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The AIH Transcript for February 6, 2019

Hosts: Carol Off and Jeff Douglas

CAROL OFF: Hello, I’m Carol Off.

SAROJA COELHO: Good evening, I'm Saroja Coelho, sitting in for Jeff Douglas. This is “As It Happens”.

[Music: Theme]

Prologue

SC: Tonight:

CO: A free-for-all is expensive for some. 15 players and both head coaches are suspended, after a disgraceful on-ice brawl between Nova Scotia university hockey teams.

SC: Friends with detriments. Two Canadian professors team up to warn Canada's Foreign Minister about who she's teaming up with, in what they fear could be violent regime change in Venezuela.

CO: A narrow escape. Canada offers asylum to hundreds of migrants who faced slave auctions in Libya. Our guest says that thousands are still vulnerable to the same abuse.

SC: Linda Goldbloom died after being hit by a foul ball while watching her beloved L.A. Dodgers — and when it comes to fan safety, her husband wants Major League Baseball to step up to the plate.

CO: Keep on knockin' in the free world. While visiting Winnipeg, Neil Young pays a visit to the house he lived in as a teenager — but its current owner isn't home to let him in.

SC: And...force of obit. After the death of an Ontario woman named Sybil Hicks, her family publishes a tribute that inspires readers to burst into giggles instead of tears.

SC: "As It Happens", the Wednesday edition. Radio that addresses matters of laugh and death.

[Music: Theme]

Part one: Nova Scotia hockey brawl, Libya slavery refugees, Sybil Hicks obit

Nova Scotia hockey brawl

Guest: Phil Currie

SC: It started as a one-on-one fight. Grew into a violent hockey brawl. And it's ended, days later, with suspensions for players from Acadia University and St. F-X. The brawl happened last Saturday in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Here's university sports announcer Len Hawley with the play-by-play.

SOUNDCLIP

LEN HAWLEY: We've got sticks and players and a brawl here at Acadia. They've emptied the benches, and now the coaches are trying to get in the middle of it. Unbelievable, I've never seen this in 30 years of covering hockey in university — sticks, players, coaches, and the referee is trying to get them loose.

SC: After the game, the St. F-X team put out a statement describing what they say led to the brawl. They said an Acadia player made comments to a St.FX player, shaming a sexual assault survivor. Today, Atlantic University Sports announced a slew of suspensions of players and coaches from both teams — ranging in length from two to five games. Phil Currie is the Executive Director of Atlantic University Sport. We reached him in Halifax.

CO: Mr. Currie, we just heard the announcer for that game saying he has never seen anything like this in his 30 years. How did you react when you saw the footage?

PHI: CURRIE: Obviously the footage was alarming for sure, and continues to be alarming. And we’ll address all the issues related to it as we move on here.

CO: But given what we saw, there's automatic suspensions — two to five game suspensions for various players. Is that severe enough considering what happened?

PC: Well, you know the approach we took with this, Carol, is to kind of break out your typical hockey pieces and address those first. One of things we don't want to do and this is to include student athletes who are not necessarily involved in the incident. We don't want to bring them into this and get them in trouble in any way. But we do want to address obviously the seriousness of the incident with the perpetrators of the incident. And so we feel by separating the pure hockey pieces from the actual egregious pieces, that's the approach we're taking.

CO: So you got good video evidence of this brawl, but what do you have as evidence as to what started it? And I mean this is an audio situation — a comment was made. What do you know about what launched this brawl?

PC: Well, we do know there's a derogatory statement made, and we're investigating that to understand the context of it. You know why it was directed in any way that it was directed and those types of things. So you know I've made a complaint to our sport chair to start a deeper investigation. We had to do the preliminary investigation, but a deeper investigation into that particular issue.

CO: Can you shed any light as to what was said?

PC: You know at this point I'll just say it was derogatory, and not something that we accept in any way shape or form.

