The Backbench has moved!

Episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed for a few months now, alongside lots of other great content — from original reporting to media criticism to our brand-new support-only show.

Starting now, The Backbench feed (this one!) will no longer be publishing new episodes, but the show lives on! You can still find new episodes of this show every Tuesday on Canadaland.

Just search “Canadaland” in your podcast player of choice, and we’ll see you there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the end of last year, episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed, alongside lots of other great content — oftentimes featuring voices you may be familiar with from The Backbench. Starting in July 2025, The Backbench feed (this one!) will no longer be publishing new episodes, but you can still find new episodes of this show every Tuesday on Canadaland.

Just search “Canadaland” in your podcast player of choice, and we’ll see you there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Carney promised one Canadian economy. Now, his signature bill is one step closer to law as Bill C-5 rocketed through parliament with some amendments. The changes haven't quelled concerns from Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who broke ranks in the final vote. Host Noor sits down with MP Erskine-Smith to talk about why he voted no, and what he really thinks of Carney’s CEO-style politics.

And, you’ll hear concerns from the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak about the process and lack of consultation. Plus some regulatory mythbusting by BC professors, Jess Dempsey, and Rosemary Collard.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Nate Erskine-Smith, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Jess Dempsey, Rosemary Collard

Background reading:

• Liberals' major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support – CBC News
• Bill C-5 passes the House of Commons vote after accelerated process – Canada’s National Observer
• As Parliament rushes to support Bill C-5, Indigenous groups prepare for legal fight – The Logic
• A tale of two Bill 5s
• The Extinction Paradox
• Does regulation delay mines? A timeline and economic benefit audit of British Columbia mines

Sponsors:

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.