CANADALAND

The scandals of Doug Ford and Danielle Smith continue to make headlines, but it appears to have little impact on them politically.

Now, Ford is changing the rules around Freedom of Information to make it harder to hold him accountable. Smith has also been criticized for her government’s approach to information requests. This clawback on the access of information is a trend in other governments across the country.

How does the public and the media demand accountability when politicians dominate the messaging through their own channels and limit the availability of information?

Host: San Grewal
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Max Fawcett


Further reading:
Ford government moves to make all premier, minister records secret | Globalnews.ca
Investigation finds Alberta government broke its own freedom of information rules | CBC News
Canadians say business and political corruption is common, but few trust government to address issue - Angus Reid
Library and Archives planning deep cuts to access to information team, document shows - The Globe and Mail
A non-partisan, equal-opportunity scandal | Canada's National Observer: Climate News
Report into Alberta Health Services contracts finds conflicts widely known | Globalnews.ca
Naheed Nenshi needs to step up — or step down - Canada’s National Observer
The inconvenient truth about the carbon tax and food prices | Toronto Sun
Roadsalt overuse is choking Peel’s water — a salt-loving plant could be the solution | The Pointer

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Gas prices are back in the news as the Iran War disrupts global oil supply. Columnists are weighing in on what it all means for Canada’s energy future. With Carney’s commitment to making Canada an energy superpower, do we barrel forward with increased oil production or renew our commitment to renewables?

Max Fawcett of Canada’s National Observer joins San Grewal to drill beneath the headlines.

Host: San Grewal
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Max Fawcett


Further reading:
What energy transition? The Middle East war shows the world still runs on oil - The Globe and Mail
Oil prices are soaring on Iran crisis. Why aren’t clean energy stocks? | Canada's National Observer: Climate News
Why the Iran war is bad for clean energy - E&E News by POLITICO
Could the Iran war energy shock accelerate the transition to renewables? | Canada's National Observer
How War in Iran Could Remake the Global Energy Landscape - New York Times
Some leaders see powerful argument for renewable energy as Iran war shakes markets | PBS News
The method to Mark Carney’s madness | Canada's National Observer: Climate News
Canada expected to see zero population growth this year: report - CTV News
Loved ones seek answers after 22-year-old student dies while donating plasma at for-profit site in Winnipeg - Globe and Mail

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Investigative reporters have uncovered a network of these crypto-to-cash desks operating across Canada. And some of the transactions moving through them appear linked to crypto wallets allegedly associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

So how could money tied to a sanctioned regime end up moving through Toronto?

Host Noor Azrieh speaks with reporters behind the global investigation, The Coin Laundry, and with financial-crime experts about how Iran and other sanctioned actors use cryptocurrency to move money around the world.

Then we zoom out. As the US-Israeli war in Iran escalates, Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz joins us to explain what Canada is actually doing about it.

CORRECTION: This episode incorrectly identified Toronto Star journalist Sheila Wang as Sheila Edwards. We regret the error.

Host: Noor Azrieh
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Spencer Woodman, Richard Sanders, Jessica Davis

Background reading:
Suspicious transactions at GTA crypto shops reveal alleged links to Iran-backed terror groups. Is the regulator doing enough to police them? – Toronto Star
From Dubai to Toronto, inside the crypto-to-cash storefronts fueling money laundering’s new frontier – International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
Inside Canada’s shadowy crypto banking system that makes it easy to facilitate ‘an unlimited amount of crime’ – Toronto Star
Iran’s Crypto Sector Was a Lifeline Through Sanctions. War Could Shut It Down – WIRED Middle East
2 charged in killing of former SFU instructor who was outspoken Iran critic – CTV News
Police call shooting at U.S. consulate in Toronto 'national security incident,' seek 2 suspects – CBC News
MPs demand answers about failure to deport and name Iranian regime officials – The Globe and Mail

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Anthony Duncan turned his chatbot into his therapist. That was the start of a journey that ended in the psych ward. How did Anthony’s bot go from helping him write emails to egging on the wildest, and darkest, of his delusions?

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: Julian Abraham (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by Caleb Thompson
Additional music by Audio Network, Julian Abraham, and Anthony Cesar Duncan
Photo: Courtesy of Anthony Cesar Duncan

More information:

https://www.instagram.com/anthonypsychosissurvivor/
https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~duvenaud/

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Former CBC host Travis Dhanraj promised to “pull the curtain back” and reveal what is really happening inside the CBC. On Tuesday, he testified in parliament that he experienced bias, tokenism, and bullying at the public broadcaster.

Conservative voices are calling his testimony “explosive” and “shocking,” while others consider his concerns “pedestrian” and “absurd.”

What does Dhanraj’s whistleblowing tell us about the situation inside the CBC?

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Travis Dhanraj


Further reading:
Former CBC journalist Travis Dhanraj accuses broadcaster of 'tokenism' [YouTube]
Former CBC News host Travis Dhanraj says he was 'pulled off the air' for fighting against bias - CBC News
Former CBC host Travis Dhanraj tells MPs of internal conflict over sources and political bias - Toronto Star
Terry Newman: Finally, proof of what we've known all along — CBC is biased against conservatives - National Post
Jewish leaders demand action after 3 Toronto synagogue shootings in a week | Globalnews.ca
Can't Be Censored - YouTube

Sponsors:

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.

Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
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