Political insiders and policy experts weigh in on the biggest stories in Canadian politics every week. The Hill Times’ reporters take you behind the curtain, and reveal details that didn’t make it into the final version of their latest stories.
The Hill Times Hotroom is hosted and edited by deputy editor Peter Mazereeuw. The show is a Hill Times production. Art was created by senior online and graphic designer Joey Sabourin. Music attribution: Gavin Gardiner.
Peter Mazereeuw and Sheila Copps dig into the return of Parliament, how Mark Carney might handle Question Period, whether the Liberals should elect a Conservative House speaker, and more.
From our sponsor:
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Peter Mazereeuw and Sheila Copps dig into the return of Parliament, how Mark Carney might handle Question Period, whether the Liberals should elect a Conservative House speaker, and more.
From our sponsor:
2025 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards | Sat, Jun 14, 2025, 6:30 pm | Southam Hall | National Arts Centre:
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/37774
Nominate your favourite artist for a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award | National Arts Centre:
https://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/nominate-your-favourite-artist-for-ggpaa-2026
Peter Mazereeuw and Sheila Copps dig into the return of Parliament, how Mark Carney might handle Question Period, whether the Liberals should elect a Conservative House speaker, and more.
From our sponsor:
2025 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards | Sat, Jun 14, 2025, 6:30 pm | Southam Hall | National Arts Centre:
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/37774
Nominate your favourite artist for a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award | National Arts Centre:
https://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/nominate-your-favourite-artist-for-ggpaa-2026
*Update: On May 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his government would release a full budget, rather than a fall economic update, in the fall. On this episode of The Hot Room, Peter Mazereeuw speaks with the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy's Mostafa Askari about the government's missing spring budget, what it means, and how the government gets its money.
*Update: On May 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his government would release a full budget, rather than a fall economic update, in the fall. On this episode of The Hot Room, Peter Mazereeuw speaks with the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy's Mostafa Askari about the government's missing spring budget, what it means, and how the government gets its money.
*Update: On May 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his government would release a full budget, rather than a fall economic update, in the fall. On this episode of The Hot Room, Peter Mazereeuw speaks with the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy's Mostafa Askari about the government's missing spring budget, what it means, and how the government gets its money.
Author, columnist and CEO Rose LeMay joins The Hot Room to discuss her new book, Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Author, columnist and CEO Rose LeMay joins The Hot Room to discuss her new book, Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Author, columnist and CEO Rose LeMay joins The Hot Room to discuss her new book, Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, about how Albertans are taking the election of another Liberal government, Danielle Smith vs. Mark Carney, and the tensions between East and West.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, about how Albertans are taking the election of another Liberal government, Danielle Smith vs. Mark Carney, and the tensions between East and West.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, about how Albertans are taking the election of another Liberal government, Danielle Smith vs. Mark Carney, and the tensions between East and West.
"There's executive risk all over these platforms," says former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, now with the University of Ottawa's Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy. Page takes a high-level look at the Liberal and Conservative party election platforms with Peter Mazereeuw.
"There's executive risk all over these platforms," says former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, now with the University of Ottawa's Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy. Page takes a high-level look at the Liberal and Conservative party election platforms with Peter Mazereeuw.
"There's executive risk all over these platforms," says former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, now with the University of Ottawa's Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy. Page takes a high-level look at the Liberal and Conservative party election platforms with Peter Mazereeuw.
Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves joins The Hot Room to discuss the historic Liberal collapse and resurgence in opinion polls over the past year, why men and women are so far apart in their party preference, and the conservative activists rejecting opinion polls that show their party trailing.
Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves joins The Hot Room to discuss the historic Liberal collapse and resurgence in opinion polls over the past year, why men and women are so far apart in their party preference, and the conservative activists rejecting opinion polls that show their party trailing.
Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves joins The Hot Room to discuss the historic Liberal collapse and resurgence in opinion polls over the past year, why men and women are so far apart in their party preference, and the conservative activists rejecting opinion polls that show their party trailing.
Canada Proud? Protecting Canada? Hill Times reporter Stuart Benson joins the podcast to talk about the so-called "third party" groups behind political ads posted on trucks and spamming your screens.
Canada Proud? Protecting Canada? Hill Times reporter Stuart Benson joins the podcast to talk about the so-called "third party" groups behind political ads posted on trucks and spamming your screens.
