- Canada's fertility rate is at an all-time low. What should we do about it?
Tuesday, February 6th 2024
In much of the world, fertility rates are falling—but very few countries have seen theirs fall as far and as fast as Canada. With just 1.33 children per woman, we're not close to a stable level, meaning that without immigration Canada's population will decline.
Why aren't Canadians having more kids? Do we need to? How did fertility rate become such a polarizing statistic? And if we did want Canadians to have more children, what could we do?
GUEST: Don Kerr, Demographer, Kings University College at Western University; formerly Statistics Canada
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- What you're not hearing when you hear about Gaza
Monday, February 5th 2024
Since October 7, there has been no shortage of reporting about Israel's invasion of Gaza. And the death toll keeps climbing. But what has been rare are firsthand accounts of daily life in the region. Today, our guests describes being in Gaza on October 7, the days that followed, as well as what's missing from the mainstream reporting and why.
GUEST: Louis Baudoin-Laarman, Doctors Without Borders Communications Manager for Palestine
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- A Health Emergency?! In This Economy?!
Saturday, February 3rd 2024
Lynda has a dental emergency and is struggling to cover the cost of treatment.
Jordan speaks with Dr. Carlos Quiñonez to figure out how Canadians can get the dental care they need right now.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- Cats: Cuddly fluff balls or world's worst invasive species?
Friday, February 2nd 2024
A study published in December offered science's most complete look at what domestic cats around the globe hunt and consume. The short answer? Absolutely everything, with no regard for any prey's place on endangered species lists. Some of the species found in cats' diets over the past few decades are now extinct, as outdoor domestic cats have spread to every place on earth save for Antartica.
We've long been told to keep cats indoors to save the lives of thousands of birds. But what if they need to be kept indoors to save the lives of ecosystems themselves? What if cats—yes, like the small, purring cutie on your couch right now—were the worst invasive species the world has known? And what if we were their willing accomplices?
GUEST: Christopher Lepczyk, ecologist and professor at Auburn University in Alabama; lead author of "A global synthesis and assessment of free-ranging domestic cat diet"
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- Are we hurting our kids by protecting them too much?
Thursday, February 1st 2024
Recently, in an effort to keep children from hurting themselves, the City of Toronto banned tobogganing at 45 parks it deemed too risky for kids. This is the latest example, but it's not a one-off. For decades now, parents, schools and governments have taken action on all sorts of things, to make things safer for kids. But is it really helping them?
New research shows that "risky play" is part of the building blocks of childhood, and teaches children how to process and redirect feelings like fear and anxiety into healthier places. As we've worked to make things "as safe as possible" for kids, have we been denying them the tools they need to handle adult life when they grow up?
GUEST: Dr. Marianna Brussoni, Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership; professor at the University of British Columbia; leader of the Play Outside UBC Lab
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
