This Matters

Guest: Megan Ogilvie, health reporter, and Weronika Drab, mother While a fraction of babies with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are hospitalized each year in Canada, that's still about 12,000 infants and this year's burst of infections have hit an already strained hospital system harder and earlier than usual. Joining "This Matters" to discuss are health reporter Megan Ogilvie to talk about what health care professionals are seeing on the front lines and Weronika Drab, who shares the terrifying medical journey when her seven-week-old baby was struck with the virus. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Joanna Chiu, staff reporter China saw its largest protests in a generation this week. In more than 20 cities across the country, protesters demanded an end to Beijing's draconian zero-COVID policy, which expanded to dissent against President Xi Jinping's repressive regime. As of this recording, at least six cities across China have since eased COVID restrictions. Some say an end to zero-COVID may be in sight. Did the protests spark change? Has this exposed faultlines in Xi Jinping's previously iron-clad control over China's citizens? Audio sources: CNN, Reuters This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques, Joanna Chiu and Alexis Green.

Guest: Kieran Leavitt, politics reporter Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith has fulfilled her campaign promise and launched the Alberta Sovereignty in a United Canada act, which aims to allow the province to ignore and potentially alter federal laws it deems harmful to Alberta or its citizens. While Smith says the plan is legal and constitutional, experts are already warning this could be the beginning of another conflict over federal versus provincial powers and citizen rights. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CPAC

Guest: Nicholas Keung, immigration reporter Will a former refugee's trip to see his dying father cost him his status in Canada? A growing number of ex-refugees have lost protected status in Canada as few know they can be pursued by Canadian border officials and faced with deportation after using an old passport or returning home. It's a little-known process called cessation that for some has grave consequences. Immigration reporter Nicholas Keung joins to explain. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques, Sima Shakeri and Alexis Green.

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

Guest: Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa Bureau Live testimony at the inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act during the so-called "Freedom Convoy" protests in Ottawa last winter has concluded after six weeks. The final day of hearings saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take the stand to defend his decision. Tonda MacCharles was in the room and joins "This Matters" to discuss. Audio source: Pubic Order Emergency Commission This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

Guests: Star reporters Noor Javed and Brendan Kennedy and Emma McIntosh from The Narwhal The Ontario government has decided to change its position and build on the Greenbelt, a series of protected lands around the GTA. It has identified 15 parcels of lands that could potentially be opened up for development, but who owns these lands and who stands to benefit in their change of status? Star reporters Noor Javed and Brendan Kennedy and Emma McIntosh from The Narwhal did a joint investigation join us to discuss their findings. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Tess Kalinowski, real estate reporter The Ontario government's new housing bill is a massive piece of legislation that changes many of the rules and established practices for development in this province. While there is everything from removing development charges to changing planning and zoning rules to stripping powers from environmental agencies, many are concerned there aren't enough provisions to create affordable housing. The government says its necessary to solve the housing crisis. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Guest: Matt Elliott, contributing columnist The City of Toronto is facing a $2.3 billion budget shortfall for this and next year's budget. Mayor John Tory has been sounding the alarm, asking both the provincial and federal governments for a bailout and warning that there will be massive service cut, tax hike or both if one doesn't come soon. There hasn't been much response or cash flow yet, but it is clear there are issues about how the city plans its budgets and its use of revenue tools. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CP24

Guest: David Rider, City Hall Bureau Chief With an eye to an ambitious Ford government housing plan, Toronto Mayor John Tory asked for and received even stronger mayoral powers than he already had been given over the summer. It was a move that caused an uproar in municipal politics. While some councillor called it a power grab, others are calling it an unprecedented, undemocratic move that will sideline councillors even further. How will the new powers work and what will this mean for Toronto? This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Jennifer Pagliaro, crime reporter There have been several violent incidents, including stabbings and gun-related incidents, around many GTA schools in recent weeks. An 18-year-old was shot and killed outside of Woburn Collegiate on Oct. 31, while last week another shooting in Brampton left an 18-year old seriously injured. With one 17-year old arrested after the Brampton incident, advocates say it feels like those involved in these crimes are getting younger. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar

Guest: Todd Coleman, epidemiologist and assistant professor of health sciences at Wilfred Laurier University The president and CEO of SickKids begged people last week to wear a mask as pediatric ICUs across Ontario hit a breaking point. She's not alone in that wish. Calls have been growing for the province to bring back mask mandates as health experts warn of a difficult viral season with a "triple threat" of the flu, RSV and COVID-19. Despite this, Ontario's top doctor Dr. Kieran Moore has so far only encouraged people to voluntarily mask indoors and he has not inspired many. Do we need a mandate to follow public health advice and mask? We take a deep dive into government messaging and public psychology around masking. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Allan Woods, global and national affairs reporter While facing federal investigations for trying to overthrow the 2020 U.S. election results and inspiring a riot at Capitol Hill, former president Donald Trump has announced he wants to run for president again. His third attempt for power comes in the wake of an underwhelming midterm display for the Republican party and a moment of reckoning on whether to roll out the red carpet for a candidate whose refusal to accept defeat in 2020 pushed American democracy to the edge. Looking toward Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former vice-president Mike Pence, there are also new players in the game. The Star's Allan Woods breaks down the implications. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Bruce Arthur, sports columnist World Cup fever is hot! So is Qatar. Sweltering temperatures and how the authorities plan to treat exuberant, international football fans are two of the big questions as this tiny nation prepares to welcome soccer fans from all over the world. This World Cup has been controversial since it was awarded in 2010, and only remains so as it gets underway. It is extra special for Canadian fans as it is the first time since 1986 that the Canadian men's team has qualified. Is this the beginning of an international football renaissance for our squad? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

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.

Guest: Robert Cribb, investigative reporter A joint investigation between the Toronto Star and the Investigative Journalism Bureau followed the life — and death — of Michael Fraser to offer a glimpse into the complexity and ethics of Canada's legislation around medically assistance in dying, and those that believe it is their only option. The Star's Robert Cribb, along with Charlie Buckley, Thea Gribilas and Declan Keogh of the Investigative Journalism Bureau, were behind the investigation. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

Guest: Noor Javed, staff reporter Building on Ontario's Greenbelt has long been a hot-button political issue in this province, and one that many politicians have stayed away from. Now, citing the need for new housing, the Ontario government has backtracked on promises not to develop on it and proposed a land swap that could open up 15 areas and thousands of acres to new development. Advocates are concerned these moves could have damaging consequences to the environment and contribute to more urban sprawl, while the government says millions of people are moving to Ontario over the next decade and need a place to live. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Global News, Ontario Proud

Guest: Julia Levin, national climate program manager for Environmental Defence The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change — or COP27 — is underway this week in Egypt with more than a hundred world leaders attending. For the first time, climate justice, climate colonialism and reparations are on the agenda. Frontline countries from the Global South who have dealt with some of the worst impacts are making their case for loss and damage. Julia Levin is attending COP27 at Sharm-el-Sheikh and talks about the significance, the developments and the controversies. Audio source: CBC, TIME and UN This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

Guest: Dr. Dan Flanders, a pediatrician COVID-19, cold and flu season, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are combining to create a three-headed monster that is making a lot of kids sick and overwhelming children's hospitals across the province. Beyond that, a shortage of over-the-counter medications for children like acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil), as well as the commonly-prescribed antibiotic amoxicillin, has plenty of kids needlessly suffering and parents stressed. Dr. Dan Flanders, a pediatrician and owner of Kindercare Pediatrics, joins "This Matters" to diagnose what brought us here and share what parents can do to get their kids through this sniffly season. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Karim Bardeesy, Toronto Metropolitan University As many Canadians moved from the office to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in electronic surveillance by employers and an increased demand for related technologies. The intrusive surveillance has been allowed as workers have limited privacy protections, but things might be changing in Ontario. The provincial government passed legislation in April requiring some employers to have an electronic monitoring policy and to disclose it to their employees. Karim Bardeesy, co-founder and executive director of the Leadership Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, co-authored a report on workplace surveillance during COVID-19 and joins "This Matters" to discuss the significance of this legislation and the multiple ways our bosses could be keeping an eye on us. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

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.

Guest: Sara Mojtehedzadeh, investigative reporter, Toronto Star Never-before-seen fatality reports filed to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board from the start of the pandemic's to the end of 2021 were accessed by the Star's Sara Mojtehedzadeh. These reports show that the manufacturing sector in Ontario suffered more fatalities than any other industry. Star investigative reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh explains. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

Guest: Deborah Dundas, Toronto Star books editor Once again, it's award season for books in Canada and also a great time to curl up cozily with your favorite book or audiobook over the upcoming holidays. Canada's prestigious literary award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize has announced its shortlist and will be announcing a winner as soon as next week. Some awesome titles have also been released this fall along with all these Giller nominees. Star books editor Deborah Dundas talks about the Giller big names and the worthy fall titles to add to your reading lists. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green.

Guest: Kris Rushowy, Queen's Park reporter for the Star. This week has seen some unprecedented action in the labour dispute between CUPE and the provincial government. Ontario is passing back-to-work legislation and invoking the notwithstanding clause to get the bill through, which many feel tramples on workers' rights. CUPE is now planning a walkout on Friday, with their workers facing potentially massive fines in penalties. At the moment, both sides are negotiating, but this is a situation that could have huge ramifications for the labour movement and for education in Ontario for the foreseeable future. This episode was produced by Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Eris Nyx, cofounder of the Drug User Liberation Front Death from drugs has become an epidemic in Vancouver, so the Drug User Liberation Front is a group that has decided to buy, test, package and then sell drugs to people who are at high risk of fatal overdoses. While it's currently being run under the auspices of a health research project, it is illegal, but something that they feel is necessary to try and help at-risk people in the community. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Raju Mudhar.

Guests: Dreddz, a community worker and an advocate for homeless issues who is currently in the shelter system; A.J. Withers, who is the Ruth Wynn Woodward Junior Chair in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at Simon Fraser University Toronto's homeless shelter system is at capacity, and hundreds of people seeking shelter every night cannot be accommodated. It's a desperate situation as the number of people seeking help is growing every month and it's likely only going to worse as the weathers turns, but also because the city is closing a number of temporary shelters it opened during the pandemic, some in hotels, which advocates say is going to cause even more upheaval for unhoused people. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Robert Benzie, Queen's Park bureau chief The Ontario government unveiled its massive new housing plan this week, with sweeping changes and housing targets for municipalities across the province, all to get to the goal of building 1.5 million homes in the next decade. Critics are already concerned about density, availability of tradespeople to build the homes, impacts on affordability and the environmental considerations, but also, without penalties for not hitting targets, how is the government going to actually make this happen? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CPAC

Guest: Patricia Jaggernauth, former CP24 broadcaster Former CP24 broadcaster and Toronto television personality Patricia Jaggernauth has spoken out about an allegedly systemic pattern of racism, sexism and discrimination and filed a human rights complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). Her announcement comes as the CP24 parent company, Bell Media, has been in the news over the treatment of employees at sister network CTV News. "This Matters" reached out to Bell Media for a response regarding Jaggernauth's human rights claim and a Bell Media spokesperson emailed us the following statement: "We do not comment on matters involving current or former staff members, but can confirm that Bell Media takes allegations of any potential discrimination or workplace misconduct very seriously, and are committed to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment where employees can thrive. If a matter is brought to our attention where an employee did not feel adequately supported, a process is triggered to review and address when required." Patricia Jaggernauth is on today's "This Matters" episode to share her story. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Jim Stanford, director at the Centre for Future Work The Competition Bureau is investigating if the Canadian grocery industry is contributing to skyrocketing food prices. Coming on the heels of the news that Loblaws and Metro are freezing prices on their in-house brands as part of a goodwill gesture to consumers, there are reports pointing to corporate profiteering leading to higher prices. This is colloquially referred to as "greedflation," and if it's happening, the bigger question is what, if anything, can be done about it? Jim Stanford, director at the Centre for Future Work and contributing columnist at the Star, joins "This Matters." This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CPAC and CBC

Guest: David Rider, City Hall Bureau Chief After a long election campaign, it comes as no surprise to many that John Tory won a third term as mayor of Toronto. What is surprising is the new makeup of council, with many progressive, diverse candidates winning seats. Some won in surprising wards, while a number of other familiar faces easily took their seats as voter turnout was around 29 per cent. The new look at city hall is something that everyone is going to have to get used to, as there are looming problems ahead for the city including a billion-dollar budget hole. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CP24

Guest: Alex Boutilier, Global News national reporter The inquiry into the federal government's unprecedented use of the Emergencies Act during the so-called "Freedom Convoy" protests has almost reached its third week. Testimony from civilians, government and security stakeholders have shed new light and heightened tensions after revelations about the response of Ottawa police in handling the crisis. Alex Boutilier, national reporter at Global News, joins "This Matters" to share what we know so far. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Alyshah Hasham, crime and court reporter Jacob Hoggard, the former lead singer of the band Hedley, has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexual assault. The Canadian rock star was sentenced by a Superior Court justice on Thursday, after a jury found him guilty following a trial that began last May. The case has opened up an important conversation around consent and how it is perceived by the justice system and our society. The sentencing of Hoggard may have larger implications in a country where only one in 15 reported cases of sexual assault end with a conviction. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: DT Cochrane, economist with Canadians for Tax Fairness Canada's largest corporations avoided paying $30 billion in taxes last year, according to a new report from the non-profit organization Canadians for Tax Fairness. Compared to previous years this was due to record profits and a very low tax rate, and lower than the one stipulated in the tax code. How did this happen? While it all appears to be legal, is it fair? We talk and explain the tax gap and how more information about these practices could benefit all Canadians. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Jonathan Franks, crisis management consultant and president of Lucid Strategies Hostage diplomacy is on the rise and some experts believe that more civilians are in the crosshairs of governments using this tactic for their own purposes. Canadians are familiar with the case of "The Two Michaels," who were imprisoned in China and only freed after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was released from Canadian custody. Many are now watching the case of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Canadian-born Paul Whelan as they are being held in Russia. While there are rumours of a deal that may be able to free them, there are no easy paths or outcomes when human lives are being used as pawns in international diplomacy. This episode was produced by Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar

Guest: Edward Keenan, city columnist As municipal elections across Ontario enter their final week, the Toronto election has been bereft of interest. Sure, housing and affordability are big issues, but those will require all levels of government working together to tackle. There are a lot of small things that add up to big quality of life improvements when living in a city, and it's some of those where it feels like the city is dropping the ball. The Star has been exploring these issues in the "Can't We Do Better" series. This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: CARP

Guest: Nora Jenkins Townson, founder of Bright and Early After two and a half years of lockdowns and working from home for millions of Canadians, many employers are expecting workers to return to the office. But according to a recent survey, four out of five Canadians would prefer to continue working from home and human resource experts are warning companies to remain flexible with their back-to-office demands or risk losing employees. Is it even possible to go back to a pre-pandemic work practices and culture or do employers need to find ways to adapt to a new reality? Nora Jenkins Townson, founder of Bright and Early, a modern HR consultancy focusing on designing human-centred, inclusive workplaces joins "This Matters." This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley

Guest: Philip Cross, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute Many of the country's top economists are predicting that a recession is coming, and it will hit harder and last longer than previously forecast. The Canadian housing market has been pegged as being one of the most distorted in the world and, while interest rates are rising in order to combat inflation, that has often led to a recession. What would a recession look like now and is it inevitable? Philip Cross, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and former chief economic analyst at Statistics Canada, joins "This Matters" to break down the indicators for us This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio source: Bloomberg

Guest: Judy Dempsey, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and editor-in-chief of Strategic Europe As Russia rains rockets down on a devastated Ukraine in retaliation for land victories in the Kherson region and for attacking the bridge to Crimea, the war trudged past its eight month with no real sign of diplomatic efforts to come to a peaceful conclusion. As allies try to send more weapons and support to Ukraine, Russia is trying to rally and reinforce its troops by calling up more civilians to join the fight. How does this conflict end? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paul Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: CBC, BBC, CPAC, PBS and CNN Please take five minutes to complete this podcast survey for a chance at a $100 gift card.

Guest: Jon Festinger, adjunct professor at the Allard School of Law The federal government is changing how the internet is regulated in Canada. Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, is new legislation that will give the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the task of regulating companies like Netflix, YouTube and TikTok, similar to what it does with radio and television broadcasting. Many critics point out that internet streaming is very different and question if a similar approach is the right idea. There are also concerns about where user-generated content fits in. Jon Festinger, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law and a faculty member in the Centre for Digital Media, joins "This Matters" to discuss. This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.

Guest: Will Oremus, Washington Post journalist Elon Musk offered to buy Twitter in April for $54.20 U.S. a share and, after signing to buy it, proceeded to act like a man who clearly wanted out of the $44 billion deal. Musk and Twitter were set to go to court, but the business giant and tech investor sent word last week he plans to honour the terms of the purchase and close the sale. What happens now? Plenty of employees are fearful for their jobs and some of the moves Musk said he wants to make. Wanting less moderation and more free speech, could that lead to more growth? This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar. Audio sources: Bloomberg

Guest: Bruce Arthur, columnist Developments with Hockey Canada have sparked a national conversation after revelations the organization spent millions in settlements following sexual misconduct claims that go back decades. There has been a push for change as the government amplifies its probe into Hockey Canada's top leadership and big name sponsors like Tim Hortons, Scotiabank, Telus and Canadian Tire have been falling like dominoes. There are dire questions about the future of the game's governing body and a larger conversation about sexual violence and misogyny in Canada's hockey culture. Columnist Bruce Arthur joins "This Matters" to share his opinion. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley

This Matters is broadcasting a special playoff edition of Deep Left Field, the Star's baseball podcast, hosted by Mike Wilner. He chats about the season and upcoming playoffs with Blue Jays ace, Alek Manoah, interim manager, John Schneider, and pitcher Ross Stripling, who were all chosen to win end-of-year awards by their fellow Blue Jays.

Guest: Enoch Wu, founder of Forward Alliance, a Taiwanese NGO focusing on national security. Last month Toronto Star journalist Joanna Chiu, a reporter covering national and international news, visited Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy at the centre of growing global tensions. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified, by force if necessary. It's a growing source of conflict that some observers worry could tip into full blown war. Today, Chiu brings us a special conversation with Enoch Wu, the founder of Forward Alliance, on the biggest challenges facing Taiwan. Enoch's interview is part of a larger multimedia package highlighting Taiwanese voices. You can read and watch the entirety of Chiu's series, "View from Taiwan," on thestar.com. Audio source: NBC This episode was produced by Joanna Chiu, Alexis Green and Paulo Marques.

Guest: Alyshah Hasham, crime and court reporter A coalition made up of sex workers and advocates is taking the government to court to challenge a federal law from the Harper era that experts say is putting marginalized people in peril. Monday was the first of a five-day landmark Superior Court hearing that advocacy groups are hoping will be the first step in getting sex work fully decriminalized in Canada. Current laws regarding sex work have long come under fire for endangering sex workers, people who are often the most vulnerable to gender-based violence. Alyshah Hasham, crime and court reporter for the Star, explains. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Morgan Bocknek, investigative reporter After celebrity megachurch pastor Bruxy Cavey was arrested and charged with sexual assault in June, the Meeting House — once one of the most prominent megachurches in Canada — has been surrounded by scandal. Many other accounts have come to light and the church has acknowledged that three other former pastors have faced similar sexual misconduct allegations. We take a look at what happened. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Alexis Green

Guests: Anonymous member of 1500Tasvir and Pardis Mahdavi, author of "Passionate Uprisings: Iran's Sexual Revolution" A protest that erupted in the wake of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's death allegedly at the hands of Iran's so-called morality police is now spreading like wildfire across the country and creating a serious challenge for the Islamist government. It's being called one of the largest and most inclusive resistance movements in the country as people revolt against an oppressive regime, growing inflation, and a total lack of social and political freedom. The protesting continues as state forces intensify a crackdown against protesters, scores are dead and the internet almost totally blacked out. We deep dive into a movement that is being led by the women of a new generation with the rallying slogan "Women, life, freedom." This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Paulo Marques. Audio sources: The Guardian

Guests: Star reporters Megan Ogilvie and Kenyon Wallace We all know the COVID-19 pandemic started for most of the world in March 2020, but how do we decide when it is over? U.S. President Joe Biden recently declared the pandemic over, and it might be easy to agree as the world appears closer to normal. Canada is about to lift its travel requirements and, for many, masking has become a memory. But for a lot of people, like the immunocompromised and the medically vulnerable, it is just as dangerous out there and the pandemic is far from over. How do we find a way to live with the virus that captures both of these extremes? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar Audio Sources: CBS News, CPAC

Guest: Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association As the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches to remember the Indigenous children who died in residential schools, the question remains: how does a country move forward with reconciliation without coming to terms with its past? Dr. Alika Lafontaine is the Canadian Medical Association's first Indigenous president in its 155-year history and joins today's episode to speak about how close or far we are from true reconciliation, and how Canada's dark colonial legacy extends beyond residential schools to virtually every institution, including health care. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Paulo Marques.

Guest: Alex Ballingall, politics reporter Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre has sent a strongly worded message denouncing the online group Diagolon after a clip emerged of de factor leader Jeremy Mackenzie threatening to sexually assault Poilievre's wife, Anaida. It is the latest bit of news about the loose knit, online organization that espouses beliefs like white supremacy, antisemitism and conspiracy theories. The group has also been tied to some weapon-related incidents, while those involved tend to chalk up their views as a part of their humour or satire. How seriously should we take Diagolon? This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.`

Guest: Alexander McClelland, member of the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization The ongoing criminalization of HIV non-disclosure continues to perpetuate harmful stigma against people living with HIV has advocates noting how existing laws are overly punitive. A recent court decision also takes note of that. In 2013, Jennifer Murphy was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to more than three years in prison after having unprotected sex without disclosing her HIV status. The Ontario Court of Appeal overturned her conviction last month, noting Murphy's undetectable viral load meant there was no realistic possibility of transmission of the virus. Alexander McClelland, assistant professor at the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University and a member of the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization, explains the implications.