The Current for Jan. 22, 2021
Today on The Current:
From extra screen time to missing out on sports, many parents are wondering what life in lockdown spells for their kids' physical and mental health. For those answers, and advice about how to support young people during these difficult times, we speak with pediatrician and infectious disease specialist Dr. Anna Banerji, and Dr. Tina Montreuil, an assistant professor of educational and counselling psychology at McGill University.
Then, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and her secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, are stepping down from their roles after a scathing review found they presided over a toxic work environment. The CBC's Ashley Burke and Rosemary Barton bring us the latest on that story.
And the death of a homeless man in Montreal over the weekend has advocates questioning public health policies, as shelters face pressure to reduce capacity, and Quebec's pandemic curfew continues. Raphaël André's death is sparking calls for change in how the province enforces lockdown measures. Jonathan Lebire, shelter coordinator for Projets Autochtones du Québec in Montreal, and James Hughes, CEO and president of the Old Brewery Mission, weigh in.
Plus, 10 years ago the self-immolation of a modest fruit seller in Tunisia lit the match that sparked the Arab Spring. A generation of young people experienced a political awakening during that time, but how much of the movement's spirit lives on today? Political science professor at Waterloo University and senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation Bessma Momani reflects on those answers. This is the first piece in a three-part series from The Current on the Arab Spring.