Front Burner

Canadian cattle farmers are having a hard week. The beef industry was already struggling after deadly mass outbreaks of COVID-19 hit the heart of Canada’s meat processing industry in Alberta, causing temporary closures, slowdowns in production and a backlog of cattle. Then on Tuesday, president Donald Trump mused about the possibility of terminating trade deals that allow for imports of live cattle into the U.S. Paula Simons is an independent senator from Edmonton and a former journalist who covered Alberta's cattle industry. She was also one of the first to speak out about food inspector safety during the pandemic. Today she shares her thoughts about Alberta beef, meat processing and why she thinks industrial farming needs to change.

Across Canada, the economy is slowly reopening. This week, with physical distancing measures in place, restaurants can resume dine-in services in B.C., retail shops with street entrances in Ontario can open, and in some parts of Alberta, you can get a haircut again.

But as restrictions loosen, Canadians will be asked to use their judgment to limit the spread of COVID-19. Today on Front Burner, infectious disease expert Isaac Bogoch with some advice on how to navigate those complications.

Amazon has seen an incredible demand for its products during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, it is also facing a wave of criticism over not doing enough to ensure the safety of its warehouse workers.

We speak with Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham - two former Amazon tech employees. They say they were fired, because they tried to raise awareness about the conditions at Amazon warehouses.

A series of cell phone tower fires in Europe and Canada have been linked to a conspiracy theory about 5G networks and the coronavirus — a theory that’s been boosted by celebrities and politicians, and that has deep ties to the anti-vaccine movement.

Today, CBC Senior Investigative Reporter Katie Nicholson joins us to break down the conspiracies, and talk about how they could have serious implications for the fight against COVID-19.

In Someone Knows Something Season 6, Debra has been searching for her son, Donald Izzett Jr. for 25 years. The last time she spoke with him was Mother’s Day. He had called from a road trip, but sounded upset, saying he needed money. Then the phone went dead. Donnie’s friend told police that he dropped him off in New Orleans. But Debra thinks he was murdered. And decides to investigate the case herself. Here's an excerpt from the first episode. Full episodes are available at hyperurl.co/skscbc

We're still a long way away from getting back to the pre-pandemic normal. As shutdowns drag on in some cities across North America, some business owners are starting to close up shop for good. Today, the owner of the Storm Crow Tavern in Vancouver on why he gave up one bar to save his two others. And, writer Derek Thompson with the Atlantic on how the pandemic now could change retail - and by extension, urban streetscapes - going forward.

Loneliness posed a public health crisis for many countries years before anyone heard of COVID-19. But how does loneliness manifest at a time -- not sure that's exactly what we're trying to say; suggesting instead: how is loneliness exacerbated when we are forced to isolate for weeks and months? Who is most vulnerable? And what are some of the long-term emotional implications of this lockdown?

We explore the different types of loneliness this pandemic is unlocking with cultural historian Fay Bound Alberti.

Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams is facing a backlash after posting a rant about the origins of the pandemic on Instagram Monday. And although Adams doesn’t name China, or Chinese people, the comments are clearly about them. Today we focus on concerns about growing xenophobia towards East Asians in recent months, which include a series of racist attacks, with help from Susan Eng, director of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice, and dance artist Ziyian Kwan.

This weekend marked the return of a major sporting event to North America, the first since the pandemic forced leagues into lockdown in mid-March. UFC 249 brought mixed martial arts fighters back into the octagon in an empty stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. As other major leagues make plans to open back up, Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur reports on the future of sports, post COVID-19. Will it ever be the same?

Canadian newsrooms have had serious financial woes for years now. But since the coronavirus pandemic began, layoffs, cuts and closures across the country have left many teetering on the brink of survival.

Today, Craig Silverman, a Toronto-based media editor for Buzzfeed News, joins us to talk about how it got to this point and what can be done to stop the hemorrhaging.