The Rundown

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are neighborhoods where mostly older adults live, though they aren't necessarily designed for that population. Samir Sinha, director of Health Policy Research, National Institute on Ageing and Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health and University Health Network, tells us how these neighbourhoods may help seniors to age in place.

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It's been three years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global public-health emergency. Is it still an emergency? The WHO says yes, but that we are in a "transition." What does that mean? Will COVID-19 ever be over? Is the end in sight? Do we need better vaccines? Will a new variant emerge that changes everything? The Agenda examines the state of the pandemic three years later.

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A recent report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), points out that no amount of alcohol is safe and that consuming any more than two drinks a week increases your risk of developing certain types of cancers. Is it time to put cancer warning labels on alcohol? We ask: Senator Patrick Brazeau and National Post columnist, Sabrina Maddeaux.

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As Marit Stiles officially takes over the role of NDP leader, what does the party need to do to be seen as the government-in-waiting leading up to the next election in 2026? For insights, we welcome: Michelle Erwin, former media relations officer and acting communications director, Ontario NDP Caucus; Sara Singh, distinguished visiting practitioner at Toronto Metropolitan University, former MPP for Brampton Centre; Kim Wright, principal and founder at Wright Strategies and an NDP consultant; Karl Bélanger, président, Traxxion Stratégies; Robin Sears, former chief of staff for Bob Rae.

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A Supreme Court of Canada decision last year ending the punishment of life without the chance of parole has put emphasis on rehabilitation. Was the decision too lenient? Is the Canadian justice system equipped to rehabilitate the most violent offenders? What say do the victims have? To help us understand what kind of penal system we want in Canada, we welcome: Lee Chapelle, president, Canadian Prison Consulting Inc.; Carly Kalish, executive director, Victim Services Toronto; Anamaria Enenajor, partner at Ruby Shiller Enenajor DiGiuseppe, Barristers.

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Following the killing of an OPP officer last month, police associations and provincial leaders across the country want the federal government to tighten up the country's bail system. Is the system in need of reform? We debate the issue with: Laura Berger, staff lawyer, Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Jeff Lehman, chair of Muskoka District Council; Jim MacSween: chief of York Regional Police and Vice President of Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police; Theresa Donkor: Associate at Rudnicki & Company.

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Winter weather alerts trigger the opening of warming centres, and when they are called off, it can leave unhoused people out in the cold. Hamilton-Niagara Hub journalist Justin Chandler looked into how and why some Ontarians are left vulnerable in the cold winter months in the province.

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The Agenda's week in review begins at this week's Rural Ontario Municipal Association's annual conference, with ideas on how to deal with homelessness and acute housing needs in smaller centres around the province. Then, Lisa MacLeod discusses her struggles with mental health. A primer on Canadian tax policy; and roundtable on the persistence of antisemitism.

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AffordableWhen introducing Bill 23, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said: "The problem is clear. There simply aren't enough homes being built. And the solution is equally clear. We need to get more homes built faster." But if it's all clear to the minister, the debate that's ensued suggests that it's not as clear to others. We welcome Steve Clark, who is also the PC MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands And Rideau Lakes.

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As Canadians pour over their T4s, T5000s and all the other Ts for their income tax returns, they'll likely be focused on the dollars and cents. Three decades ago, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling raised a much bigger set of issues: how those tax deductions reflect what society considers valuable. To explain and highlight a few other things you might want to know about Canadian tax policy, we welcome Bhuvana Rai, lawyer at Mors & Tribute Tax Law.

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