LIVE NOW: On The Line on what it's like to be targeted by foreign interference
Video versions now live! Also: is there actually hope for building energy infrastructure across the country ... even in Quebec?!
Hello, friends. We’re splitting On The Line’s releases into audio and video. Videos are now in the late afternoon/evenings, and you can check ‘em out in all our usual places. (Audio options can all be found here, as ever.)
In today’s episode, Matt Gurney speaks with Marcus Kolga, a human rights activist and anti-corruption crusader. Kolga is the founder of DisinfoWatch and a leading voice in the fight against disinformation and authoritarianism. His advocacy for human rights, democracy, and freedom, and leadership of the Canadian Magnitsky campaign, have earned him the distinction of being sanctioned by both the Chinese and Russian regimes.They talk about what it’s like to become a target of foreign interference — how it happens, what it feels like, who’s behind it, and what they do. It’s not just smear campaigns and trolling. There are reputational hits, financial costs, and personal tolls. Kolga explains how the interference machine works and shares some rare good news: he’s finally getting some institutional support, and that isn't something everyone targeted can count on. But there’s a reason foreign interference rarely dominates the political conversation — both major parties would rather not talk about it. As Matt and Marcus discuss, it’s bad for the business of politics — except, of course, when you can blame the other team for doing it. Sigh.
Later in the episode, Gregory Jack, senior vice president of public affairs at Ipsos, returns to the show with the latest polling and political insights. He and Matt talk about the (maybe?) narrowing race, the rising public demand for infrastructure development, and why it’s still so hard to get shovels in Canadian ground. Even with support, small but vocal opposition groups continue to slow things down. Greg also notes a darker turn in the campaign’s tone — as things tighten, the political attacks are getting nastier.
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This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. After years of denial and misinformation, an independent expert panel of Métis historians and knowledge holders has affirmed what we have always known: Métis communities in Ontario are real, resilient, and are connected to the Métis Nation. Just as the iconic Métis sash is woven by many threads, it was never just one thread that held Ontario’s historic Métis communities together. As the panel outlined, the national definition of Métis is woven just like the sash. It includes family and kinship connections, collective political action, shared culture like music, dancing and family values, and a shared way of life deeply connected to the lands and waters. The threads of historic Métis communities in Ontario are strong and have endured more than 200 years. To learn more, go to OntarioMetisFacts.com.
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If you want to f...k all to happen for improvement, elect Carney.
If we elect Liberals, this is only going to get worse. We will essentially become China’s b…ch. Our ethnic voting problem will become much more worse and more pronounced. There’s a chance to reverse it, it will take a lot of hard work and time but it starts with who you vote for. Don’t vote for Carney, he’s worse version of Trudeau especially on this file.
If you’re from BC, think Christy Clark but 5x worse.