Open to Debate with David Moscrop

Threats and harassment directed at journalists in Canada are on the rise. A vicious coordinated campaign of hate targeted at a handful of women, especially racialized women, in recent weeks stands out as particularly troubling. As the far-right continues to organize and grow in the country, and as cynical politicians and media elites fan the flames, the implications of these campaigns press beyond the borders of news media and into the territory of our democracy. 

Protecting journalists and uprooting hate requires an immediate, coordinated, and sustained counter-movement. The effort must also be adequate to the task. Those who choose violence cannot be met with tolerance, since infinite tolerance undermines the foundations of inclusion. But to understand what is to be done, we must start by understanding the nature and extent of the problem. So, we ask: What does the targeted harassment of journalists mean for journalism and democracy?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Erica Ifill, race and equity expert, co-host of the Bad and Bitchy podcast, and founder of Not In My Colour – an anti-racism and equity consultancy.

The crisis in healthcare across the country has opened the door for "reform." In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford is pushing "innovation." In recent days, he’s taken that message to Atlantic Canada, too. But what does "innovation" mean? It could mean further starving the public system of the resources it needs. It could mean privatisation. It could mean introducing a two-track system. Supporters of a strong public system aren’t inclined to give conservative reformers the benefit of the doubt, nor should they be.

Understanding the future of healthcare in Canada requires us to understand the challenges the system faces and the battle between those who wish to renew the public system and those who wish to undo it. Those are the questions we’ll dig into as we ask: What is the future of public healthcare in Canada?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Vivian Stamatopoulos, associate teaching professor at Ontario Tech University and LTC advocate.

Artificial intelligence is embedded in our daily lives whether we notice it or not. It shapes how we live, work, and play. Shopping, gaming, healthcare, cybersecurity, travelling, social media, policing, war and plenty of other facets of contemporary life feature AI technology – and there’s more on the way. And while discussions of AI tend towards questions about sentience – and robot overlords throwing off the yoke of human rule and taking over – the more immediate and pressing concerns of use, abuse, equity, and privacy still need to be answered.

Shaping AI to serve human needs and the public good requires that the community take part in determining the boundaries and ethics of the technology. Determining those uses and limits starts with understanding its applications. So, in this episode we ask: What can artificial intelligence do?

My guest on this episode of Open to Debate, is Yves Jacquier, Executive Director of Ubisoft La Forge.

The agriculture sector is a significant global source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the United Nations suggested eating less meat was a key step in lowering such emissions – especially beef. But while the sector contributes to climate change, it is also an essential component of our food security, biodiversity, and meeting daily nutritional needs. Understanding how beef consumption fits into our fight against climate change requires us to dig into Canada’s cattle industry, how it operates, and how it fits into domestic and global food and ecological systems.

While it’s easy to say “Eat less beef,” there’s more to it than that. To sort out just what that entails, we ask “What do cattle have to do with climate change?”

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Dr. Tim McAllister, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and host of the podcast Cows on the Planet.

In February, 2021, we took a deep breath and mixed things up by checking in with one of our favourite comedians as we celebrated our 40th episode. At the time, we’d been in the pandemic for a year. Now, we’ve been at it for over two years and we’re approaching 70 episodes. So, what better time to check back in with one of our best-loved guests.

Last time, we asked “How are you doing?” It would be lazy to ask the same question, so this time we ask: How are you doing-er? 

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Brittlestar— Stewart Reynolds—comedian, video-maker extraordinaire, and, according to his website, The Internet’s Favourite Dad* (*still unproven).

The pandemic isn’t over. Someday, it will be. But we aren’t there yet. We are, however, at a critical juncture – a fork in the road at which we can choose another path forward. Today, we ought to be devoting much of our attention to an analysis of how we can rebuild or remake our social, political, and economic institutions in ways that serve us more effectively, sustainably, and equitably. 

Rebuilding or remaking our institutions requires us to think critically about what has worked in the past, for whom, and what might work better in the future. It requires us to ask a basic question and to be willing to follow where it leads us. It requires us to imagine something different. So, we ask: How should we put ourselves back together post-pandemic?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks once more–for a record-setting fourth time–with Amanda Watson, feminist theorist, lecturer at Simon Fraser University and author of The Juggling Mother: Coming Undone in the Age of Anxiety.

In the first year of the pandemic, police-reported hate crimes rose by 37 percent. That’s from a recent Statistics Canada report that recorded 2,669 incidents in 2020 – the highest number since such data became available in 2009. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. No one who has been paying attention to the rise in hateful rhetoric, threats, and the growing mobilization of white supremacists in Canada will be surprised by this data. But it’s shocking and troubling nonetheless. 

Rooting out hate in Canada requires that we face it head on: going to its source and dealing with both the individuals and the structures that produce violence. So, on this episode we ask: Where do hate crimes come from and what is to be done?  

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Mohammed Hashim, executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

In the United States, a leaked draft opinion on the constitutional right to abortion has put those who support choice on high-alert. The constitutional protection of that right is at risk, putting the well-being and lives of millions in the path of peril as the country tilts ever further towards Christian theocracy. 

As news of the U.S. leak circulated, many in Canada took notice and raised questions about the right to choose in this country, wondering whether it was secure and for how long. As is often the case, a chorus of “It can’t happen here,” emerged. But this country has its own issues when it comes to abortion rights and access. To find out what those are, we ask: What is the state of abortion rights and access in Canada?

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Frédérique Chabot, director of health promotion with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights.

Artificial intelligence is shaping healthcare in Canada and around the world. The role of AI in delivering care will evolve and, indeed, grow. As a series of tools, it offers opportunities for patients and practitioners; yet, as with any technology, it comes with risks. As with any tool, AI will only be as good as those who create and operate it. Given who we are – and our track record – that ought to give us pause.

Understanding, interrogating, and mobilizing new technologies requires care, diligence, and diversity. When it comes to equitable, accessible healthcare, we require heaps and heaps of such considerations. So, in this episode we ask: What does artificial intelligence mean for the future of equitable, accessible healthcare? 

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Dr. Rim Khazal, an expert on AI policy who holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Carleton University.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has produced a refugee crisis. Another one, that is. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports over 80 million people have been displaced globally, including over 26 million who are refugees. According to the U.N. agency, “Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar account for two-thirds of people displaced across borders.”

The war in Ukraine has produced millions of additional refugees. Many are being welcomed around the world, as they should be. But as news media and states treat the Ukrainian crisis differently than others, a question lingers: Who gets to be a migrant – and where? 

On this episode of Open to Debate, David Moscrop talks with Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada.