In This Economy: How to handle RRSPs in an affordability crisis

As the world shuns Russia, what happens to the International Space Station?: The ISS has long been well above Earth's political squabbles. But since Russia invaded Ukraine, and most of the world began sanctioning Putin's regime, it seems less likely it will remain that way. On the station, Russian and American (and other countries') astronauts work together to research and problem solve. But on Earth the head of Russia's space agency says the US will be to blame for the death of the space station. Can The ISS even function without both sides cooperating? Does either side want it to, really? And with private companies like SpaceX pushing hard for increasing ISS access and work with space agencies—are we on the cusp of an entirely new era for humans in outer space? GUEST: Ivan Semeniuk, science reporter, The Globe and Mail by The Big Story

24 min listen

Meet the west coast's Indigenous guardians: There are places on the coast of British Columbia that can go weeks without a visit from the coast guard or government official. But the land is cared for all the same, and so is anyone who finds themselves in danger while they're on it. The practice of Indigenous guardians goes back centuries, but recently it has been both formalized and funded by the government, giving First Nations the authority and resources to watch over their lands. It's an arrangement that may spread across the country and return more stewardship of forests, lakes and oceans to the people who have lived on them for so long... and this is how it works. GUEST: Jimmy Thomson, writing for The Narwhal by The Big Story

26 min listen

The Liberal-NDP deal: A complete FAQ: When the federal Liberal and New Democratic Parties announced an agreement that would keep the Liberals in power until 2025 in exchange for advancing key policy initiatives, it turned Ottawa upside down.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his frequenct critic, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, are working together. The Conservatives, in the middle of a leadership race, are irate. And there are a ton of questions to answer. What kind of deal is this, and what are the precedents for it? What kinds of policy will it produce? How will Canadians lives change? What happens if one party breaks their word? Is this really "backdoor socialism"? And how does this change the federal political landscape, for the next few years and beyond? GUEST: Cormac Mac Sweeney, Parliament Hill Reporter by The Big Story

29 min listen

What's really driving inflation in Canada?: The supply chain is a problem. The cost of raw materials is rising. The cost of labour is up, too. But while we tend to assume inflation is caused by companies hiking prices due to reasons that are beyond their control, the truth is much more complicated. So, how much of Canada's current price hikes are due to market factors, and how much is simply companies taking the opportunity to increase their profits? And what can we do about it? GUEST: Jacob Lorinc, business and economics reporter, Toronto Star. by The Big Story

22 min listen

Why has Canada deported thousands of frontline workers during a pandemic?: Very early in the pandemic, Canada put a pause on deportations. Conditions were unsafe, the world had stopped, and a lot of these workers were doing jobs Canadians badly needed done. But the pause didn't last long, and since deportations have resumed more than 18,000 people have been sent back to their country of origin, even as frontline labour is at a premium and some of them face health and safety risks upon their return. What's the rationale behind this? What options do these aspiring Canadians have? And could we have found a different way? GUEST: Isabel Macdonald, researcher and writer based in Montreal, writing for The Walrus by The Big Story

23 min listen

Who is Pierre Poilievre?: He's the heavy favourite to be the next leader of the federal Conservatives. He's a relentless attack dog that loves a good partisan brawl. He's angry. Especially at Justin Trudeau. Just ask him. But that's not all there is to the man. Under the public persona is something else. The question is why it's mostly kept buried, and if Poilievre thinks it's better to keep it that way? GUEST: Shannon Proudfoot, Ottawa bureau chief, Maclean's magazine (Read Shannon's profile of Poilievre right here.) by The Big Story

26 min listen

Why a no-fly zone won't happen, and what comes next in Ukraine?: It's been one request that absolutely nobody is willing to grant. While many NATO members are sending arms and aid to Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas for a no-fly zone over his country have been rebuffed. And there's a good reason for that. Today: How a no-fly zone works, why allies are refusing to enact one and what happens next in Ukraine, where Russian forces continue to increase the destructiveness of their attacks... GUEST: Abbie Shull, junior military and defense reporter at Business Insider by The Big Story

19 min listen

Catch Him If You Can: Taking down March Vautour: March Vautour is a border-hopping Canadian con artist who's tricked women and men out of over a million dollars. He's been getting away with it for over 20 years, but now his survivors have teamed up to do everything they can to stop him. From Pink Moon Studio and Frequency Podcast Network, Catch Him if You Can mixes documentary and drama to tell the story of a man who thought he was untouchable and his survivors' real-time crusade to catch him. by The Big Story

51 min listen

How can Canadians help with the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine?: Discussion of Ukraine aid has focused mostly on military equipment—how NATO allies can aid the Ukrainians against Russia. Meanwhile, staggering numbers of Ukrainian civilians have either fled the country or are trapped in regions being devastated by Russian bombardment. The needs of the Ukrainian people are massive and varied. How can we help get them what they need, where they are, or aid those who do manage to make it to Canada? And what should we expect of our government to help us get it to them? GUEST: Orest Zakydalsky, Senior Policy Advisor for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress by The Big Story

22 min listen

What does the federal budget mean for you? And for Canada's future?: The housing crisis is one of Canadians' biggest concerns, and in last week's federal budget it got some top-line attention. But inflation didn't receive nearly as much attention, and the cost of everything is rising. How will the plans unveiled by the government make your own budget easier or harder to balance? And beyond personal finances, what's in store for the environment, defence and other critical national issues? And did the Liberals deal with the NDP make this budget bigger and better, or buy the government time to plan for the long term? GUEST: Mike Eppel, senior business editor at CityNews by The Big Story

25 min listen

Are you paying more online without ever knowing it?: Probably! It's called dynamic pricing, and it's very different than paying extra for premium matchups at the ballpark or seats on an airplane. Dynamic pricing in an online marketplace is an opaque system that uses an algorithm to determine how much to charge you (or someone else) for anything from milk and paper towels to books or even a Tinder subscription. Factors at play when a price is set can include your neighbourhood, shopping history, recorded preference and many others. If it sounds shady, well, it's impossible to determine just how shady it is because none of this is public to would-be consumers. And none of our existing regulations address it. Should they? And if so, how? GUEST: Vass Bednar, Executive Director, MPP in Digital Society at McMaster University, Author at Regs2Riches.com by The Big Story

28 min listen

Should your salary be public? Should mine?: Every year, most Canadian provinces release lists of the top wages among public servants. And every year, lots of people get mad about them. It's easy to say that it's unfair to publish these names and salaries, as it inevitably makes some people a target. But what if instead, we made more salaries public, not less? Secrecy around salaries is just another part of Canada's lack of transparency as a country. From government records to police investigations to any number of things, we prefer to keep things in the dark. And the darker things are, the easier it is for them to remain unequal. There are places in the world where everyone's salary is public. What would this country look like if your co-workers knew what you made, or vice versa? GUEST: Robyn Doolittle, investigative reporter, The Globe and Mail by The Big Story

24 min listen

A friendly chat about the end of "normal": Two years ago, things started changing ... quickly. They haven't stopped since. Yes, eventually the pandemic will end, but the normal we hoped would return is long gone. After decades of unprecedented stability, especially in places like Canada, many people have simply never experienced a world in constant flux. It's a funny feeling, and one we're still learning how to cope with. So how should we grapple with the new world we inhabit? GUEST: Elamin Abdelmahmoud, culture writer at Buzzfeed News, host of Pop Chat from CBC podcasts. Elamin's book, Son of Elsewhere, is available for pre-order. by The Big Story

31 min listen

Inside a funding controversy, and the fight for the meaning of Pride: When anomalies arose about nearly $2 million in grant money obtained by Toronto Pride, it prompted the new guard running the organization to commit to a review and transparency around funding. But as it became clear how the grants were obtained, it has raised larger questions about who Pride events are for, why they have become such huge, corporate-money-friendly events and what Pride should be at its roots: A party or a protest? GUEST: Krishna Rau, writing for Xtra by The Big Story

24 min listen

Is there a better way to keep mosquitoes under control?: Typically, taking care of these pests has meant, well, pesticides. And sometimes, lots of them. But one Canadian city is working to curb the use of chemicals by deploying different tactics to control its mosquito population. What does Edmonton plan to do with all those bats and dragonflies, anyway? And as the weather warms up in most of the country, what can we all do to handle our own mosquito problems? It turns out there are some newer solutions than simply crowding the air with foul-smelling spray... though that still works in a pinch. Oh, and, couldn't we just exterminate all these little jerks and be done with them? No? Why not? GUEST: Sean Prager, assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan, research in insect ecology by The Big Story

