What Canadian Digital Sovereignty?

America — but Bigger

In today’s On The Line, host Jen Gerson speaks with Mark Kawar, an amateur historian and journalist whose book America But Bigger explores a surprisingly persistent feature of American history: attempts to expand the United States beyond its current borders. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by BioCanRx, a federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit research network helping Canadian researchers bring treatments from labs to patients in clinical trials –– all in Canada.  Cancer can hide from your immune system. So how can we target it? Every day, your immune system finds and destroys different types of threats –– both external invaders like viruses, and internal dangers like pre-cancerous cells in your own body. But no system is perfect — sometimes something evades detection. Researchers are working to identify flags found on cancer cells, called antigens. By training your immune system to recognize these antigens as signals for destruction, some forms of immunotherapy equip your immune system to respond to cancer’s asymmetrical threat.    In addition to funding clinical trials, BioCanRx supports research teams who identify cancer antigens, and find new ways to target them with immunotherapies. There’s still a lot to figure out. Can we train the immune system to hit these antigens before cancer takes root? Why do some cancers still manage to evade therapies designed to find their antigens? Many other questions remain — and we’re working on answering them. You’ll hear more over the summer. For now, go to BioCanRx.com to learn more [https://biocanrx.com/]. Kawar walks Gerson through the long history of American expansionist ambitions, from schemes that never got off the ground to serious efforts that came much closer to success than many people realize. Along the way, he notes that not every annexation proposal was unwelcome to the people being annexed, and that the historical record is often more complicated than simple stories of American aggression. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. A stronger forest industry means investing in the mills and facilities that anchor communities across Canada. Companies are ready to modernize with cleaner equipment, better energy efficiency, advanced wood products, biomaterials, and smarter use of every part of the tree. These are productive, lower-emission, export-oriented investments. But good projects need a workable business case. Our economy needs practical tools to unlock private capital and keep investment here. Learn more at fpac.ca [http://fpac.ca/]. More importantly, Kawar examines why so many of these projects ultimately failed. The United States has often possessed enormous economic, military, and political power, but translating that power into lasting territorial expansion has proven more difficult than many Americans imagined. Again and again, resistance, geography, politics, and simple practicality imposed limits on what even the world’s most powerful country could accomplish. The result is a fascinating conversation about ambition, empire, national identity, and the often-overlooked constraints on American power. It’s also a discussion that may hold some lessons for Canadians, should they ever find themselves wondering about the limits of U.S. influence. For whatever reason. This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com [http://ap1000.cameco.com/]. Visit our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Be sure to like and subscribe. We’ll be back on Friday with another episode of The Line Podcast. #Canada #Politics #UnitedStates #Greenland #annexation #51 #51State #OnTheLine

Canada and America, a (gross) love story

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on June 12th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with an update from Alberta. Jen reviews Pierre Poilievre’s recent speech on why Alberta belongs in Canada. She liked it, with some caveats. Matt was somewhat more encouraged. He also has a few sharp words for Liberals who seem determined to police the boundaries of acceptable federalism. His view is simple: if people are defending Canada, let them defend Canada. Not every argument for national unity needs to come packaged with Liberal talking points. From Toronto, Matt also reflects on a genuine tragedy this week — a police officer killed in the line of duty while confronting a problem that had been allowed to fester for far too long. It’s difficult to discuss without emotion. In his view, it never should have ended this way. But, alas, it was always going to: even if the exact tragedy was unforeseen, a tragedy was inevitable.  This episode is brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com [http://ap1000.cameco.com/]. The hosts then take a very different turn. In what may be the strangest segment of the year, Jen reimagines 250 years of Canada-U.S. relations as a raunchy romantic comedy full of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and, yes, sex. Video viewers can watch Matt become increasingly horrified as the bit unfolds — not because he disagrees with the analysis, but because he finds himself unable to refute it. This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx, a federally funded, not-for-profit Canadian research network that specializes in bringing Canadian cancer immunotherapy research from the lab all the way to patients in clinical trials in Canada. Immunotherapy is about assisting your immune system in identifying unhealthy cells –– especially cancer –– that have found a way to evade detection. One way researchers are doing this is through something called CAR T. They draw your blood, isolate one type of your immune cells –– T-Cells –– and use a virus to inject genetic instructions that cause them to grow new receptors designed specifically to find and destroy your particular cancer. In one of the 16 trials BioCanRx funds based on Canadian technology, CLIC-01, the median number of months remaining for patients with late-stage leukemia and lymphoma tripled. Some have been cancer free for years. You’ll hear more over the summer. For now, go to BioCanRx.com to learn more [https://biocanrx.com/] After that, the hosts wrap up with a discussion about children and social media. Both agree that kids probably shouldn’t be spending their lives online. Their concern is that any attempt by the government to solve that problem could easily create several new ones. If recent experience is any guide, they aren’t especially confident Ottawa can regulate this area without making a mess of it. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and, as ever, like and subscribe.  #TheLinePodcast #PierrePoilievre #AlbertaPolitics #CanadianPolitics #CanadaUSRelations #SocialMedia #Parenting #NationalUnity #PoliticalPodcast #CurrentAffairs

Angry Quebecers, rogue AIs (and maybe some overlap?)

In this episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests for conversations about politics, technology, and trust. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by BioCanRX, a federally funded, not-for-profit Canadian research network that specializes in bringing Canadian cancer immunotherapy research from the lab all the way to patients in clinical trials in Canada. Can science help your immune system detect and destroy cancer? Immunotherapy is about assisting your immune system in identifying unhealthy cells –– especially cancer –– that have found a way to evade detection. One way researchers are doing this is through something called CAR T. They draw your blood, isolate one type of your immune cells –– T-Cells –– and use a virus to inject genetic instructions that cause them to grow new receptors designed specifically to bind with your particular cancer. When those cells are re-infused into your body, they hopefully will be able to find and destroy your cancer.  The results are promising. In one of the 16 trials BioCanRx funds based on Canadian technology, CLIC-01, the median number of months remaining for patients with late-stage leukemia and lymphoma tripled. For some, the response was even bigger: they went from being out of options to cancer free, and have stayed that way for several years. Many questions remain — and we're working on answering them. You'll hear more over the summer. For now, go to BioCanRX.com to learn more [https://biocanrx.com/]. First up is PJ Fournier of 338Canada for a look at the latest political numbers. They discuss the good news for Mark Carney, the bad news for Pierre Poilievre, and why the Liberal numbers may not be quite as strong as they first appear. The conversation then turns to Quebec, where the next provincial election is shaping up to be one of the strangest contests either man can remember. Fournier struggles to find a historical comparison. They also discuss softening support for separation in Quebec, how that compares with developments in Alberta, and a point Matt makes that PJ suspects may not be especially popular with Quebec nationalists — even if he doesn’t disagree with it. Then Matt is joined by David Shipley of Beauceron Security for a discussion about artificial intelligence, social media, and the growing gap between technological change and political institutions. How much of the current AI boom is real, and how much is hype fuelled by companies racing toward public offerings? Shipley argues that Canadians deserve greater transparency around the Tumbler Ridge case, while Matt notes that he can’t even get straightforward answers about transit delays, leaving him less than optimistic about the prospects for accountability. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. A stronger forest industry starts with predictability. Mill modernization, bioenergy, mass timber, and advanced biomaterials all depend on reliable access to usable Canadian wood fibre, workable timelines, and clear rules. Provinces lead forest management, and the federal role should be coordinated, complementary, and focused on results. Every unnecessary delay makes it harder to keep jobs and attract investment. For a sector rooted in communities, regulatory efficiency is economic policy. Learn more at FPAC.ca [http://fpac.ca/]. The conversation also examines how major social media platforms are being exploited for fraud and manipulation, an issue Shipley has been testifying about. The core problem, he argues, is that the internet moves at the speed of light while politicians move at the speed of Parliament. That mismatch is creating vulnerabilities that are only getting worse. The episode closes with a warning to Albertans heading into a possible referendum campaign: Shipley isn’t telling anyone how to vote, but he is urging people to be extremely careful about what they believe online. Foreign interference efforts are already arriving, and they’re unlikely to get less sophisticated from here. This episode is also brought to you by Cameco. In nuclear energy, timelines and costs matter. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns. That’s why the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada: it is already operating today and ready now to deliver the power we need, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. If we are serious about building Canada and powering it on time and on budget, the choice is clear. The AP1000 reactor is the only option that delivers. To learn more, visit ap1000.cameco.com [http://ap1000.cameco.com/]. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca and be sure to like and subscribe. We’ll be back on Friday with another episode of The Line Podcast. #OnTheLine #CanadaPolitics #338Canada #PJFournier #MarkCarney #PierrePoilievre #QuebecPolitics #AlbertaPolitics #ArtificialIntelligence #CyberSecurity #DavidShipley #ForeignInterference #MattGurney

