For the third time in a month a Conservative jumps ship, with two of them joining the Liberals. Will there be more? The Liberals need at least one more to form a majority. All this is happening while the government struggles to pass new legislation. Ottawa starts to close down for the holidays and Good Talk assesses where things stand at the end of 2025.

It's Thursday and that means Your Turn ...the question this week is soft and cuddly -- are you looking forward to winter? But Thursdays also mean the Random Ranter and he is a modern day Paul Revere calling out "The Midterms are Coming". Could this be the beginning of the end of Donald Trump? Don't bet on it, says the Ranter.

Ottawa has been studying whether Canada should purchase up to a dozen submarines to help protect Canada's Arctic. It's a program that would cost dozens of billions of dollars. Is it worth it? What is the history of subs in the Arctic? Who's been there, and who hasn't? The answers may surprise you. Our guest is historian and author, Professor Adam Lajeunesse of ST FX University in Nova Scotia.

James Moore and Gerald Butts are back with another one of their highly anticipated "Conversations". This time it centres around the possibility that the near future could see two referendums, one in Quebec and one in Alberta. Is Ottawa ready to handle that fight? Who would Captain Canada be if it came to that?

Canada says it hasn't taken part in the alleged drug boat attacks in the Caribbean, but why hasn't Canada condemned the US actions. That's the first question for Dr. Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto this week. There are many more that together raise more issues about the new world order.

A week ago the talk was all about pipelines. Remember those days? Things have changed a lot in a mere seven days. It's been quite the week, especially in Quebec, where there are lessons for politicians across the country. Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson join the virtual discussion table again for some Good Talk.

The emails coming into The Bridge this week were humming. You wanted your say on the debate about which fighter jet Canada should buy and you didn't hold back with what you had to say. Emails came from across the country and at least by the ones we received your choice is clear. The random Ranter is here as well and he has a very different take on the MOA signed between Alberta and Ottawa last week.

The best of the leftovers we call the Endbits Specials and they've become very popular. Today, another session on how to relieve stress; where not to travel to; can air travel re-live its golden days; five foods you shouldn't eat; and is it time to make Richard Nixon great again?

What to make of Mark Carney's decision to reach back into the Trudeau cabinet to replace another minister who quit? That's the question to the Toronto Star's Althia Raj and The Economist's Rob Russo on this latest episode of Reporter's Notebook. Also, what our two correspondents are hearing about the ongoing competition between the U.S. F35 fighter jet and Sweden's Gripen. Billions are at stake and thousands of jobs.

Whether it's voluntary recruitment or a form of military draft, it's happening in different parts of Europe as fear of war with Russia mounts. Ukraine was the tipping point here but the moves are taking place, and the question is will the same concerns become apparent in Canada. Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto joins us for her regular Monday session, "Our Changing World".

Twelve hundred people were on their feet in Calgary yesterday applauding Mark Carney and Danielle Smith for the deal they signed that could lead to a new pipeline to move Alberta oil to markets. But there was a cost too ...Carney lost a minister, and the BC government and indigenous groups are more than a little bit upset. What happens now? Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson look for answers in this week's Good Talk.

On the day a memorandum of understanding is about to be signed between Alberta and Canada, listeners to the Bridge have their say about a new pipeline to British Columbia's west coast. None of the writers are shy about their opinions and both sides of the argument are reflected. And then, the Random Ranter drops by with his take on a very different issue.

Some of you have been writing, asking "where is Keith Boag?" Today the answer, as the former Washington correspondent brings us up to date on his latest thinking about Donald Trump. Throughout last year's campaign we relied on Keith's assessment of all things US political. And now, a year later, where are we?

This week seems to be all pipelines all the time. Alberta and Canada seem close to a deal on a memorandum of understanding about a new pipeline to the west coast. But now how do you make that MOU become a real finalized deal because let's face it, pipelines in Canada are hard to build. James Moore and Gerald Butts talk pipelines and the shift topics to talk jet fighters and the intense lobbying going on for those.

Donald Trump puts forward a peace deal for Ukraine, a deal pretty well everyone rejects except Russia. But is this just the first step in a real attempt to find a way to end the war in Ukraine? Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto, fresh from the annual Halifax International Security Forum, joins for her regular Monday commentary. Also up for discussion, Europe and Canada's fears about the future of democracy.

Another week where there's lots to talk about with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. The US is playing hardball through its ambassador to Canada over which jet fighter we "must" buy, while Sweden sends its King and Queen to push its option. And then there's the pipeline story -- could a deal between Ottawa and Alberta be close on that? All this while the PM is off on another global trade mission.

The price is high, very high, like at least twenty thousand dollars. But would you buy a robot designed to help you do housework around the home? It's not only coming but it's kind of there already. That's our AI based question of the week and as you always do, you had thoughts on this. And the Random Ranter is here this week as well and you won't want to miss him either.

A potpourri of things you just might want to know about: why too much coffee is dangerous for drivers; how to reduce your salt intake and why you should; new moves to restrict social media for youngsters; and, wait for it, the top ten trending names for puppies and kittens. Yes, it's come to this on The Bridge!

So in the end the Mark Carney government survived the budget vote. But you have to wonder whether the 140-138 vote in the Commons was what they really wanted. Sure it avoids a messy Christmas season election, but it also avoids what may have been the PM's best chance of turning a minority into a majority. We'll discuss that and what happens now with The Economist's Rob Russo and the Toronto Star's Althia Raj on this Tuesday's Reporter's Notebook.

Mondays mean Dr Janice Stein, and today is no different. The Munk School Director from the University of Toronto drops by for her regular Monday session. The topics vary, from India and Pakistan on edge again to the Ukraine war to the very real possibility that the United States is about to launch broad-scale action against Venezuela.