Policy and Rights

British Columbia Budget Announcement 2023

Budget 2023 invests in improving health and mental-health care, creating more affordable housing, growing a clean economy and delivering more help with costs – especially for families and British Columbians most affected by global inflation. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

One Year of Fighting in Ukraine a Rally in Ontario Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Defence Minister Anita Anand, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are among those taking part in a vigil in Toronto marking the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched its full-scale military operation on February 24, 2022. The vigil in Toronto is one of several being held across the country to mark the sombre anniversary Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Update on Ukraine and Healthcare

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He faces questions on issues including calls to close the Roxham Road unofficial border crossing in Quebec and alleged foreign interference in Canadian federal elections. (February 22, 2023) Canada's foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly delivers remarks in New York as she takes part in a United Nations conference on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The event is taking place ahead of the one-year anniversary...

Joe Biden in Warsaw

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a speech in Poland ahead of the one-year mark of the invasion of Ukraine and vowed that Americans would continue to counter Russian aggression. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Putin Suspending Nuclear Arms Agreement

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday vowed to continue with Russia's year-long war in Ukraine and accused the US-led NATO alliance of fanning the flames of the conflict in the mistaken belief that it could defeat Moscow in a global confrontation. Flanked by four Russian tricolour flags, Putin told Russia's political and military elite that Russia would "carefully and consistently resolve the tasks facing us." Putin said Russia had done everything it could to avoid war, but that Western-backed ...

WHO Press Conference February 15 2023 Disease Outbreaks

As of 1 February 2023, at least 18 countries continue to report cholera cases (Table 1 A & B). As according to the seasonality patterns large parts of the world are in currently in low or interepidemic transmission period this number could increase in the months to come. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

World Government Summit 2023 Feb 13

Dr. Casagranda is a Professor of Government at Austin Community College, where he teaches political science. He also focuses on public engagement - giving dozens of news interviews and speeches and writing opinion pieces on US and Middle East politics and history. He also runs the Austin School Lecture Series, which has over 3.75 million YouTube. David McCandless is a London-based author, data-journalist and information designer, working across print, advertising, TV and web. His blog and be...

WHO Press Conference Plan to Help Earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

A flight is scheduled to reach Damascus tonight with specialised emergency health supplies, which are vital for frontline workers as they manage casualties. In addition, we are supporting surge capacity of frontline specialised medical teams. On the morning of the earthquake, WHO immediately accessed its pre-positioned supplies in the northwest and Aleppo, making treatment of major injuries immediately possible. After checking on the welfare of their own families, our staff immediately wen...

Trudeau on Federal Funding for Healthcare

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference in Ottawa at the conclusion of his meeting with Canada's premiers aimed at reaching a federal-provincial agreement on health-care funding. The federal government has offered an increase of $196.1 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding. Ministers Chrystia Freeland (finance), Jean-Yves Duclos (health) and Carolyn Bennett (mental health and addictions) also speak with reporters. Become a supporter of this podcast: http...

WHO Press Conference on Global Health Feb 8 2023 final

almost 8,000 people have died, many thousands more are injured and we know these numbers will climb. With the weather conditions and ongoing aftershocks, we’re in a race against time to save lives. People need shelter, food, clean water and medical care, for injuries resulting from the earthquake, but also for other health needs. WHO has released US$3 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies for the response in both countries. WHO is providing medical supplies, supporting bot...

United Nation Syria and Russia Response to Report on Chemical Weapon used in Syria

Press briefing by Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, Permanent Representative of Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

BC Throne Speech

The Honourable Janet Austin, OBC, Lieutenant Governor will open the fourth session of the 42nd Parliament of British Columbia and read the speech from the throne. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Canada Healthcare and Corporate Corruption

On Parliament Hill, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh renews his call for increased federal investments in the health-care system, with a particular focus on the hiring of more front-line medical workers. The news conference comes ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting on health care with Canada's premiers on February 7. Singh is joined by JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Angela Preocanin, first vice-president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, and Mich...

Equality Inflation and Social Phobias

Yves-François Blanchet, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, and Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s first special representative on combatting Islamophobia, give brief remarks ahead of their meeting in Ottawa. She apologizes for her past comments about Quebec's secularism law and Islamophobia in the province. Elghawaby has faced calls for her resignation due to her comments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced her appointment on January 26, 2023 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreak...

UN Press Update February 1 2023

Good afternoon, everyone; nice to see so many faces. So, on Afghanistan, this morning, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, briefed Members on the humanitarian situation in the country — and on his recent visit to the country — as part of an Inter-Agency Standing Committee mission. Mr. Griffiths said that they told the de facto authorities that a 24 December 2022 edict barring women from working for national and international NGOs [non-governmental organizat...

British Columbia Decriminalizing Street Drugs

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroner’s Service’s year-end report: “The toxic-drug crisis continues to devastate our province. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Protect British Columbia Natural Resources Final

Located in the remote wilderness southeast of Revelstoke, the new Incomappleux Conservancy spans more than 58,000 hectares and is part of B.C.’s rare inland temperate rainforest where some old-growth cedar and hemlock trees are estimated to be four metres (13 feet) in diameter and more than 1,000 years old. The forest supports more than 250 lichen species, including some that are new to science, and provides habitat for grizzly and black bears, as well as a variety of endangered fungal and pl...

Homedepot and Email Reciepts

As you know, this week is Data Privacy Week, and today we have released the results of our investigation into Home Depot Canada’s sharing of customer information with Meta Platforms, which operates Facebook. Our key finding, and an important reminder for all organizations, is that when a customer chooses to receive an electronic receipt instead of a printed one, they are not consenting to have their personal information shared with third parties. Since at least 2018, Home Depot had been coll...

Fiscal Statements After Cabinet Retreat

Anil Arora (chief statistician of Canada, Statistic Canada), Kevin Milligan (professor of economics, University of British Columbia) and Carolyn Wilkins (senior research scholar, Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies, Princeton University) speak to reporters on the country’s economic situation after having briefed a meeting of the federal cabinet in Hamilton, Ontario. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

WHO Press Update on Health Emergencies January 24 2023

Since then, 43 countries have implemented best-practice policies for tackling trans fat, with some 2.8 million people now protected, a nearly six-fold increase. However, the elimination goal currently remains unattainable. “Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. “By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat i...

UN Efforts and WHO Ban on Trans fat

Best-practices policies towards this goal follow specific criteria established by WHO and limit industrially produced trans fat in all settings. Alternatives include limiting trans fat to two grammes per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods, and mandatory national bans on the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils – a major source of trans fat – as an ingredient in foods. Currently, nine of the 16 countries with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths ca...

Minister Anand Armoured Vehicles to Aid Ukraine

It has almost been one year since the Russian Federation invaded the Ukrainian border. The attacks are unrelenting and are reported to be brutal in nature. the destruction of civilian sites and the blocking of humanitarian efforts are thought to be criminal. Minster Anita Anand is promising not only Canadian support to defend Ukraine but also states that Russia and Putin will be held accountable for what they have done. Defence Minister Anita Anand is visiting Kyiv, Ukraine, to reaffirm Cana...

100 Jobs for Crofton BC

“Our investment is the result of governments and business collaborating to innovate and create new, sustainable opportunities in forestry,” said Premier David Eby. “By working together we can find solutions to the pressing challenges faced by many forestry workers and communities.” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

The War on Drugs Podcast

This is for The War on Drugs, a podcast that exposes the absurdity and the real-world consequences of five decades of our failed war on drugs. Launches Jan 25 and is created by Lava for Good, the team behind the runaway hit true crime podcast, Bone Valley. From his skepticism about drug dogs to the absurdity of marijuana being criminalized, award-winning comedian Clayton English has been tackling the war on his drugs in his act for years: “Who EVER died from a weed overdose? When have the...

Cenorship of Doctors Right or Wrong

Justin Trudeau one year after freedom convoy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes questions from reporters in Windsor, Ont., after touring the Stellantis automotive plant. He comments on the upcoming one-year anniversary of the “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa and criticizes Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s past support for the movement. He also addresses the recent murder of former Afghan lawmaker Mursal Nabizada, who Canadian politicians had been working to bring to Canada following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 202...

New Jobs Fund in British Columbia

In B.C., our economic advantage is our people,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “As our natural resource sector transitions, our government is investing in local economies to provide new opportunities that will create jobs and ensure long-lasting prosperity for people throughout our province Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

David Eby and Rental Supports in British Columbia

David Eby; Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing; Spencer Chandra Herbert, chair of the Rental Housing Task Force; and partners for an announcement about new actions to protect rental housing in BC. Under the Homeowner Protection Act, all new homes in the province are required to be registered with BC Housing. The registration must occur prior to the issuance of building permits or prior to construction commencing in geographical areas where building permits are not required. The B.C. government i...

WHO press Conference on Health Emergencies

Today marks the end of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, four months after the first cases were reported. I congratulate the government, the people of Uganda and health workers, some of whom lost their lives, for their leadership and dedication in bringing this outbreak to an end. And we thank donors and partners for swiftly mobilizing resources, and vaccine developers for making candidate vaccines available in record time. Even in the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics for this type...

Better Supports for Internationally Trained Nurses in BC

The Province is making it easier for internationally educated nurses to work in B.C.’s health-care system with new financial supports and a faster, more efficient assessment pathway. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) will no longer be required to pay application and assessment fees upfront, which cost more than $3,700. These fees will be covered directly by the Province in order to remove financial barriers for internationally educated workers who want to work in B.C. Become a supporte...

Jagameet Singh and Corporate greed

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discusses recent reports of the disparity between CEO and worker compensation reaching an all-time high. He responds to questions from reporters on the delays and cancellations experienced by Canadians over the holidays as well as the new federal government requirement that air travellers from China test negative for COVID-19 before entering the country. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

UN Security Council President for January 2023

**Ukraine Good afternoon and Happy New Year, everyone. From Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that attacks intensified during the New Year holiday, causing multiple civilian casualties, including among children and journalists, in several parts of the country. Ukrainian authorities reported more than 50 civilian casualties on 31 December 2022 alone. In the capital, Kyiv, a hotel, residential homes and several education facilities, including a university, were damaged in the lat...

WHO press conference on China and Global Health Jan 4 2023

WHO is concerned about the risk to life in China and has reiterated the importance of vaccination, including booster doses, to protect against hospitalization, severe disease, and death. This is especially important for older people, those with underlying medical conditions, and others who are at higher risk of severe outcomes. With circulation in China so high and comprehensive data not forthcoming – as I said last week it is understandable that some countries are taking steps they believ...

The Innocence Project and Jason Flom

Here's a bit of bullet point background on the two shows as you listen. - Jason started the Lava for Good podcast network using his connections in the music industry after starting Lava for Good records to help give a voice to the voiceless. His first season was him deeply diving into cases. - Wrongful Conviction launched a second series because there were just too many cases and he felt Maggie's journalism and passion would help dive deeper into cases she was passionate about too, her season...

UN and WHO Action Toward Clean Drinking Water

Clean drinking water is one of the essentials to a healthy life. Just by cleaning a certain level of bacteria and dirt from the water we drink we can eliminate many illnesses from our society. While water is easy to share human being fight over water rights and hoard clean water to the richest. The UN initiative is about gets standards set and insuring countries can meet target for clean water. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/su...

United Nations on Various Global Issues

Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Good afternoon, everyone. **Secretary-General’s Travels I have travel to announce. Tomorrow morning, the Secretary-General will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of the United States Senate. He accepted an invitation by Senator Patrick Leahy, President pro tempore of the Senat...

Christia Freeland on Toronto Transit

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland holds a news conference in Toronto to announce to joint funding of up to $1.5 billion for the expansion and rehabilitation of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)'s Bloor-Yonge Subway Station. The federal government is investing up to $500 million for the project. Minister Freeland is joined by federal Infrastructure and Communities Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, Toronto Mayor John Tory, and TTC Board chair Jon B...

David Eby on Cabinet Choses

Premier David Eby has announced a new cabinet made of experience and new energy that will focus on tackling the problems people are facing, and working to make life better for British Columbians. “British Columbia is a wonderful place to live, but people are looking for action on the issues facing them and their families,” Premier Eby said. “If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we can't solve these problems alone. We need to solve them together. My team of determined colleagues will...

AFN National Chief Making a Statement

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald delivers opening remarks as the group holds its three-day special assembly of chiefs in Ottawa from December 6 to 8. She references the continuing turmoil at the AFN and announces that Murray Sinclair, the former senator who served as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, will be assisting with conflict resolution and mediation. He will begin his work with the organization in early 2023. The AFN's executive committee and ...

UN Security Council on Ukraine

The Security Council speaking about the Russian Federation seeking and destroying civilian sites in an attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian Goverment Speaking in the capital, Kyiv, after an official four-day visit to the country, Volker Türk said that the scale of the damage and destruction that he had seen in Izium was “shocking”. In Bucha, north of Kyiv, where scenes showing civilians lying dead in the street sparked international outrage soon after the departure from the area of Ru...

BC Public Health on the Flu Seasonand other Respitatory Viruses

Public-health officials are encouraging families and caregivers to get their kids vaccinated against influenza in advance of the holidays. There are several respiratory viruses causing illness in B.C. Some children have had more severe illness in the past few weeks, particularly from influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Many children have not been exposed to influenza and other respiratory illnesses following two years of low influenza rates due to COVID-19 public-health prevent...

UN on Afghanistan and othe Global Issues final

“In recent months, violations of women and girls’ fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, already the most severe and unacceptable in the world, have sharply increased”, they said. In a statement pushing back on the Taliban’s violations, the Special Rapporteurs argued that gender persecution is a crime against humanity, which can be prosecuted under international law. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

BC Government and First Nation Gather for Important Conversations final

Regional Chief Terry Teegee, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations —“While the critical work to implement and bring to life the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has advanced since 2019, the B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering (FNLG) is committed to flagging urgent issues and opportunities. As First Nations’ priorities, rights and title are addressed, the foundation of good governance is reinforced. FNLG 2022, with the opportunity for leaders to meet in...

British Columbia is Hunting for More Doctors

Premier David Eby and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, for an announcement about recruiting more doctors in British Columbia. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Climate Change with Marc Cortez What happened at COP27

We are talking to Marc Cortez about what happened COP27 and is the International Climate Conference System really help or are they just adding to the problem... Is there a problem? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Prime Minister Trudeau Testifies on His use of the Emergency Act

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Friday before the Public Order Emergencies Commission (POEC) about the invocation of the Emergencies Act in response to the "Freedom Convoy" back in Feb. 2022, and said that the act was "in the back of our minds" early on during the protests but it was only "seriously" considered later on. He went on to say that during a meeting with the Incident Response Group the night before the act was invoked, there had been "consensus" around the table. He said t...

New Actions to tackle Housing Problems

The Province is making changes to help keep British Columbians safe, launching a new Safer Communities Action Plan with immediate steps that will strengthen enforcement to keep those who commit repeat violent offences off our streets, and strengthen services to build safe, healthy communities for everyone. The new measures respond to a rise in repeat violent offending linked to unintended impacts of federal law changes and subsequent Supreme Court decisions, and increased mental-health and a...

David Eby with Rules to make a Safer BC final

The Province is making changes to help keep British Columbians safe, launching a new Safer Communities Action Plan with immediate steps that will strengthen enforcement to keep those who commit repeat violent offences off our streets, and strengthen services to build safe, healthy communities for everyone. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

8 billion People on Planet Earth

Our guests today will be Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, along with Ib Petersen, the Deputy Director for Management at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. They will brief you on the Day of 8 Billion. According to the World Population Prospects 2022, the world...

Auditor General on Homeless and Indigenous Emergeny Services

Auditor General Karen Hogan speaks with reporters in Ottawa following the tabling of her latest reports to the House of Commons. Her office's four performance audit reports looks at chronic homelessness, Arctic waters surveillance, the cybersecurity of Canadians' personal information in the cloud, and emergency management in First Nations communities. She also discusses the results of the special examinations of the following three Crown corporations: Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc...