Beyond the Headlines

COVID-19 has radically changed the way many people live their day-to-day lives. As more people work, study, and spend time at home, having access to a stable internet connection has never been more important than it is today. While the majority of Canadians have this access, many, especially in rural areas, do not. Today, we’ll talk with two experts on the topic of broadband policy to help us better understand the history of broadband in Canada, the importance of broadband infrastructure, and what still needs to be done to ensure that all Canadians have access to a stable internet connection.

Today's guests are Josh Tabish (Canadian Internet Registration Authority) and Dr. Andrew Clement (University of Toronto)

This episode was produced by Jessica Pan and Natasha Laponce

This week, Beyond the Headlines has partnered with Global Conversations. Global Conversations is an online international affairs magazine, staffed by Master’s students from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Today, on March 8,  they publish their Winter 2021 Feature Issue under the theme, “The Digital Frontier.” You can find it online on their website at munkgc.com.

In the issue, their writers explore the way digital technologies are transforming social, political, and economic life around the world. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our reliance on our online connections has only gotten stronger. The internet has been a powerful source of opportunity, but the challenges and risks associated with it are also becoming clear. Stay tuned as we navigate the digital frontier in Canada, in North America, and around the world. 

Our friends from the Global Conversations podcast team, Regina, Sky and Luca, speak with three writers from Global Conversations, and one outside expert. They discuss a variety of issues that are shaping our digital world ranging from efforts to improve Internet connection for the people of Nunavut, to Europe’s regulatory battle against the tech giants, to the role of social media algorithms and disinformation in US politics. 

Today's guests are MGA students Hilary Lawson, Pierre Miller, and Kristen Pearn from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Dr. Alison Meek, University of Western Ontario. 

Episode produced by Connor Fraser, Regina Codera, Luca Bonifacio-Proietto, and Sky Shi.

Clothing production has doubled in the past two decades, and consumers only keep items for half as long. Low prices and fast-changing trends, combined with poor quality garments, fuel the fast fashion industry. This industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions, is the second largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and 35% of microplastic particles found in the ocean are a result of laundering synthetic textiles. Aside from the environmental harm, fast fashion is also critiqued for its unethical treatment of labour, where workers can make as little as $68 per month. Today, we are joined by three experts to discuss the harmful socio-ecological global impacts of the fast fashion industry to help us understand this issue.

Today's guests are Rachel Miller, Sheridan College; Sabine Weber, Seneca College; and Paola Deda, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion

This episode was produced by Faria Amin and Mycala Gill

During this current pandemic, Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs are among the most harshly hit areas of the Canadian economy. These SMEs account for approximately 98% of businesses in Canada and make up over 50% of the Canadian GDP. Also, up to 70% of employment in the country is generated by these SMEs. It goes without saying that Canada's economic recovery is closely tied to the recovery of these SMEs. But, is it enough to just re-establish these SMEs or is it finally the time for Canada to promote research, development, and innovation in one of the most crucial areas of our economy? Why have we been unable to promote our SMEs' productivity and expansion? Why do we see innovative firms leave Canada, despite benefiting from our public research and development funds? In terms of the pandemic, what does innovation mean for our economic recovery? As we make plans to come out of the pandemic and start building back better, perhaps it is time to reflect on our economy to make Canada more competitive on a global stage. This episode will look at Canadian competitiveness and post-pandemic recovery, with a particular eye on the Small and Medium Enterprises, the SMEs.

Today's guests are Robert Asselin and Sean Speer, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. 

This episode was produced by Wahaj Alam and Gillian Monckton

Childcare has been an issue at the forefront of federal, provincial, and municipal politics for decades now, but outside of Quebec, little progress has been made in recent years. Parents struggle to meet the high costs of this service, and the pandemic has amplified existing issues while also creating new ones. However, with a new federal plan on the way, there is hope that childcare will be more accessible in the near future. Today, we are joined by three experts who will discuss childcare in the Canadian context, and how we can build a stronger system moving forward.

Today's guests are Morna Ballantyne, Child Care Now; Anjum Sultana, YWCA; and Dr. Susan Prentice, University of Manitoba

Produced by Duncan Cooper, Faria Amin, and Sameh Hashem

One of the key elements of good public policy is public engagement. It is crucial that the voices of those for whom public policies are in fact made are heard by policymakers. The usual form that public engagement takes is outreach. One organization, however, is looking to fundamentally change the way that communities are involved in the policy process, especially in the context of climate change. In today’s episode, Thea Koper sits down with Dr. Sean McGrath and Kyla Bruff, co-founders of the non-profit organization For a New Earth (FANE), based in Newfoundland and Labrador. Rather than leading one-sided outreach initiatives, this organization is focused on breaking down the barriers that exist between academia, the policy world, and local communities. FANE also recognizes the deep value that art, spirituality, and direct engagement with nature can bring to public engagement. We begin our conversation by discussing how this form of engagement is crucial not only for action on climate change, but for raising the ecological consciousness of a province. We then discuss specific policy recommendations for Newfoundland and Labrador pertaining to climate change. 

Today's guests are Dr. Sean J. McGrath and Kyla Bruff, Co-Founders of For a New Earth

Produced by Thea Koper

COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated a number of systemic inequities that challenge Canada’s potential to build back better. One of those brought to the forefront has been food insecurity. Before the pandemic, 1 in 8 households in Canada was food insecure, with low-income communities and communities of colour being disproportionately impacted. Today, we’ll hear from four experts in the field to help us understand this interconnected and pressing issue. 

Today's guests are Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, University of Toronto; Jessica McLaughlin, Thunder Bay Area Food Strategy; Dr. Charles Levkoe, Lakehead University; and Melana Roberts, FoodSecure Canada.

This episode was produced by Diana Lu, Jessica Pan, and Natasha Laponce

The twin economic and health crises have rollbacked gender equality in Canada and around the world. Women, particularly those with children, as well as those who are racialized, and/or low-income have come to bear the brunt of the global pandemic and recession. Today we have incredibly knowledgeable and distinguished experts to help us understand these issues.

Ariane Hegewisch is the Program Director of Employment and Earnings at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and a Scholar in Residence at American University. 

Dr. Marina Adshade is Assistant Professor of Teaching at the Vancouver School of Economics.

Dr. Sarah Kaplan is Director, Institute for Gender and the Economy,  Distinguished Professor of Gender & the Economy and Professor of Strategic Management at Rotman.

Katherine Goldstein is an award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur. Katherine is the creator and host of the podcast The Double Shift. 

Produced by Mycala Gill, Chayce Perkins, and Erin Christensen

On January 20th, Joe Biden will be sworn is as the 46th President of the United States, bringing an end to a tumultuous four years under the Trump administration. Joe Biden was elected on the promise of a return to normalcy, and on the hope of a brighter future in a less divided America.

America's allies watched this election closely, especially its neighbour to the north. Prime Minister Trudeau was one of the first to congratulate Biden on his clinching of the presidency.

In this episode, we'll break down what the incoming Biden administration broadly means for Canada. Taking into account the events at the Capitol, and the general tone between the United States and Canada over the last four years, we'll speak to two experts about where things stand now, as well as where they're likely to go.

Our guests today are Savannah Boylan, Founder and Executive Director of For Democracy, and Dr. Will Greaves, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Victoria. 

This episode was produced by Gillian Monckton, Elliott Simpson, and Thea Koper.

This week Beyond the Headlines has partnered with the Munk School’s Urban Policy Lab to discuss the importance of main street support and recovery during the global pandemic. The COVID-19 virus has seriously impacted the small business sector, however, even prior to the pandemic main streets were already struggling to adapt to technological advancements that have changed the face of retail by shifting customers from brick and mortar shops to online stores. Small businesses employ a majority of the private sector labour force in Canada and generate almost half of the nation's GDP, making them an essential part of our recovery process as we mitigate the effects of the pandemic. 

Today's guests are Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford, the Canadian Urban Institute's Ariana Holt, and the University of Toronto's Jason Spicer. 

This episode was produced by Sara Szot, Stephanie Bertolo, Madison Leisk, and Erin Christensen.