10/3: Canada Covered

Investigations have been opened into allegations of misconduct against the current and former Chiefs of Defence Staff.  Even as the military tries to reckon with a checkered history on dealing with sexual abuse within the ranks, it is looking into claims against retired General John Vance and Admiral Art McDonald.  Ottawa Citizen reporter David Pugliese, who covers defence and military issues, com...

International travellers returning to Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic now face a mandatory 72-hour quarantine in designated hotels, and a potentially longer stay at a government isolation facility.  The National Post’s Tyler Dawson joins Dave to discuss what these centres are like, why there’s so much secrecy around them, and why people are concerned about the isolation process.  Background read...

The Trudeau government has followed through on more of its gun control plans, with legislation that will allow cities to effectively ban handguns.  But do these measures actually achieve the stated goal of making Canadians safer?  National Post columnist Matt Gurney joins Dave to discuss issues with delegating bans to cities, why the legislation is targeting the wrong people, and why Liberal actio...

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced global change. We work differently, we shop differently, we interact differently.  After a year of living with the virus, Postmedia’s PostPandemic project is taking an in-depth look at the significant social, institutional and economic issues the pandemic has brought to light in Canada. And how it’s re-shaping the country   National Post health reporter Sharon Kirk...

Despite assurances that Canada would receive millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses in the first quarter of the year, shipment delays have put the country off target.  And every delayed shipment has the potential to further push back the goal of re-opening society, and risks more infections of the virus.  National post reporter Tristin Hopper joins Dave to discuss where Canada’s vaccine plan failed, w...

The federal government has added 13 groups to its list of terror groups, including five ISIS affiliates, and a handful of far right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys. The move comes after parliament voted to call on the government to add the Proud Boys to the list in the wake of its involvement in the Jan. 6 events at the U.S. Capitol. But what does the terror designation actually do? For...

The night of Sept 30, 2017 will be burned into the memory of Edmontonians for years. That night, a man ran down a police officer before stabbing him, then used a U-Haul truck as a weapon on a busy downtown street. More than three years after the attacks, there are still questions left unanswered. Edmonton Journal justice reporter Jonny Wakefield joins Dave to discuss new details uncovered in the c...

A Canadian who authorities allege is one of the world’s biggest drug kingpins, has been arrested in the Netherlands. Tse Chi Lop, also known as brother number three, was nabbed on an Interpol warrant at the request of Australian police, who allege he is the head of an international drug smuggling ring, which has earned him comparisons to the likes of Pablo Escobar and El Chapo. National Post crime...

Canadians coming home from abroad are facing tough new restrictions announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The government is hoping to keep cases of new COVID-19 variants at bay as it grapples with a slowdown in vaccine shipments and an ongoing second wave of the pandemic. Ryan Tumilty, who covers federal politics for the National Post, joins Dave to discuss the new restrictions, where Canada...

After members showed up at the Capitol Hill riot in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, the far-right group the Proud Boys have caught the attention of politicians in Canada.  Members of parliament passed a motion on Jan. 25 calling on the government to declare the Proud Boys a terrorist entity.  But some wonder whether it’s the right approach to crack down on such groups.  Freelance investigative journali...

Governor General Julie Payette and the top bureaucrat in her office have resigned amid a review into allegations there was a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall.  The allegations claim they were abusive to staff, sometimes reducing them to tears. These resignations have called into question the vetting process that saw the highly accomplished Payette appointed to the position.  National post political...

The Keystone XL pipeline project has long been a sticking point in both Canadian and American politics. It has been a hot potato for successive American presidents, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney bet big, with more than a billion in investment, plus loan guarantees. But now, the new U.S. president has put a stop to it. Calgary Herald columnist Chris Varcoe joins me to discuss Joe Biden’s motives...

President Donald Trump has left office, but his political presence will likely be lingering for some time, both in the U.S. and Canada. And that poses a problem for Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole. With the threat of a possible election an ongoing concern, O’Toole has tried to distance himself from claims he is ‘far right’ and quash attacks that his party is Trump-lite Dave's guest is Andre...

Ontario has been hit hard in recent weeks with growing numbers of COVID-19 cases. In response, Doug Ford has announced a host of new restrictions to try to stem the tide. But will they work? Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley joins Dave to talk about what’s driving the new measures, why Ontario didn’t opt for a curfew like Quebec, and where the province it at in terms of its vaccine rollout. Learn...

While the new year has brought some hope in the covid-19 fight, with a ramping up of vaccine campaigns, 2021 is also presenting a new set of challenges in the pandemic. Variant strains that can be passed more easily from person to person are cropping up, and there are supply issues when it comes to the vaccines. National Post Health Reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave to talk about the concerns arou...

Prime minister Justin Trudeau has set the lofty goal of Canada being net-zero for carbon emissions for 2050. And as part of that strategy, the country has bet on nuclear power to help get us there. Financial Post energy reporter Geoffrey Morgan joins Dave to talk about why the government is looking at nuclear power, what communities could eventually see mini-reactors at use, and why some are oppos...

After the National Hockey League finished its season in unorthodox fashion, with playoffs held in hub cities and a Stanley Cup celebration in late September, we’re looking at some semblance of normalcy this season. Fans won’t be in the stands, but the NHL is set to resume with a truncated season in all 31 arenas. But for Canadian fans, things will look a lot different. Postmedia national hockey wr...

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For many many Canadians who grew up in cities, the connection with agriculture and rural life is merely what they drive past on the highway, or produce bought from the store.  But for others, it’s a story of their family history.  In part two of our look at the series Abandoned Saskatchewan Dave talks to Saskatoon Star-Phoenix sports editor Kevin Mitchell about growing up on his family farm, his r...

To many Saskatchewan is still seen as Canada’s breadbasket. A land of farms and flat stretches of road. But as Regina and Saskatchewan grow into thriving cities, there has been a decline in the rural heartland. In the first of two episodes highlighting the series Abandoned Saskatchewan, Dave is joined by Saskatoon Star Phoenix reporter Phil Tank about when the decline started, what’s driving it, a...

The opioid crisis was already ravaging B.C., and then covid-19 showed up. This has meant a disruption to drug supplies, more overdoses, and in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside an increase in crime and social disorder. Vancouver Sun columnist Daphne Bramham joins Dave to talk about how COVID-19 crisis has made things worse in the Downtown Eastside, what’s driving an increase in overdose deaths in B.C....

Canada is on its way to having some form of national childcare program. In its recent fall economic update, the Trudeau government announced it was looking at more than $400 million dollars for the provinces to train qualified staff as preview of more money coming in next year’s budget. But is a plan to create more child care spaces the right move? Postmedia columnist Tasha Kheiriddin joins Dave t...

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, Alberta was among the provinces that seemed ready to face the challenge head on, and in many ways, that’s what happened at first. But, as summer turned to fall, Alberta followed many provinces, and countries with mounting case counts in the pandemic’s second wave. And cries have grown louder for the government to do more. The National Post’s Alberta reporter Tyle...

With three major pharmaceutical companies showing success with COVID-19 vaccines in phase 3 trials, a lot of people are getting their hopes up about the beginning of the end of the pandemic. But while other countries could see rollouts in the coming weeks, it could be months before Canadians get their turn. Parliamentary Bureau Chief and National post columnist John Ivison joins Dave to talk about...

A lawsuit out of Montreal has revealed unorthodox procedures for dealing with sexual assault allegations on campus. A student at Montreal’s McGill University has filed a lawsuit alleging he was forced to defend allegations of sexual assault which weren’t detailed to him and from an accuser who remained anonymous. Dave is joined by Montreal Gazette crime reporter Paul Cherry to talk about how this...