This Matters

Guest: Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association Despite spending much of the pandemic trying to ensure that hospitals were not overwhelmed, incredibly long waits at emergency departments at hospitals across the country are becoming the norm. In Ontario, the average wait time for an ER visit is 20 hours and anecdotal stories of patients waiting hours and even days for treatment keep adding up. There are several reasons for this, from pandemic burn out-caused staff shortages and other issues in the health care system, like a lack of family doctors across the country. Experts are sounding the alarm as things must change to improve the situation. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: May Warren, Toronto Star reporter Fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses are now open to all Ontarians older than 18 years of age. Ontario's chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore made the much awaited announcement to expand eligibility on Wednesday, but the tone of the announcement left many confused. Dr. Moore said that healthy, currently vaccinated people continue to have significant protection against the worst effects of COVID, and can, if they want, wait for a new vaccine in the fall that will better target Omicron variants. So, should you get a shot right now or not? Reporter May Warren helps you make that decision. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Stephanie Levitz, politics reporter for the Star With just under two months left in the Conservative party leadership race, it's been a wild week that still hasn't been settled. Disqualified leadership candidate Patrick Brown is using legal means to see if he can remain in the race, but also throwing his support behind leadership candidate Jean Charest. He and Pierre Poilievre are the front-runners for the top job in an important contest where things like traditional conservative values are being challenged by a new populism, which is what the party has to wrestle with and reconcile as they choose a new leader. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources used in this episode: Global News, CTV, CBC, CPAC.

Guest: Christine Dobby, business reporter at the Star, joins us to talk Rogers fallout and the new requirement for telecom companies to help each other during outages. The Rogers network outage affected Canadians, businesses and services across the country, and now the federal government wants to make sure it never happens again, mandating that the country's telecommunications companies come up with formal agreements to help each other — and consumers — when one is experiencing a serious network disruption. Of course, how all that will work remains to be seen as does whether it will actually make a difference next time? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources used in this episode: CBC, Global News

Guest: Edward Keenan, Washington Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star Last month, as Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman to be sworn in as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, the moment was almost overshadowed by a series of decisions by America's top court that will change the very shape of the future. One after the other, the Supreme Court struck down abortion rights, rolled back gun restrictions in New York and severely curtailed the powers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon emissions and counter global warming. Ed Keenan talks about the current shape of a Supreme Court that seems to be moving the United States staunchly to the right. Audio Sources: NPR, NBC, Bloomberg, CBS News, Washington Post, Fox News This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Jacques Gallant, politics reporter As Bill C-5 moves through the legislative process, Canadians who have been convicted of simple possession of drugs could see their records disappear in the next few years. Although it won't be an amnesty, the government is using a system called sequestration that would effectively hide the records. It's another sign of the changing way authorities are dealing with illegal drugs and how people are punished for having them. This episode was produced by Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Armine Yalnizyan, Economist & Atkinson Fellow Throughout the pandemic, nurses worked long hours with fewer resources and made major sacrifices to keep us safe. For some, perks that made the job appealing like stable income and a pension are wearing off as other issues remain unaddressed. This includes Ontario's Bill 124, wage cap legislation as the cost of living and inflation continues to rise. As burnt out and exhausted nurses are leaving the profession in large numbers, a growing number of nurses have found an alternative where they can set their own hours and choose the jobs they want, all while earning more money. It's called agency nursing and it's skyrocketing across the country. Canadian economist Armine Yalnizyan talks about this new trend and what it could mean for the future of health care. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guests: Dr. Grace Parraga, Tier 1 Canada research chair in lung imaging at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Dr. Michael Nicholson, a respirologist with the post-acute COVID-19 program at St. Joseph's Hospital in London, Ont. An estimated one in ten COVID survivors suffer from long COVID. The cause of the condition has puzzled doctors and long COVID sufferers are frustrated by the lack of knowledge and support. With an estimated 200 symptoms associated with long COVID, it's hard to diagnose and treat. Now, an Ontario research team has made a discovery that could be key in helping to diagnose it and potentially find treatments. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Rosa Saba, business reporter at the Star The Bay is spending millions on reinventing itself to appeal to Canadians. With a history that predates Canada, the company has a long tradition that in some ways hampers it, as young people think of it as their grandparents' store. The company is updating its product offerings in-store and its automation for its online operations, which has plans to offer same-day delivery across much of Canada. Are they making the right moves? Or is it too little, too late? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Dr. Andrew Boozary, physician and executive director of UHN's Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine A pilot project called Food Rx, run in collaboration with the University Health Network (UHN) and the non-profit FoodShare, is aiming to tackle growing food insecurity in Toronto with a "doctor's prescription" for regular home delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables. Nearly one in five Toronto households have inadequate or insecure access to food due to lack of money, and it has become a serious public health issue. According to the latest Who's Hungry report by the Daily Bread and North York Harvest Food banks, visits to food banks skyrocketed by 47 per cent last year. Pilot programs like Food Rx are much needed but what does it say about a system where health care workers are providing prescriptions for food and will it work as food inflation continues to rise? This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Alex Ballingall, politics reporter for The Star As Ottawa prepares for a larger and less COVID dampened Canada Day, protesters are making their way to the city to protest vaccine mandates, health restrictions and other freedoms they feel have been curtailed. Thinking back to some organizers who were involved with this past winter's "Freedom Convoy," which occupied the city for weeks, some of the city's residents are worried about this being a sequel. The organizers are promising peaceful demonstrations but also more demonstrations over the summer. Will Ottawa's police ensure a repeat won't happen?

Guests: Trevor Manson, co-chair ODSP Action Coalition, and Anne Jensen, mental health and disability advocate Ontario's Disability Support Program (ODSP), which provides income and employment support to people with disabilities, has been criticized by advocates for being out of touch with economic realities. The most a single person can receive through ODSP is $1,169 per month, or $14,028 annually. That's about 30 per cent below the province's poverty line of roughly $20,000. The Ford government has promised a modest ODSP boost of 5 percent, but is it anywhere near to the skyrocketing cost of living in this province? We ask two people on ODSP what it's like to get by on so little. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Jacob Lorinc, Business Reporter at The Star. The message early in the pandemic was simple from many employers: Get vaccinated. Now, as vaccine mandates are being lifted, some employees who were suspended or laid off for choosing not to get vaccinated are fighting back, often through their unions or civil lawsuits. The other issue is the vast majority of employees are vaccinated, many of whom are in favour of some type of rules in the office, so that they feel safer about heading back. Some employers are experimenting with radical solutions, but what is the fair and equitable way forward for all? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Rosemary Westwood, reproductive health reporter The U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade — a nearly 50-year-old constitutional right for a woman to end a pregnancy — will lead to bans on abortion in more than half of U.S states. That means abortion clinics will be forced to close in large swathes of the country. According to Planned Parenthood, more than 36 million people could lose abortion access. Rosemary Westwood, reproductive health reporter and host of the podcast "Banned," explains how one Mississippi case led to the end of the protected right to legal abortions and what this new reality in the U.S. means. UPDATE: A Louisiana court has temporarily blocked the state's trigger laws on abortion. The blocking is temporary and a hearing on the matter has been set for July 8. Abortions can resume in Louisiana in the meantime. Audio sources: Reuters, New York Times, PBS, CNBC

Guest: Allan Woods, global and national affairs reporter for the Toronto Star As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth long month, you may wonder, what's it like in Russia? In a country slipping into further isolation and sanctions, where information is tightly guarded, do Russians support this war or are they living in fear of government surveillance and censorship at home? According to Star reporter Allan Woods, the answer is as complicated as the country. Like many journalists, Allan fled Russia when the war broke out. He had lived in Moscow for over four years. He made a recent trip back to Moscow and he gives us a glimpse into a city that appears as electric as ever — at least on the surface. Audio sources: France24, PBS, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Jon Wells, feature writer for the Hamilton Spectator Hamilton has a long history of organized crime. One of the biggest events in its history was the killing of Johnny "The Enforcer" Papalia in broad daylight on May 31, 1997. Ken Murdock was the man who pulled the trigger. Jon Wells, a feature writer at the Hamilton Spectator, tracked down one of Canada's most notorious hit men and joins "This Matters" to talk about what it was like speaking to a killer in search of a story. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Erica Pimentel, assistant professor at the Smith School of Business at Queen's University Cryptocurrencies have been spiralling downward for the past two months after bitcoin's value fell below $20,000 U.S., several exchanges halted trading and one company announced layoffs of their workforce. It's a fast turnaround for a sector that is otherwise known for making people incredibly rich. Many are asking if this is just a bump in the road or the beginning of fundamental change, including more regulations on the sector. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Victoria Gibson, affordable housing reporter Hundreds of tenants of Swansea Mews, a beleaguered west Toronto community housing complex, have been thrown into turmoil after a ceiling collapsed and the complex was later deemed structurally unsafe. Residents have now been told they would need to relocate to motel rooms and dorms. There is no timeline for how long they will be displaced. What will the future look like when community housing in the city has been in dire straits for years? Toronto Star reporter Victoria Gibson explains the latest developments at Swansea Mews and how that sheds light on systemic issues within the Toronto Community Housing Corporation. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Paulo Marques

Guest: Raisa Patel, Toronto Star reporter As of June 20, Ottawa scrapped "proof of vaccination" requirements for air passengers on domestic or outbound international flights, as well as for rail travellers, and federal bureaucrats and federally-regulated workers like airline employees or those who process passports. The move comes as passengers have been expressing frustration over long delays, cancelled flights and endless queues at the airport. Ottawa-based reporter Raisa Patel explains what the new rules are and how we came to be here. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn

Guests: Angelyn Francis and Annette Ejiofor, Toronto Star journalists After decades of systemic racism and discrimination have punished Black Americans at school and at work because of their natural hair, at least eight U.S. states have made race-based hair discrimination illegal and now CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act is awaiting Senate approval. Canada also has a long history of hair discrimination against Black and Indigenous people. Is it time for Canada to make hair discrimination illegal? This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Wendy Gillis, crime and policing reporter On Wednesday, the Toronto Police Service unveiled a landmark report that made clear there is systemic discrimination in their policing. Including use of force statistics from 2020, the results show that many racialized people face over policing, in particular, Black and Indigenous people. This comes as no surprise to many of Black and Indigenous communities, but now the police have acknowledged the problem with their own data and say they have started with recommendations to fix it. Will it make a difference? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: David O'Brien, youth worker and director of mental health for ETA It is evident that violent attacks committed by angry young men, regardless of the ideology behind them, are increasing. Whether motivated by white supremacy, incel subculture or other extremist belief, the path toward radicalization usually starts online and can end in violence. ETA is a GTA-based service that tackles hate and extremism in young people, often working with people who other agencies often refuse — or are unequipped — to deal with. Youth worker David O'Brien joins "This Matters" to talk about the approach to working with these individuals. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: David Rider, City Hall Bureau Chief The fate of ActiveTO is up for discussion at City Council this week. Established in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown, the program shut down major roads to let people ride their bikes and exercise while remaining physically distanced. As with anything that affects traffic in this city, it had its detractors, but for a long while, was held up as a success. Now, with complaints from high profile business-types like Toronto Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro, the question is whether this program has run its course or if there is some part that can be salvaged. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Matt Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Steve McKinley, Halifax bureau There is an interesting project off the East Coast involving tidal energy that has accomplished something that no previous one has. Sustainable Marine's floating tidal turbine platform PLAT-I 6.40 has connected to the Nova Scotia grid, converting the power of the world's largest tides into electricity. With looming deadlines requiring more green energy from renewable sources, reporter Steve McKinley of the Toronto Star Halifax bureau joins "This Matters" to talk about how tidal energy could be one solution to moving people off fossil fuelled power. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matt Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Alex McKeen, reporter Last June, a wildfire decimated the small town of Lytton, B.C. after three days of record-breaking heat. Months later, floodwaters drowned the farming region of Abbotsford, B.C. and left four people dead and the B.C. interior cut off for months. Canada is warming twice as fast as the world average and will no doubt experience a greater number of climate disasters in the coming years. After the ash settles from a fire or the water from a flood drains away, do we rebuild or retreat? B.C.-based reporter Alex McKeen visited both affected towns and talks about the tough choice ahead. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Paulo Marques

Guests: Rachel Mendleson, investigative reporter at The Star and Steve Buist, investigative reporter at The Spec A recent Torstar investigation found over 600 cases where a judge found police forces committed serious breaches and violations of people's Charter rights. As well, nine forces were found to have systemic breaches of not respecting these rights. It is a national problem. The consequences of this are criminal cases being thrown out with alleged suspects walking free as some innocent people have their rights trampled on.

Guest: Alyshah Hasham, courts reporter Warning: Contains graphic content. After six days of intense deliberations and being deadlocked twice, a jury has found Canadian rock star Jacob Hoggard guilty on one of three charges. Despite similarities between the accounts of his accusers, jurors were "really internally struggling" over Hoggard's charges and Hoggard was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young Ottawa woman but not guilty of raping and groping a teenage fan. Alyshah Hasham, courts reporter for the Star, joins "This Matters" to explain the significance of the verdict and whether it can shine a light on how the justice system — and our society — perceives consent and victims of sexual violence. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Justin Ling, Freelance Investigative Reporter As the Conservative leadership race continues, several leadership hopefuls are embracing conspiracy theories in order to win support. For instance, some are engaging in theories like the idea that the World Economic Forum is a deep state illuminati that runs the world. It remains to be seen whether it is a politically savvy move that helps them win this race, or a move that could blow up on them, but what is clear is that there are Canadians who are engaged with these ideas and how that could shape our politics bears watching. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Jeremy Grimaldi, crime reporter at Yorkregion.com With other 200 charges and 20 suspects, last year's Project Platinum was hailed as a successful operation led by York Regional Police. Now, several of those charges have been dropped. It's not the only high profile case in the region that has fallen apart. From organized crime to drugs and gambling, we take a look at why and how some criminal activities have ended up unprosecuted.

Guest: Stephanie Levitz, politics reporter for The Star In the shadow of mass shootings in the U.S., and another grim look at America's lack of gun laws, Canada made a move to tighten its own. Earlier this week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Bill C-21, which would place a national freeze on handgun sales as part of the latest move to tighten gun laws. We take a look at the content and context surrounding the new law.

Guest: Christine Dobby, business reporter If you're a working Canadian, chances are your retirement investments are going into at least one of the country's big eight funds. But, do you really know where your money is being invested? The country's eight largest public sector pension funds collectively control about $2 trillion dollars in assets, making them a huge investing force across the world. They say they're investing responsibly. If they are, why won't they tell us what they're investing in? The Star's Christine Dobby looked for answers. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Lex Harvey, politics reporter On the eve of Ontario's election, we take a look at the provincial party leaders and how they fared under The Star's fact-checking process. While touting their own policies and achievements and attacking their rivals, how honest were Mike Schreiner, Andrea Horwath, Steven Del Duca and Doug Ford? Lex Harvey, Star politics reporter and fact checker, joins us to explain how the did. This episode was produced by Matthew Hearn, Brian Bradley, Alexis Green and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Bailey Martens, Toronto Star reporter Despite 2.6 million people in Ontario being disabled, there is no policy mandating barrier-free housing for those who need it. There is not even a mention of housing in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). For many people with disabilities in this province, the search for housing is as challenging as the lack of options. Star reporter Bailey Martens spoke to one family that had to move eight times in eight years to find wheelchair accessible housing for their young child. She tells their story on today's episode. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: Edward Keenan, Washington Bureau Chief Despite calls to cancel, the National Rifle Association's annual meeting went ahead as planned in Houston this weekend, a mere 482 kilometres away from Uvalde, Texas where just days prior one of the deadliest school shootings in the U.S. in over a decade left 21 people dead (including 19 children). Two weeks before that, 10 people were shot dead at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York in an act called "a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism." As the horror keeps repeating itself, how is it that nothing has changed even when data shows most Americans want some form of gun control? This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn Audio sources: CPAC, The Hill, Toronto Star

Guest: Robert Benzie, Queen's Park Bureau Chief With less than a week until the June 2 election in Ontario, and as most polls point to a Progressive Conservative victory, there are still plenty of questions about how things could shake out. Premier Doug Ford has been campaigning like a front-runner, as the Liberals and NDP put up a good fight. But with plenty of races expected to be close, strategic voting is a card both of those parties will likely try to play.

Guest: Moira Welsh, investigative reporter In the middle of the pandemic, when baby boomers hit the milestone age of 75, they awakened to the reality of growing old in Ontario and they're not going quietly into nursing homes. They want to age with purpose, energy and love. Their message to politicians? Get rid of the medicalized culture of nursing homes. Moira Welsh, investigative reporter and author of "Happily Ever After: Revolutionary Approaches to Long-Term Care," discusses the future of aging in Ontario and whether real change is coming in elder care. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn

Guest: May Warren, reporter for the Toronto Star As of Wednesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada says there are 15 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Quebec, and health officials are investigating more, including four in Toronto. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 90 confirmed cases in 12 countries, including Canada. What's going on? Is it time to worry or are we just hyper anxious since COVID took over our lives? We might not have all the answers yet, but we spoke to Star reporter May Warren to find out what we do know about monkeypox so far. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn.

Guests: Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian researcher and professor in food distribution and food policy at Dalhousie University. A recent Angus Reid poll showed that almost half of Canadians are finding it difficult to feed their families due to rocketing inflation of food prices at the grocery store. In April, food prices rose on average of 9.7 percent, the highest jump in over 30 years. Experts say Canadians might need to prepare for a while for these type of prices for a while, as relief is not coming quickly. Raju Mudhar is a co-host and producer on the Star's podcast team.

This Matters would like to let you know about another Toronto Star podcast, 'Death in a Small Town,' hosted by Kevin Donovan. We are broadcasting episode 1, Just Another Day. Episode 2 is available at thestar.com/deathinasmalltownpodcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Episode 1: Just Another Day Roll out of bed, get the kids to school, then off to work. Just before noon, disaster. A mysterious injury to young Nathaniel McLellan puzzles doctors at two hospitals and sparks what would become a six-year police investigation. Episode 2: Suspicion is available at thestar.com/deathinasmalltownpodcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Auto thefts are soaring in the GTA, which is now punctuated by a carjacking spree that saw several incidents in the past week, including one involving Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner. There have already been more carjackings in Toronto in 2022 than in all of the previous year, and police warn that some of these are turning violent. By looking at the data, we look at where it's happening across the city and talk about what you should do if it happens and some potential tips to secure your vehicle. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matt Hearn and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CTV News and CityNews

Guest: Karon Liu, Food writer at The Star. The Michelin Guide to restaurants is coming to Toronto. This dining guide is known around the world for its three star rating system which highlights some of the best restaurants in the world. That said, it also has its critics as many believe it caters to higher end restaurants and there have been unintended consequences with many establishments after the ratings have come out. Will it accurately represent Toronto's food culture? Or bring irrevocable change

Guest: Brendan Kennedy, social justice reporter on the Star investigations team A Toronto Star investigation has revealed that Canada confines hundreds of non-citizens in conditions meant for a criminal population. On any given day, there will be roughly 200 to 300 immigrants in Canadian detention. Immigration detention is not supposed to be punitive, so why are nearly half of these detainees being held in maximum security jails, indefinitely? How does this sit with Canada's global reputation for the ease and friendliness of its immigration system?

Guest: Richard Warnica, Business feature writer Plastic recycling in Ontario has been called a "green lie." For instance, Canada produced about 1.9 million tonnes of plastic packaging in 2019, according to a recent report commissioned by the Canada Plastics Pact. Of that, the authors estimate just 12 per cent was sent for recycling. Now, things might be changing. Ontario is modernizing the recycling regime in the province, putting more of the onus on companies to deal with their packaging waste. Along with action from Ottawa, now could be the time where we all get more real about recycling and making it actually work. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matthew Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Martha Paynter, registered nurse and author of "Abortion to Abolition: Reproductive Health and Justice in Canada." The U.S. Supreme Court may soon strike down its 50-year-old landmark ruling ending constitutional protections for abortion, according to a draft decision leaked to Politico. The ruling would mean U.S. states decide whether and how to restrict abortion or ban it outright. In Canada, we had our own Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion in 1988 but, while it's not being threatened in the same way, barriers still exist. Reproductive rights can often boil down to geography, equity, income and race. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Rosa Saba, Business Reporter Leaving on a jet plane, don't know if I'll be making my flight out of the airport? That's not how the song goes, but it's a reality for many people in Canadian airports right now, as they face long lineups, wait times and other issues caused by an uptick of travellers and staff shortages at many flight terminals. As some passengers even are missing their flights, airport related companies are trying to staff up to meet the demand. But solutions take time, so flyers might want to pack a healthy dose of patience with their carry-ons. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Matt Hearn and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Noor Javed, Star reporter Did you know that Toronto used to be a leading city for cricket a few decades ago? As the sport continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in Canada, with an increasing number of immigrants from cricket-loving countries, the city is looking to regain lost cricketing glory and become a premiere city for the sport. There is a 20-year strategy to get there, but cricketers fear this long-term vision might be too late since facilities have deteriorated badly and players are already moving toward greener pitches in the suburbs. Toronto Star reporter Noor Javed explains the battle of the pitches. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn

Guests: Nadine Yousif and Cristina Selva As the pandemic surged in Ontario, the opioid crisis hit another peak. While opioid related deaths increased by 60 per cent in 2020, nearly one in three employed people who died were construction workers. To address the disproportionate impact of the opioid crisis on the construction workforce, Ontario passed a law mandating that naloxone, the drug that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose, be available at construction sites across the province. The Star's mental health reporter Nadine Yousif explains how bad opioid use is in the industry and whether the new law will be enough to tackle a crisis already at boiling point. Also in this episode, we speak to Cristina Selva, the executive director of the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades, who has lost several members to overdose.

Guest: Christine Dobby, Business Reporter You don't have to look far to see those who experienced terrible financial hardship over the past two years. We don't talk about our finances. But a recent report has painted a harsh picture just the same. The report published by ACORN, a non-profit organization advocating for moderate to low-income Canadians has revealed that more and more people were forced to take out instalment or payday loans during the pandemic–and many are trapped in a vicious cycle, paying off interest rates of up to 60 percent. Star Business Reporter Christine Dobby explains how high-cost lenders operate and whether the government should have done something to help prevent Canadians from falling through the cracks and into a crushing cycle of debt. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Jacques Gallant, Political Reporter A yearlong review by a panel of former military personnel has recently concluded that military leadership failed to tackle systemic racism and discrimination within its ranks for the past two decades, despite numerous calls to action. The panel that was created to identify racism, discrimination and hate within the forces also concluded that the military is failing to root out white supremacists in the ranks and struggling to keep new ones out. "Racism in Canada is not a glitch in the system; it is the system," reads the report. The Star's Political Reporter Jacques Gallant explains. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn

Guests: Ben Spurr and Jim Rankin, Star Reporters At the beginning of the pandemic, bikes became a hot commodity as people looked for ways to enjoy the outdoors. Cities like Toronto added more bikes lanes and even shut down streets for events like ActiveTO, so people could enjoy it. But now looking at the data, emergency room visits from cyclists were up across Ontario with many young people injured. More riders accounted for some of these visits, but the findings also point to the lack of cycling infrastructure that could make riding in cities safer.