This Is Why

With Canada in the grips of the third wave of the pandemic, seemingly fueled by growth of COVID-19 variants, the calls for more provincial governments to adopt a "Covid Zero"  On this episode of This Is Why, we find out why scientists think the only successful COVID-19 strategy is to have no COVID. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Lauren Vogel, news editor at the Canadian Medical Association Journal Dr. Malgorzata Gasperovich, developmental biologist at the University of Calgary Episode Resources: Zero Covid Canada's letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

With climate change continuing almost unabated, more and more places around the world are seeing the effects. But one corner of Canada that has a unique confluence of habitats, wildlife, civilization and tourism has a front seat to the effects of global warming. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out how climate change is affecting Churchill, MB, and what the people of Churchill are doing in response. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Sarah Lawrynuik, Winnipeg Free Press climate change reporter Episode Resources: "Bearing North" series in the Winnipeg Free Press

More than a year has passed since the coronavirus pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. For some, it's felt like COVID-19 arrived yesterday. For others, it's felt like an eternity. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out why crises play with our sense of time and why a prolonged crisis like a pandemic has different effects. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Peter Graf, professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at UBC

A passport is a way to see the world beyond your country's borders, and a vaccine passport is seen by some as a way to travel freely during the coronavirus pandemic. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out why vaccine passports are an ethical minefield for countries and companies alike. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Francoise Baylis, university research professor at Dalhousie University

Canada faces a real conundrum in its post-pandemic recovery -- our population is set to shrink without outside help. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out why increased immigration will be increasingly important in the years following the coronavirus pandemic. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Adwoa Buahene, CEO of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council

A symbol connected to white nationalist and white supremacist movements has made its way into two back-to-back anti-lockdown protests in two Canadian cities. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out why mobs carrying torches is a sign of intimidation with racist overtones. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Irfan Chaudry, director of the Office of Human Rights Diversity and Equity at MacEwan University

With public health orders mandating everyone shelter in place, more and more Canadians have been looking at their shelters in a new light. And that's caused a run in real estate markets across the country. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out what surprising real estate trends emerged during the pandemic and why. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Rachelle Younglai, real estate reporter, The Globe and Mail

Vaccines for the novel coronavirus are being rolled out around the world, addressing the most vulnerable members of society first. But the risk they pose to pregnant and lactating women is currently unknown.  On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about why the study of vaccines on pregnant women has largely been unaddressed and how that is changing. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Carleigh Krubiner, policy fellow at the Center for Global Development and I'm also associate faculty at the Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

With vaccines for the novel coronavirus viewed as the gateway for a "return to normal," some countries are putting themselves ahead of others, hoping to get back to normal faster.  On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about the phenomenon known as "vaccine nationalism" and how it is affecting Canada and Canadians. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Joel Lexchin, professor emeritus from the School of Health Policy and Management at York University

More and more car manufacturers are pledging to have their fleets turn electric in as little as a decade. And those changes will affect more than just the new car lot. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about how electrification of automobiles will affect other industries in Canada, and what the country can do to not be left behind. Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guest: Markham Hislop, energy and climate journalist, publisher of Energi Media

A change to a 45-year-old coal policy in a province known for resource extraction has people from all walks of life up in arms. And the people are saying the government has gone too far. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about the changes to the 1976 coal policy and the people affected by the change. Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Jill Croteau, senior reporter, Global Calgary Episode resources: Mining For The Truth series by Jill Croteau "Southern Alberta ranchers weigh in on coal mining after Corb Lund, Paul Brandt speak out" on GlobalNews.ca "Alberta’s UCP caucus says it launched campaign to inform people about coal" on GlobalNews.ca "Alberta cancels recently issued coal leases in response to public outcry" on GlobalNews.ca "Calgary’s water likely safe following coal policy changes, High River area a concern" on GlobalNews.ca

The coronavirus pandemic has hit all of Canada but one group has been hit especially hard -- senior citizens. And through all of the waves of the pandemic, long-term and assisted living homes have been sites of outbreaks, resulting in deaths. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about the system weaknesses in the long-term care system, how they were exploited by COVID-19, and what can be done to fix the system. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Carol Estabrooks, scientific director of the Translating Research and Elder Care Program and professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta

New variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been discovered around the world, and present new and different threats to public health. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about the new variants and what could be done about them. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Frank Van Der Meer, associate professor of virology at the University of Calgary Dr. Matthew S. Miller, associate professor in the Michael DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University

With a new president entering the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2021, a new era can begin in relations between the two countries who share the world's longest undefended border: Canada and the United States. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about why the change from President Trump to President Biden will impact Canada. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Melissa Haussman, professor of political science at Carleton Bruce Heyman, former US Ambassador to Canada

While the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the climate change crisis continues to march on as another threat to the health of people worldwide. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about why climate change will affect the health of Canadians while also affecting climate. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Claudel Petrin-Desrosiers and Dr. Finola Hackett, authors of Lancet Countdown Policy Brief: Canada in 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on more than 15,000 families, taking their loved ones from this world. And COVID-19 has brought a topic to the forefront that isn't usually brought up in polite society: death. On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about why talking about death more can change a person's life. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Angela Fama, multidisciplinary artist in Vancouver and founder of the Death Conversation Game If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help. For a directory of support services in your area, visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Learn more about how to help someone in crisis here.

Staying at home has been one of the most powerful tools in preventing the spread of COVID-19 during this pandemic. But it has contributed to a parallel mental health pandemic. On this episode of This Is Why, we look at loneliness during the pandemic and what one can do to make it through tough times alone. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Heather MacIntosh, clinical psychologist and associate professor and director in the MScA in Couple and Family Therapy programme within the School of Social Work at McGill University

The coronavirus pandemic has brought up all sorts of emotions and feelings, as we all try to navigate this 'new normal.' But perhaps instead of asking 'Why is this happening?,' there are better questions to ask, like 'What can I control?' On this episode of This Is Why, we learn about an ancient philosophy and some of its modern implementation. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Dr. Ranjini George, University of Toronto instructor & practitioner of Stoicism Episode resources: Stoicism and the Good Life, the course Dr. George is presenting at the University of Toronto

The coronavirus pandemic has had millions of Canadians work from home for months. Offices in office buildings have largely sat dormant and downtowns are closer to ghost towns. But whether that is a temporary or a structural change is up for debate. On this episode of This Is Why, we find out what the future of work looks like post-pandemic. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: David Zweig, professor of organizational behaviour at the University of Toronto

One of the differences between the 1918 influenza pandemic and COVID-19 is that a majority of citizens have radios and computers they can fit in their pockets -- smartphones. And apps run on smartphones could be an important tool in the fight against the novel coronavirus. But two governments' approaches in Canada have led to very different results in apps that have been developed and how effective those apps are. On this episode of This Is Why, we look into the pair of contact tracing apps available in Canada. Contact: Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter Email us - thisiswhy@globalnews.ca Guests: Ziad Fazel, Calgary-based project manager