The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio)

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.

Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt may be the greatest leaders in the history of democracies. Their achievements in winning the Second World War are well known, but perhaps less well known is the role their mothers played in their success. Historian Charlotte Gray's latest book is called "Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt," and she joins Steve Paikin to discuss who these mothers were.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal government wants to know how to encourage Canadian pension funds to invest more at home. But that is not always in the interests of beneficiaries. A look at Canada's potential, and problems, when it comes to attracting massive investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbara McLean, with her husband, retired doctor Thomas Wilson, has been running a sheep farm in Ontario for 50 years. What changes has she seen over the years? Jeyan Jeganathan talks to McLean about her life on the farm, and her plans for succession, and other topics from her book, "Shepherd's Sight: A Farming Life."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former chief of the Thunder Bay Police Service facing serious charges by the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed the long suspected systemic racism within the police force. This is not the first time that there has been a call for a more competent police in northern Ontario and First Nation leaders are now sending their decisive call to disband the Thunder Bay police. For insight, we welcome: Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation; Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, the parents of Jenna Ostberg who died under tragic circumstances; Julian Falconer, founding partner of Falconer's LLP and the lawyer representing Jenna's parents ; and Jon Thompson, a journalist based in Thunder Bay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rita Miceli discusses her experience raising her autistic child. Tech expert Sinead Bovell on Canada's AI future. Have strong mayor powers made a difference? And, Mandi Gray discusses her book, "Suing for Silence."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudbury, Ont., has a complicated past. Settlers came to the area with the building of the railway, but the mining and logging industries made the area so toxic that not even shrubs or grasses could grow. But over the last half-century, governments, researchers and the industries themselves have been working to bring natural life back-and it's only halfway done. In this episode, contributor Warren Schlote describes how Sudbury became a desolate wasteland. We'll meet one of the people who has led the 'regreening' process, and hear about how some unresolved industrial damage is harming marginalized people to this day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the rise of the #MeToo movement, activists noticed an increase in a new tool to fight against allegations of sexual assault. Some men accused of misconduct have turned to defamation lawsuits as a way to protect their career and reputation. Does Canadian law make it too easy for men to sue their accusers? Is this the new avenue to litigate sexual assault cases? Mandi Gray explores these questions in her new book, "Suing for Silence: Sexual Violence and Defamation Law."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don't often get significant new books on former prime ministers, let alone on two in the same book. But from 1958 to 1968, Canada got two of its most noteworthy PMs. Journalist John Ibbitson's new book is called, "The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson and the Making of Modern Canada." Steve Paikin caught up with him in the House of Commons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, every Ontario mayor got elected by winning the majority of votes across their municipality. But when it came time to vote at council, they had just one vote like every other councillor. Not so anymore. A little over a year and a half ago, the Ontario government gave the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa so-called strong mayor powers. It meant that under certain circumstances, these mayors could override council votes that they'd actually lost. Today, 46 mayors in total have those extra powers. How's it all working out? Well, we've gathered three of the 46 here to find out: Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath; Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward; and Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former national news anchor Lloyd Robertson gives us his thoughts on the importance of media literacy and what news sources you should trust and why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late 2022, generative AI, like ChatGPT, shook the world and called into question what these advancements meant for our collective future. What impact would it have on the way we work? Was it being used ethically? Should schools be banning its use? Many of these questions remain. Here to give us an update on whether Canada is ready to tackle its future with AI is Canadian futurist Sinead Bovell, founder of tech education company, WAYE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the years, Timothy Garton Ash has seen a lot of European history, and now the Oxford University professor has written a book on his first-hand travels through Europe's history, some of which was apparently subversive enough that the Stasi - the East German spy service - had a file on him. The book is called "Homelands: A Personal History of Europe," and it's won the 2024 Lionel Gelber Prize for the best book on foreign affairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario's recent budget announced a $60 million increase for autism programming. But with 60,000 kids on the waitlist, will this be enough? Is the current Ontario Autism Program providing autistic youth with the support they need?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In "Giaci and Me," Rita Miceli shares the peaks and valleys of her family's journey raising and supporting their son and brother Giaci, who was diagnosed as autistic at the age of two. As a mother, Miceli worked hard to teach her son many skills while as an educator for over 31 years, she's advocated to bring awareness to autism. Her memoir won the Best New Canadian Manuscript award and it is about finding joy, acceptance, and love in the challenges of her perfect, imperfect life. This story tells parents, friends and professionals that they are not alone, and that autism can be worked with.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.