This Matters

Guests: Justin Piché, University of Ottawa A landmark report from the Ontario Chief Coroner's Office has revealed there were almost 200 inmate deaths in Ontario jails in just eight years, almost all of which were preventable. There is an obvious need for reforms, but are more jails and more staffing the answers to a complex, systemic issue with roots that extend beyond our correctional facilities? Justin Piché, associate professor in the Department of Criminology at University of Ottawa, joins "This Matters" to discuss. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Paolo Marques.

Guests: Noor Javed and Charlie Pinkerton Premier Doug Ford's ties to developers are under scrutiny again. As reported by The Star's Noor Javed and freelance journalist Charlie Pinkerton, several well known developers attended wedding events the Ford family held to celebrate the nuptials of one of the premier's daughters. Ford says he's done nothing wrong and that his guests have been his friends for years, but many people feel the developer relationship is too cosy and with his government opening up and fast-tracking land development, many are poised to benefit. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Global News and City News

Guest: David Rider is the Star's City Hall Bureau chief. An hour after the Star's City Hall reporters David Rider, Ben Spurr and Alyshah Hasham reported Toronto Mayor John Tory had a consensual affair with a 31-year-old staffer, the mayor confirmed the inappropriate relationship and announced his resignation. The news came as a shock for a politician who sailed to victory months ago, and comes at a crucial time for the city as it needs to pass a budget and now call a byelection to replace him. We talk with the Star's bureau chief about how this story came together and what happens next. This episode was produced by Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CTV News

Guest: Ben Spurr, City Hall reporter CaféTO is a city program created during the pandemic to help restaurants generate business by allowing them to build patios around their establishments on sidewalks and road lanes. While it energized the city's street culture, it also caused more traffic and congestion. As city hall created new rules and fees for it to become a permanent fixture, restaurateurs balked at what they considered extravagant costs to keep it going. It came to a head at this past week's council meeting where the program and its future was debated. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio Sources: City News

Guest: Tonda MacCharles and Robert Benzie Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a $46.2 billion, 10-year deal in health funding this week, writing a prescription to help deal with a health care crisis. Calling it a "major federal investment," the plan includes an immediate injection to tackle the crisis in pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms, ongoing wait times for surgeries and other key health issues. Tonda MacCharles, senior reporter in the Star's Ottawa bureau, and Robert Benzie, Queen's Park bureau chief, take us behind the scenes and into what broke Canada's political stalemate on health-care funding and give insight into when much needed dollars will flow from Ottawa at last. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Paolo Marques.

Guest: Estair Van Wagner of Osgoode Hall Law School A recent court ruling in Waterloo concluded the city could not evict people from an encampment if there was not adequate shelter space available in the system because it was a violation of their human rights. This could have ramifications over how other municipalities deal with unhoused people but, like with most legal decisions, it is complicated. Estair Van Wagner, a professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School and advocate for the rights of the unhoused, takes us through the ruling and how it might change how the City of Toronto may deal with unhoused people. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guests: Raisa Patel and Asmaa Malik It was Jan. 26 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Amira Elghawaby, a visibly Muslim woman, as point-person on Islamophobia and just days later, Elghawaby found herself at the centre of a media storm with government officials calling for her resignation. Why? A 2019 opinion piece Elghawaby co-wrote about Quebec's controversial Bill 21 resurfaced, in which she quoted from a poll that said support for the bill was linked to anti-Muslim sentiment. New reaction saw a dizzying wave of criticism from Quebec and members of the federal government that gave her the job, raising serious questions about Islamophobia in this country. Toronto Star Raisa Patel and Asmaa Malik, an associate professor of journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University, join "This Matters" to discuss. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Paolo Marques. Audio sources: CPAC and Global News

Today, we're bringing you the first episode of season 2 of It's Political with Althia Raj. She welcomes the Star's Susan Delacourt, in conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This week on "It's Political," we bring you Toronto Star's columnist Susan Delacourt's interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The two sat down together on Jan. 17 in Windsor, Ont., for a candid conversation on his future and the future of his government. In this episode: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Toronto Star columnist Susan Delacourt. Hosted by Althia Raj. "It's Political" is produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Kevin Sexton mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

Guest: Jessica Mudry, associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University When the change in recommended guidelines for alcohol use was served last month, the reaction was spirited. While once the guideline said 10 to 15 drinks per week was the recommended maximum, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) now says no amount of alcohol is good for your health and anything beyond two glasses a week increases your risk for alcohol-related consequences, from injury to cancer. The updated recommendations, funded by Health Canada and based on solid research, have not been well received and met with disbelief, displeasure and denial. Jessica Mudry, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Professional Communication, joins "This Matters" to talk about how the guidelines are being received and how they could have been better communicated. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Paolo Marques. Audio Sources: CHCH News

Guest: Victoria Gibson, affordable housing reporter While hospitals are still struggling with staff shortages and overflowing ERs, some have also been pushed to the front lines of Toronto's homelessness crisis. As almost 5,000 homeless Torontonians came through St. Michael's downtown trauma centre last year, some were there simply because they had no place to stay. It prompted hospital staff to launch an outreach program that connects patients to crucial supports beyond just immediate medical care. This includes providing a warm bed, clothes and even free legal advice to the city's vulnerable. We take a look at the scope and span of this program. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Saba Eitizaz. Audio Sources: City of Toronto

Guest: Dr. Sean B. Rourke, neuropsychologist at St. Michael's Hospital Smart vending machines have launched on Canada's East coast. They're the first of what will be 100 nationwide. But instead of dispensing chocolate or candy, these machines hold life-saving supplies like HIV tests, naloxone kits and unused needles. They're called Our Healthbox and they're designed to reach communities underserved by traditional health care. Today, we're joined by Dr. Sean Rourke, a clinical neuropsychologist and scientist with MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital, who is leading the initiative. You can learn more about OurHealthbox and whether your community is eligible for a Healthbox here: https://www.ourhealthbox.ca/ Sources: CBC This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Maurqes.

Guest: Katie Daubs, feature writer Scarborough is the former city and Toronto borough that feels like it never gets any respect. Now as the federal government looks to update electoral districts based on population and density, slices of the Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough Centre ridings might be annexed into two North York ridings. These moves have left residents upset with many fighting the decision. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: @scarboroughspots on Instagram

Guest: Marco Chown Oved, climate change reporter After the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the U.S. said it was considering banning new gas stoves amid research that links them to childhood asthma, Republican lawmakers, conservative pundits and right wing social media commentators were aflame with reaction. They imply it is an infringement on freedom, but the science is clear. In addition to health concerns, natural gas includes methane, a catalyst in climate change that is 86 times more warming than carbon dioxide. Marco Chown Oved, a climate change reporter, joins "This Matters" to share the burning truth behind gas stoves and how it fanned the flames of a culture war. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley and Paolo Marques. Audio Sources: MSNBC, Forbes, Relaxing Sounds

Guest: Lex Harvey, transportation reporter There have been 10 high-profile, violent incidents reported on TTC vehicles and property in just over a week. With so many seemingly random attacks, passengers are on alert as authorities look for answers and ways to make the transit service safer. This comes after another wave of incidents last year, as ridership remains down after the pandemic and the TTC considers service cuts and a fare hike. With the transit system, Toronto police and Mayor John Tory weighing in, there are short-term solutions and long-term ideas to stop the disturbing trend. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC, Citytv and CTV News

Guest: Grant LaFleche, investigative reporter at The Hamilton Spectator It was only a year ago the so-called "Freedom Convoy" held a three-week demonstration in Ottawa, later termed an "occupation" by politicians and police. It was a protest that started out fighting against vaccine mandates against truckers, but became a home for all kinds of grievances across the far right political spectrum. But what could have been a galvanizing event for these groups has instead become splintered and many feel it's unlikely a similar event will ever happen again. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guests: Brendan Kennedy and Morgan Bocknek, investigative reporters, and Leah Mosier-Farquharson, TMU student A string of sexual assaults and security incidents on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus have left many students and faculty members worrying for their safety and deeply critical of the school's response. After two women were assaulted at Kerr Hall last year, some students were so frustrated by a lack of information from the administration that they formed their own security network on social media. We talk to Star investigative reporters Morgan Bocknek and Brendan Kennedy about what happened and TMU student Leah Mosier-Farquharson about the impacts on campus. A Toronto Metropolitan University official said the campus is safe and TMU has increased security in the building where two people were attacked. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Saba Eitizaz.

Guest: Matthew Van Dongen, The Hamilton Spectator The City of Hamilton has found that nearly 400 million litres of sanitary sewage from 61 homes has leaked into Hamilton Harbour, an industrial area, over a 26 year period. It is a messy situation, but one that was only found after attention was called underground in 2019 when a Hamilton Spectator investigation revealed that 24-billion-litres of sewage had leaked into Chedoke Creek, a recreational area frequented by area residents, over four a year period. The city knew about that problem, but kept the find private and did nothing to stop it. Matthew Van Dongen, a transit and environment reporter at The Spectator, joins "This Matters" to share details about efforts to inspect, clean up and have more transparency at Hamilton's City Hall. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Crawford Blair and JP Fozo. Audio sources: CHCH News

Guest: Dhriti Gupta, staff reporter There were more than one million visits to food banks across Canada in 2022, according to Food Banks Canada. It is the highest number on record. In addition to this surge in demand, food banks are grappling with rising food costs. One of them is the Allan Gardens Food Bank in Toronto, which has seen an almost 50 per cent increase in individuals served in just a year. Through the lens of this food bank, we try to understand the larger problem of food insecurity and what needs to happen next. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Saba Eitizaz.

Guest: Dr. Fahad Razak, internist at St Michael's Hospital The XBB.1.5, known by the nickname "Kraken," is the latest COVID-19 subvariant of concern. Found to be highly transmissible, health experts are already seeing surges in other parts of the world like Europe and the United States, where there are higher case counts and hospitalizations. The same effect is likely to happen here. Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist at St Michael's Hospital and a professor at the University of Toronto who served as the head of the province's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, joins "This Matters" to share what we know. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: BBC, PBS, Euronews

Guest: Nicholas Keung, immigration reporter Canada needs more immigrants to help fill labour shortages, yet so many people who come here find roadblocks and issues in pursuing work in their chosen fields. It has been a recognized problem for decades, but it persists. There has been some change for the better, including better information for prospective newcomers, but skilled immigrants still face challenges. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Megan Ogilvie, health reporter Faced with a triple-demic including flu, RSV and COVID-19, children have been hit by wave after wave of illness and filled up the pediatric hospitals across the province. It was a situation some doctors said could have been a catastrophe. By working together in an unprecedented way, moving children wherever beds were available, this is the story of how the health care system dealt with the surge of sick kids and avoided the worst of outcomes. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Rob Ferguson, Queen's Park bureau The Ontario government has unveiled their plan to deal with surgical backlogs in the province by moving some procedures to private clinics. Critics fear this move will pull staff away from hospitals, and say this is moving the province toward more privatized, two-tiered health care that will cause further issues to the existing public system. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Global News

Guests: Betsy Powell and Alyshah Hasham, staff reporters Mass surveillance is everywhere and adding to the use of video in police investigations and in-court cases. The head of the Toronto Police Service's Homicide squad credits cameras and video for helping push their solve rate above 80 per cent, but what is the price of that safety? What are the legal and ethical concerns about video becoming so prominent in our judicial system? What if the images don't tell the whole story? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC and Global News.

Guest: Ed Keenan, city columnist A few months ago, Toronto Mayor John Tory was asking other levels of government to help cover $2 billion in budget shortfalls and yet, the mayor has now announced more money for police, transit safety and more. What changed? Not much. While the city is raising property taxes and making some cuts, there is a huge budget hole that will need to be dealt with eventually. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Breakfast Television, CP24

Guest: Gábor Lukács, president of Air Passenger Rights The airline industry's meltdown over the holidays has the House of Commons transportation committee convening an emergency meeting to grill company executives about exactly what went wrong. While Canada has adopted a passenger bill of rights, critics say it has not been effective. Gábor Lukács, president of Air Passenger Rights, an independent consumer advocacy group for air travellers, joins "This Matters" to share what you need to know if you experience air travel chaos. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Jeremy Nuttall, staff reporter The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) organization remains a symbol of Canadian history and national pride, even though the recent history of the police force is littered with internal scandals including racism in hiring and sexism within the ranks, in addition to heavy criticism for their handling of high profile crimes. Does the force need a revamp? A recent Star series looked at the force now and how it might need to adapt. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC, Global News and P.A.T. Film Services

Guest: Lex Harvey, transportation reporter As TTC ridership is down, violent incidents are up. As the service still recovers from the pandemic, a spate of violent crimes on TTC vehicles and in and around stations is making many riders worry about their safety while riding the transit system. More security is planned to help the problem, along with a fare hike and service cuts in the proposed 2023 budget. Will the TTC get back to the days of its Red Rocket glory? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC and City of Toronto.

Guest: Jim Rankin, staff reporter Twenty years ago, the Star published a landmark and controversial investigation examining data that showed police interaction with racialized people occurred at a higher rate, kicking of years of stories that reinforced this initial conclusion. This past year, after looking at their own data, acting Toronto police chief James Ramer apologized for police interactions with the Black community. The problems persist through all areas of law enforcement despite the acknowledgments. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CBC and Globe and Mail

Guest: Katie Daubs, feature writer There have been an increasing number of coyote sightings and attacks across the GTA. Often portrayed as smart, dangerous animals, the truth is that there is another animal to blame for the their encroachment into urban areas — humans. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio Sources: CTV News

Guest: Robert Cribb, investigative reporter Imagine having your license suspended and you didn't know it was in jeopardy? It all comes down to medical condition reports (MCRs), widely used forms that some medical professionals must file when patients have potentially dangerous conditions that "warrant a licence suspension," according to the ministry. Doctors are paid to submit the form and sometimes they don't have to inform a patient. A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health has found these reports and suspensions have been applied haphazardly and they have had a devastating affect on a person's life. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Tess Kalinowski, real estate reporter 2022 was a roller coaster year in the GTA's real estate market and, just as we hit a peak, things are now speeding downhill. Falling prices, a lack of inventory and rising interest rates all contributed to the downturn in the market and will continue to be factors moving forward. Don't fret. There are experts who feel that as the weather warms up, people on the sidelines might start re-engaging in the market. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

This episode originally aired January 4, 2022. 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.

This episode originally aired on February 11, 2022. 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. Any charitable donations be made to the John Honderich City Builder Fund through United Way Greater Toronto: www.uwgta.org/johnhonderich

This episode originally aired on November 7, 2022. Guest: Moira Welsh, investigative reporter The devastation faced by Ontario's long-term care residents during the pandemic may have fuelled a reckoning and a collective question: how do you want to spend the final years of your life? That's the focus of The Third Act, an ongoing series produced by the Star in collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University and the National Institute on Ageing, which aims to explore real world solutions that could make a genuine difference to Canadians as they age. The conversation is at a critical juncture as Ontario's health care sector is in crisis and almost a quarter of Canada's population set to become seniors in the next few decades. While some places are reframing old-age care, why is Canada behind? Moira Welsh explains. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022. Guest: Lex Harvey, staff reporter The Arctic town Svalbard is about as remote as you can get. It's an archipelago located on top of the world. Residents carry guns and live alongside polar bears, they can see the northern lights during the day and they're not allowed to give birth or die there. It is also the fastest warming place on Earth and experiencing the worst effects of climate change where residents live under constant fear of the next disaster. Svalbard serves as a stark warning to the rest of the world. Star reporter Lex Harvey takes "This Matters" listeners on a tour and a wake-up call. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

This episode originally aired on November 29, 2022. Guest: Wendy Gillis, crime and policing reporter The Toronto police cold case unit has announced the arrest of Joseph George Sutherland, 60, for allegedly committing the murders of local women Erin Gilmour and Susan Tice in 1983. After 2008 testing of evidence confirmed one man was responsible for both murders, advances in genetic sequencing and forensic genealogy would lead police to arrest Sutherland in Moosonee, Ont. The charges against Sutherland have not been proven in court. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: Toronto Police Services

Guests: Katie Daubs and Kris Rushowy, staff reporters Holiday romance movies are everywhere. They started as a staple of the Hallmark brand, but now have spread to others like Lifetime, Netflix and more. Many of these new holiday films are filmed right here in Ontario and, beyond spreading the spirit of the season, they also provide a beneficial economic impact to this region. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Noor Javed covers 905 municipal politics for the Star According to the findings of a Star co-investigation with The Narwhal, documents show that the government is quietly considering expanding the Bradford Bypass from four to eight lanes. This highway is already controversial because the planned route threatens many ecologically sensitive areas and now, could potentially double in size. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CityNews and Global News

Guest: Kate Allen, climate change reporter Will the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) be a "Montreal moment" in the fight to save the planet's biodiversity? That's how Steven Guilbeault, the federal minister of environment and climate change, described the conference while announcing what some are calling a historic and transformational agreement. While it takes Indigenous and global equity issues into account, some critics say there is more work to be done to hold governments accountable to ensure the deal's ambitious targets. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Canadian Press

Guest: Jennifer Pagliaro, crime reporter Car jackings and pharmacy thefts are on the rise, with many of the crimes committed by younger people. With a stolen luxury car fetching up to $10,000, it is believed the high risk, high reward is driving the increase of these types of criminal activities. As more teenagers commit these crimes, the bigger question is how to help and support youth, and prevent them from getting involved and trapped in these cycles of crime and violence. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: David Rider, City Hall bureau chief Ontario Place is in the news as the plans for a massive spa on the site move through City Hall. While the 155-acre site on Toronto's waterfront is an urban park now, the new plan includes a five-level subterranean parking lot for more than 2,000 vehicles that taxpayers might be on the hook for. The place where many made memories might look very different in the future. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Retro Rabbit Years, Classic 90's Commercials and The W/O/C Archives (YouTube)

Guests: Nichelle Laus, former police officer, business owner and TikTok creator, and Stephen Lautens, an author, lawyer and podcaster Deck the halls for holiday times, fa la la la la, la la la la. Keep an eye out for these crimes, fa la la la la, la la la la. These are scams for the season, fa la la la la, la la la la. Play this podcast for that reason, fa la la la la, la la la la! This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Jeremy Nuttall, investigative reporter Chances are, like most Canadians, you have no idea how the country's big pension funds are investing your money. A report is revealing that multiple federal and provincial funds are investing in Chinese companies complicit in human rights abuses and pension funds of several other Western countries have done the same. Jeremy Nuttall, an investigative reporter for the Star, joins "This Matters" to share what we know. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Lex Harvey, transportation reporter Public transit is something that is always difficult to get built in the Toronto area. Case in point: several transit lines are to be built in the next decade, and already skirmishes are happening. There have been complaints about the state of the years-delayed and overbudget Eglinton Crosstown, concern about the fate of mature trees at Osgoode Hall and questions from parents and kids at an east end school where transit work is underway. Metrolinx, the agency responsible, is taking a heavy hand of community complaints. Is it all par for the course or are there bigger questions to be asked? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: Breakfast Television and CityNews

Guest: Kevin Donovan, chief investigative reporter It has been five years since the murders of Barry and Honey Sherman. The police say it is an active investigation, but there are have been no arrests and only one very mysterious suspect. Noting a lack of progress, family members have increased the cash reward up to $35 million for information that leads to the culprit or culprits. What do we know about the day the Shermans were killed and, five years on, where is the police investigation currently focused? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CBC

Guest: Victoria Gibson, affordable housing reporter Hundreds of people looking for a place to stay are being turned away from Toronto's shelter system every night. As winter arrives and the weather gets colder, encampments are being cleared, temporary shelters in hotels are closing and the shelter system is operating at or near full capacity. It is a cold, desperate situation for many. Affordable housing reporter Victoria Gibson joins "This Matters" to talk about the many issues those facing homelessness face right now. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Kelsey Piper, senior writer at Vox.com ChatGPT by OpenAI and Lensa AI are two generative artificial intelligence tools that have been going viral. There are fun uses of artificial intelligence (AI) that show the possibilities of how these might start to influence and change the world as the technologies continue to improve and get better. That said, there's a good reason that AI and the machines battling with humans is a such a huge theme in science fiction. Even these fun tools are already forcing people to ask questions about ethical uses of AI and that's just the beginning. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: NBC and Cleo Abram (@cleoabram) on TikTok

Guests: Brian Rosborough and Colin Best, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) The Ontario government's new housing bill has many municipal politicians upset about the removal of development charges, as they are typically used to build the necessary infrastructure in communities. There have been huge estimates for that funding shortfall, and while the province told some municipalities they are willing to work through an audit process, many fear the possibility of large property tax hikes to make up the difference. Brian Rosborough, executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and Colin Best, AMO president and Halton regional councillor, explain some of the cost and effect of the new housing bill and how municipalities are calculating these numbers. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CityNews and CTV

Guest: Isabel Teotonio, education reporter After months of neglect and violent incidents, the situation at York Memorial Collegiate Institute has reached its breaking point. Students staged a walkout last week to point to the number of issues at their school that they say has made for an unsafe learning environment. Students, parents, teachers and the Toronto District School Board are focused on fixing the problems, but this dire situation also comes at a time when the board has just tabled a report looking at how to deal with the increasing incidents of violence in and around schools. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Global News, CBC, CTV News and CityNews

Guest: Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator justice columnist How long should offenders with more than one murder conviction stay in prison before they are eligible for parole? According to the Supreme Court, the answer is 25 years. Earlier this year, the court found the practice of consecutive life sentences (serving more than 25 years before parole eligibility) to be cruel and unjust. While this is a decision that only affects a few high-profile criminals, it reminds us of some of the worst crimes in Canadian history and will have a direct impact on the families of homicide victims. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC