10/3: Canada Covered

We have known for nearly half a century that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm an unborn child. But the rate of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is higher than expected, and could outpace more widely understood disorders such as autism. We talk with Vanessa Hrvatin, recipient of the 2018 Lang Fellowship in Journalism. We look at how great the risk of FASD is, who is most affe...

Months before a federal election, the Liberal government is embroiled in a potentially damaging scandal.  This one surrounds a major Canadian company, SNC Lavalin, that is facing charges related to business dealings in Libya, and whether the Prime Minister’s office applied political pressure on then Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to order federal prosecutors to expedite the case in a manner...

When it comes to disrupting major organized crime activities, getting drugs off the streets is the easy part. For officers who are tasked with following the money, getting charges laid and getting convictions to stick is a big problem. Dave and Vancouver Sun investigative reporter Gordon Hoekstra look at how big a problem money laundering is, how criminals are trying to move that cash, and challen...

Admitted Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur was addicted to killing, says Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington. McArthur is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison for the brutal murder of eight men from Toronto's gay community. Warmington joins Dave to discuss the fallout from the case for police. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You practically can’t go a day without stumbling along a mocking story about an industry or trend being killed by Millennials. But despite taking a lot of flack from Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers, things aren’t so peachy for those born from the early ‘80s to the late ‘90s. Dave is joined by Ottawa Citizen reporter Vito Pilieci. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our police and firefighters and paramedics. They’re the ones who rush to our aid when we’re hurt, or victims of crime, or our homes are burning. And that work — at crime scenes and traumatic injuries and raging infernos — places a heavy burden on those on the job. We take a look how the emotional toll cost a veteran police officer his career. Dave is joined by Windsor Star reporter Trevor Wilhelm....

We’re 100 days into Canada's grand legal pot experiment. And despite a lot of predictions ranging from government blunders to total chaos, is it really all that noticeable? We’ll look at how Canada has fared with legalized cannabis, how the market has grown, what challenges there are to overcome and what the future holds for marijuana in Canada. Dave is joined by Megan Henderson, executive produce...

Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the man alleged to be the head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, is on trial in Brooklyn New York He is accused of running an operation that smuggled tons of drugs into the U.S., as well as into Canada. We look at what was being smuggled into Canada, how far into our country the drug operation reached, and at the men authorities allege were his connections in this country. Learn...

Obviously the sales job offered by former B.C. realtor Howard Chong was solid, as he’s accused of 10 counts of fraud. He presented himself as everything from a Chinese pop singer to a rep for a high-end investment firm, a private investigator claims. He’s also now on the lam. Dave is joined by Vancouver Sun reporter Dan Fumano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A major pipeline project saw opposition swell last week, and no, it had nothing to do with Alberta oil. A blockade against a natural gas pipeline from the Peace Country to Kitimat on the West Coast sparked arrests and rallies of support across the country. We look at who is behind the blockade, what issues they have with the project and what the dispute raises about consultations with First Nation...

The trial of Gerald Stanley, and the arrest of Eddie Maurice brought the issue of rural crime to the forefront in 2018. Amid the discussion last year, many residents in rural communities said they were worried about an increase in property crime, and an overtaxed RCMP that may not be able to respond to calls in far-flung areas. We sat down to talk about at what drove these concerns, how police wer...

It has been nine months since the horrific crash between a semi-trailer and a bus carrying players and personnel from the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. On April 6 2018, the driver of the semi failed to yield at a stop sign along a Saskatchewan Highway and hit the team’s bus, killing 16 and injuring 13. Now, nine months later, the driver of the truck has owned up for his actions, pleading guilty to...

December month marked one year since the slayings of billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman, who were found dead in their North Toronto Mansion on Dec. 15, 2017. And despite a lot of interest in this case from coast to coast, it seems like there has been little movement on the investigation. We look back at the killings, what may have stalled the investigation, and where police are at in their effor...

MPs and cyber security officials are worried Canada’s federal election, slated for next fall, could be at risk. Like with the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, there are fears that foreign actors could try to influence our next election using social media, or that data breaches could be weaponized for political gain. We look at what specific concerns are being raised and what’s being done in an att...

Despite many similarities and a shared independent streak, Quebec and Alberta have found themselves on opposite sides in a back and forth over the idea of revamping the Energy East pipeline idea. Dave is joined by Montreal Gazette National Assembly reporter Philip Authier. Update: Quebec sources 82 per cent of its oil from North American sources, according to National Bank of Canada. A different f...

Should consenting adults be allowed to strap on a pair of leather gloves, step into the ring and beat the daylights out of each other? Is the entertainment, and payday, worth the risk of potential harm, or even death? These are questions being raised after a Quebec-based boxing champ wound up in hospital with a life-threatening brain injury. Dave is joined by Montreal Gazette editorial pages edito...

Earlier this month, a top executive for Chinese tech giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the U.S. Meng was wanted on fraud charges linked to violating sanctions against Iran. We look at the fallout being felt in the wake of Meng’s arrest, whether this situation could have a chilling effect on Canada-China relations, and how tied in Huawei is with Canada’s telecom...

In Canadian politics, the legislature Clerk, Sergeant at arms and Speaker of the house aren’t often thrust into the spotlight. But in B.C. the men in those three roles have been embroiled in controversy since it was revealed that two of them have been suspended from their jobs now the subject of a secret RCMP investigation.  Dave is joined is Vancouver Sun political writer Rob Shaw. Learn more abo...

Amid a fiscal crisis caused by the low price of oil, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley took the drastic step to cut oil production. The move is seen as an attempt to shrink the difference between the price on Alberta oil and global benchmarks. We look at how industry is reacting, whether it will help Alberta’s financial picture, and how federal policy has played a role. Dave is joined by Calgary Heral...

General Motors announced Monday it is closing its Oshawa assembly plant, leaving nearly 3,000 people out of work. We look at what the closure means for the community and what the future holds for Canada's car manufacturing industry. Dave is joined by Financial Post reporters Emily Jackson and Geoff Zochodne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recent court cases on the Prairies have raised the issue of gun culture and rural crime across Canada.  But for many farmers and ranchers, a firearm is not seen as a tool for self defence, but a part of the way of life out in the country. We look at what rural residents have to say about gun culture, the rural-urban divide in attitudes when it comes to firearms, and whether there are concerns abou...

The price gap on Alberta oil has hit a crisis point. Business leaders, politicians and everyday Albertans are demanding action to fix a divide that's costing the Alberta treasury and Canadian economy billions. We look at what's being done to mitigate the damage, what help Alberta is asking for from the feds, and what the Prime Minister has to say. Dave is joined by Edmonton Journal provincial affa...

Conservative politicians across Canada are banding together to fight Justin Trudeau's carbon tax. Last month Trudeau announced that the Liberal government carbon pricing plan will include rebates for people in provinces that do not have their own plan. Dave is joined by National Post reporters Tyler Dawson and Maura Forrest to discuss the origins of the coalition of provincial politicians opposing...

As the world transitions to a knowledge-based, innovation economy, Canada is lagging behind. The Financial Post has kicked off a deep look at how this trend could endanger the country’s economic well-being, and what is needed to help businesses flourish and grow. In this episode, we speak with Jim Balsillie, a leader at the heart of the innovation movement about the challenges companies face, and...

It looks like Calgary will not be in the mix to host the 2026 Olympic winter games after all. After months of back and forth, the No side won out in a city-wide plebiscite Tuesday, leaving city council little choice but to scuttle a multi-billion dollar bid. We look at how the Yes side failed to make its case, and what the no vote says about possible future bids. Dave is joined by Calgary Herald r...