10/3: Canada Covered

Quebec is in the midst of another debate over language.  The CAQ government has tabled Bill 96, which seeks to update the longstanding Bill 101, in an effort to protect the French language in Quebec.   But as these things usually go, the government has courted controversy.  Montreal Gazette political reporter Philip Authier joins Dave to discuss what the bill covers, concerns being raised over Ang...

Could all the talk about COVID-19 in the last 14 month have made us more fearful of the virus than we should be?  There’s no doubt COVID-19 is a serious virus and that public health measures have been needed to try to stem the spread, but along with those have come stress and anxiety — especially among younger people — tied to inflated perceptions of the virus’s risk.  National Post reporter Trist...

COVID-19 has effectively cancelled many activities we enjoyed and even took for granted. Sporting events, dining out, but also, concerts, movies and plays.  The arts sector in Canada is a big contributor to the economy but has taken a beating over the last 14 months.  Calgary Herald arts reporter Eric Volmers joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what facets of the arts sector have been hardest hit,...

Conservative infighting in Alberta came to a head last week, when Jason Kenney’s UCP caucus kicked out two of its members. The vote came after one MLA stepped down as chair of the caucus and told the premier it was time to resign. But it’s just the latest in attempts by some MLAs to undermine the premier.   Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins Dave to discuss why the MLAs were voted out, whether...

Could a federal bill really seek to regulate your cat videos on YouTube, or dance challenges on Tik Tok?  Will it control what you see when you log onto popular streaming sites?   That’s been the concern as MPs have debated Bill C-10, which updates Canada’s Broadcast Act. But what will the bill actually do?  National Post political reporter Anja Karadeglija joins Dave to discuss the overall intent...

Notorious NHL tough guy Tom Wilson found himself at the centre of more controversy when he was fined, but not suspended, for violations on the ice in a game against the New York Rangers.  The $5,000 penalty for the Washington Capitals forward sparked a brawl-filled rematch, but also plenty of criticism of how the league dealt with the whole incident  Postmedia National Sports columnist Scott Stins...

Alberta has been battered by the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a case rate higher than any U.S. state or Canadian province.  And after weeks of pressure, and various smaller measures, Premier Jason Kenney announced a host of new restrictions this week to try to flatten the curve.  Lisa Johnson, who covers provincial politics for the Edmonton Journal, walks us through the new measures,...

Amid growing pressure to address allegations of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces, the federal government announced an external review of how the military handles these cases.  The announcement follows high-profile allegations against current and former high-ranking soldiers in the Canadian Forces, including the former Chief of Defence Staff  National Post Political reporter Christopher Nar...

As a horrible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic ravages India, there has been pressure on the Trudeau government to enact travel measures to prevent further spread of variants in Canada.  In response to that pressure the government announced a ban on direct flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days. But did it come too late to make a difference? Toronto Sun reporter Bryan Passifiume joins Dav...

The Canadian Football league has unveiled a bold plan for a return to play this year after missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  While the start of the season has been pushed back later into the summer, the league is eyeing games with fans in the stands, and the latest Grey Cup Ever.  Postmedia national sports writer Dan Barnes joins Dave to discuss the plan, why having in-person...

The Trudeau Liberals delivered their first budget since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an eye to post-pandemic economic recovery.  But it also shows the government eyeing an election.  Parliamentary Bureau Chief and National Post Columnist John Ivison joins Dave to discuss the spending priorities of the budget, what it means for Canada’s bottom line long term, and how it potential...

In the debate over provincial restrictions to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been holdouts. Restaurants who ignore bans on indoor dining, hair salons cutting instead of closing. And there have been churches keeping their pews filled instead of abiding by capacity restrictions or moving services to the web.    In Alberta, one Edmonton-area church has become a flashpoint in the C...

Canada’s economy may have slowed through the pandemic, but the housing market has remained hot.  And, unlike past years where price increases have been focused on major centres, we’re seeing growth right across the country, due in part to an exodus to the suburbs.  Tristin Hopper from the National Post explains why people are flocking to smaller centres, how that’s affecting the market across the...

While the country has been consumed with COVID-19, a deadly epidemic continued unabated.  Drug overdose deaths linked to the opioid crisis hit record levels in 2020, in part due to the pandemic, and 2021 is shaping up to be another tragic year.  Alanna Smith, who covers the opioid crisis for the Calgary Herald, joins the show to discuss the role the pandemic played in a spike in overdoses, what is...

The COVID-19 outbreak that has hit the Vancouver Canucks has shown the virulence of the virus and how vulnerable league play is in the face of a pandemic. With the playoffs looming, many are wondering how the league is going to mitigate the danger. Postmedia national hockey writer Michael Traikos joins the show to discuss the impact of the Canucks outbreak, what it means for the rest of the season...

After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Canadians are feeling the fatigue, but even as vaccines are rolling out, a third wave is setting in.  Variant strains have cropped up and appear to be affecting younger people, and it has now become a race between the variants and the vaccines.  National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey walks us through why the variants have changed the face of the pan...

The Supreme Court of Canada recently held up the federal government’s carbon pricing scheme, striking down challenges from three provinces.  While the majority of justices felt the plan was in the national concern, those in opposition felt it “rejects the Constitution and rewrites the rules of confederation,” while stepping into provincial jurisdiction.  Columnist Sean Speer walks us through the s...

As we spend more of our lives online, people are looking at more ways to make money online.  From delivering food, to being a YouTube star, to turning your instagram following into cash, the platform economy is growing, and the taxman wants his cut.  National Post politics reporter Christopher Nardi walks us through how lucrative business is for some influencers, how Canada Revenue Agency put a te...

The killing of Colten Boushie and the trial of Gerald Stanley raised concerns about rural crime and racism across Canada.  But the RCMP also faced scrutiny from the start, and new reports offer condemnation of how police handled the homicide investigation, and how they treated Boushie’s family.  Saskatoon Star Phoenix reporter Thia James walks through why these reviews were conducted what the repo...

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney won a decisive victory in 2019 on the strength of his messaging about the economy and jobs and being a stronger option than the NDP.    Halfway through his mandate, and a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, support for the government has dropped and even the party’s base is frustrated.    Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins the show to discuss when things started to tur...

Subject of a lot of scrutiny last summer, the founders of WE Charity, Marc and Craig Kielburger, again found themselves before a house of commons committee this week.  MPs continued to question the brothers about how WE Charity operated and communicated with the government and they responded with accusations that their charity is being dragged through the mud in a “political trial.”  National Post...

Already smarting from the shutdown of the Keystone XL pipeline, Canada’s oil industry is now facing the prospect that a long-operating oil line could be shut down.  Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has revoked an easement for Enbridge’s Line 5, which ships oil from Alberta, through the U.S. and onto refineries in southern Ontario, but also several U.S. states.   This has raised concern, not only...

The bombshell interview between Oprah Winfrey and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, cast damning allegations on the Royal Family.  The pair most notably revealed that comments were made on the skin colour of their son archie and that Meghan was prevented from seeking mental health treatment.  The interview garnered wide reaction around the world, and re-opened a long-simmering deba...

Parliament is set to debate a bill that will introduce a new definition of hate as it aims to tackle hateful content online.  But free speech proponents are concerned the bill could bring back previously repealed provisions of hate speech law that were seen as highly politicized and subjective.  National Post political reporter Anja Karadeglija joins the podcast to discuss the what kind of online...

While COVID-19 cases have spread throughout the population, cases in continuing and long-term care have grabbed headlines due to the size of outbreaks, and the death toll among the elderly.    The pandemic has laid bare problems within the system many will rely on as they age. And reports show a wave is coming as the baby boomers get older    Calgary Herald columnist Licia Corbella joins Dave to d...