Gloves Off

Can Canada sell itself to the world without selling out?

In this special live episode of Gloves Off recorded at Toronto’s historic El Mocambo, Stephen Marche tackles one of Canada’s most pressing economic questions: how do we attract the capital we need to build the country without selling off the assets, companies and infrastructure that make us sovereign?

Stephen is joined live on stage by economists Armine Yalnizyan and Dan Ciuriak, and Cross Check co-hosts Vass Bednar and Jon Shell, to examine the Carney government’s recent Investment Summit 2026, airport privatization, foreign ownership, and Canada’s struggle to finance its own growth.

From defence manufacturing and critical infrastructure, to AI, pension funds, and the future of Canadian innovation, the conversation asks what good investment looks like—and who ultimately benefits.

Featuring (in order of appearance): JR Cox, Armine Yalnizyan, Rod Sims, Dan Ciuriak and Cross Check Co-Hosts Vass Bednar and Jon Shell

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including Pension and FDI reports.

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As America pulls back from its traditional alliances, what does that mean for Canada and the future of the global order?

In this extended interview, Stephen Marche revisits his conversation with Julianne Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former senior Pentagon official. Smith explains how the Trump administration has transformed America’s relationships with its allies, why trust in the United States has eroded, and how Canada and other middle powers are responding.

From NATO and European defence to Canada’s growing ties with the European Union and Nordic countries, Smith explores whether middle powers can build a new “third pole” of global influence—and whether the existing international order can survive America’s retreat.

What happens when America’s allies start building a world without America at the centre?

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 8 "What Are We Fighting For?"

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: a linguistic analysis of how the concept of "sovereignty" has changed over time, based on how it has been used in the House of Commons since 1900.

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In this extended interview,Stephen Marche speaks with Tim Mak, Editor of the Kyiv-based publication The Counteroffensive about Ukraine’s drone war and the future of warfare. They explore how Ukraine’s decentralized defence-tech ecosystem is driving rapid innovation—and what Canada can learn as it prepares to dramatically increase defence spending.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 5 "How Canada Wins at Defence"

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including a Canadian history of dual usage technologies and a Chart that tries to imagine the sheer scale of the military budget.

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Anthony Dworkin of the European Council on Foreign Relations about whether Canada and Europe can build a new middle power alliance in a world increasingly shaped by U.S. and Chinese power.

Dworkin explains Europe’s “trade bazooka,” the tools available to resist economic coercion, and how Canada could work with Europe and other like-minded countries on trade, defence, technology, energy and strategic autonomy.

ECFR Papers Referenced:
-Brussels hold’em: European cards against Trumpian coercion
-Beijing hold’em: European cards against Chinese coercion

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 2 "How Canada Wins at Alliances"

Visit our website-gloves-off.ca-for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including an interactive map outlining the number of international agreements Canada has made since Carney took office and a explanation of variable geometry

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Gil Durán, author of The Nerd Reich about Silicon Valley’s radical turn against democracy. They explore the rise of tech oligarchs, the political power of billionaires, the weaponization of social media, and what Canada can do to reduce its dependence on American technology.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 7 "How Canada Beats Tech Influence"

Visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: an analysis of what some of America's largest technology groups are asking for when it comes to CUSMA renegotiations

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