The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio)

Mike Lanigan, a third generation cattle farmer, turned his life upside down in 2016 when he halted the production and selling of beef on his farm and decided to befriend his cattle instead. With the help of Edith Barabash, Farmhouse Garden Animal Home was born. Located in Uxbridge, Ontario, Mike and Edith spend their days raising cattle and saving animals who need a home. With the help of many volunteers, this animal sanctuary educates the public about the benefits of preserving animal life and choosing compassion over profit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobel laureate Alice Munro is widely known as a master of the short story, and one of Canada's most celebrated and beloved writers. In fact, Huron County in Ontario is often called Alice Munro Country. The outpouring of affection for her following her death, last week at age 92 only highlights the relatability of her characters and the precision of her fiction. And so we've gathered some writers who in one way or another have been affected by Ms. Munro's life and work. We welcome: Heather O'Neill, author of "Lullabies for Little Criminals" and the forthcoming, "The Capital of Dreams;" Chanel Sutherland, winner of the 2022 CBC Short Story Prize; Katherine Govier, author of "The Three Sisters Bar & Hotel;" Magdalene Redekop, author of "Mothers and Other Clowns: The Stories of Alice Munro;"and Menaka Raman-Wilms, author of "The Rooftop Garden," and host of the Globe and Mail's Decibel podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Mississauga votes for its next mayor on June 10, the winner will be just the city's third mayor since 1978. The new mayor will continue Mississauga's transformation from suburb to city, and has the potential to become a significant player in a vote-rich area ahead of the upcoming provincial election. Noor Javed of the Toronto Star, Zachary Spicer of York University, Rahul Mehta from More Homes Mississauga and Sue Shanly of the Mississauga Residents' Associations Network discuss the issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing papayas in Ontario seems impossible, but avid gardener Drew Raine loves a challenge and has a 12-foot papaya tree to show for it. Drew has also been growing mango, kumquats, limes, and grapefruit for more than 10 years - all without a greenhouse. Relying on containers that he can move indoors in cold weather, Drew has maintained his connection to his South American roots by bringing the tropics north.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No space is neutral, according to author Tye Farrow, and it either adds to or diminishes a person's well-being. Purpose-designed buildings not only help motivate and inspire the people occupying them, they also improve overall health and performance in their bodies and minds, he says. A look at the links between physiological health and the types of buildings that improve it, with Tye Farrow, architect and author of "Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind's Health."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario will soon permit tall wooden structures up to 18 storeys, giving encouragement to the province's burgeoning mass timber sector. A look at the potential and practicality of pre-fab wood construction, including its possible impact on Ontarios' economy if the sector continues to grow. Guests include: Christoper Williams of Timber Systems; Philip Silverstein of Moriyama & Teshima Architects; Steven Craft of CHM Fire Consultants; and Anne Koven of Mass Timber Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Ontario politicians over-coached? Then, after several disruptions can the Ontario film and TV industry bounce back? Why are so many young voters gravitating to conservative politics, and the pros and cons of drug decriminalization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his new essay, "The Coming Entropy of Our World Order," futurist and founder of AlphaGeo Parag Khanna looks at the volatile state of geopolitics, and where he thinks the world is headed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decriminalizing small amounts of illicit drugs is supposed to light a path to treatment for users and de-stigmatize addiction. But has harm reduction actually been achieved? The pilot decriminalization project in B.C. - in effect since January 2023 - has hit a snag due to concerns over public safety. Meanwhile, Toronto has been waiting two years for approval of its application to decriminalize drugs. Should that bid be adjusted as the city learns lessons from the west coast? We ask: DJ Larkin, executive director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition; and Derek Finkle, journalist and columnist for the National Post.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Conservative Party's support among young people appears to be on the rise. What's drawing them to the party, does that echo trends elsewhere in the world, where parties on the right are appealing to the youth vote? Have tough economic times and social media brought a whole new generation of voters to the conservative fold?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After film and television productions in Ontario finally dropped their pandemic testing protocols, they were hit with another setback. When writers and actors went on strike in the United States last summer many American productions that film in Ontario were forced to shut down. As a result, the economic impact of film and TV in our province took a big hit last year, and some in the industry say things have not rebounded as quickly as they had hoped. What can be done to help the industry bounce back? How can we meet the economic goals Premier Ford has laid out for media production?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor, writer, and director Kate Drummond explains the differences and nuances of acting for video games versus acting for film, TV, and stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Horseshoe Hill train crash in Caledon, Ont., killed seven people on September 3, 1907. It affected countless families across Ontario but it also brought some good. A group of women used the tragedy to bring Orangeville its first hospital. In this episode of Living History, we'll visit the site of the wreck, see the old railway roadbed, explore the health-care legacy as it stands today in Orangeville, and hear how this deadly railway would claim more lives until the day it was ripped up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When politicians hold a news conference to make an important announcement, then take questions from reporters, only to not answer the questions, then what? Four guests from all sides of the experience join Steve Paikin to discuss whether ministers and other politicians are being over-prepared for their public interactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digging into allegations of system racism in Thunder Bay. Then, can pension funds be made to be spent in Canada? A conversation with Wade Davis, and what can be done to help incarcerated individuals with mental illness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was at the helm when Ontario actually built housing. He was Ontario's first Black cabinet minister and first Black Speaker of the House. He was Canada's envoy to the Dominican Republic. And famously when Mike Harris vowed to "Make Ontario Great Again" and introduced a massive omnibus bill he stood up in the legislature and spoke for 18 straight hours to protest what many saw as a threat to democracy. This is the story of Alvin Curling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Losing your parents as an adult is a unique experience that sometimes defies explanation. In "I Miss My Mommy," author and illustrator Alison Garwood-Jones presents a cast of characters in various stages of grief - from denial to acceptace. She talks about the nature of this type of loss, why her art helped her through it, and why she wanted to share her insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People with mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, often encountering the law due to symptoms of their illness, incredible gaps in mental-health care, a lack of supportive housing, and social exclusion. Most inmates (80 per cent), in the provincial institutions are awaiting trial. And only some are diverted into our forensic mental-health system. This prevalence is compounded by the overrepresentation of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities. To help us understand this issue, we welcome: Yusuf Faqiri, founder of Justice for Soli and brother of the late Soleiman Faqiri; Glenda O'Hara, patient of the forensic system and chair of the Client Advisory Council at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre; Dr. Mara Muraven, psychiatrist with Forensic Programs at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care; and Mick Kunze, reintegration specialist from St. Leonard's Community Services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renowned anthropologist, and former Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, Wade Davis discusses his latest collection of essays, "Beneath the Surface of Things."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Canada grapples with an historic influx of asylum claimants, several groups, including the Canadian Council for Refugees, are calling on the government to revamp its refugee system. To explore why, we welcome: Ruby Sahota, Chief Government Whip and Liberal MP for Brampton North; Aadil Mangalji, immigration lawyer and partner at Long Mangalji LLP; amd Anne Woolger, founding director of Matthew House. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.