- Explaining Canada’s new medical assistance in dying law
Tuesday, March 30th 2021
After several extended deadlines, Canada has a new medical assistance in dying (MAID) law that will broaden who will be able to make end-of-life decisions. That said, some of the most controversial aspects still need to be hammered out and several people are unhappy and critical of the new law. Jacques Gallant has been covering MAID for The Star and joins to explain what’s new in the law, what still remains up in the air and what comes next. Guest: Jacques Gallant, Star Reporter who covers legal affairs and federal politics
- Team Canada leader Marnie McBean on preparing for the Tokyo Olympics
Tuesday, March 30th 2021
The Olympics are one of the world’s most complex international events to stage, even in a “normal” year. How will that be done safely during a pandemic? One year after the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, we take you inside how Canadian athletes and staff are preparing for the summer games with a decorated Olympian and leader of Team Canada.
Guest: Marnie McBean, four-time Olympic medal winner, Chef de Mission of Team Canada for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
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- Canada’s vaccine rollout vs. the world’s, and whether vaccinating Canadians by summer is a long shot
Friday, March 26th 2021
Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign started on the same day as the U.S. back in December, but four months later, our results lag far behind not only our neighbours to the south but at least 30 other countries. With millions of vaccine doses coming to Canada but only 1.57 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, how long will it take to get shots into 38 million Canadians? Dr. David Naylor, co-chair of Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, joins “This Matters” co-host Saba Eitizaz to discuss.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
- Vaccine politics and how shots in the arm will change our government
Thursday, March 25th 2021
Vaccine supply and rollout are top issues in Canada right now and the hope is that as more Canadians get their shots in the arm, life will start to return to normal even in our politics. The pandemic made sure the past year would not be politics as usual, but as more and more people are inoculated, there are signs that politicians are champing at the bit to get back to normal. Will we go back to partisan divides? What issues will emerge in a post-pandemic world? Susan Delacourt is a Star columnist and long-time watcher of the Canadian political scene. She joins us to talk about vaccines, political favour and fallout, and what will happen next on the post-pandemic political landscape.
- COVID-19 vaccines and children: Why they must wait
Wednesday, March 24th 2021
As our senior citizens are booking and lining up to get their vaccinations, many grandparents can’t wait until they hug their grandchildren sometime soon. While vaccine priority is aimed at our most vulnerable, questions remain about when young children and teenagers will eventually get inoculated against COVID-19. While they are at lower risk, there needs to be more clinical trials to determine proper dosage for younger people and efficacy. Dr. Karina Top joins us to explain where this is at and what parents should keep in mind as they wait until vaccines are ready for the next generation. Guest: Dr. Karina Top, a pediatrician and vaccine researcher at Canadian Centre for Vaccinology
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