The Decibel

Inflation in Canada has stabilized, but food inflation is continuing to rise. Food prices rose 5 per cent in 2025, and some items saw much larger increases – such as beef and coffee. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced some affordability measures this week – like an increase to the GST credit – aimed at lowering grocery bills.Today, food economist Mike von Massow explains why food prices remain so high, what's driving the increase of specific items and what can be done about it.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

British Columbia's drug decriminalization pilot program will end on January 31st. The controversial program was introduced in 2023, but was criticized by advocates and political opponents alike. Parts of the policy had already been rolled back as public pressure mounted. The pilot's cancellation was met with disappointment, especially from First Nations leaders, over the lack of consultation. What does the ending of this policy signal about the B.C. government's approach to the toxic drug crisis? And what does it mean for Canadians living with addictions?Andrea Woo, the Globe's staff reporter covering health and drug policy, gives us a retrospective on what exactly B.C.'s pilot was trying to fix, whether that worked, and what comes next as decriminalization ends in the province.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some of the 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota are set to leave following the killings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Macklin Good and Alex Pretti. ICE and U.S. Border Patrol officers have been in the state enforcing U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration agenda since December amid growing unrest. Now, Minnesota is suing the federal government, arguing that the Trump administration is breaching people's rights and acting beyond its powers. And what happens next on the ground and in the courts could set a precedent, as ICE operations continue throughout the U.S.Globe staff reporter Joe Friesen was in Minnesota and he's on the show today to explain what life is like for people there, how the ongoing fight between the state and federal governments is unfolding, and where the situation could go from here.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ryan Wedding, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord, is pleading not guilty to U.S. federal charges of leading an international drug trafficking ring and orchestrating the murders of multiple people. Wedding had been on the run for more than a decade and was on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list. But the sprawling criminal investigation crosses borders and legal experts are now questioning what lawful norms and treaties may be overridden in the race to prosecute Wedding and his associates in the U.S.Colin Freeze, crime and justice reporter for The Globe, talks about the manhunt for Wedding, the laws around extradition and why this case could turn into a test of Canada and Mexico's legal sovereignty.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been a busy month abroad for Prime Minister Mark Carney, but now, he'll have to turn his focus back to domestic issues as Parliament returns on Monday. There's a lot to catch up on — later this week, the Conservatives will have their leadership review of Pierre Poilievre during their convention in Calgary, and the NDP are in the midst of their leadership race. The issue of national unity remains top of mind as both Alberta and Quebec look towards possible referendums in the coming months.Bill Curry is the Globe's Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief. He'll catch us up on where things left off in Parliament, what legislation is coming down the pike, and what to expect from USMCA negotiations.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Psychedelics, substances like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms that cause altered states of consciousness, often remind people of hippies in the 1960s. But more researchers are looking into their potential benefits for our well-being. Scientists say psychedelics – which are illegal for recreational use in Canada – could have massive implications on how we treat and heal from major mental health disorders like PTSD, depression and anxiety. Garvia speaks with Dr. Monnica Williams, clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Ottawa, where she is the co-director of the new master's program in psychedelics and consciousness studies. They discuss the latest research and whether psychedelics will, and should, become mainstream. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump made waves in Davos, Switzerland as both offered competing visions of a new world order. Government and business leaders were in the Alps for the annual World Economic Forum, where the U.S. struck a ‘deal' with NATO on Greenland and Trump launched his Board of Peace.The Globe's international affairs columnist Doug Saunders is here to explain Canada's place in a changing world order, as long-standing partnerships were tested and the foundation for competing alliances was laid.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As part of Canada's new trade deal with China, 49,000 Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles will be allowed to be sold in the Canadian market this year. It's a big change from our previous 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made cars. Auto leaders and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have criticized the deal, saying it puts the country's auto sector at risk when it's already facing pressure from the U.S. and Donald Trump's tariffs.Dimitry Anastakis is a professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of History and the Rotman School of Management, and his research focuses on the development of the Canadian auto industry. He analyzes what this deal means for jobs in the auto sector, how it could affect Canadians looking to buy EVs and what it could mean for renegotiating the USMCA.