RCI | English : The Link

Your hosts are Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom)

ListenEN_The_Link-20191213-WEE15

Is it time for Canada to rethink policy regarding China?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen during the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in May 2018. Many say that under his leadership China has become an international bully and shown little respect for international law. A longtime China watcher agrees with many other analysts saying its time for Canada to get tough with China (Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)

Working for the Canadian government, Margaret McCuaig Johnston had for decades worked to develop closer ties between Canada and China.

She says, however, that China under the current leadership has changed, becoming far more aggressive. She told Marc that she has changed her view of that country and suggests Canada should take a tougher stance against China on one hand, and start developing new markets other than China.

(full story here)

UN food assistance agency warns of escalating crisis in Burkina Faso

A displaced woman looks on while she waits for help at a village in Dablo area, Burkina Faso March 1, 2019. (Luc Gnago/REUTERS)

The UN is giving warning of a dire humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso, along with its neighbours in the Central Sahel region. Just 59 years into its independence, Burkina Faso is wracked with internal violence combined with the damaging effects of climate change.

The UN estimates almost 500,000 internally displaced people with almost 900,000 throughout the region, with some 2.4 million needing food assistance.

Levon has a report.

(full story here)

A whole different kind of musical tour: the film

In a scene from 'Chaakapesh,' MSO Maestro Kent Nagano watches two Inuit artists perform a throat-singing duet. (Fragments Distribution)

One of the world's great orchestra leaders, Kent Nagano, combined his talent, that of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, composer Matthew Ricketts, Cree playwright Thomson Highway, director and producer Roger Frappier, and several communities of the far north of Quebec.

The result is a unique collaboration in a chamber opera, and a film. Performed in five languages, Cree, Innu, Inuit, English and French. It tells of the folk legend of a 'trickster' swallowed by a whale. It's called 'Chaakapesh: The Trickster’s Quest,"

Terry Haig spoke to co-writer and co-director Jason Kingsley.

(full story here)

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Your hosts, Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom)

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GTA immigrants have trouble climbing corporate ladder: report

Paulette Senior, the president and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation, poses for a photograph in Toronto on Monday, Apr. 29, 2019. A new study conducted by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) shows that only about 4.2 per cent of executives in the GTA are from racial minorities, and only two per cent of executives are immigrant women of colour. (Tijana Martin/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

An examination of statistics from major corporations and businesses located in the Greater Toronto Area showed a very low percentage of immigrants rising to upper management levels.

The study was done by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.

Levon spoke with Yimaz Ergun Dinc, policy analyst with the TRIEC.

(full story here)

Study finds traumatic brain injuries dramatically affect the homeless

Vancouver Oppenheimer Park advocate Chrissy Brett holds Taco last month as both were bundled in warm sweaters in an attempt to keep out the chill. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

An international study of the homeless found that one out of every two people who are homeless may have experienced traumatic brain injury.

The study was an analysis of data from 38 other studies published between 1995 and 2018 from six high income countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the USA.

Terry spoke to William Panenka, physician and researcher with the B.C. Neuropsychiatry Program and the Provincial Health Services Agency in Vancouver

(full story here)

Study suggests Canadian food prices to surpass inflation in 2020

An annual report on food prices in Canada says costs will rise above the inflation rate (Nathan Denette-CP)

In its tenth annual report, researchers say food prices in Canada are expected to rise up to four per cent next year and possibly higher.

One of the main reasons is because climate change has caused unpredictable and poor conditions for crops and harvests.

Marc spoke with Sylvain Charlebois, the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, and lead author of the report.

(full story here)

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Your hosts, Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom)

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Former Canadian spy chief calls for ‘clear eyed’ national security discussion

Richard Fadden, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, appears at Senate national security and defence committee in Ottawa on April 27, 2015. Fadden, a former head of Canada's spy agency, says Canada needs to take a hard look at itself to ensure it is ready to face new threats. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

A major international conference held in Ottawa this week, saw political leaders past and present, along with top level security and NGO officials discuss a variety of topics from climate, foreign aid, to security.

As for Canada, the feeling was Canada needs a ‘root and branch’ review of its foreign policy according to the experts in attendance.

Levon was there and spoke to a number of the officials about the rapidly changing international and domestic scene, and policies and strategies to cope.

(full story here)

Study shows more and more plastics are polluting the Great Lakes

A fog drifts in from Lake Superior in 2011. Gail Krantzberg, an engineering and public policy professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, has published a new study that finds the microplastic problem in the Great Lakes mirrors that of the oceans: small organisms mistake microplastics for plankton, and from there they work their way up the food chain. (Canadian Press)

Plastic garbage is filling up the world's oceans as we've been warned many times now.  A new study says the same tragedy is happening in the five enormous lakes known as the "Great Lakes" shared by Canada and the U.S.

Gail Krantzberg carried out the study. She's an engineering and public policy professor at the Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and spoke to Terry about the situation

(full story here)

U.N. Climate warning:Move quickly before it’s too late

The United Nations has just released two environmental reports showing a gap in where emissions reductions should be, and where they are. (UNEP)

Two recent U. N. reports look at where the world is in terms of meeting it's carbon emissions reductions, and the apparent path we're on heading towards a 3.2 degree Celsius increase in global average temperature by the end of the century.

(full story here)

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Trudeau taps former top diplomat to deal with discontent in Western Canada

Newly named Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks following the swearing-in of the new cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

In the October general election in Canada, the Liberals under Justin Trudeau were re-elected, but this time in a minority government situation and one in which they were virtually eliminated in the four provinces west of Ontario. Very few Liberals were elected in Manitoba and British Columbia, and none at all in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

With a resurrection of the separatist Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, this has left the country deeply divided. Levon discussed the nomination of former Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to the posts of deputy Prime Minister and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister. Originally from Alberta her job will be to try to restore some unity to the country

(original story here)

Hong Kong protests: a former Canadian diplomat's viewpoint

Police and student protesters clash at Hong Kong University this week (via CBC)

The protests in Hong Kong have quieted somewhat and at last report, only a few students remain barricaded in Hong Kong university after a tense week of violent clashes with police once again.  While the situation has calmed somewhat it is doubtful they will remain that way, or that the protests are anywhere close to ending.

Colin Robertson is a former Canadian Consul in Hong Kong and he says there seems to be a standoff as protesters are making demands that the Hong Kong government, and certainly China, are unwilling to compromise on.

In a conversation with Marc, he expresses concern that this will not end well for anybody.

Haley Wickenheiser goes to the Hockey Hall of Fame in familiar company

Hayley Wickenheiser celebrates after Canada's gold medal victory at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, one of four she won in her 23-year career. Wickenheiser was to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

She has been a hockey player since her early teens, but more than that, became one of the best female hockey players in the world. She also played on men's teams for awhile has played on gold medal winning Canadian Olympic teams and world championships.

Terry Haig looks at the career of this amazing player who now joins the very rare elite women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

(original story here)

VIDEO of this week's show  (starts at 0;50)

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Your hosts, Terry and Marc

ListenEN_The_Link-20191115-WEE15

Canada welcomes genocide lawsuit against Myanmar, says Freeland

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, arrive at the National Press Theatre to make an announcement and hold a media availability on Canada's response to the Rohingya crisis in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Gambia has launched a lawsuit against Myanmar (formerly Burma) claiming that state has committed genocide against their Rohingya minority.

In Canada, a unanimous vote in the House of Commons recognized the crimes against the Rohingya as genocide in 2018

Levon spoke with Canadian legal expert Payam Akkhavan, a former U.N. prosecutor and professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal. Levon reached him on his mobile phone in The Hague

(full story here)

Superbugs could kill hundreds of thousands, cost billions in just 30 years

A computer-generated image shows a group of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria. This increase in antibiotic-resistant infections is expected to cost Canada 396,000 lives, $120 billion in hospital expenses and $388 billion in gross domestic product over the next three decades. The expert CCA panel calculated that resistant infections contributed to over 14,000 deaths in Canada in 2018, and of those, 5,400 were directly attributable to the infections(Centers for Disease Control/Associated Press)

A shocking new report by a variety of medical experts in a variety of fields, along with social and economic experts, has said the incidence of anti-biotic resistant bacteria will increase to 40% by 2030. Currently some 26 percent of infections are already resistant.

They calculate between now and 2050, the so-called "superbugs" will result in almost 400,000 deaths in Canada as infections will no longer be able to be treated. They say medical and hospital costs combined with lost productivity will cost the economy over 500 Billion dollars in that time

Marc spoke with Gerry Wright, director of the Michael DeGroote Centre of Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario.

