Resuming Debate

In today's episode of Resuming Debate, I speak to Dr. Mohammed Sawwaf. Dr. Sawwaf is the Co-Founder & CEO of Manzil, the only Canadian Islamic FinTech that manufactures and distributes Halal financial solutions, including mortgages and investment funds.

He joins me to provide an understanding of the concept of Halal mortgages, and the philosophical and theological ideas driving distinct approach to finance advocated by some of the world’s major religions.

In today's episode of Resuming Debate, I speak to the Member of Parliament for Brantford-Brant, Larry Brock. 

We discussed Brock's previous career as a Crown prosecutor and how he applies his courtroom technique in a parliamentary setting. 

In today's episode of Resuming Debate, I talk to Dr. Joseph Siegle. Dr. Siegle is the Director of Research at the National Defence University's Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

Dr. Siegle and I discussed Russia's influence in Africa, the developing situation in light of the demise of Prigozhin, and the importance of Africa in new global 'Cold War' competition.

In today's episode of Resuming Debate I talk to Professor Siddharth Kara the author of the book Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Ours Lives. Cobalt is an element that is used to make many things we use in our daily lives ranging from our cell phones to aircraft engines. The Congo is one of the largest producers of the world's supply of cobalt. The slave-like conditions of workers in cobalt mines taint the supplies of cobalt from the Congo with horror and blood. 

We have a bit of a different episode this time. Last week, during International Development Week, I hosted a Symposium in Parliament to explore the relationship between international development and geopolitical competition. Each speaker had 10 minutes to speak and take questions. We recorded the whole event, for your listening pleasure.

The panel of distinguished speakers was:

1. Chinelo Agom-Eze, Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Foodgrains Bank,

2. Andrii Bukvych, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ukraine,

3. Luke De Pulford, Executive Director, Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China,

4. Charles Burton, Senior Fellow, MacDonald-Laurier Institute,

5. Harry Tseng, Ambassador, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Canada),

6. Idee Inyangudor, Vice-President, Wellington Advocacy,

7. Susan Namulindwa, Founder & Executive Director, Africa Trade Desk,

8. Zaw Kyaw, Spokesperson, Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and

9, Ali Nazary, Head of Foreign Relations, National Resistance Front of Afganistan.

In today's episode of Resuming Debate I talk to David Frum. David is an author, political commentator, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. We mainly planned to discuss how the US elections stand to shape the trajectory of world affairs, but pursued a number of digressions that I think you will find interesting. David is a controversial and sought-after commentator on both sides of the border.

As Canada slides into a new global Cold War, we are woefully unprepared to respond to new threats, especially in the area of foreign interference.

In this episode of Resuming Debate, I talk to Dr. Charles Burton, Senior Fellow at the MacDonald Laurier Institute and China policy expert. We discussed Canada's response to foreign interference and what needs to be done to protect our country from foreign meddling in our political system.

Dr. Burton recently spoke about his concerns about Canada's inaction on foreign interference before the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Canada's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

The private military corporation Wagner Group is responsible for brutal violence in Ukraine, but it has also been active in Syria and parts of Africa. Up until this weekend the Wagner Group was generally understood to be a tool of Russian foreign policy. However this weekend it turned its guns on its patron and appeared to launch a military coup against the Russian government. So what is Wagner really, and where does it go from here?

Joining me for a discussion on this topic is Jason Blazakis, Director at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. We break down the Wager Group’s horrendous past, confusing present, and uncertain future.

Resuming Debate will be on hiatus for the summer. I’m excited for our new content in the fall and look forward to bringing you more perspectives, topics, and guests. Thank you for listening, and be sure to subscribe.

Justin Trudeau’s ‘Special Rapporteur’ on foreign interference is a former Governor General. What impact will his role in the ongoing foreign interference debate have on perceptions of Governors General? What about Charles III’s past activism on climate change? Today we discuss David Johnston, Charles III, and the role of the crown in general with Keith Roy. Keith is a realtor and team leader at Keith Roy and Associates and host of the UnReal Estate Show podcast. He is also a proud monarchist. To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. Don’t forget to leave a review!

For 30 years, Sudan was led by genocidal dictator Omar al-Bashir. In 2018-19, the Sudanese people came together in heroic resistance against al-Bashir’s regime and forced him out of office. Since then, the transition to civilian democratic rule has been difficult, with violence and political strife interrupting the pursuit of this fundamental human right. Joining me for a discussion on Sudan’s past, present, and future is journalist Reem Abbas. We discuss the historical context for the current instability in the region and talk about the steps needed for democracy and civilian rule.

Recent reports of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong have been the talk of the town. In the interests of cross-party conversation, I reached out to former Liberal and current independent MP Kevin Vuong to share his thoughts on foreign interference. Kevin comes from a family that fled communism in Vietnam. He believes that an allegation of sexual assault against him may have been another instance of foreign interference. *This episode was recorded immediately prior to the government decision to declare Zhao Wei persona non grata. This move was, in the view of our host, too little too late.*

The International Human Rights Act (Bill C-281) would be a game-changer for Canadian engagement on international human rights issues. Negotiations on this bill are ongoing at the Foreign Affairs Committee to hammer out a version that all parties support. On today’s episode, I speak to MP Philip Lawrence, the bill’s sponsor. We discuss how his bill will strengthen human rights, and how bills struggle through the legislative process in a minority Parliament You can see more on the International Human Rights Act here: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-281

What is Conservatism? How do conservatives balance different and potentially contradictory impulses like respect for tradition and promotion of freedom? 

On today's episode I discuss these issues with two extremely smart Canadian conservatives: Ginny Roth, Vice President at Crestview Strategy, and MP Tom Kmiec, Member of Parliament for Calgary Shephard.

I would love to hear your take on this topic as well. Please tweet me at @GarnettGenuis or email Garnett.genuis@parl.gc.ca.

Ottawa has been buzzing with talk of foreign interference. A CSIS employee has taken a significant personal risk by leaking information about alleged CCP interference in Canadian elections. What does foreign interference mean? How does it affect our daily lives? How can we protect Canadian democracy? 

Professor Christian Leuprecht and I discuss these critical questions in today’s episode of Resuming Debate. Christian is a professor at Queens’ University, Munk Senior Fellow in Security and Defense at the Macdonald Laurier Institute, and expert in security and defense. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

All of a sudden, lots of people are talking about "15-Minute Cities". On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss the concept, the controversy, and the social factors that are driving the debate. Both sides say they want more freedom and subsidiarity. Will 15-Minute Cities lead to more freedom or less freedom?

For the first half hour, I interview Professor Douglas Farrow, a Professor in Theology and Ethics at McGill University who is opposed to 15-Minute Cities. At the 30-minute mark, we switch over to a conversation with Andrew Knack, City Councillor for the Nakota Isga Ward in Edmonton, who has been a vocal supporter of the concept.

I do my best to be fair and give both sides a hearing. I hope you enjoy the conversation. Make sure you subscribe to hear more interesting conversations about emerging issues.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. Don’t forget to leave a review!

On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss the growing importance of African nations and the opportunity for strengthened Canada-Africa relations. I am joined by Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Head of the AfCFTA Unit for Free Trade at The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, and Honourable Lawrence Songa, Member of Parliament in Uganda. We discuss African economic opportunities, global politics, and steps Canada needs to take to strengthen relations with countries in Africa.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review!

On December 14, 2022, two human rights initiatives that I have been working on for a long time unanimously passed the House of Commons. These were a bill banning forced organ harvesting and trafficking, and a motion endorsing genuine autonomy for Tibet.

Joining me for a discussion on these initiatives are guests from key communities being targeted by the Communist Party of China: Grace Wollensak from the Falun Gong community, Sherap Therchin from the Tibetan community, and Kayum Masimov from the Uyghur Muslim community. Together we discuss the human rights situation in China, the impact of these initiatives, and what to expect in the future.

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Welcome back to a new year of Resuming Debate! On today's episode I am joined by Ron Chhinzer, a member of the Peel Regional Police Service and Conservative candidate in the recent by-election in Mississauga. Ron details some of his experiences working in law enforcement over 20 years, and we discuss what needs to be done to effectively fight the rising crime wave. This conversation also clears up a lot misconceptions about the role police try to play working with social services, and about the real impacts of the “defund the police” movement.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review.

The oil and gas industry is often attacked by climate change activists, but the industry says that they want to play a critical role in combatting climate change. Is this just PR or is this interest real?

Joining me for a discussion on the energy industry's response to climate change is Mark Cameron, Vice President of the Pathways Alliance and former director of policy for the Harper government. We discuss the “net zero by 2050” commitment made by the industry and dive into a conversation about the carbon tax, clean energy production, greenwashing, and corporate social responsibility.

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In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are also seeing escalating attacks on the Russian opposition and Russian independent civil society. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, I am joined by Mrs. Evgeniya Kara-Murza, the Advocacy Coordinator of the Free Russia Foundation. Her husband, Vladimir Kara-Murza, is an opposition political activist who has survived multiple assassination attempts and is currently jailed in Russia for opposing the Putin regime. We discuss her husband’s case, the war in Ukraine, and how Canada can support opposition to the Putin regime inside of Russia.

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On today’s episode, we tackle the emerging global energy security crisis with University of Ottawa Professor Paul Robinson and the Polish Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Witold Dzielski.

Canadians are used to thinking about energy policy in terms of the economy and the environment. But there is a third critical dimension – how energy policy impacts our own and global security. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent energy blackmail of Europe has put this reality into sharp focus. As a large energy-producing democracy, Canada has a critical role to play in responding to the global challenge of energy security.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review.

On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss current protest in Iran and the possibility that a democratic revolution will oust the country’s rulers.

Following the murder of Mahsa Amini by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), protesters took to the streets demanding justice. Today I talk with Sayeh Hassan, a lawyer and human rights activist, and Reza Moridi, former Liberal MPP from the Ontario legislature. Both were born in Iran and offer unique insight into Iran’s evolving political reality.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review!

Welcome back to Resuming Debate!

Alberta has a new premier. On today’s episode of Resuming Debate, we discuss Alberta’s emerging “sovereigntist” discourse and what Alberta can learn from Quebec when it comes to asserting its position within confederation. Some Albertans are saying that they want to be more like Quebec in terms of how they relate to Ottawa. But the current proposals on the table in Alberta are quite distinct from steps that were taken in Quebec. So, what lessons can Alberta learn from Quebec’s experience, and do Albertans want to travel a similar road?

My guest for this discussion is MP Gérard Deltell. Gerard is a former journalist and provincial party leader in Quebec. He currently serves with me in the Conservative Party caucus in the House of Commons. Gerard explains the key elements of Quebec’s journey towards increasing autonomy within Canada, and we discuss what lessons Alberta might draw from that experience.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review.

On today’s episode we discuss the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan. Major floods there are devastating millions of people, killing off livestock, and ravaging the landscape. Joining me for this episode are Dr. Aslam Daud, chairman of non-profit organization Humanity First, and Rahul Singh, CEO of GlobalMedic, an organization providing humanitarian aid across the world. Both offer insight into the reality of the natural disaster at hand and Canada's response. We also discuss more general issues in international development, such as how to prevent devastation like this over the long term.

This episode was recorded prior to Hurricane Fiona hitting Canadian shores, and I also want to share my sincerest sympathy for all those impacted by that storm. We will look to discuss the response to natural disasters in Canada in a future episode.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review.

Welcome back to Resuming Debate! We'll be doing biweekly episodes through the fall.

On today’s episode we discuss whether the Canadian government is failing to follow through on its commitment to support Ukraine. The government has granted a waiver to their own sanctions against Russia, the Russian embassy continues to be permitted to be very active in Canada, Ukrainian employees at the Canadian embassy may have been abandoned, and more weapons are critically needed. Joining me for this discussion are Borys Wrzesnewskyj, a former Liberal MP of Ukrainian origin, and Orest Zakydalsky, senior policy analyst for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Both offer very candid assessments of the government's performance.

To never miss another episode, like, share, and follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and don’t forget to leave a review!

A populist, a religious fundamentalist, and a left-wing progressive. This week's episode features a discussion on the life, legacy, and contemporary relevance of William Jennings Bryan. I speak with Michael Kazin, author of A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan and of a new book on the history of the Democratic Party.

William Jennings Bryan was a three-time Democratic Party presidential nominee. He was a powerful orator who also served as Secretary of State and whose politics paved the way for the New Deal.

Michael Kazin and I talk about what the life of William Jennings Bryan means for our politics today and what lessons can be learned from his story. We discuss populism, the "religious left", Bryan's obsession with monetary policy, and his final stand against evolution. 

Resuming Debate will be going on hiatus over the summer and returning in the fall. To never miss another episode, follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and don’t forget to leave a review.

Slavery is still a pressing issue that requires the attention of lawmakers worldwide. Many products made with slave labour still manage to enter the Canadian marketplace. To counter modern day slavery, Canadian parliamentarians - including myself – have been working together to develop new legislative tools to prevent these products from entering our country.

I am joined by Liberal MP John McKay, Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, and Independent Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne to discuss this issue and some of the different bills that are seeking to respond to it. Senator Miville-Dechêne and John McKay have both worked to get the Modern Slavery Act through Parliament. More recently Senator Miville-Dechêne has tabled S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act. Senator Housakos has tabled the Xinjiang Manufactured Goods Importation Prohibition Act to ban all goods from Xinjiang, where Uyghur forced labour is very common.

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“Woke Capitalism” is the way that large and powerful corporations push their affiliation with socially-progressive movements and causes. Woke Capitalism upends traditional categories of “left” and “right”. The left are usually critics of corporate power, but don’t mind corporate power when it serves their interests. Conservatives traditionally see themselves as allies of the business community, and don’t always know how to respond to businesses that push woke values. I’ve long believed that woke capitalism raises serious problems for the health and independence of democratic debate, and therefore it needs to be discussed and challenged.

In this episode I discuss this topic with Carl Rhodes, author of Woke Capitalism: How Corporate Morality is Sabotaging Democracy. Carl is the Dean of the University of Technology Sydney Business School in Australia. He mostly researches the relationship between business and society. We discuss the implications of Work Capitalism and what we should do about it.

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Charles Hoskinson is one of the biggest names in crypto-currency. Charles was a co-founder of Ethereum and founder of the Cardano blockchain. The Cardano blockchain has been involved in development projects in Ethiopia and other African countries. As Conservative Shadow Minister for International Development, I wanted to bring Charles on to discuss the exciting potential in this technology for promoting development and fighting poverty around the world.

Whether you’ve been following discussions on blockchain and crypto-currency or not, you’ll learn a lot from this episode. This technology has the potential to create incredible new opportunities for low-income people around the world by making it a lot easier and cheaper to transfer money.

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Elizabeth May and I disagree on many things, but we've been friends for a number of years and worked together on areas where we can find common ground. Elizabeth is the former Green Party of Canada Leader and current MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. We discuss the nature of the Green Party, partisanship, environmental policy, and her views on the Convoy and other forms of civil disobedience.

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We are in the midst of the Global Week of Prayer for China, and in that light I was pleased to be joined for this episode by Pastor Bob Fu. Bob Fu grew up in China and was a student activist who participated in the famous Tiananmen Square democracy protest. His experience at Tiananmen Square led him to pursue a life of faith and eventually to become a pastor. On this episode we discuss his story, as well as the situation confronting the Christian community in China today.

You can find out more about Bob Fu’s work at chinaaid.org.

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Blockchain technology and crypto-currency has been at the centre of debate in this year's Conservative leadership race, sparking many opinions on both sides. As someone who is not deeply involved in the crypto-currency scene, I hosted two experts from the industry and economic side of blockchain technology to explain the technology, and to discuss the most common debates around the topic.

I am joined by Koleya Karringten, the CEO of Absolute Combustion, Executive Director of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium and Co-Founder of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women, and Professor Henry Kim, an associate Professor and Director for blockchain.lab at Schulich School of Business at York University. He has authored more than 30 publications on blockchain topics and advised several blockchain startups.

You can find more further information and education on the subject of Blockchain technology through the Canada Blockchain Consortium at https://www.canadablockchain.ca/

All opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice.     

On this episode of Resuming Debate I am joined by Giles Milton to discuss his book Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler's Defeat. The book tells the incredible story of the decisive impact of a special British division aimed at sabotaging the German war effort through clandestine and “ungentlemanly” means. This story is highly relevant now, as the sabotage of Russian supply lines appears to be playing a significant role in the conflict in Ukraine.

In addition to tactical and strategic issues, we also reflect on the important moral questions about guerrilla warfare.

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Former Chief Justice of Canada Beverly McLachlin continues to serve on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, despite the high-profile recent resignation of British judges. Since the adoption of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has effectively lost its distinct legal status and the independence of its judiciary has been under attack. Questions are increasingly being asked about the role being played by foreign judges within Hong Kong’s judiciary, and about what can be done to re-assert Hong Kong’s distinctive status.

Dr. Ryan Alford, Associate professor at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University, and Chi-Kun Sun, Lawyer and Mediator in Toronto, join me to discuss the rule of law in Hong Kong. Both have been outspoken critics of Beverly McLachlin's continuing presence on the Court of Final Appeal.

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The German resistance to Hitler is a matter of great historical significance, but also of great contemporary relevance. The importance of and the way to push back against the spirit of the age was well demonstrated during this period, and there may be lessons from this resistance about what might be happening right now in Russia.

On this episode I am joined by Dr. Randall Hansen, (Director of the Centre for European, Russian & Eurasian Studies, Munk School, University of Toronto and author of Disobeying Hitler: German Resistance after Operation Valkyrie) and Fr. Daniel Utrecht (priest at the Oratory of St Philip Neri, Toronto and author of The Lion of Muenster: the Bishop who Roared against the Nazis).

Some other books I recommend on this topic are Nein!: Standing Up to Hitler 1935–1944 (by Paddy Ashdown) and Church of Spies: The Pope's Secret War Against Hitler (by Mark Riebling).

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This week's episode covers the unique and challenging situation of Canadian citizens who continue to be detained in northern Syria, including Canadian children. We discuss the circumstances that led to this, the conditions of detention, and the response of the Canadian government. Local authorities actually want the Canadian government to step in, but the Canadian government has not. Nobody seems to have a long-term plan for what is going to happen to those imprisoned - the guilty or the innocent.

Farida Deif of Human Rights Watch and Justin Mohammed of Amnesty International Canada (and a former classmate of mine) join me to discuss this under-recognized crisis.

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On this week's episode we have a wide ranging conversation about the state of the Canadian economy with former NDP Member of Parliament Erin Weir and Canadian Taxpayers Federation President CEO, Scott Hennig. We focus on what the longer term economic effects of various pandemic-related economy policies will be and on what to expect on the economic front as we (hopefully) move out of the pandemic.

To never miss another episode, follow Resuming Debate on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and don’t forget to leave a review.

As all eyes are on the situation in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Church is playing an important role, rooted in its long and diverse history. Unlike in Russia, Ukraine’s religious life is characterized by freedom and pluralism, with various Christian denominations and prominent Jewish and Muslim communities. In this dark hour, faith leaders are serving their country in unique ways.

On this week's episode of Resuming Debate, I speak with Fr. Deacon Andrew Bennett. Fr. Deacon Andrew is a Senior Fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) in Washington, DC - an independent think-tank committed to achieving broad acceptance of religious liberty as a fundamental human right. He served as Canada's ambassador for religious freedom and is now an ordained deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.

Fr. Deacon Andrew and I discuss the ongoing conflict, the history of Ukraine and of religious belief in Ukraine, the role played by church leaders in the Ukrainian response to the invasion, and the possible implications for religious freedom.

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The "Freedom Convoy" taking place in Ottawa and across Canada has sparked intense debate. What is this new protest movement all about, and what do we do about the mandates that have caused it? Thousands of truckers and other protestors have made their way to our nation’s capital to voice their concerns with the federal government, yet there appear to be some people here with other agendas.

For this episode of Resuming Debate, I am joined by Anthony Housefather, Liberal MP for Mount Royal, and Melissa Lantsman, Conservative MP for Thornhill and Transportation Shadow Minister. Both MPs are Jewish and represent ridings with large Jewish communities. We investigate the various narratives present at the Freedom Convoy, the need to consistently call out antisemitism, the government’s handling of the pandemic, and the need for Canadians to find common ground amidst an ever-growing political divide.

Today’s episode features a full-length interview with Bill Browder, CEO and co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management and leader of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign. During this interview, we discuss Bill’s book, Red Notice, which is probably one of the best political thriller novels I’ve read in a long time and the story of how Bill became Vladimir Putin’s "No. 1 Enemy".

In the wake of increased Russian aggression along Ukraine’s eastern border, NATO members must consider once again what their role is in standing with Ukraine. In Bill’s words, the best way to discipline authoritarian regimes is to fight with “banks not tanks” — to go after kleptocrats’ personal wealth and the elites who directly enable them. From Russian portfolio investor to accidental human rights activist, Bill’s story imparts unique wisdom about a country often not fully understood and the corrupt officials who rule it.