Murray Wood: Alberta referendum rolls the dice on provincial economy
With a referendum vote planned, Alberta has never been closer to separating from Canada. But, Murray Wood wonders, could...
8:30 – The Alberta separatism talks just got a lot more serious, and it could have negative implications on the oil and gas industry, not only in Alberta, but all of Canada. Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, joins the show to discuss how business leaders are warning that the uncertainty surrounding the referendum comes at a difficult time for the oil and gas industry as Canada competes for investments in pipelines, LNGs and energy exports.
Listener Question: Does the Alberta separatism/referendum talk make Canada look less desirable for oil/gas investments?
9:00 – Open phones – Evan goes to the phones to chat with listeners about what’s on their minds today. Call 1-877-332-8255.
10:00 – The warmer weather means the creepy crawlers are back–that includes ticks! And the number of blacklegged ticks linked to Lyme Disease appears to be increasing in Saskatchewan, with a significant number of reported cases coming from the Prince Albert region. Janet Sperling, entomologist and president of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, joins the show to talk about tick season, what risks they carry and how to protect not just yourself but also your furry friends from the pesky bug.
LQ: Have you seen a lot of ticks out and about?
10:30 – How we interact with others has changed a lot since the pandemic. Some avoid face-to-face contact, bail from plans, work from home or text friends instead of meeting in person. What has this avoidance done to our capacity for talking to strangers? That is what Gillian Sandstrom, psychology of kindness researcher at the University of Sussex and author of Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life, specializes in. She joins us to discuss why small talk with strangers might be more meaningful than we think.
LQ: Do you have an encounter with a stranger that led to an amazing story? Call Evan at 1-877-332-8255.
11:00 – The Saskatchewan government has launched an independent review of hospital safety and security following growing concerns about violence and safety in healthcare facilities across the province. Leading the review is Clive Weighill, former Saskatoon Police Service chief and chief provincial coroner, who will consult with staff and communities to recommend improvements aimed at making hospitals safer for patients and frontline workers.
LQ: Do you feel safe when visiting a hospital in Saskatchewan right now?
11:30 – A new children’s book takes readers into Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park to follow the life cycle of the endangered burrowing owl, from nesting underground in the spring to migrating south for the winter. The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands highlights the conservation efforts underway to protect one of Saskatchewan’s most iconic and adorable species. Evan is joined by author Deborah Hodge.
12:00 – With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now just weeks away, new figures from Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer estimate the cost of hosting 13 matches in Canada will exceed $1 billion. The federal government’s share is estimated at $473 million. To talk about FIFA, the cost, and the cost-benefit analyses of sporting events on this scale, Evan is joined by Dr. Ann Pegoraro, Lang Chair in Sport Management at the University of Guelph.
LQ: Is FIFA worth the billion-dollar price tag for Canada? Could that money be better spent elsewhere?
