Uncommons with Nate Erskine-Smith

Nate talks with NDP MP Gord Johns about drug decriminalization and his private member's bill C-216.After this, Nate discusses decriminalization with Health Canada's Substance Use Task Force, each of whom brings a unique perspective to the issue. Following this are clips from past episodes that discussed drug decriminalization, including episodes with Louise Arbour, Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, & Kennedy Stewart.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Nate speaks with friend and mentor Angela Swan about her lived experience as a trans-woman. Angela is a legal scholar having written a number of papers, reviews, books, case comments and annotations on topics such as contract law, civil litigation and conflict of laws. Her work has been cited with approval by a number of courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. She is frequently retained by other law firms as an expert witness in connection with matters pertaining to the law in Ontario. Angela was also recently appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

A conversation from the vault with climate scientist, former BC MLA, and former leader of the BC Green Party Dr. Andrew Weaver. Their conversation ranges from a reflection on the outcomes of COP26, to his view on the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees, to reflections on his time in politics. Since this discussion, our government has tabled Canada's Climate Plan, which commits to net-zero emissions by 2050, carbon pollution pricing, climate change adaptation and resilience, clean technology and jobs, and expert engagement on climate action. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Nate is joined by Sahir Khan and Brett House to discuss Budget 2022, tabled on April 7th 2022.Sahir is a public finance executive, teacher, advisor and speaker.  The focus of his work has been on budgetary and financial analysis, reporting and organizational performance.  He is a co-founder of the University of Ottawa-affiliated IFSD. Brett House is a macro-economist, the former deputy chief economist at Scotiabank, a Rhodes scholar, and a senior fellow at Massey College. The conversations with each guest range from fiscal sustainability and fiscal prudence in an inflationary environment to modern supply-side economics, as well as cryptocurrencies. With both conversations highlighting the importance of trust in government.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

David Herle joins Nate to discuss the Liberal-NDP deal and his concerns. David leads a public research firm, and he's a long-time political consultant, Liberal strategist, campaign manager, and more. But he is best known these days as the host of the most popular political podcasts in Canada, with both The Herle Burly and The Curse of Politics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Andrew Leslie joins Nate to discuss Russia’s unconscionable war of aggression and attack on Ukraine, what more Canada can do to help, and the critical need to improve our country’s military capacity.Andy is a retired Canadian Forces lieutenant-general and a former Liberal MP.  In his 35 year military career, he served for four years as the chief of the Land Staff, and as an MP he held the role of Chief Government Whip. After serving an initial term in Parliament, Andy opted not to run for re-election. In support of Ukraine, Canada has levied serious and targeted sanctions against Putin, his inner circle, and key financial institutions. We’ve contributed hundreds of millions in economic support. And we are throwing open our borders to help.We are also providing military support, but Andy makes the case that such support is sorely limited by existing capacity and that we should address that lack of capacity now.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Michelle Rempel joins Nate to discuss the bizarre World Economic Forum conspiracy theory, its negative impact on her own life, and some of the criticism she’s directed at her own caucus colleagues for trafficking in such conspiracies. Michelle and Nate also discuss the Conservative leadership race, her recent crypto legislation, and the common ground they share in support of electoral reform, dissent and accountability in Parliament, and stronger animal protections (an issue they’ve worked together on in the past). Michelle was first elected to Parliament in 2011 and represents the riding of Calgary Nose Hill. She served as a Minister in the Harper government, she’s been one of Prime Minister Trudeau’s fiercest critics, and she is one of the most prominent Conservatives in Canada. She also very much does her own thing, using her voice not only to hold the government to account, but to push her own party at times.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Joe Cressy joins Nate to discuss his role helping to lead the city's pandemic response, a public health approach to the opioid crisis, Toronto's housing affordability challenge, and why he's leaving politics at the end of his current term.Joe Cressy is the City Councillor for Toronto's Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York. As the Chair of Toronto's Board of Health, he's played a leading role in the city's pandemic response alongside Mayor Tory, putting their political differences aside to put public health first. In that same role, Joe has also been vocal about the need for stronger efforts to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. He helped to secure inter-governmental approval for Toronto’s supervised consumption sites, and the Board of Health has recently called on the federal government to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use, following Vancouver and BC’s lead.Joe grew up in a political family and both of his parents were city councillors. After managing a successful campaign for his friend Mike Layton, Joe put his name on the ballot in 2014, first unsuccessfully at the federal level, and then successfully for city council in Ward 10. He's served his Spadina-Fort York community ever since, but he will be leaving politics at the end of this term, when the next municipal election rolls around this fall.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

 With the federal government invoking the Emergencies Act for the first time since its adoption in 1988, Nate is joined by national security experts Leah West and Wesley Wark on the question of whether the Act is a justified response to the illegal blockades across our country.Dr. Leah West is a professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, the co-author of the textbook National Security Law, and one of the hosts of the Intrepid Podcast. She previously served as Counsel with the Department of Justice in the National Security Litigation and Advisory Group, and before that she served in the Armed Forces for ten years as an armoured officer. Wesley Wark is a CIGI senior fellow, and recently retired from U of T’s Munk School. From 2005-2009, he served on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on National Security, he’s the co-editor of Secret Intelligence, a book in the field of intelligence studies, and former editor of the journal Intelligence and National Security. He’s previously provided advice to the Minister of Public Safety on national security legislation and policy, and I’ve had the opportunity to engage with him when he’s attended as a witness at our parliamentary committee hearings.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Minister Marci Ien joins Nate to discuss why she left as co-host of the popular show The Social to run for office, how she plans to use her new role to make a difference, and her work to strengthen diversity and equality.Before politics, Marci was an award-winning broadcaster and journalist with The Social, Canada AM, CTV News, and CHCH. She’s been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, received an African Canadian Achievement Award for her journalism, and her Journey to Freedom series focused on the Underground Railroad earned a Radio Television Digital News Association Award.Marci won a by-election in October 2020 to become the Liberal MP for Toronto Centre, and after winning re-election in 2021 she was appointed the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth.Her 2020 book Off Script: Living Out Loud chronicles her life working as a journalist and decision to enter politics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca