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The House

Are we losing the war against ISIS?

The fall this week of two critical cities -- Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's largest province, and Palmyra, an ancient town in central Syria -- to ISIS forces has punctured any sense of optimism that the group was on its way out.
CBC Radio ·
A car is engulfed by flames during clashes in the city of Ramadi on Saturday. ISIS militants drove security forces from a key military base in western Iraq on Sunday and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi authorized the deployment of Shia paramilitaries to wrest back control of the mainly Sunni province. (Reuters)

Are the new gains for ISIS simply a "set back" for Canada and the coalition? Part of the expected ebb and flow of warfare -- or are we losing the war? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Defence Minister, James Bezan, joins us to explain why it's too early to assess the success or failure of the fight against ISIS. 

Then, is having a fixed election date turning Canadian politics into an American-style system of endless campaigns? The former head of Elections Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, believes so, and he argues the change is bringing in unforeseen -- and dangerous -- consequences.

The negotiations are drenched in politics. The stakes are high. In the end, how many leaders' debate will Canadians get to watch before casting their vote, and who will show up for them? First we hear from Kory Teneycke, spokesperson for the Conservative Party campaign, Ann McGrath, national director of the New Democratic Party, and Liberal debate strategist Rob Silver. Then, Tasha Kheiriddin and Terry Milewski weigh in on the politics of the debates war. 

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