Playbook Canada

It’s been referred to as “Harperpalooza” in Ottawa this week: a prolonged celebration of the 20th anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first election victory. Conservatives celebrated past glories at reunions and a swanky gala, but present-day obstacles loom.  

On this episode of the Playbook Canada podcast, co-hosts Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric examine how Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party is still searching for a winning message, while Mark Carney’s Liberals project confidence — perhaps even hubris — by tapping MPs for diplomatic posts, brushing off House vacancies, and moving quickly to lock in candidates ahead of looming by-elections. 

Also on the show: what that confidence could mean in the weeks ahead, from cross-party cooperation on affordability to Canada’s renewed focus on the Arctic. Plus, Rachel Curran, a former top policy adviser to Harper and now a senior executive at Meta, joins the podcast to reflect on working for Harper, the evolving tech-policy landscape, and whether news could soon return to Facebook and Instagram in Canada. 

Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer 

⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Election vibes are back on Parliament Hill as Prime Minister Mark Carney rides a post-Davos bump and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre prepares for a critical leadership review. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon joins Playbook Canada to discuss playing nice in the House, election speculation and floor crossers.  

Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer 

⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

At Davos, Mark Carney laid out Canada’s place in a volatile world. Playbook Canada examines the political moment at home and what comes next as MPs head back to the Hill. Then, forecaster Philippe J. Fournier, founder of 338Canada, joins the show to give his predictions, including whether there will be an election in 2026. 

Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer 

⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

As Mark Carney heads to China and Donald Trump talks tough about Greenland, Canada’s place in a shifting world order feels constantly fragile. Veteran columnist Paul Wells and POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent Phelim Kine join Playbook Canada to unpack what’s at stake — and how closely Washington and Beijing are watching. 

Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

Phelim Kine is POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer 

⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Another floor-crosser brings Mark Carney within one vote of a majority, leaving Pierre Poilievre scrambling for a defense as questions mount about his grip on the Conservative caucus. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins the Playbook Canada podcast to talk pipelines “north, south, east and west” and her relationship with Carney and the broader Conservative moment. Plus, Mickey shares details from a rare interview with Kevin Brosseau, Carney’s fentanyl czar, on what Trump gets right about fentanyl and how Ottawa is responding. 

 

Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter 

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is Playbook Canada's executive producer 

⁠Steve Bone⁠ composed the music used in Playbook Canada.