25 min listen

All the way back: The Raptors journey from title to trash, and back to Toronto: When the Toronto Raptors face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night in the opening game of their NBA Playoffs series, thousands of fans will be gathered in the square outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, watching the game from what has come to be known as 'Jurassic Park'. The last time they did this, the Raptors became the 2019 NBA Champions. And since then, everyone's life has been turned upside down. The team's journey has mirrored ours, and the hope is that Saturday marks the beginning of the end of a couple of really tough years... GUEST: William Lou, co-host of The Raptors Show, Sportsnet by The Big Story

26 min listen

Why don't all Canadian hospitals offer sex assault evidence kits?: Many victims have come to Canadian hospitals after they've survived a sexual assault, only to be informed that the hospital doesn't have either the equipment or the personnel to properly collect evidence for a future investigation. In some cases, victims have been sent to hospitals many miles away. Why are these kits scattered around the country, instead of being immediately available at any hospital? And who has the power to fix it? GUEST: Jacqueline Villeneuve-Ahmed is the founder and director of She Matters, a community of women-identifying survivors and allies by The Big Story

23 min listen

How worried should we be about animal reservoirs of Covid-19?: Canadian white-tailed deer can get SARS-CoV-2. More importantly, they can maybe transmit it back to humans. This may sound scary, but it's unclear how often it might happen. What's more important, however, are the questions this raises. Will animals remain a reservoir for the virus, continuing its life in areas where human cases are close to zero? Can different species create new variants that could spread to humans? How could we monitor these animals for the virus anyway, even if we wanted to? And is the same kind of transmission possible in household pets like cats and dogs? GUEST: Denise Balkissoon, Ontario Bureau Chief, The Narwhal by The Big Story

24 min listen

Will regenerative agriculture help save the world? Or help make giant produce companies richer?: Depends on how you do it, and who you ask. Regenerative agriculture is a practice almost as old as farming itself. But recently it's been touted as a potential climate saviour for its ability to help capture more carbon in the soil. But with no real regulation or certification, it can be a dedicated, environmentally healthy way for farmers to make their produce better and more sustainable, or a pretty claim to put in a press release. How can you tell which is which? GUEST: Marc Fawcett-Atkinson, reporter and writer covering food, climate, plastics and the environment for Canada’s National Observer. by The Big Story

20 min listen

Can Canada transition both drivers and automakers to electric vehicles?: The federal government has ambitious targets set for the percentage of cars in Canada that will be electric by 2030. We're a long way from meeting them. But research shows hundreds of thousands of Canadians would like to purchase one. They just can't find one, can't afford one, or don't have the access to charging to make it worth their time. Meanwhile, the country's auto manufacturing hub needs help transitioning to be ready for the demand of the next generation of cars. All this adds up to problems at both ends of the supply chain, and a ticking clock making each project and incentive count. GUEST: Zoe Long, Research Manager for SFU’s Sustainable Transportation Action Research Team (START) by The Big Story

24 min listen

How did a Quebecer end up leading a foreign fighter brigade in Ukraine?: They call themselves the Norman Brigade, and they're led by Hrulf, who won't reveal his real name. But he's from Quebec, served in the Canadian military and has a Ukrainian wife and children. The brigade is composed of foreign fighters from around the world, including several Canadians. The brigade recruits through Facebook. They even sell merchandise. But former members question the leader's ability and the safety of the unit—citing poor accommodations, insufficient weapons and ammunition and a reckless leadership style. What is the Norman Brigade? Why are they fighting in Ukraine? And how dangerous are they, to themselves or to the Russians? GUEST: Tom Blackwell, senior reporter, National post by The Big Story

24 min listen

Everything you need to know about the (sigh) sixth wave of Covid: Hospitalizations are climbing again in parts of the country, and cases are rising in others. It's deja vu all over again. It's clear we're in for at least some sort of Spring rise in Covid-19, driven by the BA.2 subvariant, but how bad could it be? Is it possible this is a sign of a virus playing itself out? What can people who are worried do to protect themselves? And ... haven't we done this enough by now? Will we ever figure this out? GUEST: Colin Furness, infection control epidemiologist at the University of Toronto by The Big Story

30 min listen

How did Canadian politics become so nasty?: You see it most visibly when party leaders like Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh are accosted outside of events. But ordinary MPs of all parties report increasing amounts of verbal abuse and threatening behaviour—both in Ottawa and their home ridings. And it's escalating. Some veteran MPs have walked away from politics because of it. And it's quite likely this toxic climate is preventing plenty more would-be public servants from ever running for office. So how did it get this bad? And how do we fix it? GUEST: Stephen Maher, writing in The Walrus by The Big Story

24 min listen

Six weeks in, what's happening on the ground in Ukraine?: At the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two things became immediately clear. First, this would not go according to Putin's plans. Russia has met fierce resistance every step of the way and has been forced to retreat from its attempt to take the Ukrainian capital. Second, it became obvious that misinformation would play a role in what we learned and didn't learn about the situation on the ground. Russia, obviously, has some experience in that area. So how are Ukrainians surviving and resisting, and how long can they hold out? GUEST: Stewart Bell, Global News Online by The Big Story

25 min listen

A Cree teen's death in a B.C. group home, and what it reveals about the system: His name was Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux. He was 17. And in the wake of his death, there are so many questions and so few answers. Will the system admit any responsibility? Will the government that oversees it make any changes? How big is this long-ignored systemic problem, and can we fix it before it costs another young Indigenous person their life? GUEST: Nancy Macdonald, The Globe and Mail by The Big Story

21 min listen

The mysterious link between a murder in Thailand and a plane crash in Northern Ontario: The murder victim in Thailand was a known gangster who had spent years in and around Vancouver. One of the four men who died in the mysterious crash was wanted by Thai police for his alleged role in the killing. In between the two events is four months, multiple police investigations across the world, a second fugitive also on the run, two young pilots and dozens of unanswered questions. Who was Gene Lahrkamp? How did he end up dead near Sioux Lookout, Ontario? Why would he have travelled to Thailand to murder a gangster? What will happen when this story begins to be told? GUEST: Kim Bolan, crime reporter, Vancouver Sun by The Big Story

23 min listen

Rewind: It's real. Canada's going to the World Cup: For decades, Canada's men's soccer team was irrelevant at best, a punchline at worst. While the women's side went on to Olympic medals and World Cup runs, the Canadian men ... did nothing. Until a few years ago, when the tide began to turn. And then last year, when the unthinkable started to happen. Now Canada is not only headed to the World Cup for just the second time in its history, but the team also looks ready to do some damage when it gets there. How did the unthinkable happen? GUEST: John Molinaro, veteran Canadian soccer journalist, founder of TFC Republic (This episode originally aired on Feb. 2, 2022) by The Big Story

25 min listen

A fourth Covid-19 shot? Really?! And other vaccine FAQs: When Canadians were asked to get first two covid vaccines, they were told that doing so would get them back to normal. Now some of them are booking and receiving their fourth shots. And more than that, we originally called two shots "fully vaccinated"—when clearly time and the virus has proven that wrong.So what happened to our plan for vaccinations and how has it changed? Could a new, targeted vaccine expected this fall put an end to endless boosters? Did we get the messaging about vaccines wrong a year ago? And how do we make sure that vaccine hesitancy around Covid shots doesn't spread to shots that we've all been giving our children for decades? GUEST: Sabina Vohra-Miller, clinical pharmacologist by The Big Story

27 min listen

What's going on in Antarctica? (And in the Arctic, too?) by The Big Story

21 min listen

Will Jason Kenney's career survive in Alberta?: He returned to the province as a conservative saviour, uniting the right under one banner and vanquishing the NDP. But just a few short years later, Jason Kenney's own party—or at least a substantial chunk of it—wants him gone. A leadership review attracted so many interested voters that it was moved from an in-person event to a mail-in ballot, which has only furthered the cries of skullduggery from his opponents within the UCP. It also probably didn't help that Kenney was taped referring to them as "kooks" and "lunatics" in a leaked audio clip. What happened to Kenney's conservative support in Alberta? And what happens next if his party ousts him? GUEST: Jason Markusoff, Alberta-based staff writer, Maclean's by The Big Story

21 min listen

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In This Economy: How to handle RRSPs in an affordability crisis

In This Economy: How to handle RRSPs in an affordability crisis

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