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to ratchet up threats against Greenland, Canada has weighed plans to send soldiers there as part of a NATO exercise. In a speech at the Davos Conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed support for Greenland, but did not say whether Canada would indeed send troops.Meanwhile, according to senior government officials, the Canadian Armed Forces have modelled a hypothetical U.S. military invasion of Canada, and the country's potential response. Robert Fife, the Globe's Ottawa Bureau Chief, joins the show to talk about how Canada's military is preparing to walk the narrow tightrope between our NATO allies and U.S. military prowess.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last week, Quebec Premier François Legault announced his resignation amidst plummeting poll numbers, while acknowledging Quebeckers are calling for change. The state of the province's politics are now in flux, as the Parti Quebecois surge in popularity and a possible referendum on Quebec's sovereignty is on the horizon.Konrad Yakabuski, Globe columnist and Quebec politics writer, discusses Legault's legacy, the divide between sovereigntists and federalists and where the province's parties stand ahead of a fall election.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The flu season hit Canada hard and fast this year, seemingly reaching its peak in late December. But it's not over yet: one public health official says we're still in the ‘heavy, middle part' of flu season.Alanna Smith explains what's different about this year's dominant variant of the influenza virus and the impact it's having on Canada's health care system.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when we stop rushing around and pause to take in the vastness of the world around us? In this episode of Happy Enough, we explore awe — the emotion that can make you feel surprisingly small, and, at the same time, happier. To break down the science behind awe and why it makes us feel better, Garvia speaks with Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the author of ‘Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life'. They discuss how awe affects our bodies and simple ways to incorporate it into our lives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In less than a year, U.S. President Donald Trump's second term has re-shaped the international order. From levying tariffs against much of the world, turning against long-standing allies, capturing Venezuela's president, and threatening to annex Greenland – the U.S. has flouted international law and ignored the traditional rules-based order.Michael Byers, Canada research chair on global politics and international law at the University of British Columbia, is on the show to explain the legal agreements and treaties that govern the international order and whether it's possible to hold powerful countries to account when they defy those laws.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark. That led to a meeting on Wednesday between a delegation of Danish and Greenland foreign ministers and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two sides did not seem to come to any kind of conclusion.The Globe's Europe correspondent, Paul Waldie, is in Greenland to get a sense of how people are feeling on the ground. He was in Denmark earlier this week. He joins the show to tell us what he's learned, what the potential implications are for NATO, and what concerns this raises for Canada.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Protests in Iran ramped up over the weekend after the Islamic Republic regime – ruled by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – instituted an internet and phone blackout. But despite this, reports started to come out about a crackdown. On Tuesday, an Iranian official said the death toll, composed of both protesters and security personnel, was over 2,000 people.The protests have garnered some global supporters, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who has issued threats to the Iranian regime over its treatment of the protesters.Today's guest is Thomas Juneau. He is a professor with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on the Middle East, in particular Iran and Yemen, and on the role of intelligence in national security and foreign policy making.He puts this moment of Iranian societal upheaval in context, and explains the calculations Iran's supreme leader and Trump are making, as they decide on their next steps.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney will head to China, marking the first time a Canadian prime minister has gone to China since 2017. Recent interactions between Canada and China have been wracked with tension and international incidents. But there is much at stake in this meeting, with Canada looking for new trade partners as the United States becomes increasingly unreliable.Steven Chase is the Globe's senior parliamentary reporter. He's here to talk about what Carney needs to balance in order to strengthen economic ties with China without upsetting the U.S., and what's next for the Canada-China relationship.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new year is upon us and for some of us, that means New Year's resolutions. These goals often involve improving our fitness, or going to the gym more often. But that's not always cheap with gym membership and classes costing more and more.In today's episode, host Sherrill Sutherland and The Globe's healthy living reporter, Graham Isador, try a class at one of Toronto's luxury gyms, Sweat and Tonic. They share their experiences and Graham discusses why gym prices have risen so drastically and how you can make your fitness resolutions possible.  Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today is Chrystia Freeland's last day in Canadian politics, but she still plans to work in government – just not this one. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had appointed the former Liberal cabinet minister his new economic adviser. The news sparked a week of backlash in Ottawa, as many raised concerns that a sitting member of parliament working with a foreign government created a conflict of interest.The Globe's senior reporter, Stephanie Levitz, joins The Decibel from Ottawa. She'll explain what we know about Freeland's new role, the questions it's raised, and the political legacy she leaves behind while Prime Minister Mark Carney's government teeters on the edge of a majority.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new year is a time of goal setting. Culturally, there's pressure to set resolutions that you are meant to achieve in due course. Think: weight loss, healthy eating, a new hobby. But what if you commit to something you know you can't achieve? And what if you make that your life's work?Mark Medley, the Deputy Editor of The Globe's Opinion section, and author of ‘Live to See the Day: Impossible Goals, Unimaginable Futures and the Pursuit of Things That May Never Be', profiled people who've done just that. He's on the show to explain what drives them and why you, too, might want to consider an impossible goal.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Following the U.S. attack on Venezuela, President Donald Trump referenced the Monroe Doctrine – a centuries-old ideology that posits American control and dominance in the Western hemisphere. That idea was also cited in the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy outlining U.S. foreign policy. After campaigning on non-intervention, is this now Trump's blueprint for dealing with the rest of the world?Vincent Rigby, a professor at McGill University's Max Bell School for Public Policy and former national security adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, joins The Decibel to parse through the details of Trump's national security strategy, what it tells us about the U.S. government's next moves – and the potential threat to Canada.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

U.S. President Donald Trump was clear on Saturday when he announced his administration's plans for the future of Venezuela: “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he told the world.But how feasible is that? How quickly could it happen? And even if U.S. oil companies do return to Venezuela and increase their exports, what will that mean for Canada at a time when our oil industry is trying to diversify its export base?Jeff Jones writes for The Globe's Report on Business. He first started reporting on the oil sector in the 1990s. He joins the show to explain the state of Venezuela's oil sector, what obstacles lie ahead for it and what this all means for Canada's economic sovereignty.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Saturday, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. military forces in an early morning raid that included attacks on the capital city of Caracas.Since September, the U.S. has conducted deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela, as U.S. President Donald Trump accused Maduro of leading a criminal organization.The future of the Latin American country is uncertain, as the Venezuelan leader is held in New York, facing U.S. federal drug trafficking, terrorism and weapons charges.The Globe's U.S. correspondent Adrian Morrow joins The Decibel to break down what's known about the military attack, its connection to Venezuela's vast oil reserves, and the U.S. plan to ‘run' Venezuela.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a year that was truly one for the books in Canadian politics — from Trudeau's resignation to Trump's trade war, an “elbows up” election, Pierre Poilievre losing his seat, Jagmeet Singh resigning his leadership, and the prospect of a new Pacific pipeline — 2025 has come to a close. What will 2026 hold?Stephanie Levitz is a senior reporter with The Globe's Ottawa Bureau, and she's on the show to discuss the Liberal road to a majority, the leadership of both the Conservative Party and NDP, and the renegotiation of Canada's trade agreement with the U.S.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most schools are now off for winter break — but this year, some educators are wondering how much their students are learning. A KPMG survey found that over 70 per cent of Canadians over 18 years old now use generative AI to complete their school work. Professors and students are concerned that a growing reliance on tools like ChatGPT and Gemini could be weakening critical thinking skills. Recent research is now giving us further insight into that potential connection.The Globe's Joe Castaldo reports on AI and tech. He tells us what educators and students say about how generative AI is impacting schools and what recent studies tell us about its effect on our collective critical thinking skills.This episode originally aired July 2, 2025.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maryam Fatima was born with a condition called hemimegalencephaly, a rare birth defect where one side of the brain is abnormally large. She suffered from severe seizures from the moment she was born. They became so bad that they stopped Maryam from feeding, sleeping and breathing. Her life was at risk.That's when a team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto decided to attempt a first-in-Canada procedure to save Maryam's life.Health Science reporter Jennifer Yang interviewed some of the medical professionals who performed the procedure, as well as Maryam's mother, Muzna Nafees. She tells the story of how Maryam's life was saved.This episode originally aired June 6, 2025.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canadians have been spending a lot of time thinking about identity and their relationship to Canada. As U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war drags on, taking an ‘Elbows Up' approach isn't just about economics – it's also cultural. Many of the songs and albums that make up the soundtrack to your life are written and performed by Canadian artists – and they've helped shape what this country sounds like. Today, deputy arts editor Rebecca Tucker and reporter Josh O'Kane are here to talk about how they put together a list of 101 essential Canadian albums, and how the music we listen to reflects us as a country. We also called up Tamara Lindeman from The Weather Station, Joel Plaskett, and Torquil Campbell from Stars, all of whom were featured on that list, to tell us about the Canadian album that has inspired their work.This episode originally aired July 17, 2025.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The winter holidays are a time to cozy up with family – even if those family members are furry and of a different species. For many, dogs and cats aren't just animals, they're cherished loved ones who come into our lives at the exact moment we need them.This holiday season, The Decibel's editor David Crosbie, Globe and Mail staffers and Canadians share personal stories about how they met their pets and how caring for them has changed their lives.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many factors of modern life can make time feel like it's moving faster than it actually is: hustle culture at work, a productivity compulsion at home, over-programmed kids – they're all attempts to get as much as possible out of our time and keep up with the frantic pace of life. But life also has moments where time feels like it's slowing down, or even stops. We know that time can't actually slow down or speed up – but why does it feel like that?The Globe's time use reporter, Zosia Bielski, speaks to The Decibel about why our perception of time can change, what it is about this particular moment that's making us feel so pressed for time and how we can take back control of the pace.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Canadian television show Heated Rivalry has found major success not just in Canada, but with American audiences, too. The show, a love story between two male hockey players, has broken television streaming records and taken over social media.The Globe's television critic J. Kelly Nestruck joins The Decibel to talk about why Heated Rivalry has resonated with so many people, and how significant it is for a Canadian show to break through to global audiences so quickly.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canadian counter-intelligence military officer Matthew Robar, is facing charges of espionage. The veteran military officer is accused of sharing information with Ukraine in its war against Russia, according to a source for The Globe and Mail. Robar was arrested last week, and charged with multiple offences related to passing highly sensitive government secrets to a foreign entity.Steven Chase, a senior parliamentary reporter for The Globe, speaks to The Decibel about what's known about Robar, what the espionage charges mean, and how this development might affect Canada's relationship with Ukraine.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This travel season, Canadians might be headed away for something other than a vacation.More Canadians are participating in medical tourism, travelling to another country to receive medical treatment, though some question its safety and the threats this poses to Canada's public health care system.Sarah Bartnicka, a freelance writer for The Globe, explains the costs, the risks and what Canadians can keep in mind for best practices when travelling abroad for a medical procedure.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The attack on Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach in Sydney has sent shockwaves around the world. To many in Jewish communities, it mirrors previous antisemitic attacks seen in countries around the world over the past several years. Globe columnist and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette executive editor David Shribman joins The Decibel. He covered the Tree of Life shooting in 2018, where 11 Jewish people were killed in their synagogue in Pittsburgh. Shribman talks about how the recent shooting in Sydney impacts Jewish communities around the world and what living in Pittsburgh has taught him about life after tragedy.  Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Loyalty reward programs are everywhere we shop. They're at coffee shops, retailers, airports and grocery stores. Many of us are connected to our points, but the rewards no longer seem to go as far as they used to.Vass Bednar, the managing director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute, explains the changes to Canadian loyalty rewards programs, what we are giving up when we hand companies our data in exchange for points – and if it's even still worth it to collect rewards points anymore.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The heirs to Canada's multi-billion dollar frozen food empire are fighting. New Brunswick's McCain Foods is the world's largest French fry maker, and is privately owned by the McCain family. Recently, one of its heirs, Eleanor McCain, requested to be bought out of her stake in the company – but her relatives are refusing to.Globe business columnist, Andrew Willis, has been reporting on the showdown inside one of Canada's wealthiest families. He'll explain the fight over ownership, whether it could impact the world's biggest French fry producer, and how these tensions trace back to the 1990s dispute over succession between McCain Foods co-founders.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Carney's federal government has introduced its second tough-on-crime bill this fall. The new bill, Bill C-16, focuses on violence against women and children, changes to mandatory minimum sentences and the growing problem of court delays.The Globe's justice reporter, David Ebner, explains the specific changes to the Criminal Code that this bill wants to make and what advocates and critics are saying about it.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses are on the rise in Canada. According to a recent study, between 2010 and 2021, rates of prostate cancer discovered at Stage 4 increased by about 50 per cent in men aged 50 to 74. In men over the age of 75, rates were up over 65 per cent.There is a simple blood test that can screen for early signs of prostate cancer, called a prostate specific antigen, or PSA test; however, in 2014, Canada recommended against using the PSA for widespread screening. Today, Globe health reporter Kelly Grant explains what this study found and why these guidelines are so highly contested in Canada.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hours before a strike deadline, Air Transat and the union representing airline pilots reached a tentative agreement. For customers, it comes as relief in the middle of a busy holiday travel season. And in a year already wracked by airline work stoppages, the threat of disruption and lengthy customer reimbursement periods continue to loom.Mariya Postelnyak, The Globe's Consumer Affairs reporter, speaks about what you need to know as a traveller, what's afforded in air passenger protections, and how to get what you're owed if your flights get cancelled.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Canadian manufacturing sector has been having a hard time, which has been made worse by U.S. tariffs. The impact of these tariffs varies company to company. So a team of Report on Business journalists from The Globe spoke to several manufacturers to see how they've fared this past year.Matt Lundy, The Globe's Economics Editor, speaks about how badly these companies have been hurt, what they're doing to try to cope and whether federal government supports have been any help.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For families, the tragedy of opioids is beyond measure. The opioid epidemic has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Canada and has been recognized as a public health crisis, but it's also an economic one – and it disproportionately affects workers in key sectors like construction and the trades. As Ottawa ramps up its push to build major projects fast, could the ongoing toxic drug crisis slow it down?Today, Globe reporter Jason Kirby joins the show. As part of our Poisoned series, he spoke with workers, companies, unions and health researchers to understand the grip the crisis has on the construction industry and what's being done about it.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canada is in the midst of reframing its approach to military spending. The reasons for this are twofold; a commitment to fulfilling NATO spending as part of GDP, and the push to diversify spending away from the U.S. To that end, Prime Minister Mark Carney has recently signed a deal joining the EU's military procurement fund, granting Canada access to both selling and purchasing defence materiel.Steven Chase, The Globe's senior parliamentary reporter, is on the show to discuss what this means for our burgeoning national defence industry, the political considerations involved, and where our national armed forces go from here.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not unusual for business owners to forge ties with governments, but there are rules around conflicts of interest when it comes to procurement. In February, 2025, an Alberta senior public servant stepped forward with allegations of political interference in the awarding of large health contracts. These allegations prompted investigators, auditors and opposition politicians to look closely at the ties between Premier Danielle Smith's government and an Alberta businessman, Sam Mraiche.Mraiche's company, MHCare, had been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars worth of procurement contracts from Alberta Health Services. A Globe and Mail investigation found that the connections between Mr. Mraiche, purchasing officials, and senior Alberta political figures have existed longer – and are more extensive – than than previously reported.Today, Carrie Tait, a reporter with The Globe's Calgary bureau, and Tom Cardoso, an investigative reporter with The Globe, are on the show to talk about their investigation into the ties between a serial entrepreneur and the Alberta government.Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the holidays right around the corner, households are getting ready for company and deep cleans are underway. Even the idea of letting family and friends see a clutter-strewn home can be anxiety-inducing, and images of perfectly-clean celebrity homes on social media don't help. But what are we actually losing when we prioritize the act of cleaning over the people we do it for?Zosia Bielski, The Globe's Time Use reporter, digs into the societal pressure we all face over deep cleaning, why the work often disproportionately falls on women and how letting our guard down in our living spaces can deepen relationships.Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.