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Veteran journalist Paul Wells interviews the leaders and thinkers tackling the world's big problems — war and peace, democracy and dictatorship, making governments and communities work. Paul draws on decades of experience as a reporter and columnist at Macleans, the Toronto Star and elsewhere to bring you smart, intimate conversations with newsmakers and people who deserve a higher profile.
The Paul Wells Show is produced by Antica, in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
The Paul Wells Show is produced by Antica, in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
54 Episodes
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Police have been facing heavy scrutiny lately over how they handle protests, from the convoy in Ottawa to pro-Palestine demonstrations. OPP Acting Superintendent Marcel Beaudin shares the police perspective on this issue. Until recently, Beaudin ran the OPP’s Provincial Liaison team that deals with demonstrations and protests. He has also been a leader in the service’s Indigenous Policing Bureau. This episode was recorded at the Munk School. Subscribe to Paul's Substack for a premium version of this show: paulwells.substack.com
The Quebec government recently announced it will double university tuition for out-of-province students, raise international student fees, and change how the money from those fees is distributed. The new measures will disproportionately affect the province’s three English universities. Graham Carr, president of Concordia University in Montreal, tells Paul that these changes will cause a major blow to Concordia’s finances. He also talks about how we got here, and why this has become such a hot button issue in Quebec.
The National Gallery of Canada had a rough year, as they reckoned with shifting attitudes towards culture and representation. Their new CEO, Jean-François Bélisle, joins Paul to talk about how he plans to move forward, and what a national art gallery should look like in the year 2023. This episode was recorded live at the National Arts Centre. FURTHER READING: Turmoil Engulfs Canadian Art Museums Seeking to Shed Colonial Past - The New York Times Subscribe to Paul's Substack for a premium version of this show: paulwells.substack.com
Mark Sutcliffe decided to run for mayor of Ottawa after being frustrated by the Freedom Convoy and the city's ill-fated LRT project. He won. A year into his term, he reflects on trying to solve some of the city’s biggest problems, including saving the downtown core and getting the LRT back on track. This episode was recorded live at the National Arts Centre. Subscribe to Paul's Substack for a premium version of this show: paulwells.substack.com
Author and Globe and Mail writer John Ibbitson joins Paul to discuss his new book, The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson and the Making of Modern Canada. Ibbitson talks about how the decade-long showdown between these two Prime Ministers set the stage for the world we live in today, and why he believes Diefenbaker has been unfairly maligned in the historical record. This interview was recorded live at the National Arts Centre. Subscribe to Paul's Substack for a premium version of this show: paulwells.substack.com
Timothy Garton Ash has chronicled some of the biggest moments in European history for over 40 years. In his new book, Homelands: A Personal History of Europe, he offers a history of postwar Europe, told through personal memoir. He talks to Paul about the future of Europe, the war in Ukraine, advising George W. Bush on how to think about the European Union, having Victor Orbán as a student, and why these days, his main concern is about the United States. This episode was recorded at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com
The part of King Lear has a storied history, with classic performances by actors like William Hutt, Brian Cox and James Earl Jones. At 64, Paul Gross has taken on the role at Stratford, and he thinks the whole mythology around it is “just bullshit.” He reflects on the weight of the role, making Lear his own, and why Shakespeare still feels relevant. In the episode, we mention Paul Gross's age as 62, but he is 64. We regret the error. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com
As traditional news organizations have faced a steady decline, the online local news network Village Media has been thriving in small and medium-sized communities. But as the government and tech giants have gotten into a standoff over Bill C-18, the Online News Act, Village Media has been forced to pause their growth. Their CEO Jeff Elgie talks to Paul about how C-18 has hurt his business, and what’s at stake. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com
Kennedy Stewart is a former federal NDP MP and was mayor of Vancouver from 2018 to 2022. In his new book, Decrim: How We Decriminalized Drugs in British Columbia, he writes about how he worked with the federal government — and, eventually, with a provincial NDP government he saw as far less cooperative — to decriminalize simple possession of street drugs in British Columbia. He joins Paul to talk about that experience, as the national conversation around drug policy heats up. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com.
B.C. Premier David Eby has a lot to contend with: a housing crisis, the opioid epidemic, healthcare, foreign interference, the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, federal-provincial relations, and the province's energy needs. We get into all of it. You can get a premium version of this show with extra content by subscribing to Paul's newsletter: paulwells.substack.com
1The job of Government House Leader is always a challenge, but it's especially so in a minority Parliament. For Justin Trudeau's outnumbered Liberals, that minister is Mark Holland. One of the Liberals' longest-serving MPs, he's responsible for steering the government's legislative agenda through Parliament. He speaks frankly about the perils of political life, his own struggles with mental health, and about navigating a partisan landscape to get stuff done.
k.d. lang reflects on her four decade-long musical career, which may have reached its end. “All music tends towards silence and I have to honour the silence,” she tells Paul in an open and wide-ranging conversation in Calgary.
In May, Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley will get a shot at becoming Premier again. Paul meets Rachel in Calgary to discuss her vision for the province and the prospect of facing off against a united conservative movement. She also talks about the opioid crisis, the federal healthcare deal, the future of the energy industry and dealing with Ottawa.
What is the future of sitting in the dark with strangers? The film industry has had to face major existential questions lately, between disruptions from COVID and the rise of streaming. Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, joins Paul to talk about it. He also talks about how TIFF became the world-class institution that it is, his path from film critic to CEO, and casting his first ballot for the Oscars.
Judging from the Group of Seven’s paintings, you would think post-war Canada was nothing but empty wilderness. But the women artists of the period showed a different vision of the country, filled with cities, people and industry. Sarah Milroy is the Chief Curator for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, which houses a vast collection of the Group of Seven’s work. She talks about how they have been working to expand the idea of Canadian art, to invite in the women and the Indigenous artists who are often overlooked. This episode was recorded live at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment will open on March 3rd at the National Gallery of Canada.
Andy Byford has gained a reputation as the person to call when your public transit system is in crisis. In over three decades as a public servant, he has run transit systems in Toronto, New York and London, England. He talks about what makes a good transit system, a recent wave of violent crime, and his public battle with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The Trudeau Government has made a lot of promises about reconciliation. As the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Affairs, Marc Miller’s job is to follow through on them.In this live conversation, Minister Miller talks frankly about his successes and failures in the role. He also talks about his own background, including his childhood friendship with Justin Trudeau, his time in the military and learning to speak Mohawk. This episode was recorded live at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Friday Night Lights author Buzz Bissinger joins Paul to talk about his storied career and his new book, The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. He also discusses ghostwriting Caitlyn Jenner’s memoir, why he left Twitter, his time at Vanity Fair, and why he’s considering leaving the US. Thank you to Perfect Books in Ottawa for hosting this conversation.
What can history tell us about the world we live in? Paul is joined by acclaimed historian Margaret MacMillan, author of books including Paris: 1919, Nixon in China and History’s People. They discuss some of the major events shaping the world today, including the war in Ukraine, the fallout of Brexit, Xi Jinping’s regime in China, and where Canada fits in to it all. This episode was recorded live at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Former finance minister Bill Morneau joins Paul to talk candidly about his life in politics, his resignation, and his vision for the future of the Canadian economy, from pension reform to green energy. His new book is called Where To From Here: A Path to Canadian Prosperity.This episode was recorded live at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
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