CO: Well, the player himself says that what happened was dealing with the comments about sexual assault. And he said sexual assault is a very serious issue. There's simply no place for shaming sexual assault survivors. He also said in his statement that this is another comment that was made — this was made in the third period at Saturday night's game. So this wasn't the first time he made clear that he had these comments made to him. What do you know about that?

PC: Well, I do know that two years ago, two of our institutions — the two involved in this particular issue — had had discussed some comments and settled you know those comments within the university environment itself, within those programs. It was in the normal course of business I guess between the athletic departments was addressed.

CO: Ok, but look the comments it seems to be the allegation there's another one of these comments was made on the ice. But what happened is that when this player told his coach, his coach then told an official that this comment was made. And then as the player himself said he says I was completely shocked when minutes later, I was on the ice, and the offending athlete — the one who made the comment — was sent to take the face off against me. How could that have happened?

PC: Well, that's what we’re trying to get to here, Carol. There have been a number of student athletes, and as well as the coaches, included in the complaints. And the reason and rationale behind moving to the complaint side of this is so we can investigate and get to the questions you're asking.

CO: But in general, even if you can't speak to the specifics of this, in general, does that strike you as being really quite egregious? That they would have sent this player to face off against someone who they just know had made a comment like this to him?

PC: Yes, yes it does. But in our system, we do have to go through this process to get to the to the answers and to your question.

CO: The player said that he understands there is no place in hockey for the kind of violence that took place on the ice. But at the same time, he said he is very proud of his teammates for sticking up for him. And the coach — the St. F-X coach — Brad Peddle, also said in the statement that he again also he doesn't condone the violence. But at the same time, he is quite proud of the students for standing up for their teammates. So what do you say to him?

PC: Initially, you know I don't necessarily agree with what he said. And maybe he should have said in a different way. But he has a certain reason for saying that. In terms of the actual event, all these questions will be asked and answered, I hope, and I anticipate in the investigation.

CO: But the coach and the student are saying what the overarching statement is that some things are more important than hockey?

PC: I 100 per cent agree with that. I mean some things are, and you know in the university environment as you know, fighting is not part of the game, and shouldn't be. We hold our coaches and student athletes to a higher standard. It’s an extremely unfortunate situation that we're going to get to the bottom of and address appropriately.

CO: Both these teams have a number of players who are now suspended, and both of their coaches are suspended. I know there's a game tonight with Acadia. What happens now as these games go forward?

PC: Well, the games go forward. We anticipate the games are going to be played. There are a substantial number of St. F-X players — and Acadia players — that have been sanctioned. We do have a policy in the AUS that your game roster is 22. If they can't make that, then that becomes problematic, and we'll know that shortly.

CO: All right, we'll leave it there. Mr. Currie, thank you.

PC: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

SC: Phil Currie is the Executive Director of Atlantic University Sport. We reached him in Halifax. After we recorded that interview, Acadia University released a statement acknowledging that one of their players made a, quote, "inappropriate comment containing a particular word to a St.F-X student-athlete." Unquote. The university said the player apologized after the game. However, the statement went on to say, quote, "Acadia disputes that the comment was made deliberately or that it was made with the intent and in the context in which it has been portrayed in mainstream and social media." Unquote.

[Music: Ambient]

Libya slavery refugees

Guest: Leonard Doyle

SC: They are human beings who were forced to become modern-day slaves. Their story first broke in 2017, when CNN showed images of migrants detained under brutal conditions in Libya — being bought and sold at open-air markets, and then put to work. Today, Canada's immigration minister announced that several hundred of the people who were subjected to those conditions will be coming to Canada as refugees. Leonard Doyle is the Media Director at the United Nations migration agency that helped uncover the slave auctions. We reached Mr. Doyle in Geneva, Switzerland.

CO: Mr. Doyle, first of all, how did these people come to be auctioned off at slave markets?

LEONARD DOYLE: Well, I mean we don't know for sure. But one thing that's clear though is that many people were lured from their homes in West Africa, and elsewhere. Some were forced because they were fleeing violence, of course. Some were asylum seekers in that sense. Others were economic migrants trying to better their lives. And along the journey, many were you know terribly abused, trafficked, put into servitude, treated badly. But we also know that they used social media to get on the journey. That's for sure as well.

CO: What do you mean they used social media? This is how they were lured from their homes?

LD: I mean not everyone by any means, but certainly the people who are organizing them — so-called connection men that they meet in the villages and towns who are part of this long criminal chain — they're using WhatsApp and other encrypted services like Messenger to shepherd their charges through the you know very inhospitable terrain. And also you know many, of course, learn to get on Facebook and are lured by what they see on Facebook as the kind of attractions of an unreachable dream in Europe.

CO: And these are people in Libya, but where are they from, what countries have they come from?

LD: I mean they're from all over. They're from you know at least the 14 countries of West Africa. Also from Eritrea, in particular from Ethiopia, even as far as Bangladesh and beyond — because Libya became basically a kind of an open wound in the southern flank of Europe that people realized they could get through. But not really knowing that there were these dreadfully exploitative people there who would take advantage of them, traffic them, make them modern-day slaves as it's often called. But also put them literally on the slave block as you said at the top.

CO: And who buys them? What's the market?

LD: Libya's a very big country — physically very huge. It's bigger than France, but the population is tiny; it’s about five million. So there's a lot of need for labourers for construction, for cleaning staff, you name it. I mean anything that you can pay somebody to do, they will want to do it. So a lot of these migrants were shaken down by the people as soon as they crossed the border. They then put them into terrible detention centers, get them to call home, have more money sent through, and then sell them on. They essentially want to just make as much profit from them as they go along. And then eventually, they kind of wash up at the other end, and some of them made it across to Europe, but increasingly fewer of them.

CO: But the ones who are part of this resettlement program are those who have survived that and found themselves to be living in some kind of detention conditions. What have you seen?

LD: Well, I've traveled twice to Libya and seen the detention centers. And they’re frankly appalling. And, of course, I was with a delegation, so we're seeing the cleaned up version of it. But what was particularly shocking was seeing thousands of people sitting down cross-legged with a piece of bread in their hands to keep them quiet, and really just calling out for help as we came by — women to one part, men to another. And as you go into the area where they sleep, they are given foam mattresses, but there is no space between the individuals. There is one toilet for three or four hundred people. And, of course, we know that when the doors close and international eyes are gone, the abuse that was happening there is just off the scales.

CO: And children are there as well?

LD: Children as well, and at one point I went into one of the detention centers while there was this macabre show taking place outside for the VIPs I was with. They had migrants actually in little egg and spoon races while they were looking on Gadhafi style in these big armchairs out in the desert. But going into the detention centers, I interviewed a man who had just lost his entire family. He had survived alone, and he was in this shocking, appalling state. And, of course, the guards intervened. They don't want him interviewed or filmed. And it became quite unpleasant.

CO: The people among them who are now in the resettlement program from which Canada will be bringing some people over. How are they being selected? Who is considered to be eligible for resettlement?

LD: Well, I'm not privy to the precise details here. But typically, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees would be assigned people to look at their cases and assess them if there are valid refugees. And refugees are people are fleeing conflict typically or persecution. But indeed, many migrants also fall into a very vulnerable category if they are being trafficked for example. So the category of people who come to Canada one assumes are in the refugee category, but I'm not privy to the details.

CO: And this is a sort of conventional way of how these resettlement programs work. The United Nations identifies a certain percentage of usually tens of thousands of people, and says yes, these are ones we will give screening to arrange for resettlement in other countries. And then there are a dozen countries in the western world who are interested in helping resettle these people. It's interesting that United States is not on that list. Why do you think that's the case?

LD: Well, I mean the United States has historically been the most generous by a long chalk. Things have changed politically, and the mood — the populism — has arisen, and migration has become a political football not only in the United States but in many countries in the world, which is unfortunate. Thankfully, Canada remains clear-sighted on the importance of resettlement for refugees. On the one hand as you just mentioned only a tiny percentage of people who flee their country are actually resettled. These are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.

CO: Just circling back to the social media, what responsibilities do those social media giants where these messages are being posted what responsibilities do those companies have?

LD: Well, they patently have responsibilities that they're not living up to. I mean as publishers — as carriers of messages — they have a civic duty surely to ensure that people are not being led astray. They will protest that they do take down the pages when they find them. But don't take my word for it. This week, in the European Union, I heard about a meeting in which a senior Facebook representative was there. German delegates literally spat on the floor and walked out of the room so disgusted was he at the lack of engagement — the lack of civic engagement — by these great big social media platforms, who deny responsibility for the actions that are taken as a result of information passed through their channels. And that this is not uncommon. This is a sentiment that people who are at the sharp edge it, people are dealing with the migrants who've been lured across to Germany in this case as a result of messages passed through social media. They're dealing with the sharp end of it, and they're seeing their own politics turning you know very volatile and radically to the right. And they're feeling personally you know like the new media — social media — needs to step up and take the same responsibility that the traditional media always has taken and continues to take for those stories that are passed through their channels. I mean it's quite obvious really.

CO: Mr. Doyle, we will leave it there. And I appreciate speaking with you tonight. Thank you.

LD: Thank you very much for inviting me.

SC: Leonard Doyle is the Media Director at the United Nations migration agency. We reached him in Geneva. We've got more on this story on our webpage. Go to: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Ambient]

Sybil Hicks obit

Guest: Brian Hicks

SC: The listing stands out in this week's obituaries section of the Hamilton Spectator newspaper. Her name was Sybil Marie Hicks. And the listing starts like this. Quote, "It hurts me to admit it. But I, Mrs. Ron Hicks from Baysville, have passed away. I leave behind my loving husband, Ron, whom I often affectionately referred to as a Horse's Ass." Unquote. Ms. Hicks was many things — a nurse, a horticulturalist, a woman with a wicked sense of humour, and the mother of five kids — Bob, Brian, Brenda, Barbara, and Bruce. We reached Brian Hicks — her second oldest — in Bracebridge, Ontario.

CO: Brian, first of all, I'm sorry for the loss of your mother.

BRIAN HICKS: Thank you, Carol.

CO: But I have to say reading this obituary, she sounds like quite a character.

BH: She certainly was. We had a situation where she has had alzheimer's for quite a number of years, and we just thought that when she passed, we really didn't want to have this sort of boilerplate template obituary. We wanted to do something that celebrated who she was, and to give us an opportunity to basically have one last conversation with her and have some laughs at the same time.

CO: So you decided to write it as though she was writing it herself?

BH: Correct, yes. The first person we felt was probably the best way for her to communicate. We decided that what a great way to celebrate this amazing woman's humour and spirits and whatnot, and it just got sillier and sillier from there.

CO: the first line: "It hurts me to admit it. But I, Mrs. Ron Hicks from Baysville, have passed away.”

BH: That's right. She often referred to herself as “Mrs. Ron Hicks” when she wanted to be forceful and make a point and get on a bit of a soapbox.

CO: Are you putting words in her mouth when she says I leave behind my loving husband, whom I often affectionately referred to as a “Horse's Ass”?

BH: That's a term that she used an awful lot, and I'll give you an example. You know often when she would say something loud and with authority, my father lovingly said to her Sybil, you know can I help you down? And she would kind of look at him quizzically, and she said what do you mean? He goes well, I can help you get down off that soapbox if you like. And she would then call him a horse's ass. So that's sort of how that term of endearment came about.

CO: The five kids that she had, well you call them in the article the “Five Bs” because all of your names start with B. But they said that Bob — the oldest — was the favourite, not you.

BH: Interesting too, right? You know five having five children all named B kind of gives you a sense of her character as well. Bob always said when he went to visit her in the long-term facility that he would ask mum he was the favourite, and she would sort of laugh and smile and giggle. And you know not really obviously understanding, but he proved to us time and time again that that he was still Mum's favourite. So we thought we'd throw that one in there. And, of course, there's little stories about all five of us.

CO: You're the Oreo cookie favourite for some reason?

BH: Right, and, of course, my sisters keep claiming that I took all of the Oreo cookies out of the bag and then pretended I never got one so my mother would buy me a bag just for myself. So they always were short-changed.

CO: The article is very amusing, and is making the rounds on social media. But it's light on details of who your mother was. And to that she was a nurse, I guess. She graduated best class ever 1957. And she and dad ran a company for 20 years. So just tell us a bit about what was she like?

BH: She was a pretty amazing woman. She took on every task with passion. And she was really the person that ran the family, including the discipline. And anything she put her mind to, she did. She had her own sewing centre, teaching people how to sew. She had ran the school bus line with my father. And she was a nurse, and always had a smile. The home was always open and welcome to their friends, as well as all of our friends as kids. Every one of our friends just didn't want to leave. They'd end up staying overnight or for the weekend because they enjoyed our family dynamic, I guess.

CO: Just finally, one of the best lines in this obituary is she says “I finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted, having been cremated.”

BH: Yes, that was sort of a point that we stewed over a little bit. There's a couple of reasons why we decided to put that in there. One was because the idea of having the perfect body is just absolutely not what my mother ever talked about. She would basically say that you know see that there's no hope for that ever happening. So we just thought what a great way to sort of throw that in there as a basically a bit of a statement about the fact we shouldn't really be worried too much about what we look like. We should just have fun and enjoy the precious moments together.

CO: What do you think your mother would think of this obituary, and also of all the attention it's getting in the media?

BH: Actually, my daughter Mason said it best. She said we couldn't really communicate with Grandma for so many years, and it's really nice that we have an opportunity through social media to share her spirit and her humour, and just to allow other people to kind of get to know her. And I think my mom's probably, to be honest with you, she's probably looking at Barbara, Brenda, and myself, and maybe taking some of the pressure off my dad by calling us the horse's asses now.

CO: Brian, thank you. And thanks for telling us about Sybil.

BH: Carol, thank you so much for your interest in our family. We really appreciate it. And I know my mom would be pleased.

CO: All right, take care. Bye-bye.

BH: Thanks, Carol. Bye-bye.

SC: Brian Hicks is one of Sybil Hicks' five children. We reached him in Bracebridge. Sybil Hicks passed away last week, and her obituary is making the rounds today on social media. Go to our Twitter page to read it: @CBCAsItHappens.

[Music: Ambient jazz]

Venezuela Canada, foul ball death

Venezuela Canada

Guest: John Kirk

SC: John Kirk is worried that Canada's Foreign Minister has been too quick to join the push for regime change in Venezuela. Professor Kirk is an expert on Latin America at Dalhousie University. He's just co-authored an op-ed for the Globe and Mail. It warns Minister Freeland that some of her allies' motives may not be entirely pure. We reached Professor Kirk in Halifax.

CO: Professor Kirk, as you know, Minister Chrystia Freeland has said that Canada and its allies in this so-called Lima group are simply supporting democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. So why do you dispute that?

JOHN KIRK: I think that the situation in Venezuela is so complicated with such a polarized society, with so many arms that are in people's hands, with so many different vested interests from outside countries. I think it's too simplistic to say that Canada is there for democracy support. It's far more complicated, and I don't think that people have thought through what precisely might be happening and what could happen and what the motives are.

CO: Do you think that they don't? Do you think this group — most of whom are Latin American countries; Canada being exception — do you not think that they understand how complex this is?

JK: Well, I think this view if you look at some of the partners that we have in the Lima group, there's some pretty disreputable presidents, and some pretty disreputable situations that lack of democracy. Honduras and Guatemala are the best example, and Brazil with President Bolsonaro. So I think that there are vested interests at play in some of the Latin American countries. The US clearly has made it made it a purpose or an objective to try to get back into the oil business. So I think my concern is that we're rushing ahead. And I think this is something which should be left to the Venezuelans. Now, I'm not I'm not defending Maduro, but what I'm trying to say is that in such a polarized society, I think to be coming along as sort of a well-intentioned middle power into something that we don't quite understand I think is dangerous.

CO: You do point out that there's a lot of hypocrisy among those whose human rights records are pretty dismal in this group. But at the same time, the statement they're making is that the Maduro regime is not legitimate. This is a statement from Chrystia Freeland that Maduro seized power through fraudulent, anti-democratic elections. And that this is an illegitimate cling to power. So that is the overarching reason why Canada and these other countries are intervening, is it not?

JK: Well, yes. But I think that if you look at me the countries that are in the Lima group, you could make a similar argument. So the question is why show selective indignation to one country? Would Canada be doing this if there weren't elections this year? I'm afraid of a massive bloodbath civil war taking place in Venezuela because of the polarization.

CO: But isn't that precisely why they want to intervene is to avoid that? And as you pointed out that there’s numbers of paramilitary groups that are operating there, unknown numbers of guns and gangs that are there, other troops from other countries. We're hearing mercenaries from Russia have arrived. A tremendous potential for as you say a bloodbath. Is that not precisely the reason why Canada and other countries should be attempting to intervene?

JK: I think a better solution would be to let the Venezuelans sort it out themselves with the mediation of Mexico and Uruguay, and with the intervention of Pope Francis.

CO: But how can Mexico and Uruguay and Pope Francis do any better than what Chrystia Freeland and the Lima group is trying to do?

JK: Well, I think that that Mexico has got far more credibility than some of the individual countries that are involved at the moment. I think that by contrast, having the pope's involvement I think that would have a significant impact. Don't forget as well that Maduro, and I'm not defending Maduro, but Maduro in the presidential elections received six million votes. The opposition, of course, as you pointed out refused to participate — they boycotted the elections.

CO: The turnout was 46 per cent.

JK: That's correct.

CO: The lowest in its history, so that's one of the reasons why they say that this election was not legitimate.

JK: That's right, and I think that the election rightfully has been discredited. But the point I'm trying to make is there's such polarization in Venezuelan society that having foreign powers coming in to intervene, possibly with the best of intentions in the case of Canada, but definitely not in the case of the United States or of other countries that are part of the Lima group. I think this is a recipe for disaster for the population of Venezuela.

CO: But this is not a foreign intervention. They're not running the government. They are supporting someone who is by virtue of the Constitution, the person who would become the interim president if the president who is in office is not considered to be legitimate. That's the situation. So it's Juan Guaido who is the person that they are supporting. It’s not their own sort of puppet regime.

JK: I agree. But I think that Guaido is very inexperienced. I think that the Constitution there's a debate as to how legitimate the Constitution is. You can make the case, I’m not making the case, but you can make the case that that Guaido is not legitimate. That he was unheard of until recently, lacks the experience for something which is very, very complicated, and, in fact, is a stooge.

CO: But he is nonetheless legitimately the person by virtue of being the President of the Assembly. He is the person who would do it.

JK: He is the president of one of the two assemblies. That is correct.

CO: We had a guest on last night who said that there is tremendous interest in the oil patch in Venezuela on the part of Americans. Are there economic opportunities for Canada as well?

JK: I don't think it's that great a prospect, and I don't think that is a major motive. I think that Minister Freeland I think is trying very hard to develop a good international profile for Canada. After disasters in India, and after complications with China and Saudi Arabia, we still don't have a steel and aluminum agreement with the United States. Canada wants to have a seat on the UN Security Council. I think that the geopolitical interests are probably greater for the current Canadian government than the possibility of oil services in Venezuela.

CO: All right, we'll leave it there. Professor Kirk, I appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.

JK: You're very welcome. Thank you.

SC: John Kirk is a professor of Latin American Studies at Dalhousie University. We reached him in Halifax. For more on this story go to our webpage at: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Piano]

Brexit Hell

SC: Since December, Donald Tusk has been saying that the UK withdrawal agreement from the European Union is, quote, "not open for renegotiation." But today, the President of the European Council went a step further — using his harshest language yet against Brexit supporters. Here's Mr. Tusk, at a press conference alongside Irish Premier Leo Varadkar. And just a note, that Mr. Tusk's harsh language — referencing the fiery depths of Hades — comes near the end of the audio.

SOUNDCLIP

DONALD TUSK: There are 50 days left until the UK’s exit from the European Union, following the decision and the will of the UK authorities. I know that still have a great number of people in the UK and on the continent wish for a reversal of this decision. I have always been with you with all my heart. But the facts are unmistakable. At the moment, the pro-Brexit stance of the UK Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition rules out this question. I say this without satisfaction, but you can't argue with the facts. Today, our most important task is to prevent and no deal scenario. I hope that tomorrow we will hear from Prime Minister May a realistic suggestion on how to end the impasse. I strongly believe that a common solution is possible, and I will do everything in my power to find it. A sense of responsibility also tells us to prepare for a possible fiasco. By the way, I've been wondering what that special place in the hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it safely?

JD: Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, saying there will be, quote, "a special place in hell" for those who promoted Brexit. The reaction that followed from across the channel was just as scathing as the comment itself. House of Commons leader and Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom called Mr. Tusk's comments disgraceful and spiteful, and demanded an apology. Former UKIP Leader and Brexiteer Nigel Farage tweeted, quote, "After Brexit we will be free of unelected, arrogant bullies like you and run our own country. Sounds more like heaven to me." Unquote. Officials in Brussels have attempted to clarify Mr. Tusk's comments. They told the BBC that he meant that Brexiteers would occupy that special place in hell when they're dead. And, quote: "Not right now."

[Music: Jazz]

Foul ball death

Guest: Erwin Goldbloom

SC: Linda Goldbloom loved baseball. In particular, she loved the L.A. Dodgers. So for her, there was no more fitting place to celebrate both her birthday and her wedding anniversary last summer than Dodger Stadium. But at the top of the ninth last August 25th, she was hit in the head with a foul ball. Four days later, she died. Now, a coroner's report obtained by ESPN says that blow to the head was the cause of her death. And while Major League Baseball has taken steps to improve safety for fans, her family members say those changes don't go far enough. Erwin Goldbloom was sitting next to his wife at that game. We reached him in West Hills, California.

CO: Erwin, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss.

ERWIN GOLDBLOOM: Thank you very much.

CO: Can you take us back to that game in August, and it was at the top of the ninth inning that night. What happened?

EG: In the ninth inning, and our seats are located in the second level, which is the loading level pretty much right behind the plate in the third row. It's a hot area. I mean you get a lot of foul balls, but there's a vertical screen in front. But it doesn't come up high enough.

CO: So what was the pitch? What was the hit?

EG It was a line drive foul ball from the batter almost directly back. And it just cleared the top of the screen, and hit my wife in the head.

CO: Was there any way she could have avoided it or dodged it at all?

EG: It was just one of those screaming line drives that came directly there and probably got there in a split second. And nobody in the area could even move, it just came so fast. It hit her, and then it bounced off and hit my brother who was sitting behind us and bounced off of him. It just was one of those line drives that come directly at you.

CO: Was your wife still conscious?

EG: She was conscious at the time. And I asked her how she was — was she ok? And she said no. And then the Dodgers emergency staff came down and looked at her, and she was starting to have a weakening in her left arm and leg. And so they carried her up the stairs because she couldn't walk, and put her on a gurney and took her to the medical first aid office, and then determined that she should go right to the hospital. They took her to the hospital. She never recovered.

