Marissa Lennox is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Peggy Nash, a former NDP MP for Parkdale-High Park and David Tarrant, Vice President, National Strategic Communications at Enterprise.
Today: Ontario MPPs are returning to Queens Park as the legislature resumes. What can we expect will be the main questions coming from the opposition? For starters, there's the ongoing question about the Ford government's relationship with developers and the Greenbelt. And, then there is the big button issue of expanding services in private healthcare clinics like cataract surgeries. Next we get our panel's take on the explosive Globe and Mail report about CSIS documents revealing the extent of China's influence on our 2021 election.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ONTARIO'S CONCERNING NUMBER OF ER CLOSURES
Marissa Lennox is now joined by Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal Medicine and Critical Care Physician at Humber River Hospital and NDP MPP and health critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt).
The Toronto Star published an explosive story this morning about the concerning number of ER closures that have taken place in the province. To be specific, ERs had to close 158 times in the past year (from February 2022 to February 2023) which translated to about 4,430 hours (or 184 days). The ER with the most shutdowns this past year (38 overnight closures) was Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria, Ont. So, what is contributing to all of this? Is it just because of a staffing shortage of professionals like nurses? The province is reportedly working with the College of nurses to expand seats in college nursing programs and make it easier for overseas-trained nurses to work in our hospitals. But is that enough?
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PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SURPRISE VISIT TO UKRAINE & PUTIN'S RESPONSE
Marissa Lennox is now joined by Dr. Andriy Zayarnyuk, Professor of History at the University of Winnipeg who teaches about the Soviet Union, Ukraine, nationalism and other topics.
Together, they discuss President Biden's surprise visit to Ukraine and his announcement of additional arms support for the country as the war between Ukraine and Russia ramps up. Our expert also weighs in on Russia's Vladimir Putin announcing that Moscow will end its nuclear treaty deal with the Americans and the implications of all of that.
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