NOW and NEXT

This week on Now and Next:We explore Music, Recovery, and Community with musician, singer, songwriter Quisha Wint.Quisha is "one of Toronto’s sought-after session vocalists, currently living in the GTA, Quisha is a rising star in the tight-knit music industry thanks to her bright personality and strong emotive vocal abilities."But she's also a live organ donor. Quisha tells us her story - how she ended up donating part of her liver to save the life of a 16 year old girl.Quisha's a board member at the Toronto Blues Society and Hugh's Room Live.

This week on Now and Next:Our veteran comms crew is back at the table! Lindsay Broadhead, Bob Reid, Anne Marie Aikins and Brad Ross join SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford.The series finale of The Good Doctor sparked a spirited conversation about the commoditization of cancer by big network, prime time television dramas. We've culturally normalized cancer as a means of growing audiences. But how do you do medical drama without addressing cancer?Also:Pierre Poilievre's call for a summer gas tax hoilday is a masterful bit of messaging but there's still 18 months or so before the next federal election. Is it too much too soon?the crew weighs in on corporate apologies and getting "out in front" of issues. RBC did it right with the announcement of the bank's CFO termination.And US VP Kamala Harris drops the F-bomb to punctuate her talk on breaking down barriers.

This week on Now and Next:Rocco Rossi is the inaugural President and CEO of Shift 25 - a new movement "cultivate a BOLD and thriving Canada - teaching our kids "every failure is just feedback on the way to success."And Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture joins us to talk about the challenge of balancig the need for farmland, housing, and food production in Canada.AND..The chorus and calls to fast track a three year road maintenance and construction project on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto are hitting a cresendo! The road work is causing extraordinary chaos for commuters, (including some local polticians). It's just hell trying to get around downtown.Now, what's getting glossed over is the story that transit workers in Toronto could go on strike in a month or so. And, remember, we haven't had a strike in Toronto at the TTC since it was declared an essential service in 2011.Now, I like to think I'm paying attention, but a court quietly overturned that Essential Service Order about a year ago. Transit workers can now go on strike. And if they do, we'll be entering a whole new circle of Hell!You think commuting is screwed up now because of the Gardiner construction? Wait until there's no subway. Wait until there are no buses. Wait until there are no streetcars.And then tell me that Doug shouldn't be using the notwithstanding clause and declare the TTC an essential service.

This week on NOW and NEXT:We're excited to introduce an All-Star Roundtable including Lindsay Broadhead, Brad Ross, Anne Marie Aikins, and Bob Reid. They're all veteran Comms pros and they bring their considerable collective experience in war rooms, boardrooms, behind private and public sector podiums.In our inaugural sitdown:The Toronto Police Service is in a rolling boil integrity crisis. Supt. Stacey Clarke has helped officers cheat on promotional exams. And the OPP has been called in to investigate the Under Cover unit after Justice Anne Molloy raised a concern that Toronto police officers "colluded" when offering eye witness testimony during the trial of Umar Zameer - accused of murdering Det. Const. Jeffery Northrup. The jury found Zameer not guilty on all counts.Did Story Daniels say "too much"? Does her testimony at Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York actually help the former President?Pierre Polilievre has weaponized "disrepect" and "outrage" in his campaign against the Trudeau government since taking on the job as leader of the federal Conservative Party. But he took it to a whole new level when he launched his "Wacko" campaign in the Commons.And, WTF is going on with Robert F. Kennedy Junior?

This week on NOW and NEXT:We're joined by Sheila Regehr, Chair of Basic Income Network Canada and Jessie Golem, who is part of a class action lawsuit seeking $200 million in damages from the Ontario government.The lawsuit claims the government breached terms and conditions of a contract it entered with 4,000 low income Ontarians who qualified for a basic income pilot project. The program was cancelled after the Progressive Conservatives defeated the Liberal government in 2018.

This week on Now and Next:Abacus Data CEO David Coletto joins us to talk about his latest research. He wanted to know what Canadians are looking for in a prime minister.David says, "In our survey, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reigns as the premier party host, which might not come as a surprise given his charismatic and sociable public persona. However, in scenarios that required quick thinking and practical skills—like solving an escape room, putting out a kitchen fire, or managing a road trip as the navigator—Pierre Poilievre has the advantage."The problem for the Liberals is Trudeau presents as "the guy who shows up as the party host in the fancy car in the fancy clothes but he leaves before the staff has been paid and the mess has been cleaned up" leaving the guests to hold the bag.

This week on NOW and NEXT:We go deep on two line items in the the federal budget.Legislated poverty is now a nationally funded program. The 2024 Trudeau budget threw pocket change at the Canada Disability Benefit and, in so doing, managed to add to the $80 billion annual cost of poverty in this country. The government's refusal to fully fund the Canada Disability Benefit leaves more than a million Canadians to languish in poverty. It's a polticial play that effectively weaponizes poverty.We talk to Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington.AND...we talk housing...housing....and housing.Richard Lyall, President of the Residential Council of Ontario says the announcements are promising but will they do anything to lower to cost of building...not the cost to purchase...the cost to build new homes?[Don't hold your breath]

This week on Now and Next:The Ford government in Ontario is patting itself on the back for forcing the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to reversing a ban on paper bags. The LCBO made the move in August 2023, claiming it was an environmental initiative aimed at saving our forests. Premier Ford says it's a matter of affordability for Ontarians.But both the LCBO and premier either misunderstand or are wilfully ignorant pfthe effects of a paper bag ban. Using recyclable paper actually contributes to saving our forests. We explain!Also, we introduce you to Sue Larkin, the COO at Look Good Feel Better. She hosts a Story Studio Network podcast called Facing Cancer Together.. This interview was orginally recorded before the show launched. But we thought it was a good idea to revisit the discussion now that the 13 part series is available on all your podcast apps. AND to celebrate the success of the show. They've had remarkable reach with the remarkable stories they've shared.

We are seven months from election day in the United States and its outcome could prove to be the most significant since Abraham Lincoln was elected with less than 40% of the popular vote in 1860. Lincoln’s election is cited as the primary cause that triggered the US Civil War. With that in mind we ask the question: Will the United States be a safer place if Donald Trump wins or if he loses? In this episode of NOW and NEXT, we’re joined by veteran pollster, John Wright, SVP at Maru Public Opinion and David Schultz, professor of political science and constitutional law at Hamline University in Minnesota. We explore the political landscape focusing on the dissonance between the political narrative and the state of the economy.  David Schultz: Generally, voters’ perceptions of the economy, along with approval rating for the president, are pretty good predictors - not guarantees but pretty good predictors - of what happens in elections. And even though all the numbers look pretty good in terms of the economy, it’s the inflation factor that's souring a lot of people right now. And this is the problem that Joe Biden faces.John Wright: “You see two things through my lens. Number one is this hyper -partisanship, which drives everything (in the U.S.). But secondly, it's a culture war in the United States. It doesn't surprise me at all that in the last week, Joe Biden has decided with his vice president to go after the Roe v. Wade vote. I mean that's that's the counter measure to the economic piece that's on the other side of the aisle. It just seems that it's not just about the economy, it's about the culture of the United States.”The polarization and extreme partisanship in the United States is driven by cultural issues and amplified by social media bubbles. And the ultimate result will come down to a small number of voters in 5 or 6 counties in 5 or 6 states.  David Schultz: “I describe it this way. 5 -5 -5, 270 or 6 -6 -6, 270. Either 5 % of the voters in 5 counties and 5 states tell us who gets to 270 electoral votes or 6 % of the voters roughly in 6 counties and 6 states."John Wright: “It would be like trying to figure out the national election based on doing all of your polling in Cornwall Ontario.”

In this episode of NOW and NEXT:A funeral was held this week for Roy McMurtry, the former Chief Justice of Ontario and Ontario's Attorney General in Bill Davis' government at Queen's Park. McMurtry at the age of 91 on March 18, 2024.I had the chance to interview the Chief Justice when he retired from the bench in 2007. We replay that sit down for you in this episode of the podcast.

