CBC Radio's The House: Kovrig, Spavor return home

CBC News: The House57:19They're coming home

On this weeks show: two former diplomats and an expert on Canada-China relations discuss the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor from prison in China. Plus, CBC reporters on how the major party leaders are faring post-election; strategists dissect the campaigns and what lies ahead for Parliament; and, in a podcast extra, a former provincial PC cabinet member discusses Albertas political and health crises.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavorfreed

Late Friday evening, just hours after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was declared free to leave Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavorhad cleared Chinese airspace and wereheaded back home to their families.

Earlier on Friday, aB.C. court dropped Meng's extradition case once the tech executivehad entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. government. Kovrig and Spavor, detained for almost three years in China, were released from Chinese prison the same day.

What does it all mean for Canada's relationship with China? Experts Colin Robertson, Guy Saint-Jacques and Lynette Ong join The House to discuss.

CBC News: The House14:38Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor freed

What does Fridays turn of events all mean for Canada's relationship with China? Experts Colin Robertson, Guy Saint-Jacques and Lynette Ong join The House to discuss.

How will party leaders forge ahead?

Frustration over results, impatience with vote counting and questions around party leadership have all been part of the fallout from Election 2021. Looking ahead, three CBC reporters take us through what may happen in the coming weeks.

David Cochrane talks about who Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might choose for a cabinet that has already lost four key women. Then, Hannah Thibedeau walks us through the questions surrounding the leadership of Erin O'Toole. Finally, Olivia Stefanovich provides a peek behind the curtain on similar issues concerning Jagmeet Singh's continued command of the NDP.

CBC News: The House16:05How will party leaders forge ahead?

CBC reporters David Cochrane, Hannah Thibedeau and Olivia Stefanovich discuss what the election means for the makeup of the Liberal cabinet and the fate of the Conservative and NDP leaders.

Party insiders offer parliamentary predictions

Five weeks of breathless campaigning yielded almost the exact same results in 2021 as in the 2019 election. What could the major parties have done differently to shift the tide in their favour? And how might they forge ahead in Parliament?

Three party insiders join The House to examine where the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP stand and what ultimately sealed their fate in this election: David Herle, partner at The Gandalf Group and former Liberal strategist; Shakir Chambers of Earnscliffe Strategy Group and previously with the Harper government; and Rebecca Blaikie, past president of the NDP.

CBC News: The House14:39Party insiders offer Parliamentary predictions

Party insiders David Herle, Shakir Chambers and Rebecca Blaikie discuss what campaigns might have done differently this election and how they might manoeuvre in a minority parliament.

Kenney hangs on in Alberta

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney faced down a caucus revolt this weekamidst a COVID-19 crisis in his province and public polling showing his popularity in the single digits.

Aspecial bonus interview for The House podcast listeners:Donna Kennedy-Glans, a cabinet member under former Progressive Conservative premier Alison Redford, discusses why she thinks Kenney might hang on to lead the United Conservative Partyinto the next election and what's at stake for Albertans as they face a devastating fourth wave of the pandemic.

CBC News: The House7:52Kenney hangs on in Alberta

As a special bonus interview for podcast listeners, Donna Kennedy-Glans, a former PC cabinet minister in Alberta, discusses Premier Jason Kenneys political challenges.