Recent data suggests entrepreneurship is in decline across Canada. Are people choosing to move away from a self-employed lifesyle? And what are the consequences of lower levels of small business ownership across the province? We ask: Jeff Coull, executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre; Nancy Wilson, founder and CEO of the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce; Nadia Ladak, program marketing officer at Startup Canada and co-founder of Marlow; and Joel Blit, associate professor at University of Waterloo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Is the State of Entrepreneurship in Ontario?

The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO's flagship current affairs program - devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural and economic issues that are changing our world, at home and abroad. The Agenda airs weeknights at 8:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.

News

Can wood revolutionize construction in Ontario? A look at the state of the race for Mississauga mayor next month. And, how will readers and writers remember Alice Munro?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Agenda's Week in Review

Mike Lanigan, a third generation cattle farmer, turned his life upside down in 2016 when he halted the production and selling of beef on his farm and decided to befriend his cattle instead. With the help of Edith Barabash, Farmhouse Garden Animal Home was born. Located in Uxbridge, Ontario, Mike and Edith spend their days raising cattle and saving animals who need a home. With the help of many volunteers, this animal sanctuary educates the public about the benefits of preserving animal life and choosing compassion over profit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slaughter to Sanctuary: A Cattle Rancher's Change of Heart

Nobel laureate Alice Munro is widely known as a master of the short story, and one of Canada's most celebrated and beloved writers. In fact, Huron County in Ontario is often called Alice Munro Country. The outpouring of affection for her following her death, last week at age 92 only highlights the relatability of her characters and the precision of her fiction. And so we've gathered some writers who in one way or another have been affected by Ms. Munro's life and work. We welcome: Heather O'Neill, author of "Lullabies for Little Criminals" and the forthcoming, "The Capital of Dreams;" Chanel Sutherland, winner of the 2022 CBC Short Story Prize;
Katherine Govier, author of "The Three Sisters Bar & Hotel;" Magdalene Redekop, author of "Mothers and Other Clowns: The Stories of Alice Munro;"and Menaka Raman-Wilms, author of "The Rooftop Garden," and host of the Globe and Mail's Decibel podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Munro: What Will Be Remembered?

When Mississauga votes for its next mayor on June 10, the winner will be just the city's third mayor since 1978. The new mayor will continue Mississauga's transformation from suburb to city, and has the potential to become a significant player in a vote-rich area ahead of the upcoming provincial election. Noor Javed of the Toronto Star, Zachary Spicer of York University, Rahul Mehta from More Homes Mississauga and Sue Shanly of the Mississauga Residents' Associations Network discuss the issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misissauga's Next Mayor

Growing papayas in Ontario seems impossible, but avid gardener Drew Raine loves a challenge and has a 12-foot papaya tree to show for it. Drew has also been growing mango, kumquats, limes, and grapefruit for more than 10 years - all without a greenhouse. Relying on containers that he can move indoors in cold weather, Drew has maintained his connection to his South American roots by bringing the tropics north.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Is the State of Entrepreneurship in Ontario?

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