10/3: Canada Covered

The post-pandemic economic recovery has brought with it a return to business as usual for many Canadians. But while that’s generally good news, it has also meant a record number of jobs going unfilled, with many sectors unable to operate at capacity due to vacancies. Kevin Carmichael, editor-in-chief of the Financial Post, joins the show to discuss why we’re seeing such high numbers of job vacanci...

While Quebec’s election may be all but a done deal, with Francois Legault’s party holding a sizable polling lead over his opponents, it’s far from a sleeper election. Less than two weeks out from voting day and we’ve seen a race that upends traditional patterns of support, and has focused on controversial issues around languages, immigration and notions of freedom. National Post columnist Tasha Kh...

Millions of Canadians at some point or another have suffered from depression, and sought out treatment. Now, a controversial new study has poked a very large hole in long-held notions around depression and anti-depressants. National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss how widespread depression is, what this new study says about the relationship between anti-d...

In the days since the death of Queen Elizabeth, plans for what is expected to be a monumental memorial have been unfolding. With the queen now lying in state in London, attention is focused on her funeral on Monday at Westminster Abbey. Toronto Sun columnist Christina Blizzard joins me to discuss what will happen in the lead-up to the funeral and the day itself, and what is next for the monarchy u...

Pierre Poilievre’s first-ballot victory in the Conservative leadership race shows a party more unified than the campaign may have led many to believe. The new opposition leader now faces a tall order: unite his caucus to present a government in waiting in order to beat the Trudeau Liberals in the next election, whenever that may come. National Post political reporter Catherine Levesque joins me to...

The manhunt for the last remaining suspect in a series of stabbing attacks in Saskatchewan ended with the capture and death of Myles Sanderson. This brought an end to a horrific series of events that saw 12 people, including the two suspects, killed, and nearly 20 people sent to hospital. Prior to the arrest, host Dave Breakenridge caught up with Saskatoon Star Phoenix reporter Zak Vescera to disc...

In a province facing concerns over health care, education, and what to do with a booming oil-based budget surplus, the race to replace Jason Kenney as United Conservative Party and premier has largely focused on one major issue: Alberta’s autonomy. The discussion about various ways to advance Alberta’s place in Confederation was once again front and centre at the final leadership debate in Edmonto...

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly Canadians from coast to coast. But four of those deaths, from a small community hospital in eastern Ontario, are being treated as a murder investigation. Ottawa Citizen reporter Aedan Helmer joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the doctor behind the accusations, who the victims are and what we know about the case so far. Background...

As hospitals across the country face staffing shortages, ward closures and increasing wait times, several premiers had a summit with a federal minister to address healthcare reform. Premiers from Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI sat down with the intergovernmental affairs minister this week to discuss possible solutions. National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins Dave Break...

A year after the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans who helped Canadians during the war are still stuck in the country. Many are living in hiding, fearful of the repercussions they and their families could face if they’re found. National Post reporter Tom Blackwell joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how precarious the situation is for our allies in Afghanistan, why ther...

The Papal visit to Canada was seen by many as an important step on the path to reconciliation. But did Pope Francis’s apology for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools go far enough? And in the grand scheme of things, does it make a difference? Doug Cuthand, Indigenous affairs columnist for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the signific...

A group of patients have launched a charter challenge to help them get access to what they say is life-saving treatment of psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin, more commonly referred to as magic mushrooms, is seen as a way to treat extreme cases of anxiety and depression. Sam Riches, who writes for the National Post and the GrowthOp, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why psilocybin is seen as a viab...

The governing body for hockey in Canada is facing a lot of scrutiny for how it handled the investigation into, and settling of, an alleged sexual assault involving some members of the 2018 world junior team. Sponsors have pulled funding, and executives have appeared before members of parliament to answer questions, but many are wondering what it will take to make systemic change to the organizatio...

When a new federal Conservative leader is elected September 10, will the party rally behind the leader, or will it come out of this contest showing fractures? A moderate group of Conservatives is looking to highlight some more mainstream policies during the campaign, but some within the party feel it’s a shot at perceived front-runner Pierre Poilievre. National Post political reporter Catherine Le...

Amid a summer of troubles in Canada’s airline industry, Calgary and Vancouver staff of big player WestJet could soon walk off the job. The strike would be the latest in a line of disruptions Canadian travellers have faced this summer as they take to the skies after two years of pandemic restrictions. Calgary Herald business reporter Josh Aldrich joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why these WestJet...

The leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics arrives in Canada in the coming days, with a focus of the trip being reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and an apology for abuses committed at church-run residential schools. The visit comes amid declining influence and attendance for the church, a change that has been happening over decades. National Post reporter and Michelle Lang Fellow Jessic...

In recent weeks on 10/3, we've highlighted a new true crime podcast from Postmedia and Antica productions, called True Crime Byline. The show looks at some of the biggest criminal cases in the country, and what it was like for the journalists who covered them. True Crime Byline is available now, wherever you find this podcast, but have a listen to the first episode right here: This isn't a story a...

The race to replace Erin O’Toole as leader of Canada’s Conservatives took a surprising turn with the party’s leadership committee removing Patrick Brown as a candidate. It’s alleged that a private corporation had paid members of Brown’s campaign staff, which would be a violation of Canadian election law. National Post political reporter Ryan Tumilty joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss how thes...

As candidates duke it out over who is best to lead the Conservative Party of Canada, many in the conservative movement are asking what the party itself should look like, and how to best position itself to beat the Liberals in the next election. After three straight losses, many see the next campaign as being mission-critical for the party. Tasha Kheiriddin, principal at Navigator LTD and author of...

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade has set off a spate of controversy over whether access to abortion will be severely limited or outright banned in many states. And, as their closest neighbour, the issue has spilled over into Canada.  National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave to discuss why the fallout from the Roe decision could have ramifications for Canadian women who wor...

The inquiry into Canada’s worst mass shooting has developed into a political scandal, with allegations the head of the RCMP interfered with the investigation to help push Liberal firearms policy. In notes uncovered by the Mass Casualty Commission, it appears that Commissioner Brenda Lucki demanded Nova Scotia RCMP release the types of guns Gabriel Wortman used to kill more than 20 people in advanc...

Early in the race to replace Jason Kenney as leader of Alberta’s conservatives, the conversation has turned to the province’s place in Confederation, with one frontrunner pushing an aggressive strategy. Danielle Smith is proposing an Alberta Sovereignty Act, which would allow the province to supersede federal law deemed not to be in Alberta’s interests. National Post reporter Tyler Dawson joins Da...

Openness and transparency are key tenets of our justice system. But what happens when more and more information is locked behind a publication ban? In a first-of-its-kind investigation, reporters Adrian Humphreys and Talha Hashmani looked into the rising number of discretionary publication bans in both criminal and civil cases. Adrian joins Dave to discuss why more publication bans are being grant...

What is it like to cover some of the most notorious criminal cases in Canadian history, to dig into a story, and follow the details as it winds through court? How do the really big cases affect the reporters on those stories? Kathleen Goldhar, host of True Crime Byline, a new podcast from Postmedia and Antica Productions, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the new show, what listeners can expect,...

A decade after she died by suicide, the case against Amanda Todd’s alleged tormentor has landed in a B.C. courtroom. Dutch national Aydin Coban is facing a number of charges in what the Crown prosecutor is calling a horrific case of sextortion. Vancouver Sun reporter Susan Lazaruk joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what the Crown is alleging Coban did to Amanda Todd, how they’re trying to prove th...