Youth in Canada are experiencing a once-in-a-generation crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are facing unprecedented disruptions which have affected aspects of their lives such as their education, employment and economic status, and mental health. Unless action is taken to support young people in Canada now, they may be left to deal with the impacts of the pandemic for the next decade. Today, we are joined by Anjum Sultana and Jessica Lue. Earlier this year, they co-authored and released a report titled “Preventing a Lockdown Generation: A Plan to Support Canada’s Youth in Post-Pandemic Recovery”. They will be discussing the findings from this report and explaining what work needs to be done to support young people in Canada. Produced by: Anjum Sultana - YWCA Canada Jessica Lue - YMCA Canada Faria Amin - Executive Producer, Beyond the Headlines 

Beyond the Headlines

Preventing a Lockdown Generation in Canada

The Commission on the Status of Women meets for an annual 2-week session to discuss gender equality outcomes, evaluate progress, and negotiate agreed conclusions on future directives. This year’s theme was “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. Equal representation at all levels of leadership has yet to be attained, as there are many areas such as the private sector, government and diplomacy, where women and gender minorities remain underrepresented. In this episode, you’ll hear from Senator Marilou McPhedran, Louise Blais, and Jillian Stirk - a few incredible women leaders who have significantly contributed to advancing gender equality through their courage, advocacy, and lifetime of work. This episode is a special edition of BTH, presented by delegates from the Young Diplomats of Canada. Produced by: Katherine Lacroix - Head Delegate, Young Diplomats of Canada Katelyn Wang - Delegate/Communications Coordinator, Young Diplomats of Canada Nikou Salamat - Delegate/Engagement Coordinator, Young Diplomats of Canada Faria Amin - Executive Producer, Beyond the Headlines

Young Diplomats of Canada: UN Commission on the Status of Women 2021

Young Diplomats of Canada: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 2021

This is a special episode in collaboration with the Indigenous Policy Initiative (IPI) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This episode explores the COVID-19 response by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. At the outset of the pandemic, the Assembly formed the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team in order to best face the coming pandemic. Their experience over the last year provides important insight and examples for indigenous policy throughout Canada.  Today's guests are Grand Chief Arlen Dumas and Dr. Marcia Anderson  Produced by Arman Bachmann, Ertiana Rrokaj, Megan Annable 

Impact of COVID-19 on First Nations: Lessons from a successful response by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

Canada is one of the world’s most energy-intensive economies; per-capita energy usage is five times the global average, 29% higher than in the United States and triple that of the European Union. There is a significant opportunity for Canada to improve energy efficiency which can provide 40% of Canada’s energy needs by 2050!  Today we’re sitting down with Efficiency Canada - the leading voice of energy efficiency in this country - to discuss their newly released “Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard.” The Scorecard details regional progress on energy efficiency with aims of benchmarking progress, inciting competition and sharing best practices. We spoke with the co-author of the scorecard, Dr. James Gaede on December 18th to discuss the findings, understand the current state of play, and understand what the future of energy efficiency in Canada might look like.

Understanding Differences in Provincial Energy Efficiency with Efficiency Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across broad swathes of the Canadian economy. The consequences of the current recession are complex and overlapping and range from widespread job losses to a prolonged contraction of the country’s economy. Experts on the Hill and in the private sector have pointed to the vital role that infrastructure investment must play in Canada’s economic recovery plan. But it has to be smart. Stakeholders must pay attention to environmental and social considerations at every stage of project development. Now is the chance to create a bold new vision for Canadian Infrastructure investment. Last week, Senior Producer Duncan Cooper sat down with Michael Sabia - veteran infrastructure executive and current Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy - to discuss these issues and chart a course forward for Canada’s recovery. From March 2009-January 2020, Michael Sabia served as President and CEO of the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ), where he oversaw its strategic direction and global growth.

