Uncommons with Nate Erskine-Smith

A recent military report has highlighted the deplorable state of private nursing homes in Ontario, a scandal that experts and families have drawn attention to for years. It is hard to understand, impossible to accept, and Pat Armstrong has solutions. She's a distinguished research professor and sociologist at York University, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has researched and published for decades on the issue of seniors care. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Maria Ressa is a highly-regarded journalist and author in the Philippines. As an outspoken critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte she was arrested on multiple occasions for critical reporting on the government. Maria is one of the journalists included in the Time's Person of the Year 2018, and in 2019, she received a Tribute honour from the Canadian Journalism Foundation for "her powerful defence of truth in the face of daunting obstacles, including threats to her life”. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Dr. Michael Warner is the Director of Critical Care at Michael Garron Hospital, working on the frontline to treat patients with COVID-19. He speaks to Nate about how we are falling short in necessary efforts to test and trace, and the need for more serious action to save lives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Adam van Koeverden won four Olympic medals for Canada as a paddler, including a gold medal in 2004, and he's been Canada's flag bearer in both opening and closing Olympic ceremonies. He's now the Liberal MP for Milton, and speaks to Nate about how and why he made the move from paddling to Parliament, and the important work of Conquer COVID-19 (www.conquercovid19.ca).  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Ken Price and Claire Smith’s daughter is a victim and survivor of the Danforth shooting. They talk to Nate about their journey as gun control advocates with the Danforth Families for Safe Communities (danforthfamilies.com), their views on recent government action to ban assault rifles, and what more they want to see. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

There has been an incredible amount of false information about the pandemic, both from the dark corners of the internet and from world leaders. Tim Caulfield is a Canadian professor who has devoted his career to debunking pseudoscience. He speaks with Nate about popular COVID-19 myths, his work to combat this "infodemic", and why Gwyneth Paltrow is still wrong about everything. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Our federal government has announced the immediate prohibition of 1,500 models and variants of assault rifles. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is leading these efforts. He speaks with Nate about why this policy has been put into place, how it's just a first step, and why we need a comprehensive approach to address gun violence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Can we become a more equal society post-pandemic? As the former head of the Elizabeth Fry Societies, Senator Kim Pate has worked in prison reform for decades. She speaks with Nathaniel about her current work to fix our prisons, why we should address systemic inequality as part of that reform, and why a basic income should be part of the solution. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

As provinces set plans to re-open our economy, are they prioritizing childcare? The economic fallout of COVID-19 has hit women the hardest and childcare is critical for young families to return to the labour force. Nate is joined by Brock U Professor Kate Bezanson to discuss how and why childcare should be placed at the centre of recovery efforts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

How can and should we regulate big tech platforms, from Facebook to Google? Our online lives are largely filtered through a small number of these companies and we need new laws to protect the public interest. Nathaniel is joined by Professor Taylor Owen, McGill University’s Chair in Media, Ethics and Communications, to discuss the issue of platform governance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca