Broadcasting, Oilers, and Politics with Lynda Steele, Thursday, August 13, 2026

Good evening The Moosa Slobodian Network Friends,

I had an excellent conversation with Lynda Steele, who is now the host of The Change My Mind Podcast. Have a listen to our chat using the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Q6sFG8A5xJGd2DwcJv9nH?si=rHPO4RonRxytrf3Oi-FKuw

Show Notes:

Meeting Opening and Introductions: Aliasgar Moosa and guest Lynda Steele met on Thursday, August 13, 2026, to discuss the Canadian media landscape, current political tensions, and sports developments (00:00:25).
Canada-United States Trade Relations: Discussion centered on the tariff conflict with the United States, with Lynda Steele arguing that President Trump uses Canada as a target due to an “insatiable ego” and a desire to force concessions after initial retaliatory tariffs from Canada and China (00:01:33). While there is consensus that Trump respects Prime Minister Mark Carney globally, there is frustration regarding the lack of a unified Canadian front, particularly with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s stance on matching tariffs and the lack of support from Alberta and Saskatchewan (00:02:45).
Trade Leverage and National Unity: Participants noted that Canada possesses significant economic leverage, including oil, natural gas, minerals, and electricity, which are vital to the United States (00:04:05). Lynda Steele expressed that if the provinces would align with federal efforts to leverage these resources, Canada would be in a stronger position to resist unfair tariff demands, though currently, they remain fragmented (00:05:05).
Trust in Trade Agreements: The conversation highlighted a profound lack of trust in the American administration, noting that despite having the CUSMA trade deal—which Trump negotiated and previously praised—the current administration is ignoring it in favor of new, aggressive 50% tariffs (00:06:12). Lynda Steele suggested that Canada must signal that it will not acquiesce to being treated as a “51st state,” even if it requires enduring short-term economic pain (00:07:17).
Economic Impact of Tariffs: Lynda Steele emphasized that tariffs are essentially taxes on American consumers, which the American public needs to recognize. There is concern that the Trump administration is selling a fantasy regarding income tax elimination at the expense of global partners, while Canadian businesses face reduced demand due to the conflict (00:08:28).
Ambassador Pete Hoekstra: The participants criticized the American Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, for failing to act as a diplomat, citing his “51st state” comments as an affront to Canadian sovereignty. Lynda Steele noted that she had signed a petition, which has reached over 100,000 signatures, to call for his removal, not because it is likely to succeed, but to send a message about the tone of the relationship (00:10:33).
Shifting Political Landscapes: Lynda Steele observed that the Conservative Party of Canada is starting to adopt a more “Team Canada” approach regarding the trade dispute, a shift that they suggested Pierre Poilievre should have prioritized earlier (00:11:30). The discussion touched on Poilievre’s political future, with Lynda Steele characterizing his tone as dismissive and polarizing, which may limit his appeal to moderate voters and those outside his core base (00:12:29).
Federal NDP and Political Polarization: The discussion turned to the New Democratic Party and their leader,Avi Lewis, noting that they are attempting to find their audience amidst a broader two-party dynamic. Lynda Steele argued that while some view the NDP as ideological, there is a growing segment of the population concerned by the Liberal government’s shifting stance on environmental issues (00:15:51).
Climate Change and Energy Policy: A significant portion of the discussion focused on the urgent reality of climate change, evidenced by global wildfires and extreme weather events. Lynda Steele and Aliasgar Moosa discussed the paradox of Canada ramping up energy projects—such as pipelines and liquefied natural gas—as an economic survival tool, while simultaneously struggling to meet climate commitments (00:16:52).
Global Emissions and Responsibility: The participants acknowledged that Canada contributes approximately 1.7% to global greenhouse emissions, yet they felt caught between the need for economic development and the catastrophic reality of climate change, such as extreme heatwaves in Phoenix. They expressed doubt about the feasibility of Canada being a climate leader when major polluters like the United States and China do not participate fully (00:19:55).
Energy Transition Challenges: Lynda Steele reflected on the missed opportunity to leverage fossil fuel revenues fifteen years ago to fund a more rapid transition to green technology. They noted that British Columbia’s mandate to eliminate gas-powered vehicle sales by 2030 had to be scaled back because the infrastructure and readiness were not yet sufficient (00:21:55).
Broadcasting Industry Decline: The participants discussed the systematic closure of radio and television stations by major entities like Rogers, Bell, and Corus Entertainment (00:23:00). Lynda Steele explained that radio and television were once “licenses to print money,” but that revenue has cratered due to polarization, the “fake news” narrative promoted by Trump, and a general loss of public trust in mainstream media (00:23:55).
Corporate Cost-Cutting in Media: It was noted that major telecom companies are aggressively cutting newsroom staff to satisfy shareholders, resulting in a diminished product and unsustainable workloads for remaining employees (00:24:58). This shift has led to a lack of investigative, local, and niche programming, causing audiences to disengage (00:26:00).
Loss of Local Identity in Broadcasting: The discussion highlighted the problematic trend of nationalizing content, such as Corus hiring a single host for multiple country music stations across the country (00:26:57). Lynda Steele emphasized that audiences reject content that is not locally relevant, noting that viewers can tell when hosts are not actually living in their communities (00:28:14).
Decline of Local Newsrooms: Lynda Steele shared experiences from their career in Edmonton, expressing concern that stations are pre-taping newscasts and consolidating technical operations to Toronto, which destroys the quality and immediacy of local breaking news (00:29:16). They lamented that former hubs of activity, like the Vancouver Sun, are now empty as staff work from home, which exacerbates the isolation of journalists (00:33:27).
Impact of Remote Work on Culture: Lynda Steele reflected on the mental health toll of working remotely during COVID-19, noting that newsrooms thrive on the energy and collaboration of having people physically present to bounce ideas off one another (00:33:27). They expressed that the industry has not effectively adapted to these changes (00:34:32).
Independent Sports Broadcasting: The participants noted that independent sports programming, such as the “Donnie and Dolly” show in Vancouver, has been more successful at maintaining an audience and attracting advertisers than traditional news programming (00:34:32). This success is partly due to the lucrative nature of gambling sponsorships within sports media (00:35:39).
Sports Viewership Accessibility: A major concern was raised regarding the rising costs and accessibility of sports, such as the need to pay for extra streaming services like Amazon Prime or inflated cable packages to watch hockey. Lynda Steele criticized large media conglomerates for making sports “elitist” to recover costs from acquisitions like the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment deal (00:37:41).
Unethical Layoff Practices: The participants expressed deep distaste for how media companies terminate staff, citing examples where employees found out they were fired by listening to the radio or hearing about station closures on-air. This behavior was described as cruel and damaging to the relationship between the networks and their audience (00:39:27).
Hockey Commentary and Fandom: The discussion moved to hockey commentary, with Lynda Steele praising Edmonton Oilers announcers like Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer for their energy and talent. They discussed their personal journey as a fan moving from the Oilers to the Canucks and back, highlighting the importance of the broadcast team to the viewer experience (00:41:29).
Mike Babcock’s Coaching Return: The participants discussed the return of Mike Babcock to NHL coaching. Lynda Steele deferred to player opinion, specifically noting that Zach Hyman and other stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl support Babcock, viewing the controversy surrounding his past coaching methods as a misunderstanding of his attempts to bond with players (00:43:09).
Fan Toxicity and Performance: Lynda Steele criticized toxic fan culture, noting that fans often scapegoat players like goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Darnell Nurse unfairly. They urged fans to remember that these are human beings and suggested that this negativity impacts player performance (00:45:47).
Oilers and Kris Knoblauch: The conversation touched on coach Kris Knoblauch’s tenure and his tendency to frequently rotate line combinations, which participants felt hindered chemistry (00:46:45). They expressed hope for the upcoming season, citing the acquisition of goaltender Freddy Andersen as a move to help the team win a championship (00:47:48).
NHL Parity and Expansion: Lynda Steele expressed concern about the lack of tax parity between Canadian and American teams, which makes it harder for Canadian franchises to attract players (00:48:48). They also discussed the Tkachuk brothers, noting that while they are talented, the team they played on was “chippy” and lacking in class (00:49:34).
Blue Jays and Baseball Interest: The conversation concluded with a discussion on the Toronto Blue Jays, with Lynda Steele admitting that they were initially not a baseball fan but became invested after watching the team’s exciting plays (00:51:17). The participants noted the impressive skills of players like Addison Barger and discussed the team’s recent positive performance against the Red Sox (00:52:20).