The LeDrew Three Minute Interview

Peter Shurman joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss a troubling question: is the business world beginning to give up on Canada?In this free Three Minute preview, Shurman argues that Canadian companies are increasingly moving operations and investment to the United States — and that Donald Trump and tariffs are only part of the story.LeDrew and Shurman discuss the economic legacy of the Trudeau years, uncertainty under Mark Carney, Canada’s strained relationship with the United States and why international investors may be thinking twice about putting money into Canada.The conversation goes much further in the full interview, including bureaucracy, resource development, unemployment, food banks, supply management and what Canada needs to change.Become a member to watch the full interview.Topics covered in this preview:Why businesses are leaving CanadaCanada’s investment problemTrump versus homegrown economic problemsTrudeau’s economic legacyCarney and business confidenceCanada-U.S. trade uncertaintyWhy foreign investors may hesitateThe stakes for Canadian jobs

In this Friday rant, Stephen LeDrew reacts to the Ontario Court of Appeal overturning a lower-court decision involving Toronto bike lanes — and says the ruling is about much more than cycling.LeDrew argues that the original decision crossed the line between law and politics by treating bike-lane policy as a Charter issue. He says the Court of Appeal delivered an important reminder: elected governments make policy, while judges are there to interpret and apply the law.The ruling, in LeDrew’s view, is a major pushback against judicial activism and the growing tendency of courts to substitute their own policy preferences for those of elected legislatures.This is a rant about bike lanes, the Charter, judicial restraint and why the rule of law depends on judges knowing where their role ends.Topics covered in this episode:The Ontario bike-lane appealWhy the original ruling was overturnedJudges versus elected governmentsJudicial activism and policy-makingSection 7 of the CharterLegislative authorityJudicial restraintToronto bike-lane politicsWhy the ruling matters beyond cyclingGetting back to the rule of law

André Proulx, producer of The LeDrew Three Minute Interview and an NDP supporter, joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss Tim Hortons, temporary foreign workers and whether one of Canada’s most recognizable brands is doing enough to hire Canadians.Proulx says Tim Hortons pledged earlier this year to rely less on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and hire more Canadians — yet he says job postings connected to the program have increased since that commitment.The conversation turns to wages, training costs and why fast-food jobs can still provide valuable experience for teenagers and young workers. Drawing on his own experience running a small bakery in Hamilton, Proulx argues that employers can pay a living wage, retain good staff and still grow a successful business.LeDrew and Proulx ask whether Tim Hortons is cheating by hiring Foreign Workers — and whether Canadians are paying the price.Topics covered in this episode:Tim Hortons and temporary foreign workersIts promise to hire more CanadiansJobs for teenagers and young workersTraining costs and staff retentionPaying a living wageAndré’s experience as a small-business ownerSeasonal work and returning employeesEmployer responsibilityCanadian jobs versus cheaper labourWhether Tim Hortons is racing to the bottom

Dan McTeague joins Stephen LeDrew to ask why personality and image seem to matter more than results in Canadian politics.McTeague argues that Canadians stuck with Justin Trudeau through three elections despite a weakening economy and growing dissatisfaction with his government. Now, he says Mark Carney is benefiting from a similar phenomenon: Canadians praise his résumé, seriousness and leadership style — but struggle to point to concrete results.LeDrew and McTeague also discuss mainstream media, polling, the public service, political influencers and whether the institutions that once challenged governments are still doing their job.Why do voters become so invested in political personalities? And what happens when Canadians would rather defend their past choices than admit the country is heading in the wrong direction?A longer members-only conversation with Dan McTeague is coming next week.Topics covered in this episodePersonality versus political resultsTrudeau’s enduring voter appeal, failed resultsWhy Carney still gets the benefit of the doubtMedia and institutional accountabilityPollsters and political influenceThe decline of trust in mainstream mediaYounger Canadians and political frustrationWhy voters resist admitting they were wrongCanada’s economic declineWho controls the political conversation

