Since they have been introduced, COVID-19 vaccines have been seen as the ticket out of the pandemic.

But as the delta variant takes hold in Canada, and second-dose uptake slows, debate has grown around whether we should introduce vaccine passports, as has been done elsewhere.

Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist at the National Post and principal at Navigator LTD., joins Dave to discuss how a vaccine passport works, whether it’s a good incentive to increase vaccinations, and why there is pushback among some premiers.

Background reading: Bring on the vaccine passports, and bottoms up

 

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Two of the most notable athletes at the Tokyo games have made headlines, but not for their podium finishes. 

Tennis phenom Naomi Osaka and gymnastics star Simone Biles both made early exits from the games, and both have cited concerns over their mental health. 

National Post columnist Sabrina Maddeaux joins Dave to discuss the significance of Osaka’s loss and Biles’ departure from the team and all-around competition, why mental health in sports needs to be discussed now and why the win-at-all-costs mentality is potentially harmful to athletes.

Background reading: Sabrina Maddeaux: It's no surprise Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka hit their limits at Olympics

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Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. has been shut down.   But there are signs we could see a return to cross-border traffic by the end of the summer, with both Canada and the U.S. offering re-opening dates.   National Post political reporter Anja Karadeglija joins Dave to discuss the plan for reopening, how crucial the border is for business and whether the Delta variant could put a stop to all of it.

Background reading: U.S. border closure makes 'no sense' as Canada starts to reopen for fully vaccinated Americans: critics

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After a year delay, and mounting concern due to rising COVID cases, the Tokyo Olympics are upon us.   Thousands of athletes, officials and media are descending on the city, and while everyone is hoping things go smoothly, not everyone is happy about the games going ahead.   Postmedia national sports writer Scott Stinson, in Tokyo for the games, joins Dave to discuss the mood in Tokyo, concern over rising COVID cases and whether measures are enough to contain possible spread, and whether this whole situation makes bidding for an Olympics even less appealing.   Background reading: In the pandemic Olympics, how many dreams of glory will be stopped by COVID?   In the pandemic Olympics, how many dreams of glory will be stInside Olympic quarantine life — snooping on the neighbours, drowning in trail mixopped by COVID?

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Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s big cities will be facing a number of economic challenges, and two of the biggest in the west will be doing so with fresh leadership. 

Calgary and Edmonton will elect new mayors in the fall as Naheed Nenshi and Don Iveson bid farewell. 

The National Post’s Alberta correspondent Tyler Dawson walks us through what both mayors will be most remembered for, how those races are shaping up, and what challenges their successors will face. 

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After the controversy-plagued tenure of Julie Payette, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Mary Simon will be Canada’s next Governor General. 

 

Our country’s first Indigenous vice-regal comes with an impressive diplomatic resume and extensive experience as a First Nations advocate. And it comes as Canada is reckoning with reconciliation. 

 

National Post political reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave to discuss the significance of the appointment, how Simon feels coming into the role, and the challenge of restoring public confidence after the Payette scandal. 

 

Background reading: Mary Simon achieves historic milestone as first Indigenous Governor General of Canada 

 

New Governor General proved the elder Trudeau wrong 

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What happens when you get over an infection, but it never really goes away? 

For thousands, perhaps 10s of thousands, of people across Canada, recovering from COVID hasn’t actually meant recovering, but instead a long journey of potentially debilitating symptoms, with no end in sight for them. 

Vancouver Sun reporter Lori Culbert joins Dave to discuss how widespread long-COVID is, how debilitating it can be for some patients, and how provinces are approaching treating them.

Background reading: Long-suffering long-haulers need more services, research to end symptoms, advocate says

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When Canada’s Olymians arrive in Tokyo later this month it won’t be the games that they, or anyone was expecting.

While events are going forward, Japan is limiting who can come into the country, and of course there’s the whole concern lingering due to a global pandemic.

Postmedia national sports writer Dan Barnes joins Dave to discuss how the pandemic changed training and qualifying for athletes, how Canada is preparing to keep them safe at the Tokyo games, and how some are feeling heading into the COVID Olympics.

Background reading: Modern pentathlete Kelly Fitzsimmons lone Canadian trying to qualify for Tokyo

Despite pandemic, sport climber Sean McColl has firm hold on training for Tokyo

Canadian swim team headed for Tokyo Olympics a blend of resilience, experience

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An Alberta woman who admitted to fatally shooting her husband is now fighting to have her 18-year sentence for manslaughter reduced.

In 2017, Helen Naslund admitted to shooting her abusive husband Miles in the head in 2011, and hiding his body with the help of one of their sons.

Edmonton Journal reporter Jonny Wakefield joins me to discuss the events that led to the killing, why the sentence was as long as it is, and why Helen’s appeal is arguing the sentence shows the justice system doesn’t understand violence against women.

Background reading: 'Women who kill to survive': Court hears appeal from Helen Naslund, sentenced to 18 years for killing abusive husband

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The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves on the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan has once again renewed focus on Canada’s track record on reconciliation and its treatment of First Nations peoples.

The find is the latest in a series of discoveries since 215 unmarked graves were found at a Kamloops site, drawing international attention on Canada.

National Post reporter Chris Nardi joins Dave to discuss what led to the latest discovery, how the local First Nations community has responded, and whether people are starting to re-think early estimates of how many kids died at residential schools.

Background reading: ‘Like a crime scene’: 751 unmarked graves reported found at former Saskatchewan residential school

Survivors and historical archives chronicle abuse at Marieval residential school

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society emergency crisis line is available 24/7 for those that may need counselling support. That’s at 1-866-925-4419.

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