CANADALAND

Today we’re reopening the files on what might be the strangest and most shocking Canadian media story in recent memory. The Ottawa Citizen journalist, David Pugliese, who was allegedly compromised by the KGB.On October 24th, 2024, Chris Alexander, former MP and former Harper cabinet minister, also a former Canadian diplomat to Russia, gave sworn testimony at a parliamentary inquiry into Russian interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada. And that’s where the allegations first came to public light.The story stunned the Canadian media world. David Pugliese has been a fixture in Canadian journalism for almost 40 years. He does serious in-depth reporting about national defense. And the idea that all this time he's been a secret Russian agent, it just seemed nuts.But these were serious, potentially career-ending, potentially criminal allegations. Pugliese denied the allegations outright in clear and emphatic language. The Canadian Association of Journalists stood by his side and decried the allegations as a McCarthy-esque smear job. And the story, well, google it now, and the internet’s collective wisdom will tell you that the story is debunked.So why are we talking about it now? Because our investigation raises new questions about the allegations against Pugliese and about the Canadian media’s role in the story.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Written and Reported by, Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Additional music by Audio NetworkFact checking by Julian AbrahamPhoto: David Pugliese’s X ProfileMore information:Canadaland’s Substack Forged KGB Documents Used to Smear Journalist in Parliament | The WalrusSo You've Become a Russian Asset - by Justin LingSponsors:Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get $25 off and 10GB of free data.Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.caBetterHelp: Visit https://BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.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 at our store, 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.

Who is Daniel Robson?Since 2025, Robson quickly established himself as a prolific freelance columnist, with bylines in the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, The Hub, Western Standard, and Policy Options.But there’s one problem: he doesn’t seem to exist. When a Turkish journalist began asking Canadian editors to verify Robson’s biographical details, they realized they couldn’t and that Robson’s persona and writing was A.I. generated. Who or what is behind this mysterious A.I. entity and what does it have to do with Morocco? Stuart Benson of the Hill Times joins Julian Abraham to go down the Daniel Robson rabbit hole. Host: Julian AbrahamCredits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Gökçe On (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Stuart BensonAdditional music by Audio NetworkVote for CANADALAND at the Signal Awards! Nominations include “My Chatbot Encouraged my Psychosis” for Best Writing and “The Freelancer’s Guide to Getting Revenge When You’ve Been Ripped Off” in Arts and CultureFurther reading: Why Policy Options removed an article published under the name Daniel Robson - Policy OptionsExclusive—Fake AI columnist dupes Canadian press to target Moroccan dissidents, and a Turkish 'middleman' - Türkiye TodayAI fabrication suspected of writing dozens of articles in Canadian publications - The Globe and MailWhy the Citizen removed articles by Daniel Robson — and what we're doing next | Ottawa CitizenA statement on articles by ‘Daniel Robson’ - The HubIndustry 'frustrated' as Liberals' Bill C-39 falls short of proactive strike-prevention powers - The Hill TimesBaked potato offered as incentive for attendees of Nova Scotia MAID info night - Toronto Sun Sponsors:Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.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 at our store, 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.

Earlier this year, we asked you to call in and tell us about news stories that were a big deal in your town, but were not necessarily getting much, if any, national attention. We ended up hearing some incredible stories and even got a few leads out of that episode. This week, we decided to dive back into the world of local news and pose the same question to our listeners — and you did not disappoint.On this episode, we hear what it’s really like to weather a referendum storm from an Alberta citizen, we experience an Ontario town’s “gift of nuclear waste,” and our host James reconnects with an old friend of the forest. Host: James NicholsonCredits: Caleb Thompson (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), Jesse Brown (Publisher)Additional music by Audio Network & Kale BeaudryFurther Reading:'It's not a done deal': Community nearest nuclear waste site to hire lawyer - NWO News Watch As Alberta separatism referendum looms, flags become symbol of voting intention — and tension - CBCCat in the Hat suspect who chased a teen girl in B.C. appears to be a trend copycat - CBCThis B.C. woman accidentally sold toxic mushrooms to customers - CBC Kale Beaudry & dangertree - BandcampThis show is available exclusively to Canadaland supporters

Mark Carney sat down for a wide-ranging hour-long interview with the New York Times. The headlines focused on Canada’s preparations for the “extreme tail risk” of a US invasion, but what else can we learn about Carney’s political approach from the 8000 word transcript?The interview drew criticism in Canada, centered around Carney’s choice of a foreign outlet, rather than a Canadian one. But what can that tell us about his intended audience and communications strategy? Zain Velji joins San Grewal to discuss our Prime Minister’s global messaging and the domestic concerns waiting at home. Host: San GrewalCredits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Julian Abrham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Zain VeljiFurther reading: A Transcript From The Times Interview with Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada - New York TimesSpecial Edition: Our Interview With Mark Carney - The New York Times Do the PM’s liaisons south of the border amount to cheating on Canada’s media? - The Rewrite [Substack]Carney tells NYT he studied risk of U.S.-led military action in Canada | CBC News Opinion | When Mark Carney wants to speak to Americans, this is how he does it - Toronto StarAs federal budget nears, Canada’s health ministers to meet to talk funding | Globalnews.ca Meta bans another Toronto performer from Instagram and Facebook, saying an old photo of dancers in bikinis promotes harm Sponsors:Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.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 at our store, 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.

Elizabeth May is a fierce, dogged critic. No matter the government. Mark Carney’s Liberals are no exception. I wanted to know what she’s actually seen and heard, because even though Elizabeth May has been pissed before, host Noor Azrieh is sensing a rage she hasn’t seen before.Plus, after a long hiatus, Parliament reconvened last week. And Mark Carney’s Liberals wasted no time tabling their Building Canada Strong Act. So, what is it?Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Elizabeth May, Nick Taylor-Vaisey,Background reading:Bill C-39 Introduction – Government of CanadaPoilievre dismisses Bill C-39 as all talk, no action at outset of Commons debate – The Globe and MailFive things to know about the Liberals' new Building Canada Strong Act – Toronto StarCarney’s Bill C-39 overhauls environmental reviews and Indigenous consultation – The NarwhalLiberals table bill to speed up major project approvals, avert labour disruptions – CBC NewsWhy a plan to end strikes impacting ‘national interest’ is drawing criticism – Global NewsSponsors:Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadalandVisit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.If you’re ready to hear the ‘CHA CHING' of your first sale today, head over to SHOPIFY.COM to start your free trial today!Did you know we have a monthly supporter exclusive show?Last week, Canadaland’s senior producer James Nicholson took over Off The Record and asked you about all the interesting stories happening in small towns across Canada.That episode comes out Oct 1st!If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/joinIf 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.Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!

You can't really call Regina a news desert. They still have a newspaper. But if you actually look under the hood you’ll discover that they stopped printing the newspaper in Regina. They stopped editing it in Regina. The editor lives somewhere else. And as far the CBC goes, well, that acronym is now synonymous with layoffs.Everyone from the legacy media who purports to be telling people in Regina what is going on in their own community is doing so with less resources than ever before. These are zombie news organizations. That creates a news vacuum. A place for someone new to step in. And somebody did.And that somebody peddles garbage. That's not a value judgment of this new news source in Regina. It's just the objective truth. They're a garbage company called Just Bins. They provide dumpsters and news to the people of Regina. And they may be providing news to more people in Regina than anyone else.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Kevin O’Keefe (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher), Caleb Thompson (additional production assistance)Additional music by Audio NetworkFurther Reading: Guardian Law Group no longer representing URSU in Just Bins/Khan defamation lawsuitSponsors:Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.caArticle: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.BetterHelp: Canadaland listeners head to https://betterhelp.com/canadaland to get started today and enjoy 10% off your first month. Discount code “canadaland” will be automatically applied.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 at our store, 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.

The announcement that the EU is “opening the door” to Canada for associate membership overshadowed how the story initially broke. Following detailed reporting in the Wall Street Journal, Carney denied that Canada was seeking membership in the EU. Days later, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that Canada was in fact being considered for associate membership. Why did Carney and government sources initially deny the story? And should Canadian media hold him accountable for misleading the public? Host: Julian AbrahamCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Gökçe On (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Douglas SoltysAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading: Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU - WSJ PM Carney says Canada ‘not looking to become member’ of the EU - CTV News Carney says Canada planning to discuss 'unique alliance' with EU, but not membership | CBC NewsChris Selley: Carney's EU cuteness is an unwelcome return to Justin Trudeau's playbook Kawhi Leonard is a Raptor again. Are we sure that's a good thing? | CBC Sports Mark Carney plan to open four major airports to private investment | TikTok - Globe and Mail Sponsors:Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.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 at our store, 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.

Apocalyptic A.I. headlines are all over the news, following a former Anthropic employee’s whistleblowing on the threat to humanity posed by out of control A.I. systems. But that was just the start: a flurry of safety-related announcements from major A.I. companies underscored the tangible risk of the technology. Douglas Soltys of Betakit joins to explain A.I.’s existential media moment, and how it affects Canada’s push for adoption and innovation. Could Canada emerge as a leader on A.I. regulation?Host: Julian AbrahamCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Camerin Wild (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Douglas SoltysAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading: Experts: How would AI actually kill everyone? | CNN BusinessAI researchers 'earnestly believe' it could kill all humans within the next decade, Anthropic employee says | CBC News Justin Ling: It’s the nuclear bomb of the 21st century. This is how we can control itAI minister affirms Canada will have tech super-regulator “with teeth” | BetaKit Carney Calls for Global Tech Body to Boost AI Guardrails - Yahoo/BloombergCanada is investing $150M to make AI safer. Will it work? | CBC News Mark Carney plan to open four major airports to private investment | TikTokWhy did quantum leaders sound the Q-Day alarm at a FinTech conference? | BetaKit What’s a local story you think we should know about? What’s the hot gossip in your community’s Facebook Group? What’s the heated discussion in your city’s subreddit?Call in and let us know on September 24th, 5-7 pm EDT, by going to callinstudio.com/show/canadaland or dialing in at 888-401-7056 when the time comes, so mark your calendars!If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!), become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.Fizz Mobile: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.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 at our store, 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.

Prime Minister Mark Carney came into office promising to turn Canada into an investment destination. One of the biggest tests of that promise is happening in Saskatchewan.In this episode, host Noor Azrieh and senior producer Aviva Lessard take you inside the politics that made Bell’s $50 billion AI data centre behemoth in Saskatchewan possible.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Tom McIntosh, Ray Orb, Tammy Robert, Kim Breckner, and more!Background reading:The AI Data Centre-Driven Privatization of SaskPower Is Underway. You Knew It Was Coming.  – Our Sask by Tammy Robert Bell plans expansion of Sask. AI data centre, making it largest private investment in province's history – CBC NewsDrone video of Bell Canada AI data centre construction site – CBC NewsBell announces $50-billion buildout to produce Canada’s largest data centre in Saskatchewan – Betakit10 Questions about Bell’s AI Data Centre Expansion Answered – Global NewsNDP seeks pause on massive Regina-area AI data centre – CTV NewsSponsors: Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.If you’re ready to hear the 'CHA CHING' of your first sale today, head over to SHOPIFY.COM to start your free trial today!Did you know we have a monthly supporter exclusive show?Tons of interesting stories are happening every single day in small towns across Canada — but we can only be in so many places at once. Our show rarely gets to zoom in and see what's happening in the weird and wonderful world of local news.So tell us: What's a local story you think we should know about? What's the hot gossip in your community's Facebook Group? What's the heated discussion in your city's subreddit?Call in and let us know on September 24th, 5-7 pm EDT, by going to callinstudio.com/show/canadaland or dialing in at 888-401-7056 when the time comes, so mark your calendars!If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!), become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.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. Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live!Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland_Media on TikTok!