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Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Carney opens Canada for business and courts a new European alliance
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Andrew and Rudyard begin with several important announcements from Carney’s investment summit, including a cut to the marginal effective tax rate on new investment and the opening of Canada’s airports to private investment. The government is aggressively courting both domestic and foreign capital. There is still much more to do on tax and spending reform, and Canada needs to get serious about its deficit and debt—but these measures suggest we are moving in the right direction.
In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to Europe and the warm reception Canada’s prime minister is receiving from EU politicians and lawmakers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has even floated the idea of Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union. What would that mean, and how could closer ties with Europe strengthen Canada’s economic prospects?
Andrew argues that Western democracies have a growing interest in standing together as they confront an increasingly assertive China and Russia and an America under Trump that is becoming a less predictable partner. Canada needs allies, and deeper economic and political ties with Europe could make strategic sense in this new geopolitical environment.
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Friday Focus: Canada's trade war heats up and the Iranians escalate to de-escalate
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Be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world
01:40:29|On this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast, we’re revisiting one of the classic debates from the series’ 18-year history: the Munk Debate on Religion, held in 2010 before a sold-out crowd of 3,000 at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall.The debate resolution was: Be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world.Arguing for the motion former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had recently converted to Catholicism.Arguing against the resolution was the late Christopher Hitchens, an avowed atheist and the author of numerous bestsellers including God Is Not Great.
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Is Canada prepared for the long fight?
17:37|Rudyard and Andrew unpack a consequential week in the Canada-U.S. trade war, from Trump’s increasingly erratic and provocative behaviour—including the absurd renaming of Lake Ontario—to his apparent preference for perpetual conflict over a lasting trade peace. Andrew believes Canada needs to diversify trade and reduce its vulnerability to U.S. pressure and manipulation. Will Trump’s approach alienate his Republican base ahead of the midterms? How are Canadian politicians capitalizing on the moment? And how much economic pain is Canada prepared to absorb? Andrew is optimistic that Canada is ready to hunker down for a long fight, potentially longer than Americans are prepared for.
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Carney walks away from Trump and turns his Davos speech into action
33:11|Rudyard and Andrew react to the intensifying Canada-U.S. trade war. Trump is threatening additional tariffs starting January 1, and it’s increasingly clear he was intent on escalating regardless of whether or not Carney walked away from the deal. Carney is putting his Davos message into action: middle powers need to free themselves from the grip of hegemons. It was the right call, with broad agreement in Canada that we cannot allow Trump to bully us into submission. There will be costs, but the cost of staying at the table may have been greater.Should Canada pursue retaliatory tariffs? Will other countries being targeted by Trump follow Canada’s lead? And finally, can Canada use the upcoming U.S. midterms to pressure Trump into a better deal?
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: how far is Carney willing to bend for Trump?
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Be it resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism
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Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: the Canada-US trade deadline looms and Iran calls Trump's bluff
20:57|August 19 is fast approaching, and despite efforts to reach a deal, there is a real possibility that negotiations could collapse altogether. Do Canadian concessions actually reduce threats from Trump, or simply invite more demands? And if Trump agrees to a deal, will he renege later and demand more? Andrew argues that “ragging the puck”—stretching negotiations out as long as possible—may be Canada’s best strategy. The discussion also turns to Canada’s dairy subsidy and protection system: does protecting domestic dairy producers actually serve Canadian farmers, when it leaves Canadian consumers paying up to twice as much for dairy products?In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to the continuing standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. How long can the crisis last? The United States appears trapped in a conflict it cannot easily walk away from. Iran is now the side issuing demands, while making a mockery of Trump’s threats and exposing the limits of American power. The damage isn’t just military—it has undermined the credibility of U.S. threats and security guarantees to its allies, which may prove even more consequential.
Be it Resolved, let’s engineer better human beings
01:37:48|This special episode features the Munk Debate on the Gene Editing, held before a live audience of 800 students and faculty at Deerfield Academy in April 2026.Arguing in favour of the motion was the biophysicist, best-selling author, biotechnology entrepreneur, and the former director of the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA School of Medicine, Gregory Stock. His debate partner was the internationally acclaimed strategic philosopher and pioneering transhumanist Max More. Arguing against the motion was the prominent American bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel, Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and a former founding chair of the Department of Bioethics at the NIH. His debate partner wass the award-winning educator, author, and Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London, Joyce Harper.