Alexander Brown of Without Diminishment joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss Project Ontario, Doug Ford, conservative politics, and whether Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Government is living up to conservative principles.In this episode, Brown explains why Project Ontario is bringing together conservative groups, communicators, and organizations to push for better from the Ford government. While he credits Doug Ford for standing up for Canada on tariffs and supporting major projects like pipelines, Brown argues that Ontario conservatives still need to answer serious questions about government spending, education, crime, diploma mills, and cultural issues.LeDrew and Brown also discuss Sir John A. Macdonald, Canadian history, conservative criticism, and why holding your own side accountable can make a government stronger — not weaker.This is a conversation about Ontario politics, conservative values, government spending, and whether Doug Ford’s government needs to reconnect with its base.Topics covered in this episode:Project Ontario and conservative organizingDoug Ford’s record in governmentOntario government spendingPipelines and national unityEducation reform and diploma millsCrime and public safetySir John A. Macdonald and Canadian historyConservative principles versus party politicsWhy governments need criticismKeeping the conservative base engaged

Kate Marland, deputy editor at Without Diminishment, joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss morality, leadership, community, and whether society has lost the ability to tell right from wrong.In this episode, Marland argues that modern culture has become detached from reality, tradition, history, and objective truth. She says that when people are encouraged to define morality only for themselves, it becomes harder for society to defend shared standards of right and wrong.LeDrew and Marland also discuss political leadership, law and order, the decline of institutions, market-driven thinking, family, community, and why money alone cannot provide meaning or happiness.This is a conversation about moral clarity, responsibility, and rebuilding a society rooted in something deeper than self-interest.Topics covered in this episode:The decline of moral clarityLeadership and moral courageTruth, reality and traditionThe limits of “leave me alone” politicsLaw and order in societyThe role of institutionsMoney, happiness and meaningCommunity over self-optimizationConservative politics and valuesRebuilding shared standards

Jerry Amernic, author of Sleepwoking, joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss the controversy surrounding residential schools, the Kamloops announcement and calls to criminalize residential school “denialism.”Amernic argues that Canadians must be allowed to question historical claims and examine the evidence without fear of criminal punishment. He and LeDrew acknowledge that residential schools existed, that children died from illness and that incidents of abuse occurred, while challenging claims about undiscovered mass graves and deliberate killing fields.They also discuss the federal funding provided to investigate possible burial sites, questions about financial accountability and why many educated Canadians remain uncertain about what is fact, allegation or political messaging.This is a provocative conversation about history, evidence, free expression and whether Canadians are still permitted to challenge the country’s dominant political narratives.Topics covered in this episode:Calls to criminalize residential school denialismThe evidence surrounding the Kamloops announcementResidential schools and historical contextAbuse, disease and deaths at the schoolsFederal funding for burial-site investigationsFinancial transparency and accountabilityWhy Canadians remain confused about the evidencePolitical messaging versus established factsFree speech and historical debateJerry Amernic’s book SleepwokingYou can buy Sleepwoking here - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1775239942

Peter Shurman joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss why Canadians increasingly expect government to solve every problem — and why both men believe government should be doing far less.Shurman argues for a more minimalist approach: government should focus on core responsibilities like defence, immigration, transportation, health and education, while leaving businesses and individuals free to build, invest and create.LeDrew and Shurman also discuss how Canada was built by entrepreneurs and small businesses, the expansion of government programs, taxpayer-funded media and proposals for municipally- operated grocery stores.Their message is simple: government should handle the things only government can do — and stay out of everything else.Topics covered in this episode:What government should actually be responsible forThe case for smaller governmentImmigration and national prioritiesHealth, education and provincial responsibilityHow entrepreneurs built CanadaGovernment replacing private initiativeTaxpayer-funded programs and mediaMunicipal governments entering retailWhy bureaucracy keeps expandingLetting business do what government cannot📌 Subscribe to Peter Shurman’s Substack here: https://substack.com/@shurmanator