NOW and NEXT

This week on Now and Next:

The Ford government in Ontario is patting itself on the back for forcing the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to reversing a ban on paper bags. The LCBO made the move in August 2023, claiming it was an environmental initiative aimed at saving our forests. Premier Ford says it's a matter of affordability for Ontarians.

But both the LCBO and premier either misunderstand or are wilfully ignorant pfthe effects of a paper bag ban. Using recyclable paper actually contributes to saving our forests. We explain!

Also, we introduce you to Sue Larkin, the COO at Look Good Feel Better. She hosts a Story Studio Network podcast called Facing Cancer Together.. This interview was orginally recorded before the show launched. But we thought it was a good idea to revisit the discussion now that the 13 part series is available on all your podcast apps. AND to celebrate the success of the show. They've had remarkable reach with the remarkable stories they've shared.

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We are seven months from election day in the United States and its outcome could prove to be the most significant since Abraham Lincoln was elected with less than 40% of the popular vote in 1860. Lincoln’s election is cited as the primary cause that triggered the US Civil War. With that in mind we ask the question: Will the United States be a safer place if Donald Trump wins or if he loses? 

In this episode of NOW and NEXT, we’re joined by veteran pollster, John Wright, SVP at Maru Public Opinion and David Schultz, professor of political science and constitutional law at Hamline University in Minnesota.
 
We explore the political landscape focusing on the dissonance between the political narrative and the state of the economy. 

• David Schultz: Generally, voters’ perceptions of the economy, along with approval rating for the president, are pretty good predictors - not guarantees but pretty good predictors - of what happens in elections. And even though all the numbers look pretty good in terms of the economy, it’s the inflation factor that's souring a lot of people right now. And this is the problem that Joe Biden faces.

• John Wright: “You see two things through my lens. Number one is this hyper -partisanship, which drives everything (in the U.S.). But secondly, it's a culture war in the United States. It doesn't surprise me at all that in the last week, Joe Biden has decided with his vice president to go after the Roe v. Wade vote. I mean that's that's the counter measure to the economic piece that's on the other side of the aisle. It just seems that it's not just about the economy, it's about the culture of the United States.”

The polarization and extreme partisanship in the United States is driven by cultural issues and amplified by social media bubbles. And the ultimate result will come down to a small number of voters in 5 or 6 counties in 5 or 6 states. 

• David Schultz: “I describe it this way. 5 -5 -5, 270 or 6 -6 -6, 270. Either 5 % of the voters in 5 counties and 5 states tell us who gets to 270 electoral votes or 6 % of the voters roughly in 6 counties and 6 states."

• John Wright: “It would be like trying to figure out the national election based on doing all of your polling in Cornwall Ontario.”

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In this episode of NOW and NEXT:

A funeral was held this week for Roy McMurtry, the former Chief Justice of Ontario and Ontario's Attorney General in Bill Davis' government at Queen's Park. McMurtry at the age of 91 on March 18, 2024.

I had the chance to interview the Chief Justice when he retired from the bench in 2007. We replay that sit down for you in this episode of the podcast.

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This week on NOW and NEXT:

We explore truth and reconciliation in the mining industry. It's a critical issue, especially when you consider how much mining in Canada is done on the traditional lands and territories of First Nations right across the country. Brandon Ringham, from Creative Fire, sat down with us at the PDAC confernece in Toronto.

We're also excited for a new season of Popping the Bubble Wrap! Our friends at Parachute are back in the studio and their CEO Pam Fuselli is going to tell you, it's okay to let the kids engage in risky play. Not dangerous play, but they need to learn by taking risks.

And I discovered a beautiful song about Ellis Island this week. It tells the story of Annie Moore. Something to consider as we mark St. Patrick's Day this week. I'll even sing it for you.

Now and next is the flagship podcast at Story Studio Network.



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Today on NOW and NEXT:

It's been a LONG TIME coming but the feds have finally tabled their legislation aimed at curbing online harm. That includes new measures to deal with hate speech and puts a major onus on the big tech companies to take responsibility for content posted on their platforms.

Owen Charters is the President and CEO at BGC Canada. He says it's a good first step. "We do think the government largely...got it right" particularly when it comes to protecting our kids and teenagers when they're online.

"It is something we've been waiting to see because we see the harms. We see the harms each and every day. And it's both perpetrated on and unfortunately sometimes perpetrated by young people."

We also sit down with Story Studio Network CEO, Erin Trafford. We recorded the segment LIVE from our Podcast Newsroom at the Prospecter and Developers Association of Canada convention in downtown Toronto. It is the largest mining industry gathering in the world. Remarkably, there was next to NO media on site to report on some major economic, environmental and indigigenous stories.

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This week on NOW and NEXT

We talk to Neil Hetherington, CEO at Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. Those of you who follow us here at Story Studio Network will know we've been working closely with Neil and his team producing The 2030 Project podcast series. The latest instalment was a limited series focussed on the Canada Disability Benefit. The long and the short of it is, the CDB is aimed at lifting a million Canadians, who live with disabilities, out of poverty.

Neil and Talia Bronstein represented the Daily Bread team in Ottawa last week, pressing MPs to commit to fully funding the CDB in the 2024 budget. The "good news"? It sounds like the feds are ready to commit $1 -2 billion to the cause. The "not so good news"? It would take an average of about $1 billion per province and territory to stabilize the lives of those relying on disability benefits across Canada.

The investment of "every billion equals $100 (per person in monthly benefit payments). And so you need to get about $10 to 12 billion." Neil says "People need about $1 ,000 more than what they're currently getting. If you are on disability in Ontario, you're getting $1 ,300 a month. The poverty line is $2 ,300 a month. And so our hope is that it gets to the...thousand or so dollars a month, which is still inadequate, but at least gets to a certain level of being able to hopefully not rely on food banks."

Also, we connect with Karen L. Cumming - author of the Wealthy Martian. Karen says it's long past time for us to be including financial literacy in our education curriculum.

And, finally, we are now into year three of the Russian war in Ukraine. We're joined by Major General (ret) Scott Clancy - Leader, Author, Speaker, Mentor, Coach, an RCAF veteran. General Clancy says all eyes are properly focussed on the growing tensions between NATO nations and Putin's Russia.

But he tells us, we need to broaden our peripheral political vision in this post-Cold War era.
"The soft underbelly of NATO and the West is not Europe", says Clancy. "It's not even American forces deploying to Europe. It's North America. And if Russia was really going to come after the Americans, they'd come after them here."

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Welcome to NOW and NEXT - the flagship podcast at Story Studio Network..

It’s our weekly offering - the newest episodes will drop Thursdays!

Stories, issues, problems and solutions that just don’t make the cut in the assignment meetings… But they’re stories, issues, problems and solutions that affect you, your family, your home, your job and your community.

This week….

• Now that city hall in Toronto has decidedly dinged the local home owners with a 9.5% tax hike… they’re back to the business of complaining about parking fees and dangerous dogs. THAT’S THE BUSINESS THEY SHOULD BE IN! NOT highway maintenance and sheltering refugees. The budget period might have been Olivia Chow’s toughest time so far in the Mayor’s chair. But the next six months will be her toughest test…following through on her “back on track” budget and making sure she delivers on the police, transit and housing promises she’s made.

• Back on track…it the political theme of the week….In Chow’s case…it makes sense. But it is the means of memes at Queen’s Park. Ford Nation’s introduction of the “Get it DONE” bill is aimed at getting the province back on track. Of course, the quick and obvious observation? The bill harkens back tot he 2022 campaign slogan. This week, it begs the inescapable question: What the hell have you been doing for the past two years? We will be diving into that and more this week as we gather for On The LEDGE - your Ontario politics podcast. It will be back in your podcast feed on Friday!

• Who would want to serve in government? A story at cbc.ca this week details plans to issue panic buttons to Senators in Ottawa…over safety and security concerns. The CBC reporting says Senators have “been targeted by online harassment campaigns and threatening phone calls in recent weeks. The panic buttons were offered to MPs in 2022 following the fallout from the Freedom Convoy/occupation in Ottawa.

• Last week we learned the FBI informant who was at the centre of the Biden bribery investigation is accused of lying about it. Now, this week, the feds stateside say Alexander Smirnov had ties with Russian intelligence affiliated officials. Prosecutors say Smirnov admitted in an interview following his arrest “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story” about Hunter Biden. The FBI would like Smirnov behind bars while awaiting trial. BUT the judge didn’t bite. Daniel Albregts allowed Smirnov to be released…but is subject to GPS monitoring.

• Are you a COSTCO customer? A great piece in the Economist this week explaining how and why the big box retailer is so beloved? HINT: forty or so years ago…a Hot Dog and Drink combo at COSTO cost $1.50. Today??? It cost $1.50. Check out the story in the Economist.

• DID YOU HEAR?….The PM’s pissed off…over the job cuts at Bell… The feds have summoned Bell Execs to the hill for a grilling over the latest round of layoffs…Can’t wait to see how that plays out. So far, Ottawa has managed to only add fuel to the media dumpster fire in this country. And. by the way, if the PM is pissed off about 400 or so layoffs at Bell Media (NO, BELL MEDIA DIDN’T CUT 48 HUNDRED JOBS. BCE CUT 4800 JOBS), where was the PM’s pissed-offedness when the CBC announced 600 layoffs just two months ago?
• AND…February 22 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It’s happening in plain view and close to home.
• We talk to Janet Campbell, CEO and President of Joy Smith Foundation.

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Today on NOW and NEXT:

We want to know what good thing happened to you this week? You can let us know via email ([email protected]), on socials @davetrafford or, better yet, leave us a recorded message.

You can leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

We also meet Sevaun Palvetzian, President and CEO at UNICEF Canada to analyze the latest report that finds 1 in 5 kids in the riches countries are living in poverty.

Sevaun says we've made remarkable progress to reduce child poverty in Canada but says 18% per cent of our kids live with food insecurity and poverty.

We discuss the need for government action to address the issue.

Poverty is a choice made by governments and calls for dedicated leadership and policy changes to reduce child poverty rates. We also touches on the role of public generosity and the responsibility of government in solving public policy issues.

Takeaways

• Child poverty is a pressing issue in Canada, with one in five children living in poverty.
• The Canada Disability Benefit is crucial in lifting people with disabilities out of poverty.
• Poverty is a choice made by governments through their policies and budget decisions.
• Government should prioritize the well-being of children and make child poverty a central focus in policy-making.
• Individual generosity should not replace government responsibility in addressing poverty.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Technical Difficulties with Voicemail Link
02:12 Balancing Serious and Light Topics
03:36 Child Poverty in Canada
05:04 Importance of Canada Disability Benefit
06:03 Poverty as a Choice
07:28 Child Poverty Statistics in Canada
09:01 Government Responsibility in Addressing Child Poverty
10:57 Forecasting Child Poverty Rates
13:11 Importance of National School Food Program
14:23 Failure to Eliminate Child Poverty by 2000
17:23 Government's Role in Addressing Poverty
20:22 Need for a Minister of Poverty
23:16 Sharing Good News
25:23 Closing Remarks

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Today on NOW and NEXT:

A new UNICEF report that ranks the UK as having the highest rate of child poverty among developed countries. Canada has made progress in reducing child poverty, but UNICEF Canada notes one in five children Canadian kids are living in poverty. The Canada Child Benefit is recognized as a successful program in reducing poverty, but there are challenges faced by families where a caregiver lives with a disability.

That's why anti-poverty advocates are pushing the federal government to include funding for the Canada Disability Benefits Act in the spring budget.

We feature an interview from the 2030 Project with Minister Kamal Khera, who is responsible for the legislation. We talk about funding and implementation challenges, as well as differences in provincial disability programs.

Takeaways

• The UK has the highest rate of child poverty among developed countries.
• Canada has made progress in reducing child poverty, but still has one in five children living in poverty.
• The Canada Child Benefit has been successful in reducing poverty, but challenges remain for families with caregivers living with disabilities.
• The Canada Disability Benefits Act aims to address poverty among people with disabilities, but funding and implementation challenges need to be addressed.

REMINDER: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

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Today on NOW and NEXT:

The Global Tipping Points Report was released today at COP28. It suggests the planet we call home is on the verge of five catastrophic climate tipping points. Professor Tim Lenton, from the University of Exeter's Global Systems Instiute, led the research team.

Lenton says these tipping points "can trigger devastating domino effects, including the loss of whole ecosystems and capacity to grow stable crops, with societal impacts including mass displacement, political instability and financial collapse."

Cheery stuff, right?

So, we though it was time to highlight a Story Studio Network series called Canadian Forestry Can Save the World. That might sound overly ambitious, but there is a role for the forestry sector to play in the battle against climate change. The problem is, governments across Canada are slow to acknowledge it.

In this episode, we feature a sit down with Rosemary Thompson, the Executive Director at The Coalition For A Better Future, and Derek Nighbor, the CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, originally published April 12, 2023. We discuss how forestry fits into a more sustainable future and the benchmarks needed to assess our success in combating climate and growing a greener economy.

REMINDER:You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)

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For more information go to Dave's website.