"The Boys In Short Pants": Canadian Politics In Commute-Friendly Form

If you, like me, moved away from your home country in part because it was simply boring, you're probably not too likely to be interested in politics back there. If you're even more like me, you probably feel that you should know at least something about it, but shudder at the thought of digesting the intricacies of parliamentary politics when you could be reading about coups and civil wars elsewhere.

A bit of levity and humour can go a long way in allaying that mental hurdle, which is what the good ol' Boys in Short Pants provide (disclaimer: I am friends with the hosts but still criticize them at every possible juncture). And what better place to start than this episode and its thorough discussion of Tony Clement (a Canadian MP recently involved in a sexting scandal) and his weiner. A nice icebreaker before getting on to the more structural discussions of party politics and whether polarization can have a positive impact on the nature of national politics.

Etienne and Laurent are engaging hosts who make good foils for each other: the former a previous Conservative minister comms head, the latter a New Democratic Party candidate (placing them at opposite ends of Canada's political spectrum). They have enough chemistry to pull off the more arcane discussions without losing the listener either (something I was at serious risk of). Most of the conversation should be accessible to the uninitiated, making the podcast a good insight for American or European audiences hoping to get a glimpse into our little bubble of sanity up north.

Looking to add a little more Canadian politics to your daily commute? The Boys in Short Pants might be up your alley.