Open to Debate with David Moscrop

Sep 30 2024 110 ep. 44 mins 282

Open to Debate with David Moscrop Podcast artwork

Smart, witty, and thoughtful political conversations that break from the limits of the 24-hour news cycle and the 280 character limit. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the history and implications of the issues that shape us and our environment, anchored in discussions about public policy, and supported by research. Open to Debate is a space for agreeable disagreement based on the belief that such exchanges are essential to the health of our democracy.

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Is there a better way to do democracy?

Sep 30 2024 38 mins

Democratic life is increasingly marked by toxic polarisation and partisan hostility. Public institutions are overrun by the few, leaving the many on the sidelines. Many of us are left to assume there’s only one way to self-govern, to let others do it; or else we are so turned off by what we see that we want nothing to do with politics. But what if things didn’t have to be this

How do non-profit organizations work – or not?

Sep 16 2024 44 mins

The non-profit sector is massive. According to Statistics Canada, in 2022 the non-profit sector accounted for over 8 percent of GDP – contributing more than $216 billion to the economy. Non-profits operate in many spaces, but are essential parts of the healthcare, housing, and education systems. Non-profits exist to serve communities and fill essential functions not covered, or o

Is Canada ready to get serious about tackling monopolies and oligopolies? A conversation with Denise Hearn

Jul 23 2024 44 mins

Is Canada ready to get serious about tackling monopolies and oligopolies?You’ve heard it before, the old joke that Canada is three telecom companies in a trench coat. Or airlines. Or grocery stores. You’ve probably heard it here before. That’s because Canada has a monopoly and oligopoly problem – and it has for a long time.The United States has long faced its own challenges

In conversation with Seamus O'Regan: What does an anti-scab worker bill tell us about the state of labour in Canada?

Jul 09 2024 48 mins

Canada has passed a law preventing federally-regulated businesses from using scab workers. Bill C-58 passed in June and marked a significant milestone in the progress of worker’s rights. That it passed is notable; that it passed unanimously in an era of increasingly toxic polarization is quite remarkable, and speaks to the moment that labour is having in this country.To understan

Are universities ready to modernize?

May 27 2024 42 mins

Universities are medieval, risk averse institutions. Some like to think of them as bastions of radicalism, but they’re actually quite conservative by nature – and in desperate need of modernization, a process of technological development that would serve students, faculty, and administrators alike. If there was ever any doubt about the need for post secondary institutions to up

What are the hidden costs of climate change?

May 13 2024 45 mins

This week, we have good news and bad news. The bad news, you know already. Climate change is catching up to us. We’re feeling its effects and they stand to get worse. We’re not doing enough, and what we are doing, we’re not doing as quickly as we ought to. Moreover, the hidden costs of climate change are also adding up.The good news? We are making progress in the fight agains

What is AI and is Canada ready for it?

May 07 2024 43 mins

Artificial intelligence means different things to different people. As an amorphous set of technologies deployed in countless applications, AI is tricky to understand, regulate, and integrate into our social and economic lives. This is especially true when conversations about it, even among experts, may be premised on misunderstandings – or multiple understandings – of the thin

What is Kenneyism and why should we care?

Apr 22 2024 52 mins

A few weeks back, we spoke with Tiffany Balducci about the Alberta NDP leadership race. This week, we’re keeping on theme, but instead of looking ahead, we’re looking back. You may have forgotten Jason Kenney. After his dismal leadership review, the Harper-era Cabinet minister resigned as premier of Alberta and left politics. But Kenney’s legacy continues to shape the country

How is life becoming “enshitified"?

Apr 15 2024 49 mins

There’s no sharper way to assess the state of life in the early 21st century than through a lens of “enshitification,” a term this week's guest coined. It’s described as the slow and steady worsening of each and every bit of our daily existence, and as Cory Doctorow has argued, particularly as it pertains to the work of technology companies that have captured our attention,

Who wants to lead the Alberta NDP?

Mar 18 2024 40 mins

The Alberta New Democratic Party leadership race is underway. In June, the party membership will select a new leader to replace Rachel Notley and square off against United Conservative Party premier Danielle Smith. Let’s meet the candidates and get a sense of what they’re about as we ask: Who wants to lead the Alberta NDP?On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks w