Legalizing pot and Syrian tough talk: 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 Trudeau government unveiled its plan to legalize marijuana, and it comes with a minimum age of 18, possession limits, strict regulations and new criminal offences. Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to explain the legislation. After that, we hear from pot activist Jodie Emery, and later in the show we look at how the provinces might implement legalization.

Canada is toughening its stance on Syria and calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The harsh words come after Assad’s horrific chemical attack on his own people last week, and then a retaliatory missile strike by the U.S. on a Syrian airfield. There’s no doubt this is a tense situation, and to let us know where this is all heading and what it means for Canada, we’re joined by former government security analyst Stephanie Carvin.

Outgoing federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault joins the show to express disappointment about the Trudeau government delaying its commitment to reform access-to-information laws.

And finally, we bring you the weekly Ottawa Power Rankings. Who’s up? An NDP leadership candidate. What’s down? The dignity of readers.

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The full episode

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Part 1. The Liberals move to legalize pot

It’s nothing short of a sea change in public policy, one with profound implications for everything from Canadian culture and health to border security, road safety and even international relations: legalizing marijuana. Two people hold a modified design of the Canadian flag with a marijuana leaf in in place of the maple leaf during the “420 Toronto” rally in Toronto, April 20, 2016. (Mark Blinch/CP)

The Trudeau government unveiled its plan to legalize marijuana, and it comes with a minimum age of 18, possession limits, strict regulations and new criminal offences. Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to explain the legislation. After that, we hear from pot activist Jodie Emery, and later in the show we look at how the provinces might implement legalization.

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Part 2. Canada’s harsh words for Assad

40-year-old Hassan Youssef, a victim of the April 4, 2017 suspected toxic gas attack in Khan Sheikhun, receives medical care in a hospital in the nearby northwestern Syrian city of Idlib. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images)

Canada is toughening its stance on Syria and calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The harsh words come after Assad’s horrific chemical attack on his own people last week, and then a retaliatory missile strike by the U.S. on a Syrian airfield. There’s no doubt this is a tense situation, and to let us know where this is all heading and what it means for Canada, we’re joined by former government security analyst Stephanie Carvin.

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Part 3. An exit interview with Canada’s information commissioner

Suzanne Legault, Information Commissioner of Canada, holds a press conference in the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

Outgoing federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault joins the show to express disappointment about the Trudeau government delaying its commitment to reform access-to-information laws.

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Part 4. Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings

We bring you the weekly Ottawa Power Rankings. Who’s up? An NDP leadership candidate. What’s down? The dignity of readers.

Download this podcast.

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