This Matters

Dr. Allen Upton talks to "This Matters" host Saba Eitizaz about how Black health leaders pushed for a grounbreaking pilot project to find out why COVID-19 was disproportionately impacting Black communities and what the research has revealed so far. He also talks about his work on the Black Scientists Task Force launched by the City of Toronto to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and misconception...

Despite restrictions, immigration data shows more than 322,000 people were granted work permits under temporary foreign worker programs. The second largest number of permits went to migrant workers. What do the numbers suggest about Canada's priorities on immigration, especially in a pandemic? Who gets left out? Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star's an immigration reporter who often covers refugee issues...

Ontario is now fully in reopening mode after Toronto and Peel Region moved into the grey zone on Monday. Yet despite this sign of progress, case counts are inching upward and hit 1,600 earlier this week. With concerning COVID variants circulating and the vaccine rollout really getting underway, a lot of numbers are flying around. To help sort through them, "This Matters" is joined by Ed Tubb, a St...

Research has revealed despite a steady growth in recent years, Canadian businesses owned by Indigenous women already up against systemic barriers have fallen prey to COVID. Tabatha Bull, an Anishinaabe woman from Nipissing First Nation and the president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, joins "This Matters" host Saba Eitizaz to speak about how we level the playing field for...

There's a reason why some people refer to COVID-19 variants as "scariants." If widespread, some of the modelling numbers are quite scary and eventual cases could overwhelm our health care system. If that happens some are worried the Health Care Consent Act of Ontario, a law that states a person has the right to consent to or refuse treatment, could potentially be suspended. Mariam Shanouda and Jes...

The airline industry is in a financial tailspin as travel remains limited and borders of many countries are restricted because of COVID-19. In Canada's aviation industry, airlines are under more pressure than ever before. The largest airlines are laying off thousands, while smaller ones could face bankruptcy. Robert Kokonis, founder of aviation consulting firm AirTrav, talks to "This Matters" host...

In Canada's non-profit sector, where many disenfranchised and racialized communities are considered, there is actually a diversity problem. A recent survey has revealed BIPOC are not represented in leadership at the table in their boardrooms. Today on "This Matters," we hear a powerful personal story of what that looks like from Soofia Mahmood, an immigrant who works in non-profits. Later, Toronto...

Hundreds of encampments have popped up in Toronto's city parks since the start of the pandemic. On "This Matters" we hear first-hand stories from Dom, an encampment resident who lives in Alexandra Park, who shares his experience surviving on the street. Lorraine Lam, an outreach worker from Sanctuary Toronto, joins part two of the episode to talk about what the city needs to do to help the most vu...

If you're feeling tired and rundown: you're not alone. There's a name for what you're feeling —   pandemic fatigue   — a biological response to your brain processing the "fight or flight" instinct over and over again, with no definitive timeline on when the pandemic will end.   Steve Joordens, psychology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, talks to "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung...

The boys of summer have reported for Spring Training, and thanks to some new additions, excitement for the Blue Jays is very high. Gregor Chisolm and Mike Wilner, the Star's baseball columnists, join "This Matters" to talk about the team's prospects, what the new additions add and why Toronto sports fans have reason for hope. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can...

Digital culture has long had an impact on our relationship with our bodies. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has fed into that too. Managing our health is harder than ever. One result is an alarming rise of people with eating disorders. On today's episode, mental health reporter Nadine Yousif talks to "This Matters" host Saba Eitizaz about eating disorders, why they are on the rise and why we need to ta...

A new voice chat-based social media app called Clubhouse has become the talk of tech town. Clubhouse offers something different in the social media space in that it's focused on audio. Data shows downloads just crossed 10 million in the Apple app store. The majority of those were just in the month of February alone. For an app that was little more than a blip on the radar until recently, it has al...

