Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, the Canada-EU free trade agreement was on the verge of collapse—but a deal in Belgium has all of a sudden pushed the negotiations near completion. We speak with Export Development Canada chief economist Peter Hall, who says the deal is a significant breakthrough at a time of rising protectionism around the world.

A troubling case is raising concerns of torture in our Justice system. A young prisoner in Thunder Bay has been kept in solitary confinement in a cell with no windows, with the lights kept on 24 hours a day—for four years. We speak with Maclean’s columnist Scott Gilmore about the ongoing case and political backlash.

How private should you keep your cell number or mobile information? That question is being asked after police in Ontario obtained thousands of phone numbers for a digital canvass. We speak about the unique tactic with privacy and tech expert Paul Davis.

And finally, for many people politics in general is scary. In honour of Halloween, we’ll bring you real stories about séances with prime ministers past, murdered politicians—and some political buildings that remain haunted to this day. Stories courtesy Jim Dean of The Haunted Walk of Ottawa.

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The full episode

Part 1. The Wallonians relent

The Canada-EU free trade agreement was on the verge of collapse—but a deal in Belgium has all of a sudden pushed the negotiations near completion. We speak with Export Development Canada chief economist Peter Hall, who says the deal is a significant breakthrough at a time of rising protectionism around the world.

Part 2. For Adam Capay, 52 months of torture

A troubling case is raising concerns of torture in our Justice system. A young prisoner in Thunder Bay has been kept in solitary confinement in a cell with no windows, with the lights kept on 24 hours a day—for four years. We speak with Maclean’s columnist Scott Gilmore about the ongoing case and political backlash.

Part 3. How far should police go?

How private should you keep your cell number or mobile information? That question is being asked after police in Ontario obtained thousands of phone numbers for a digital canvass. We speak about the unique tactic with privacy and tech expert Paul Davis.

Part 4. Ottawa’s spooky side

For many people politics in general is scary. In honour of Halloween, we’ll bring you real stories about séances with prime ministers past, murdered politicians—and some political buildings that remain haunted to this day. Stories courtesy Jim Dean of The Haunted Walk of Ottawa.

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