Could Cartels Push Their Operations into Canada? | The Rundown

Canada recently sent its largest-ever trade delegation to Mexico, a mission billed as the country’s most significant to date. Led by Canada–U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, hundreds of delegates and businesses travelled south with a clear objective: diversify beyond the U.S. market and deepen Canada’s economic ties with Mexico. But just days later, Mexico was rocked by violence following the killing of a powerful cartel leader. Retaliatory attacks shut down roads, suspended flights, and forced residents to shelter in place — raising urgent questions about security and stability as Canada looks to expand its relationship with the country. This episode of The Rundown examines that tension from two perspectives. First, independent journalist and crime analyst Luis Horacio Najera joins the program to unpack how drug cartels have shaped life in Mexico for decades, how they built and maintained their power, and why increased pressure on cartels inside Mexico could push their operations into Canada. The conversation explores what role, if any, Canada can play in countering cartel violence. Then, the focus shifts to trade. Political scientist Laura Macdonald of Carleton University and geopolitical analyst Solange Marquez Espinoza of the University of Toronto examine what the recent violence could mean for Canada–Mexico economic relations. With Canada seeking to reduce its reliance on U.S. exports, they discuss whether trade ambitions can move forward amid uncertainty — and how policymakers should balance economic opportunity with security concerns. About The Rundown: The Rundown is your nightly half-hour deep dive into just one headline. With host Jeyan Jeganathan, we’ll cover everything from housing and health care to climate and AI. We’ll break down why each topic matters, who’s living it, and what’s being done to make things better – starting right here in Ontario. Slow down. Tune in. Make sense of the moment. And tell us what you think. Follow on social media: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/therundowntvo Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheRundownTVO X- https://twitter.com/therundowntvo Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/therundowntvo.bsky.social Subscribe to TVO Today to watch more content like this: https://www.youtube.com/@tvotoday Listen to the podcast: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/the-rundown-audio Check out the rest of the TVO ecosystem TVO Docs - https://www.youtube.com/@tvo TVO Kids - https://www.youtube.com/@TVOkids TVO Learn - https://www.youtube.com/@tvolearn Download the TVO Today App Apple - https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112 Available on: Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, Amazon Fire TV Enjoying this content and want to make a meaningful impact? Consider donating today! https://support.tvo.org/site/Donation2?mfc_pref=T&idb=599945504&df_id=16843&16843.donation=form1&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1661&mfc_pref=T