The Decibel

Kate Helmore, The Globe and Mail reporter who covers agriculture and food policy, walks through Saskatchewan’s massive potash project. She outlines what potash does for crops. She describes the scale of BHP’s $18B Janssen mine, export and rail risks, regulatory navigation, Indigenous and environmental engagement, and what this means for Canada’s economic leverage.

Catherine Blaisbaum, investigative journalist and author who chronicled her own infertility journey, talks about navigating Canada’s booming fertility industry. She discusses rising infertility rates, the costs and emotional toll of IVF and surrogacy, provincial funding gaps, clinic transparency, and the surprising realities of matched surrogates and births.

André Picard, Globe and Mail health reporter and columnist specializing in health policy and regulation, unpacks B.C.’s sweeping overhaul of how health professionals are governed. He outlines consolidation of colleges, new disciplinary tribunals, rules on misinformation and anti-racism measures. He also discusses public trust, controversial cases that drove reform, and mixed reactions from health professionals.

Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian astronaut headed to Artemis II, reflects on training, risks, cultural honours and scientific goals. Maddie White, producer and narrator, and Ivan Semeniuk, science reporter, guide the story. They discuss how Canadian robotics earned a seat, sacred geological training, mission timelines and technical hurdles, and plans for trajectory, observations and biomedical experiments.

Robyn Urback, Globe and Mail columnist known for sharp takes on politics, and Campbell Clark, Globe chief political writer and federal politics expert, discuss Avi Lewis's NDP leadership win. They explore his roots and ideology. They debate his appeal to working-class voters, strategy to rebuild the party without a Commons seat, policy focus on cost of living and a Green New Deal, and tensions with provincial NDPs.

Meera Raman, a retirement and financial planning reporter at The Globe and Mail, explains Wealthsimple’s new approval to offer forecast contracts in Canada and the unique regulatory landscape. She walks through how prediction trading works, what types of markets may be allowed, and why regulators are cautious about consumer protection and gambling risks.

Canadian teens discuss how platforms like Roblox, Discord and short-form video shape friendships, identity and online communities. They talk about cyberbullying, misinformation and mental-health concerns tied to platform design. The group debates proposed age-based bans and suggests fixes like better reporting and moderation instead of simple prohibitions.

James Griffiths, Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail reporting on geopolitics and energy in Hong Kong. He explores Asia’s heavy reliance on Gulf oil and migrant labor. He examines why China’s ties to Iran have not translated into influence. He discusses economic shocks, risks to manufacturing and remittance-dependent countries.

Bill Curry, deputy Ottawa bureau chief at The Globe and Mail, breaks down the federal plan to find $60 billion in savings. He walks through expected job cuts, which departments and programs may be hit, and how buyouts and reporting practices shape the rollout. He also highlights specific impacts on institutions like Library and Archives and on public transit funding.

Kate Helmore, Globe and Mail reporter on agriculture and food manufacturing, and Susan Krashinsky Robertson, Globe retailing reporter expert on grocers and shelf strategy, discuss Canadian origin labels, the 98% rule and gray zones in labeling. They talk about the surge in origin complaints, how retailers handle shelf space and promotion, and the debate over fines versus encouraging Canadian products.