Are pediatricians going too far over immunization?

Welcome to this week's podcast. Here's what we're talking about:

Alberta election fallout

Voters in Alberta largely turned their backs on the right-wing Wildrose Party earlier this week. Is this a reminder to the rest of Canada that there is more political sophistication to Alberta than it's normally given credit for? Or is it just business as usual in a province that has elected consecutive Conservative governments for 41 years?

Immunization controversy

Some pediatricians in Ontario are starting to discharge children whose parents refuse to have them vaccinated. Are they going too far? On the one hand, avoiding immunization has become so widespread that it has become a genuine health hazard. Pediatricians have to do something. On the other hand, children in Ontario are allowed not to have vaccinations if their parents have some objection of religion or conscience. So should children be booted out of a doctor's office because their parents disagree with a medical treatment?

Editorial page editor Andrew Phillips is joined by editorial board members Gordon Barthos, Kerry Gillespie and Leslie Papp.

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Too much salt?

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that many Canadian fast-food items had much more salt than the same items sold in other countries. Is it time for some regulation around salt use in processed foods or should consumers be looking after their own health? For that matter, how serious are the health risks around excessive salt consumption?

Gord Barthos is joined by Kerry Gillespie and Leslie Papp.

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Is this the start of a serious debate on income inequality?

A recent poll commissioned by the Broadbent Institute found that a large majority of Canadians -- including the wealthy and conservatives -- support raising taxes to help reduce income inequality. While we've got some problems with the survey methodology, this could be the start of a serious discussion about how to tackle the growing income divide in this country.

Gord Barthos is joined by Leslie Papp and Carol Goar.

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Editorial board: F-35 fighter jet report makes Harper's ministers look bad

Welcome to our weekly podcast. Here's what we're talking about today:

Problems with the F-35
A lot of ministers in the Harper government look bad after Auditor General Michael Ferguson's scathing report on the handling of the F-35 fighter jet file. And while there was a time when you would expect a minister to lose their portfolio over something like this, knowing this government that's an unlikely outcome here.

Mayor Rob Ford: What's next?
Ford has delivered a number of contracts with city employees that should ensure labour peace for the next couple years, a significant accomplishment. And he did it in part by showing a willingness to compromise, something noticeably absent in his failed transit initiatives. So what's Ford going to do for the next two and half years?

 

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