The West Block

Watch the full broadcast of The West Block from Sunday, April 21, 2019 with Mercedes Stephenson.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will release the federal government's long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy outlining the government’s priorities for a region it sees as key to Canada’s economic growth. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Minister Joly about the government’s economic priorities and its relationship with China. Plus, Stephenson speaks with freelance investigative journalist Justin Ling and The Globe and Mail Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife about the revealing testimony from the public inquiry into the government’s use of the Emergencies Act, and the lasting impact of the commission.

After the federal Liberals paused carbon pricing on home heating oil, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there will be no further carbon tax carve-outs, despite blowback that the policy change only benefitted Atlantic Canada. The Opposition is now calling for that freeze to be extended to other forms of home heating. 'The West Block' host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault about the carbon tax change, his message to Albertans who deem the Atlantic Canada carve-out unfair, and more. Plus, Stephenson speaks with Chen Zeigen, the son of presumed Canadian hostage Vivian Silver, and Irwin Cotler, former Liberal justice minister and former special envoy on combatting anti-Semitism, on efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Watch the full broadcast of The West Block from Sunday, October 18, 2020 with Mercedes Stephenson.

This week on ‘The West Block,’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Transport Minister Omar Alghabra about the end of domestic vaccine mandates for travel, plus why the ArriveCAN app and mask mandates aren’t heading for the departures gate. Then, Stephenson gets economist Don Drummond’s grade for the government’s affordability plan and why key interest rates need to rise. Plus, Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest says he still has a path to victory, despite his main rival, Pierre Poilievre claiming to have sold more than 300,000 party memberships.

Watch the full broadcast of The West Block from Sunday, March 8, 2020 with Mercedes Stephenson.