(full story here)

Remembering the horror that led to "In Flanders Fields"

The remains of a German observation position on April 22, 1915. By this time, the countryside was devastated by millions of artillery shells fired by both sides near Ypres since 1914. Human losses were also staggering on both sides. Canadian John McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields" on May 3. (Photo Credit: Archives Canada MIKAN no. 3397986)

It is arguable one of the most famous poems of war. "In Flanders Fields" was written by a Canadian medical officer, Col John McCrae on the back of an ambulance during a brief respite from his work trying to save the many wounded and maimed. At the time he had just learned of the death of a close personal friend during a battle. He himself would die just three years later of pneumonia partly due to his working himself to exhaustion. Terry spoke to actor David Calderisi who talks about the poem, and reads it aloud.

(full story here)

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The Link: World scientists on climate emergency, Canadian aid orphans in Africa, new book on a tragically deadly victory in WWIIEN_The_Link-20191108-WEE15

Scientists around the world issue climate emergency warning

Thousands of people joined a climate strike in Vancouver on Oct. 23. Scientists around the world are echoing their concerns about a the state of the planet. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

Inspired in part by young activist Greta Thunberg, over 11,000 scientists from around the world have signed an open letter called "World Scientists Warning of a Climate Emergency".

Terry spoke to Lonnie Aarssen, a Queen's University biologist in Kingston Ontario. Professor Aarssen was one of the over 400 Canadian scientists and researchers who signed the international document.

Canadian charity teams with egg farmers to care for African orphans

SaskEgg supports the Heart for Africa's Project Canaan project and recently got together to purchase an egg delivery truck that allows eggs and meal packs to be delivered to thousands of children and families across Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) every week. (Egg Farmers of Canada)

Two successful Canadian business people married to each other happened to be in the United States on the day of tragic 9/11 attacks. One of those Canadians were aboard a jet at the time, and the other was conducting business in New York City, and both were worried sick that the other may have died in the deadly attacks. Both were safe but the ordeal caused them to completely rethink their lives.

It resulted in a move to Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) in Southern Africa where they established an orphanage for babies. Levon spoke to Ian and Janine Maxwell about their humanitarian operation and their partnership with Egg Farmers of Canada.

Remembrance WWII: Canada's Black Watch in the tragic victory at Verrieres Ridge

A Black Watch sniper from C Co. in a ruined building in Gennep, Holland, Feb 14, 1946 (IWM B-14626)

It was a pivotal battle during the Second World War. Canada's storied Black Watch regiment was sent to take the Germans position at Verrieres Ridge in France. The Germans had decided to hold this high ground and the resulting bitter fight almost wiped out the Royal Highland Regiment, but though other battles raged on for months afterwards, it has also been seen as the beginning of the end for the Germans in Normandy

Marc spoke to Montreal historian, author, and teacher David O'Keefe about his new book for this short period describing in personalised detail and narrative style this terribly costly battle. It's called "Seven Days in Hell: Canada's battle for Normandy and the rise of the Black Watch snipers"

Video of this week's show (starts at 0;42)

your hosts Levon, Mathiew, Marc   (video of show at bottom)

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Quebec to add 'values' test for new immigrants

Premier François Legault, left, asked Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette to come up with the values test. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)

The mostly French-speaking province of Quebec intends to implement a test for prospective immigrants to ensure they understand 'Quebec' societal values.

As of Jan. 1, 2020, new immigrants to Quebec will have to demonstrate that they understand and accept “democratic values and Quebec values”  which will be a first step towards selection

Levon has an excerpt of Quebec Premier Francois Legault explaining the reasoning behind the values test

full story here

Taking a different perspective on world drug problem

Paramedics and firefighters work to revive an overdose patient with repeated doses of naloxone, the antidote to opioids such as fentanyl. A series in the medical journal The Lancet says old anti-drug laws are not working, and new evidence-based approaches are needed for new realities (Frederic Gagnon/CBC)

A series published this month in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, provides an scientific update on the world's growing problem of illicit drug use.  It deals in large measure with researched treatment methods.

Most of the world's laws dealing with illicit drugs and their use date back to the 1960's according to Dr Julie Bruneau, and clearly haven't worked as the problem has only grown. She adds that in the interval, new types of drugs have come into the picture as well.

Marc spoke with Dr Bruneau who is a co-author in two of the several segments in the series, She is a professor in the Department of Family and Emergency Medicine at the Universite de Montreal, and a researcher at the CRCHUM (University of Montreal Hospital Research Center.

In the excerpt she explains what she means when she says new policies to treat addicts should be based on science and not perceptions

full story here

Can new plain cigarette packs be effective in reducing smoking?

A proposed standardized cigarette package is displayed in front of a variety of cigarette packages available today in Canada. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Canada is moving ahead with a plan to institute so-called plain packaging for cigarettes. This follows the  same type of policies instituted by other countries like Australia and France. The idea is to discourage smoking by making the packaging far less attractive.

Only one standard type of packaging will also be available known as "slide and shell" as it provides a wider surface for health warnings. The plain packaging comes into effect starting this month while the slide and shell will be standard by next year.

Longer thin cigarettes which seem to target women as being fashionably slim and fashionable will also be eliminated.

Mathiew had a report

story here

2018 interview here

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Arab World Festival-Montreal

Emily Awad, Director of Communications for the festival joins us via skype

This weekend marks the start of the 20th year for the Arab World Festival,/ Festival du Monde Arabe  (FMA) in Montreal. The idea is to showcase elements of Arabic culture and build bridges with Canadian society.

Emily Awad, director of communications, is the spokesperson for the festival, She says at least 50 per cent of the visitors to various shows are indeed, non-Arabic. non-Muslim.  There are many different types of performances, films, and discussion panel events which makes it not only entertaining, but informative as well.

Canada Election: Coalition out, but cooperation on climate, housing affordability

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his way to a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Levon talks about the position of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau as he resumes the office of Prime Minister, but as the head of a minority government. Excerpts of his post-election speeches are discussed along with some of the challenges he now faces.

Full story here

Canada Election: Results show clear national division

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

The election has shown very clear and deep divisions that have resulted from the past four years of the Trudeau government.  With the resurrection of the separatist Bloc Quebecois in the mostly French speaking province of Quebec, to the elimination of Liberals in the west and spectre of a growing western separatist movement. Trudeau now faces real challenges to govern as he says "for all Canadians".

Marc spoke with political science professor Sanjay Jeram of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia

full story and interview here

Canada Election: Climate change challenge for minority government

In the 2019 election, 63 per cent of electors voted for parties with strong plans to mitigate climate change. (iStock)

One of the major issues, and one likely to cause further tensions and divisions in Canada is that of climate change and policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Lynn spoke with Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of the Climate Action Network of Canada, a coalition of groups concerned about climate change. 

Full story and interview here

The LINK video- via YouTube RCI channel (show starts at 1:13)

Your hosts Lynn, Terry, Marc  (video of show at bottom)

the link- political opinion polls, obese people and medical care, false fish- what you pay for is not what you getEN_The_Link-20191018-WEE15

Canada's election and political opinion polls: Can they influence voters?

Voter survey for upcoming election. Literally dozens of polls are conducted, on voter intentions, issues of concern, leader popularity, government record, and so on, additionally sometimes broken down further into respondents sex, income, age etc. (CBC)

In any major election, there are almost always dozens of opinion polls taken, and often on a daily basis. They can survey people's opinions on the popularity of leaders, on the popularity of parties, voter intentions, opinions on policies and so on.

But can they, do they influence voters?  Are they reliable, and can they be skewed for partisan ends?

Marc speaks with Peter Loewen, political science professor at the University of Toronto and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Bias, discrimination prevent people getting obesity care: study

People with obesity “shouldn’t look at this being their own fault...obesity is a chronic disease,” says a medical specialist. (iStock)

Obesity is now being accepted more as a chronic disease, but there is still a great deal of bias against obese people as saying the problem is their own fault.  This attitude results in people not getting the type of care they need.

Lynn spoke with Arya Sharma, the scientific director for the non-profit Obesity Canada. 

Conservation group exposes widespread seafood fraud in Canada

A seafood counter is shown at a store in Toronto on Thursday, May 3, 2018. A new study found 61 per cent of seafood products tested at Montreal grocery stores and restaurants were mislabelled. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

It's quite a concern. The type of fish Canadians think they're buying has a good chance of being something else. A multi-year, cross-Canada testing of fish samples through DNA, shows an average of 41 per cent of samples were not the fish type advertised.

This means often paying for an expensive type of seafood, but getting a lower quality species. In some cases, species were also found to be of types banned in some countries, and the situation is also likely to be a conduit for illegal caught fish, and illegal types.

Levon spoke to Josh Laughren, executive director at Oceana Canada

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Prof. Joe Schwarcz says scientific studies should be registered before they begin. (YouTube)