The Rundown

For the first time, more than 1 million Ontarians visited a food bank in the last year. And that's the eighth year in a row that that number has increased. And the future doesn't look much better. Two-thirds of groups that make up Ontario's food bank network say that they fear they will not be able to meet future demand, leaving people hungry. Carolyn Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Feed Ontario, says that the data is another result of Ontario' affordability crisis.

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The Agenda's week in review featured a conversation with one of the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the current state of covid-19, Ontario's water infrastructure challenges, and Toronto's congestion nightmare.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trying to do something that's never been done before in Canadian history. He says he will fight for a fourth consecutive victory, despite being miles behind his Conservative adversary in the polls. Stephen Maher, author of "The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau," joins Steve Paikin to discuss this and more.

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Getting around Ontario's capital city is a nightmare. How can Toronto dig itself out of this mess? And why does it matter for the rest of the province? Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor and Toronto City Councillor for Scarborough–Rouge Park; Giles Gherson, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade; Baher Abdulhai, Professor in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto; and Lanrick Bennett Jr., Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto's School of Cities join Steve Paikin to discuss construction, bike lanes and a potential underground tunnel.

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Half of all water tests in at least 44 Ottawa-area high schools over five years showed traces of lead that exceeded federal standards, according to an examination by The Investigative Journalism Bureau. And concerned parents say they are not notified when tests exceed guidelines. A look at the results of the investigation, including moves by the province, school boards and parents to address the problem, on The Agenda.

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Water infrastructure – that is, water mains, sewer systems and treatment plants – are usually out of sight and out of mind. That is, until something goes wrong. Calgary and Montreal experienced substantial water main failures this year. In Ontario, Hamilton has redoubled it efforts to evaluate and improve its very old, very complex system to prevent more sewage spills. And there are many more examples of systems in the province that need upgrades or expansions. And what does all of this have to do with aggressive housing targets Ontario has introduced?

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The Ontario city that's not letting what you flush go to waste. How the world's largest wastewater energy transfer project will lead the way to heating and cooling our homes with low carbon emissions.

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Ontario's municipalities are experiencing a lot of growth and have ambitious housing targets to match. Are the old ways of funding infrastructure still working? Ehren Cory, President, and CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank; Lisa Laronde, President of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction; Drew Fagan, Professor at the University of Toronto, and former Ontario deputy minister of infrastructure; and Craig Dyer, Former Chief Financial Officer, Region of Waterloo, join Steve Paikin to discuss how municipalities will finance it all.

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It was more than four years ago when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and the world shut down. Now, things have largely returned to the way they were, but the virus still remains. How dangerous is COVID-19 today? And have people forgotten that the disease poses health risks and some are still feeling the effects of poor mental health? For insight, The Agenda welcomes: Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at the Toronto General Hospital; Dawn Bowdish, executive irector at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health and professor of medicine at McMaster University; and Kwame McKenzie CEO, Wellesley Institute and director of health equity at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

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Residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad is the founder of Orange Shirt Day and author of a new children's book: "Today is Orange Shirt Day." She joins Steve Paikin to explain how she turned that painful legacy into a powerful tool for Reconciliation.

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