Unpublished Cafe

PUBLISHED: 19/05/2020 Canadians feel China has not come clean on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the picture is quite clear if a new Angus Reid Institute survey points out. In the span of just six months, the views of Canadians about China have plummeted. The latest numbers from Angus Reid Institute find a mere 14 percent of us have a favourable opinion of that nation. That’s down from th...

PUBLISHED: 17/05/2020 While it might seem like a breath of fresh air for families locked down in the pandemic, sending kids back to school is fraught with many hurdles. Limbo best describes the situation for students, teachers and administrators when it comes to COVID-19 and whether it is safe to return to class. How do you physical distance with five year old’s? Let’s face it, at the best of time...

PUBLISHED: 14/05/2020 It’s estimated more than 100 thousand medical procedures and elective surgeries have been cancelled so hospitals can focus on COVID-19. For those in need of surgical or a medical procedure, how long must they wait? When the pandemic arrived in Canada, hospitals had a singular focus, treat those infected with COVID-19. All other treatments and procedures were cancelled. In the...

PUBLISHED: 12/05/2020 It appears that the only thing that can cool off Canada’s red hot housing market is a global pandemic. April saw a ten percent reduction in Toronto home prices due to COVID-19. With more than two million jobs lost since the pandemic, the current unemployment rate has soared to 13%. Those kind of numbers keep home owners up at night wondering where their next mortgage payment...

PUBLISHED: 10/05/2020 How is it that the people on the front lines in the battle with COVID019 are the lowest paid and least appreciated workers in the pandemic? Long term care and retirement homes are the hot spots still when it comes to the virus. More than half the COVID deaths in Canada have been in long term care. Here in Ontario, more than 130 thousand people are Personal Support Workers. As...

PUBLISHED: 05/07/2020 The race continues for the Globe in the search for a reliable vaccine for COVID-19. Considering the vast impact on the economies around the world, when one is developed, should it be mandatory to get it? Researchers around the world are frantically working to find a vaccine for our current pandemic and while our Facebook feeds are full of stories of small breakthroughs in the...

PUBLISHED: 05/05/2020 We’re living in trying times these days as the COVID-19 pandemic turns our world upside down. Will it ever be the same again? We’re just past the seven week mark when Canada went into lockdown as the COVID-19 virus spread throughout Canada. Being sequestered in your home, possibly self isolating from your family can have a huge toll on your mental wellbeing. The economic deva...

PUBLISHED: 05/02/2020 The door appears to be opening a crack for Canada’s provinces when it comes to restarting the economy. Over seven weeks of lockdowns for Canadians due to the pandemic, Premiers from across the country for the most part are releasing plans to ease Emergency restrictions and opening up parts of their economy. In Ontario, there is a three-staged plan, but it’s short on dates. In...

PUBLISHED: 04/27/2020 When it comes to “flattening” the worry curve, Canadians aren’t immune to their state of mind being impacted by the pandemic. It’s been about six weeks since the country was effectively locked down as COVID-19 spread across the country. We’ve been in emergency situations before, such as the Ice Storm, wildfires out west, the floods in Alberta. But this goes coast to coast wit...

PUBLISHED: 04/25/2020 Is Canada’s food supply at a tipping point? Agriculture and food production are essential services in our COVID-19 world, but this is a key time for the industries to ensure we have enough on the table. We now see limits on how much you can purchase at the grocery store, that is if you can find what you need. There are even hurdles are facing those wanting to get crops into t...

PUBLISHED: 04/23/2020 Here we are a month into the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and voices are starting to rise when it comes to pointing the finger of blame. Earlier this week, former federal Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler penned a column calling for sanctions on China for not being honest with the World Health Organization and the rest of the globe about the pandemic that was sweeping through Wuh...

PUBLISHED: 04/21/2020 Strolling down the sidewalk has never been so complicated since we entered the physical distancing world of COVID-19. Canada has been locked down for about a month now as the country grapples with the pandemic. We are told to stay home except for essentials, yet many would like to get out for some fresh air, and a little exercise. The problem is if you live in a densely popul...

