- Ford’s fast-track MZOs sped up nothing
Thursday, November 9th 2023
Guest: Noor Javed, city news reporter
At the peak of the pandemic, the Ford government turned to Minister’s Zoning Orders (known as MZOs) as the speediest solution to the housing crisis and direly needed construction of long-term-care facilities. Former housing minister Steve Clark issued more than 100 MZOs between 2019 and 2023. But in the wake of the Greenbelt scandal, scrutiny is now shifting to these MZOs and if they have actually fast-tracked development efforts. The Star did its own analysis and found little progress in the past four years to support that claim.
Audio sources: Ontario Nature, CHCH News
This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Brian Bradley and Saba Eitizaz.
- Why women’s basketball isn’t coming to Toronto
Wednesday, November 8th 2023
Guest: Richard Warnica, business feature writer
When Toronto hosted a packed WNBA exhibition game in May, hopes were high that the city would soon get its own team, but by then, “the game was already over,” writer Richard Warnica says. Local sports powerhouse Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) had already considered and rejected the idea, mostly because two particular members of the board were set against it. At a time when women’s professional sports seem to be awakening across the continent, Warnica has the exclusive on how Toronto ruled itself out, possibly missing an opportunity for exponential growth in the fan base.
Audio Source: Sportsnet
- Ontario schools are failing kids with ADHD
Monday, November 6th 2023
Guest: Katie Daubs, senior writer
As Ontario’s schools struggle with resources and ripple effects of the pandemic, experts say students with diverse needs like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aren’t getting the help they require. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, yet there is no official ministry categorization making it difficult to support in classrooms. As part of the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, senior writer Katie Daubs talked to one high school student about her experience.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.
- Kids and violence: catching up with ‘the boy who lived’
Friday, November 3rd 2023
Guest: Jennifer Pagliaro, crime reporter
Many parents across Toronto struggle to balance keeping their kids safe and letting them develop a sense of independence. In a city where crime concerns are rising and rising faster for younger people, some weigh on that balance more than others. In one family, their son was shot before he was two years old. For the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, reporter Jennifer Pagliaro looked at life after a shooting and what could work to prevent others from suffering the same tragedy.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.
- As green space shrinks, how do we raise kids in a concrete world?
Thursday, November 2nd 2023
Guest: Kate Allen, climate change reporter
Fresh air, trees, grass on bare feet. The sound of birds while playing on a playground. Leisurely swinging in the shadow of a tree. Many of us have childhood memories outside in parks and forests, and research shows this time is key to our physical, mental and social well-being and development. So what about the children being raised in urban centres like Toronto, where green space has shrunk significantly over the past two decades as the region faces pressure to build housing and city reports warn that the amount of parkland per person risks falling further. As part of the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, climate change reporter Kate Allen joins “This Matters” to discuss the impacts on children and their development.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.
