The Rundown

By law, the current and highly popular Mexican president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador cannot run for another term in next year's general election. And he's vowed not to try. Still, moves such as the changes to election law made recently by his government - but stymied by the courts - have critics worried that he's positioning his party to revive a kind of one-party rule that threatens Mexican democracy. For some insight, we welcome: Lorena Becerra, political analyst and the head of public opinion research for one of Mexico's leading newspapers, Reforma;  David Frum, staff writer at The Atlantic magazine; Gustavo Flores-Macias, professor of government and public policy at Cornell University, and the former director of public affairs with Mexico's Consumer Protection Agency. 

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Maybe there's a new litter of racoons in your garage. Or a scratching noise in the ceiling that makes you think squirrels. How about an all-consuming confrontation with a skunk? In cities and towns across Ontario, people and wild animals interact whether they want to or not. New York opted to hire a Rat Czar to oversee their biggest problem. Does something similar make sense for the critters we see in our cities here?welcome: Nathalie Karvonen, director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre; and Brad Gates, owner and president of Gates Wildlife Control.

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Almost 50 years ago, Premier Bill Davis's government created the Region of Peel to facilitate the delivery of municipal services in the increasingly urban areas of Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon. Now, with all three thriving in their own right, and amid nearly two decades of pressure from Mississauga to become a stand-alone municipality, the region could be on the cusp of divorce.
For insights, we welcome: Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton; Annette Groves, mayor of Caledon; and
Alvin Tedjo, a city councillor in Mississauga.

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Midwives in Ontario have argued for years that they aren't allowed to practice the full scope of their skillset. As Ontario's health-care costs rise, is it time to revisit the role of the midwife?

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The federal government accepted the findings of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in 2019, yet Canada has failed to deliver on its commitments to fulfil the inquiry's recommendations. The House of Commons unanimously backed a motion in early May to declare missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls a national emergency. Would declaring a national emergency help achieve the actions necessary for reconciliation? Indigenous men are much more likely to be victims of homicide than Indigenous women; are they being overlooked? Does Canada need a separate inquiry into what's happening to Indigenous men and boys?

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Steve Paikin talks to three experts about how Ontario can better support people with intellectual disabilities. They weigh in on Ontario's plan to change the way developmental services are funded, a recent investigation launched by the province's ombudsman into cases of people with developmental disabilities stuck in hospitals, gaps in the delivery of culturally appropriate care, and more.

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Last month, Premier Doug Ford announced major changes in police recruitment including the elimination of tuition and post-secondary requirements. The provincial government aims to bring in more police officers by making it easier for people to become one. While some support these changes, other argue that post-secondary education is crucial in police reform. What is the difference between police training and education? Will more police officers be the solution to the challenges we face?

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From calling on a papal apology for residential school abuse, to ending conversion therapy in Canada; online petitions have been increasingly present in digital space. But do they actually bring about change?

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Fighting erupted in Sudan in mid-April, as rival generals looked to assert their authority over the country. Frantic efforts to evacuate foreign nationals, put the conflict on the international agenda. But, as the weeks have passed without a resolution, tens of thousands are displaced and the death toll is mounting. What will it take for the current violence to end? And what needs to happen for Sudan to be able to transition to a democratic civilian-led government?
For insights, we welcome: Khalid Mustafa Medani, chair of the African Studies Program, and associate professor at McGill University, and Nisrin Elamin assistant professor of African Studies and Anthropology at the University of Toronto.

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Canada is known around the world for its multiculturalism and welcoming attitudes towards immigrants and refugees. In fact, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterized Canada as the first "post-national" state in 2015. Does Canada's reputation and narrative on migration match up to a real openness in society? Why do highly-qualified immigrants end up working low-skilled and low-wage jobs? As the housing crisis grows, will protectionist views towards immigration increase? The Agenda host Nam Kiwanuka moderates a panel at Toronto Metropolitan University to kick off the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration program's annual conference. The panel features three leading voices on immigration: Debbie Douglas, executive director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants; Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada; and Naheed Nenshi, former mayor of Calgary and community builder at The Ascend Group.

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