Red Passport Podcast

The long period of political uncertainty is over.  Canadians have given Prime Minister Mark Carney a clear mandate to defend our country against the predations of Donald Trump.  Louise, Peter and Jeremy weigh in on how the newly-elected PM can and should engage with Trump... and the world.

Senator Peter Boehm was Canadian sherpa for a record six G7 summits.  He joins Jeremy, Louise and (the other) Peter to talk about an early challenge that will face whoever wins Canada's April 28 election - hosting the G7 in Kananaskis in June.  One member (guess who?) has launched a trade war against the other six.  Should he even be part of the club?

An unfiltered discussion with Louise Blais, Jeremy Kinsman and Peter Donolo about treading water in the Trump Tsunami - from Africa to the UN to the G7.  Trump is upending decades of alliances, turning on his friends and cutting loose the most vulnerable populations in the world.  What are the real-life impications, and how is the new Canadian PM dealing with it?

Former Prime Minister Joe Clark joins The Red Passport Podcast for an unfiltered conversation on Canada's shifting role in global affairs. From dismantling apartheid to shaping the end of the Cold War, he was at the forefront of historic diplomacy. But today, as nationalism rises and global alliances falter, has Canada lost its voice? In this episode, Clark, alongside hosts Jeremy Kinsman and Louise Blais, reflects on past successes, critiques today's challenges, and offers a bold vision for Canada's future on the world stage. A must-listen for anyone invested in Canada's global impact.

He's threatening allies, purging intelligence and aid agencies, and trial-ballooning land grabs not just in North America, but in the near Arctic and the Middle East.  Welcome to the World According to Donald Trump.  Louise, Jeremy and Peter discuss what Canada - and other democracies and fair-trading nations - can do to whether this man-made storm.

Dive into this timely episode as Peter Donolo, Louise Blais and Jeremy Kinsman unpack the implications of Donald Trump's second inauguration and its ripple effects across North America and beyond. They explore Canada's evolving relationship with the U.S., the rise of protectionism, and how Canadians can adapt to a new era of uncertainty. 

We're barely one week into 2025 and the threats and challenges are already piling up.  Peter, Louise and Jeremy discuss how Justin Trudeau's resignation will impact Canada's international role and about Donald Trump's unhealthy 51st State obsession.

It's been a month since Donald Trump's victory, and things aren't looking great for Canada. Louise, Jeremy and Peter discuss why - and what we can do about it. Meanwhile, as the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria shows, new geopolitical opportunities and challenges continue to demand our attention. Photo by The Now Time on Unsplash

Hosts Jeremy Kinsman and Louise Blais talk with the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy about his new book, Canada's place in the world and Canada's relations with India.

No, not SNL, but this month's even longer running United Nations Annual General Assembly. And chances are - given the state of the world - that the critics will pan this year's version as much as they have the previous 78.  Why is that?  What value does the UN still have?  And what - if anything - can Canada do to help make it work better?

The conventions are over, and the US presidential election is three months away. The race has already been turned upside down once. Will events in Ukraine and the Middle East upend it again? Meanwhile, an internal memo from our country's Department of Global Affairs reveals the constraints that are holding Canada back on the international stage.

How are Canadians feeling about the current conflict in the Middle East? Special guest Jon Allen, former Canadian Ambassador to Israel, joins Louise, Jeremy and Peter to discuss a new survey by the Environics Institute, in partnership with the CIC, that charts how Canadian attitudes on Israel and Palestinians have evolved over four decades. They also discuss the latest dramatic  developments in the US Presidential race.  A special thanks to Don Bourgeois for providing additional funding for the survey.

Just as the pundits are writing their epitaphs for democracy, two more parliamentary elections - in France and the UK - gave us some reason for optimism. And the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington brought some good news for the defense of democracy, while also underlining some pretty big challenges. 

The Year of the Election is turning into The Year of Living Dangerously for incumbent governments around the world.  What is going on?  Louise, Jeremy and Peter look at the votes in Europe - the recent EU Parliamentary elections and the upcoming general election in the UK, and France's snap parliamentary elections.  Are there common threads?  And what do they mean for Canada?

The "Allied" Leaders of 2024 meet in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day ... and at summits in Italy and Switzerland. They will turn their attentions to everything from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, to Climate Change and the global economy. Can they show any of the determination and unity of that earlier era?

As Mexico, South Africa and India embark on high-stakes elections this year, uncover what these pivotal moments reveal about the future of global democracy. We do a deep dive into why these elections are crucial, not just for the world but for Canada too.

The world has changed dramatically since Lester Pearson accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo almost seven decades ago.  The era of "Blue Helmets" may be long over (for Canadians, at least), but how can Canada apply the Pearsonian spirit of global engagement and bridge-building in the 2020s?

In an increasingly fragmented world, how can Canada reestablish its historic role as an international bridge-builder and honest broker?

Ready for Trump: The Sequel? High-stakes elections this year in the USA and Mexico.  What does that mean for Canada?  How do we prepare for the storm - or the opportunity?  Plus, what can Canada do to help resolve the latest Haiti crisis?

In its inaugural episode, the Red Passport dives right into the twin crises in Ukraine and Gaza - and their impact on Canada.