10/3: Canada Covered

For many, the notion of Canada’s war dead is an abstract concept of tens of thousands of lives lost to history.

But behind the numbers are stories of people who gave their lives in our country’s name, and to mark Remembrance Day, journalists in Ottawa will try to provide a picture of the life of one of the nearly 120,000 Canadian war dead.

Ottawa Citizen reporter Andrew Duffy joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss how the We Are the Dead project came to be, how they’ll set out to tell the story of one fallen soldier, and why retelling these stories is so important.

Background reading: We Are The Dead: An appeal for help in honouring one of Canada's fallen soldiers

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

B.C.’s government has made major changes to the way family doctors are paid, with the hope of attracting and retaining medical professionals in that province.

But will it help attract enough talent to address severe waits to see a GP in B.C.?

Katie DeRosa, who covers provincial politics for the Vancouver Sun and The Province, joins the show to discuss the nature of the changes, why this new system is preferred among doctors, and whether it could increase competition between provinces to attract talent.

Background reading: B.C.'s new payment model for family doctors could lure out-of-province physicians

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New legislation in Saskatchewan could shake up relations between provinces and the feds.

The Saskatchewan First Act, unveiled Nov. 1 seeks to assert provincial jurisdiction over resources, and to protect the province from the costs of federal environmental policies.

Jeremy Simes, who covers politics for the Regina Leader-Post, joins the show to discuss why the government is bringing this law in now, what it hopes the act will accomplish, and whether it’s constitutional.

Background reading: Saskatchewan First Act seeks to amend constitution, establish new tribunal

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legalization of cannabis in Canada gave people the freedom to choose to consume without fear of arrest or prosecution, and created a new economic driver.

But four years later, legacy growers are feeling left out, and the legal market is still in competition with illicit sales.

National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins the show to discuss how big the sector has become, why some who were in the business before legalization have faced hurdles, and what’s keeping the black market in business.

Background reading: Four years after legalization, illegal cannabis market still thriving in Canada

Red tape, barriers keeping BC's 'legacy' craft pot farmers out of legal marketplace

Liberals finally begin year-late pot-legalization review with focus on race and the environment

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Upstart political party A Better City Vancouver won a commanding victory in this month’s municipal election, in part for its approach to tackling the city’s crime problem.

But despite Ken Sim’s historic win as mayor, some are skeptical of his central campaign plank.

Dan Fumano, city columnist for the Vancouver Sun and The Province, joins the show to discuss how ABC Vancouver managed such a resounding win, why Sim’s crime plan is raising eyebrows, and what the supermajority means for the city.

Background reading: Easy as ABC — How an upstart party took over Vancouver city hall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danielle Smith’s tenure as Alberta premier has been dogged by controversy in its first few weeks.

She has had to walk back controversies around comments on vaccines and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine even as she tries to set a new course for the United Conservative government in advance of a spring election.

Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins the show to discuss Smith’s early controversies, what factions in the party she’s appealing to, and how that may shape the coming election campaign.

Background reading: Danielle Smith — 'I'm not for turning'

Danielle Smith, UCP the day after and the Wildrose is back!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Testimony is ongoing at the inquiry into the Trudeau government’s use of the Emergencies Act to dismantle a convoy of truckers and other affiliated groups that blockaded downtown Ottawa for a month earlier this year.

The first several days of testimony have largely focused on city officials and residents, as the commissioner attempts to determine whether the use of the act was justified, and how to prevent similar events from happening again.

Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley joins the show to discuss how the testimony has revealed a lack of preparedness on the part of the city officials, why some are playing the blame game, and when we’ll hear from members of the federal government and intelligence agencies.

Background reading: Emergencies Act inquiry shows full extent of incompetence in nation's capital

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid increased concern over China pushing the idea of reunification with Taiwan, American and Canadian delegations have made visits to the country, and have talked of support of officials in Taipei.

But how close are we to a possible Chinese invasion of the island, and what happens, in that event?

National Post reporter Tom Blackwell, who recently travelled to Taiwan, joins the show to discuss the threat that China poses, why Western countries have an interest in Taiwan, and whether Canada and the US are prepared to provide military support.

Background reading: Odds of China invading Taiwan up 'drastically,' government think tank says

From transgender minister to front-line island, Taiwan is definitely not China

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of controversy surrounding its handling of allegations of sexual assault against some players, the top executive and board of Hockey Canada have left the organization.

The changes come following combative testimony before a parliamentary committee looking into the matter, and as some major sponsors have pulled their support of hockey’s governing body.

Postmedia national sports columnist Scott Stinson joins the show to discuss the departures, what led up to these changes, and whether it will help start to repair Hockey Canada’s damaged reputation.

Background reading: Change finally comes to Hockey Canada, but how much will it come to hockey?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alberta Conservatives elected a new leader, and ultimately the next premier, in Danielle Smith, whose return to provincial politics has so far proven successful.

As she is sworn in, she has made party unity a key issue for her in the coming weeks, with plans to meet with MLAs and prepare for the party’s upcoming AGM.

Lisa Johnson, who covers provincial politics for the Edmonton Journal, joins the show to discuss Smith’s path to victory, her next challenge of winning a seat in the legislature, and what the public can expect from a Smith-led United Conservative government.

Background reading: Smith stresses fight versus Ottawa, party unity after becoming Alberta's 19th premier

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices