10/3: Canada Covered

Facing rising COVID 19 cases in the Omicron wave, and public frustration with those choosing not to get vaccinated, Quebec premier Francois Legault announced what amount to a tax on those who don’t roll up their sleeves.

The move comes as hospitals fill up, and politicians are concerned the health system will be overwhelmed in the coming weeks. But it has not been without controversy.

National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why the Legault government proposed this new measure, what the criticism has been, and whether a tax is the right measure to crack down on the unvaccinated.

Background reading: Quebec plans to hit unvaccinated with a 'significant' tax

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Amid rising cases of the Omicron variant, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced renewed restrictions to try to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

These latest moves were met with stiff criticism, notably the switch to online learning for students to start the new year.

National Post columnist Randall Denley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the new restrictions, why they were controversial, and whether the election this spring will be a referendum on Ford’s handling of the pandemic.

Background reading: Randall Denley: Flying blind, Doug Ford pulls old lockdown levers that won't work anymore

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After NHLers sat out the winter Olympics in South Korea four years ago, there was a lot of hype surrounding their return next month in Beijing.

But rising COVID-19 cases in the league, and the postponement of games forced the league and the players association to pull the plug on the professionals’ Olympic plans.

Postmedia national sports writer Rob Longley joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss how big a blow this is for the games, what it means for the hockey tournament, and how big a shadow Omicron is casting over these Olympics.

Background reading: Beijing Olympics organizers 'regret' NHL player pull-out

With or without NHL players, Beijing Olympics still on schedule: Pound

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2021 was an eventful year in Canadian politics.

On top of COVID-19 and a federal election, we had a new cabinet, a scandal in the armed forces, and heightened tensions with China. And that’s not even the half of it.

Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist for the National Post and principal with Navigator Ltd, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the biggest stories of the year, who were some of the big winners in 2021, and what to watch out for in 2022

Background reading: Tasha Kheiriddin: Get ready for tax hikes to pay for Liberal spending

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Just as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting Canada, Saskatchewan was rocked by a huge spike in overdose deaths, driven by the appearance of fentanyl in the drug supply.

At the same time, the province has also been grappling with the highest rates of HIV infection in Canada.

Zak Vescera from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what communities are being hardest hit by this crisis, how the pandemic has hurt efforts to address it, and what gaps need to be addressed to stem the tide.

Background reading: Trapped a seven-part series

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The word capitalism evokes strong feelings in some, not all of them positive.

But the guiding values behind the notion — freer markets and innovation — have been integral in societies stretching back millennia.

National Post politics editor Mick Higgins joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the history of capitalism, why it gets a bad rap, and how it can be a force for good.

Background reading: The Capitalist Manifesto: How many millions of people escaped poverty, lived longer and got TV

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While Canada is still contending with the delta variant, attention has shifted to Omicron.

While there is some suggestion cases of it could be milder than past variants, there are indications it is much more transmissible, and researchers are still studying how serious it actually is.

National Post Health Reporter Sharon Kirkey joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what we’ve learned about Omicron, what is still unknown, and why officials are still cautious despite some promising signs of milder infections

Background reading: Do we dare hope COVID-19 is becoming milder with Omicron? 'Hope isn't science'

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As countries around the world move to limit fossil fuel use and reduce carbon emissions, coal is an obvious target.

Despite efforts in Canada to reduce its own coal use, the world is a way off from moving past coal as a way to generate heat and electricity.

Financial Post reporter Bianca Bharti joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why coal use is up, and some of the obstacles to achieving a coal phase-out.

Background reading: Coal's last boom? World's dirtiest fuel isn't being put out of business anytime soon

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The dismissal of misconduct charges against Calgary police officers have some calling for changes to how cases are investigated.

The case follows another incident in which the Crown opted not to lay charges against an officer after a prisoner at the arrest processing unit was injured.

Calgary Herald reporter Bill Kaufmann joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss these incidents, what advocates are calling for, and what police say they’re doing to ensure change.

Background reading: Outrage as charges dropped against Calgary police officers accused of misconduct in double pedestrian fatality probe

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As the world scrambles to contain and study the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, Canada has reported its first few cases. 

As of Monday morning, there were two confirmed cases and four possible instances of Omicron in Ontario, discovered after the federal government announced a travel ban from several countries in Africa where the variant has spread more widely. 

Ottawa Citizen Health Reporter Elizabeth Payne joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what we know about these initial cases, why Omicron has officials concerned, and whether it poses worries about resistance to vaccines, as the country races to inoculate schoolkids against the virus. 

Background reading: Two more cases of new variant confirmed in Ottawa, as WHO warns of 'very high risk'

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