A Green rise, Wynn’s Law, a new bank: Maclean’s on the Hill

Maclean's On the Hill Politics Podcast

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, the B.C. election could create some problems for the Trudeau government. While the outcome of the vote may not be clear for a couple of weeks, the province’s Green Party may hold the balance of power. Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May joins the show to talk about the Green boost—and how it could derail pipeline plans for the Trudeau Liberals.

The Liberals are facing a political backlash after refusing to back a bill known as Wynn’s law, which would make it mandatory for for a person’s criminal record to be considered during a bail application. It’s named after an RCMP officer who was killed by a career criminal. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather explains why, after originally expressing support for the bill, he now opposes it.

The government’s new infrastructure bank has created some controversy as reports show the government involved a private investment firm in the planning and promotion of its new bank—a firm that will, in fact, directly benefit from the bank. Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi is here to defend the government’s decision following allegations of favouritism and conflict of interest.

And we finish our show with Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings, which get you in the know on the political stars of the past week—and those who had a rough time over the last seven days.

Subscribe on iTunes today or play below.

The full episode

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Part 1. Could the Greens rise in Ottawa?

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May gestures as she makes an announcement at the National Press Theatre, in Ottawa on Monday, August 22, 2016. (Justin Tang/CP)

The B.C. election could create some problems for the Trudeau government. While the outcome of the vote may not be clear for a couple of weeks, the province’s Green Party may hold the balance of power. Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May joins the show to talk about the Green boost—and how it could derail pipeline plans for the Trudeau Liberals.

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Part 2. Why won’t Liberals support Wynn’s Law?

RCMP officers march off the parade grounds following the RCMP National Memorial Service in Regina Sunday, September 12, 2010. The RCMP is changing how it recruits new members after being told that the process was “too long, inflexible and outdated.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

The Liberals are facing a political backlash after refusing to back a bill known as Wynn’s law, which would make it mandatory for for a person’s criminal record to be considered during a bail application. It’s named after an RCMP officer who was killed by a career criminal. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather explains why, after originally expressing support for the bill, he now opposes it.

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Part 3. Amarjeet Sohi defends the infrastructure bank

Infrastructure and Communities Minister Amarjeet Sohi takes part in an interview at his office in Ottawa on Thursday, June 23, 2016. (Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

The government’s new infrastructure bank has created some controversy as reports show the government involved a private investment firm in the planning and promotion of its new bank—a firm that will, in fact, directly benefit from the bank. Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi is here to defend the government’s decision following allegations of favouritism and conflict of interest.

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Part 4. Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings

We finish our show with Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings, which get you in the know on the political stars of the past week—and those who had a rough time over the last seven days.

Download this podcast.

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