The Line

The Line is a Canadian magazine dedicated to covering local, national and international politics, news, current events and occasionally some obscure stories. Hosted by Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson.

The Line is a news podcast hosted by Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson, with 235 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson hosts The Line, a news show with 235 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Line

  Mark Carney, the new ... Stephen Harper?

  Oct 2, 20261h 20m

  In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on October 2nd, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with the announcement of the new Pacific Link pipeline, unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Your hosts are struck by just how much Carney increasingly sounds like a spiritual — and even political — successor to Stephen Harper or Jason Kenney, rather than Justin Trudeau. That also fits with some of what The Line has been hearing about how these various gentlemen view each other. This episode is brought to you by Fractional Execs Canada. Need help with a serious business problem? As Canadian businesses grow they often require expert help to solve key business challenges. Fractional Execs Canada have assembled a team of experienced strategists, implementers, sales and marketing operators that can help transform your business into a growth engine. They match you with the right person, or team to move your business forward at a pace your business can manage. Talk to Fractional Execs Canada and discover a better, more collaborative way to take your business and your ‘busyness’ in a better direction. Canadian expertise to support the growth of Canadian businesses. Build your business with those that know how. Find them Fractional-Execs.ca . The pipeline also gives Canadians something unusually useful: a clear benchmark for judging the Carney government. The “Carney method” has committed to getting the project shovel-ready in just one year. That’s a much easier promise to evaluate than grand plans whose results might not become apparent for a decade. So we’ll be watching. Next, your hosts turn to another speech in Alberta. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre spoke in Edmonton this week about why Alberta should remain in Canada. Jen was impressed by the speech — but also thinks it’s too little, too late. Matt argues that the Conservatives increasingly talk about Alberta staying in Canada the way the Liberals talk about antisemitism: they don’t seem particularly invested in the issue, but they know they need to tick the appropriate boxes so nobody can accuse them of saying nothing. This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan . Finally, Matt and Jen venture outside their usual Canadian focus to discuss the case of Christa Pike, the Tennessee woman scheduled to be executed this week after three decades on death row for a horrific murder. The state botched the execution despite warnings that exactly that could happen. Your hosts discuss their own views on capital punishment and wrestle with a larger question: is there a position on the death penalty that could satisfy the public while still respecting the concerns that make so many Canadian elites recoil from it? This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. We’ve been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we’re focusing on the “made-in-Canada” part. Unlike other G7 nations, Canada lacks an anchor company and patient capital with pockets deep enough to pay for the lengthy process of bringing drugs to the Canadian market. Not for profits like BioCanRx are stepping in, but if the government decides to inject funding into the pipeline, how can we be sure money is going to projects with a real chance to succeed? Performance monitoring is essential, because if you’re going to fail it’s better to do it quickly. BioCanRx checks on all its funded projects every six months. Advised by a group of international experts, project milestones are tracked and, if necessary, funds can be cut. Government departments won’t have the technical expertise to scrutinize researchers that closely, but by leveraging partners with the necessary expertise they could make sure taxpayer dollars are being invested wisely. Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to help us tell this story. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more . All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast . Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe! #TheLinePodcast #MarkCarney #DanielleSmith #PierrePoilievre #PacificLinkPipeline #AlbertaPolitics #CanadianPolitics #StephenHarper #CapitalPunishment #CurrentAffairs

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  The Line

  How (and what) Carney is doing, and what may wreck it for him

  Sep 29, 202655 min

  In this episode of On The Line , host Matt Gurney is joined by Stephanie Levitz of The Globe and Mail ’s parliamentary bureau to tackle four big questions about life in Ottawa under prime minister Mark Carney. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we're focusing on the "made-in-Canada" part. Unlike other G7 nations, Canada lacks an anchor company and patient capital with pockets deep enough to pay for the lengthy process of bringing drugs to the Canadian market. Not for profits like BioCanRx are stepping in, but if the government decides to inject funding into the pipeline, how can we be sure money is going to projects with a real chance to succeed? Performance monitoring is essential, because if you’re going to fail it’s better to do it quickly. BioCanRx checks on all its funded projects every six months. Advised by a group of international experts, project milestones are tracked and, if necessary, funds can be cut. Government departments won't have the technical expertise to scrutinize researchers that closely, but by leveraging partners with the necessary expertise they could make sure taxpayer dollars are being invested wisely. Thanks to BioCanRx for continuing to help us tell this story. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. First: what is Carney actually doing? Matt and Stephanie look at both his day-to-day activities and the larger mission taking shape around his government. They also dig into the legislative agenda now before the House of Commons, including major economic legislation the government has made a centrepiece of the fall sitting. Can Carney get it done? The opposition may not be able to stop him — but what about divisions within the Liberal caucus? This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Every budget season brings endless ideas for how Ottawa should spend. But some of the best ways to strengthen Canada’s economy don’t require a massive price tag. For Canada’s forest products sector, real growth starts with dismantling made-in-Canada barriers: cutting regulatory duplication, fixing supply chain bottlenecks, securing predictable, cost-competitive access to fibre, and creating more certainty for investment. We can’t control every global challenge facing our industry, but we can remove the barriers created right here at home. Discover how smarter policy drives economic growth at FPAC.ca . Next: what has happened to Parliament itself? After the strange final stretch of the Trudeau era, there’s a new boss in town. Dress codes have changed. The workers are back in their cubicles. And the opposition is still figuring out how to respond (we assume). Who is going to hold Carney accountable when the inevitable screw-ups happen? And why might the answer be … Quebec? This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan . Finally, a vibe check. What does Parliament Hill actually feel like these days compared with recent years? Stephanie jokes that she and her colleagues are all having to learn an entirely new line of reporting. They’re all business journalists now. Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe. #OnTheLine #CanadaPolitics #MarkCarney #ParliamentHill #Ottawa #LiberalParty #HouseOfCommons #CanadianPolitics #StephanieLevitz #GlobeAndMail #QuebecPolitics #MattGurney

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  The Line

  Elbows up! Carney stops U.S. invasion! (Relax, we're kidding)

  Sep 25, 20261h 24m

  In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with some news close to home: The Line gets hacked! Well, almost. Luckily, our defences held. Unfortunately, the list of people who might want to hack us is longer than we'd like. We piss a lot of people off. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. Canada is entering a decisive decade for energy, and the nuclear reactor we choose now matters. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns, and we cannot afford to spend years designing a reactor before construction begins. That is why Cameco believes the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada. It is already operating globally and ready now, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. The AP1000 reactor means job creation and supplier contracts, energy security at home, and significant investment staying right here in Canada. A proven design, built on time and on budget. That is how we build Canada. Learn more at ap1000.cameco.com . Then it's on to the main event: Mark Carney goes to New York and talks to American reporters, including about the possibility of a U.S. attack on Canada. Matt is irritated by the reaction back home. The military considering bizarre and unlikely scenarios isn't evidence that the prime minister has lost his mind. It's literally the military's job to think about weird scenarios before they happen. In attacking Carney over this, Matt argues, his critics are really attacking the Canadian military for doing exactly what Canadians pay it to do. This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan . Next, Jen provides an update from Alberta, where there is, as usual, a lot going on. She suspects Danielle Smith may be coming a little unhinged. Matt, ever the diplomat, decides to court controversy by asking when so many Albertans turned into Torontonians, terrified of saying anything that might offend somebody. You guys used to be braver than that. Finally, your hosts discuss the horrific attack on a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, before turning to two media stories they think listeners should know about. And Matt has a question for Jen: is the CBC actively trying to get itself scrapped? This episode is also brought to you by BioCanRx. We’ve been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we’re focusing on the “made-in-Canada” part. One way to leverage existing Canadian government investments in biomanufacturing would be to make it easier for Canadian innovators to develop their discoveries into therapies here in Canada. Aside from organizations like BioCanRx, there are few funding sources for the “translational research” activities necessary to build the significant body of evidence required for clinical trial approval from Health Canada — without which these therapies could never reach patients. If funding mechanisms are created to support translational research in Canada, more Canadian discoveries can generate work for Canada’s biomanufacturing facilities — leading to more sovereign capacity, and more therapies made in Canada for Canadian patients. But how could we make sure new investments aren’t wasted? More on that next week. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast . Check out, but do not hack!, our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe!

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  The Line

  What is Carney doing in Europe?

  Sep 22, 20261h 9m

  In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson checks in with Greenland and Europe. Canadians seem increasingly open to closer ties with non-U.S. Western allies — but what do those allies think about us? This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We've been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we're focusing on the "made-in-Canada" part. One way to leverage existing Canadian government investments in biomanufacturing would be to make it easier for Canadian innovators to develop their discoveries into therapies here in Canada. Aside from organizations like BioCanRx, there are few funding sources for the "translational research" activities necessary to build the significant body of evidence required for clinical trial approval from Health Canada — without which these therapies could never reach patients. If funding mechanisms are created to support translational research in Canada, more Canadian discoveries can generate work for Canada’s biomanufacturing facilities –– leading to more sovereign capacity, and more therapies made in Canada for Canadian patients. But how could we make sure new investments aren’t wasted? More on that next week. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. First, Markus Bernsen joins Jen to discuss the reported U.S.-Greenland agreement, what remains unknown, and why the negotiations have caused so much anxiety in Greenland and Denmark. They discuss military access, investment, sovereignty, and the damage already done to the Denmark-U.S. relationship. This episode is also brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Every budget season brings endless ideas for how Ottawa should spend. But some of the best ways to strengthen Canada’s economy don’t require a massive price tag. For Canada’s forest products sector, real growth starts with dismantling made-in-Canada barriers: cutting regulatory duplication, fixing supply chain bottlenecks, securing predictable, cost-competitive access to fibre, and creating more certainty for investment. We can’t control every global challenge facing our industry, but we can remove the barriers created right here at home. Discover how smarter policy drives economic growth at FPAC.ca . Then Brussels-based foreign correspondent Jack Parrock joins Jen to discuss Canada’s push for closer ties with the European Union. What would “associate membership” actually mean? How much is substance and how much is symbolism? And could Canada and Europe build deeper links in trade, payments and defence as both reconsider their dependence on the United States? From Greenlandic sovereignty to diplomacy in Strasbourg, it’s a look at how the Western alliance is being reshaped — and where Canada might fit. This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan . Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe. Stay tuned Friday for the next episode of The Line Podcast .

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  The Line

  Jealous Trump hates Europe's Carney crush

  Sep 18, 20261h 28m

  In the latest episode of The Line Mega Productivity Podcast , recorded on September 18th, 2026, prospective associate EU members Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to the continent. The reception was remarkably warm, as Canada and Europe explore a much closer strategic relationship. This episode is brought to you by Cameco. Canada is entering a decisive decade for energy, and the nuclear reactor we choose now matters. Incomplete designs carry real risk of delays and cost overruns, and we cannot afford to spend years designing a reactor before construction begins. That is why Cameco believes the AP1000 reactor is the right choice for Canada. It is already operating globally and ready now, with 100 percent Canadian ownership and strong participation from Canadian suppliers. The AP1000 reactor means job creation and supplier contracts, energy security at home, and significant investment staying right here in Canada. A proven design, built on time and on budget. That is how we build Canada. Learn more at ap1000.cameco.com . Your hosts discuss the trip, the PMO’s continuing inability to develop a workable communications strategy and the credibility problems that creates. But the most fascinating part may be the American reaction. Donald Trump has now threatened retaliation over Canada’s growing ties with Europe. Matt and Jen wonder: is Washington finally beginning to realize just how badly it may have miscalculated? This episode is also brought to you by Cardus. For years, Ayaan Hirsi Ali was one of the most famous atheists in the world. Then she converted to Christianity. Now she argues that faith is the key to renewing Western civilization. Hear her make the case live in Calgary, October 8th, at the 2026 Ian Shugart Lecture, hosted by the think tank Cardus. Get your tickets at Cardus.ca/ayaan. Next, they turn to the Canada Investment Summit hosted by the prime minister in Toronto. There’s a lot to like about the ambition behind it, your hosts agree — but Canada now has to actually deliver the projects it is promising. And then there’s Stephen Harper. The former Conservative prime minister closed the summit by praising the initiative and arguing that Canada must reduce its reliance on the United States. Jen connects Harper’s remarks to a point Matt made in his column this week and goes considerably further: did Harper just politely drive a stake through the heart of Pierre Poilievre’s political career? Jen thinks so, and says so on the record: it’s over, Tories. Poilievre is never going to win. Move on. Finally, Matt provides a quick update on some increasingly serious warnings from Canada’s European allies about the possibility of Russian attacks against NATO territory. Jen then brings things home with a major update from Alberta, now just one month away from its October 19 referendum. This episode is brought to you by BioCanRx. We’ve been partnering with federally-funded Canadian not-for-profit BioCanRx to learn how made-in-Canada immunotherapies offer new ways to beat cancer. This September we’re focusing on the “made-in-Canada” part. Federal and provincial governments have made strong investments in the biomanufacturing sector, but Canada’s drug development ecosystem has contracted over time, and there is not yet enough domestic demand to fully utilize many of these advanced biomanufacturing facilities. This becomes a sovereignty problem. If our biomanufacturing facilities can’t remain in operation, we lose the ability to develop and manufacture homegrown therapies. We wait for therapies developed in other countries to make their way here –– with no control over when that might happen. BioCanRx requires the research projects it funds to work with Canadian facilities whenever possible, which has helped build and sustain networks across Canada –– but there is still a lot of untapped potential. How can we make sure our infrastructure isn’t sitting idle? More on that next week. Visit BioCanRx.com to learn more. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast . Check out our main page at ReadTheLine.ca. Like and subscribe! #TheLinePodcast #MarkCarney #PierrePoilievre #StephenHarper #CanadianPolitics #CanadaUSRelations #Europe #Russia #AlbertaPolitics #CurrentAffairs

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