{"podcast":{"title":"Hub Podcasts","slug":"hub-podcasts-4932773","podcast_index_feed_id":4932773,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/69cc1a3992d007a7658eee4e","website_url":"http://www.thehub.ca","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/69cc1a3992d007a7658eee4e/show-cover.png","author":"Hub Canada Media","episode_count":1918,"summary":"Welcome to Hub Podcasts, the audio version of the big ideas and in-depth conversations found at TheHub.ca, Canada's fastest growing digital news outlet with half a million people engaging weekly with our content. Hub Dialogues features The Hub's editor-at-large Sean Speer and managing editor Harrison Lowman engaged in longform conversations with leading thinkers on the big issues and ideas shaping the public conversation. In Conversation with David Frum features the insights and analysis of leading author, journalist, and thinker David Frum, who weighs in monthly on global and Canadian news events. The news cycle never slows down and neither does Hub Hits. Each day we provide you with quick hits on topical stories, big issues and important voices appearing in The Hub. Every week, editor-at-large Sean Speer is joined by David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, and Amanda Galbraith, principal at Oyster Group, to dig into the drama and strategy of Canadian politics. Topics range from the issues dominating headlines, the communications battles behind the scenes, to the trends shaping parties, leaders, and voters. Some weeks, they'll focus on the hot story in Ottawa. The Hub's media criticis…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T16:20:09.151875+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hub-podcasts-4932773"},"episode":{"title":"Why a ‘better than expected’ federal budget deficit isn’t good enough","slug":"why-a-better-than-expected-federal-budget-deficit-isn-t-good-enough","published_at":"2026-04-29T15:10:13+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hub-podcasts-4932773/why-a-better-than-expected-federal-budget-deficit-isn-t-good-enough","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hub-podcasts-4932773","url":"https://shows.acast.com/hub-podcasts/episodes/why-a-better-than-expected-federal-budget-deficit-isnt-good","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69cc1a3992d007a7658eee4e/e/69f21f5613ce2999f40c93bf/media.mp3","summary":"Jack Mintz, well-known economist and president’s fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, says that while the federal government’s updated deficit may be “better than expected,” Canada is still running large, persistent deficits with a rising debt-to-GDP ratio and no credible path back to balance. He argues the bigger issue is the absence of clear fiscal anchors, warning the country risks drifting back toward the fiscal patterns of the 1970s and ’80s if spending isn’t constrained. On the new sovereign wealth fund, Mintz highlights key differences from international models, suggesting it more closely resembles a government-directed investment vehicle—with the risk of becoming a politicized “slush fund.”  The Hub is Canada’s fastest-growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get our latest videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Subscribe to The Hub’s podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple)  https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify)   Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en   CREDITS: Falice Chin - Host, Producer, and Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"Jack Mintz, well-known economist and president’s fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, says that while the federal government’s u…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1290,"processing_state":"processed","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hub-podcasts-4932773/episodes/why-a-better-than-expected-federal-budget-deficit-isn-t-good-enough/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hub-podcasts-4932773/why-a-better-than-expected-federal-budget-deficit-isn-t-good-enough.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}