WATCH & LISTEN - ARCHIVES
Leaders on the Frontier: Is the “Building One Canadian Economy” initiative in Saskatoon on June 2 a reason for new hope or little more than a photo op? Guests law professor Bruce Pardy and Canadian businessman and former politician, Dan McTeague, join host David Leis to unpack the issues on the table, ranging from Mark Carney’s framing of Canada as an “energy superpower” (when his energy agenda is net-zero) to the menace of foreign interference and Canada’s directly or indirectly compromised elites. Can the country be fixed? Prof. Pardy looks to Alberta’s bid for independence as the hope for Canada the Saskatoon summit could not provide: a radical reset to escape entrenched issues that doesn’t rely on government solutions. The departure of Alberta, he asserts, could trigger a domino effect, forcing Canada to confront its complacency and decline, and address the fundamental crisis the country is facing (or rather, looking away from).
Leaders on the Frontier: Alberta’s push for independence, driven by decades of federal neglect and anti-energy policies (Trudeau’s emissions caps, pipeline cancellations et al.), has reached a tipping point. With 30% of Albertans open to separation, Premier Danielle Smith’s astute alignment with separatist petitions—while not outright endorsing them—signals a strategic challenge to Ottawa (she is effectively serving as Opposition to the Liberal government at the current time). Unlike Quebec’s past sovereignty movements, Alberta faces hostility from Eastern Canada for daring to demand respect and the right to sell its own product, exposing a double standard in national unity debates. Listen in as Prof. Bruce Pardy and guests, along with host David Leis, explore Canada’s fragile unity and the pathways forward. In the words of one viewer: “If Alberta was its own country right now, would we accept the current deal to join Canada?” What do you think? And is Alberta Canada’s best shot for saving itself?
The Candice Malcolm Show: What Would an Independent Alberta Really Look Like? Alberta’s separatist movement is a nationalist counter to Canada’s globalist progressivism, rooted in irreconcilable ideological divides, argues Prof. Bruce Pardy. While legally viable, independence faces practical and philosophical hurdles, underscoring a broader crisis of Canadian identity and federal legitimacy. Prof. Pardy posits that secession could trigger national upheaval, forcing Ottawa to confront systemic inequities. But, at this point, can Canada’s socialist-progressive trajectory be reversed?
Deconstructing Canada: The modern state has abandoned its role as a guardian of freedom to take on the mantle of managerial overlord. What would limiting the state to its core function—protecting liberty—look like? Could we as citizens cope without the Nanny State? Are we able to see that many of our societal problems are exacerbated, not solved, by state intervention? Why do we look to the state as savior? Prof. Bruce Pardy discusses the “night-watchman” concept of minimal state intervention and a host of other issues with Peyman Askari, host of the In Lay Terms podcast and PPC candidate for West Vancouver.
The Real Citizen Podcast: Canada is a country in crisis that long predates Donald Trump’s provocations. The Trump disruption, however, has ignited fundamental conversations that are overdue and immensely valuable. For example, when we're not defining ourselves in opposition to America, who are we? What does “Canadian” mean? Prof. Bruce Pardy breaks down what has broken down in Canada and why Alberta is the country’s “best shot” for disrupting the status quo: a managerial state that has transformed Canada from a rule-of-law system to its opposite, rule by law.
American Thinker: 51st State
The Lavigne Show: Host Paula Lavigne unites two leading Canadian voices, Lawrence Solomon (renowned columnist and environmental policy critic) and Bruce Pardy (law professor and constitutional scholar), to explore Albertan independence and themes related to Canadian sovereignty, productivity, and potential political realignments. Canada’s productivity, and its reliance on the U.S. market, suggests that Canadians have an inflated sense of entitlement to our neighbour’s lucrative market. The conversation shifts to the idea that Canada would be better off as part of the United States, although this is unlikely to happen as a unified entity. The possibility of Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador joining the U.S. is discussed, drawing parallels to the controversial admissions of Hawaii and Alaska. The analogy that Alberta is caught in a “bad marriage” is examined. Has the time come to admit the marriage has failed? President Donald Trump has presented Alberta with an opportunity to move on, but with a limited time window. Concerns about Canadian security in the Northwest Territories due to interest from China and Russia may force a reckoning for all of Canada, whether we’re ready or not.
Related Reading: “If Trump Wants Canada, Here’s How He Gets It,” by Lawrence Solomon.
Exploring Political Labels and Libertarian Philosophy
Concepts: Host Shawn Whatley and guest Professor Bruce Pardy explore the real meanings behind Canadian political party labels. They discuss the misconceptions around conservatism and liberalism in Canada, the implications of socialized medicine, and the differences between classical liberalism, libertarianism and true conservatism. Challenging the conventional political philosophy, Prof. Pardy examines the role of state force, the capacity of individual freedom for “just people,” and the potential for Alberta’s independence. The discussion critically assesses the authenticity of Canada’s political spectrum and proposes a more liberty-driven society and what a society that manages itself without state coercion might look like.
Refer to the “roadmap” below as the conversation flows from one topic to another:
00:00 Introduction: The Misleading Names of Canadian Political Parties 00:29 Guest Introduction: Bruce Pardy 00:57 Defining Conservatism in Canadian Politics 01:30 The Role of Socialized Medicine in Conservatism 03:30 Classical Liberalism vs. Conservatism 05:03 Libertarianism and the Use of Force 10:21 Government Propaganda and the Use of Tax Dollars 17:56 Libertarianism vs. Anarchism 23:26 The Role of Cultural Norms in Libertarianism 39:00 The Legitimacy of Laws and Libertarian Principles 41:39 Introduction to Alberta's Independence 42:26 Historical Context and Political Grievances 43:33 The Idea of Alberta as the 51st State 44:44 Representation and Senate Reform 45:44 Quebec's Role in Canadian Politics 51:07 Philosophical Reflections on Liberty and Beauty 55:14 The Rule of Law and Judicial Power 01:04:25 Libertarianism and Rights Probe 01:19:02 Concluding Thoughts on Governance and Liberty.
Can Canada Be Changed Through the Current Framework?
Shaun Newman Podcast
Host Shaun Newman examines the prorogation of the Canadian Parliament with guests Professor Bruce Pardy and James Manson (one of the lead Council lawyers in the court challenge to Justin Trudeau’s move to suspend Parliament). The conversation takes flight from a tweet Prof. Pardy posted on the prorogation decision earlier in the month [see here]. According to Prof. Pardy, “it’s not that the decision is wrong.” The problem, he says, is that this is how our governance system works. “Therefore, fixing the problem does not just mean rooting out bad apples. It means overhauling the constitutional architecture of the country.”