No Nonsense with Pamela Wallin

The latest on the trade and tariff front - Canada and the US are still struggling to come to a deal after the deadline has passed. Trevor Tombe shares his insight.

Does the Elon-Trump breakup change the future of space research? Space expert Elizabeth Howell returns to No Nonsense.

Everyone is re-thinking how they do business - is Canada ready to invest and diversify... and perhaps, get out of the way? Heather Exner-Pirot, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, and Mark Norman on No Nonsense.

Despite the on-going tariff and trade battles, for many Canadians, affordability remains their biggest concern. There are countless families who struggle to put food on the table. So food and the future is on the menu today. The founder of the global company AGT Foods and Ingredients – is Murad Al-Katib (a.k.a. The Lentil King) and his mission is combatting food insecurity and making a sustainable future for agriculture possible… and he does it all from Regina, Saskatchewan!Canada is in fact the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils, 95% coming from Saskatchewan where there are over 5000 active lentil farmers. In 2023, Canada produced nearly 1.7 million tons of lentils (it was 2.3 million in 2022) and we exported nearly 2.0 million tons of lentils in 2023!But Murad and AGT don't have an easy road ahead with geopolitical and trade tensions on the rise. Even the PM is now downplaying the prospects for the trade negotiations! But Murad says this uncertainty may be a blessing in disguise… we need the incentive to reduce our dependence on the US while growing and building new markets. And get our own house in order, reduce regulations and put incentives in the right places… more carrots, fewer sticks.The tariff wars have hit agriculture hard and one of AGT's biggest customers, India, imposed huge tariffs on Canadian pulses in 2019 and so Murad had to move quickly to find and secure new markets… much as Canada must do today as we try to navigate Trump's turbulent waters. He's got some great insights into what Ottawa needs to do! Remember, as well as U.S. tariffs, China too, has imposed powerfully punitive 100% retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola as well as peas and lobster. This has caused farmers to move to other non-tariffed pulses to survive as well as to ensure that soil rotation can be maintained so that crops can be grown, harvested and sold!For example, India consumes 40 pounds of pulses per person, so they buy a huge amount of lentils from Saskatchewan and  plant protein like pulses have enormous benefits that can help battle food insecurity. They have excellent shelf life, they are much more efficient to produce than livestock – and more environmentally friendly. And they have tremendous health benefits such as decreased cholesterol and reduced cardiovascular risk. Key to Murad's vision is to use 100% of a plant with zero waste. Pulses already have extended shelf stability, a low food wastage footprint and require low-water input- and AGT has some innovative work going on to use biodegradable materials like starches and fibres to make fossil fuel alternatives!So this is not just some trendy product for vegetarians and health food enthusiasts. AGT Foods is a massive international company with more than 45 global facilities serving more than 120 customer countries… and more than 1400 food products! They are one of the biggest pulse processors in the world… and thereby they help feed the world! A stunning statistic Murad cites: the world will need to produce the same amount of food in the next 40 years as we have produced in the last 10,000 years! He thinks we can do it!Murad is a true leader in the ag sector… and the trade sector... and he advises governments everywhere and has received numerous awards and much deserved recognition for his work, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal which I had the pleasure of presenting to him (via his kids) this year! You will see why when you hear our conversation as Murad is our guest on this episode of No Nonsense.  -         

Are cuts to military procurement and training leaving soldiers in the field unprepared and unprotected? Tom Lawson on red tape and readiness.

Ottawa is expanding state access to subscriber data and giving political parties a free ride when it comes to protecting voter data. Is this a red flag for what is to come in the new Ottawa? We'll ask internet law expert Michael Geist.

Is the Iranian dictatorship a failing house of cards? Christian Leuprecht insightful analysis of the tactics and strategy at play.

Can the  G7 survive a disinterested or distracted Donald Trump? Do the leaders need a new mission?  We discuss with Gary Mar.

With chaos in the Middle East, Canada needs to step up its game and become a more predictable energy supplier. Sonya Savage and Heather Exner-Pirot on making the most of our natural resources.

Politics vs. economics. Ian Lee says  PM Carney may be doomed to be a one-term prime minister if he doesn't make some risky and radical moves. Plus, Does Canada need its own DOGE? 

Products labelled as "Made in Canada" in grocery stores may not be what they appear. Is buying and selling "Canadian" more of a marketing ploy than a mass movement? Sylvain Charlebois explains.

It's Prime Minister Carney's first Speech from the Throne. Heather Exner-Pirot, Mark Norman, and Margaret McCuaig-Johnston look into what's been promised – on No Nonsense with Pamela Wallin. 

Putin pulled the plug on peace talks - what is the next move for Ukraine and her allies? Marcus Kolga looks at the options for all of us.

South of the border, the democrats are struggling to rebuild, and Trump's approval is falling. US Pollster Clifford Young looks at the politics at play for our powerful trading partner.

Will the new cabinet actually offer the change that Canadians want and that the Prime Minister promised? James Moore takes a look at who is at the table and why.

Will Mark Carney be the man to make a deal with Donald Trump? is it possible while navigating the growing fault lines dividing our country? Sean Speer explains.

Is Canada over-dependent on selling our oil  to one customer - the US?  We need more pipelines and fewer regulatory restrictions to make the most of our potential as an energy superpower says Heather Exner-Pirot.