Canadians secretly love Mark "Mean" Carney BECAUSE he yells

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on June 5th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with reports that Prime Minister Mark Carney has a tendency to raise his voice behind closed doors when dealing with his Liberal caucus. According to reporting in the Toronto Star, the PM may not always be the calm technocrat he appears to be in public. Your hosts cannot endorse a toxic workplace, of course, but they also suspect many Canadians won’t be especially upset by the news. After all, they argue, a lot of voters chose the Liberals out of necessity rather than affection, and more than a few people might conclude that after a decade of terrible Liberal management, the former PM's leftovers deserve a real chewing out. This episode is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canada’s forest industry is a national economic anchor rooted in hundreds of communities across the country. The Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force was created to chart a path toward a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient sector. That means practical federal action on long-standing priorities: stronger supply chains, better productivity, more homes, and regional resilience. Learn more at FPAC.ca. After that, they discuss Carney’s recent efforts to reassure Canada’s Jewish community. Both hosts agree the attempt fell short. Matt argues that putting Marc Miller in charge of a new advisory panel feels like a very Trudeau-era response to a serious problem — process instead of action. Jen then raises reports that the Trump administration may consider offering asylum to Canadian Jews. She also notes, to Matt's horror, that he warned months ago that such a possibility could eventually arise. Perhaps, they joke, he manifested it. This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. Nearly half of all Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lives, and Canadian scientists are racing to build better treatments. But it's not just the science — it's the logistics of actually getting it to patients. BioCanRx is a federally funded, not-for-profit research network that specializes in moving Canadian cancer immunotherapy from the lab to clinical trials here at home. Since 2015, they've funded sixteen trials and treated more than four hundred patients — all with made-in-Canada technology. So what is immunotherapy? Your immune system eliminates threats every day, including your own cells when they mutate. But sometimes mutating cells are able to evade the immune system — and that's usually when we call them cancer. Immunotherapy supports or modifies your immune system so cancer can't slip past it. Stay tuned this summer, and visit BioCanRx.com [http://biocanrx.com/] to learn more. Finally, the hosts check back in on Alberta after what was, by recent standards, a surprisingly quiet week. Probably won't stay that way for long, though. It never does. Also: Ricky Martin reference! All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. #TheLinePodcast #MarkCarney #CanadianPolitics #CanadaPolitics #AlbertaPolitics #MarcMiller #CanadianJews #MediaAnalysis #FederalPolitics #CurrentAffairs

What Canadian Digital Sovereignty?

In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with James McLeod of the Canadian Shield Institute to discuss one of the most talked-about — and least understood — concepts in Canadian public policy: digital sovereignty. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by BioCanRX. Nearly half of all Canadians will get a cancer diagnosis in their lives. Canadian scientists are moving fast to come up with better treatments to help these people. But it’s not just about science, it’s about the logistics of implementing it.   BioCanRx is a federally funded, not-for-profit Canadian research network that specializes in bringing Canadian cancer immunotherapy research from the lab all the way to patients in clinical trials in Canada. Since launching in 2015, they’ve funded 16 clinical trials and treated more than 400 patients across Canada, all with made-in-Canada technologies. What is immunotherapy? Most immune systems successfully eliminate threats every day –– including our own cells when they mutate in ways they shouldn’t. But when our mutating cells find a way to trick our immune systems, things can start getting out of control. That’s usually when we apply the label "cancer." Immunotherapy is about modifying or supporting your immune system so cancer can't evade it. Stay tuned this summer to learn more about what Canadian research is doing to fight cancer. Go to BioCanRX.com to learn more [http://biocanrx.com/]. The word “sovereignty” has become a fixture of Canadian political debate in recent years, particularly in response to economic pressure and even annexation rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. But what does sovereignty actually mean in a world where much of Canada’s digital infrastructure, cloud computing, social media, and online services are controlled by American companies and governed by American laws? McLeod walks Gerson through the realities of living in a digital ecosystem largely built and operated south of the border. They discuss the vulnerabilities that creates for Canada, the limits of what governments can realistically do to regain control, and the difficult trade-offs involved in pursuing greater independence over data, privacy, and critical digital infrastructure. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canada’s forest industry is a national economic anchor rooted in hundreds of communities across the country. The Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force was created to chart a path toward a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient sector. That means practical federal action on long-standing priorities: stronger supply chains, better productivity, more homes, and regional resilience. Learn more at FPAC.ca. The conversation also explores what a Canadian digital sovereignty strategy might actually look like in practice. Can Canada build more domestic capacity? Should it? And what kinds of regulatory and policy tools are available to a middle power trying to assert greater control in a digital world dominated by American technology giants? It’s a timely discussion about privacy, security, national resilience, and what sovereignty means in the twenty-first century. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca and be sure to like and subscribe. We'll be back on Friday with another episode of The Line Podcast. #OnTheLine #DigitalSovereignty #Canada #Technology #Privacy #CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #CanadianPolitics #JenGerson #JamesMcLeod