Canadians don’t want theatre—they want safety, prosperity, and results. This week’s Inside Politics with Kevin Klein cut through the spin and named the stakes: a bail system that can’t recognize a flight risk, a Prime Minister who returned from Washington with praise but no progress, and a Manitoba economy stalled by politics instead of propelled by projects. The panel—Winnipeg Sun columnist and U of M political scientist Royce Koop, KC and former human-rights adjudicator Lawrence Pinsky, and columnist Jeff Currier—opened on the case of a transport-truck driver alleged to have caused a crash that killed a mother and daughter. He left Canada, came back, and still received bail with weekly phone check-ins. Koop asked the obvious: what clearer definition of “flight risk” do we need? Pinsky traced the problem to federal Criminal Code changes that default toward release; if Mark Carney’s government is serious about public safety, fix the statute, not just the talking points. Currier added that public confidence didn’t collapse because politicians commented—it collapsed long before, under repeat failures to protect the public. On the meta-issue of political commentary, Pinsky noted the scolding came from the Bar Association (not the Law Society) and is rooted in self-governance concerns. The table’s consensus: elected leaders should reflect public sentiment—and then move legislation. Electing judges? Koop saw trade-offs; Pinsky’s answer was a firm “no.” From courtrooms to the Oval Office, the show turned to Carney’s Washington visit. There were warm optics with Donald Trump but no tariff or trade breakthrough—only compliments. Currier said both men want to declare victory; Canadians got neither. Pinsky called it textbook Trump—flattery as leverage—while Carney came home empty-handed. Koop reminded viewers that Carney campaigned as the elbows-up dealmaker; shifting goalposts won’t mask the lack of a deal. Leverage starts at home: build capacity, build pipelines, build bargaining power. That fed directly into Manitoba’s missed opportunities. The silica-sand project—pitched as billions in investment and high-paying jobs—has been turned into a partisan weapon. Klein noted test extraction has already occurred without incident. Koop argued Premier Wab Kinew’s national chest-thumping over fines against former PC premier Heather Stefanson ($18,000) might feel good politically while freezing a file that could actually grow the economy. Pinsky’s prescription: consult Indigenous communities up front, follow the science, then approve projects that meet the bar. Stop catastrophizing—start building. Finally, the Legislature. Kinew remains personally popular; the PCs under Avi Khan don’t yet look like a government-in-waiting, and Khan’s gestures in the chamber handed the NDP a distraction. Koop’s advice: accept the tougher scrutiny and stay on policy; the NDP’s missteps won’t sanitize PC unforced errors. The takeaway was clear: Canadians are demanding competence over choreography. Tighten bail where it fails, negotiate from strength abroad, and unlock shovel-ready growth at home. Enough pageantry—deliver. #politicalnews #politics #cdnpoli #canada #bailreform #markcarney

This week’s Inside Politics with Kevin Klein was anything but ordinary. The program brought together Winnipeg Sun columnists Geoff Currier and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, along with two powerful voices from the Syrian Druze community, Carlos and Sarah, to tackle issues most Canadian media rarely touch. Carlos, a new Canadian living in Manitoba, described the violent persecution of Druze and Christian minorities in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime and the takeover of Damascus by HTS, a group with al-Qaeda roots. He recounted villages burned, Druze temples and churches destroyed, and civilians forced to convert or die. Sarah, speaking live from Syria, confirmed those accounts, detailing ethnic executions, mass displacement, and bomb threats in hospitals where she volunteered. Their testimony was a stark reminder of how little attention Canada gives to minority communities facing eradication. Klein and his panel drew a direct line to other ignored crises. Nigeria, for instance, has become the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian, with hundreds of thousands murdered. The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen millions displaced amid brutal violence. Yet in Canada, political and media attention remains overwhelmingly focused on Gaza. “It’s prejudice, plain and simple,” Pinsky argued, noting the double standard when atrocities elsewhere barely register. Turning to Manitoba, the spotlight shifted to Premier Wab Kinew’s controversial dismissal of protesters as “goofballs.” The demonstration was tied to calls for the removal of cabinet minister Nahanni Fontaine, who has faced repeated scandals. Currier criticized Kinew for belittling Manitobans who were exercising their democratic rights, while Pinsky said the premier’s language revealed arrogance at the core of the NDP cabinet. Fontaine, he added, has “had more than three strikes” and should be gone. The show then pivoted to Ottawa, where Prime Minister Mark Carney’s shaky answers about his trade mission raised eyebrows. Despite costly trips abroad, Carney offered little evidence of real results, leaving Canada’s economic future in question. Klein compared him to a baseball rookie who can’t hit at the big-league level, while Pinsky warned that Canadians are being asked to trust rhetoric over results. From the devastation in Syria to failures in Manitoba and Ottawa, Inside Politics underscored a hard truth: leadership is measured by action, not words. And right now, too many promises—whether from premiers or prime ministers—remain unfulfilled. #politicalnews #politics #cdnpoli #canadianpolitics #manitoba #markcarney #syria

This week’s episode of Inside Politics delivered one of its most urgent discussions yet, as host Kevin Klein was joined by Winnipeg Sun columnist and political science professor Royce Koop, along with lawyer and former human rights adjudicator Lawrence Pinsky. Together, they dissected troubling warnings from Canada’s interim Parliamentary Budget Officer and the escalating political and economic challenges facing the country. The panel began with sobering comments from the budget officer, who revealed that for the first time in three decades, Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise rather than remain stable or decline. “If he hasn’t painted a picture of doom, I don’t know who has,” Klein remarked, setting the tone for a conversation that quickly turned to the government’s long-term handling of finances. Koop underscored the seriousness of the issue, comparing today’s fiscal troubles unfavorably with the austerity era of the 1990s, while Pinsky pointed squarely at Mark Carney, calling a decade of Liberal policy “unsustainable.” The conversation moved to the implications for everyday Canadians, with Klein noting that interest payments on the national debt could soon outpace annual health transfers. Pinsky warned that provinces like Manitoba, already dependent on federal transfers, would be especially hard hit. Koop added that politicians too often avoid talking about deficits until they become full-blown crises, a pattern Canadians can no longer afford to ignore. But the economic outlook was only part of the show’s firepower. The hosts also tackled Canada Post’s mounting losses, the role of executive salaries, and the possibility of privatization. They connected the debate to a larger theme: whether governments are capable of running enterprises responsibly, or whether decades of mismanagement have left taxpayers carrying the bill. Perhaps the most passionate exchanges came during a segment on foreign policy. Both Koop and Pinsky condemned Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recognition of Palestine, calling it a “moral abdication” that rewarded Hamas while alienating Canada’s allies. Pinsky described it as “the banality of Carney,” while Koop dismissed the government’s promises of future democratic reforms in the region as unrealistic. By the episode’s close, both guests admitted a new level of pessimism about Canada’s future. Koop confessed it was the first time in his life he truly worried about the country’s direction, while Pinsky urged Canadians to “fight for the Canada that our parents and grandparents built.” For viewers, this week’s Inside Politics wasn’t just analysis—it was a wake-up call. If you want sharp, unfiltered debate on the issues that will shape Canada’s future, this episode is one not to miss. #markcarney #canadianpolitics #canadanews #politicalnews #canada

Neither the Manitoba government nor school boards want you to know this: in some schools, nearly 70% of students are absent by spring break—and no politician seems willing to confront it, talk about it, or listen to solutions. That’s the shocking reality exposed in Absent, a new documentary announced by Kent Dueck of Inter City Youth Alive on Inside Politics. Premiering October 1, the film shines a piercing light on a crisis long hidden behind political spin and buried statistics. Nine years in the making, Absent is more than just a film—it’s a warning. Dueck and community advocate Sel Burrows have been pressing this issue for almost a decade, only to watch task forces produce glossy reports while classrooms emptied out. Schools still collect full per-student funding, but teachers describe dwindling attendance, some calling their schools “ghost towns.” One administrator even said, “If we have 50% of our students attending by spring, we say that’s a success.” Behind those numbers are real children, futures slipping away. Dueck stresses the human cost: “You’re not just losing a student. You’re losing a human being.” He recalls the heartbreaking case of Tina Fontaine, reminding us that “we lost Tina first at school.” For too long, Manitoba has normalized educational failure, often dismissing or disguising the problem instead of addressing it. But Absent doesn’t just deliver grim statistics—it showcases solutions. Through Engage Education, Duick’s organization has tested new approaches, achieving a 73% success rate in re-engaging kids who had dropped out. Stories of students finding their way back to the classroom reveal what’s possible when communities act, even while governments stall. The October 1 premiere will be more than a screening—it will feature a panel discussion with educators, advocates, and a student who has lived through the struggle. It’s a chance for Manitobans to hear unfiltered truths that politicians have avoided for years, and to demand better. Tickets are on sale now at icya.ca, but they’re going fast. If you care about Manitoba’s future, this is not just a film to watch—it’s a conversation to join. Because every empty desk represents more than a number. It’s a life, and it’s time to stop pretending everything is fine. #cdnpoli #politicalnews #canada #mbpoli #manitoba #education

This week’s Inside Politics with Kevin Klein zeroes in on three fronts: the Nahanni Fontaine controversy and Premier Wab Kinew’s response, the national clash over the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, and fresh turmoil in Ottawa. Klein is joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop, Geoff Currier, and King’s Counsel lawyer Lawrence Pinsky. The panel opens with Fontaine’s recent apologies—first for reposting content about U.S. commentator Charlie Kirk, then for remarks about an ASL interpreter caught on a hot mic. The group weighs whether contrition is enough. Currier argues the pattern of behaviour should have consequences; Pinsky says accountability matters more than optics and that cabinet discipline now rests with the Premier. Koop notes the political reality: Kinew and Fontaine go back a long way, but the story keeps crowding out the government’s agenda. From there, the show moves to a bigger constitutional fight. Manitoba has joined arguments at the Supreme Court as part of the litigation orbiting Quebec’s Bill 21 and the future of the notwithstanding clause. Koop questions why Manitoba is spending resources to wade into another province’s law. Pinsky lays out the legal stakes, warning that Ottawa’s push to limit or stigmatize repeated use of the clause risks a national unity crisis. The panel agrees: you can dislike Bill 21 and still defend the constitutional balance that made the Charter possible. Federal politics gets a hard look. With cabinet resignations and realignment in Ottawa, the panel debates whether Mark Carney is “clearing the decks” or just trying to escape bruising files. Currier calls out grand announcements short on detail, pointing to the government’s modular housing pledge and asking basic questions about who builds, who pays, and what the return is for taxpayers. Koop says economic headwinds are worsening and could decide the next election more than any rebrand. On the Conservative side, the panel sees Pierre Poilievre as secure but challenged to broaden beyond a tax message and show readiness to govern. Pinsky says the work now is candidate recruitment and ground game ahead of an earlier-than-expected campaign window. The hour also tackles tone in public life. A clip from a U.S. city meeting—featuring a mayor telling a critic he’s “not welcome”—sparks a wider conversation about contempt for constituents, free speech, and basic decorum. The panel contrasts that with what Manitobans should expect from leaders: pluralism, accountability, and straight answers. It’s a brisk, pointed episode with sharp legal context, on-the-ground political reads, and a clear filter: what matters to Manitobans now. If you want clarity on the Fontaine file, the court fight that could reshape Canadian politics, and where Ottawa’s churn leaves your wallet, this is the one to watch. #charliekirk #cdnpoli #markcarney #politics #canadianpolitics #canadiannews #insidepolitics

This week’s Inside Politics doesn’t tiptoe. It starts where Manitoba’s leaders refuse to stand: the line between civil debate and celebrating political violence. On the program, I’m joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop, Professor of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba, and Lawrence Pinsky, K.C. Together, we take apart the most alarming story in Manitoba politics right now—Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine’s Instagram share expressing “no empathy” for Charlie Kirk after his assassination—and what Premier Wab Kinew must do about it. We broke the story at the Winnipeg Sun Friday morning. The episode walks viewers through the facts: a cabinet minister amplified a post dehumanizing a murdered 31-year-old husband and father. Fontaine later deleted the share and issued an apology. Our panel asks the only question that matters in a democracy that polices itself by standards, not slogans: Does a pattern of conduct disqualify someone from cabinet? Koop is blunt. A minister isn’t a keyboard warrior; a minister holds a leadership role that demands restraint and empathy. Saying you have “no empathy” for a murdered political opponent isn’t online snark—it’s a failure of judgment that corrodes public life. Pinsky goes further, calling the conduct “arrogant, cruel, and incompatible with the portfolio she leads,” and points to reports that the minister reshared someone else’s words, reinforcing that amplification is endorsement. Both analysts agree: this crosses a line, and the Premier’s next move will define his credibility. We also examine the broader climate. Days earlier in Winnipeg, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned that democratic arguments must never slide into ostracization, cancellation—and certainly not assassination. He’s right. Our conversation tracks how elite excuses and casual celebration of violence—from some academics to partisan corners—fuel a culture where political opponents are treated as enemies, not citizens. Viewers will see how this rhetoric migrates from timelines into lecture halls and newsrooms, and why leaders must shut it down, not shrug it off. Inside Politics also holds media to account. When coverage frames Kirk primarily as “polarizing” while overlooking the taking of a human life, that’s not context—that’s moral evasion. We call it out. And when a minister’s apology arrives only after public blowback, we test it against her record of inflammatory posts and prior controversies. Words are easy. Standards are hard. Cabinet should be the latter. Most importantly, we put the obligation where it belongs: on Premier Wab Kinew. He issued a decent statement condemning the murder. Now he must act in line with it. Keeping Fontaine in cabinet tells Manitobans that this behavior carries no consequence. Removing her says something different—that Manitoba still draws a bright line against political dehumanization. If you care about the health of our democracy, about your kids’ right to speak without fear, and about a government that holds itself to a higher bar than the angriest corner of the internet, you need to watch this episode. Hear the receipts, the analysis, and the stakes—laid out plainly. Watch Inside Politics with Kevin Klein now. Share it. Hold power to account. #charliekirk #canadianpolitics #democracy #NahanniFontaine #WabKinew

This week’s episode of Inside Politics with Kevin Klein dives deep into the state of Canada’s economy, energy policies, and growing concerns about crime. Kevin Klein is joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, King’s Counsel, and University of Manitoba professor Royce Koop, for a wide-ranging discussion that challenges both political leadership and public safety priorities. The panel begins with Mark Carney’s recent announcements, including the rollback of the federal electric vehicle mandate. While some viewed the move as a correction, Pinsky and Koop argue it raises more questions than answers. Carney, once celebrated as a steady hand during financial turbulence, is now facing criticism for flip-flopping on policies he once endorsed. As Pinsky noted, “He even waffles about waffling.” The conversation zeroes in on whether Canadians can trust a government that dismantles policies it championed only months before. Carney’s talk of reducing one tax while quietly floating new levies, such as a proposed 17-cent gas tax, is described as a hidden burden on households and businesses. Klein highlights that despite Carney’s promises, Canada lost 165,000 jobs in the last three months—a figure the panel says reflects a troubling trend of companies leaving for friendlier markets. From there, the discussion shifts to crime, where the panel argues that Canada’s bail system is failing citizens. Koop points out cases of violent repeat offenders, including children as young as 12, who are committing serious crimes while out on bail. “Youth crime is turning into a sleeper issue in this country,” Koop warns, stressing that Liberals have failed to amend the Criminal Code in a way that prioritizes community safety. Klein presses the question of judicial accountability, asking why judges and Crown attorneys aren’t held responsible when offenders reoffend. Pinsky explains that Liberal amendments to the law now emphasize release over safety, a change he describes as both dangerous and avoidable. The panel also highlights shocking recent crimes across Canada—an eight-year-old killed in his sleep, a three-year-old raped, and multiple cases of youth-involved violence—illustrating a disturbing pattern that goes beyond isolated incidents. “We’re not talking about thousands of young people,” Koop clarifies. “We’re talking about a relatively small group of repeat violent offenders. And yet, the system keeps releasing them.” The episode closes with a pointed exchange on anti-Semitism in Canadian politics. The panel discusses Liberal MP Anthony Housefather’s failed attempt to get his caucus to sign a letter condemning rising hate crimes against Jewish Canadians. Only 20% of Liberal MPs supported the statement, a fact that left Pinsky calling it “one of the most shameful incidents in modern Liberal policy history.” Koop adds that the Liberal Party has abandoned its tradition as a “big tent” organization, narrowing its voice and alienating long-time members. Klein doesn’t shy away from underscoring the stakes. From economic uncertainty to violent crime and a divided Parliament, he frames the conversation around a central question: is Canada’s leadership failing to provide stability when it’s needed most? The episode is a mix of sharp analysis, fact-based criticism, and unflinching commentary. It offers viewers not just a recap of headlines but a deeper look at the forces shaping Canada’s future. For anyone concerned about the economy, crime, or the country’s direction under Carney, this discussion is essential viewing.

This week’s panel pulled no punches. With columnist Geoff Currier away for the long weekend, Klein was joined by Winnipeg Sun columnist and attorney Lawrence Pinsky and political science professor Royce Koop. Together, they dissected a series of blows to Canada’s economy and unity: a plunging GDP, another round of carbon taxes, Canadian businesses shifting south, and rising hate speech going unchallenged. The episode began with Klein highlighting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s travel record. “Since March, Mark Carney has taken nine foreign trips, none of which resulted in a formal trade deal. Not one. And today we learn our GDP has plummeted, and Crown Royal is moving bottling to the United States.” Pinsky didn’t hesitate: “This is the continuation of disastrous policy. The Canadian economy was a healthy patient when Mr. Harper left it. Then Trudeau applied bad medicine, and Carney has doubled down. Every time the patient gets sicker, they give it more of the same bad medicine. Canadians should be very, very concerned.” Koop underlined the stakes: “The GDP numbers are frightening. This isn’t abstract. It will show up in Canadians’ daily lives. Cost of living, already the top concern, is about to get worse. And Crown Royal leaving? That’s a symbol of decline everyone can understand. Carney has to wear this.” The panel then turned to Carney’s climate policy. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre recently warned that Carney’s so-called “Clean Fuel Standard” is just Carbon Tax 2.0. “It will add 17 cents a litre to your gas,” Poilievre said in a clip played during the show. “The new tax looks exactly like the old tax.” Klein pressed the point: “He never ended the carbon tax. He paused it—long enough to win the election. Now Canadians are stuck with 17 more cents a litre, and that will ripple through everything we buy.” Pinsky agreed: “This isn’t just about policy, it’s about people. The working poor will be hit hardest. Gas prices go up, food prices go up, and the cost of everything transported goes up. Canadians need to wake up—credentials on a résumé mean nothing when families can’t afford steaks for dinner.” Koop noted the political fallout: “Carney’s honeymoon is over. An Abacus poll shows Conservatives are now more popular than Liberals for the first time since the election. Economic pain is driving that.” The discussion expanded to Canada’s social climate, where threats and anti-Semitism have escalated. Klein read aloud a post from a decorated Canadian business leader suggesting supporters of Israel lack “Canadian values.” Pinsky’s response was sharp: “That’s a threat, plain and simple. The Order of Canada should be stripped from him. Our leaders are failing to confront this hate, just as they failed at Folklorama when Jewish kids were targeted. Politicians are silent, police are told not to enforce laws, and that silence is dangerous.” Klein tied it back to the Prime Minister: “Canadians are facing chaos—in our economy, in our streets, and in our politics. And Carney’s government isn’t leading, it’s hiding. Nine foreign trips, no trade deals, and now Canadians pay more while business leaves the country.” This week’s Inside Politics made one thing clear: the debate over Canada’s future is heating up, and Carney’s leadership is under fire from every angle.