Blue Skies Podcast With Erin O'toole, Mp

Erin is joined by Conservative Foreign Affairs critic Michael Chong for a discussion of the important foreign policy issues facing Canada and our allies. From the war in Ukraine to the Taiwan Strait — Erin and Michael explore the world’s geopolitical hotspots and how Canada can play a role in energy security, Arctic security, and economic sanctions to temper aggressions. NOTE: This podcast was recorded before the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and delayed through the period of mourning. Like and subscribe to Blue Skies and please share this important foreign policy conversation.

Erin is joined by Dr. Rob Whitley, associate professor of psychiatry at McGill University and research scientist at the Douglas Research Centre. Professor Whitley digs into the acute men’s mental health crisis in Canada. In this episode we learn that men account for more than 75 per cent of suicides in Canada — equivalent to 50 men per week. Men are also more likely to experience addiction and substance abuse, and are less likely to seek mental health support. Whitley discusses breaking down stigma and how specialized treatments and purpose-driven healing can help save lives. Like, subscribe, and share the Blue Skies political podcast.

Dieppe historian David O’Keefe joins Erin for a special commemorative edition of the Blue Skies Podcast. They discuss the challenges of the raid, Canadian bravery on the beach, and the intrigue behind the secret ‘pinch mission’ at the heart of the mission. Spymaster & Bond author Ian Fleming even played a role in this daring mission to break Nazi codes. Lest we forget. Like, subscribe, review and share the Blue Skies political podcast.

Erin is joined by Dr. Charles Burton, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and leading expert on Canada-China relations. Dr. Burton talks about his decades of work on China and how the evolution and ambition of the Chinese Communist Party requires Canada to be far more cautious in all aspects of Canada-China relations. From trade to security, from human rights to the Belt and Road, and from Tiananmen to Taiwan, this comprehensive discussion touches on all aspects if the relationship. Like, subscribe, review and share the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O'Toole is joined by Vincent Rigby and Thomas Juneau co-chairs of “A National Security Strategy for the 2020s” – a ground-breaking report evaluating the threat environment for Canada and recommending a clear strategy to counter these threats. Vincent Rigby is the former national security and intelligence advisor to the Prime Minister and Dr. Thomas Juneau is an associate professor at the University of Ottawa specializing in public safety and security issues. Rigby and Juneau discuss current threats to Canada including both foreign and domestic threats, disinformation, and the need for executive attention to the evolving threat environment. Their full report can be found here: https://socialsciences.uottawa.ca/public-international-affairs/ns2022en Like, subscribe, and engage your friends on this topic and the Blue Skies political podcast.

Erin is joined by James Akam, a former interpreter for the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, to discuss his incredible and dangerous journey to freedom in Canada. James talks about his work for Canada in Afghanistan and the risks the families that are left behind face from the Taliban. The government needs to quickly bring to Canada those Afghans who helped our country in its 12-year mission there. Email the Minister of Immigration, Hon. Sean Fraser, to demand action at sean.fraser@parl.gc.ca. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Erin O’Toole, radio host from Colorado, to chat Erin to Erin. Brought together by their shared name on social media, the two Erins share a positive discussion Canada-US relations, the highs and lows of social media and life in general. This light-hearted conversation kicks off the Blue Skies Summer Series. This episode was originally recorded in April 2022. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. Chief LaRocca is a dynamic FN leader who has forged strong partnerships in her decade as chief. She sat down with Erin to talk about her nation, her personal journey to leadership, and work on finalizing the Williams Treaties and advancing economic reconciliation. Like, subscribe, and please share the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Dr. Mark Jaccard, a professor at Simon Fraser University with the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM). Professor Jaccard is an internationally renowned energy and climate change policy expert, economist, and author. He sat down with MP O’Toole to discuss his background advising Canadian governments of all political stripes on environmental policy, using carbon pricing mechanisms to meet our climate goals, the role of technology, and the increasing polarization of the discussion on climate change. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Dr. Jack Mintz, one of Canada’s most prominent voices on the economy, our competitiveness and public policy issues more broadly. In this episode, Mintz shares his insights on deficits and rising debt levels in an inflationary economy, as well as productivity and demographic challenges facing Canada. They discuss the need for fresh thinking and policy innovation to attract capital investment to fuel growth and to halt the decline in our public health systems. Let us know your thoughts on this engaging discussion. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Canadian historian Dr. David O’Keefe from Marianopolis College and Dr. Ed Lengel from the National Medal of Honor Museum in the United States to discuss the process of fairly reviewing acts of bravery and valour to ensure that recipients for decorations like the Victoria Cross are not missed due to incomplete information, bias or error. The case of Private Jess Larochelle is used as an example of a case worthy of review. Erin and his guests discuss the need for a review process framework in Canada incorporating best practices from our closest allies. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole sits down with Dr. Jessica Shadian, President and CEO of Arctic360, to discuss Canada’s Arctic and the absence of a long-term strategic plan for this important region. Dr. Shadian explains how Canada can learn from other Arctic nations to create a strategy which addresses security, sovereignty, investment and infrastructure concerns in our North, and talks about the work of Arctic360, Canada’s premier Arctic-policy thinktank. Learn more about Arctic360 at www.arctic360.org. Read the Foreign Affairs committee’s report, “Nation-Building at Home, Vigilance Beyond: Preparing for the Coming Decades in the Arctic”, at https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/FAAE/report-24. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

As part of Mental Health Week 2022, MP Erin O’Toole speaks with LCol. (Ret’d) Christian Lillington, a Canadian Armed Forces officer with a distinguished record of service. Christian talks about what drew him to serve Canada and about the cumulative impact of trauma and challenges of an Operational Stress Injury. He told his story in “Parade State Zero: Leaving Military Leadership to Survive” and is dedicating his post-military career to peer support worker and advocacy for Veteran mental health. Christian is the keynote speaker of the 9th Annual Sam Sharpe Breakfast, taking place on May 3, 2022 in Ottawa. See Christian Lillington’s work at www.warriors4life.ca. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, to hear his thoughts on the recent Papal apology for residential schools and to discuss Canada’s path to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Find the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) reports here: https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith to chat about the Liberal-NDP deal, the impact of social media on political discourse and economic policies for working Canadians. Read MP O’Toole’s 2019 blog series on the echo chambers created by social media here: https://erinotoolemp.com/2019/01/27/anti-social-media-part-i/ https://erinotoolemp.com/2019/02/07/anti-social-media-part-ii-the-quest-for-likes/ https://erinotoolemp.com/2019/02/25/anti-social-media-part-iii-piercing-the-bubble/ Like, subscribe, and recommend the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole is joined by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman for a detailed discussion on the state of the Canadian Armed Forces. With war raging in Ukraine, many Canadians are beginning to realize that Canada's military is in a precarious state. The discussion examines the capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force alongside modern challenges with recruitment and how to fix generational failures with military procurement. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies political podcast.

MP Erin O’Toole discusses the war in Ukraine with Ihor Kozak, a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran, entrepreneur and prominent leader in the Ukrainian-Canadian community. Ihor provides an important update on the situation on the ground in Ukraine alongside insights into the decades long war of aggression waged by Vladimir Putin that led up to this wide-scale invasion. They also discuss the inspiring resilience of the Ukrainian people and talk about what Canada can do to help. Watch Erin’s speech on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, here: https://youtu.be/Ak15g7jMRYc Like and subscribe to the Blue Skies political podcast and share this episode to keep your friends informed about the situation in Ukraine.

Erin O’Toole announces the return of the Blue Skies political podcast. After a busy few years while on hiatus, Blue Skies is back to bring you informed, thoughtful, and respectful discussions on topics important to Canadians, coast to coast to coast. Like, subscribe, and tell your friends about the Blue Skies podcast as we get back into the swing of things.

Erin O'Toole sits down with World War II Veteran, Fred Barnard of the Queen's Own Rifles, for a discussion on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Juno Beach landing. Learn more about The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada: https://www.queensownrifles.com/ Learn more about D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/d-day Learn more about the Juno Beach Centre: https://www.junobeach.org/

MP O'Toole sits down with prominent criminal lawyer and co-host of The Docket legal podcast, Michael Spratt, to discuss the legal and political issues at the heart of the SNC-Lavalin corruption scandal that has plagued the Trudeau government in recent months.