PUBLISHED: 04/18/2020 Grim numbers from Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. Over half of the COVID-19 deaths in Canada have been in long-term care and senior homes. The pain is palpable for this with family and friends in long-term care. The fatalities keep mounting of seniors suffering from COVID-19, putting in the spotlight several care institutions across Canada. The mounting numbers have...

PUBLISHED: 04/11/2020 In our new social isolation, physical distancing world, there is a group of people for whom that isn’t a reality. A group of leading medical professionals called on the federal and provincial governments to look at releasing low risk inmates to ease the burden on those facilities. They are ripe for an outbreak when you consider the close proximity of prisoners, guards, staff...

PUBLISHED: 04/14/2020 The picture of Canada’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic is coming into focus...and it’s not pretty. Earlier this week, The House of Commons Health Committee received documents and emails, compiled from the Ministries of Health, Transport, National Defence, Public Safety and Foreign Affairs. The pages show a fluid challenge for Canada as it appeared the federal government wo...

PUBLISHED: 04/07/2020 Cooped up in the house during isolation? For some it's been weeks, for others days - with the exception of essential workers, we're aiming to keep contact to a minimum. But how are we coping with that? Last week we asked our listeners how they have been fairing ever since COVID-19 turned our world upside down. Today we're chatting with a Cindy, and Ghazala from Ottawa, and Pe...

PUBLISHED: 04/05/2020 With neighbors like this, who needs friends? While Canadians self isolate and practice physical distancing, we glance south of the 49th parallel and see chaos, and in the midst of the chaos came word, the US President was ordering 3M to stop sending masks and ventilators to Canada and Latin America 3M, in it’s Defense pointed out the humanitarian impacts of such a move. It ce...

PUBLISHED: 03/21/2020 The long line ups and bare shelves have somewhat dissipated with the retail and food industries soothing Canadians that there is ample supply for everyone. Most eateries and restaurants are trying to stay afloat by offering delivery and take out. That brings some more questions about food safety. Farmers will start planting shortly for the upcoming season. Traditionally, they...

PUBLISHED: 03/26/2020 The Emergencies Act was brought in in 1988 to replace the previous War Measures Act. It would give the federal government sweeping powers over the provinces if they become overwhelmed when dealing with a major crisis. Every province in Canada has declared a State of Emergency in its jurisdiction as the Covid 19 virus continues to spread. But is it enough? To many, this would...

PUBLISHED: 03/21/2020 The virus originated in China's province of Wuhan around December - the virus was transmitted from animals to human in wild-animal meat market. The first reported death appears in January, and 9 days later its being reported around the world. In February, deaths are happening outside of China after the WHO declares Covid-19 a global health emergency. The virus is discovered t...

PUBLISHED: 04/14/2020 Brave and bold or same old same old. Two ends of the spectrum when it comes to Canada’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel’s final report. The result of 18 months of industry experts outlining what is needed in this country as the industry grapples with new, limber competitors in their traditional world. The report provides us with 97 recommendations...

PUBLISHED: 12/16/2019   The federal Liberals unwrapped their Throne Speech with many promises for Canadians. The only problem is the vision is about as clear as your view in a blinding snow storm.   Governor General Julie Payette read the road map the Grits are laying out for their next mandate. This one will be a little trickier to navigate with just a minority behind the wheel, depending on the...

PUBLISHED: 09/29/2019 Today on the Unpublished Cafe podcast:Despite declining unemployment and GDP growth in Canada, two thirds of Canadians feel the economic deck is stacked against them according to Ipsos Public Affairs. Traditionally, in our election cycle, one of the key issues on the trail is the economy. While there is an air of uncertainty among a majority of Canadians when it comes to the...

PUBLISHED: 09/18/2019 It’s traditionally one of the key issues in Canadian elections; Health Care. Canadians are particularly protective of health care, and it is gearing up to be one of the main issues up for debate. Health care affects us all differently depending on need. It seems the upcoming federal election is being drowned out by the mud slinging and rhetoric which is distracting from the r...

These are heady days for Canada’s Green Party. A second MP in the House of Commons, more than just moral victories in PEI where it makes up the official Opposition. In BC, where they control the balance of power and in Ontario where a Green MPP sits at Queens Park. But can all the goodwill translate into seats in the next federal election. While the writ has yet to drop, it could at any moment and...