Party Lines

A political primer for every kind of concerned citizen co-hosted by Rosemary Barton and Elamin Abdelmahmoud. From CBC News and CBC Podcasts.

Episodes

Party Lines Introduces: Understood Season 3: Modi's India

May 13, 2024 • 34 mins

In the latest season of Understood, Mumbai-based journalist Salimah Shivji examines how Modi went from being barred from the US, to becoming one of the most powerful men in the world. And asks the pressing question: what’s at stake if he wins again? Season 3: Modi's India.

About Understood: Know more, now. From the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, to the rise of Pornhub, Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of t...

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Alberta’s COVID crisis and what’s topping Trudeau’s agenda

September 30, 2021 • 27 mins

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney continues to face criticism from all sides for his handling of the pandemic in the prairie province, where doctors are begging for an immediate lockdown as the health care system remains on the brink of collapse. Other premiers and leaders across the country have not faced the same kind of crisis in this fourth wave — how did Alberta get here, and what happens next? Rosie and Elamin also look ahead to w...

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Another minority. What happens next?

September 23, 2021 • 26 mins

Now that Rosie and Elamin have mostly — mostly — caught up on sleep after Monday’s big night, they’re ready to look ahead at what happens next. Sure, this new Parliament may look pretty similar to the last, but each federal party now has plenty of questions to grapple with: how do the Liberals move forward with their agenda in another minority? Will the Conservative Party have to re-identify who they are? Will the NDP devise a list...

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It’s the final countdown

September 16, 2021 • 26 mins

This is it: the final stretch before election day. Rosie and Elamin have noticed that the major party leaders have shifted their tone into more negative territory this week — but does that risk alienating voters and reaffirming the worst feelings people have about politics? And what about the risk of people feeling more divided than ever before? Elamin also breaks down some of the biggest differences between what the major parties ...

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#Elxn44 Wrestlemania (or, “debate night”)

September 9, 2021 • 26 mins

Tonight, five federal party leaders go head-to-head in the sole official English-language debate of this election. Elamin and Rosie lay out the stakes — which are much higher this side of Labour Day — and look at whether tonight’s event could have a greater impact than most leaders’ debates of the past. The two also take stock of the latest issues to add pressure to party leaders in recent days, including gun control, continued pro...

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Comparing climate change commitments

September 2, 2021 • 25 mins

We heard you loud and clear: climate change is a top issue for many Party Lines listeners. This week, Rosie and Elamin dive into what the major parties are promising when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and examine how the climate change conversation on this campaign trail is pretty different, compared to 2019. And before they get into that: the two dissect the recent shift in tone, as groups of protesters continue to...

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What are the parties’ prescriptions for health care?

August 26, 2021 • 22 mins

We’re two weeks (out of five!) into this federal election campaign, and while parties have so far attempted to push a whole range of issues to the forefront, there was one that dominated the conversation early this week: health care. Rosie and Elamin get to the root of why, exactly, the Liberals and Conservatives appeared at odds over this, and what prescriptions leaders are pitching to improve Canada’s health-care system. The two ...

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It’s election time again

August 19, 2021 • 23 mins

They’re back! Rosie and Elamin have tossed the rest of their summer plans out the window and are settling in for a five-week federal election campaign that will culminate in a trip to the polls September 20. They kick things off with a close look at what might be the biggest question on a lot of people’s minds: why are we even having an election right now, anyway? With COVID-19 still present, wildfires raging in parts of the countr...

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Introducing Party Lines (Trailer)

August 18, 2021 • 37 secs

Welcome to Party Lines! Co-hosts Rosemary Barton and Elamin Abdelmahmoud demystify Canadian politics, one issue at a time. Because talking politics is for everyone.

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A day of reflection

July 1, 2021 • 24 mins

The way Elamin sees it, this Canada Day comes after a year full of questions that included: what is Canada about? And who is Canada for? As Indigenous leaders call for reflection today, and as some cities opt to pull back on celebrations, Rosie and Elamin look at the politics involved in the decision on how to mark July 1 this year. And before pausing for the summer — they’ll be back in August! — the two explore another big-picture...

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Election speculation as MPs break for summer

June 24, 2021 • 23 mins

Questions about a possible trip to the polls have been floating around Ottawa for months, but election speculation hit a new level this week as the House of Commons prepared to break for the summer. Rosie and Elamin point out a few key signs that an election may be nigh — and take stock of where the federal parties currently sit. Plus: as the country hits a milestone of more than 20 per cent of eligible Canadians fully vaccinated,...

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Trouble for the Green Party leader

June 17, 2021 • 23 mins

On this week's podcast, Rosie and Elamin discuss the Ontario government's use of the notwithstanding clause for the first time in the province's history. Why did the Ford government resort to the constitutional "nuclear option," and how have other provinces used it or threatened to use it? The hosts break it down. And it's been a week for the federal Green Party. Leader Annamie Paul had a member of her caucus cross the floor to th...

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After the London attack, politics and Islamophobia

June 10, 2021 • 34 mins

In the wake of a fatal attack on a Muslim family in London, Ont., we've heard some familiar sentiments: “This is not who we are.” “This is not what Canada is about.” “This cannot happen here.” Elamin Abdelmahmoud, who brings lived experience to this conversation, wants to unpack some of that language — and discuss how it squares with the main messages coming from federal politicians of all political stripes. Nearly all party lead...

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A residential schools reckoning, again

June 3, 2021 • 27 mins

It’s a heavy one this week, as Elamin and Rosie explore the state of Canada’s path to reconciliation with the help of CBC colleague Duncan McCue. Over the past week, many people across the country have reacted with shock and horror at the preliminary discovery on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., where the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation said they found the potential remains of possibly as many as 21...

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Quebec wants to tinker with the Constitution

May 27, 2021 • 25 mins

Anytime the words “Quebec” and “Constitution” come up in political conversation, it’s usually a pretty big deal — and, historically, it’s led to some pretty divisive situations. So why aren’t more federal politicians making noise over Quebec’s proposed Bill 96, which aims to strengthen provincial language laws and tweak Canada’s Constitution to recognize Quebec as a nation? Rosie and Elamin lay out the political stakes and connect ...

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Should Canada share its shots?

May 20, 2021 • 25 mins

This week, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to ship 20 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries that need them — meaning our southern neighbours will be sending abroad a total of 80 million shots by the end of June. This comes just days after the WHO urged rich countries like Canada and the U.S. to consider sharing shots before vaccinating its youngest citizens. As Canada gets closer to surpassing the U.S. in administer...

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Border brawls and regulating streaming giants

May 13, 2021 • 23 mins

For weeks, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been urging the federal government to tighten border restrictions in an effort to prevent more cases of COVID-19 from entering Canada. But how much is travel influencing the spread of the virus in this third wave? Elamin and Rosie take stock of what the federal government has implemented up to this point, and weigh Ontario’s asks against the latest data. The two also dive into the hullabalo...

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Concern and confusion over ‘preferred’ vaccines

May 6, 2021 • 21 mins

For months, the Prime Minister has said that the best COVID-19 vaccine is the first one that’s offered to you. If you’ve been watching the headlines this week, that might have felt hard to square with the message brought forward by the independent body of experts offering guidance on approved vaccines (you may know them as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization). NACI this week reiterated their position that mRNA shots — l...

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Doug Ford budges on paid pandemic sick leave

April 29, 2021 • 21 mins

After months of mounting pressure from opposition parties, scientific advisers, labour groups and local medical officers of health across the province, the Ontario government has unveiled a plan to provide three paid sick days by reimbursing employers through a temporary pandemic program that will run through to September. Does it meet what many have been calling for? Rosie and Elamin take a close look at the proposal and how Doug ...

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The Chauvin verdict and Ontario’s COVID crisis

April 22, 2021 • 25 mins

Elamin and Rosie turn their attention south to reflect on Tuesday’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin case. The former Minneapolis police officer was convicted on all three counts including murder and manslaughter for killing George Floyd in May of last year. What — if anything — does this verdict change, when it comes to policing in the U.S. and Canada, where charges and convictions are rare in cases of fatal encounters with police? T...

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Party Lines

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Party Lines Introduces: Understood Season 3: Modi's India

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Alberta’s COVID crisis and what’s topping Trudeau’s agenda

Another minority. What happens next?

It’s the final countdown

#Elxn44 Wrestlemania (or, “debate night”)

Comparing climate change commitments

What are the parties’ prescriptions for health care?

It’s election time again

Introducing Party Lines (Trailer)

A day of reflection

Election speculation as MPs break for summer

Trouble for the Green Party leader

After the London attack, politics and Islamophobia

A residential schools reckoning, again

Quebec wants to tinker with the Constitution

Should Canada share its shots?

Border brawls and regulating streaming giants

Concern and confusion over ‘preferred’ vaccines

Doug Ford budges on paid pandemic sick leave

The Chauvin verdict and Ontario’s COVID crisis

Popular Podcasts

Party Lines Introduces: Understood Season 3: Modi's India

Alberta’s COVID crisis and what’s topping Trudeau’s agenda