Canadaland The Backbend

Dig into politics from the best seats in the House, with host Mattea Roach.


Join Mattea and our rotating roster of panelists from across the country while we engage in discussions about what is happening in Canadian politics right now, and why it matters.

Latest podcasts

  1. The Controversial Carbon Tax

    Tuesday, August 8th 2023

    Despite two catastrophic climate emergencies earlier this year, Nova Scotia has faced yet another devastating crisis - intense flash flooding. Our Scotian host, Mattea Roach, is joined by Halifax-based reporter from the National Observer, Cloe Logan to interrogate Nova Scotia’s climate emergency response. And in the wake of this climate catastrophe all eyes are on the recently implemented carbon tax in the province. Why does it seem like we’re blaming the carbon tax for all our climate related policy failures? 


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    Host:  Mattea Roach

    Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

    Guests: Cloe Logan


    Background reading:



    Sponsors: oxio, Douglas, Athletic Greens


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. What’s Up With Canada’s Political Left?

    Tuesday, July 25th 2023

    Mattea kicks it with esteemed Backbencher and political journalist David Moscrop at a café in Ottawa to talk about the current climate in Canadian politics, the impact of social media on discourse, the state of Canada’s political left, and are we in for an election next year?


    Editor's Note: In this episode of The Backbench, The Black Squirrel neighbourhood is incorrectly identified as being in Sunnyside. It is correctly located in the Ottawa, Ontario neighbourhood named The Glebe.


    Host: Mattea Roach

    Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Tony Wang (Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

    Guests: David Moscrop



    Sponsors: Canva, Douglas, Athletic Greens 


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. The Musical Voice of the Nation

    Tuesday, July 11th 2023

    When Dr. Andrea McCrady first heard the sound of the carillon, she was hooked. Her passion led her to become the first woman Dominion Carillonneur on Parliament Hill where she plays for thousands. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Parliament Hill and the history of this booming instrument. 



    Host:  Mattea Roach

    Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Tony Wang (Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

    Guests: Andrea McCrady


    Sponsors: Oxio, Douglas, Athletic Greens


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. A Conversation With Erin O’Toole

    Tuesday, June 27th 2023

    Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has officially stepped away from Canadian politics, leaving behind the Conservative party he called home for over a decade. O’Toole addressed parliament for the last time on June 12th 2023, warning Canadians with the polarization of politics, the dangers of algorithms (their role in political discourse) and his overarching concerns with politics in this country. In this episode, Mattea Roach is joined by Erin O’Toole to unravel the layers of his tenure as a politician. They talk about how he views the evolving landscape of Canadian conservatism, his biggest regrets in office and Mattea challenges him on some of his comments during his final parliamentary speech.



    Host:  Mattea Roach

    Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

    Guests: Erin O’Toole


    Background reading:


    Sponsors: Canva, Athletic Greens, BetterHelp


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. These Rights Are Precarious: A History of LGBTQ+ Liberties

    Tuesday, June 13th 2023

    It’s Pride month! So we’re taking you back to notable moments in Canada's 2SLGBTQ+ history, so we can remember the people and work that can have made Canada the place it is today. 


    The history of LGBT rights in Canada is not as simple as pride campaigns, parades and vibrant gay villages. It’s a history of resilience, courage, and a determination to redefine what it means to be free and equal in this country. Increasingly, we can’t take these rights for granted. 


    Host:  Mattea Roach

    Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

    Guest: Brenda Cossman


    Background reading:


    Sponsors: Canva, Better Help, Athletic Greens


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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