Leaders on the Frontier
Since its inception in 1999, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy has been steadfast in its mission to foster Ideas for a Better Tomorrow. Through research, publications, educational events and policy analysis, Frontier has impacted dozens of governments and policy sectors. With Western Canadian roots and a drive to cultivate responsible citizenship, Leaders on the Frontier features discussions of common sense and good governance from this non-partisan, cutting-edge think tank.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Residential Schools and “Genocide” in Canada, It's Not What You Think
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
What really happened in Canada’s colonial past and why does the truth still matter today? David Leis sits down with Lord Nigel Biggar, author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, to unpack the complex history between colonial powers and Indigenous peoples.
From early cooperation to painful conflicts and the controversial legacy of residential schools, Biggar challenges the oversimplified narratives shaping public debate. He also confronts the moral record of the British Empire and its role in both oppression and the abolition of slavery—arguing that only by facing history in full, not just the parts that fit an agenda, can we pursue real justice and reconciliation.
#IndigenousHistory #Colonialism #CanadaHistory #NigelBiggar #TruthInHistory #ResidentialSchools #Justice
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Canada’s Economy Is Paralyzed, How Do We Fix It?
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
The Air Canada and government dispute showed us how fragile our economy is. On top of that, Parliament isn’t sitting, there’s no budget, trade talks are stalled, and housing is in crisis. Meanwhile, the U.S. is growing, President Donald Trump is pushing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and Canada is busy advocating for Palestinian statehood. How do we get Canada moving again?
Former Saskatchewan Premier Grant Devine and former Liberal MP Dan McTeague join David Leis to unpack what's really going on and what Canadians can do to help turn things around.
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Why Canadians Are Losing Faith in the System
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Is Canada still a free country or are we sleepwalking into decline? David Leis sits down with constitutional lawyer Leighton Grey to discuss how political prosecutions, activist judges, and a crumbling national identity are threatening the very fabric of the nation.
They get into the shocking decline of Canada’s economy compared to the U.S., the fallout of multiculturalism without a unifying identity, and how the courts are now rewriting the rules. Grey warns: “The rule of law is on life support.”
Check out Leighton's podcast, Grey Matter.
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
The Tragic Disappearance of Canada’s Middle Class
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Canada should be booming but instead, we’re bleeding talent, crushing opportunity, and killing the middle class. Politicians seem more interested in controlling Canadians and are driving investment to the U.S. The result? You can’t afford a home, the middle class is disappearing, and a net outflow of money is eroding confidence in our economy and our democracy.
David Leis is joined by Chris Bloomer, former CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, and Gina Pappano, Executive Director of Invest Now, to expose the policies holding Canada back and what it will take to get our country moving again.
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Canada’s Energy Could End Global Poverty, So What’s Stopping Us?
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Millions, including Canadians, are living in the dark. Help Is on the Way is a gripping new documentary exposing energy poverty, when people can't afford to heat their homes or keep the lights on.
David Leis sits down with filmmaker Mathew Embry who reveals the real causes, the human cost, and how Canada could help—if bad policy wasn’t getting in the way.
If you care about poverty, energy, or Canada’s future, don’t miss this episode.
#EnergyPoverty #Canada #AffordableEnergy #ClimatePolicy #HelpIsOnTheWay
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Is Canada Sleepwalking into a Trade Disaster?
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
As the United States locks in major trade deals with Japan and the European Union, Canada risks missing the window of opportunity. With the August 1 trade deadline fast approaching, tariffs on Canadian goods could surge by 25%, and yet talks with the U.S. remain stalled. Parliament is still on summer break, and leadership seems nowhere to be found.
How do we run a country like this? And how do we get Canada moving again when we're stuck with our elbows up and no one at the table?
David Leis is joined by Catherine Swift, President of the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada, and Grant Devine, former Premier of Saskatchewan, to break down what’s really happening and what must be done before it’s too late.
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Why Your Grocery Bill Keeps Climbing
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Is Canada’s food system broken? David Leis sits down with the host of The Food Professor Podcast, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, to get the truth about rising grocery bills, supply management, and what’s really driving food prices. From dairy quotas to global trade tensions, they explore the hidden forces shaping what ends up on your plate and what needs to change.
Can Canada stay competitive in the global food market? Are government policies helping or hurting our farmers and families?
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Dangers of The Strong Borders Act (Bill C-2), ArriveCan Scandal & A.I in Court
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
David Leis sits down with John Carpay from the Justice Centre, to expose how law societies are pushing ideology, judges are rewriting laws, and Bill C‑2 could let the government invade your privacy. They also talk about the latest ArriveCan scandal, plus, hidden reports, gender policies, and how biased AI could shape legal outcomes.
If you think Canada still has a fair justice system, this episode might change your mind.
#FreeSpeech #ArriveCan #BillC2 #JohnCarpay #JusticeCentre #CanadianLaw #Podcast
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Land Acknowledgements: Respect or Empty Words?
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
If we keep saying we’re on “Treaty Territories”… why don’t we give it back? Do land acknowledgements actually help Indigenous peoples—or are they just empty words designed to ease guilt?
This week, David Leis is joined by Frances Widdowson (Expert on Aboriginal Policy), John Carpay (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms), and Marco Navarro-Genie (VP of Research at the Frontier Centre) to unpack one of the most controversial questions in Canada today:
What do land acknowledgements really mean—and are they doing more harm than good?
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Canada’s Proposed New Laws Could Crush Your Freedoms
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
The government is quietly pushing laws that could let them spy on your mail, ban content online, and criminalize big cash purchases.
Bill C-2 (The Strong Border Act) could give Canada Post the power to open your mail and much more. The Online Harms Act is back—and more dangerous than ever.
David Leis talks with Joshua Dehaas of the Canadian Constitution Foundation to break it all down—and explain why you need to act now.
This episode is your wake-up call.







