Podcast
The Decibel
Episodes — page 47
- Why investors are flocking to the daycare business
The federal government’s $30-billion pledge to bring daycare costs down to $10/day and to create 250,000 new spaces by 2026 isn’t only attracting families, it’s also getting attent…
- The McKinsey controversy explained
On Wednesday, Dominic Barton appeared before a parliamentary committee looking into the rise in outsourcing contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company, where Barton was formerly globa…
- B.C. decriminalizes some drug possession
As of this week, possession of 2.5 grams of some drugs in B.C. is decriminalized. The B.C. government says it is trying to reduce the number of people who die from overdoses in the…
- Edmonton spiritual leader charged with sexual assault
John de Ruiter, a spiritual leader known for his piercing stare and who calls himself the ‘embodiment of truth’ was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual assault earlier…
- What the Rogers-Shaw deal could mean for your phone bill
On Monday, Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. extended a deadline to mid-February that would finalize the largest telecommunications takeover in…
- What went wrong with the Liberals’ gun legislation
The Liberal government brought in Bill C-21 last May that would ban certain firearms. Amendments to the legislation have only confused the matter – some types of guns are banned in…
- What remains a year after the convoy protests
A year after tens of thousands of people descended on Ottawa, some in their big-rig trucks, a lot has changed. Border restrictions have been lifted. Same for vaccine passports and…
- Unicorns, camels and the tech crash
To cope with the rising interest rates and higher-than-normal inflation in the economy, many tech companies are changing how they do business, focusing on turning a profit over gro…
- Arsenic in the air divides a small Quebec city
The residents of Rouyn-Noranda, QC have known about the arsenic emissions coming from the local smelting plant for years. More studies are coming out about health concerns for the…
- Western allies debate sending tanks to Ukraine
Ukraine wants tanks – 300 of them to be precise. President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that western battle tanks could be the key to driving Russian troops out of his country. But…
- Why physically disciplining kids is still legal in Canada
In Canada, the criminal code allows for physical discipline of children, in certain circumstances. For almost half a century, advocates have been fighting to repeal the law, saying…
- Are Alberta and BC good models for private surgery?
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced this week his government is increasing the use of private clinics for procedures like cataracts, diagnostic imaging and eventually hip and knee…
- Inside the life-or-death journey of one Venezuelan family
Over 7-million Venezuelans have left their homes since 2017, when Nicholas Maduro seized power and the state started to collapse. Most refugees have tried to start anew in nearby c…
- Canada’s new drinking guidelines
On Tuesday, Canada’s new guidelines for drinking and health were released from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction (CCSA). The guidelines say that three to six sta…
- What history can tell us about this economic moment
The economic forecast for 2023 is … less than rosy. Inflation is still running high. Central banks may continue to raise interest rates. And what everyone wants to know is: How lon…
- Why holiday travel chaos is the new normal
The holiday travel period was incredibly tumultuous – with passengers stranded, bags lost and thousands of flights cancelled. The airlines say the winter storms caused unprecedente…
- The hard-line plans of Israel’s new far-right government
Israel’s new far-right government is looking to overhaul the country’s justice system – going so far as seeking to create a law that would allow parliament to override the Supreme…
- Cheap grocery apps aiming to reduce food waste
There’s a growing demand for food waste apps from both shoppers and grocers. They’ve been touted as a new way for people to score deals as food prices rise, while cutting back on f…
- A virologist on COVID variant XBB 1.5
The XBB 1.5 variant of COVID is quickly becoming the dominant strain in the US, and we’re seeing more cases here in Canada too. The WHO has called it the most transmissible variant…
- Andrew Coyne looks ahead to politics in 2023
Canada’s facing a stressed health care system, persistent inflation and a fraught geopolitical scene. Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne looks at the big issues that will likely…
