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Your hosts, Vincenzo, Terry, Marc. (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200313-WEE15 Air pollution- a silent pandemic Milan's Duomo Cathedral in Italy is barely visible through smog that hovers over the city on Dec. 29. 2015. The lack of rain and wind has brought pollution in Italy's business capital to exceed levels considered healthy for more than 30 straight days. (Antonio Calanni/Associated Press) With the world pre-occupied by COVID-19, the deadly virus spreading around the world to become a declared pandemic, scientists say there's a silent pandemic that's already been occurring for years. A new study shows the effects of air pollution are causing millions of premature deaths yearly Marc speaks with Dr. Courtney Howard, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment The NHL, MLB and MLS among latest to suspend seasons due to coronavirus The gates are closed inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., on Thursday March 12, 2020. The NHL has suspended the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson) Vincenzo discusses the many major national and international sporting events that have been cancelled, suspended, or postponed all due to the novel corona virus known as  COVID-19. Of course in addition to other events like Formula 1, to the World Figure Skating championships, an increasing number of entertainment events have been cancelled, and many schools and other institutions have temporarily closed. Many planned parades and other gatherings have also been cancelled or postponed. Now even the Canadian Parliament has been suspended until April 20. Canada set to become fourth country to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ Pride flags are seen at a demonstration on Parliament Hill in 2018. The Liberal government on Monday introduced legislation that would make Canada the fourth country in the world to ban so-called 'conversion therapy.' (Adran Wyld/The Canadian Press) Terry discusses new proposed Canadian legislation which would ban so-called "conversion therapy".  This is a type of counselling intended to convert LGBT people, usually youth, towards becoming heterosexual. The LINK- Facebook and Youtube Radio Canada International channel

Your hosts today, Vincenzo, Terry, and Marc ( video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200228-WEE15 Canadian Space Agency invests in moon exploration The control center at the Canadian Space Agency in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, February 28, 2019. (Reuters/Christinne Muschi) The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seeking to get more involved in exploration of the moon. To that end they've given out more than $4 million in contracts to several companies and a university. This is to help them develop technologies to be able to detect water on the Moon, measure mineral composition, and tools to navigate rovers on the lunar surface. Vincenzo spoke with Erick Dupuis, the director of Space Exploration Development at the CSA. International survey indicates trust in key institutions declining The Trust Barometer survey was taken before the current Indigenous crisis and rail blockades, but even at that trust in institutions and government shows a decline (CBC news) A new international survey shows people around the world are slowly losing trust in society's key institutions. The Edelman trust barometer, or trust index, is now in its 20th year. The marketing and PR firm has been using the 'guage' as a tool to advise their clients, but over the years its expanded to become an insight into how people feel about their politicians, business, the media, and NGO's. Canada occupies a middle ground between trust and distrust of those institutions, but this year it shows a drop of several places showing Canadians, like many others, are losing faith in these institutions to deal both quickly, and ethically with ongoing crises. Marc spoke with Lisa Kimmel, CEO and Chair of Edelman Canada. David Ayres: the legend grows The man himself following his Saturday Night Special. (CBC) An amateur goalie, and sometime zamboni driver, Canadian David Ayres, was in the stands at an NHL game. When the Carolina Hurricane's goalies were injured, the team had to call in a spectating Ayres as an emergency back-up. The Hurricanes went on to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3.  It's a story that has made headlines, and the late night talk shows, across N. America. Terry talks about this exciting and rare event Video of show begins at 0;40 window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Levon, Vincenzo, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200221-WEE15 Trudeau asks for patience as rail blockades continue but offers no clear plan Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) As the rail blockades by Indigenous groups and supporters continue, business groups warn that the economy of the entire country is slowly grinding to a standstill. Farmers and the agriculture sector are extremely worried about perishable product standing idle in parked rail cars and about vital export contracts. Ports on both coasts, Vancouver and Halifax, are operating at only a fraction of capacity and a major container shipper has already diverted ships to U.S. ports. Manufacturers are also warning that they are running out of supplies, and their shipping contracts are compromised. Meanwhile, more protests and rail blockades in solidarity with the small group of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, who oppose a natural gas pipeline through their claimed territory in northern British Columbia, have sprang up. The crisis also underlines internal divisions between Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and the majority of the band who are in favour of the contentious natural gas pipeline. The crisis was debated this week in the House of Commons in Ottawa with two very different views on how it should be handled. Levon has comments from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and reaction from Official Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer. full story here  *note also RCI has several stories on this ongoing issue Game studio in Ontario making audio-based video game The Vale is a medieval fantasy role-playing game, where players will take the role of as the second born and blind, daughter of the king. On her way to a castle, a horde of barbarians attack her caravan, and she’s left alone to fend for herself.  (Courtesy Falling Squirrel Games) A medieval fantasy role-playing video game is being developed with a new twist. Players are guided by sound and controller feedback. This means it's not only accessible to players with sight, but also those who are visually impaired. Vincenzo spoke with the creative director of Falling Squirrel Games in Ontario. full story here Survey: New office work space trends are actually counter-productive The ideas of "open office" work spaces were touted as a way to boost communication, transfer of ideas, and increase productivity. As it turns out, that idea isn't working so well at all. A new study says it leads to distractions and the loss of about two hours worth of productive time every day. Kane Wilmott is CEO and founder of iQ Offices co-working space who commissioned the study. full story here Video of show window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts today, Levon Sevunts, Vincenzo Morello,Marc Montgomery (video of show at bottom ListenEN_The_Link-20200214-WEE15 Canada plans to support ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic shipping The community of Arctic Bay, Nvt., is seen on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. The federal government plans to support a proposed ban on the use of heavy fuel oil by ships plying Arctic waters. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Environmentalists have long been concerned about shipping in the Arctic using heavy fuel oil (HFO) also known as "bunker oil" to power the large vessels. HFO is a thick low quality fuel, used primarily because it is relatively inexpensive. However, environmental groups also say HFO use emits substantial amounts of black carbon soot along with the risk of extremely difficult if not impossible clean up should there be an accident or spill. Levon heard that Canada may announce a ban on HFO use in the Arctic next week, but he also gets reaction from a shipper who feels such a decision is wrong. Read the original story here Climate change, human activities, and increasing disease exposure The current fears and spread of a deadly strain of a coronavirus has many asking how do these new diseases appear? (via CBC) As the Covid-19 virus continues its deadly spread, the question arises as to where these viral and bacterial diseases come from, or how some known disease becomes even more virulent. The answer comes from a few situations but certainly climate change and other human activities are involved. Dr Courtney Howard spoke to Marc. She is president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and an emergency room doctor in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories original story here Tinder as a marketing tool: Exploring off brand uses of the dating app File Photo (Reuters/Mike Blake/Illustration) Tinder is a social media site designed originally only as a dating app. At least it was. Now it seems people are beginning to use it for other things as well. Vincenzo spoke to Stefanie Duguay, an assistant professor of communications studies at Concordia. She saw that some users on Tinder were using the app in “off-label” uses, different from its intended use as a dating app. original story here Video of show Feb 14,2020 (available also on facebook, and YouTube RCI channel  window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Levon, Vincenzo, and Marc  (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200207-WEE15 Ottawa set to dispatch second plane to Wuhan ‘to bring every Canadian home’ Megan Millward, her husband Lie Zhang and their two children on board an evacuation flight from Wuhan, China. Two planes carrying Canadians out of the centre of the coronavirus region of China  have arrived in Canada. Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne said a third plane is being arranged for the remaining Canadians in China who want to leave. There are about 100 Canadians still in Wuhan. Levon has an update on the situation as of Friday with comments from Health Minister Patty Hajdu full story here 5G-In the rush to the internet of things, is human health at risk? More and more on the outskirts of towns or open spaces, and on almost all tall city buildings, cell towers are going up to ensure strong signals everywhere, almost inescapable signals.(Elise Amendola-The Associated Press)) Around the world, governments and technophiles are talking about the development of 5G networks. This will connect billions more devices from mobile phones to household appliances, autonomous vehicles and much more. But also around the world, groups of medical researchers and scientists are already concerned about the existing amount of radio frequency radiation from existing networks, and even more so about the vast increase in such signals with 5G. The say RF radiation should be classed as a human carcinogen in the same category as X-rays Marc spoke with Dr. Anthony Miller (MD, FRCP, FRCP (C), FFPH, FACE), a specialist in internal medicine and Professor Emeritus of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. full story here Research may link exercise to improved video game performance (iStock/EvgeniyShkolenko) It may at first seem like opposites, but exercise and video game may prove to go hand in hand. A study shows that a physical workout before playing a video game seems to improve the player's results. A neuroscientist at Montreal's McGill university tested the theory with some his students. Vincenzo spoke to Dr. Marc Roig. full story here Video of show (begins at 0;57)  window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts Levon, Marc, and newcomer Vincenzo Morello (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200131-WEE15 Canada chartered passenger plane to repatriate Canadians from Wuhan Emily Tjandra, left, and her son Wyatt Duplessis, 15, pose for a photo in their home in Wuhan, China in this handout photo. (Wayne Duplessis /THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO) Canada has arranged for a special charter plane to fly some 196 Canadians out of the Wuhan, China, a city at the epicentre of an epidemic of this new and deadly strain of a coronavirus. Canadian officials are now working with Chinese authorities to secure the necessary authorizations for the plane to land in Wuhan, as well as working out the logistical details of how the repatriation will proceed given the fact the city of nearly 11 million inhabitants has been under lockdown. Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne  and federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu spoke of the situation at a press conference on Thursday. Champagne and Hajdu said they are also still working out the details of what would happen to those Canadians and their family members who are repatriated to Canada. Levon has the story. full story here The issue of Huawei, national security and 5G The concern over national security issues is back to the fore with Britain's decision to allow Huawei partial access in developing the UK 5G network. Of the Five-Eyes international security group, The US, Australia, and New Zealand have banned Huawei, Britain has made its decision, Canada has yet to decide.(Andy Wong-AP) Huawei has long been accused of being an agent of the Chinese government. Many security agencies fear that Huawei could use its equipment to steal government and industry secrets, or be able to simply shut down key infrastructure in the event of a conflict, all through potential "back doors". So far none of these allegations have been proven publicly. Nevertheless, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand have banned Huawei from participating in creating a 5G network in those countries. Stephanie Carvin (PhD) is an assistant professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa. In a conversation with Marc, she says China doesn't need access to Huawei equipment for nefarious activities, and geo-economic actions of China related to Huawei may be of greater concern than theoretical security concerns. Full story here Survey: Top concern for Canadian employees is their mental well being According to a survey by Morneau Shepell, 77 per cent of Canadians would take a lower salary in favour of better mental health support. (Photo iStock/SDI Productions) It seems in the current workplace environment, people are being tasked with more and more work. This has led to an increase in stress levels. Canadians are feeling this as well. A recent survey by a major technology oriented human resource service found that a clear majority, three out of four workers,would prioritize their mental well being over their salary Vincenzo spoke to Paula Allen. She is the senior vice president of research, analytics and innovation at Morneau Shepell full story here RCI Youtube channel: video of show  window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Levon, Terry, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200124-WEE15 According to Stephen Cornish who leads one of Canada's most recognized environmental and conservation NGO's, the root cause of many of the world's conflicts and migrations can be traced in some form back to a changing climate. In this episode he spoke to Levon about how climate concerns should factor in to Canada's foreign policy calling it a 'greening' of foreign and development policy. full story here     series link here Some millionaires ask World Economic Forum to tax them more It's estimated Canada's wealthiest and wealthy corporations avoid billions of taxes in Canada annually. A group of milionaires/billionaires in the U.S is calling on governments to tax them more as the class wage gap widens. (Chirs Watters-Reuters) Statistics show that a small number of the uber-rich control more money than the combined wealth of the vast majority of the entire rest of the world population. A small group of millionaires/billionaires mostly in the U.S. is now saying they should have to pay more tax. Calling themselves the 'patriotic millionaires', they've sent a letter to the World Economic former to that end. It's not altogether altruistic though as their campaign 'taxes or pitchforks' is in an indication of their concern for their own well-being. They know that historically when the gap between rich and poor becomes too great, social and political upheaval has followed. Author and economist Jeff Rubin spoke to Marc about the situation. full story here At long last love: Larry Walker’s going to the Baseball Hall of Fame Montreal Expos right fielder Larry Walker is seen in 1994. Less than a year later, he was off to Colorado. On Tuesday, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, just the second Canadian--after Ferguson Jenkins--to be elected. (The Canadian Press/AP) Larry Walker of Maple Ridge British Columbia has been voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. He is only the second Canadian--after Ferguson Jenkins of Chatham, Ontario to get there.... Jenkins was a pitcher and Walker was an outfielder. It was a close call though as to whether Walker would make it. Terry spoke to  Richard Griffin, who is the director of baseball media for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the former Montreal Expos media relations director, a job that saw him spend a lot of hours with Walker. full story here Video of show  window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200117-WEE15 Diplomatic Dispatch series Canadian flags and the Parliament building's Victory and Peace Tower (iSTock) A new podcast series is being created with several episodes already online. Through one-on-one interviews with current and former politicians and diplomats, academics, and leaders of NGO's Levon brings insight into Canada's foreign policy, defence policy and international aid and development policies. In this excerpt Levon presents a comment from former Liberal cabinet minister and former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Allan Rock. PS752: How could Iran have made such a terrible, tragic mistake? This photo from Ukrainian investigators looking into the Flight PS752 crash shows part of the plane's cockpit. Initial thoughts are that at lease one missile blew up near the front of the plane sending shrapnel tearing through the cockpit and killing the crew immediately. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters) After initial denials, Iran admitted it had shot down the passenger jet, but claimed it was a mistake. This was a big passenger jet on a known flight path, leaving Tehran, climbing and travelling relatively speaking, slowly. How could it be mistaken for a small fast incoming hostile fighter jet or missile? Marc spoke with James McKay, political science professor at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston Ontario. Canada and Canadian's reaction to the downing of Ukrainian Airlines flight PS 752 A worker is seen last week searching the scene where Flight PS752 crashed just outside of Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. (Ebrahim Noroozi/Associated Press) Terry this week has covered several aspects of the official and unofficial reaction in Canada to the tragedy of the missile attack on the Ukrainian passenger jet leaving Tehran. Some 176 people were killed, the largest number were Canadian citizens, while others were Iranian students studying in Canada, and residents not yet citizens. Terry talks about some of his stories The Link- (show starts at 0;40) window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20200110-WEE15 Intelligence suggests Ukrainian airliner shot down by Iran, says Trudeau Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) The tragic crash of the Ukrainian jetliner this week in Iran was not caused by some technical problem but was most likely the result of a missile attack, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed Thursday. It apparently was the first official mention of an Iranian missile. If it was a missile, was it deliberate or a tragic mistake? Levon looked into the Prime Minister's revelation and this larger question of a missile attack. The situation in Iran Iranian mourners gather during the final stage of the funeral procession for slain top Gen. Qassem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman, Iran. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images) The American drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soliemani, has led to retaliation missile strikes against military bases in Iraq where NATO forces are based. It is possible that the tragic downing of a civilian jetliner with the loss of everyone on board including 63 Canadians, is related to the tensions. But what about the domestic social and political situation in Iran itself. Was Soleilmani allowed to be killed because he was becoming too powerful? Marc spoke with Ali Dizboni (Ph.D.), Director of Military and Strategic Studies-MSS and professor in the Department of Political Science and Economics at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. Animal rights activists looking for more victories in 2020 Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice, is looking forward to more victories in 2020. (Animal Justice) This past year marked some significant legal gains in terms of animal rights in Canada.  There were now laws including the ones making the most news–-a new law to ban keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity, new federal legislation cracking down on animal cruelty that will list those convicted of bestiality on Canada’s national sex offenders registry. and new legislation in Ontario strengthening that province’s animal cruelty laws. Terry spoke to the executive director of Animal Justice, Camille Labchuk Full story here (video of show starts at 0;40) window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts  Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191220-WEE15 Refugee advocacy group sounds the alarm on crisis in Mali Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) soldiers drive along women and children during the Operation Barkhane in Ndaki, Mali, July 29, 2019. (Benoit Tessier/REUTERS) A Canadian humanitarian aid worker says the situation in Mali is deteriorating even further. Alexandra Lamarche authored a report called Mali’s Humanitarian Crisis: Overmilitarized and Overshadowed. She says international efforts have been focussed on the military and stabilisation effort while the growing humanitarian aid need has bee woefully underfunded. Levon had a chance to speak with Lamarche for a podcast episode discussing her report and its recommendations for improving the humanitarian situation in Mali, addressing root causes of the conflict, which has now spilled to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, and implementing the terms of the country’s peace agreement. (full story/interview here) Think tank backs PM on massive tree planting possibilities A new study by a leading Canadian think tank says a government promise to plant over two billion trees before 2030 to combat climate change is very feasible. (Fred Tanneau/Getty Images) A new study by the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa says planting the trees could reduce emissions between two and four million tonnes a year by 2030, and up to eight million tons a year by 2050 as the trees mature and absorb more carbon dioxide. In the recent election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to spend $3 billion on land and water conservation projects--including planting two billion additional trees–before 2030. Terry spoke with Dave Sawyer–an environmental economist at the institute who  co-wrote the study. (full story/interview here) Smart speakers and privacy: helpful devices, but gathering data on you as well Smart speakers with their voice assistants are hugely popular, but they also gather vast information about you for corporate and other interests (Shannon Stapleton-Reuters) They is yet another high-tech device claiming to make your life easier. But as with most such devices, there are privacy issues. So -called 'smart speakers' are also microphones and while helping you find information you've requested, are also recording that data about your private habits, likes, wants, destinations etc.  Also they have the potential to accidentally record conversations you had thought were confidential. Jordan Pearson talks about the concerns. He is a Senior Editor at Motherboard, a tech news site from VICE Media. (full story/interview here) THE  LINK video (Youtube RCI channel- RCI Facebook) 

