- Class-action lawsuit against police ‘carding’ highlights its lasting impact
Thursday, August 17th 2023
Guest: Jim Rankin and Wendy Gillis, crime and justice reporters
Ayaan Farah, a Black woman, was stopped and questioned by the police in 2011. The documentation of that interaction changed her life, as she was suspended without pay from a job she held for years despite having no criminal record. She’s now the face of a class-action lawsuit over “carding,” a historically controversial and racially skewed police practice of stopping, interrogating and documenting people. Although it’s now outlawed, this lawsuit offers a stark reminder of the continuing socio-economic, mental, and emotional consequences for racialized individuals who have experienced it.
This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paolo Marques and Julia De Laurentiis Johnston.
Audio Sources: CBC
- Style vs. substance: How Trudeau, Poilievre and Canadian minds are changing
Monday, August 14th 2023
Guest: Stephanie Levitz, Ottawa Bureau
From cabinet appointments to personal style, our federal political leaders are changing and shaking up how they lead as our Canadian perceptions of them are increasingly divided. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals mark the lowest approval rating since they formed government, Trudeau shook up the front bench (while also making news in his personal life). On the other side of the aisle, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is shaking up his personal image and launching ads to build on increasing party momentum. It is a time where the personal is eclipsing the politics and it could very well be the start of politicking for the next election.
This episode was produced by Brian Bradley, Sean Pattendon and Julia De Laurentiis Johnston.
Audio Sources: Global News, Reuters, Trending Now
- Olivia Chow's one-month performance review
Friday, August 11th 2023
Guests: The Toronto Star All-Star Opinionator Panel featuring Matt Elliott, Shawn Micallef and host Edward Keenan
On Saturday, Olivia Chow marks one month in the job as mayor, and this week, she appointed her team by selecting the committee Some would-be rivals seemed to get plum jobs, and at least one committee will have an odd couple at the helm. Plus: why a fire alarm during the meeting may be an appropriate sound effect for the occasion.
This episode was produced by Ed Keendan, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Paulo Marques.
- Does Toronto need to nip tree problems in the bud?
Thursday, August 10th 2023
Guests: Todd Irvine, arborist and founder of City Forest
When a woman was killed by a falling tree branch in Trinity Bellwoods park recently, it struck many as an unforseeable freak accident. But the danger was foreseen by at least one man, and his warnings went unheeded as the Star reported this week. Arborist Todd Irvine has also been warning the city that its maintenance of trees is often making them more dangerous, and joins host Edward Keenan to explain how and why the city needs to improve how its treats the urban forest.
This episode was produced by Ed Keendan, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Sean Pattendon.
- On class divisions, and why not everyone’s stories get told
Friday, August 4th 2023
Guest: Deborah Dundas, books editor for the Toronto Star
A recent Statistics Canada survey found 1 in 4 Canadians would not be able to cover an unexpected expense of $500 if they had to. Almost half were deeply concerned about their ability to afford rent or housing. It’s an important time to talk about class divisions in Canada. And Deborah Dundas wants to do that through her new book “On Class.” She’s on the podcast today to talk about why we need to talk about class, and what not talking about it means for whose stories get told and by whom.
This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Marques.
