Podcast Is Broken

Buckle up — or maybe don’t. The Competition Bureau just floated a plan to let foreign-owned airlines fly domestic routes in Canada, with 100% ownership on the table. The goal? End the reign of the Air Canada–WestJet duopoly and finally make cross-country flights cost less than a second mortgage. We look at what this could mean for Canadian travellers, local carriers, and anyone who’s ever paid $800 to fly to Winnipeg.

What happens when the federal government drafts a bill that could override Indigenous treaty rights — without asking first? You get Bill C-5. This week, we break down the protests, the political fallout, and the pushback from First Nations leaders across Ontario. It's a showdown over fast-tracking development, environmental protections, and whether Ottawa actually listens when it says it will.

Ever feel like your dream home is laughing at you? This week, we dive into the CMHC’s jaw-dropping report that says Canada needs to build 4.8 million homes in the next 10 years just to make housing slightly affordable again. We unpack what that means, why it’s such a colossal challenge, and whether we can actually pull it off — or if we’re just pouring foundation into a sinkhole.

At this year’s Canadian Screen Awards, the biggest winners were… not Canadian. Industry insiders at Banff ask: Why can’t we build our own stars instead of borrowing them from the U.S. and TikTok? It’s time for Canada to stop being humble and start being famous.

Canada’s growing fast, and Pierre Poilievre wants to hit the brakes—hard. But is it really about the numbers, or just a convenient scapegoat for the housing mess? We unpack the politics of population and why your rent is now a second job.

Trump’s back on his trade war BS, and Canada’s caught in the crossfire. PM Carney is trying to de-escalate while still calling the new tariffs “unlawful and unjustified.” It’s a tense negotiation between allies who act more like exes with joint custody of aluminum.

A peaceful summit with a side of controversy: Canada wants to talk energy and peace, but some of the guest list reads like a political true crime podcast. We break down the strategic tightrope walk of inviting the world's most “complicated” leaders.

Loblaws yanked Folgers coffee off its shelves over "unjustified" price hikes—and Canadians are caught in the middle of a corporate caffeine standoff. We sip through the details of this grocery aisle drama and what it says about the bigger battle over food prices.

Canada’s unemployment rate just bumped up to 7%, and suddenly that "labour shortage" we kept hearing about feels like a distant memory. We break down what’s behind the numbers, why jobs aren’t keeping pace, and what it all means for Canadians trying to make a living.

The government rolled out its "Strong Borders Act"—but is it protecting Canadians, or just making life harder for the most vulnerable? We unpack the fine print of Bill C-2, the backlash it’s sparked, and why "Fortress Canada" might not be the look we think it is.

Western Canada is on fire again—literally. And the smoke? It’s touring the country like it’s got a new album to promote. We dig into why our skies are choking, why fire season is now just "season," and what this says about Canada’s climate future (hint: it’s not great).

Canada’s Federal Election is over… or is it?? Join us as we gloat about Poilievre plummeting, marvel at Trump’s transient temerity, guffaw at Doug Ford’s floppiness, and demand a refund from Nickelback.

The video version of this podcast is only available to paid subscribers at Brittlestar.com. The audio version is free on your favourite podcast platforms. We love all subscribers.

Blanchet won the Canadian Leaders Debate and he didn’t even want the prize. Join us, if we may, as we recount the barely highs and missable lows of one of politics least useful forums.

The video version of this podcast is only available to paid subscribers at Brittlerstar.com.

The audio version is free on your favourite podcast platforms. We love all subscribers.

https://pod.link/1730993828