The Decibel

Adam Radwanski, policy columnist at The Globe and Mail who covers energy, climate and federal decisions, breaks down why the zero-emissions vehicle mandate was scrapped. He explains how auto credits worked and why demand and charging gaps mattered. He outlines the replacement measures like rebates and price caps, and contrasts the shift from strict rules to softer targets and incentives.

Jameson Burko, capital markets reporter who covers regulators, and Clare O'Hara, wealth management reporter focused on investment products, break down Ontario’s push to let everyday investors access private asset funds. They discuss the OSC’s capital-formation mandate, risks like illiquidity and complex fees, gating examples that can trap money, and why managers and government want retail capital.

Cahal Kelly, Globe and Mail sports columnist who has covered multiple Olympics, previews Milan-Cortina. He describes press-centre life and logistical hiccups. He digs into hockey’s outsized political and cultural weight and NHL participation. He outlines funding pressures, athlete costs and injury worries. He explains venue spread, multiple villages and how all this shapes Canada’s narrative at the Games.

Matthew Scase, a Globe and Mail reporter in Calgary, gives on-the-ground coverage of Alberta’s separatist movement. He shares interviews with movement leaders and supporters. The conversation covers rallies and signature drives, meeting claims with US officials, political reactions across Canada, and what supporters hope to gain from pushing for a referendum.

Dave McGinn, Globe and Mail education reporter who covers child care policy, walks through the Canada-wide $10-a-day plan. He explains missed space targets and which provinces are ahead. He explores why some operators avoid the program, the rise of for-profit care, staffing shortages, and how families are already saving money.

Thomas Juneau, a University of Ottawa professor focused on Iran and Yemen, offers concise analysis. He discusses U.S. demands and military moves near Iran. He covers Iran's likely calibrated responses and behind‑the‑scenes mediation by regional players. He outlines the tradeoffs of diplomacy versus strikes and what this means for Iranians on the ground.

Patrick White, a Globe and Mail water reporter, breaks down why Canada soaks its roads in salt and where it all goes. He talks about how salt melts ice, why some cities use far more, and the surprising places chloride shows up. Hear about damage to pipes, waterways, vegetation and costly infrastructure repairs, plus what alternatives and fixes are being considered.

Mike von Massow, a food economist and University of Guelph professor, breaks down why groceries keep getting pricier. He discusses rising costs for beef and coffee, how climate and weather shocks ripple through supply, the role of tariffs and shrinkflation, and why food reacts differently to policy. He also covers consumer shifts between proteins and practical ways households cope.

Andrea Woo, Globe and Mail health and drug policy reporter, offers a concise retrospective on B.C.’s decriminalization pilot. She outlines what the pilot aimed to fix and how it was framed. She discusses reported outcomes, policing and public disorder impacts, Indigenous leaders’ concerns about consultation, and what legal and program changes follow the program’s end.

Joe Friesen, Globe reporter who covered Minnesota’s ICE operations on the ground, describes life amid a heavy federal presence. He covers leadership changes, community resistance and confrontations, legal battles as Minnesota sues the federal government, and how those fights could set a national precedent.