10/3: Canada Covered

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Canada, the lingering question that’s on a lot of peoples minds is “When the heck are we gonna get a vaccine for this thing?” Well, some promising signs on this front as a pair of pharmaceutical companies say they have vaccines almost ready to go. Dave is joined by National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey to talk about why cases are on the rise in Canada, the promise shown by these vaccine developments, and the challenge of getting them distributed once they’re approved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erin O’Toole could well be Canada’s next prime minister. He just needs to do something that has happened just once in the last 30 years, win a Conservative majority. And to do that, he’s looking for voters you don’t typically see right-wing parties courting. Union members. Dave is joined by National Post politics reporter Brian Platt to talk about why O’Toole is looking at this voter base as a way to grow support, what the pitch he’s making is, and whether this could actually pave the way to a Conservative win. Background reading: Why Erin O'Toole is gambling on building a new, union-friendly Conservative voting coalition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republicans may have lost the White House, but it doesn’t mean their party is battered and bruised. With a conservative majority on the supreme court, and potentially retaining the Senate, the Republicans are in a good place to keep president-elect Joe Biden in check over the next four years. But what does a Republican Party look like without Donald Trump? Nicholas Lemann, a staff writer at The New Yorker, joins Dave to talk about what the mentality is behind Trump’s challenge of the results, how party leaders may be looking to move past this election and position themselves for the midterms in two years. Background reading: The Republican Identity Crisis After Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a candidate for U.S. president, Joe Biden talked about wanting to get the country off its dependency on oil. But how things will actually play out under President Biden — and what this means for Canada’s energy sector — is still up in the air. Will that stance mean less U.S. oil production, which means an opportunity for Canadian companies? Could Alberta’s oil be hit with a cross-border carbon tax? And where does a green new deal fit in? Geoffrey Morgan, who covers energy and power for The Financial Post, joins Dave by phone to talk about the ramifications of a Biden presidency for Alberta oil, the Keystone XL pipeline and how it could force Justin Trudeau and Jason Kenney to work together for the sake of the energy sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Canadian Forces is looking to set up a new propaganda arm to try to influence the behaviour of people in this country. The proposal, revealed in documents uncovered by Postmedia, are an extension of a plan from the Chief of Defence Staff to ‘weaponize’ the military’s public affairs branch Dave is joined by Ottawa Citizen military affairs reporter David Pugliese, who uncovered the story, to walk through what this organization would do, why they’re trying to influence Canadians’ behaviour, and what this could mean for the public perception of the forces. Background reading: Canadian military wants to establish new organization to use propaganda, other techniques to influence Canadians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been 11 years since an Ottawa teen vanished without a trace. Initially thought to be a runaway, there appears to be no indication of what happened to Justin Rutter. Dave Breakenridge is joined by Ottawa Citizen reporter Taylor Blewett about the circumstances around Rutter’s disappearance, why his family has concerns about the investigation, and whether his mother feels she’ll ever get closure. Background reading: 'What happened to Justin Rutter?': The Ottawa teen vanished 11 years ago. His disappearance remains a mystery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

B.C. Premier John Horgan shocked many, including his governing partners in the Green Party, when he called a snap election last month. And while many felt voters would punish Horgan and the NDP for heading to the polls during a pandemic, breaking an agreement with the Greens in the process, the NDP now has a majority government. Dave is joined by Vancouver Sun legislative columnist Rob Shaw to talk about the motivation behind calling an election, why the NDP didn’t take a hit politically, and what it means now that Horgan has a majority government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Trudeau’s Liberals survived a confidence vote over a Conservative push to dig deeper into the WE Charity affair. Canadians may be spared a fall election, but the political games are far from over. Dave is joined by National Post political reporter Chris Nardi to discuss why the Liberals seemed keen to push us close to a pandemic election, why this move poses a problem for the NDP, and whether this hampers the Conservative efforts to hold the government to account. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1984 death of Christine Jessop and wrongful conviction of Guy Paul Morin rocked the country. In a surprise announcement this month, police announced they had identified Christine’s Killer. Dave is joined by Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington by phone to talk about the historic case, who it’s believed the killer is, and how police solved this mystery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of Barry and Honey Sherman, whose murder nearly three years ago remains unsolved, has taken another twist. The fight over the couple’s estate files has hit the Supreme Court this week. National Post crime reporter Adrian Humphreys joins Dave to talk about how an inheritance proceeding wound up at Canada's highest court, why the family is fighting to have these records kept private and what the legal implications of this case could be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The viral video showing a dying Indigenous woman screaming while she is subjected to verbal abuse by staff at a Quebec hospital has reignited the debate over racism in the health-care system. The recording, made by Joyce Echaquan herself from her hospital bed, has led to the firing of two hospital staff members, and has sparked a coroner’s investigation. But there are many saying that this is a deeper problem than one woman’s death. Dave is joined by Nazila Bettache, an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the Univeristy de Montreal, who co-authored an op-ed on racism in the health care sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Already battered by a price roller-coaster in 2020, big players in Canada’s oilpatch have announced plans for cost-cutting or layoffs. Oilsands giant Suncor was the latest to announce changes, with a planned 10-15 per cent cut to its workforce. Dave is joined by Calgary Herald business columnist Chris Varcoe to discuss what’s driving these moves, how deep the industry’s problems go, and what it means for Alberta’s economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the hardest hit provinces in COVID-19’s first wave, Quebec’s rising case numbers suggest it is into a second wave of the pandemic. The spike in cases in September has meant that premier Francois Legault has had to announce stricter lockdown restrictions in some areas. Dave is joined by Montreal Gazette Assistant City Editor Monique Beaudin to discuss where the spike in cases is coming from, who is affected by the new lockdown, and what measures are being taken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After proroguing parliament in August, the Liberals delivered just their second throne speech since being elected in 2015. And with the support of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP, the Justin Trudeau’s team avoids having to fight an election battle a year into their second mandate. I’m Dave Breakenridge and this is 10/3. I’m joined by Parliamentary bureau chief and National post columnist John Ivison to discuss whether the throne speech was the big agenda reset Trudeau suggested it would be, and why the NDP decided to back the Liberals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than 200 years, science has had a sure-fire way of dealing with many deadly, debilitating viruses. The vaccine. And as we move through theCOVID-19 pandemic, a vaccine is what we’re hinging our hopes on if we want to get back to normal. Dave is joined by National post health reporter Sharon Kirkey to discuss how important a vaccine is to beating the pandemic, how officials could decide who receives it first, and what concerns people may have about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many sectors in our economy, the federal government has been doling out cash to Canadians. The CERB, or Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, was meant to help people through a very unexpected bumpy ride. But the CERB has sparked renewed discussions about a universal basic income in Canada. Dave Breakenridge is joined by national post political reporter Stuart Thomson about what a basic income would look like, who is pushing this idea, and what some of the potential pitfalls are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dark chapter in B.C. criminal history has come to a close. Jamie Bacon, the last person convicted in the Surrey Six massacre, has been sentenced to an additional five years on top of time served, for his role in the slayings. Vancouver Sun Crime reporter Kim Bolan joins Dave to look back at the Surrey six killings, discuss what Bacon ultimately pleaded guilty to, and why the case was so complicated in getting to sentencing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to gun crime in Canada, one question that often gets asked is “where are these guns coming from?” Some of them are ill-gotten Canadian firearms, but many of them are smuggled across the border from the United States, where guns are plentiful. But just how do they get here? Dave is joined by National Post reporter Adrian Humphreys to talk about recent case in the U.S. that breaks down the journey from an Ohio gun show to the streets of Toronto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were still learning about the virus, Canadians looked to the top doctors for advice. In B.C. and Alberta, people were comforted by the calm demeanours of Doctors Bonnie Henry and Deena Hinshaw. But, as provinces have rolled out back-to-school plans, that comfort has started to fade, with much of the criticism being directed at the health officials. Dave Breakenridge is joined by the National Post’s Tyler Dawson about where the criticism has come from, why the doctors are the targets, and how much provincial politics play a role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Floating amid the 2020 U.S. presidential election campaign, is a conspiracy theory that Donald Trump is the only one who can stop a cabal of Satanists who are molesting and trafficking in children. While unique in its details, QAnon shares DNA with childhood allegations of ritual sexual abuse unearthed in a 1980 book by a Victoria woman and her psychiatrist. Dave is joined by freelance writer Jen Gerson about what led to the Satanic Panic conspiracy, why it spread so easily, and what we’ve learned that can help combat conspiracies like QAnon. Read Jen's article for The Capital: The destructive conspiracy theory that Victoria unleashed upon the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a very lengthy wait Sunday night, Erin O’Toole was crowned leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. He now faces the dual challenge of acquainting himself with voters, while preparing for the possibility of facing Justin Trudeau in a general election… because who knows what can happen with a minority parliament, right? Dave is joined by National Post columnist and Ottawa bureau chief John Ivison about what are the next step for O’Toole after winning the leadership, how he balances the more centrist and right-leaning factions within the party, and how quickly he could have to face voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in 101 years, there will not be a Grey Cup winner. And for the first time in 102 years, there won’t even be a CFL season. The Canadian Football League cancelled plans for shortened play in a hub city, after failing to get a loan from the feds. Dave is joined by Postmedia national sports columnist Dan Barnes to discuss why the feds turned down the league, whether we’ll see a 2021 season, and what this says about the health of the league and football in Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a months-long campaign hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conservative Party of Canada will soon have a new leader. The deadline for ballots is just days away, and it’s anticipated Andrew Scheer’s successor will be crowned on August 23. Just who that will be is very much up in the air. The National Post’s Brian Platt joins Dave to talk about why Peter MacKay’s front-runner status isn’t a lock, why Erin O’Toole could be vulnerable, and how Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan could play spoiler on a ranked ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fault lines in the Liberal government were laid bare Monday with the resignation of finance minister Bill Morneau. Morneau had served as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s only finance minister since the Liberal government was elected, but he has opted to step down as MP less than a year into the government’s second term. Dave is joined by the National Post's Chris Nardi to talk about the friction between Morneau and the PM that likely led to his departure, what this could mean for the direction of the federal government, and who Morneau's replacement will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is part of Postmedia’s reopening Canada series. Getting kids back to school is seen by many as one of the keys to getting Canadians back to work in the wake of COVID-19. But, as the first day of school looms, many are worried that the first math lesson of the year focused on counting new infections. Dave is joined by National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey to talk about what we’ve learned so far when it comes to kids and coronavirus, how effective they are at spreading the virus, and what can be done to make a return to the classroom as safe as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The reduced sentence for an Edmonton man convicted of five sexual assaults has once again raised concerns about how Canada’s justice system handles cases of sexual violence. Matthew McKnight’s crimes warranted 16 years, the judge said, but ultimately he was handed a sentence of half that amount. Dave is joined by advocate Kristin Raworth, herself a survivor of sexual violence, to discuss why the sentence is concerning and how the justice system is failing victims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started as a controversy about ties between the prime minister’s family and a prominent Canadian charity, and a 900 million dollar government contract has turned into an ethics investigation involving Justin Trudeau and one of his senior ministers, as well as more scrutiny on the operations of WE charity. The brewing scandal came to a head last week in key testimony before a parliamentary committee. National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave to talk about what we learned from the finance committee last week, how there are still conflicting accounts about how this deal came together, and whether the PM has been able to shed any light on the matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada’s oil and gas sector took a major hit as COVID-19 shut down travel and a price war cratered the cost of a barrel. But as our economy starts to grow again, things are a little more sluggish in the oilpatch. Dave talks with Calgary Herald business columnist Chris Varcoe about how the industry has rebounded, what the pandemic has done to the bottom lines of some big players, and what the outlook is for the future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the time of summer when parents are thinking about back to school. New clothes for the kids. New school supplies. Watching their children grow. But COVID-19 has added a new dimension to the back to school discussion: how to do so safely, while we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. While some provinces are still working out plans or waiting on school boards to submit theirs, Alberta laid out its guidelines this week. Dave is joined by Edmonton Journal legislature reporter Ashley Joannou to talk about what Alberta classrooms could look like come September, why the government feels there is a need to get kids back in the classroom, and how they hope to manage safety concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is part of Postmedia’s Reopening Canada series, a look at how the country’s economy is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite diving into a deep recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s economy is reopening, and showing signs of growth. Experts say while the recession was as deep as anyone can remember, it is relatively short-lived. But how long Canada will take to recover is still an open question. Dave is joined by Financial Post columnist Kevin Carmichael. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What seemed like a noble program in the middle of a pandemic — a grant that would pay students for volunteer hours — has turned into a political nightmare for the prime minister. The Justin Trudeau government’s $900-million Canada Student Service Grant program was awarded to WE Charity, an organization with ties to the PM and his family members. Amid controversy, WE has pulled out of the project, but it has continued to dog Justin Trudeau. Dave is joined by National Post political reporter Christopher Nardi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic was the air travel industry, as restrictions on movement and social distancing rules meant no one was flying. Now the economy is starting to re-open, airlines and airports are facing a struggle to coax passengers to return to the skies. Dave is joined by Financial Post reporter and Down to Business podcast host Gabe Friedman. This episode is part of Postmedia’s Reopening Canada series, a look at how the country’s economy is recovering as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ebb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who or what is a Cronk? That’s the question a university of Calgary researcher asked himself when he spotted that word in an 1880s version of a Calgary newspaper. What happened next is the best of all social media stories. Dave is joined by Paul Fairie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When COVID-19 hit, many workers across the country who were able to started working from home. More than three month’s in, and for many, it be a permanent change. But the end of the office isn’t without problems. Dave is joined by Financial Post reporter Vanmala Subramaniam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid calls for sweeping police reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, some have been wondering what any changes will mean for community safety? How would a reformed police respond to gang violence? Why is it important that they do? And what needs to be done to steer people from the gang lifestyle? Dave is joined by Jamil Jivani, author Why Young Men: The Dangerous Allure of Violent Movements and What We Can Do About It. Read his recent article, Stigmatize Gang Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calls for police reform are growing louder in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, and in Canada, the debate is starting to hit city halls and provincial legislatures across the country. In Edmonton, city council is in the middle of a heated public hearing, where councillors are being told story after story of incidents of racism, and demands for action on defunding or reforming the the police service. Dave is joined Edmonton Journal city columnist Keith Gerein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in April, a Liberal MP from southern Ontario was charged with a series of crimes: criminal harassment, assault and break-and-enter. But despite the serious nature of the crimes, and the stature of the man accused, the allegations weren’t uncovered until two months later. Dave BreakenridgeI is joined by National Post crime writer Adrian Humphreys who explains the allegations against the MP, why police withheld the information, and how even the highest reaches of government were kept in the dark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mobile ordering apps offer consumers a great deal of convenience. No lines, no fuss. But those apps are capable of tracking you and your movements with an almost creepy degree of accuracy. Dave is joined National Post Technology Reporter James McLeod about how he discovered Tim Hortons was keeping tabs on him, even when his app wasn’t on, how much detail they collected and why consumers should be wary. Background reading: How Tim Hortons knows where you sleep, work and vacation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the world stands up in protest of police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis cops, talk grows louder of the need for drastic reforms. Among the solutions being discussed are changes to drug policy, an end to street checks or carding, and pulling money from police budgets to put into better mental health and social supports. Many are calling for "defunding" the police. Dave is joined by National Post contributor Josephine Mathias and later by columnist Jesse Kline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of George Floyd after a Minnesota police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes has led to protests all over the U.S. Protests here in Canada have also led to a discussion about systemic racism in this country. Dave is joined by the Financial Post’s Vanmala Subramaniam who discusses what that systemic racism is, why there is debate about it in Canada, and how protests sparked by George Floyd’s death could push our country to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conditions at Ontario long-term care and seniors homes were laid bare in a troubling report from Canadian Forces staff who were working in the facilities to help amid the COVID-19 crisis. But those who follow the issue will tell you that these are ongoing issues in part of the health care system that doesn’t always get the attention it needs. Dave is joined by Ottawa Citizen health reporter Elizabeth Payne to talk about how COVID-19 may have made existing problems worse, and how the report, and the pandemic may force real change on long-term care in Ontario and the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A damning report from Canadian Forces staff who were called in to help at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak has revealed horrible conditions at some Ontario long-term care facilities. The report, which focused on conditions at five Toronto-area centres, detailed cockroach infestations, inadequate nutrition, rotten food, and one instance of a resident choking to death after being fed while lying down. Ontario premier Doug Ford called it the hardest day he’s had as premier. I talk with the National Post’s Chris Selley about what the premier is proposing to do now, how COVID-19 makes this situation worse, and later we touch on the controversy about large gatherings in Toronto parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The teenager who went on a stabbing rampage at a Toronto massage parlour earlier this year has been hit with terrorism-related charges. The teen’s case marks the first time terrorism charges have been laid in connection with the ideology known as incel, or involuntary celibate, a woman hating online subculture. Dave is joined by the National Post's Joseph Brean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masks. Are you wearing one when you go out? As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, masks are likely to become a big part of day-to-day life. They can help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But how do they affect they way others see us? Or how we see ourselves? What kind of communication challenges will we have? The Montreal Gazette's Monique Beaudin and the National Post's Sharon Kirkey discuss the psychology of masks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted across the country, and provinces are trying to find a path back to normalcy while trying to limit the severity of a probable next wave. While cases have fallen off in some areas, Ontario is letting people out of lockdown while still seeing increases in cases. The National Post’s Richard Warnica joins Dave to talk about why Ontario is lifting restrictions now, what pitfalls they could face, and why Ontario’s recovery is so important to the rest of Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montreal has been the hardest hit by COVID-19 in Canada. While the rest of Quebec begins to open up, Montreal's date has been pushed back. So why has it been so bad there? The Montreal Gazette's Monique Beaudin and Philip Authier discuss all you need to know about Canada's pandemic epicentre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta has the dubious distinction of being the source of the largest single COVID-19 outbreak in North America. Roughly 1,500 cases have been linked to the Cargill beef processing plant south of Calgary. There are also several hundred cases linked to a JBS beef plant near brooks Alberta. Dave is joined by Calgary herald columnist Licia Corbella about how the virus spread, who has been affected by the outbreaks, and whether appropriate safety measures have been taken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governments in Canada are beginning to plan reopening schools. The evidence is mixed on how much children spread the virus that causes COVID-19. What would reopened schools look like and is it even possible to get children, especially small children, to stay two metres apart? The Montreal Gazette's Monique Beaudin hosts and is joined by National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the deadly shooting spree in Nova Scotia, and amid a nation-wide shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on a number of assault-style weapons. The move, he says, fulfills an election promise, but there is controversy over who it targets and what is left out. National Post columnist Chris Selley joins Dave to talk about the timing of the ban, and why it may not be the public safety solution that the Liberals want it to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re getting a clearer picture of what happened the night Gabriel Wortman started his killing spree in Nova Scotia. At the end of nearly 12 hours Wortman had killed 22 people before being gunned down by RCMP at a gas station north of Halifax. Dave speaks with the National Post's Christopher Nardi about what sparked the murders, how Wortman evaded detection for as long as he did and what questions remain unanswered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices