Things That Matter

All eyes are on the pandemic, and our governments have invested untold resources to battle it. But what about health and fitness beyond the COVID horizon? Canadians have long suffered from another pandemic - inactivity. Less than 10% of Canadians get the basic amount of physical activity they need. Obesity is on the rise, along with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental illness. This crisis impacts people’s physical, mental, and spiritual health and the national economy. Inactivity generates over $7 billion annually in “sickness care” costs. The outdoor recreation industry in Canada may represent between 1.2% and 10% of GDP. Meet two of Canada’s leading experts in their fields: Dr. Silke Cresswell and Dr. Darren Warburton.

Canadians tend to think we live in a safe place, with “peace, order and good government” at the core of our Constitution. But our citizens have been nabbed abroad as part of a new phenomenon, “hostage diplomacy”. News swirls that foreign governments and business interests interfere directly with our democratic processes. Cyber security experts tell us constantly to change our digital passwords. The new “stand on guard” means maintaining a high standard of “digital hygiene” to protect our bank and social media accounts. Meet our guest panelists, three of Canada’s leaders in maintaining security for our people, at home and abroad: Cal Chrustie, former RCMP Senior Operations Officer for Transnational Organized Crime; Robert Young, former Head of CSIS for BC; and Stephen Day, Commanding Officer of Canada’s elite Special Forces Unit JTF2.

The area John represented in the House of Commons - West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country is by nature one of the most spectacular places in Canada’s beautiful, westernmost province. Residents take pride in our environment, just as we prize our fish and our fisheries. An environmental treasure or an economic engine? Are these terms mutually exclusive or powerfully reinforcing? Look forward to tackling these issues with panelists David Bromley, a renowned environmental engineer and author, and others to be named.

Canadians have traditionally thought globally and acted locally. We take pride in how we stick up for one another and look out for our neighbour, whoever she or he may be. Meanwhile, in an era of spiralling uncertainty, we wield diminishing influence on things that occur around us. How do tensions in the Taiwan Straits influence security at home? How will our international trade agreements help us rebuild our post-COVID economy? What new alliances should we be pursuing? Where has Canada lost the most ground in foreign affairs in recent years, and what can we do to recoup? These are the questions to be tackled by our esteemed panellists, the Honourable Michael Chong, Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic, and Jonathan Manthorpe, Author and International Affairs Columnist.

Here’s Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole discussing the Liberal Government’s temptation to tax gains on principal residences and other matters, in my interview of him last week in our “Things That Matter” series. Thanks for tuning in!

 An unanticipated pandemic has devastated Canada’s economy, triggering enormous deficits and a gaping debt. Some of these consequences were unavoidable but how does our economic response compare to other countries? In a global economy, where will investment dollars end up post-COVID? How should you invest your money in such a volatile economy? How do you create job security? Our panelists will tackle these questions and more. Meet Conservative Finance Critic the Honourable Ed Fast, and top investment advisors and economic commentator Ian Mellor.

Canadians strive to be the world’s best in many sectors - science, environmental stewardship, sport, engineering, music and the arts - the list goes on. Embedded in our Constitution and national DNA is a sense of equality of opportunity. Are these competing interests? Can we promote Reconciliation between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians, empower disadvantaged people, and still aim to be the best in the world at the things we do? Work through these questions with our panelists, leaders who have spent their lives wrestling with these questions: Ellis Ross, MLA (Skeena), former Haisla Nation Chief Councillor and former Minister of Natural Gas Development; Joanna Baron, Executive Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation; and Dr. Mark Milke, Public Policy Analyst, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Columnist.