Can this new parliament bring the change Canadians want? Our post-election panel with Darrell Bricker, Sean Speer, and Trevor Tombe explain.

Who said what to whom in the infamous Carney/Trump phone call? Our panel with Tasha Kheiriddin, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, and Mark Norman have some thoughts!

Will the Liberals' controversial  $130-billion platform be eclipsed by the death of the Pope? Darrell Bricker on what happens when the spotlight shifts away at a crucial campaign moment. 

This is the first election where the media has a direct financial stake in the outcome of the vote. Media watchers Peter Menzies and Tara Henley share their concerns about what it means for fair and objective reporting during election campaigns.

This election is all about leadership - and who Canadians believe will best manage the economy. Pollster Darrell Bricker on the voters focus and whether it's still on Trump or cost-of-living issues here at home.

Are “luxury beliefs” dividing the have and the have not voters? Polling guru Darrell Bricker and our pod panel  - Tasha Kheiriddin, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, and Mark Norman explain what's at stake.

Is the government asking the tough questions about Canada's regulatory and infrastructure problem? How will we attract the needed investment to counter the Trump tariffs? Trevor Tombe on what Canada must do.

Allan Gregg offers some interesting numbers and historical insight as Canada dives into a federal election campaign. What is the ballot question today? How might it change? Is it the same across age demographics? All this and more, on No Nonsense. 

Despite what Trump says - the US is dependent on Canadian oil and gas. Brian Zinchuk and Bronwyn Eyre on  Canada's next move in the trade war.

According to Sylvain Charlebois, all the political uncertainty in Canada has been damaging during the worst economic crisis - and will cost Canadian consumers. Our discussion on No Nonsense.

Does Mark Carney represent the leadership change Canadians are seeking? Darrell Bricker shares the latest opinion data.

Canada can no longer take our living standard for granted in the time of trade wars. Robert Asselin and Perrin Beatty on next steps.

Was the rare mineral deal doomed from the start? What was the motive behind the Zelenskyy-Trump showdown? Tasha Kheiriddin, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, and Mark Norman explain.

What is the state of mind in post-election USA? Clifford Young shares the latest polls and the changing American mind.

Canadian airfares are some of the highest in the world. What does it mean for Canadians travelers with the tariff and trade battles underway? Duncan Dee explains on No Nonsense.

Will boycotting American products make Americans feel the heat? Trevor Tombe on what Canada's next move should be in a “performative” trade war.

It's not just tariffs.... healthcare, defense, even the courts are all suffering because of red tape and an inability to react in real time. Matt Gurney and Tara Henley explain. 

Canadians want change - but who best meets that test: Pierre Poilievre or Mark Carney? Plus, How will Trump's threatened 25% tariffs impact the Canadians already reeling from price and tax hikes? Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson share their political insight.

As tariffs and a trade war loom, can Canada get its own house in order? Will Mark Carney appeal to regular Canadians or be seen as an “elite” candidate? Jeffrey Simpson on the Liberal leader race and the state of play on both sides of the border.

Canada needs to get its act together on national security and economic matters to meet the challenges of Trump 2.0. Former Canadian ambassador David MacNaughton shares his insight on what happens next.

The Internet, smartphones, and now Artificial Intelligence have fundamentally changed our world - but what about how people experience each other? Christine Rosen shares her research.

The 51st state? A joke? Or a concept that might have a kernel of possibility? Our cross-border guest Diane Francis on whether a "merger of the century" is possible.

The woman behind the incredible phenomenon: Diane Dupuy on the Famous People Players, a black light puppetry troupe made up entirely of intellectually disabled performers and staff. 

What does Chrystia Freeland's shocking announcement reveal about the Prime Minister's hold on power. The No Nonsense Panel with Tasha Kheiriddin, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, and Mark Norman.

What does it mean for Russia to lose Bashar al-Assad as an ally in Syria? Marcus Kolga explains Russia's proxy power in the Middle East. Plus, an update on Ukraine in the wake of Russia's most recent bombing campaign. 

Why doesn't Canada demand consumer protection or duty of care from the big banks? Andrew Spence explains why practices such as overdraft fees have been banned in other countries.

On this episode, we discuss the ethical questions surrounding the MAiD debate in Canada. James Downar and Eric Mathison share their perspectives.

Can DOGE, a department of government efficiency, work in Canada? Cutting costs and reforming the public sector with Donald Savoie. 

Yann Martel says Canada has often been called the greatest hotel on earth - but can afford the bill? A look at immigration, and its impact on everything from housing to healthcare with Mike Moffatt.

What does the capital gains tax mean for individuals, small businesses, and the value of your stock? Economist Jack Mintz gives us the troubling facts.

Surprise election outcome - or was it? Clifford Young, head of polling and societal trends at Ipsos, weighs in.

To mark Remembrance Day, a conversation with historian Tim Cook about Canada's contribution in the Korean war.

The Prime Minister's future, the U.S. election, and spies in our midst. The GenX/Millennial panel weighs in: Derek Fildebrandt, Matt Gurney, and Tara Henley share their thoughts.

The longest serving government in Canada holds onto the rings of power, but the voters send a strong message. John Gormley analyzes last night's election results in Saskatchewan.