The Big Story

With back to school mere days away, we thought it would be an opportune time to revisit this episode, which serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of underfunding and neglecting education.We hope you're having a restful long weekend, and that you enjoy revisiting this old favourite.Happy labour day!---------------ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES:After a fire forced their high school to close, the Toronto District School Board decided to relocate the roughly 900 students and teachers from York Memorial Collegiate Institute to the nearby George Harvey Collegiate Institute. But George Harvey wasn't equipped to absorb all those new kids, and students showed up in September to find a school that was over-crowded, under-staffed and unsafe for them and their teachers.The York Memorial fiasco isn't just a one-off, either. The school's struggles highlight systemic challenges across Canada's largest school board, namely staffing shortages, crumbling facilities and the lack of funding to properly address those issues. And the situation may only get worse as thousands of children lag behind socially and academically after the pandemic kept them home for nearly two years.At York Memorial, it took an outcry from students, teachers and staff to spark meaningful change. What will take to get those in power to give schools the money and resources they desperately need?GUEST: Danielle Groen, Toronto-based writer and editor, wrote about York Memorial for Toronto Life We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Quebec isn't the only province facing a teacher shortage, but it may be the most severe, with more than 8,000 educators missing from classrooms. Where did they go, and where are their replacements?In the meantime, the government has tried to get creative by lowering standards required to preside over a classroom. Sometimes to as low as "an adult." As shortages in general become more pronounced every year, what's happening to classrooms left without a teacher, or children learning from an under-qualified adult?GUEST: Toula Drimonis, writing for CultMTL.com  We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The podcast discusses the impact of climate change on tourism and the vulnerability of tourist destinations. It explores the consequences of climate-related disasters and the need for adaptation strategies. The effects of rising temperatures on tourist spots in Europe are also examined. The chapter concludes by exploring the challenges and opportunities in the tourism industry, including the rise of local tourism during COVID.

For a year now, various economic predictions have marked Canada down for a looming recession. With more economic data due on Friday, that's expected to show some positive signs, it doesn't look like we're getting what we were promised. And that's a good thing, right?Why have some experts said that Canada needs a recession? How have we managed to avoid this one, at least so far? If inflation keeps falling, will the Bank of Canada stop raising interest rates? What can you expect from Canada's rollercoaster of an economy this fall and beyond?GUEST: David Macdonald, senior economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ National Office We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Fallout from auditor general's report on Greenbelt scandal, criminal investigation, resignation, contradictory statements, ongoing investigation into ethical guidelines, tense press conference, potential developments in investigations

In 2015, three women were murdered in rural Ontario, by a former partner who had been stalking them. Last summer an inquest into the murders was held and came back with more than 80 recommendations. This month, the federal government joined Toronto and other municipalities in Canada in following one of them: Declaring intimate partner violence "an epidemic" in this country.Is this declaration meaningful? Just ask the advocates and activists who have been fighting for it, including today's guest. It's a massive step. But what comes next will truly define how seriously we're willing to take an escalating danger to women across the country...GUEST: Julie Lalonde, educator, advocate, expert on intimate partner violence (find Julie's resources on stalking and harassment here.) We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Exploring the potential impact of placing a cap on international students in Canada, the reasons why Canadian universities attract international students, and the relationship between increasing immigration targets and anti-immigrant sentiment amid the housing crisis. The government's plans to tackle housing affordability in Canada and their aim to regain support from younger voters.

There's always a question after tragedies like the December, 2022 shooting at a condo in Vaughan that left six people dead, including the shooter: "How did nobody see this coming?!"In this case, the killer had long held a grudge against the members of the condo board he fired upon. He was known around the property as an angry man, and had a history of domestic abuse and violence. In hindsight, all the signs were there—but that's what makes mass shooters so easy to see in the rearview mirror, but almost impossible to see coming...GUEST: Michelle Henry, reporter, The Toronto Star (Read Michelle's investigation here.) We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The podcast discusses the increasing challenges of insuring homes for climate-related risks and the lack of understanding among home buyers regarding insurance coverage. It explores homeowners' lack of knowledge about their properties and the associated risks, as well as the need for urgent action to make homes and communities more resilient to climate change.

Canada's rental crisis is worsening due to a lack of rental units in major cities. A new report offers solutions for all levels of government to work together. The podcast discusses the dire housing crisis, solutions brainstormed by experts, potential solutions such as changes in the tax system, challenges at the municipal level, and the consequences of not addressing the crisis.