The Current

Montreal officials are planning “nocturnal zones” where bars, restaurants and theatres could remain open until 6 a.m., but the move to extend nightlife hours is getting a mixed reaction.

Musician and CBC host Nantali Indongo shares her excitement about rejoining the hip-hop supergroup Nomadic Massive for their 20th anniversary later this month. 

Yoshua Bengio helped to create artificial intelligence, and now he wishes he’d included an off switch. The Montreal computer scientist explains why he’s worried about the rapidly developing technology, and how it could be reined in. 

New Brunswick’s schools are scrambling to keep up with dramatic population growth, with some resorting to turning cafeterias and libraries into classrooms. We talk to parents about the impact on their kids’ education. 

How does a population boom play into provincial politics? As New Brunswick heads to the polls next month, the CBC’s Jacques Poitras brings us the stories of newcomers, and how they’re shaping the debate on everything from housing and healthcare to pronouns in schools.

The housing crisis for post-secondary students is so bad that some are paying double rent or turning living rooms into bedrooms just to ensure they have somewhere to live. We hear about the frustration and anxiety for students across the country. 

P.E.I. is getting its first medical school, but critics say staffing it could mean fewer physicians serving the local community. We hear about the plan to invest in young doctors who might make P.E.I. their home — and the impact on an already stretched health-care system.

Several provinces are rethinking how they teach kids to read, with a “back-to-basics” focus that includes phonics. We hear about long-running disagreements over the best way to teach literacy, and why many Canadian kids are struggling. 

Comedian Patrick Ledwell says P.E.I. can stand for Privacy Ends Immediately. He talks to Matt Galloway about comedy in Canada's tiniest province, where everyone knows everyone.

This year would have been the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famed P.E.I. author of Anne of Green Gables. We talk to some islanders and “Anne fangirls” who are excited to celebrate both the author and her creations.

Jane Philpott says every Canadian should have a legal right to a family doctor and primary health care, in the same way that every Canadian child has a right to an education. In an interview from April, the physician and former health minister tells Matt Galloway about her pitch for a Primary Care Act, and what’s stopping politicians from rebuilding a health-care system that Canadians can be proud of. 

New regulations for gig workers in British Columbia, which include a minimum wage of $20.88 an hour, take effect on Tuesday. And while businesses worry this will hurt their bottom line, gig workers say it does not go far enough.

Then, educators say there aren’t enough accommodations for post-secondary students with complex needs. University of Toronto lecturer Simon Lewsen and Seanna Takacs with the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services discuss what needs to happen next.

When the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan three years ago, the Taliban quickly seized control, implementing restrictions on women’s education and what they can wear and do. Now the Taliban has imposed further restrictions on what women can wear, and how they can use their voice. Afghans living in Canada say the international community needs to step in and protect the women of Afghanistan. 

The 2024 Paralympic Games are officially underway. Canada has 126 athletes competing in 18 different sports, and some are already winning medals. Canadian Paralympians hope their performances in Paris will help inspire others.