Canadaland

The lab-leak theory has more evidence supporting it than ever before. Journalist Elaine Dewar has written a new book documenting little-known scientific evidence and acts of deception and obfuscation from Chinese, American, and Canadian officials. So what exactly were they all trying to hide?Further reading:On the Origin of the Deadliest Pandemic in 100 YearsGlobe and Mail: Chinese Major-General worked with fired scientist at Canada's top infectious disease labVanity Fair: The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19's OriginsThe Intercept: Leaked Grant Proposal Details High-Risk Coronavirus Research  Sponsors: Douglas, PolicyMe, SquarespaceSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look back on the coverage of an absolutely underwhelming, demoralizing election. And we contend with a troubling aspect of Norm Macdonald's legacy.CANADALAND contributing editor Danielle Paradis co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, Douglas and CNN's Total Recall.*This episode included a clip from CTV election night 2019. It has been removed.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a video from the Fairy Creek anti-logging demonstrations on Vancouver Island that shows police unleashing pepper spray at close range onto a crowd of activists. At one point, an RCMP officer rips the masks off of two women, shown clearly on the tape. Other witnesses from the scene allege even worse - that officers were kicking and dragging activists, and aiming pepper spray into their mouth, eyes and private areas. As reporter Cherise Seucharan finds out, the avenues available to the public to hold RCMP accountable don't seem to be working when it comes to these reports of escalating police violence at Fairy Creek. The courts, the police complaints system, and even the media have not been able to stop RCMP from acting in ways that have been condemned by experts, civil rights lawyers and by the RCMP's own watchdog. Is it possible to police the police at Fairy Creek? This episode is sponsored by Douglas, Squarespace, Article and CNN Total Recall.Support CANADALAND: https://

Trudeau is getting upset and it seems to be working for him. And the English leaders' debate was widely derided. Was it deserved?Vice senior editor Manisha Krishnan co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Douglas, PolicyMe and HelloFresh.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Non-disclosure agreements are incredibly common. But they protect abusers, and block journalism. They are also, as it turns out, often unenforceable. Zelda Perkins, who blew the whistle on Harvey Weinstein, has joined forces with law professor Julie Macfarlane to launch a global campaign against NDAs, called Can't Buy My Silence. Further Reading:cantbuymysilence.comZelda Perkins on the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-42420389Prof. Julie Macfarlane's book, Going Public: https://www.amazon.ca/Going-Public-Survivors-Journey-Action/dp/1771134755Additional music by Audio NetworkSponsorsDouglas, Dispatch Coffee, Freshbooks, & SquarespaceSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After protestors threw gravel at the Prime Minister during a campaign stop, we ask: has this gotten too much coverage, or not enough? And we scrutinize a budding conspiracy about Michael Spavor, the Canadian entrepreneur detained in China. Writer and National Observer columnist Sandy Garossino co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, the Emerging Digital Artists Award and PolicyMe.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the election coming in two weeks, Jesse sits down for an interview with Tiffany Lam, producer of The Backbench, to discuss what kind of politics show her and Fatima are making and how a politics show can be fun, accessible and nutritious. The interview is followed by the most recent episode of The Backbench. Subscribe to The Backbench to be informed about the important issues of this election.--The Liberals promised to inject 6-billion more dollars into our healthcare system last week, but will more money mean more healthcare? Meanwhile, regional federal parties have dropped their platforms with distinct climate plans, posing a possible threat to major parties.This week's contributors: Leena Minifie, Emilie Nicolas, Stuart ThomsonLinks:Jen Gerson's Maclean's piece on the Maverick PartyFatima & Emma MacIntosh's National Observer 2019 piece on whether politicians should be blocking votersMark McKinnon's Globe and Mail piece on Ukraine rescuing

Many journalists are condemning the unruly protestors following Trudeau on the campaign trail. But is that our role? And co-host Jen Agg talks about how she became the centre of a major story after dealing with her own unruly protestors at her restaurants.Jen Agg is a restaurateur and author of I Hear She's a Real Bitch.Here's her Twitter thread that got the attention of the media.This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, The Emerging Digital Artists Award and PolicyMe.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year there were 540,000 international students in Canada according to Immigrations Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC. Many of these students came to Canada with one goal - permanent residency. Our producer, Damilola Onime, herself a former international student, shares the story of how the international education industry is run in Canada. The story of how these students, because of their ambition for greener pastures are exploited by the government, the schools the attend, recruitments agents and every other party involved in their temporary resident to permanent resident journey. Additional music by Audio NetworkSponsors: PolicyMe and HoverSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twitter became the centre of the election this week when they put a "manipulated media” tag on one of Chrystia Freeland's tweets, which contained an edited video of Conservative leader Erin O'Toole. And is science journalism at a crisis point in Canada? An analysis finds Canada's biggest newspapers gave about half as much coverage to the IPCC's major recent climate report as US ones did.Fatima Syed hosts with Sean Holman as co-hostFurther Reading:The Tyee: When Dire Climate News Came, Canada's Front Pages CrumpledPolitico on the political connections at TwitterChrystia Freeland's edited video of Erin O'Toole and the full videoThis episode is brought to you by PolicyMe, FreshBooks and Squarespace.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Kielburger was the Greta Thunberg of the 90s – a 12 year-old kid from the suburbs who dreamed of freeing the world's children from slavery. His activism made him famous, and he was endorsed by Oprah, the Pope, the Queen, and the Clintons. His campaign became a global movement and a powerful brand. But right from the start, there were uncomfortable questions about money and exploitation. Decades later, it all came crashing down. But the seeds of WE's self-destruction were planted right from the start… Official responses from WE:According to the WE Organization: neither the WE Organization nor Marc or Craig Kielburger have ever been investigated by a law enforcement agency, currently or in the past.The WE Organization maintains that all financial transactions between its various entities, both charitable and for-profit, have followed all applicable laws.In his libel claim against Saturday Night Magazine: Craig Kielburger said that the article was false and led people

