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The AIH transcript for August 21, 2024

For more episodes of this podcast, please click this link.

SUSAN BONNER: Hello, I'm Susan Bonner, sitting in for Nil Köksal.

LISA BRYN RUNDLE: Good evening, I'm Lisa Bryn Rundle, sitting in for Chris Howden. This is As It Happens.

[theme]

LBR: Tonight:

SB: On the offensive. Ukraine follows its incursion into Russia with a drone attack on Moscow. And a Ukrainian MP tells us he hopes the aggressive manoeuvre will send a message -- that Russia is on the backfoot and needs to end the war.

LBR: Harm offensive. The Ontario government says it's making communities safer by banning supervised drug-consumption sites near schools. But the head of one site slated for closure fears the move will lead to preventable deaths.

SB: Kicked to the curb. A Toronto homeowner says her life has been turned upside down by an unexpected message from a transit agency -- that her house is being expropriated.

LBR: Special delivery. Staff at a building society in Wales are surprised by one item in their daily mail drop -- a postcard with a cryptic note sent to someone named Lydia… 121 years ago.

SB: That impresses us much. Shania Twain has just wrapped up a string of shows in St. John's. And the concert magic will live on in the heart of one superfan -- especially the moment when she dedicated her song "Up!" to him.

LBR: And... Breaking with convention. Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips was scorned when he challenged Joe Biden in the primaries. Now he's at the party's convention, doing his best not to gloat.

LBR: As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that expects he's enjoying his summer vindication.

Part 1: Ukraine Drone Strikes, ONT. Safe Consumption Folo, Old Welsh Post Card

Ukraine Drone Strikes

Guest: Oleksiy Goncharenko

LBR: It's been two weeks since Ukraine began its incursion into Russia, and today that fight reached Moscow. Russia’s defence ministry said it destroyed dozens of Ukranian drones over Russian territory, including 11 in the capital. No injuries or damage have been reported, but the city’s mayor described the incident as -- quote -- "one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow." Unquote. The strikes follow more successful attacks, which have seen Ukraine gain control of dozens of settlements in Russia's Kursk region. But those advances have also increased fears of retaliation. Oleksiy Goncharenko is a Ukrainian MP. We reached him in Kyiv.

SB: Mr. Goncharenko, what message is Ukraine trying to send with these drone attacks on the Russian capital?

OLEKSIY GONCHARENKO: The message is very clear: that Russian territory will be also attacked. And it's not only Ukrainian villages, towns and cities which will be burned down but also Russian if this war would not be finished.

SB: So even if you didn't hit whatever military targets you set out, there is some symbolism in this I hear you saying. Vladimir Putin has said that there will be a decisive response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region. How concerned should Ukraine be about that?

OG: We are not concerned about this at all. We are in existential fight with them for more than two-and-a-half years, and -- in general -- in war for more than 10 years. So we're not afraid of any attacks or anything else. They're trying to destroy us every day. So, nothing will change. But the only language which Russia understands is the language of force. So the harder we beat them, better they understand that better to finish this war.

SB: What is the military strategy behind Ukraine's incursion into Kursk?

OG: I don't know. I'm not a military person. I'm not a general, so I don't know about military strategy. I think something which is on the surface is that in the war, you should attack your enemy where your enemy is not prepared for. And it looks like Ukraine successfully did this. They're very successful. But I think also there is a political strategy. This is the message to Putin that he will not achieve the goals that he has. That he does not have enough forces to both attack Ukraine and protect Russian territory. This is the message to our Western allies that don't be afraid of Russian blackmailing, this blah blah blah about nuclear weapons and everything else. All reaction of Putin as all this is just some mumbling. And all these apocalyptic responses he was promising, nothing is happening.

SB: But you talk about how Russia does not have the troops to defend its own territory as it's attacking Ukraine. But Ukraine itself is feeling the pressure of Russian advancement in the eastern part of your country. It looks as though Russia is closing in on the city of Pokrovsk. People there have already had to flee. If so many of Ukraine's forces are deployed to Russia, does it not risk your ability to adequately defend your own country?

OG: As I already told you, I'm not a military person. And I don't know the exact strategy. Yes, Russians are advancing in Donbas region. But -- for comparison -- Ukraine took control over more than 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory just in 10 days. Russia did the same. Well, starting from the new year, approximately. So, yeah, Russia is advancing. Yes, this is the problem. But where it's better to counterattack, always better to defend there, I don't know. The nearest weeks or months will show was this decision correct from a military point of view. But from political point of view, I think this was a very successful move.

SB: You mentioned the message that you think Ukraine's attempt to expand the war sends to its Western allies. Does that -- though -- risk provoking Vladimir Putin even more? Because we have seen today from a close ally of Putin. He told Reuters that the West is risking a global war by looking as though it is supporting Ukraine as Ukraine expands into Russian territory. How much of a concern does that need to be?

OG: Yeah. Why we should be afraid about Putin will do something? He's already doing maxim he can against Ukraine. He can't do anything more except going nukes. But to go nukes really means a complete world pariah. Even China and India will stop any relationships with Russia. And that's the end for Russia. So what else? Everything else, he already, he's already doing. He's blackmailing the world. He was blackmailing, saying, don't intervene, don't help Ukraine, don't send weapons. Okay, don't attack Crimea. Okay, don't impose sanctions. Don't do this. Don't do that. But -- in the end of the day -- he did nothing about all of this. Absolutely nothing.

SB: We have seen so many Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. There is now word coming from Russia's foreign ministry that Russian civilians are under attack by Ukraine's move. Is your country doing enough to protect the safety of Russian civilians?

OG: Russia deliberately attacks civilian targets in Ukraine, children hospital, maternity houses, schools and so on. There is no one evidence of Ukraine deliberately and consciously specially attacking civilian object in Russia. Does, does civilians suffer from what's happening in Kursk region? For sure. Thousands of them are expelled. They suffer through, it's possible that some of them are killed. That's also possible. But what should we do with this? Russia started this war. Stop this war. Leave our country, that's all. We don't want any inch of Russian territory. We don't want to kill any Russian. We just want them to stop this war and just leave our country. That's all we want. And according to international law and according to human moral, we have all the right to protect ourselves with all means we have.

SB: And how likely is it do you believe that Russia has any interest in leaving Ukraine?

OG: Before this operation in Kursk, I think it was a zero chance. Now, I think even some people in Russia -- including Putin -- they are thinking, does all of this worth it? So I don't know how it will develop.

SB: Mr. Goncharenko, thank you so much for your time today.

OG: Thank you.

LBR: Oleksiy Goncharenko is a Ukrainian MP. He was in Kyiv.

[psychedelic rock]

ONT. Safe Consumption Folo

Guest: Angela Robertson

LBR: Today, 10 of Ontario's supervised drug-consumption sites are reconsidering their futures. That's after the province's health minister -- Sylvia Jones -- announced they would have to make serious changes -- or shut down. As we told you last night on the program, those 10 sites are all located within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres. And the Ontario government says it's heard complaints from parents and municipalities who are concerned about safety. Half of the affected sites are in Toronto. And the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre's Bathurst Street location is one of them. Angela Robertson is the executive director there. We reached her in Toronto.

SB: Ms. Robertson, there has been tension around sites like yours in Ontario and beyond Ontario for months -- even years. Did you see this announcement coming?

ANGELA ROBERTSON: We did not see the extent of the changes that were announced. We anticipated that there would be changes made or recommendations made around -- quote/unquote safety -- community safety and a desire to see us put additional measures in place. But the closure of the sites was something that we're disappointed by. We were not completely expecting.

SB: So your organization runs two sites in Toronto. One we mentioned will be affected by this move. Have you talked to your staff, and what have you told them?

AR: We have spoken to our staff. In fact, we had a meeting of the team affected this morning. And the staff are immediately concerned about the impact on clients. At the site that is poised to be closed, we see over 7,000 visits last year -- last fiscal year. So we are, we are -- and they're -- concerned about what will happen. And we are concerned that there are overdose deaths that will result from this that we believe are preventable.

SB: Ontario's Health Minister -- Sylvia Jones -- has said the province is going to put $378 million into creating new homelessness and addiction treatment hubs. And sites like yours can apply to transition to one of these hubs. Here she is explaining her view. Let's listen.

SOUNDCLIP

SYLVIA JONES: These HART hubs are going to bring organizations together who are already working in this space and doing incredible work. What we want is for the focus to be on pathways to treatment, pathways to health, pathways to put, to supportive housing and less about enabling drug consumption.

SB: So pathways to treatment, pathways to supportive housing. What's wrong with that kind of approach?

AR: I don't believe that there's anything wrong with pathways to better health, pathways to housing, pathway to treatment. I would be concerned -- however -- that there must also be a pathway to harm reduction services for folks who are not at the place where they can and are able and are ready to access treatment services. And that has been always the value of harm reduction services as part of the continuum of supports for people who use drugs.

SB: Here's the Ontario premier -- Doug Ford -- talking about the plan. Let's listen to what he has to say.

SOUNDCLIP

DOUG FORD: And I was just wondering how you would feel if I stuck one of these beside your house? You wouldn't like it. Matter of fact, I know you wouldn't like it. Neither would your neighbours, and neither would anyone else. And all the kids. They shouldn't be by schools. They shouldn't be by daycares. And we're going to put more money in for these HART hubs that are going to support people the right way.

SB: What do you say to people in this province who, who share the premier's concerns about, about what goes on around these safe injection sites, and, and the impact that they can have on the communities surrounding them?

AR: So I think I would say that no one wants to see discarded drug use gear in communities, in public spaces, in public parks, in schoolyards. I think the attribution -- however -- to what is happening in neighbourhoods to these sites is questionable. What I would also say is that -- of course -- we need to, we as the providers of these services are responsive and need to be responsive to neighbourhood concerns.

SB: Have you not been responsive in the past? Has that been part of the problem?

AR: I would say we have been responsive. I would say that what we have seen is a significant increase in the utilization of our services. And my concern now is that -- with the one site that we now will be operating -- we will certainly see more pressure on that site.

SB: What does that mean exactly -- more pressure? You have said that, that your centre responds to, to hundreds of overdoses in just the past year. So, what's at the heart of your fear here? What do you think's going to happen without this site?

AR: The heart of my fear is that the research evidence tells us that folks who use these sites do not travel long distances. Folks travel within maybe a two- or three-block radius from where they reside to use a supervised consumption site. So I'm concerned that the folks who will be displaced by the closing of this location are not necessarily folks who will be travelling across the city to use the sites that are open. So that means that they're individuals who then will be using alone. They'll be using and potentially risking an overdose event without immediate support.

SB: And what will that mean for them? What ultimately happens to them?

AR: Honestly -- ultimately -- that could mean death. Ultimately, that could mean a call to EMS. And that's an additional expense to the healthcare system.

SB: So what do you do next? Is it over for you -- this fight?

AR: You know, it's never over. So we will continue to advocate to bring about some changes to the current announcement. We're also hoping that others who will experience the pressure as a result of these changes will also speak out. So I'm thinking about EMS. I'm thinking about emergency departments, where there will be a cascading impact. And it would be good to hear them as well on this matter.

SB: Ms. Robertson, thank you for your time.

AR: Thank you deeply.

LBR: Angela Robertson is the executive director of the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre in Toronto. That's where we reached her.

[ambient instrumental]

Old Welsh Post Card

Guest: Henry Darby

LBR: As a staffer at the Swansea Building Society, Henry Darby is used to getting things like applications in the mail. Things that come in envelopes and were sent… relatively recently. But, unlike us here at As It Happens, he's not used to getting postcards. So when he did get one not long ago, he was already a bit surprised -- and that was before he noticed it was dated August 1903. Now, he's trying to find out more about the unusual piece of mail intended for a woman named "Lydia". We reached Mr. Darby in Swansea, Wales.

SB: Mr. Darby, I am told you keep this postcard tucked away in the top drawer of your desk. Why?

HENRY DARBY: Well, yeah. As it stands, we're not quite sure -- obviously -- how valuable it may be to someone. The plan is to try and get it to -- hopefully -- one of Lydia's living relatives. So I think for the time being, the best place for it is in the top drawer of my desk.

SB: Are you afraid to touch it? Is that it?

HD: It's, it's not the easiest thing to touch, just due to its age, yeah. It's 121 years old. The building society I work for is 101 years old. So it's quite surreal to think that this piece of card is dating all the way back to 1903.

SB: Can you tell me how it is that the postcard ended up in your hands on Friday?

HD: Yeah. So, we're a building society in Swansea. We offer savings and mortgages for people in Wales. Our postman delivers it through the letter box -- as expected. And in our head office, we have an abundance of mail every day. On the Friday just gone -- in the pile of letters -- this postcard without a note. Not in an envelope. Just as it is with its 121-year-old stamp on it has made its way back to the correct address -- be it in our head office.

SB: What does the postcard look like?

HD: Yeah, it looks like something that should be in a museum -- definitely. The penmanship is amazing. It's kind of a lost art skill, I guess you'd say. It reads -- you know -- very much like it's from a different time -- which it is. The graphic on the front -- I think -- represent Scotland. And it's got a big stag or a dear. And -- obviously -- it's something that someone really cared about to send to Ms. Lydia 121 years ago. And did it make it to her or -- obviously -- has it been lost in the system and -- finally -- it's made its way to the address? We're not sure.

SB: What does the message to Lydia say?

HD: They're talking about something quite specific, although they don't actually allude to what they're talking about. Ewart -- which we believe is a Celtic name -- it could be Welsh, it could be Scottish, but it's not a common name you'd now hear, writes to Lydia saying he was unable to get her something she asked for, and it was impossible. A pair of something. So maybe we're guessing it's a pair of shoes. The local archive believes Lydia was maybe 16 at the time, according to the census that was done a few years prior. So that maybe lines up with what a 16-year-old maybe wanted in 1903. But then he goes, he goes on to talk about Lydia's pocket money and the fact she may be able to get a train fare with her recent pocket money and get the item they're talking about herself.

SB: Sounds mysterious.

HD: It is. It's very mysterious, isn't it?

SB: How did you go about finding out what you did find out?

HD: [chuckle] Well, I think like most people, everyone enjoys a detective show now don't they on TV? And we all fancy ourselves as a private eye. So I kind of did the initial searches on Google, Googling the name, Googling the address, Googling anything of kind of key mention in the postcard. And nothing really came up. So -- as the building society -- we have a small following on our social media of a couple of thousand people local to us. So I thought, well, maybe we could share it with our network of local people, and the community could come together. And if anyone knew anything about Lydia, or where Lydia lived, or her past, they may be able to help us put the pieces together. I've reached out to the local West Glamorgan archive, who look after newspapers and other things from the past couple of hundred years. And from there, we've had an amazing flurry of information. The local newspaper in Swansea put it in there newspaper this morning, and lots of people have been in contact and kind of helped us put together the pieces of -- yeah -- what? Life in Swansea was like 121 years ago.

SB: Well, what are some of the best or most surprising kinds of responses that you've, that you've had so far?

HD: Yeah. So -- obviously -- it's hard to fact-check. The name Davies is a very common name in Wales. So we're unsure how, we can only go on what we, we're seeing. But yeah, Lydia lived with her father and her mother and five siblings. She was the eldest sibling. Her father was a master tailor. Lydia later got married and moved to London to a man owned a hotel, but it seems like that's kind of when Lydia's story stops and we're not really sure when she died or if she had children. Because it kind of -- obviously -- she left Wales to go to England. What we can understand is the building Lydia lived in was quite a traditional terraced house in Wales. And maybe her father worked from the house downstairs as a master tailor. From some maps that we've been able to look at, it looks like the houses were bombed in World War Two, and that's where our office was then built. And it just happened to be that the address was retained. And that's why 11 Craddock Street is still 11 Craddock Street. And the postcard ended up back kind of where it started or where it was due to start.

SB: Did the post office tell you anything about why it took so long to get this mystery postcard to the right address?

HD: [chuckling] The Royal Mail believes that it's most likely re-entered circulation, rather than that it's been lost in circulation. Maybe a house clearance has happened locally. And the postcard was found, and maybe someone's just popped in a postbox thinking, oh, you know what? I bet the homeowner would love this as a keepsake. And it's -- obviously -- it's no longer a residence. It's now a, a head office of a building society in Wales.

SB: Well, please keep us posted, if you find out.

HD: We will, we will. We'll keep everyone updated with what's to come.

SB: Thank you so much for your time.

HD: Thank you for talking to me.

LBR: Henry Darby is the Marketing and Communications officer of the Swansea Building Society.

[poppy beat]

Shania Twain Superfan

SOUNDCLIP

SHANIA TWAIN: This is for you, Lukey.

[“Up” By Shania Twain/pop]

LBR: That's Shania Twain introducing her song "Up" this past weekend at Churchill Park in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. But what you might have missed was who she dedicated that song to: Lukey. That is, Lukey Whelan, a Newfoundlander and Shania Twain superfan. Mr. Whelan -- who has Down Syndrome -- didn't just get to go to the show, he got to meet Ms. Twain backstage before the performance. He and his mother -- Lynne Palfrey -- told the story to the St. John's Morning Show.

SOUNDCLIP

LYNNE PALFREY: When we found out that Shania was coming to Newfoundland, we weren't sure if it was a rumour or not. And then -- as days went by -- we found out it was true, hey, Lukey.

LUKEY WHELAN: Yeah. [chuckling]

LP: That your, Shania -- your idol -- was coming to Newfoundland -- your hometown.

JAMIE FITZPATRICK: Woo!

LP: So we reached out to Churchill Park Festival.

LW: And me!

LP: Yes, and you! And we wrote a story all about Lukey.

LW: [clapping] I like that!

LP: And then, we sent it off to them. And a few weeks ago, we got an email saying that Lukey was a chosen recipient to meet Shania.

LW: Oh yeah!

LP: And there was an anonymous donation.

JF: You brought a friendship bracelet and some flowers. Did you give them, where they a gift for Shania?

LW: I did!

JF: Absolutely. Great idea.

LP: What did it say on the bracelet? It's a friendship bracelet you made.

LW: I love you. And good luck.

LP: And you said "Up" on it, right?

LW: Yes, "Up" is all about me!

LP: There's nothing down about you.

JF: Can you tell me a little more about that? Because -- Lukey -- you have Down Syndrome. You prefer to call it "Up Syndrome". Why is that?

LW: Reaching for the stars.

LP: You're reaching for the stars, and there's nothing --

LW: Down about me, man.

LBR: That was Shania Twain superfan Lukey Whelan and his mom, Lynne Palfrey speaking to the CBC's Jamie Fitzpatrick on the St. John's Morning Show.

[ambient instrumental]

Part 2: DNC: Dean Phillips, Metrolinx Expropriations

DNC: Dean Phillips

Guest: Dean Phillips

LBR: Unity has been one of the main messages at the Democratic National Convention this week -- with praise for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz coming from virtually all Democratic corners... and even a few Republican ones. But getting here hasn't been easy for the party. It was just 31 days ago that Joe Biden dropped out of the race, following weeks of pressure from within. But long before that inflection point, one Democrat mounted a campaign to get the President off the ticket. Just over a year ago, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips dropped this bombshell.

SOUNDCLIP

DEAN PHILLIPS: I am today announcing my candidacy for the presidency of the United States of America. [cheers and claps]

LBR: Dean Phillips made the argument that Biden was too old to run -- and that the Democrats needed to embrace a generational change in leadership. But his campaign was met with fierce opposition and quickly ran out of steam. Now, he's at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, along with everyone else. That's where we reached him.

SB: Congressman Phillips, have you resisted the temptation to say I told you so at the convention?

DP: [chuckle] Susan, I have to say that many have asked me that question. And despite that human inclination to do so, this was never about that. My reward -- if you will -- was walking into United Centre here in Chicago and feeling the energy and the optimism and what was really a palpable shift from a party that seemed to be preparing for a funeral and instead were celebrating a rebirth. And that was my mission. And the fact that that part has been accomplished is joyful. And now -- of course -- for Democrats, we have to win an election. And now, the real work begins.

SB: Well, you say it's joyful. But you had a pretty hard time by standing up and saying to your party that Joe Biden was not the right candidate. How hard did it get for you?

DP: Well -- Susan -- I will, I'll be forthright. I underestimated the degree of vitriol and excoriation that would ensue by having the audacity to challenge an incumbent president. And I think listeners would probably recognize that in both Canadian and American politics, there is little reward for saying the quiet part out loud, for speaking truth to power. And that was part of my mission to combat this culture of silence in favour of principle. And the pushback was intense. The deplatforming, the nasty comments. But I knew in my heart it was the right mission. Joe Biden, a wonderful man. But the numbers were clear. American voters were clear. Democratic voters -- a majority of Democratic voters were clear -- they wanted a different nominee. And I took an oath to our Constitution here in the United States and to my constituents and my country. And that requires sometimes pursuing uncomfortable paths. And I did. I would do it a thousand times over. But all that pain and sweat and tears were well worthwhile when -- finally -- we accomplished what seemed to be impossible just about a month ago. And the reward -- I hope -- is forthcoming.

SB: Well, before you announced your own candidacy last year, you called for -- quote -- a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats to step up, unquote. Are Harris and Walz who you had in mind?

DP: I'll tell you -- at that very moment -- I would have to tell you that Vice President Harris's poll numbers were even below Joe Biden's. And I did not think -- at that moment -- that if there was a traditional primary or competition that she would emerge. But I will say turn up the clock now a full year. The energy that both Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have generated is almost unprecedented. And I can tell you, as someone who has been a skeptic of this process and concerned about our strategy for some time, I have been wowed by her ability to consolidate support amongst Democrats. Governor Walz -- who I've known for so many years and I consider a dear friend for his ability to position himself as America's dad joke candidate. And it's miraculous. And it was not the plan. It was not necessarily by strategy. But sometimes, good luck and meeting the moment is the best recipe for political success. And the way this has transpired is quite remarkable and makes so many of us optimistic.

SB: Do you think that perhaps the fact that Joe Biden held on as long as he did actually added to the momentum that is playing out now?

DP: That's a very keen observation to suggest that perhaps the way that this transpired was the very miracle we needed. And that means so close to the convention, not having to endure a primary that would push this -- in this case -- Vice President Harris to the left. Instead now, americans will get to enjoy a very brief -- at least by American standards -- a brief campaign cycle of about 100 days. And she does not have to endure a primary. Which -- of course -- always pushes candidates to either the left or right, depending on party, and then have to migrate back to the centre. So, she has the luxury of really addressing the general election audience. And that is a remarkable luxury and blessing in American politics. And I think history might -- indeed -- indicate that there was perhaps some good fortune shining on us that this happened so close to the convention. And former President Trump made the very egregious error in agreeing to debate Joe Biden before the Democratic convention.

SB: Last night, the former first lady -- Michelle Obama -- addressed the issue of party unity in her speech, which has been so well received right across the board. Let's, let's listen to a little of what she said.

SOUNDCLIP

MICHELLE OBAMA: No matter how good we feel tonight, or tomorrow, or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle. So -- folks -- we cannot be our own worst enemies. [cheers and claps] No. See, 'cause the minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold -- folks -- we cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right.

SB: How did Michelle Obama's words resonate with you? What do you hear in that message?

DP: Well, I, first of what I heard is one of the most extraordinary historic voices in American history who has never been elected to office. And I think the words that she just shared that you played are poignant and prescient and very important for Democrats to, to hear. Because she's absolutely right. This is a time for unity. And I will tell you, I was the poster child for the formerly popular member of the U.S. Congress who was somewhat dismissed by my party for a period of time but welcomed back with open arms and high fives and hugs and handshakes at our convention. And I think that demonstrates the capacity of our party to reconcile and leave the past behind and be the very progressive party that's our namesake. And that's quite a joyful outcome.

SB: It was so good of you to make time for us. Thank you so much.

DP: Anytime. Best wishes.

CH: Dean Phillips is the Congressional representative for Minnesota's Third District. We reached him at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

[hip-hop beat]

Linda Burney

LBR: The first Indigenous woman in Australia's House of Representatives has announced her retirement. In a farewell speech this week, Labor MP Linda Burney reflected on her 21 years in politics -- both the achievements and the disappointments. One the biggest of those includes last year's failed "Indigenous Voice to Parliament" referendum that would have amended the Australian Constitution to create a new and potentially ground-breaking Parliamentary voice for the country's First Nations. Here's part of what Linda Burney had to say.

SOUNDCLIP

LINDA BURNEY: When I first entered this House, I knew I was walking a path that had never before been walked by someone like me. Before entering state parliament, I was first a teacher, then I worked in Aboriginal education, heading up the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. And eventually, the director-general of the Aboriginal Affairs Department. My time at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was the first time I truly had to grapple with the policy challenges and cross-portfolio disparity that became known as closing the gap. But before closing the gap, there was Gail. Gail who worked on reception at D of A. One Friday afternoon, I heard Gail sum up the human cost of the gap when she answered a call about special benefits allegedly going to Aboriginal people. I'll tell you what you get, said Gail. You get diabetes; you get a shorter life expectancy. We get to see our kids drop out of school and go to jail. We get turned away from jobs. We get to go to too many funerals. That's what we get. That caller never rang back. Our people are more likely to have experienced homelessness than hold an undergraduate degree. And as our prime minister has said -- in 2020 -- the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people locked up in a prison cell was four times as many of those celebrated graduating uni that year. Walk in those shoes. I also want to share some thoughts on last year's "Voice" referendum. The referendum did not achieve the outcomes that many of us -- all of us -- wanted, but I believe it can and will be a catalyst for progress and positive change in our nation. That in the years to come, it will be looked on more kindly by history because of the role it played in inspiring a new generation of young Indigenous leaders to emerge and push the change for a better futures, future. Because it showed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities overwhelmingly wanted a voice to be heard, and the 6.3 million Australians said yes. It highlighted how far we've come and how far we still must go to be a truly reconciled country.

LBR: That was part of Linda Burney's farewell speech to her colleagues this week. Ms. Burney was Australia's first Indigenous woman in the House of Representatives.

[newsy theme]

Metrolinx Expropriations

Guest: Peggy Leung

LBR: The houses on the other side of Peggy Leung's street are all empty. Residents there had to leave when Metrolinx -- a transportation agency of the Government of Ontario -- told them they needed the properties to build a new subway line. But Ms. Leung was told she could stay. Until now. We reached her in Toronto.

SB: Peggy, I understand you were just coming back from vacation when you received this news. What happened exactly?

PEGGY LEUNG: Well, I came back on July 21st because I remember. And I tell everyone that's the last day I was happy. The next day, I get a knock on the door from the guy at Metrolinx that I've been dealing with, dealing with -- you know -- missing bricks from outside doing the pavement. And I said, oh, are you here for my, for my bricks? He says, no, there's a change in plans. We need to take your house. I says, come again? Yes. We need to have, take your house, and it's going to be a buyout. I said a buyout? Across the street, there's eight homes on that little street and they've been expropriated. I said, what is the difference? He goes, well, it's not really a difference. I said, well, why are you referring to it as a buyout? And that's what he said. And I just stood there. No writing, no letters, nothing. Just verbally, we need to take your house and a few of the neighbours' houses. So after that happened, I went to our local Metrolinx office and they knew nothing about it. So three weeks later, I get a knock on the door. I said, you guys are from the Metrolinx office that knew nothing about my problem. They go, yes, there's been a change in plans. We're not just taking a few houses. We're taking the entire street on your side from the top of the street down. And they give us this letter saying there's a meeting next Wednesday to discuss.

SB: They told you they're taking your house. And I understand that you also run a day-care out of your home?

PL: Yes. I run a day-care that is directly linked to the Pape School, which is across the street. So I've been doing this since I've lived here 14 years. So I take kids before school at 9, and then I pick them up at 3:30. My business will be over because I will not be living beside the school. So I expect to be compensated for that, for sure.

SB: How are you coping with all this?

PL: I am not coping. I don't expect anyone to understand unless you're in my shoes. If you took an x-ray, it's like I'm dead. I'm usually a very live, very vivacious person. And people notice me. I am dead. It's almost like I need therapy because I don't know how to cope. Because I'm so sad. I don't want to leave. It's all, 24/seven, it's all I think about.

SB: I understand. We reached out to, to Metrolinx, and were told that your house is one of 25 properties that have been now --

PL: Yes. The entire street has 25 houses.

SB: Right. And --

PL: We're all affected.

SB: And Metrolinx says that, that they're at risk because of the tunnelling activities.

PL: potentially at risk.

SB: So they say, they tell us, the language that Metrolinx uses is that they are seizing these properties under -- quote -- an abundance of caution. So --

PL: That's exactly it.

SB: So what do you think when you hear that?

PL: I guess they don't want to avoid a lawsuit because what they said was the soil samples, the soil is like the beach sand. So it's very fine, I guess. You know, they didn't, they realized it wasn't, it's different material. So they said that they're going to drill for the next two years or whatever, and there's a chance that the foundation could be cracked. There's a chance that the doors to be warped and there's, there's a chance. But at the end of the two years, they're not going to tear down the houses. Some houses will be intact -- might be intact. And the ones that aren't, we can fix it and wait for this. And we can buy it back if you like. You know how crazy that is? So I put up my hands. Why can't you just put us up somewhere for two years, everybody? That would be a lot cheaper than paying out over $1 million times 25. And then, we have the option of coming back because the house is going to just sit there anyways, right? It's not like you're making money off it. I said that, they didn't answer. Are we supposed to buy, rent somewhere? Just nothing that we really like. Just to buy our time and put our life on hold and wait two years for a chance that we could buy our house back? The houses are going to be more expensive because real estate always goes up, right?

SB: To be clear -- Peggy -- Metrolinx plans to buy you and, and these other residents out of your homes. They are promising fair market value based on independent appraisals. Nobody wants to be forced to move out of their home. But the fact that you will, you will be compensated based on fair market prices, won't that enable you to get another home?

PL: Yes. It will enable me to buy another home. That is true. We are going to get compensated, right? But, but the whole point is, I never wanted to move because I bought this house 14 years ago for really cheap. I want to stay in the same neighbourhood because I've been here all my adult life. I don't want to spend the entire mill-four on the house with nothing left over. I paid like all over 14 years ago, and I thought, one day, I'm just going to sell it. But when I'm ready. I'm not ready yet. So if I want to stay in this neighbourhood, I can't because Im going to have to spend too much. So I realize if I want a house -- I just want a two-bedroom bungalow -- I'm going to have to go north of the Danforth -- which is Greater Riverdale -- because I don't want to spend the entire proceeds that they give me on a new house because I don't need a house that big.

SB: And, and if I understand you correctly, you're worried that whatever they give you now will not be enough in two years to buy back into this market.

PL: Yeah. Because real estate always goes up no matter what. So -- at first -- I said I don't want to leave the house because that was the first couple of days because my emotions were running high. But people are just sitting. There's a lot of inventory. People aren't buying because the rates are high, so they're waiting. But next week, the Bank of Canada is going to lower the rates. So the market's going to pick up, and there's going to be more houses, meaning the prices are going to be higher. And as you wake up this spring, it's even going to go higher. And the rates are going to come down. So that makes me nervous. So I look at houses every day. I've even gone open houses on the weekend. And who are you kidding? I find a house for $1 million. I go, why is it so low? You know why it's so low? Because people aren't buying anymore. So, so that's where I am. It's stressful.

SB: I understand it's stressful. What, what are you thinking about what you'll do next in terms of dealing with Metrolinx?

PL: I'm just waiting for the number. But that, that might take months. You know, like the appraisal, the initial appraisal. Because they're going to get it appraised. I'm going to get appraised, right? I was like, this is death, you know? Like, to have, to have to move because they are building a stupid subway, which is ridiculous because not everyone even goes back to the office anymore. Well, why do they even need it? And, you know, a lot of people have been there 53 years. Across the street -- this Greek family -- she was the last to settle. And she was there for 53 years. And and I go and visit her at her new house. And she still says she has to take depression pills because she didn't want to leave 53 years worth. So that's, that's huge.

SB: Peggy, I understand that this is very unsettling for you. And thank you for taking time to explain it to us. Good luck.

PL: You're welcome. Thank you. Bye-bye.

SB: Bye-bye.

LBR: Peggy Leung is one of the residents whose home is being expropriated for the construction of the Ontario Line Subway. We reached her in Toronto. In their statement, Metrolinx also told us that once its tunnel boring machine has completed work in the area it will consider -- quote -- "all potential options, including options to move back in." Unquote.

[ambient instrumental]

KY Meat Shower

SOUNDCLIP

[meat falling from the sky?]

LBR: Picture yourself on a farm in Kentucky. It's 1876. You are making soap, when something unusual happens. So unusual -- and alarming -- that you believe it must be the work of God, meting out some kind of punishment. Not just because the alarming thing is falling from the sky but because that thing is meat. That fine March day, inexplicable chunks of raw meat showered a half-acre area for nearly an hour -- a veritable flesh flood -- and then... abruptly and thankfully... stopped. [sounds stop] The event sounds apocryphal but, it would seem, it's for-real-phal. It was reported on at the time by both Scientific American and The New York Times -- who let their readers know such important details as, quote, "the pieces of flesh were of various sizes and shapes, some of them being two inches square" and, quote, "Two gentlemen who tasted the meat express the opinion that it was either mutton or venison." Ew! Now, one of those very old chunks of sky-meat is the centrepiece of a museum exhibit about what's been dubbed the Kentucky Meat Shower. The historical hunk had been held at Transylvania University but has now returned to its home county of Bath. Perhaps the most surprising element of all -- you know, on top of the meat-rain part -- is that despite DNA tests and many theories -- some of which are too stomach-turning to mention -- the source of the meat remains a mystery. Though the so-called "vulture vomit" theory does seem to rise above the rest, thanks to the birds' habit of disgorging themselves en masse when threatened. Note to self, never threaten a vulture. Whatever the cause, we can only hope that from now on never the rain shall meat.

The AIH Transcript For August 21, 2024

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