nation of supertraders

    The need to pivot away from our dependence on the U.S. as a trading partner has definitely been driven home to Canadian businesses. But actually doing that is a different story. If there's a base camp for that climb, it's Export Development Canada (EDC), the Crown Corporation whose mission is to help Canadians develop new markets. Alison Nankivell, EDC's CEO, joins host Amanda Lang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jun 11

    Evan Solomon on the promise and perils of AI

    Few innovations have held the amount of promise and — let's face it — peril as artificial intelligence. Will it be mankind's greatest leap forward or its absolute demise? Into this uncertainty comes Canada's new AI strategy, one which tries to walk the line between promise and peril. Host Amanda Lang talks to Evan Solomon, Canada's first Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jun 4

    Building an economy that helps people flourish

    More than 25 years ago, management consultant Joseph Pine introduced a revolutionary concept he called the experience economy. It helped shape how companies would reframe their businesses, but also their approaches to customers. Pine described the economy as being divided into progressions of economic value, from the lowest, commodities, to goods or manufacturing, to services, and finally, experiences. Now he's introducing a fifth level of value, which he calls transformation. His new book is called The Transformation Economy. He joins host Amanda Lang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. May 28

    The big risks facing Canada and the world

    Anyone who thinks that insurance is dull hasn't thought about it in the right way. The ability to offset risk is the structural foundation of everything in a modern economy, including our own individual ability to avoid personal financial ruin. Charles Brindamour is CEO of Intact Financial, the largest property and casualty insurer in Canada. He talks to host Amanda Lang about climate change, natural disasters and tech vulnerabilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. May 21

    Why the Canadian economy will be okay

    One of the dangerous things about constantly talking about the challenges that our economy faces is losing the sense of urgency that it needs. With the new fiscal update under our belts, and plenty of uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead, host Amanda Lang checks in with one of Canada’s top economists, Frances Donald, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at RBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. May 14

    Gregor Robertson on the housing dilemma

    When it comes to affordability, few issues hit more than housing. We need homes of all types without cratering the value of the existing housing stock. That's not an easy task, but it is one the federal government is lending its policy to. Host Amanda Lang talks to Gregor Robertson, the federal minister of housing and infrastructure and former mayor of Vancouver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Michael Serapio, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays. This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Public Policy Forum
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    189
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Public Policy Forum
  • Show Website
    Wonk

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