Canada Proud? Protecting Canada? Hill Times reporter Stuart Benson joins the podcast to talk about the so-called "third party" groups behind political ads posted on trucks and spamming your screens.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Sahir Khan, an expert in government finances at IFSD, about election promises from Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre to cut wasteful spending in government—and what the next prime minister should really do to get taxpayers the best bang for their buck.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Sahir Khan, an expert in government finances at IFSD, about election promises from Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre to cut wasteful spending in government—and what the next prime minister should really do to get taxpayers the best bang for their buck.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Sahir Khan, an expert in government finances at IFSD, about election promises from Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre to cut wasteful spending in government—and what the next prime minister should really do to get taxpayers the best bang for their buck.
Hot Room host Peter Mazereeuw reviews the building pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump over his trade war, and walks you through the highlights of Mark Carney's cabinet choices.
Hot Room host Peter Mazereeuw reviews the building pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump over his trade war, and walks you through the highlights of Mark Carney's cabinet choices.
Hot Room host Peter Mazereeuw reviews the building pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump over his trade war, and walks you through the highlights of Mark Carney's cabinet choices.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Flavio Volpe, the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association of Canada, about Donald Trump's chaotic approach to imposing and removing tariffs on Canada. Volpe weighs in on how Canada's political leaders how fared so far, and how Canada can win the fight.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Flavio Volpe, the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association of Canada, about Donald Trump's chaotic approach to imposing and removing tariffs on Canada. Volpe weighs in on how Canada's political leaders how fared so far, and how Canada can win the fight.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Flavio Volpe, the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association of Canada, about Donald Trump's chaotic approach to imposing and removing tariffs on Canada. Volpe weighs in on how Canada's political leaders how fared so far, and how Canada can win the fight.
Rebecca Bligh, the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joins the Hot Room to talk about how she and Canada's mayors are pushing back against a trade war with the U.S., and what tariffs could mean for your town or city.
Rebecca Bligh, the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joins the Hot Room to talk about how she and Canada's mayors are pushing back against a trade war with the U.S., and what tariffs could mean for your town or city.
Rebecca Bligh, the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joins the Hot Room to talk about how she and Canada's mayors are pushing back against a trade war with the U.S., and what tariffs could mean for your town or city.
Peter Mazereeuw walks you through Justin Trudeau's high-speed rail proposal, and what's happening in the week ahead in this solo mini-pod.
Peter Mazereeuw walks you through Justin Trudeau's high-speed rail proposal, and what's happening in the week ahead in this solo mini-pod.
Peter Mazereeuw walks you through Justin Trudeau's high-speed rail proposal, and what's happening in the week ahead in this solo mini-pod.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with conservative strategist and Hill Times columnist Gerry Nicholls about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pivot to a new message, as the Liberals choose a new leader and Donald Trump takes aim at Canada.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with conservative strategist and Hill Times columnist Gerry Nicholls about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pivot to a new message, as the Liberals choose a new leader and Donald Trump takes aim at Canada.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with conservative strategist and Hill Times columnist Gerry Nicholls about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pivot to a new message, as the Liberals choose a new leader and Donald Trump takes aim at Canada.
Peter Mazereeuw talks with Alasdair Roberts about the reasons Canada's governments have struggled to work together to achieve big things, and how to build better political practices to help Canada survive through the tumultuous years ahead. Roberts is a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts and author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century.
Peter Mazereeuw talks with Alasdair Roberts about the reasons Canada's governments have struggled to work together to achieve big things, and how to build better political practices to help Canada survive through the tumultuous years ahead. Roberts is a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts and author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century.
Peter Mazereeuw talks with Alasdair Roberts about the reasons Canada's governments have struggled to work together to achieve big things, and how to build better political practices to help Canada survive through the tumultuous years ahead. Roberts is a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts and author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century.
Eric Miller is a Washington-based trade consultant who used to work in Canada's government. He joins The Hot Room to explain the how a trade war between Canada and the United States is likely to play out, and how it could affect ordinary Canadians.
Eric Miller is a Washington-based trade consultant who used to work in Canada's government. He joins The Hot Room to explain the how a trade war between Canada and the United States is likely to play out, and how it could affect ordinary Canadians.
Eric Miller is a Washington-based trade consultant who used to work in Canada's government. He joins The Hot Room to explain the how a trade war between Canada and the United States is likely to play out, and how it could affect ordinary Canadians.
