The latest episode of Inside Politics, hosted by Kevin Klein, featured a wide-ranging discussion on international conflict, Canadian security and political leadership, while also introducing a new voice to the panel.

Joining Klein were Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, along with the program’s newest panellist, Robert-Falcon Ouellette. Ouellette, a former Liberal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre and recent Winnipeg mayoral candidate, is also a professor at the University of Ottawa and serves as a chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces’ Fort Garry Horse.

The discussion began with Ouellette outlining the theme of his first column for the Winnipeg Sun, which explores the religious dimensions surrounding the conflict involving Iran. Ouellette noted that rhetoric surrounding the war has, in some cases, invoked religious language, including references to biblical prophecy and “end times.”

He contrasted those perspectives with Indigenous traditions, explaining that while Indigenous cultures historically practiced ceremonies and prayers before conflict, wars were rarely framed as efforts to convert others to a belief system.

“When conflicts are framed as battles between good and evil, particularly in religious terms, it becomes very difficult to find a path to peace,” Ouellette said.

Koop agreed religion often plays a role in global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, though he noted that geopolitical interests frequently intersect with religious motivations.

Pinsky offered a different perspective, arguing the conflict with Iran is rooted more in political and human-rights concerns than religion. He described Iran’s ruling regime as oppressive and highlighted its treatment of women, LGBTQ citizens and political opponents.

The panel also examined Canada’s response to the conflict and debated whether Prime Minister Mark Carney’s shifting public position could weaken perceptions of leadership.

Ouellette suggested leaders should consult caucus members before announcing positions on major global issues to ensure consistency and unity within government.

“If your values appear to change day by day, it raises questions about leadership and stability,” he said.

Another major topic was security within Canada. The panel discussed reports that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be living in the country and whether Canada should more aggressively investigate and deport individuals linked to hostile regimes.

Koop argued that immigration oversight weakened during the pandemic years and called for stronger screening and enforcement.

The discussion concluded with questions about Canada’s military readiness. Ouellette noted that Canada currently lacks much of the equipment required to make a meaningful military contribution overseas, pointing to aging naval vessels, limited fighter aircraft and equipment shortages.

Despite those limitations, panellists agreed Canada should play a stronger diplomatic and strategic role internationally.

Klein closed the program by encouraging viewers to read the panellists’ columns at WinnipegSun.com and follow Inside Politics online and through podcast platforms.

Read their columns at winnipegsun.com

A fiery new episode of Inside Politics delivers exactly what political junkies want: blunt takes, insider experience and a widening debate over whether Canada’s political system is being gamed in plain sight.

Host Kevin Klein opens the show with a question that quickly turns explosive: should MPs who cross the floor be forced into a byelection? What follows is not a polite exchange. It is a sharp, revealing clash over power, loyalty and whether politicians still owe voters anything once they get elected.

Joining Klein are Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, along with new panellist Robert-Falcon Ouellette — former Liberal MP, professor at the University of Ottawa and chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces. Ouellette’s arrival adds a new layer to the discussion, especially as the panel dissects the controversial decision of Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to leave the NDP and join the Liberals.

Klein argues the move proves what he has warned about for months: floor crossings are becoming a backroom strategy to hand Prime Minister Mark Carney the majority government voters never gave him. Ouellette offers a more nuanced view, saying politicians sometimes cross because they believe they can better deliver for their communities from inside government. But even he stops short of giving the practice a free pass, saying a byelection could strengthen an MP’s legitimacy and silence the critics.

That point ignites the panel. Koop says he has come around to the idea of forcing floor crossers to face voters again, warning that turning a minority into a majority through political poaching is “massively problematic” for democracy. Pinsky is even harsher, arguing voters and donors are being betrayed when elected representatives abandon the party label they ran under.

But the episode does not stop at Ottawa. The conversation veers into Manitoba politics, where Tory turmoil is becoming impossible to ignore. Klein raises alarm bells over MLA Bob Lagassé leaving the Progressive Conservatives, saying it is more proof that the party is unravelling. The panel openly questions whether Premier Wab Kinew could exploit the chaos by calling an early provincial election while the opposition is still weakened.

By the end, the show becomes bigger than one floor crossing. It becomes a hard look at ambition, party control and the creeping sense that elections are becoming tools for politicians instead of the public.

It is tense, candid and packed with moments that will leave viewers arguing long after the credits roll.

On this episode of Inside Politics, host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky and Royce Koop took on a story that has sparked outrage in Winnipeg: a Dollarama shoplifting incident that ended in shocking violence, a criminal charge against a security guard, and a city once again forced to confront its growing crime crisis.

The discussion began with the disturbing video that has now circulated widely, showing a suspected shoplifter being violently subdued by a security guard. Koop drew a hard line, arguing that while shoplifting is not a victimless crime and must be taken seriously, what was seen on the video went far beyond detention and crossed into brutality. He said Canadians should not be forced to accept either rampant theft or excessive violence as normal parts of daily life.

Pinsky pushed back, cautioning that the full context remains unknown and that a short clip cannot tell the entire story. He noted that downtown businesses have been repeatedly hit by theft, disorder and intimidation, leaving store owners, staff and security guards on edge. He argued the deeper issue is not just one confrontation, but a broader breakdown of public safety that governments have failed to address.

Klein took the conversation to the bigger picture, arguing that the most alarming part of the story is that stores now need security guards just to operate, and even those guards are effectively powerless until something explodes. He said politicians keep making announcements about safety while residents and business owners see the opposite on the ground: rising theft, rising disorder and fewer consequences for repeat offenders.

The panel agreed that the roots of the problem go far beyond one Dollarama incident. They pointed to weak bail policies, repeat offenders cycling through the system, under-resourced policing and a refusal by governments to confront organized crime and drug trafficking with real force. Klein argued that too many leaders are afraid to say the obvious — crime is crime — and that excuses such as “survival crime” only deepen division rather than solve the problem.

Yet the conversation also turned to a deeper moral challenge: homelessness, addiction and untreated mental illness. Pinsky and Koop both argued that governments should stop tolerating people living in misery on streets, in parks and under bridges, and start treating that reality as a public failure. Klein agreed, calling housing, treatment and intervention not an expense, but an investment in Canada’s future.

The result was one of the show’s bluntest discussions yet: crime must be stopped, but so must the social collapse feeding it.

Floor crossing drama took centre stage on this week’s episode of Inside Politics, as host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, debated the latest defection on Parliament Hill — and whether Canada’s rules need to change.

The discussion followed the surprise move by a Conservative MP who had publicly ruled out switching parties, citing family reasons and pledging loyalty to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, only to later join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals. The move, which reportedly includes a role as a special adviser, has reignited questions about inducements and backroom negotiations.

Klein argued the practice has reached a breaking point. “If you want to cross the floor, it should trigger a byelection,” he said, insisting voters elect candidates under a party banner and deserve a fresh say if that allegiance changes.

Koop, who previously opposed automatic byelections, said he is reconsidering. He referenced an alternative proposal from political scientist Alex Marland, which suggests a 30-day cooling-off period during which MPs would sit as Independents before formally joining another party. “These floor crossings create a tawdry media circus,” Koop said, arguing that weeks of political gossip overshadow substantive issues facing Canadians.

Pinsky maintained that while floor crossing is a long-standing parliamentary tradition, he finds the practice troubling. He suggested potential legal challenges from donors or campaign workers who supported candidates affiliated with one party. “It’s a misrepresentation,” he said, adding that greater transparency about any inducements should be required.

Beyond the partisan drama, the panel expressed frustration that attention on defections is diverting focus from pressing national concerns — including trade tensions with the United States, looming recession risks, and federal deficits.

Koop criticized the current government for what he described as a lack of tangible accomplishments despite heavy public messaging. “We still don’t have tariff relief,” he noted, adding that economic pressures and job losses deserve more scrutiny than political manoeuvring.

The panel also speculated about whether more MPs could cross the floor ahead of a potential spring election. With Parliament finely balanced, even one or two defections could shift political dynamics, though Koop suggested diminishing returns if the government secures only a razor-thin majority.

As Klein concluded, the episode underscored growing public unease with political deal-making behind closed doors — and renewed calls for reforms to restore voter confidence.

Read Klein, Koop, and Pinsky at www.winnipegsun.com

A billion-dollar price tag for refugee health care and rising global tensions dominated this week’s episode of Inside Politics, as host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, examined the cost of federal policies — and the broader anxiety many Canadians are feeling about the world.

The discussion began with new figures from the Parliamentary Budget Officer showing the Interim Federal Health Program, which provides medical coverage for asylum claimants and certain other migrants, is projected to cost roughly $1 billion annually. The program covers services including dental care, vision care and pharmaceuticals — benefits not universally available to all Canadians under provincial plans.

Koop noted the only reason the updated costs became public was that Conservative MPs pressed the issue at committee. He argued that while providing basic care to those awaiting refugee decisions may be defensible, the scale and scope of the benefits raise serious questions — particularly at a time when Canada is running large deficits.

“Canada used to have a broad political consensus on immigration,” Koop said. “Now that consensus is fracturing.” He suggested that overspending and poor transparency are eroding public confidence in the system.

Pinsky was more blunt, calling the program emblematic of fiscal mismanagement layered onto rising national debt. He pointed to Canada’s weakening dollar and growing deficits, arguing such expenditures contribute to broader economic strain.

Klein questioned the return on investment, contrasting the $1 billion health-care cost with record food bank usage and homelessness. “If we’re spending that kind of money,” he said, “what are Canadians getting back?”

The panel also criticized the growth of the federal civil service — reportedly up roughly 80% over the past decade — and questioned whether Canadians are seeing improved services as a result.

Midway through the episode, breaking news added a new dimension: the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against certain tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Pinsky called it a decisive constitutional moment in the United States, while cautioning Canadian leaders not to inflame rhetoric. Koop argued Canada must avoid emotional reactions and focus on preserving critical trade relationships.

The conversation ended on a more personal note, with Klein raising concerns expressed by his son about global instability and the possibility of wider conflict. While Koop downplayed fears of a world war, Pinsky acknowledged rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, and the need for sober awareness without alarmism.

As the episode concluded, the panel emphasized the importance of measured debate in uncertain times — urging Canadians to stay informed without succumbing to fear.

Prime Ministerial power and provincial popularity were put under the microscope on the latest episode of Inside Politics, but the sharpest exchange wasn’t about slogans or campaigns — it was about money: how governments spend it, how politicians earn it, and why taxpayers keep footing the bill.

Host Kevin Klein was joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, KC, and political science professor Royce Koop to unpack a new Fraser Institute report ranking premiers on fiscal performance. The study, authored by the institute’s director of fiscal studies Jake Fuss, measured provincial leaders on government spending, taxes and debt. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ranked first, Ontario Premier Doug Ford placed second — and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew came dead last with an overall score of just 10.9%, a number that stunned the panel.

Koop said Manitoba’s poor ranking was driven by rapid program spending increases and weak performance on debt and deficits, warning that governments can’t “spend and spend” forever without consequences. Pinsky agreed, arguing poor fiscal policy eventually leads to higher taxes, fewer services, or both — and Manitobans are already feeling the squeeze through inflation and strained public services.

Klein pushed the conversation deeper, arguing fiscal recklessness is fueled by a political culture that rewards short-term vote buying. Premiers, he said, think only in four-year election cycles, spending taxpayer dollars to look like heroes while ignoring long-term consequences. That led to a broader debate: what politicians are paid, and whether they deserve annual raises while Canadians struggle.

Klein noted that federal MPs are set to make more than $210,000 annually after April 1, with raises that continue even during economic hardship, while many Canadians face rising food costs and growing reliance on food banks. “How do you take that raise,” he asked, “and then tell people you need cuts?”

Pinsky argued public office comes with real personal costs and that competitive pay helps attract qualified candidates — but suggested raises could be redirected to charities in tough times. Koop raised the idea of tying political pay to performance metrics such as balanced budgets, a concept Klein embraced, arguing taxpayers should not reward failure.

The episode ended with Klein inviting viewers to weigh in: do politicians make too much — and should their pay be linked to results?

Ottawa is selling a “tough on crime” comeback — but the Inside Politics panel says Bill C-16 may be little more than a glossy brochure wrapped around a loophole.

Host Kevin Klein sat down with Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, KC, and political science professor Royce Koop to unpack the Liberal government’s latest promise: bring back mandatory minimum sentences and finally clamp down on repeat offenders.

Koop didn’t mince words. Mandatory minimums were created because Canadians were fed up with “slap on the wrist” sentencing and judges using wide discretion. But after years of court rulings striking down minimums as “cruel and unusual,” the Liberals’ answer isn’t real backbone — it’s what Koop called mandatory minimums without the mandatory part.

In other words: a “minimum” sentence that a judge can simply decline to apply.

Pinsky went further, warning that the legal test has drifted into a subjective mess. Courts have used “cruel and unusual” reasoning to erase minimum penalties — including, he noted, a mandatory one-year sentence for child pornography offences. Bill C-16, he argued, lowers the bar even more: judges wouldn’t even need to find a sentence “cruel.” They can just declare it “not appropriate.”

Klein, who has long pushed for real accountability in public safety policy, linked the debate back to what Manitobans see on the ground: repeat offenders released, re-arrested, then released again — including the terrifying case of a sex offender entering a Winnipeg school and targeting a child. “What are you doing to fix it?” Klein demanded, blasting political “tough talk” that never becomes real consequences.

To be fair, the panel acknowledged Bill C-16 does contain provisions dealing with coercive control and domestic violence, and measures that could increase penalties when violence is driven by hatred or intimate-partner abuse. But the core Liberal sales pitch — “we’re getting tough” — doesn’t survive close reading, they argued.

Koop summed it up: public safety requires peace and order first, and repeat violent offenders must face real consequences. Pinsky’s verdict was blunt: the Liberals may claim law-and-order credibility — but Bill C-16, as written, won’t deliver it.

And Canadians are tired of being sold slogans while crime keeps climbing.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s much-hyped pipeline breakthrough and the embarrassing behaviour of Manitoba MLAs shared the spotlight on the latest episode of Inside Politics with Kevin Klein—and neither came out looking good.

Klein, joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, KC and Royce Koop, opened by giving Carney rare credit for his recent moves on the steel sector and a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on a proposed pipeline to the West Coast. But the panel quickly stripped away the spin.

Koop called the deal a clear political shift from the Trudeau era and acknowledged that regulatory carve-outs for Alberta could help spur development. Still, he warned viewers not to confuse an MOU with an actual project: no binding commitments, no shovels, no tankers—just a political framework that still faces resistance from First Nations, British Columbia Premier David Eby, Quebec politicians and investors who’ve been burned before.

Pinsky went further, branding the MOU “political, not economic,” and likening it to Schrödinger’s cat without the possibility it exists at all. The only firm change, he noted, is a higher industrial carbon price in Alberta by 2026, while the supposed path to a pipeline remains vague and revocable. “Don’t mistake this for economic development,” he warned. “It’s a talking point, not a turning point.”

The panel then turned their fire closer to home: the Manitoba Legislature, where Klein said he’d “never been more disappointed” in elected officials. They condemned a recent question period meltdown in which:

• NDP minister Nahanni Fontaine allegedly shared a post celebrating the death of U.S. commentator Charlie Kirk and branded all male PC MLAs “misogynists”;

• Progressive Conservatives responded by dredging up Premier Wab Kinew’s decades-old criminal record, for which he has a pardon;

• The Speaker himself got drawn into the mud, reportedly telling a Tory MLA he was “not clever” before later apologizing.

Koop defended the idea of question period but said Manitoba now has “probably the worst atmosphere in Canada,” arguing that the Premier sets the tone and that Kinew has chosen confrontation over seriousness. Pinsky called the exchanges “schoolyard stupidity” at a time when Manitobans are dying in ER waiting rooms and the economy is faltering.

Klein’s closing verdict on Canada’s political class—federal and provincial—was blunt: too much performance, not enough governing.