In Conversation with Michael Sabia: The Role of Infrastructure Investment in Canada's Economic Recovery

In the past few years, Europe has appeared unsettled. From the 2014 Crimean Crisis, to Brexit, to a rise in far right politics across the continent, it is never short of news. Today, we’ll discuss a few of the stories that are affecting Europe now, and defining its future. Starting in Western Europe, we’ll speak with Mr Robert Hage about the past, present, and future of the relationship between France and Germany. Also, with Angela Merkel stepping down later this year, we’ll look ahead and discuss what the future holds for Germany in the face of an upcoming election, and external threats. Later in the episode, Connor Fraser is joined by Keir Giles from Chatham House for a conversation about Russia. They discuss how the Russian state and society are portrayed by mainstream Western sources, and how this representation often differs from reality. Russia’s support for the Belorussian government in the wake of last year’s mass protests, and the recent poisoning and arrest of Alexi Navalny are also unpacked.  Today's guests are Robert Hage and Keir Giles Produced by Elliot Simpson, Connor Fraser & Thea Koper 

The Future of Europe

COVID-19 has radically changed the way many people live their day-to-day lives. As more people work, study, and spend time at home, having access to a stable internet connection has never been more important than it is today. While the majority of Canadians have this access, many, especially in rural areas, do not. Today, we’ll talk with two experts on the topic of broadband policy to help us better understand the history of broadband in Canada, the importance of broadband infrastructure, and what still needs to be done to ensure that all Canadians have access to a stable internet connection. Today's guests are Josh Tabish (Canadian Internet Registration Authority) and Dr. Andrew Clement (University of Toronto) This episode was produced by Jessica Pan and Natasha Laponce

Connecting a Country:The Role of Broadband Policy in Canada

This week, Beyond the Headlines has partnered with Global Conversations. Global Conversations is an online international affairs magazine, staffed by Master’s students from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Today, on March 8,  they publish their Winter 2021 Feature Issue under the theme, “The Digital Frontier.” You can find it online on their website at munkgc.com. In the issue, their writers explore the way digital technologies are transforming social, political, and economic life around the world. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our reliance on our online connections has only gotten stronger. The internet has been a powerful source of opportunity, but the challenges and risks associated with it are also becoming clear. Stay tuned as we navigate the digital frontier in Canada, in North America, and around the world.  Our friends from the Global Conversations podcast team, Regina, Sky and Luca, speak with three writers from Global Conversations, and one outside expert. They discuss a variety of issues that are shaping our digital world ranging from efforts to improve Internet connection for the people of Nunavut, to Europe’s regulatory battle against the tech giants, to the role of social media algorithms and disinformation in US politics.  Today's guests are MGA students Hilary Lawson, Pierre Miller, and Kristen Pearn from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Dr. Alison Meek, University of Western Ontario.  Episode produced by Connor Fraser, Regina Codera, Luca Bonifacio-Proietto, and Sky Shi. 

Navigating the Digital Frontier

Clothing production has doubled in the past two decades, and consumers only keep items for half as long. Low prices and fast-changing trends, combined with poor quality garments, fuel the fast fashion industry. This industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions, is the second largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and 35% of microplastic particles found in the ocean are a result of laundering synthetic textiles. Aside from the environmental harm, fast fashion is also critiqued for its unethical treatment of labour, where workers can make as little as $68 per month. Today, we are joined by three experts to discuss the harmful socio-ecological global impacts of the fast fashion industry to help us understand this issue. Today's guests are Rachel Miller, Sheridan College; Sabine Weber, Seneca College; and Paola Deda, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion This episode was produced by Faria Amin and Mycala Gill

Slowing Down on Fast Fashion

During this current pandemic, Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs are among the most harshly hit areas of the Canadian economy. These SMEs account for approximately 98% of businesses in Canada and make up over 50% of the Canadian GDP. Also, up to 70% of employment in the country is generated by these SMEs. It goes without saying that Canada's economic recovery is closely tied to the recovery of these SMEs. But, is it enough to just re-establish these SMEs or is it finally the time for Canada to promote research, development, and innovation in one of the most crucial areas of our economy? Why have we been unable to promote our SMEs' productivity and expansion? Why do we see innovative firms leave Canada, despite benefiting from our public research and development funds? In terms of the pandemic, what does innovation mean for our economic recovery? As we make plans to come out of the pandemic and start building back better, perhaps it is time to reflect on our economy to make Canada more competitive on a global stage. This episode will look at Canadian competitiveness and post-pandemic recovery, with a particular eye on the Small and Medium Enterprises, the SMEs.Today's guests are Robert Asselin and Sean Speer, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This episode was produced by Wahaj Alam and Gillian Monckton

Post-Pandemic Innovation and Productivity for SMEs

Childcare has been an issue at the forefront of federal, provincial, and municipal politics for decades now, but outside of Quebec, little progress has been made in recent years. Parents struggle to meet the high costs of this service, and the pandemic has amplified existing issues while also creating new ones. However, with a new federal plan on the way, there is hope that childcare will be more accessible in the near future. Today, we are joined by three experts who will discuss childcare in the Canadian context, and how we can build a stronger system moving forward.Today's guests are Morna Ballantyne, Child Care Now; Anjum Sultana, YWCA; and Dr. Susan Prentice, University of ManitobaProduced by Duncan Cooper, Faria Amin, and Sameh Hashem

Childcare in Canada: Building a stronger post-pandemic system

One of the key elements of good public policy is public engagement. It is crucial that the voices of those for whom public policies are in fact made are heard by policymakers. The usual form that public engagement takes is outreach. One organization, however, is looking to fundamentally change the way that communities are involved in the policy process, especially in the context of climate change. In today’s episode, Thea Koper sits down with Dr. Sean McGrath and Kyla Bruff, co-founders of the non-profit organization For a New Earth (FANE), based in Newfoundland and Labrador. Rather than leading one-sided outreach initiatives, this organization is focused on breaking down the barriers that exist between academia, the policy world, and local communities. FANE also recognizes the deep value that art, spirituality, and direct engagement with nature can bring to public engagement. We begin our conversation by discussing how this form of engagement is crucial not only for action on climate change, but for raising the ecological consciousness of a province. We then discuss specific policy recommendations for Newfoundland and Labrador pertaining to climate change. Today's guests are Dr. Sean J. McGrath and Kyla Bruff, Co-Founders of For a New EarthProduced by Thea Koper 

Raising Ecological Consciousness in Newfoundland and Labrador

COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated a number of systemic inequities that challenge Canada’s potential to build back better. One of those brought to the forefront has been food insecurity. Before the pandemic, 1 in 8 households in Canada was food insecure, with low-income communities and communities of colour being disproportionately impacted. Today, we’ll hear from four experts in the field to help us understand this interconnected and pressing issue. Today's guests are Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, University of Toronto; Jessica McLaughlin, Thunder Bay Area Food Strategy; Dr. Charles Levkoe, Lakehead University; and Melana Roberts, FoodSecure Canada.This episode was produced by Diana Lu, Jessica Pan, and Natasha Laponce 

Food for thought: Food insecurity in the context of covid-19

The twin economic and health crises have rollbacked gender equality in Canada and around the world. Women, particularly those with children, as well as those who are racialized, and/or low-income have come to bear the brunt of the global pandemic and recession. Today we have incredibly knowledgeable and distinguished experts to help us understand these issues. Ariane Hegewisch is the Program Director of Employment and Earnings at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and a Scholar in Residence at American University. Dr. Marina Adshade is Assistant Professor of Teaching at the Vancouver School of Economics.Dr. Sarah Kaplan is Director, Institute for Gender and the Economy,  Distinguished Professor of Gender & the Economy and Professor of Strategic Management at Rotman.Katherine Goldstein is an award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur. Katherine is the creator and host of the podcast The Double Shift. Produced by Mycala Gill, Chayce Perkins, and Erin Christensen 

The She-cession

Beyond the Headlines is a weekly current affairs show that aims to make public policy discussions more accessible to you. We take you beyond the headlines of our daily news, bringing you access to current leaders through in-depth interviews.

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Beyond the Headlines

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