Your hosts are Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191213-WEE15 Is it time for Canada to rethink policy regarding China? Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen during the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in May 2018. Many say that under his leadership China has become an international bully and shown little respect for international law. A longtime China watcher agrees with many other analysts saying its time for Canada to get tough with China (Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press) Working for the Canadian government, Margaret McCuaig Johnston had for decades worked to develop closer ties between Canada and China. She says, however, that China under the current leadership has changed, becoming far more aggressive. She told Marc that she has changed her view of that country and suggests Canada should take a tougher stance against China on one hand, and start developing new markets other than China. (full story here) UN food assistance agency warns of escalating crisis in Burkina Faso A displaced woman looks on while she waits for help at a village in Dablo area, Burkina Faso March 1, 2019. (Luc Gnago/REUTERS) The UN is giving warning of a dire humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso, along with its neighbours in the Central Sahel region. Just 59 years into its independence, Burkina Faso is wracked with internal violence combined with the damaging effects of climate change. The UN estimates almost 500,000 internally displaced people with almost 900,000 throughout the region, with some 2.4 million needing food assistance. Levon has a report. (full story here) A whole different kind of musical tour: the film In a scene from 'Chaakapesh,' MSO Maestro Kent Nagano watches two Inuit artists perform a throat-singing duet. (Fragments Distribution) One of the world's great orchestra leaders, Kent Nagano, combined his talent, that of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, composer Matthew Ricketts, Cree playwright Thomson Highway, director and producer Roger Frappier, and several communities of the far north of Quebec. The result is a unique collaboration in a chamber opera, and a film. Performed in five languages, Cree, Innu, Inuit, English and French. It tells of the folk legend of a 'trickster' swallowed by a whale. It's called 'Chaakapesh: The Trickster’s Quest," Terry Haig spoke to co-writer and co-director Jason Kingsley. (full story here) LINK VIDEO window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191206-WEE15 GTA immigrants have trouble climbing corporate ladder: report Paulette Senior, the president and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation, poses for a photograph in Toronto on Monday, Apr. 29, 2019. A new study conducted by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) shows that only about 4.2 per cent of executives in the GTA are from racial minorities, and only two per cent of executives are immigrant women of colour. (Tijana Martin/THE CANADIAN PRESS) An examination of statistics from major corporations and businesses located in the Greater Toronto Area showed a very low percentage of immigrants rising to upper management levels. The study was done by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. Levon spoke with Yimaz Ergun Dinc, policy analyst with the TRIEC. (full story here) Study finds traumatic brain injuries dramatically affect the homeless Vancouver Oppenheimer Park advocate Chrissy Brett holds Taco last month as both were bundled in warm sweaters in an attempt to keep out the chill. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC) An international study of the homeless found that one out of every two people who are homeless may have experienced traumatic brain injury. The study was an analysis of data from 38 other studies published between 1995 and 2018 from six high income countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the USA. Terry spoke to William Panenka, physician and researcher with the B.C. Neuropsychiatry Program and the Provincial Health Services Agency in Vancouver (full story here) Study suggests Canadian food prices to surpass inflation in 2020 An annual report on food prices in Canada says costs will rise above the inflation rate (Nathan Denette-CP) In its tenth annual report, researchers say food prices in Canada are expected to rise up to four per cent next year and possibly higher. One of the main reasons is because climate change has caused unpredictable and poor conditions for crops and harvests. Marc spoke with Sylvain Charlebois, the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, and lead author of the report. (full story here) The Link show online (starts at 0:40)  window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, and Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191129-WEE15 Former Canadian spy chief calls for ‘clear eyed’ national security discussion Richard Fadden, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, appears at Senate national security and defence committee in Ottawa on April 27, 2015. Fadden, a former head of Canada's spy agency, says Canada needs to take a hard look at itself to ensure it is ready to face new threats. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) A major international conference held in Ottawa this week, saw political leaders past and present, along with top level security and NGO officials discuss a variety of topics from climate, foreign aid, to security. As for Canada, the feeling was Canada needs a ‘root and branch’ review of its foreign policy according to the experts in attendance. Levon was there and spoke to a number of the officials about the rapidly changing international and domestic scene, and policies and strategies to cope. (full story here) Study shows more and more plastics are polluting the Great Lakes A fog drifts in from Lake Superior in 2011. Gail Krantzberg, an engineering and public policy professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, has published a new study that finds the microplastic problem in the Great Lakes mirrors that of the oceans: small organisms mistake microplastics for plankton, and from there they work their way up the food chain. (Canadian Press) Plastic garbage is filling up the world's oceans as we've been warned many times now.  A new study says the same tragedy is happening in the five enormous lakes known as the "Great Lakes" shared by Canada and the U.S. Gail Krantzberg carried out the study. She's an engineering and public policy professor at the Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and spoke to Terry about the situation (full story here) U.N. Climate warning:Move quickly before it’s too late The United Nations has just released two environmental reports showing a gap in where emissions reductions should be, and where they are. (UNEP) Two recent U. N. reports look at where the world is in terms of meeting it's carbon emissions reductions, and the apparent path we're on heading towards a 3.2 degree Celsius increase in global average temperature by the end of the century. (full story here) Show starts at 0:42 window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, Marc   (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191122-WEE15 Trudeau taps former top diplomat to deal with discontent in Western Canada Newly named Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks following the swearing-in of the new cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS) In the October general election in Canada, the Liberals under Justin Trudeau were re-elected, but this time in a minority government situation and one in which they were virtually eliminated in the four provinces west of Ontario. Very few Liberals were elected in Manitoba and British Columbia, and none at all in Saskatchewan and Alberta. With a resurrection of the separatist Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, this has left the country deeply divided. Levon discussed the nomination of former Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to the posts of deputy Prime Minister and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister. Originally from Alberta her job will be to try to restore some unity to the country (original story here) Hong Kong protests: a former Canadian diplomat's viewpoint Police and student protesters clash at Hong Kong University this week (via CBC) The protests in Hong Kong have quieted somewhat and at last report, only a few students remain barricaded in Hong Kong university after a tense week of violent clashes with police once again.  While the situation has calmed somewhat it is doubtful they will remain that way, or that the protests are anywhere close to ending. Colin Robertson is a former Canadian Consul in Hong Kong and he says there seems to be a standoff as protesters are making demands that the Hong Kong government, and certainly China, are unwilling to compromise on. In a conversation with Marc, he expresses concern that this will not end well for anybody. Haley Wickenheiser goes to the Hockey Hall of Fame in familiar company Hayley Wickenheiser celebrates after Canada's gold medal victory at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, one of four she won in her 23-year career. Wickenheiser was to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press) She has been a hockey player since her early teens, but more than that, became one of the best female hockey players in the world. She also played on men's teams for awhile has played on gold medal winning Canadian Olympic teams and world championships. Terry Haig looks at the career of this amazing player who now joins the very rare elite women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (original story here) VIDEO of this week's show  (starts at 0;50) window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry and Marc ListenEN_The_Link-20191115-WEE15 Canada welcomes genocide lawsuit against Myanmar, says Freeland Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, arrive at the National Press Theatre to make an announcement and hold a media availability on Canada's response to the Rohingya crisis in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Gambia has launched a lawsuit against Myanmar (formerly Burma) claiming that state has committed genocide against their Rohingya minority. In Canada, a unanimous vote in the House of Commons recognized the crimes against the Rohingya as genocide in 2018 Levon spoke with Canadian legal expert Payam Akkhavan, a former U.N. prosecutor and professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal. Levon reached him on his mobile phone in The Hague (full story here) Superbugs could kill hundreds of thousands, cost billions in just 30 years A computer-generated image shows a group of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria. This increase in antibiotic-resistant infections is expected to cost Canada 396,000 lives, $120 billion in hospital expenses and $388 billion in gross domestic product over the next three decades. The expert CCA panel calculated that resistant infections contributed to over 14,000 deaths in Canada in 2018, and of those, 5,400 were directly attributable to the infections(Centers for Disease Control/Associated Press) A shocking new report by a variety of medical experts in a variety of fields, along with social and economic experts, has said the incidence of anti-biotic resistant bacteria will increase to 40% by 2030. Currently some 26 percent of infections are already resistant. They calculate between now and 2050, the so-called "superbugs" will result in almost 400,000 deaths in Canada as infections will no longer be able to be treated. They say medical and hospital costs combined with lost productivity will cost the economy over 500 Billion dollars in that time Marc spoke with Gerry Wright, director of the Michael DeGroote Centre of Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. (full story here) Remembering the horror that led to "In Flanders Fields" The remains of a German observation position on April 22, 1915. By this time, the countryside was devastated by millions of artillery shells fired by both sides near Ypres since 1914. Human losses were also staggering on both sides. Canadian John McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields" on May 3. (Photo Credit: Archives Canada MIKAN no. 3397986) It is arguable one of the most famous poems of war. "In Flanders Fields" was written by a Canadian medical officer, Col John McCrae on the back of an ambulance during a brief respite from his work trying to save the many wounded and maimed. At the time he had just learned of the death of a close personal friend during a battle. He himself would die just three years later of pneumonia partly due to his working himself to exhaustion. Terry spoke to actor David Calderisi who talks about the poem, and reads it aloud. (full story here) Video of show window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts, Terry, Levon, Marc  (video of show at bottom) The Link: World scientists on climate emergency, Canadian aid orphans in Africa, new book on a tragically deadly victory in WWIIEN_The_Link-20191108-WEE15 Scientists around the world issue climate emergency warning Thousands of people joined a climate strike in Vancouver on Oct. 23. Scientists around the world are echoing their concerns about a the state of the planet. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC) Inspired in part by young activist Greta Thunberg, over 11,000 scientists from around the world have signed an open letter called "World Scientists Warning of a Climate Emergency". Terry spoke to Lonnie Aarssen, a Queen's University biologist in Kingston Ontario. Professor Aarssen was one of the over 400 Canadian scientists and researchers who signed the international document. Canadian charity teams with egg farmers to care for African orphans SaskEgg supports the Heart for Africa's Project Canaan project and recently got together to purchase an egg delivery truck that allows eggs and meal packs to be delivered to thousands of children and families across Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) every week. (Egg Farmers of Canada) Two successful Canadian business people married to each other happened to be in the United States on the day of tragic 9/11 attacks. One of those Canadians were aboard a jet at the time, and the other was conducting business in New York City, and both were worried sick that the other may have died in the deadly attacks. Both were safe but the ordeal caused them to completely rethink their lives. It resulted in a move to Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) in Southern Africa where they established an orphanage for babies. Levon spoke to Ian and Janine Maxwell about their humanitarian operation and their partnership with Egg Farmers of Canada. Remembrance WWII: Canada's Black Watch in the tragic victory at Verrieres Ridge A Black Watch sniper from C Co. in a ruined building in Gennep, Holland, Feb 14, 1946 (IWM B-14626) It was a pivotal battle during the Second World War. Canada's storied Black Watch regiment was sent to take the Germans position at Verrieres Ridge in France. The Germans had decided to hold this high ground and the resulting bitter fight almost wiped out the Royal Highland Regiment, but though other battles raged on for months afterwards, it has also been seen as the beginning of the end for the Germans in Normandy Marc spoke to Montreal historian, author, and teacher David O'Keefe about his new book for this short period describing in personalised detail and narrative style this terribly costly battle. It's called "Seven Days in Hell: Canada's battle for Normandy and the rise of the Black Watch snipers" Video of this week's show (starts at 0;42)

your hosts Levon, Mathiew, Marc   (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191101-WEE15 Quebec to add 'values' test for new immigrants Premier François Legault, left, asked Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette to come up with the values test. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada) The mostly French-speaking province of Quebec intends to implement a test for prospective immigrants to ensure they understand 'Quebec' societal values. As of Jan. 1, 2020, new immigrants to Quebec will have to demonstrate that they understand and accept “democratic values and Quebec values”  which will be a first step towards selection Levon has an excerpt of Quebec Premier Francois Legault explaining the reasoning behind the values test full story here Taking a different perspective on world drug problem Paramedics and firefighters work to revive an overdose patient with repeated doses of naloxone, the antidote to opioids such as fentanyl. A series in the medical journal The Lancet says old anti-drug laws are not working, and new evidence-based approaches are needed for new realities (Frederic Gagnon/CBC) A series published this month in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, provides an scientific update on the world's growing problem of illicit drug use.  It deals in large measure with researched treatment methods. Most of the world's laws dealing with illicit drugs and their use date back to the 1960's according to Dr Julie Bruneau, and clearly haven't worked as the problem has only grown. She adds that in the interval, new types of drugs have come into the picture as well. Marc spoke with Dr Bruneau who is a co-author in two of the several segments in the series, She is a professor in the Department of Family and Emergency Medicine at the Universite de Montreal, and a researcher at the CRCHUM (University of Montreal Hospital Research Center. In the excerpt she explains what she means when she says new policies to treat addicts should be based on science and not perceptions full story here Can new plain cigarette packs be effective in reducing smoking? A proposed standardized cigarette package is displayed in front of a variety of cigarette packages available today in Canada. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Canada is moving ahead with a plan to institute so-called plain packaging for cigarettes. This follows the  same type of policies instituted by other countries like Australia and France. The idea is to discourage smoking by making the packaging far less attractive. Only one standard type of packaging will also be available known as "slide and shell" as it provides a wider surface for health warnings. The plain packaging comes into effect starting this month while the slide and shell will be standard by next year. Longer thin cigarettes which seem to target women as being fashionably slim and fashionable will also be eliminated. Mathiew had a report story here 2018 interview here video of show (starts at 0;40) window.jQuery || document.write('

Your hosts: Levon, Lynn, Marc (video of show at bottom) ListenEN_The_Link-20191025-WEE15 Arab World Festival-Montreal Emily Awad, Director of Communications for the festival joins us via skype This weekend marks the start of the 20th year for the Arab World Festival,/ Festival du Monde Arabe  (FMA) in Montreal. The idea is to showcase elements of Arabic culture and build bridges with Canadian society. Emily Awad, director of communications, is the spokesperson for the festival, She says at least 50 per cent of the visitors to various shows are indeed, non-Arabic. non-Muslim.  There are many different types of performances, films, and discussion panel events which makes it not only entertaining, but informative as well. Canada Election: Coalition out, but cooperation on climate, housing affordability Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his way to a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Levon talks about the position of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau as he resumes the office of Prime Minister, but as the head of a minority government. Excerpts of his post-election speeches are discussed along with some of the challenges he now faces. Full story here Canada Election: Results show clear national division Liberal leader Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press) The election has shown very clear and deep divisions that have resulted from the past four years of the Trudeau government.  With the resurrection of the separatist Bloc Quebecois in the mostly French speaking province of Quebec, to the elimination of Liberals in the west and spectre of a growing western separatist movement. Trudeau now faces real challenges to govern as he says "for all Canadians". Marc spoke with political science professor Sanjay Jeram of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia full story and interview here Canada Election: Climate change challenge for minority government In the 2019 election, 63 per cent of electors voted for parties with strong plans to mitigate climate change. (iStock) One of the major issues, and one likely to cause further tensions and divisions in Canada is that of climate change and policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Lynn spoke with Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of the Climate Action Network of Canada, a coalition of groups concerned about climate change.  Full story and interview here The LINK video- via YouTube RCI channel (show starts at 1:13)

Your hosts Lynn, Terry, Marc  (video of show at bottom) the link- political opinion polls, obese people and medical care, false fish- what you pay for is not what you getEN_The_Link-20191018-WEE15 Canada's election and political opinion polls: Can they influence voters? Voter survey for upcoming election. Literally dozens of polls are conducted, on voter intentions, issues of concern, leader popularity, government record, and so on, additionally sometimes broken down further into respondents sex, income, age etc. (CBC) In any major election, there are almost always dozens of opinion polls taken, and often on a daily basis. They can survey people's opinions on the popularity of leaders, on the popularity of parties, voter intentions, opinions on policies and so on. But can they, do they influence voters?  Are they reliable, and can they be skewed for partisan ends? Marc speaks with Peter Loewen, political science professor at the University of Toronto and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy Bias, discrimination prevent people getting obesity care: study People with obesity “shouldn’t look at this being their own fault...obesity is a chronic disease,” says a medical specialist. (iStock) Obesity is now being accepted more as a chronic disease, but there is still a great deal of bias against obese people as saying the problem is their own fault.  This attitude results in people not getting the type of care they need. Lynn spoke with Arya Sharma, the scientific director for the non-profit Obesity Canada.  Conservation group exposes widespread seafood fraud in Canada A seafood counter is shown at a store in Toronto on Thursday, May 3, 2018. A new study found 61 per cent of seafood products tested at Montreal grocery stores and restaurants were mislabelled. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) It's quite a concern. The type of fish Canadians think they're buying has a good chance of being something else. A multi-year, cross-Canada testing of fish samples through DNA, shows an average of 41 per cent of samples were not the fish type advertised. This means often paying for an expensive type of seafood, but getting a lower quality species. In some cases, species were also found to be of types banned in some countries, and the situation is also likely to be a conduit for illegal caught fish, and illegal types. Levon spoke to Josh Laughren, executive director at Oceana Canada Video of show (RCI YOUTUBE channel- show starts at 0;40)

Your hosts, Lynn, Marc, with guest Stephane Parent, host of RCI's French language programme  (video of show at bottom) The Link: this week talks about the Canadian election leader's debate, a new much simpler, faster early detection method for Alzheimers, and a long time Canadian TV show that makes fun of politicians, and they like it.EN_The_Link-20191011-WEE15 Canadian election, debate of the leaders in French Host Patrice Roy from Radio-Canada, centre, introduces Federal party leaders, left to right, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet before the Federal leaders French language debate in Gatineau, Que. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) There have now been two official debates among the record number of federal party leaders.  The English debate was at times a raucous affair, and the French language debate (Canada having two official languages) was held Thursday night. After criticism, the format was changed somewhat to provide a somewhat better event although there were still moments of people interrupting each other, which a certain numbero f Canadian viewers don't appreciate. Stephane. Lynn, and Marc talk about the debate Eye scan may soon permit early detection of Alzheimers A specialized camera and software analyzes the back of a person’s eye to detect patterns specific to Alzheimer’s disease before the symptoms develop. (Cole Burston/RetiSpec) A new technology may hold the promise of detecting Alzheimer's disease at a much earlier stage.  Current tests are much more expensive and invasive, involvinig PET scans or spinal taps. But a new technology has been developed involving a simple eye exam that could be done during routine eye checkups.  Lynn spoke with Dr. Sharon Cohen, medical director of the Toronto Memory Program A funnier side of politics In 1996, then Prime Minister Jean Charest from Shawinigan Quebec, grabbed a noisy protester blocking his path, by the neck and shoved him aside. The "Shawinigan Handshake" became a long-standing on-camera joke between Cretien and Critch who says Cretien loved to play along (CBC) The programme 22 Minutes is one of the longest running comedy shows on Canadian TV. The comedy/satire show makes fun of celebrities, society, and especially political figures. The latter group of course wants to be taken seriously, but somehow they are inspired to play along . Cast member and host Mark Critch talks about how they manage to ridicule political figures but leave them and audiences smiling. THE LINK- video of show 2019-10-11 (starts at 0.41)