10/3: Canada Covered

The Ontario election campaign is set to get underway this week, but the Ford government gave it the unofficial kickoff, with a campaign-style budget.

Rebuilding the economy after COVID will likely be a key theme during the campaign, but so could the government’s response to the pandemic, which still looms over the political landscape.

Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how the budget telegraphs the PCs election campaign, what we can expect from the Liberals and the NDP, and whether upstart right-wing parties pose any serious threat to Doug Ford.

Background reading: Ford looks poised for another majority but campaigns still matter

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The NHL playoffs are set to kick off in a return to near normalcy after two years under the shadow of COVID-19.

And as the post-season looms, many are wondering whether this is the year Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid will lead their teams to glory, whether the Calgary Flames will up their game, or if the Lightning is poised for a three-peat.

National post sports writer Scott Stinson joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why this post-season is so important to the league, what match-ups to keep an eye on in the first round, and what teams could surprise fans this year.

Background reading: Fans might want to prepare themselves for the possibility that the Leafs will lose in the first round

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Conservative leadership contestant Pierre Poilievre has wound up an early front-runner in the race to replace Erin O’Toole.

The famously combative MP has played up the fight for freedom as one of his key messages, but he has also given a lot of focus to an issue gaining traction across the country: Housing affordability.

National Post columnist Chris Selley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why housing could be a winning issue for Poilievre, how his approach separates himself from the Liberals, and how the race could change between now and September.

Background reading: Chris Selley: Even in downtown Toronto, Pierre Poilievre's 'freedom' message resonates

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Since last fall, residents of Iqaluit have faced uncertainty over the city’s water supply.

The problem, sparked by the discovery of fuel in the water, has left residents in the remote community wary of officials and demanding transparency about how this happened.

Emma Tranter, who covers Iqaluit for the Canadian Press, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how the discovery was made, why there is a lack of trust among people in Iqaluit, and why they could be waiting for answers.

Background reading: 'The devil is definitely in the details': How fuel could have entered Iqaluit's water

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In the wake of the fall of Kabul and the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Canada has attempted to resettle thousands of refugees, including people who risked their lives helping Canadian Forces during the war.

However, many have faced bureaucratic roadblocks in their attempts to reach the safety of Canadian soil.

National Post political reporter Bryan Passifiume joins host Dave Breakenridge to discuss the struggle faced by a Canadian veteran and his now pregnant wife, a former interpreter who is stuck in Pakistan, what has slowed her arrival in the country, and what is being done to get her and others here.

Background reading: Pregnant wife of Canadian veteran stuck in Pakistan trying to push through Canadian immigration red tape

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Tech giants like Facebook and Google could soon be forced to share online revenues with Canadian news publishers under legislation tabled by the Trudeau government.

The legislation follows a similar law in Australia, and seeks to ensure that news outlets are compensated for work shared on the platforms, which control a large majority of advertising revenues.

National Post political reporter Anja Karadeglija joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the motivation behind the legislation, how it will be enforced, and what reaction has been in the industry.

Background reading: Liberal bill requires digital giants to negotiate fair rate with Canadian news publishers

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The Trudeau government’s latest budget talks of stability and sustainability, while trying to address issues of affordability and economic recovery.

But does it do all the things Canadians had hoped it would?

National Post columnists Jesse Kline and Sabrina Maddeaux join Dave Breakenridge to discuss budget highlights, where it fell short, and how the Liberal-NDP pact factors into the government’s spending plan.

Background reading: Jesse Kline: Chrystia Freeland's budget isn't prudent — it's merely less irresponsible than expected

Sabrina Maddeaux: Chrystia Freeland's budget crushes millennial home-buyer dreams

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Canada’s men’s national soccer team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986, buoyed by strong performances from stars like Alphonso Davies, Cyle Larin and Jonathan David.

Despite some international success in the 1980s, our men’s program struggled for many years before turning things around to reach the biggest tournament in the sport.

Postmedia national soccer writer Derek Van Diest joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why our national program stalled for many years, how we managed to turn things around, and what our chances are at the World Cup.

Background reading: Canada draws Belgium, Croatia and Morocco at FIFA World Cup in Qatar

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Among political issues that have been decided by parliament in the last decade, few are as controversial as Medical Assistance in Dying.

While many Canadians feel it has given loved ones a sense of autonomy, and has spared them prolonged pain at the ends of their lives, there are some in the medical community who say changes to legislation that expand the practice are a step too far.

Dr. Ferrukh Faruqui, a family care physician and freelance writer joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the current legislation, changes that could be coming, and why there is unease among the medical community and some families who have had loved ones who have died by MAiD

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COVID-19 has been the top health story around the world for two years now, but in Canada, there has been growing health concern looming.

For the last several years, cases of syphilis have skyrocketed in the country, and the COVID pandemic has actually made things worse.

National Post health reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what’s driving these cases, why it has doctors concerned, and what they’re advocating governments do about it.

Background reading: Syphilis, the centuries-old sexually transmitted scourge, is surging in Canada

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