In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we look back on a dramatic and consequential week for Canada. Following the announcement of a Canada-China trade deal in Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney was off to Davos and the World Economic Forum, where he delivered a speech of considerable significance - one that did not go unnoticed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

We’re joined by Globe & Mail columnist Andrew Coyne for a conversation about this new Carney doctrine, and what it means for our relationship with the U.S. - as well as our relationship with our NATO partners and European allies. Is this really a turning point? Has there really been a “rupture” in the rules-based international order?

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, a conversation with Kaveh Shahrooz about the protests in Iran and whether this constitutes a new revolution that could finally spell an end to the Khomeinist Islamic Republic.

Kaveh is a lawyer and human rights activist, as well as a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and has been closely following events in Iran. After more than two weeks of protests, the situation appears at a tipping point. The Iranian regime has cracked down hard on protesters, but is this movement now too big to stop?

We’ll also have the latest on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s high-stakes visit to Beijing. Will Canada make a trade breakthrough with China? And, if so, at what cost?

Welcome to this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, as we delve into the biggest story of the new year: the American intervention in Venezuela and the US president’s desire to dramatically ramp up Venezuelan oil production and exports.

Given that Venezuela’s heavy crude is very similar to the product Canada exports, could this represent a threat to Canada’s market share in the US? We’ll get some insight from commodity analyst Rory Johnston.

We’ll also hear from Servus Credit Union chief economist Charles St-Arnaud, who argues in a new report that this should be a wake-up call for Canada and add further urgency to efforts to build the necessary infrastructure for Canada to diversify its trading partners and reduce its reliance on the US.

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show:

* A closer look at the challenges facing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as 2025 draws to a close. Two MPs have defected to the Liberals and rumours continue to swirl about further floor-crossings. Poilievre, of course, is set to face a leadership review next month in Calgary. We’ll hear from conservative political strategist Cole Hogan.

* We’ll discuss the aftermath of the horrific terror attack on Jews is Australia and the threat posed by antisemitism around the world and here at home. What more needs to be done? We’ll speak with Nico Slobinsky from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

* Plus, a closer look at the problems ailing Canada’s immigration system. A new paper from the C.D. Howe Institute lays out how Canada undermined its skills-based immigration system. We’ll hear from co-author Christopher Worswick.

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show:

* An eventful and contentious fall session of the Alberta Legislature comes to a conclusion with no shortage of lingering controversies. We’ll have the latest on the debate over Bill 14 and the latest changes to referendum petition rules. Plus, the list of recall campaigns expands - including a recall attempt in the premier’s own riding.

* The energy and pipeline agreement between Alberta and Ottawa was the focus of the debate in Ottawa this week, as the Conservatives introduced a motion aimed at exposing divisions within the Liberal caucus over the agreement. But did the motion - or the debate - reveal or accomplish anything?

* Plus, we’ll discuss a new study from the Public Policy Forum that makes the case for Canadian energy exports in an environmental context. While many frame the debate as economy versus the environment, with the potential to displace coal and dirtier barrels globally, Canadian LNG and oil exports can deliver benefits on both fronts. We’ll speak with study co-author Mark Cameron

In this episode of The Rob Breakenridge Show, a look at the ongoing debate over direct democracy and elections rules in Alberta - and the changes now being made through the government’s new Bill 14.

Introduced on Thursday, the bill - among other things - gives the Alberta government more control over referendum petitions and clears a path now for the separatist side to start gathering signatures. The bill also bans new political parties from using certain word and phrases linked to existing party - a move that will prevent the Progressive Conservative Party from rising again.

Interestingly, the bill doesn’t touch the rules around voter recall. At last count there were 14 approved recall campaigns, all targeting UCP MLAs.

We discuss all of this, and the implications for Alberta politics, in our conversation with political commentator Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean.

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we delve into an important and timely new book. Globe & Mail writer-at-large John Ibbitson and Ipsos Public Affairs Global CEO Darrell Bricker join us to discuss their new book “Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk”

We’ll explore some of the significant shifts in Canada over the last decade, and the growing divides we’ve seen within the country. Ibbitson and Bricker warn that Canada is at a critical juncture, facing challenges - including regional tensions and generational disparity - that could threaten national unity and identity

Tariffs and annexation threats from Donald Trump have added a new dimension to these issues, but the problems run much deeper than what we’ve been confronted with in 2025. So what will it take to turn things around?

It was a day of great significance Thursday in Calgary as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed off on a new memorandum of understanding (MOU).

In this episode of the Rob Breakenridge Show, we’ll take a closer look at this energy agreement and what it all means. The MOU identifies a proposed new pipeline to the west coast as being a project that’s in the national interest. That new pipeline, though, is linked to the Pathways carbon capture project and a higher industrial carbon price to back that up.

Alberta does win concessions on two major fronts: the oil and gas emissions cap and the Clean Electricity Regulations will no longer be in force in the province. The west coast tanker ban could also be adjusted as needed to accommodate a new pipeline.

We’ll hear comments from Carney, Smith, as well as BC Premier David Eby. We’ll also have a conversation with Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta - they’re quite encouraged by this agreement.