Recent stories about Canada's role in the War in Afghanistan fall short. And if Justin Trudeau is Veruca Salt, who then is Erin O'Toole? Photojournalist and author Paul Watson co-hosts.Links:Paul's LA Times story from embedding with Ghazni TalibsPaul's LA Times story on Afghanistan's pipeline plansSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shad's Hip-Hop Evolution is an incredible piece of journalism that nobody is talking about.Hip-Hop Evolution is a remarkable piece of journalism and an exhaustive look at the history of hip-hop. It's also made by a group of Canadians. Rapper and broadcaster Shad, director Darby Wheeler, and writer Rodrigo Bascuñán join to talk about their award-winning documentary series. The episode is brought to you by One Year, Policy Me, Article, and listeners like you. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon.(This episode was originally published October 6, 2019)Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-host Pauls Wells may be the only person aside from Trudeau who wants an election right now. We look ahead to the campaign and debates to come. WE is back in the news. And The Rebel has another defamation case dismissed. Sponsors: Slate, Policy Me, Freshbooks, Hello FreshSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe to The White Saviors now! Series launch: August 23Over 25 years, WE built a golden brand by inspiring children to rally around their charismatic leader. But behind the scenes, employees experienced a cult-like culture and a troubling blur of charitable and commercial activities. In the aftermath of a national scandal, thousands of donors and volunteers (and dozens of ‘celebrity ambassadors') are left wondering where the money went, and whether the savior industry creates a constant need for victims.From CANADALAND, the news company that exposed it all, this is the exclusive story of a charity that did well when it was supposed to be doing good.Subscribe to The White Saviors. Episode one drops on August 20th This trailer contains source materials used under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act. Sources:  It Takes a ChildCraig Kielburger's Story - A Journey into Child LabourDirected by Judy JacksonProduced by Judy FilmsYoutube The Story of Craig Kielburg

In late 2020, FBI agents showed up at the New York home of activist and journalist Masih Alinejad, and told her that agents of the Iranian regime were plotting to kidnap her. Months later, an indictment from the US Department of Justice revealed details of the plot - including surveillance of her home and family, and a plan to take her to Venezuela by boat. But it also mentioned three people in Canada were also targets.As our reporter Cherise Seucharan finds out, many journalists and dissidents who have left countries such as Iran, China, Mexico and Pakistan for safety in Canada, have found themselves the victim of threats and intimidation by what they believe to be foreign actors. In one case, involving Pakistani activist Karima Baloch in Toronto, these threats ramped up before her unexpected death. Kiran Nazish, founding director of the Coalition for Women in Journalism,  explains how extensive these threats are, and how the Canadain government has so far failed to act to protect these dissidents.

Une journaliste scientifique a porté plainte à Radio Canada et a reçu beaucoup de haine. Et est-ce que les journalistes répondent finalement aux militants?Emilie Nicolas et Nora Loreto prennent le relais en l'absence de Jesse.En anglais: A science journalist complained to Radio-Canada and received a lot of hate for it. And are journalists finally responding to activism the way they should? Emilie Nicolas and Nora Loreto take over in Jesse's absence.Links/liens:The full ombudsman decision is here (en français)This episode is supported by/Cet épisode est commandité par Dispatch Coffee and/et Hover.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teachers accused of abusing Indigenous children at Catholic schools are among us. John Furlong is quoted regularly in the press as the man leading a possible Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympics. It's as if the people accusing him of physical and sexual abuse don't exist. Today we hear Jesse's original 2014 conversation with journalist Laura Robinson, who broke the Furlong story, and an update about all that has happened since, and why the upcoming tribunal on the case may be different.Additional Reading:Laura Robinson's original piece on Furlong in the Georgia StraightThe words of (some of) Furlong's accusersCanadian Human Rights Commission complaint regarding the RCMP investigation of John Furlong  Sponsors: Squarespace, Article, Unfucking The Republic podcastSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A draft of the anti-Alberta inquiry was leaked and didn't find what it thought it would. And Facebook is partnering up with The Globe and Mail and Jesse wants in. Writer Sandy Garossino co-hosts.Links:More on the leaked draft of the Allan InquiryA photo of the "Wanted" Mark Zuckerberg posters can be found hereThis episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee, Slate, and PolicyMe. Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryerson University (aka X University) has a Journalism department in turmoil over student grievances. As similar reckonings sweep Canada's other J-Schools, Jesse sits down with departing Ryerson Prof Karyn Pugliese and former Undergraduate Director Lisa Taylor to discuss why they both left their posts. Then, reporter Cherise Seucharan talks to Ryerson alum Sarah Krichel and student Reah Singh, an organizer of the open letter that became national news. Further Reading:A report on the crisis at Ryerson's J-SchoolThe Open Letter from Ryerson studentsThe National Post on the Jonathan Bradley caseSponsor: HoverSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.