Legalizing pot and Syrian tough talk: Maclean’s on the Hill

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, the Trudeau government unveiled its plan to legalize marijuana, and it comes with a minimum age of 18, possession limits, strict regulations and new criminal offences. Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to explain the legislation. After that, we hear from pot activist Jodie Emery, and later in the show we look at how the provinces might implement legalization.

Canada is toughening its stance on Syria and calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The harsh words come after Assad’s horrific chemical attack on his own people last week, and then a retaliatory missile strike by the U.S. on a Syrian airfield. There’s no doubt this is a tense situation, and to let us know where this is all heading and what it means for Canada, we’re joined by former government security analyst Stephanie Carvin.

Outgoing federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault joins the show to express disappointment about the Trudeau government delaying its commitment to reform access-to-information laws.

And finally, we bring you the weekly Ottawa Power Rankings. Who’s up? An NDP leadership candidate. What’s down? The dignity of readers.

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The full episode

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Part 1. The Liberals move to legalize pot

The Trudeau government unveiled its plan to legalize marijuana, and it comes with a minimum age of 18, possession limits, strict regulations and new criminal offences. Health Minister Jane Philpott joins the show to explain the legislation. After that, we hear from pot activist Jodie Emery, and later in the show we look at how the provinces might implement legalization.

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Part 2. Canada’s harsh words for Assad

Canada is toughening its stance on Syria and calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The harsh words come after Assad’s horrific chemical attack on his own people last week, and then a retaliatory missile strike by the U.S. on a Syrian airfield. There’s no doubt this is a tense situation, and to let us know where this is all heading and what it means for Canada, we’re joined by former government security analyst Stephanie Carvin.

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Part 3. An exit interview with Canada’s information commissioner

Outgoing federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault joins the show to express disappointment about the Trudeau government delaying its commitment to reform access-to-information laws.

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Part 4. Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings

We bring you the weekly Ottawa Power Rankings. Who’s up? An NDP leadership candidate. What’s down? The dignity of readers.

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