This week on NOW and NEXT:We explore truth and reconciliation in the mining industry. It's a critical issue, especially when you consider how much mining in Canada is done on the traditional lands and territories of First Nations right across the country. Brandon Ringham, from Creative Fire, sat down with us at the PDAC confernece in Toronto.We're also excited for a new season of Popping the Bubble Wrap! Our friends at Parachute are back in the studio and their CEO Pam Fuselli is going to tell you, it's okay to let the kids engage in risky play. Not dangerous play, but they need to learn by taking risks.And I discovered a beautiful song about Ellis Island this week. It tells the story of Annie Moore. Something to consider as we mark St. Patrick's Day this week. I'll even sing it for you.Now and next is the flagship podcast at Story Studio Network.

Today on NOW and NEXT:It's been a LONG TIME coming but the feds have finally tabled their legislation aimed at curbing online harm. That includes new measures to deal with hate speech and puts a major onus on the big tech companies to take responsibility for content posted on their platforms.Owen Charters is the President and CEO at BGC Canada. He says it's a good first step. "We do think the government largely...got it right" particularly when it comes to protecting our kids and teenagers when they're online."It is something we've been waiting to see because we see the harms. We see the harms each and every day. And it's both perpetrated on and unfortunately sometimes perpetrated by young people."We also sit down with Story Studio Network CEO, Erin Trafford. We recorded the segment LIVE from our Podcast Newsroom at the Prospecter and Developers Association of Canada convention in downtown Toronto. It is the largest mining industry gathering in the world. Remarkably, there was next to NO media on site to report on some major economic, environmental and indigigenous stories.

This week on NOW and NEXTWe talk to Neil Hetherington, CEO at Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. Those of you who follow us here at Story Studio Network will know we've been working closely with Neil and his team producing The 2030 Project podcast series. The latest instalment was a limited series focussed on the Canada Disability Benefit. The long and the short of it is, the CDB is aimed at lifting a million Canadians, who live with disabilities, out of poverty.Neil and Talia Bronstein represented the Daily Bread team in Ottawa last week, pressing MPs to commit to fully funding the CDB in the 2024 budget. The "good news"? It sounds like the feds are ready to commit $1 -2 billion to the cause. The "not so good news"? It would take an average of about $1 billion per province and territory to stabilize the lives of those relying on disability benefits across Canada.The investment of "every billion equals $100 (per person in monthly benefit payments). And so you need to get about $10 to 12 billion." Neil says "People need about $1 ,000 more than what they're currently getting. If you are on disability in Ontario, you're getting $1 ,300 a month. The poverty line is $2 ,300 a month. And so our hope is that it gets to the...thousand or so dollars a month, which is still inadequate, but at least gets to a certain level of being able to hopefully not rely on food banks."Also, we connect with Karen L. Cumming - author of the Wealthy Martian. Karen says it's long past time for us to be including financial literacy in our education curriculum.And, finally, we are now into year three of the Russian war in Ukraine. We're joined by Major General (ret) Scott Clancy - Leader, Author, Speaker, Mentor, Coach, an RCAF veteran. General Clancy says all eyes are properly focussed on the growing tensions between NATO nations and Putin's Russia.But he tells us, we need to broaden our peripheral political vision in this post-Cold War era."The soft underbelly of NATO and the West is not Europe", says Clancy. "It's not even American forces deploying to Europe. It's North America. And if Russia was really going to come after the Americans, they'd come after them here."

Welcome to NOW and NEXT - the flagship podcast at Story Studio Network.. It’s our weekly offering - the newest episodes will drop Thursdays!Stories, issues, problems and solutions that just don’t make the cut in the assignment meetings… But they’re stories, issues, problems and solutions that affect you, your family, your home, your job and your community.This week….Now that city hall in Toronto has decidedly dinged the local home owners with a 9.5% tax hike… they’re back to the business of complaining about parking fees and dangerous dogs. THAT’S THE BUSINESS THEY SHOULD BE IN! NOT highway maintenance and sheltering refugees. The budget period might have been Olivia Chow’s toughest time so far in the Mayor’s chair. But the next six months will be her toughest test…following through on her “back on track” budget and making sure she delivers on the police, transit and housing promises she’s made.Back on track…it the political theme of the week….In Chow’s case…it makes sense. But it is the means of memes at Queen’s Park. Ford Nation’s introduction of the “Get it DONE” bill is aimed at getting the province back on track. Of course, the quick and obvious observation? The bill harkens back tot he 2022 campaign slogan. This week, it begs the inescapable question: What the hell have you been doing for the past two years? We will be diving into that and more this week as we gather for On The LEDGE - your Ontario politics podcast. It will be back in your podcast feed on Friday!Who would want to serve in government? A story at cbc.ca this week details plans to issue panic buttons to Senators in Ottawa…over safety and security concerns. The CBC reporting says Senators have “been targeted by online harassment campaigns and threatening phone calls in recent weeks. The panic buttons were offered to MPs in 2022 following the fallout from the Freedom Convoy/occupation in Ottawa.Last week we learned the FBI informant who was at the centre of the Biden bribery investigation is accused of lying about it. Now, this week, the feds stateside say Alexander Smirnov had ties with Russian intelligence affiliated officials. Prosecutors say Smirnov admitted in an interview following his arrest “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story” about Hunter Biden. The FBI would like Smirnov behind bars while awaiting trial. BUT the judge didn’t bite. Daniel Albregts allowed Smirnov to be released…but is subject to GPS monitoring.Are you a COSTCO customer? A great piece in the Economist this week explaining how and why the big box retailer is so beloved? HINT: forty or so years ago…a Hot Dog and Drink combo at COSTO cost $1.50. Today??? It cost $1.50. Check out the story in the Economist.DID YOU HEAR?….The PM’s pissed off…over the job cuts at Bell… The feds have summoned Bell Execs to the hill for a grilling over the latest round of layoffs…Can’t wait to see how that plays out. So far, Ottawa has managed to only add fuel to the media dumpster fire in this country. And. by the way, if the PM is pissed off about 400 or so layoffs at Bell Media (NO, BELL MEDIA DIDN’T CUT 48 HUNDRED JOBS. BCE CUT 4800 JOBS), where was the PM’s pissed-offedness when the CBC announced 600 layoffs just two months ago?AND…February 22 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It’s happening in plain view and close to home.We talk to Janet Campbell, CEO and President of Joy Smith Foundation.

Today on NOW and NEXT:We want to know what good thing happened to you this week? You can let us know via email (hello@storystudionetwork.com), on socials @davetrafford or, better yet, leave us a recorded message. You can leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!We also meet Sevaun Palvetzian, President and CEO at UNICEF Canada to analyze the latest report that finds 1 in 5 kids in the riches countries are living in poverty.Sevaun says we've made remarkable progress to reduce child poverty in Canada but says 18% per cent of our kids live with food insecurity and poverty.We discuss the need for government action to address the issue.Poverty is a choice made by governments and calls for dedicated leadership and policy changes to reduce child poverty rates. We also touches on the role of public generosity and the responsibility of government in solving public policy issues. TakeawaysChild poverty is a pressing issue in Canada, with one in five children living in poverty.The Canada Disability Benefit is crucial in lifting people with disabilities out of poverty.Poverty is a choice made by governments through their policies and budget decisions.Government should prioritize the well-being of children and make child poverty a central focus in policy-making.Individual generosity should not replace government responsibility in addressing poverty.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:12 Technical Difficulties with Voicemail Link02:12 Balancing Serious and Light Topics03:36 Child Poverty in Canada05:04 Importance of Canada Disability Benefit06:03 Poverty as a Choice07:28 Child Poverty Statistics in Canada09:01 Government Responsibility in Addressing Child Poverty10:57 Forecasting Child Poverty Rates13:11 Importance of National School Food Program14:23 Failure to Eliminate Child Poverty by 200017:23 Government's Role in Addressing Poverty20:22 Need for a Minister of Poverty23:16 Sharing Good News25:23 Closing Remarks

Today on NOW and NEXT:A new UNICEF report that ranks the UK as having the highest rate of child poverty among developed countries. Canada has made progress in reducing child poverty, but UNICEF Canada notes one in five children Canadian kids are living in poverty. The Canada Child Benefit is recognized as a successful program in reducing poverty, but there are challenges faced by families where a caregiver lives with a disability.That's why anti-poverty advocates are pushing the federal government to include funding for the Canada Disability Benefits Act in the spring budget.We feature an interview from the 2030 Project with Minister Kamal Khera, who is responsible for the legislation. We talk about funding and implementation challenges, as well as differences in provincial disability programs.TakeawaysThe UK has the highest rate of child poverty among developed countries.Canada has made progress in reducing child poverty, but still has one in five children living in poverty.The Canada Child Benefit has been successful in reducing poverty, but challenges remain for families with caregivers living with disabilities.The Canada Disability Benefits Act aims to address poverty among people with disabilities, but funding and implementation challenges need to be addressed.REMINDER: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

Today on NOW and NEXT:The Global Tipping Points Report was released today at COP28. It suggests the planet we call home is on the verge of five catastrophic climate tipping points. Professor Tim Lenton, from the University of Exeter's Global Systems Instiute, led the research team. Lenton says these tipping points "can trigger devastating domino effects, including the loss of whole ecosystems and capacity to grow stable crops, with societal impacts including mass displacement, political instability and financial collapse."Cheery stuff, right?So, we though it was time to highlight a Story Studio Network series called Canadian Forestry Can Save the World. That might sound overly ambitious, but there is a role for the forestry sector to play in the battle against climate change. The problem is, governments across Canada are slow to acknowledge it.In this episode, we feature a sit down with Rosemary Thompson, the Executive Director at The Coalition For A Better Future, and Derek Nighbor, the CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, originally published April 12, 2023. We discuss how forestry fits into a more sustainable future and the benchmarks needed to assess our success in combating climate and growing a greener economy.REMINDER:You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

Today on NOW and NEXT:We introduce you to a Toronto mom who had to teach her kids how to react to daylight shootings. Karen and her kids were living in Toronto Community Housing when she turned to Habitat for Humanity to get her family into a safe and stable community.We'll also meet Habitat volunteer and supporter Scott McGillivray. The HGTV personality was directly involved in building Karen's Habitat home.This episode is an archived show we produced for Habitat during the Season of Giving in 2018.REMINDER: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!

Today on NOW and NEXT:The Federal Fall Economic Statement was a collection of broad stroke promises including a commitment to invest billions into housing. It comes in the form of loans to support the construction of rental housing and support for non-profit, co-op, and public housing builds.Is it enough?REMINDER: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada tells NOW and NEXT says rental and co-op housing is part of the equation but the government needs to move the needle along all points of the housing spectrum. "So we are looking for further developments. We're looking for the government to take the HST off affordable home ownership, which would be a big help. We're looking for the government to use its funding to force municipalities and provinces to play along and create affordable housing in their communities. And we're looking for the government to make sure that we have the skilled labour we need to get housing built and that people shouldn't underestimate that. And it involves immigration, it involves skills training."So they've got a lot more things to do and I think we are expecting them to do it."Julia also reflects on the passing of Rosalynn Carter and the Carters' historic impact on the Habitat for Humanity mission.

Today on NOW and NEXT:Ritesh Kotak, tech and cyber strategist joins the show to talk about the head spinning palace intrigue at OpenAI. In less than a week, Sam Altman went from being CEO, to out of work, to hired by Microsoft, to being re-hired by OpenAI and a whole new board being appointed to lead the company!REMINDER: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment!Ritesh says the boardroom drama at OpenAI heightens the need for substantive action to ensure safe, trustworthy AI."If you start going too far ahead without having checks and balances in place, that causes problems. And I think that seems to be the big issue around this is, yes, AI is a new arms race, but what protection mechanisms and safeguards need to be put in place? Or are we putting the cart before the horse?"