The West Block

Jun 23 2024 348 ep. 237
The West Block Podcast artwork

The West Block with Mercedes Stephenson digs deep into the breaking news and major stories that impact Canadians’ lives. Through in-depth conversations with political, national, and international newsmakers, Stephenson pushes for answers to what’s really going on and why it matters.

  News  Society & Culture
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


What’s the summer strategy for Trudeau and Poilievre as make-or-break byelection looms?

Jun 23 2024 23 mins  
Are the RCMP currently investigating the allegations of some MPs ‘wittingly’ colluding with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme to discuss foreign interference and whether the names of MPs flagged in the NSICOP report should be publicized. Duheme also addresses the national security threats facing Canada and the

Canada to continue diplomacy with alleged foreign interference actors: Joly

Jun 16 2024 23 mins  
As Canada’s top soldier, Gen. Wayne Eyre, is set to step down from his post as chief of the defence staff this summer, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Gen. Eyre about the Canadian Armed Forces being a target of foreign interference. Gen. Eyre also discusses the state of Canada’s military, the major challenges during his tenure as CDS, and more. Plus, S

So far, 'deflection,' no answers on allegations of politician collusion: experts

Jun 09 2024 23 mins  
What is the fallout from the bombshell NSICOP report that alleges some parliamentarians “wittingly” co-operated with foreign states? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Garry Clement, former RCMP superintendent, and Thomas Juneau, former analyst at the Department of National Defence, about the ability and limitations of the RCMP to investigate these allege

Judges need to ensure stricter bail principles are being upheld: Justice Minister

Jun 02 2024 23 mins  
Crime has been on the rise, according to Statistics Canada’s Violent Crime Severity Index. RCMP officials have told Global News that 53 per cent of the homicides committed in their jurisdiction have been perpetrated by someone on community release, parole or probation. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Justice Minister Arif Virani about his government’s b

U.S. ambassador says Canada now 'the outlier' in NATO on defence spending

May 26 2024 23 mins  
Ahead of the summer NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., a bipartisan group of U.S. senators have written a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to meet the NATO two per cent of GDP defence spending target. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, to discuss if the White House shares the senators’ disappointmen

What does it take to be one of the prime minister’s bodyguards?

May 19 2024 23 mins  
The shooting of Slovakia’s prime minister highlights the growing threat of violence towards politicians. So what does it take to be an officer of a VIP detail for a high-profile politician? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson gets exclusive access to the RCMP program to train protective policing officers to keep politicians of all political stripes safe from the rising

Lessons for Canada from U.K.’s plan to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP

May 12 2024 24 mins  
With the rise of pro-Palestinian encampments across North American university campuses, concerns have been raised over police response and safety of Jewish students. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera to discuss the campus protests. Minister Khera also addresses concerns from disability ad

Foreign interference inquiry releases report as RCMP arrest foreign suspects in Nijjar case

May 05 2024 23 mins  
The issue of foreign interference returns to the spotlight as the public inquiry into election meddling releases its first report and the RCMP make an arrest of suspected foreign hitmen. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson sits down with Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc to discuss the new arrests in the 2023 killing of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. LeBlanc

Why aren’t more foreign grocers in Canada? Lack of space a hurdle: Minister Champagne

Apr 28 2024 23 mins  
Following the federal government’s announcement of a $15-billion Honda electric vehicle plant in Ontario, ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson asks Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne for a follow-up to his government’s efforts to increase grocery store competition. Minister Champagne discusses his talks with foreign grocery chains, as well as Canada’s ele

Growing Iran-Israel tensions, Budget 2024’s capital gains tax changes

Apr 22 2024 11 mins  
What are the risks of a greater escalation between Iran and Israel after more retaliatory strikes are exchanged between the two countries? ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson interviews the Atlantic Council’s Jonathan Panikoff, the former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the National Intelligence Council, about the possibility of a greater confl