This Matters

Being indoors is a well-known recipe for COVID-19 transmission: poor ventilation, aerosol particles in the air and prolonged exposure. But more than a year into the pandemic, the evidence is clear that the risk of outdoor transmission, especially when distanced, is extremely low. This is likely welcome information to golfers missing the golf course, and other athletes missing outdoor recreation facilities that are closed. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says less than 10 per cent of COVID transmission is happening outdoors, while other studies have shown the real number is actually much lower. On today's episode, we walk through the latest science, assess the risks and answer the questions you want to know about a summer spent outside.

Canada's vaccine has been plagued by problems. Fast-changing rules, buggy websites and last minute openings have turned finding a jab into a holy grail-like quest. Through it all, Vaccine Hunters Canada have been a lifeline to get a vaccine appointment for thousands of Canadians. They are a group of volunteers who have managed to spread information quicker and more efficiently than official government channels. "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung talks to Vaccine Hunters co-founder Josh Kalpin, and director Sabrina Craig.

As we all struggle with the weight of what we have lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists say you can measure that loss by calculating the years of unlived life that COVID took from those who died. Toronto-based science and business journalist Kat Eschner wrote about it for the New York Times and she joins "This Matters" to talk about it.

The minute you mention Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs, there are some who are ready to custom fit you for a tin foil hat. But the truth is there are more people who are taking this very seriously. Daniel Otis, a freelance journalist has been looking into how the Canadian Governments tracks unidentified flying objects joins "This Matters" to discuss what's he found. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

A new pathway designed for recent international graduates and essential migrant workers already in Canada is offering permanent residency to 90,000 people. There is a limited time window for applications and specific eligibility requirements, so the heat is on because for many, it is their only chance to make their immigration dreams come true. Immigration reporter Nicholas Keung talks to "This Matters" host Saba Eitizaz about how the program works, why it is needed and how applicants can navigate it. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Just as Gen X went from being slackers to pragmatic when the vaccine eligibility hit the 40+ age demographic in Ontario and they rushed out to get jabbed, the AstraZeneca vaccine has gone from being selfie-worthy to the shot that no one wants. Alex Boyd is a Star reporter who has been covering vaccines during the pandemic and joins us to talk latest AstraZeneca news. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Despite more vaccinations around the world, infectious disease experts are coming to a consensus that COVID, as a viral strain, isn't going anywhere soon. Instead, it's likely to be endemic, meaning the virus will become a constant in our lives like seasonal mutations of the flu. A major factor in how well we control COVID in the years to come will be dependent on herd immunity. What does this mean? Is it even achievable? Dr. David Fisman, an epidemiology professor at University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, explains how the world is "going to have to figure out how to live with an endemic pathogen that's nasty."

Ask any parent with young children in daycare and they'll have plenty of COVID-19 testing stories for you. With higher rates of COVID transmissions, many parents and families have caught the virus through their child's daycare or opted for trips to testing centres with the appearance of every sniffle or fever. Some experts have advised people to pull their kids from daycares, but that is just not possible for many families. In a move to help families and try to get a track of spread, there is a new testing program in the daycare setting to make the process a little easier. Jennifer Yang, a Health Reporter for the Star, joins us to talk daycares, outbreaks and the new testing program. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

To many doctors across Canada, the latest statement from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) left a lot to be desired. NACI's guidance on mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) being "preferred" over viral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson seemingly contradicts the messaging from public health officials who say the best shot is the first one you can get. On "ThisMatters," we explain how the advisory panel's advice can fuel vaccine hesitancy and why Canada can't afford bad public health messaging. Guest: Sabina Vohra-Miller, founder of the web site "Unambiguous Science" If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

The Canadian government is mired in controversy over Bill C-10, an attempt to modernize regulation of streaming services and social media companies. Facing backlash, the government has promised to amend the bill and in the process has shown how difficult regulating online content can be. Emily Laidlaw, a research chair in Cybersecurity Law and an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary, joins "This Matters" to talk Bill C-10, the challenges of online regulation and what comes next. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Alberta's COVID case numbers per capita are the worst in Canada and higher than almost every U.S. state. The test positivity rate in the province has reached 12 per cent. While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced new restrictions to combat these trends, what decisions led up to this crisis? Why has Alberta resisted stronger restrictions, and how does political culture and industry play into the decision making? We explain how Alberta charted a different course than the rest of Canada and where it's headed next. Guest: Alex Boyd, reporter in the Star's Calgary Bureau If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Guest: Ashleigh Tuite, infectious disease epidemiologist, mathematic modeller and assistant professor at the University of Toronto Ontario's third wave is being fuelled by variants of concern (VOC), which make up more than 70 per cent of the cases in the province right now.The B.1.1.7 variant is the most common one in Ontario, but the other variants are here as well. Tuite joins us to discuss how these variants are being tracked, how a variant of interest can graduate to becoming a variant of concern and whether these are here to stay for the long haul. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

After a year of racial reckonings against growing police brutality and a string of deaths involving Black and other racialized people in crisis, the City of Toronto is investigating a new model for frontline, non-police response to mental health crisis calls. On today's episode of "This Matters," we discuss this radical shift in how such crisis calls are carried out in hopes that they do not become a matter of life and death. Guest: Nadine Yousif, Toronto-based Star reporter covering mental health. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

The pandemic lead to one of Canada's worst economic years on record. Millions of Canadians have lost their jobs and been put in dire financial circumstances. An emergency fund may seem like a solution, and according to the Bank of Canada, household savings have hit an all-time high of $180 billion. With that said, what are the smartest ways to put those savings to work? Can we invest and get out of debt? How do we position our finances for a post-pandemic future? Guest: Preet Banerjee, personal finance expert and host of the "Mostly Money" podcast. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Peel region is a gateway to Ontario and a manufacturing hub. The region also has one of the highest COVID case rates in the country. Freelance journalist Fatima Syed joins "This Matters" to trace the story of Peel region during a pandemic, explaining how residents were neglected at every step and how this is the result of factors including racial discrimination, disparity and difference when it comes to Canada's racialized communities who bore the brunt of COVID's impacts. Guest: Fatima Syed, Peel region-based freelance journalist and host of the upcoming Canadaland political podcast "The Backbench." 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 Toronto Star The big three of Canada's grocers: Loblaw, Metro and Empire created "hero pay" for cashiers, shelf stockers and other essential working staff at the start of the pandemic last year. But the pay bumps didn't last long and most grocers got rid of it by June (Empire Co., which owns Sobeys, has since brought it back). But there is one major retailer that has stood out: Costco who made the pay increases permanent. They also offer higher wages, paid sick leave and benefits. Will the end result of "hero pay" be a new era of better business practices and corporate responsibility? If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Guest: Robert Benzie, Toronto Star's Queen's Park bureau chief Paid sick days has arguably been the number one political issue that has continually dogged Premier Doug Ford's provincial government through the pandemic. The premier was resolutely against them initially, but last week he changed his tune and promised the "best paid sick days program in North America." It sounds great, but it may not be so simple. Robert Benzie, The Star's Queen's Park bureau chief, discuss the Ford government's new plan for paid sick days and the political minefield it has become for this government. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

It's 2021 and many people in Canada's First Nations still do not have clean drinking water. The startling fact is laid bare in "Clean Water, Broken Promises," an extensive report from Concordia University's Institute of Investigative Journalism which brought together 70 students from 10 universities, professional journalists from six news outlets across Canada for two years of extensive reporting in a collaborative investigation. Two of the key members of the investigative team join "This Matters" to discuss the toll of the water crisis on generations of First Nations communities. Guests: Annie Burns-Pieper, former managing editor of the Institute of Investigative Journalism (IIJ) at Concordia University and Brittany Hobson, reporter at APTN News.

Toronto Star partner SCOREGolf's new podcast Next Round's on Me sat down with LPGA LA Open champion Brooke Henderson. Subscribe to their podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Adam Stanley is joined by Brooke Henderson for an exclusive conversation after her win on the LPGA Tour at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. Brooke talks about her 10th LPGA victory – a record for Canadians – and how she was able to come from four shots back to claim the title. SCOREGolf editor Jason Logan joins Adam to help analyze Brooke's win.

Guests: Natasha Calvinho, criminal defence lawyer, and Toronto Star reporters Alyshah Hasham and Jim Rankin "This Matters" takes a look at the Ontario government's confusing flip-flop messaging on police enforcement of COVID-related, stay-at-home orders. Although the province backed down from last Friday's controversial announcement granting police powers to arbitrarily stop and question anyone, the rules still allow police to stop anyone if they have "a reason to suspect" stay-at-home orders are being violated. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says its worried that these discretionary police powers will put racialized and vulnerable people at risk. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Guests: Kenyon Wallace and May Warren, Toronto Star reporters The Ontario Science Advisory Table has given scientific data, modelling projections and recommendations to the Ontario government since the beginning of the pandemic. But in the midst of a worsening third wave, there is concern the advice is not being taken by the provincial government who, in several instances, have instituted policy that is counter to what the science and data say. Pressure against the government grows as doctors and health experts are becoming more outspoken against the decisions being made in Ontario. Listen to this episode and more at "This Matters" or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Today we speak with Dr. Homer Tien, the new head of Ontario's vaccine task force. This is the first time Dr. Tien is talking about vaccines for the province on Ontario since he assumed the lead of the task force. He's served 25 years as a trauma surgeon with the Canadian Forces, worked as a trauma surgeon at Sunnybrook Hospital and is now the president and CEO of Ornge, Ontario's air ambulance service. We get into details of the confusion around Ontario's vaccine rollout, the province's supply and where vaccines are going, and how communication could always be better.

Healthcare professionals have been sounding the alarm about over-crowded Intensive Care Units and hospitals as Ontario is gripped by the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fuelled by the more virulent variants of concerns, hospital patients are tending to be younger, with many families arriving sick with the disease. Ontario's hospitals are already taking extraordinary measures, like transfering patients, creating field hospitals, suspending surgeries and more to ensure that the entire health care system does not buckle under the strain brought on by the third wave of COVID-19 patients. Guest: Megan Ogilvie, health reporter, Toronto Star

Canada's vaccination program has been plagued with problems across several provinces, ranging from delayed shipments, supply chain problems, uneven distribution, communication and booking issues. While our case counts are less in comparison, many Canadians are feeling pangs of jealousy watching the United States vaccinate an average of more than 3 million people per day. Deep into a third wave, it appears the COVID fortunes between Canada and the U.S. have been reversed. We talk about the factors that are leading to a vaccine gap between Canada and its biggest ally, the consequences for the border and whether Canada can step up its record in the next several months. Guest: Alex McKeen, Toronto Star

A serial killer who preyed on men for almost a decade. A daughter whose body was found by her mother 100 feet from where she went missing. A woman whose remains could have been identified sooner. These are some of the cases retired justice Gloria Epstein took a look at in her just released Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations, which took a deep dive into the work of the Toronto Police Service. Finding systemic failures, technological mistakes and biases coloured these investigations, the massive report has many recommendations that aim to fix flaws so these issues will not occur again in the future. Toronto Star crime reporter Wendy Gillis joins "This Matters" to discuss the findings.

The Ontario government says vaccine focus and eligibility have expanded to high risk postal codes where they say are residents who are essential workers, low-income and/or racialized, but many who need it most still don't have access while wave three of the COVID pandemic is showing no sign of slowing down. Today on "This Matters," we take a look at how difficult it's been for Ontarians to navigate the vaccine rollout framework and why those with the most means and resources, not necessarily those most at risk, might still be the ones getting a shot sooner. Guests: Ray Lai, Markham Vaccinates co-organizer and Toronto Star reporter Olivia Bowden

The Ontario government has turned its vaccine focus towards the hardest hit neighbourhoods and essential workers. It is a critical move to slow the spread of COVID-19, yet there is little clarity on how exactly the move will be implemented. Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel's chief medical officer, and Sara Mojtehedzadeh, The Star's work and wealth reporter, discuss what that kind of mass vaccination look like and why it is necessary.

It's Amazon's world and we are all just living in it. The pandemic has helped the company grow even bigger and more powerful, but at what cost? The spotlight has revealed work practices, treatment of employees, COVID outbreaks and impacts on towns and cities. Alec MacGillis, reporter for ProPublica and author of "Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America," joins "This Matters" to discuss the tech and retail giant's effect on society.

Ben Spurr, The Star's Transportation Reporter, and Robert Benzie, Queen's Park bureau chief, bring us up to speed on four huge transit projects, including a potential new massive transit hub near Toronto's eastern waterfront, and how Metrolinx keeps increasing its powers as it tries to build transit throughout the city.

Bill C-21, the controversial gun control proposal, is set for another debate next week in Canadian Parliament. The proposal, which came after the tragedy of the Nova Scotia shooting, includes a controversial buyback program of blacklisted firearms. But in a debate that is usually divisive, Bill C-21 has both gun rights and gun control advocates fuming. Neither sides see the bill as a solution to curbing gun violence. We explain why the bill is actually uniting both sides and where the buyback program may be falling short. Guest: Douglas Quan, Toronto Star reporter

Another lockdown, another stay-at-home order in Ontario. The third wave is hitting the province hard as COVID variants spread, the vaccination rollout buckles and a paid sick leave program remains a no-go for the Ontario government. Despite all the warnings from doctors and other medical professionals, how did we get here again? Will safety measures work this time around? Guest: Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star columnist covering COVID-19

With the April Break just days away, many schools in Ontario have shifted to remote learning in the face of rising case counts from the variants of concern which are spreading rapidly. Schools have not been a high factor in infection, and the province has insisted they are safe places for children, but after Peel Region's Medical Officer of Health decided to shut down schools in the area, others followed suit including the Toronto District School Board. Who knows what come next? With Ontario moving to a new state of emergency starting Thursday, will this end up the start of summer vacation? Kris Rushowy, Queen's Park bureau reporter and education for The Star, joins us to discuss how we got here and what comes next.

The mask has become a symbol of all we've been through in the age of the pandemic. Amy Dempsey traced the trajectory of Toronto's "mask life" and joins "This Matters" to talk about how a piece of cloth became both protection and a political symbol. As well, we mark the "maskiversary," one year since the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advocated mask wearing and warned of "speaking moistly." Guest: Amy Dempsey, Toronto Star's investigative feature writer

Guest: Steve Buist, investigative reporter and feature writer at The Star The Ontario government has resurrected plans to build Highway 413, a new road that runs from Vaughan to Halton Hills. There are several controversial aspects to this planned route and a joint Toronto Star/National Observer investigation has found that a number of developers are set to benefit if this road is built. Looking at land registries, lobbying funds, changed laws and more, there appears to be quite a potential windfall for a number of developers if the Ontario government manages to go ahead and construct this highway.

This is a rebroadcast from March 12, 2021. Public health officials, city mayors and small businesses have called for it: paid sick leave. It has been cited as a factor that's been proven to slow the spread of COVID-19 — without the protection of paid sick leave, employees often feel forced to go to work even while sick and symptomatic, to avoid missing a pay cheque or losing their jobs. The Ontario government has said for months it has no plans to create a paid sick leave program of its own but the pressure, both internally and publicly, is ratcheting up on the Ford government, ahead of the 2021 budget. Robert Benzie, Toronto Star's Queen's Park bureau chief, talks to "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung, about the months-long political fight over paid sick leave in Ontario and what might be expected in the coming weeks. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters

It's April 1 and Major League Baseball — and spring — has officially started. We're bringing you a special episode today, simulcasting the launch of Deep Left Field, a new baseball podcast from the Toronto Star, featuring long-time Blue Jays radio voice, Mike Wilner. Today, Mike speaks with Toronto Blue Jay pitcher Jordan Romano, MLB.com's Alyson Footer and Kim's Convenience's Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Let's play ball and we hope you'll listen to Deep Left Field wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

A reckoning of anti-Asian racism and violence has been ongoing in the wake of the shooting in Atlanta that left eight people dead, along with the thousands of reports of anti-Asian incidents during the pandemic. With both Canada and the U.S. have torrid histories of racism, how have long-running stereotypes and the 'model minority myth' of Asian Canadians and Americans turned into violence? Three Asian-Canadian journalists talk about the myth playing out in their lives, how it's wielded as a weapon of anti-Asian and anti-Black hate and what unlearning it means. Guests: Toronto Star journalists, Angelyn Francis, equity and inequality reporter, and Evelyn Kwong, team editor, speak to This Matters host, Adrian Cheung

After several extended deadlines, Canada has a new medical assistance in dying (MAID) law that will broaden who will be able to make end-of-life decisions. That said, some of the most controversial aspects still need to be hammered out and several people are unhappy and critical of the new law. Jacques Gallant has been covering MAID for The Star and joins to explain what's new in the law, what still remains up in the air and what comes next. Guest: Jacques Gallant, Star Reporter who covers legal affairs and federal politics

The Olympics are one of the world's most complex international events to stage, even in a "normal" year. How will that be done safely during a pandemic? One year after the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, we take you inside how Canadian athletes and staff are preparing for the summer games with a decorated Olympian and leader of Team Canada. Guest: Marnie McBean, four-time Olympic medal winner, Chef de Mission of Team Canada for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Canada's COVID-19 vaccination campaign started on the same day as the U.S. back in December, but four months later, our results lag far behind not only our neighbours to the south but at least 30 other countries. With millions of vaccine doses coming to Canada but only 1.57 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, how long will it take to get shots into 38 million Canadians? Dr. David Naylor, co-chair of Canada's COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, joins "This Matters" co-host Saba Eitizaz to discuss. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Vaccine supply and rollout are top issues in Canada right now and the hope is that as more Canadians get their shots in the arm, life will start to return to normal even in our politics. The pandemic made sure the past year would not be politics as usual, but as more and more people are inoculated, there are signs that politicians are champing at the bit to get back to normal. Will we go back to partisan divides? What issues will emerge in a post-pandemic world? Susan Delacourt is a Star columnist and long-time watcher of the Canadian political scene. She joins us to talk about vaccines, political favour and fallout, and what will happen next on the post-pandemic political landscape.

As our senior citizens are booking and lining up to get their vaccinations, many grandparents can't wait until they hug their grandchildren sometime soon. While vaccine priority is aimed at our most vulnerable, questions remain about when young children and teenagers will eventually get inoculated against COVID-19. While they are at lower risk, there needs to be more clinical trials to determine proper dosage for younger people and efficacy. Dr. Karina Top joins us to explain where this is at and what parents should keep in mind as they wait until vaccines are ready for the next generation. Guest: Dr. Karina Top, a pediatrician and vaccine researcher at Canadian Centre for Vaccinology If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer have become the new buzz words of our generation and may be the top contenders for conversation at awkward family dinners. COVID-19 vaccines might be saving us but they are also breaking down friendships and families as difficult, polarizing conversations crop up around the efficacy or safety of these vaccines. On today's episode, we get a crash course on vaccine hesitancy and how to talk to those we love about the "V-word." Guest: Maya Goldenberg, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Guelph and author of the book "Vaccine Hesitancy: Public Trust, Expertise, and the War on Science." If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

Millions of Canadians want to know — of the four COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada — which one is the best one? Numbers and statistics are flying around and it's fair to have a lot of other questions. Are the Moderna and Pfizer shots really the 'Cadillac' of vaccines? Is the AstraZeneca shot effective? Does it matter which vaccine you get? We explain what vaccine efficacy really means and why comparing them is like comparing "apples to oranges", the real differences between the 'jabs' and why out of all the numbers, 100% is the big one to focus on. Guest: Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, infectious disease doctor, Trillium Health Partners Produced by Adrian Cheung, Morgan Bocknek, Sean Pattendon If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters

Guest: Alex Boyd, Star Reporter based in Calgary, who has been focusing on vaccines. As more and more vaccines get into arms in Canada, the thorny issues of how to denote people's vaccination status has become a topic of discussion. There are already several countries using some form of vaccine passport to enable easier travel. However, they are leading to another set of issues including questions of privacy, equality and if a passport would be a false sense of security when we don't know for sure that a vaccine stops transmission. There are also several practical issues as to how they might work. Will they be something we see in Canada? Are they what the world needs to jump-start economies and restart travel and tourism? We discuss how they are being used so far and what worries experts and bioethicists if they become commonplace around the world.

Guest: Wendy Gillis, Toronto Star's crime reporter In Ontario, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigates cases of assault, serious injury and death, when a police officer is involved in the incident. A new research report looking into 15 years worth of SIU charges and their outcomes found a majority of cases ended in a withdrawal of charges or acquittal. We look deeper into the numbers to understand how cases play out in the courts and whether rules are different for police officers in the criminal justice system. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters

As many look to the vaccines as the light at the end of COVID-19 long, dark tunnel, the many people who have been suffering long-haul symptoms are still looking for answers and treatment for their medical problems. While some countries are tackling these long-term issues, some in Ontario feel frustrated and forgotten. May Warren is a reporter with the Star's health and science team, and has been speaking to long-haulers throughout the pandemic. She joins "This Matters" to discuss their search for answers. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

With a difficult year, new rules and a looming deadline, sorting out the paperwork and details for one's income tax can be stressful for many. It is even more so when filing for a pandemic year that saw job loss, financial aid and remote work. Knowing this, business reporter Rosa Saba and host Saba Eitizaz collected questions from listeners and on this episode of "This Matters," they sat down to answer all your burning tax related queries for this slightly trickier tax season. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

In the early 1920s, the world began to transform. The job market exploded. Culture, nightlife and the arts flourished. Long-held beliefs about gender, race, religion and politics were being challenged. It was the Roaring Twenties. A century later, as we begin to climb out of the COVID-19 pandemic, could we be headed for a Roaring Twenties in the 2020s? If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters

Public health officials, city mayors and small businesses have called for it: paid sick leave. It has been cited as a factor that's been proven to slow the spread of COVID-19 — without the protection of paid sick leave, employees often feel forced to go to work even while sick and symptomatic, to avoid missing a pay cheque or losing their jobs. The Ontario government has said for months it has no plans to create a paid sick leave program of its own but the pressure, both internally and publicly, is ratcheting up on the Ford government, ahead of the 2021 budget. Robert Benzie, Toronto Star's Queen's Park bureau chief, talks to "This Matters" host Adrian Cheung, about the months-long political fight over paid sick leave in Ontario and what might be expected in the coming weeks. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters