Kevin O’Leary drops out: Maclean’s on the Hill

Also, what does Trump really think of NAFTA? Don’t miss this week’s debriefing from our Ottawa bureau.

April 28, 2017

podcast

Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, a political bombshell has been dropped in the Conservative leadership race that has drastically altered the course of the campaign to replace Stephen Harper. Frontrunner Kevin O’Leary has backed out, and is now tossing his support behind his main competitor, Maxime Bernier. The shark himself, Kevin O’Leary, joins the show to explain why he quit the race.

After that, David Coletto with Abacus Data tells us why O’Leary just didn’t have the numbers, even though he was the perceived frontrunner. And then candidate Michael Chong gives his thoughts on O’Leary’s departure and what this means for the race.

Renegotiate or scrap? No, just get rid of it. Wait, wait, let’s renegotiate. U.S. President Donald Trump is causing a lot of confusion and stress with his fluid position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Maclean’s senior writer Paul Wells breaks down the trade tensions and reviews Trump’s first 100 days in office.

Finally, we finish our show with the Ottawa Power Rankings, when we let you know who are this week’s three stars—and who’s in the political doghouse.

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The full episode

Part 1. Kevin O’Leary drops out

Conservative Party leadership candiidate Maxime Bernier (left) looks on as Kevin O'Leary addresses a news conference in Toronto, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, after it was announced that O'Leary had quit the leadership race and thrown his support behind Bernier. (Nathan Denette/CP) — Conservative Party leadership candiidate Maxime Bernier (left) looks on as Kevin O’Leary addresses a news conference in Toronto, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, after it was announced that O’Leary had quit the leadership race and thrown his support behind Bernier. (Nathan Denette/CP)

A political bombshell has been dropped in the Conservative leadership race that has drastically altered the course of the campaign to replace Stephen Harper. Frontrunner Kevin O’Leary has backed out, and is now tossing his support behind his main competitor, Maxime Bernier. The shark himself, Kevin O’Leary, joins the show to explain why he quit the race.

Part 2. Why Kevin O’Leary couldn’t win

Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O'Leary addresses a Conservative Party leadership debate Monday, February 13, 2017 in Montreal. O'Leary says he won't take part in Tuesday's official party debate in Edmonton, citing the format. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson — THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

David Coletto with Abacus Data tells us why O’Leary just didn’t have the numbers, even though he was the perceived frontrunner. And then candidate Michael Chong gives his thoughts on O’Leary’s departure and what this means for the race.

Part 3. What does Trump really think about NAFTA?

Eden Wisconsin dairy farmere, Allen Abel. (Photograph by Sara Stathas)

Renegotiate or scrap? No, just get rid of it. Wait, wait, let’s renegotiate. U.S. President Donald Trump is causing a lot of confusion and stress with his fluid position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Maclean’s senior writer breaks down the trade tensions and reviews Trump’s first 100 days in office.

Part 4. Shannon Proudfoot’s Ottawa Power Rankings

We finish our show with the Ottawa Power Rankings, when we let you know who are this week’s three stars—and who’s in the political doghouse.

Download this podcast.

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