The Conservative Party of Canada is in a rebuilding phase as leader Erin O'Toole says there is "no place for the far right" in the party and has signalled a shift to the middle of the political spectrum. Susan Delacourt, national columnist for the Toronto Star, joins "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung to talk about the current state of the Tories, the idea of centrism in 2021 and what the long game...

The battle over the multibillion dollar estate of Barry and Honey Sherman is something worthy of Shakespeare or HBO's "Succession." From business to charitable pursuits, the children of the Shermans are in a bitter dispute over how to manage their fortune. Kevin Donovan, chief investigative reporter at The Star, has been investigating this case since the December 2017 double homicide and wrote the...

In 2008, Canadian journalist Mellissa Fung was abducted while on assignment in Afghanistan. She survived 28 days of torture and captivity inside a hole in the ground. In her new documentary "Captive," she makes the rare and difficult move to use the lens of her trauma to revisit the story of the Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped and brutalized by Boko Haram militants. Fung speaks to "This M...

The Province of Ontario is facing several battles over zoning after use of a tool called MZOs — Ministerial Zoning Orders — was found to expedite the planning process for new development. Some communities are fighting back against the controversial practice. Noor Javed, a Toronto Star reporter, has been following a story in Stratford, Ont. where the community successfully lobbied against the devel...

As lockdown orders have eased, many elements are still at play in the fight against COVID-19. Dr. Colin Furness, epidemiologist at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, joins "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung to sort through the science of face masks, the vaccination program, debates around reopening and a possible third wave down the road. If you would like to suppo...

Are your travel plans up in the air? Do you want to make a run for the border? Canadians have been warned about non-essential travel, but for those who still cross borders the federal government has enacted tougher measures and now requires COVID testing and quarantining when entering Canada. Those who try to dodge the rules will face possible fines. Will it help curb case numbers? Critics say the...

Millions of Canadians say their lives are noisier than they were before the pandemic. Today, Brian Bradley, digital producer for the Star, tells us about the impact of the symphony of noise in downtown Toronto, especially for those whose professional livelihoods depend on peace and quiet, like musicians and performers. Later on, Vancouver-based reporter Joanna Chiu helps cut through the noise and...

Advocates and families are calling for more cultural inclusivity for Canada's aging immigrant population living in long-term care, where there is more people of colour than ever before. Toronto Star reporter Olivia Bowden talks to "This Matters" host Saba Eitizaz about what we mean by cultural inclusivity and why we need it in long-term care. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toro...

Toronto Public Health (TPH) defines a workplace outbreak as "two or more people who test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days that are connected to the workplace setting." Rosa Saba, business reporter for the Toronto Star, joins "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung to sort through the details of workplace outbreaks, and what public health and businesses are doing to report outbreaks to the public whe...

The pandemic has shrunk people's lives. We've been limited to seeing the people in our homes, some family and maybe close friends. What happens when lose contact with acquaintances and serendipitous interactions in the world? The loss of this engagement and relationships can have a detrimental effect on our lives. Amanda Mull, staff writer for "The Atlantic," wrote an article about this and joins...

A Reuters report looking at the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has revealed that Canada has been deporting thousands of people since November last year, and lawyers say these deportations are ramping up even as COVID-19 rages, putting people needlessly at risk. The government says the deportations were necessary and done safely. Maureen Silcoff, president of the Canadian Association of Ref...

It's a story fit for a Hollywood script: anti-corruption crusader survives an assassination attempt, taking on an iron-fist government, inspiring thousands to take to the streets in protest. But this is Russia's reality and one of the biggest political stories in the world. Alexei Navalny , opposition leader and political enemy of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has been sentenced to prison afte...

With the Ontario government announcing its plan for all schools across the province to reopen, parents responded with a mixture of joy and uncertainty. The majority agrees kids should go back to the classroom, but concerns about safeguards remain as new more contagious variants of COVID-19 spread through the community. Kris Rushowy is a reporter for the Star's Queen's Park Bureau who has followed...