November 18, 2012

This Sunday, Mark welcomes:

• Louise Elliott, National Reporter, Parliamentary Bureau, CBC Radio
• John Geddes, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Maclean’s

Viewers are also invited to call or write in with their thoughts about the week’s big political stories:

FISCAL SHORTFALL An economic update from the Harper government now expects a deficit this year of $26 billion—$5 billion more than forecasted in its March budget. Opposition accused the government of ignoring economic warning signs. Is the government managing the country's finances properly? Should it spend more on stimulus, as the NDP suggests?

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP Martha Hall Findlay says she has the guts and experience to be the next federal Liberal leader. The former MP joined the leadership race this week. Meanwhile Justin Trudeau revealed more about his policies. Can Hall Findlay challenge Trudeau for the leadership? And what are we learning about the man who polls say could be a future prime minister?

MERIT OVER BILINGUALISM? The bilingualism debate reignited with a newly released 2011 letter from the Justice Minister. Rob Nicholson wrote that bilingualism will never trump merit when appointing judges to the Supreme Court of Canada. Should all nine judges be fluent in English and French?

U.S. OIL PROJECTIONS The United States will become the world's largest oil producer by 2020 and almost self-sufficient in energy production by 2035, according to The International Energy Agency. How will this affect Canada?