Red Passport Podcast

Red Passport Podcast

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The Red Passport. The special passport used by Canadian diplomats accredited abroad or travelling from Ottawa on high-level business. Louise Blais, Jeremy Kinsman and Peter Donolo have all held the Red Passport at key moments in their careers - and in Canada's recent history. In every episode of the CIC's new podcast, they offer listeners their own "Red Passport", giving them an inside view how Canadian governments and policy makers try to steer our country through today's turbulent world - while advancing our interests, and keeping true to our values.

Canadian International Council


    • May 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 20 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Red Passport Podcast

    Now for the Hard Part...Mark Carney and Canada's Future with Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 34:06


    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.

    Special Guest Senator Peter Boehm on the 2025 G7

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 36:05


    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?

    Whose Side Is He On Anyway? 

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 36:27


    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?

    Special Guest Joe Clark on Canada's Lost Influence & the Path Forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 44:50


    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.

    Surviving Trump: Chaos, Canada, and the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 37:57


    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.

    Canada at a Crossroads

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 37:21


    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. 

    Happy New Year????

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 32:02


    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 Trump's World... We Just Live in It

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 36:51


    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

    Special Guest: The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2024 47:20


    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.

    canada lloyd axworthy
    Live from New York!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 41:06


    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 US Presidential Race Enters the Home Stretch.... and Where Is Canada?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 45:43


    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 Canadians REALLY Feel About the War in Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 51:27


    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.

    Two Cheers for Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 39:43


    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. 

    Elections in Europe... Down with the Status Quo!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 24:39


    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?

    From D-Day to Epic Fail?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 36:02


    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?

    The Global Year of Elections: A Spotlight on Mexico, South Africa, and India

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 40:09


    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.

    What Would Pearson Do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 39:21


    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?

    Rebuilding the Bridge

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 36:33


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

    Trump, Elections, Haiti & what it means for Canada

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 36:52


    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?

    A World At War: What's at stake - What can be done?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 36:53


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

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