- A family violence case set a legal precedent. Can it help save lives?
Monday, March 21st 2022
Guest: Alyshah Hasham, courts reporter
A recent court ruling in Brampton, where a Superior Court judge ordered a man to pay his ex-wife $150,000 in damages for a 16-year pattern of abuse, might change how courts look at domestic violence. In considering such cases "often go beyond assault and battery to include complicated and prolonged psychological and financial abuse," experts say there is a new pathway for survivors to seek fair compensation in the civil courts. The Star's courts reporter Alyshah Hasham explains.
- Hang up that phone! Robocalls, spoofing and phone-related fraud
Friday, March 18th 2022
Guest: Katie Daubs, feature writer
Many of us have gotten that call from someone saying they are returning your call even though you never dialed their number. Then there are calls about owing money to the Canada Revenue Agency or border security. It’s something the scam operators do that’s called spoofing, which along with robocalling technology and humans armed with scam scripts are all part of the process of trying to trick people into giving up banking information or other personal data. This kind of phone fraud is a huge problem, and while both authorities and telecommunications companies are trying to tackle it, people still need to be careful, and most importantly, know when to hang up.
- New highways need gravel from GTA quarries. Residents are fighting back
Thursday, March 17th 2022
Guest: Noor Javed, reporter for The Star who focuses on municipal politics and affairs in the 905 region.
As Premier Doug Ford pushes ahead with two major highway projects, how those roadways actually get built is a not-often considered process. Unless, of course, you happen to live next to one of the open-pit mines needed for the gravel to build them. Those residents and environmental activists say there are serious concerns with the growing number of mines across the GTA and a lack of regulations to stop them.
- A foodie’s guide to pandemic dining
Wednesday, March 16th 2022
Guest: Karon Liu, food reporter
Two years of a pandemic have changed the hospitality industry, including the way we look at labour, essential workers, the way we eat and our relationship with food. The Star’s food reporter Karon Liu and food writer Suresh Doss have kept us updated by sharing the best of what the city has to offer our taste buds from a hidden food court at the back of a flea market to a delicious new pierogi spot in an old church basement. Liu joins “This Matters” to discuss the latest pandemic food trends.
- Ontario’s Tiger King and the lack of rules around animals and zoos
Tuesday, March 15th 2022
Guest: Grant LaFleche, investigative reporter
Ontario is the wild west when it comes to regulations for ownership of exotic animals and the running of zoos and other animal exhibitions. This has led to some people opening roadside zoos in rural communities, leaving local governments dealing with all kind of problems including attacks and bites. There is also consideration for the animals, as there are no real requirements for a standard of care or for the owner to have proper animal handling certification. This has led to some gruesome outcomes. Grant LaFleche, an investigative reporter at the St. Catharines Standard and member of The Star's investigations team, joins “This Matters” to talk about Ontario’s Tiger King and an exotic animal’s grisly death.
