Uncommons with Nate Erskine-Smith

This February marks the 25th anniversary of Black History Month, since then Liberal MP Jean Augustine led a motion to have it recognized. Writing in the Toronto Star recently, Minister Ahmed Hussen reflected on What Black History Month means in 2021. He joins Nate to discuss why he’s looking at that history through the lens of deeply troubling events, what action the government has taken  to date to address racial equality, and what more needs to come. Minister Hussen is an accomplished lawyer and cabinet minister, he came to Canada with his family from Somalia as a refugee, and despite all of his accomplishments he's said he still gets followed around in stores and has spoken out against racial profiling.  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

The charities that serve those in need also need our help right now. Revenue has declined, demand for services has only increased, and a critical component of our social safety net is coming undone when we need it most. On this episode, Nate is joined by Maya Roy, Jocelyn Formsma, and Owen Charters to discuss how the federal government can and should step in to support charities. Maya Roy is the CEO of the YWCA Canada, Jocelyn Formsma is the executive director of the National Association of Friendship Centres, and Owen Charters is the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. As referenced in the podcast:·         Feminist Economic Recovery Plan – http://www.feministrecovery.ca ·         Impact of COVID-19 on the Women’s Sector in Canada: https://ywcacanada.ca/take-action/act-now/take-action-for-the-womens-sector/ 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

Sarah Perret is a tax economist and deputy head of unit at the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Her role involves assessing countries' tax systems and advising them on tax reform. She is also the author of a number of studies on taxation, inequality and inclusive growth, including The Role and Design of Net Wealth Taxes in the OECD, and she recently provided advice to the UK Wealth Tax Commission.Sarah joins Nate to discuss wealth inequality and different ways of taxing wealth.  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

Former Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache joins Nate to discuss the devastating effects of sexual harassment on women in the RCMP, and his scathing report "Broken Dreams Broken Lives." The report and claims process formed part of the historic Merlo-Davidson settlement, in the wake of two class action suits alleging that female members of the RCMP had been victims of workplace discrimination, intimidation, and harassment. Over the last four years, Mr. Bastarache heard from hundreds of former female RCMP employees, which culminated in his report and recommendations calling for serious reform. 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

With renewed optimism that the United States will now be a stronger partner than ever before in meeting the challenge of climate change, Saikat Chakrabarti joins Nate to discuss what comes next for the Green New Deal and more progressive politics in America.Saikat is former campaign manager and chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, co-founder of Justice Democrats, and currently president of New Consensus, a think tank focused on developing the Green New Deal. 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. Samir Sinha joins Nate to talk about how we've failed to protect our seniors, and the changes we need to make going forward, including targeted vaccine roll-out to seniors at risk, national standards for long-term care, and action to help seniors stay in their homes.Dr. Sinha is a geriatrician, co-chair and policy director of the National Institute on Ageing, and the director of geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network. He has also helped to lead the development of seniors' strategies both in Ontario and nationally, and he's been vocal in the media and in his work on the need for all levels of government to prioritize our seniors in our policy-making. 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. David Naylor is a physician, medical researcher, and former president of U of T.  He's also uniquely placed to discuss pandemic response, as the co-chair of the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, and as past chair of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health in 2003. On this episode, Dr. Naylor and Nate discuss vaccine roll-out, pandemic response, and lessons learned.  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. Joeri Rogelj is an expert in climate science. He is currently Director of Research at Imperial College London, he's been a long-time lead author of the UN Emissions Gap annual reports, and he's also a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including its 1.5 degree report and its upcoming 6th assessment report. Dr. Rogelj joins Nate to discuss the need for greater climate ambition. It's a well-time conversation, as Canada has finally established a target of net zero by 2050, we've recently released an updated climate plan, and as part of that plan we've committed to increase our climate ambition for 2030.  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

In this episode, Nate is joined by professor Miles Corak to discuss how to strengthen our social safety net and, more specifically, what an EI system for the 21st century should look like.Miles is currently an economics professor at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and senior scholar at the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality. In 2017, he was the Economist in Residence at Employment and Social Development Canada, and a lead author of Canada's first poverty reduction strategy.You can read more of his work at milescorak.com 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

Brett House is vice-president and deputy chief economist at ScotiaBank. Among a long list of past roles, he's served as principal advisor in the office of the UN Secretary-General and as an economist at the International Monetary Fund.In this episode Nate and Brett discuss Canada's fiscal response to the pandemic, whether the significant size of new deficit spending is affordable and justified, and how and when we should assess concerns about new deficits and debt.  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