This Matters

Guest: Robert Cribb, investigative reporter Host: Saba Eitizaz Canada's hate problem has reached new heights, an investigation by the Toronto Star and the Investigative Journalism Bureau has found. Canada has the highest social media footprint of hate groups, higher than the United States and the U.K., and data reveals the justice system has failed to stop the purveyors of hate and discrimination who keep on targeting vulnerable groups. Robert Cribb, Toronto Star investigative reporter, joins "This Matters" to tackle two key questions: How bad is Canada's hate problem? Why does it keep repeating itself? This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Alex Ballingall, Ottawa Bureau Ottawa's streets have been cleared of protesters and now the aftermath truly begins. With civil suits have been filed, policing costs are estimated to be millions of dollars and the government still dealing with the Emergencies Act, there is still much to be sort out. Many of the ringleaders of the protesters have been arrested and now they start their journey through the court process. Like the protests, bail hearings already held were eventful and a bit strange.

Guest: Edward Keenan, Washington Bureau Chief Host: Raju Mudhar After weeks of posturing, on what President Vladimir Putin is calling a peace keeping mission, Russian forces have entered Ukraine. It is the culmination of weeks of troop buildups on the border. Despite several attempts at diplomatic resolutions, many NATO countries including the U.S. said this would happen. Now the world watches and attempts to find new ways to isolate and punish Russia for this incursion, but also try to find a way to deter any further escalation that may lead to armed combat.

Guest: Edward Keenan, Washington Bureau Chief Host: Raju Mudhar After weeks of posturing, on what President Vladimir Putin is calling a peace keeping mission, Russian forces have entered Ukraine. It is the culmination of weeks of troop buildups on the border. Despite several attempts at diplomatic resolutions, many NATO countries including the U.S. said this would happen. Now the world watches and attempts to find new ways to isolate and punish Russia for this incursion, but also try to find a way to deter any further escalation that may lead to armed combat.

Guest: Michael Daly, professor of space science and research chair in planetary science at York University "Don't Look Up" is the latest film to join the killer-asteroid-threatens-the-Earth genre of films. While that narrative has been the basis of plenty of science fiction, it is a potentially real scenario that NASA scientists are thinking about. In November, the space agency launched its first planetary protection mission called the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). DART will hit an asteroid and then measure the effects of that collision. Will it knock it off course? If so, we may have a new tool to deal with wayward space rocks that are looking for trouble with planet Earth.

Guest: Bruce Campion-Smith, Public Editor As reporters seek to cover the so-called "Freedom Convoy," they have been threatened on the streets and online. The hostility is even greater if the journalists are women or from other vulnerable groups. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Grant LaFleche, investigative reporter with the St. Catharines Standard and part of the Star's investigative team Crowdfunding has long-allowed people to fund projects they feel passionate about, so it may not be a surprise when crowdfunds came about in support of the "Freedom convoy" in Ottawa. After the Canadian government stepped in to freeze some of the funds and prevent distribution, hackers breached the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo and leaked donor lists to journalists and researchers to give a better picture of who is supporting the demonstrations. As this causes a stir across the country, the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act has authorized new powers to try and control these crowdfunding efforts.

Guest: Pauline Boss, author of "The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a time of Pandemic and Change" COVID-19 has snatched more than 30,000 lives in Canada, more than 900,000 in the U.S. and millions more around the world. But it has stolen so much more. Whether it's the thought of loved ones dying alone or the inability to gather for a funeral, countless have suffered in the isolation of lockdowns and physical distancing. While not a matter of life and death, it can be hard to come to terms with other losses, be it weddings, graduations, or other missed events that shape our days. Following this time of collective loss, people are longing for closure and a way to move on. But do we actually need to? Social scientist Pauline Boss explains why not getting closure might actually be the healthiest path as we seek to move forward with life through – and beyond – the pandemic. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guests: Jacob Lorinc, Business Reporter, The Star, and Tonda MacCharles, Senior Reporter for the Star's Ottawa Bureau. As the "Freedom Convoy" protests that have paralyzed Ottawa's downtown enters its third week, Canadians saw police dismantle a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor after a weeklong protest. The demonstrations in Windsor disrupted a route that carries hundreds of millions of dollars in goods everyday and had already had a ripple effect into other industries like automotive manufacturing. Police moved in quickly and promptly quelled the disruption. In Ottawa, as the authorities look to invoke acts with more powers to deal with the occupation, several Ottawa residents have started to counter protest on their own, as they fail to see any semblance of a plan to deal with the protesters.

John Honderich, who has served as both editor and publisher of the Toronto Star, as well as chair of Torstar, died on Saturday, February 5, at 75. "This Matters" spoke to some of John's former friends and colleagues about his positive impact to journalism and the people around him. A small private funeral for family was held on Thursday, February 10. A public celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of John's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the John Honderich City Builder Fund through United Way Greater Toronto: www.uwgta.org/johnhonderich

Guest: Kathleen Newman-Bremang, deputy director at Unbothered, Refinery29's sub-brand made for and by Black women Black women are exhausted. Two years into a pandemic that includes the bitter taste of racial inequities, reckonings and the brutalization of Black bodies, the pursuit of societally imposed standards of "excellence" is losing its appeal. Not only are Black women dropping out of the workforce in staggering numbers, many are asking themselves when does attempting to attain an ambiguous definition of exceptionalism become a descent into harm. In her latest article, editorial director and writer Kathleen Newman-Bremang challenges the notion and pursuit of Black exceptionalism as defined by society, and asks if embracing radical "mediocrity" is another way of reclaiming your power. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Diana Chan McNally, training and engagement co-ordinator for the Toronto Drop-in Network Host: Jennifer Pagliaro As the city grapples with another pandemic budget and how to pay for basic city services, there are calls for an increase to funding to help the city's most vulnerable. On one point, advocates approached the budget committee to plead for resources to provide menstrual and incontinence products to clients who use drop-in spaces all over the city — people who are low-income, precariously housed and those experiencing homelessness. Even though the city added over $220,000 in funding for free menstrual products in city-funded shelters and other spaces in 2020, that money has not benefited a network of over 50 drop-in sites that mostly rely on fundraising to provide their clients a place to rest, something to eat and access to other services. Now there is a push to increase the city's funding to make sure more people are served.

Guest: Carolyn Bennett, federal minister for mental health and addictions When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his cabinet last fall, Carolyn Bennett was named the first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. There were many different opinions about the appointment and her mandate, but inevitably they all came down to how the pandemic has ensured that mental health is on our minds like never before. The minister concurs that "more and more people are willing to share that they are struggling," but as experts warn, concrete policy decisions and not just symbolic gestures are critical at this point in time. Canada's first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett joins "This Matters" to explain what her next steps look like and the priorities of her mandate. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Wendy Gillis, crime and policing reporter Ottawa remains under siege and in a state of emergency, as declared by the city mayor on Sunday. There were other Freedom Convoy demonstrations across the country this weekend, including in Toronto, but their effect was mitigated as other police forces and other authorities learned from Ottawa police's missteps and managed to control protesters. Protesters and police from around the world are watching what is happening in Canada's capital and many wonder if a new playbook for civil disobedience and how to handle it are being written right before our eyes.

We are rebroadcasting episode one of Torstar partner podcast, Between Us With Wes Hall. In the first episode of a series that explores the journeys of BIPOC visionaries in Canada, the entrepreneur sits down with iconic Canadian rapper, producer and Vice President of A&R at Universal Canada, Kardinal Offishall. They have a conversation about perseverance, being Black in the boardroom, and pushing for change in the Canadian music industry. It's a frank and open discussion about experiences and perspectives on race, family, money, success and failure. Subscribe to Between Us With Wes Hall wherever you get your podcasts and at thestar.com/betweenus

Guest: Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga The Omicron wave might be cresting and the province is starting to reopen things more widely, but it's hard to tell where things are. Ontario's extreme yo-yo effect of opening and jumping between lockdown is something that has also a psychological impact on how the people here react to news of rising numbers and news of future shift. Are people here ready to live with COVID-19? A doctor makes the case why we need a culture shift on how we think about this disease.

Guest: Morgan Campbell, senior contributor for CBC Sports and a former Star reporter On the first day of Black History Month, the NFL was rocked by allegations contained in a class-action lawsuit by Brian Flores, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Flores outlined alleged proof that exposes the racist hiring policies of the NFL around the hiring and firing of Black people. None of the allegations have been tested in court, but part of the proof stems from a text message from another coach along with a long and damning history of how the league has treated Black players and coaches. It may be difficult to prove these kind of allegations but, whatever happens, Flores is taking this step knowing that it will likely be a career-limiting — or even, sacrificing — manoeuvre. Clip source: Mike Greenberg interviews Brian Flores on ESPN's Get Up program, available on Youtube.

Guest: Ben Spurr, Transportation Reporter Host: Jennifer Pagliaro, City Hall Reporter A freedom of information request filed by the Star's Ben Spurr revealed emails that show staff inadvertently included projections in an attachment in a report in January 2021 that overstated the number of riders, residents and jobs Tory's $1.46-billion SmartTrack program would serve. Spurr joins Jennifer Pagliaro to discuss his recent story: A report on the mayor's transit plan mistakenly included inflated numbers. City staff knew but failed to fix them before council voted Don Peat, a spokesperson for the mayor, said Tory and his office had no knowledge of staff's handling of the report until contacted about it by the Star. The mayor and council "rely on the expert advice of city staff on this and countless other matters and we are confident they approach this with the utmost professionalism and commitment to the city of Toronto," he said.

Guest: Moira Welsh, investigative reporter and author of the book "Happily Ever Older" In the latest Omicron wave, many long-term care homes have had to go into lockdown, forcing residents back into social isolation. But there's an added staffing crisis as well. With their caregivers and health workers burnt out, leaving for good or sick themselves, older people are losing their essential support systems and residents are facing unprecedented loneliness and depression. Investigative reporter Moira Welsh explains what it's been like for the emotional health of the residents in some of those homes.

Guest: Supriya Dwivedi, contributing columnist at the Star and senior counsel for Enterprise Canada What will the political aftermath be from the trucker convoy and their protest in Ottawa? With plenty of signs promoting white nationalism and acts like defacing a Terry Fox statue and stealing food from homeless shelters, a fringe movement has now exposed itself and could have lasting ramifications to this country's political scene. A number of members of Parliament have expressed solidarity and support for the protesters, and how this event will be framed and perceived in the days and months ahead could reshape right-leaning politics in this country. Clips in this episode include: Member of Parliament Brad Vis speaking to CPAC Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking from his press event after the protest, via Global News Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O'Toole comments from his Instagram account

Guest: Lex Harvey, reporter at The Star Ivermectin has become a much more well known drug during the COVID-19 pandemic as it has made news as the treatment choice for many high profile anti-vaccine people. While the drug has some known medical uses for humans, it has not been proven to help prevent or cure the virus. That hasn't stopped people from trying to get it, and in fact, there are networks to help those interested in procuring it. An undercover Star investigation recently looked into ivermectin and how some Canadians are getting their hands on it.

Guest: Lisa Brosseau, a bioaerosol scientist & industrial hygienist at the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy With most of us interested in having the best level of protection against the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19, a growing number of doctors around North America say a cloth mask doesn't cut it and medical masks or respirators (like an N95) should be worn for maximum protection. Which mask is the safest bet? Can we still get away with a cloth mask? Will N95 masks be mandatory? What are the most effective ones for kids? What are the best practices for handling your mask? We try to tackle some of these questions with a "mask expert" who has over 25 years of experience with respiratory protection and workplace health & safety. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Bruce Sellery, CEO of Credit Canada Debt Solutions, personal finance author and host of "Moolala" radio show and podcast Canadians have been experiencing sticker shock with the rising price of all sorts of goods, including groceries and gas. Inflation has hit a 30-year high and while it's been caused by the pandemic, it's only going to make it harder for everybody to recover and maintain their quality of life. As people prepare for interest rates to rise, it often feels like there is nothing we can do about inflation, but there are ways we can all attempt to mitigate it. This episode was produced by Raju Mudhar, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, an associate professor from the University of Victoria The ban that restricts gay, bisexual and some trans men from donating blood might soon officially end in Canada. Last December, Canadian Blood Services applied to Health Canada to scrap the current screening method — called outdated and discriminatory, by many — in favour of new screening criteria based on sexual history and behaviour. Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, an associate professor from the School of Public Health & Social Policy at the University of Victoria, joins "This Matters" to explain the ban's origins, where we stand now and how proposed changes will ultimately benefit the health system. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn.

Guests: Jacob Lorinc, business reporter at the Star, and Peter Ramsay, a long-time restaurant worker who changed careers As restaurants prepare to reopen after another pause on indoor dining, many will also have to contend with hiring and training new staff after more than 200,000 workers have left the service industry during this pandemic. With several sudden lockdowns and pandemic financial hardships, many workers explored new skills and moved to other industries. This could make recovery even tougher for restaurants but could also have greater economic implications as industries search for workers to fill the gaps.

Guest: Wendy Gillis, crime and policing reporter at the Star It's not uncommon to see horses and uniformed officers patrolling Toronto's downtown streets. The mounted unit is a long-standing tradition in this and other North American cities. Once again in 2022, city services are feeling squeezed as city hall debates another pandemic budget and critics are left wondering what purpose horses have in a modern police force? Wendy Gillis, The Star's expert in crime and policing, joins guest host Jennifer Pagliaro to discuss.

Guest: Julian Savulescu, professor and director of the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has overwhelmed hospitals around the world. Some are making bold moves when it comes to the unvaccinated, such as in Quebec where Premier François Legault announced taxes may be imposed on the unvaccinated. France and Italy already have vaccine mandates. Austria is set to enact a policy of heavy fines on any adults that haven't gotten their jabs. All of these policies are raising questions about whether coercive measures work and what kind of ethical territory we would be entering if this becomes the norm. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Olivia Bowden, staff reporter for the Star Peel Region is behind the provincial average in vaccinating children age five to 11 and community health professionals say it will take a strong outreach effort to address and increase trust. As of last week, close to 40 per cent of Peel children have received at least one dose. One part of the region has a vaccination rate as low as 21.6 per cent. This is compared to about 47 per cent of the Ontario population in the same age range. The figures are all the more concerning as schools reopen and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to drive case counts, hospitalizations and ICU admissions. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Howard Bryant, senior writer at ESPN and Meadowlark Media While the vast majority of athletes in most sports are vaccinated, there are high profile stars that choose not to and seem to be pressuring for accommodation. Tennis player Novak Djokovic's recent fight to play at the Australian Open pitted him against politicians and public pressure as well as border agents. NFL star Aaron Rodgers and the NBA's Kyrie Irving are also elite athletes who have been in the spotlight for their stances. In Irving's case, at first he was sent away from his team, the Brooklyn Nets, but as they have struggled on the court, he's been welcomed back on a part-time basis. We may still be in a global health crisis, but many sports leagues are tired of the pandemic and seem to be willing to play whatever terms are necessary to move past it. This episode was produced by Raju Mudhar, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Matthew Hearn.

Guest: Steve McKinley, reporter in the Star's Halifax Bureau In a world where people are celebrated for what they do on screens, it makes sense that medical personnel were celebrated early on in the pandemic. With daily press conferences, some people like Dr. Bonnie Henry in British Columbia, Dr. Deena Hinshaw in Alberta or Dr. Horacio Arruda in Quebec got a lot of screen time and were recognized for their calm demeanours and knowledge about how best to deal with the pandemic. But as time has gone on, the messaging has changed. Canada's "celebrity" doctors are learning that fame can cut both ways with some having to take measures to ensure their personal safety

Guest: Edward Keenan, The Star's Washington Bureau Chief As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly and infects people, stark contrasts in approach by Canada and the U.S have become evident. Most Canadians have cancelled plans, huddled into lockdowns and braced for public health restrictions. Meanwhile across the border, America is open for business even as the country shattered a global record with more than 1.35 million COVID-19 cases in a single day.

Guest: Saunia Ahmad, clinical psychologist and director of the Toronto Psychology Clinic The surge in depression and other mental health issues in the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well-documented by health care professionals. It is OK to not be OK. Mental health experts say it is normal to be feeling increased levels of anxiety and stress as government restrictions, public health measures and the cost of COVID linger far longer than any of us expected. So, in the midst of the current unpredictability of our lives and the futility of any plans, is there a way to get through this, build up our coping mechanisms and try to practise self-care? Saunia Ahmad, a clinical health psychologist and director of the Toronto Psychology Clinic, joins "This Matters" to help upgrade our mental health tool box. If you need help, or just someone to talk to: Resources are available online at crisisservicescanada.ca or you can connect to the national suicide prevention helpline at 1-833-456-4566, or Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.

Guest: Wendy Long, founder of Afghan-Canadian Interpreters When Canadian forces were deployed in Afghanistan, they relied on local Afghans to help them navigate a dangerous conflict zone, the unfamiliarity of geography, language and culture. But since last year, after the U.S.-led NATO withdrawal and Taliban occupation of Afghanistan, those who risked their lives to help the coalition forces — including Canadians — are at risk of facing violent retribution. So far, less than a 10th of the 40,000 Afghans the government pledged to bring in to Canada have arrived. Wendy Long is the founder of Afghan-Canadian Interpreters, an organization that helps Afghans escape and settle in Canada. She joins "This Matters" to explain further.

Guest: Kris Rushowy, Queen's Park Reporter at the Star With the Omicron variant raging throughout the province, the government has decided to hold firm and reopen schools on Jan. 17. The decision has split many parents. Some are happy schools are going to reopen quickly, while others are concerned they may not be safe. The government says it is taking measures to ensure safety for kids, but outbreaks and staff shortages are likely with the Omicron variant's increased transmissibility. Are open schools better than the homebound alternative? That's the question every parent of school age children in the province is wrestling with.

Guest: Birgit Umaigba, an ICU/ER nurse based in Toronto The ongoing wave of the Omicron variant is straining Ontario's hospitals to a breaking point. At least two hospitals in the GTA do not enough nurses to take care of sick patients and recently declared a Code Orange, a rare move that means hard choices for health care workers about who gets care and who does not. The nursing shortage has been inching its way into hospitals across Canada for years, and now COVID-19-related burnout and nurses walking off the job are adding to it. Toronto-based ICU nurse Birgit Umaigba joins "This Matters" to give us a glimpse of the challenges inside the profession.

Guest: Robert Cribb, investigative reporter for the Star A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Investigative Journalism Bureau has done an analysis of key mental health indicators for First Nations youth, including antidepressant prescriptions, suicide attempts, self-reported disorders and access to support, revealing a strained system of care failing to meet the needs of desperate young people. As Indigenous youth in Canada suffer from some of the highest rates of suicide in the world, culturally relevant counselling and community healing practises are few and hard to access. Star reporter Robert Cribb headed the Toronto Star series Generation Distress and joins "This Matters" to explain how mental health support tailored to Indigenous culture remains out of reach for youth in crisis and how the system is failing them.

Guest: Ed Keenan, The Star's Washington Bureau Chief It has been one year since the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol building by rioters who felt the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump. Despite the attack failing, the event cast a long shadow over the American political system, as many Republicans continue to push what some call "The Big Lie." As U.S. President Joe Biden gets ready to tackle his voting rights agenda, many experts feel the spirit of U.S. democracy could be at stake.

Guest: Ed Tubb, assignment editor focused on COVID-19 data The recent surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has broken the province's testing regime, rendered contact tracing useless and made an already high case count almost impossible to calculate. With warnings about our health care system in danger of being overwhelmed, there is still a lot we can learn by paying attention to the data. The focus needs to be on things like hospitalizations or people in the ICUs to get an accurate picture of how this highly transmissible variant is affecting Ontario.

Guest: Christine Sismondo, author of "America Walks Into a Bar" and the upcoming "Cocktails: A Still Life" Happy New Year! By now, hopefully your hangover from new year celebrations are long gone and you are focusing on the year ahead. One thing that many people do after holiday season is decide to cut alcohol intake for the month of January as a way to reset and refresh. While some people do Sober October, more mark Dry January to abstain from alcohol. How did it get that way? Is a zero-tolerance policy the best way to go? We get some history, tips and advice from someone who's been thinking about consumption for a long time.

We are taking a short break over the holidays and are rebroadcasting some memorable discussions. This episode was originally published February 19, 2021. 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 Matters" host Saba Eitizaz about the survivors, their struggle to move on and the strange complexity of shared trauma. Correction – The audio has been updated to reflect that Mellissa Fung was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2008, not five years ago as stated in the original version of this podcast.

We are taking a short break over the holidays and are rebroadcasting some memorable discussions. This episode was originally published July 30, 2021. GUEST: Professor Jean-Nicolas Reyt, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at McGill University A recent study in Iceland involving thousands of workers has brought back the buzz around a shorter four-day work week. As the pandemic has accelerated the movement to work smarter and not longer, we explore the tantalizing possibilities — and potential problems — with a four-day work week in North America.

We are taking a short break over the holidays and are rebroadcasting some memorable discussions. This episode was originally published January 12, 2021. The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team are ranked as one of the top teams in the world, but were passed over for the upcoming World Games likely in part due to their fight for sovereignty. This slight inspired an act of sportsmanship that has helped bring two nations closer together. Rex Lyons is a former player and board member of the Iroquois Nationals, and he joins "This Matters" to explain this remarkable sports story.

We are taking a short break over the holidays and are rebroadcasting some memorable discussions. This episode was originally published February 9, 2021. 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 "This Matters" to discuss. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Guest: Rosa Saba, business reporter for the Star Ontario, unlike elsewhere in Canada, has had a much lower minimum wage for liquor servers leading to a culture of tipping, not just for great service but to help balance the wage disparity. Now, starting in 2022, front-of-house workers in hospitality will see a $2.45 hourly pay increase to align closer to the minimum wage. But Ontario's minimum wage is still far from the $20 per hour living wage needed, according to the Living Wage Network. So, should we keep tipping? What will happen to our "culture" to tip? Business reporter Rosa Saba has some tips for "This Matters" listeners.

Guest: Patty Winsa, data reporter for the Star We have all seen the huge price that front-line workers have paid during COVID-19. Nurses have been at the forefront of this battle in clinics, hospitals and long-term care homes. Nearly two years into the pandemic, nurses are now leaving the profession in worrying numbers. While COVID-19 has added to burnout and pushed nurses off the job, the shortage has actually been inching its way into hospitals across Ontario and Canada for years. Data reporter Patty Winsa explains how bad the current nursing shortage is and why it is happening.

Guest: Dr. Gaibrie Stephen, ER physician and member of the Decent Work and Health Network (DWHN) We all remember the haunting posts on social media — doctors across the province sharing stories of their patients who caught COVID-19 at work and fell seriously ill, or spread it to their families. As a result, the Ontario government implemented a temporary three-day paid sick leave program that's now being extended till the summer of 2022. Nurses, doctors and health care providers say it's not enough. An emergency room physician from Peel region joins "This Matters" to make the case for paid sick days and talk about how doctors ended up fighting on two front lines — the virus and the system that exposes the most vulnerable to the worst of it.

Guest: Nicole O'Reilly, courts and crime reporter for The Hamilton Spectator It was a story that has become infamous within the cryptocurrency community. In early 2020, an early bitcoin investor reportedly had $46 million worth of the cryptocurrency stolen through a phone hacking attempt. After reporting it to the authorities, an international investigation led police to Hamilton, Ont., where an arrest was made and $7 million in bitcoin recovered but plenty of questions remained unanswered. Now, the suspect — a teen who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — is starting his journey through the criminal justice system.

Guest: Kevin Donovan, chief investigative reporter at the Star, and author of The Billionaire Murders: The Mysterious Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman It has been four years since the bodies of Barry and Honey Sherman were found murdered in their Toronto home. Despite the fact the that couple were very wealthy and high profile, there have been few updates from the police and no arrests made in this crime. Recently, the Toronto Police gave an update on the case, and released a short video with information about someone they believe to be a suspect. Kevin Donovan has been reporting on this case since it happened, and as some official documents have shown, his work has helped push the official investigation. He joins This Matters to to discuss the latest developments.

Guest: Carine Abouseif, features editor at The Walrus Editor's note: This episode was recorded in November 2021, before the Omicron variant made in-person meeting a much higher risk. There are at this time no lockdowns but please note this conversation took place before case counts were rising exponentially. COVID-19 has brought a massive shift in the way we interact with our health care system. Since the lockdowns began, health care professionals and governments scrambled to create a telehealth system to minimize face-to-face interactions and avoid undue risk. In 2018, only 8 per cent of patients reported having had a virtual visit with their health care provider, according to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Now that number has shot up, but the rise of virtual care has also raised important questions about health care in this country, what exactly a doctor is paid to do, what quality care looks like and how do we help those who have the least access to it. Journalist Carine Abouseif explored all of this in an article for The Walrus and she joins "This Matters" to talk about the past, present and future of virtual health care in Canada.

Guest: Rosa Saba, business reporter for the Star If you've been feeling price sticker shock at the checkout counter lately, you're not alone. Canada is bracing for what experts are calling a "perfect storm" as inflation hits the food aisles and prices skyrocket. The latest Food Price Report, released from Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab says Canadians should expect to see the biggest annual increase in food bills on record as the world reels from COVID-19, supply chain issues and climate change. Business reporter Rosa Saba explains what we should expect in the next year and shares some tips for grocery shopping on a budget.