UNCOMMONS

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. 

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

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. 

Now chair of the World Refugee Council, Lloyd Axworthy held a number of cabinet roles over the course of a 27 year parliamentary career.

As Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led efforts towards a global landmines ban (which earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize), and he’s one of 56 notable signatories on an open letter calling on Canada and countries around the world to adopt the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

In this episode Lloyd and Nate discuss the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, why Canada should adopt sign the treaty, and how Canada’s history of advocacy should better inform its current role on the world stage.

Eric Duncan represents the rural Ontario riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, he was first elected to the House in October 2019, he’s only in his early 30s but has already somehow served over a decade in municipal office, and he’s also our country’s first openly gay Conservative Member of Parliament.

On this episode, Eric and Nate discuss Conservative support for the Liberal government’s bill to ban conversion therapy, Eric’s personal experience in politics as a new Conservative MP, and more broadly what it means for the Conservative Party of Canada to become more modern and inclusive. 

Justin Ling is a journalist, author, and one of the most prolific users of Canada’s access to information system. He has also been critical of how broken the system now is.

In this episode, Justin explains why access to information matters for accountability and transparency, what makes the system so broken, and how the government has failed to fulfill its promises of reform.

Chelsea Rochman is a marine ecologist whose research focuses on plastic pollution in freshwater and marine ecosystems. She is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a scientific advisor to the Ocean Conservancy.

In this episode Nate and Chelsea discuss Canada’s zero waste strategy, the federal government’s recent proposal to ban harmful single-use plastics and improve recycling rates, and what more needs to be done to reduce plastic pollution.

To improve your own waste literacy, check out the waste wizard and download the app.

David Morley is the President and CEO of UNICEF Canada. With millions of kids around the world still out of school, and with vaccine efforts central to our recovery, UNICEF has a unique role to play.

David has long been dedicated to issues of global justice, with over thirty years of experience advancing children’s rights and sustainable development on the world stage. 

In this episode Nate and David discuss the pandemic’s impact on children all over the world, and the work UNICEF is doing to help.

Carla Qualtrough is the Liberal MP for Delta BC, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion. She will lead efforts in this parliament to strengthen Canada’s social safety net, through EI reform and a new disability benefit. 

On this episode, Minister Qualtrough discusses the work that lies ahead, the challenges of rolling out income supports in the pandemic, and why we need a permanently strengthened social safety net that leaves nobody behind.

Victor Madrigal-Borloz is a Costa Rican lawyer and the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Earlier this year, he published a report that called for a global ban on conversion therapy. Our federal government here in Canada is moving forward with amendments to the Criminal Code to effect such a ban, and in this episode Victor highlights why we need both domestic and international action.

Victor will be appearing in two online panel discussions with EquiTalks on October 21st and 22nd. For more information, see here.