30 by 30: Can we do it? Megan Leslie weighs in
April 24, 2026
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 tackles the hot topic of immigration fraud, a problem that has spurred the government to introduce controversial changes in law, and the opposition to demand more. He speaks to Ravi Jain, an immigration lawyer who makes the case that immigration consultants are the root of the problem, and Dory Jade, a spokesperson for professional immigration consultants who defends his peers, and highlights the trouble caused by unlicensed practioners.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Jocelyne Bourgon, a former clerk of the Privy Council who served as Jean Chrétien’s right hand. They discuss Canada’s move away from the United States, national unity, public service cuts, and Bourgon’s new book, A Public Servant’s Voice: Through the Words of the First Woman Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada.
Peter Mazereeuw interviews Valeriy Kostyuk, the executive director of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, about his work raising donations and sending everything from power generators to surgical teams into Ukraine as it tries to fight off the Russian invasion.
Mark Norman, formerly Canada’s second-highest ranking military officer, weighs in on the government’s new plan to build up Canada’s defence industry.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Mireille Lalancette (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) and Éric Bélanger (McGill University), the co-holders of the Quebec Research Chair on Democracy, Living Together and Common Values, about the rise in support for the provincial Parti Québécois, which has promised another referendum on leaving Canada.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps about Mark Carney’s big speech at Davos, China, Trump and Greenland, a 2026 election, floor crossing, and more.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with comedian Mark Critch about Donald Trump, comedy in dark times, Canadian culture, and his new book, Sorry, not sorry: An unapologetic look at what makes Canada worth fighting for.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Marlo Glass, The Hill Times’ public service reporter, about the Carney government’s plan to downsize the public service.
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto joins The Hot Room to share what his latest polls say about public support for each party, why Pierre Poilievre is the “definition of polarizing”, which party stands to gain or lose from an election, and more.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Northwest Territories Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek about her quest to get federal support to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway, which would connect southern roadways to the far North.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University, about his new book detailing how political parties in Canada control what members of Parliament do and say.
The book, “No I In Team”, was co-authored by Jared Wesley and Mireille Lalancette, and is available for purchase beginning on Oct. 28.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with MP Heather McPherson about her campaign for the NDP leadership. McPherson shares her views on pipelines, Trump, Carney, division within the NDP, and how it can win back voters in the next election.
Former NDP MP Peter Julian joins The Hot Room to talk about his campaign along with Matthew Green to rebuild the NDP into a major player on the national scene.
Canada’s Supreme Court has been asked to rule on Quebec’s ban on religious clothing in the public service, and whether the Constitution’s “notwithstanding” clause can be used indefinitely. Peter Mazereeuw speaks with University of Ottawa law professor Natasha Bakht about what’s happening, and what’s at stake.
Peter Mazereeuw and Hill Times reporter Stuart Benson recap a hectic week in Canadian politics, including the return of Parliament, Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet, and the setting of a date for the government’s fall budget. Benson also gives us an inside look at the party circuit surrounding Parliament Hill.
Editor’s note: This episode includes a reference to the government’s hate crime bill, which was released shortly after the recording was finished. You can see details of the government’s bill at https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-9
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Sheila Copps about the impending return of Parliament, Mark Carney’s planned budget cuts, NDP and Conservative strategy, Donald Trump, and more.
Peter Mazereeuw talks to Hill Times columnist and conservative strategist Gerry Nicholls about the challenges facing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the months ahead, including the return of Parliament, his January leadership review, and how to compete with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
International talks toward a treaty on plastic pollution fell apart again this past week in Geneva.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Karen Wirsig, who attended the summit on behalf of the NGO Environmental Defence, about why countries can’t reach a deal, what it will take to reduce plastic pollution, and what Canada can do next.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, about Prime Minister Mark Carney, the major projects fast-track law, what Canada’s Inuit need most from the federal government, and Obed’s decision to run for the top job at ITK once more.
Former senior civil servant and Hill Times columinst Bhagwant Sandhu weighs in on the looming cuts to the federal public service, in an interview with Peter Mazereeuw.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Ocean Canada’s Josh Laughren about the state of Newfoundland’s cod fishery, and the government’s decision to open it back up to fishing after a more-than 30 year moratorium.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with Eric Miller, a trade consultant leading Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, about the latest developments in trade talks between Donald Trump and Mark Carney.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with World Wildlife Fund Canada president and former NDP MP Megan Leslie about the government’s new plan to conserve land and water, and the sluggish progress towards Canada’s target of protecting 30 per cent of both by the year 2030.
Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to talk about the new Liberal majority government, questions about its legitimacy, and how it could change the dynamic on the Hill for Prime Minister Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.
Peter Mazereeuw talks with political science professor Alex Marland about MPs crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party, the fate of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and Liberal Party indifference to Mark Carney’s small-c conservative policies.
Marland holds the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia University, and has written books about party discipline and loyalty in Canadian politics.
Peter Mazereeuw speaks with David Fraser, a technology and privacy lawyer with McInnes Cooper, about government bill C-22, which proposes new powers for police and intelligence officers to access Canadians’ electronic data and tap into their devices.