CO: I'm so sorry.

EG: Yeah, me too.

CO: She was 79 years old.

EG: Right.

CO: And you had been going to games for a long time; you and Linda were big fans, eh?

EG: Yeah. We had part of a season ticket where we went to 10 games with another couple.

CO: The coroner said that it was the head trauma caused by the foul ball that was the cause of the death. So how have the Dodgers responded to that confirmation that it was a foul ball?

EG: Well, they never questioned that.

CO: The statement they issued said they were deeply saddened by this tragedy.

EG: That was the first time they made that statement.

CO: Oh, is that right. And then they also said the matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family, is that the case?

EG: Yes. We filed a wrongful death suit, and went to mediation, and it was resolved. One of the things of mediation is you can't divulge the results. So I can’t.

CO: You've settled the legal part of it — just what happened to your wife. But you want to see more done to protect others from these kinds of injuries, is that right?

EG: Yes, In Japan, the net runs all the way to the fall polls in major league baseball in Japan. And you know, last year, they extended it horizontally to the end of the dugouts. And they said there were a 180 less incidents last year than the year before due that. So that's something they should be doing more.

CO: Does putting that netting up does it affect people's pleasure with the game? Could they still watch clearly?

EG: No, no, no, A friend of mine used to have seats behind the dugout, and you don't even notice it.

CO: So why don't they do it? I mean Bloomberg Review said that there is 1,750 fans per year are injured by foul balls. And, of course, we saw that absolutely tragic and frightening moment at Yankee Stadium when that little kid got hit with a foul ball — a little baby —who survived, happily. But with all these kinds of accidents that happen, with all these kinds of injuries, why would they resist putting up better netting?

EG: I don’t know? They haven’t resisted it. They did extend it a little bit. But, hopefully, my wife's death will encourage them. It just happens, you know? They’ll go along and won't do anything because they don't have to. They have the law on their side. The law says that it's on the tickets that they're not liable for anybody hit by foul, thrown balls, or thrown bats.

CO: But you're also referring to something called the “Baseball Rule”, which is that you can just choose not to sit in a place where you might get hit with a foul ball. But so but by virtue of that…

EG: You know what? You never hear about that. I just heard about that. I've never heard about that until now. They've never say it to anybody that this is a danger area or this is where you should sit. And most of the seats that are in a protected area are the real expensive seats. You know they don't have to do the whole thing. But the more they do, the less injuries they're going to have. And we hope that my wife’s death will spur them to make it a more safe environment for people.

CO: Just finally, how has this changed your view of baseball, or has it changed it?

EG: I love baseball. I've been going since I was four years old. I was raised in Chicago, and I used to go with my dad on Sundays and sat on his lap. And we’ve been going to Dodger games for four years. I don't know if I can go back to the games though? That was the last game of the year for us, and in the last inning. Most of Dodger fans leave early. We never did. We always stayed.

CO: Erwin, I'm sorry for what's happened. But I can hear you that you might be able to make some changes for others. And thank you for speaking with us.

EG: Ok, Carol. Bye.

SC: Erwin Goldbloom is the husband of Linda Goldbloom, who died after being hit with a foul ball at a baseball game. He was in West Hills, California. To see photos of Linda Goldbloom — including one Erwin took of her at the game that day before she was hit — go to our website: www.cbc.ca/aih.

[Music: Ambient]

Neil Young house

SC: John Kiernan is pretty nonchalant about living in the former home of a rock star. The Winnipeg man lives in the house that Neil Young lived in as a teenager. Mr. Young moved there with his mother when he was 12. It's where he launched his music career. Well, it turns out Neil himself was visiting his stomping grounds this past Saturday and Sunday. And this was while Mr. Kiernan was out and about on the weekend, his neighbour called to tell him a special visitor was at his front door. Too bad he wasn't there to greet him. This morning, John Kiernan spoke with CBC's "Information Radio" about missing that visitor.

SOUNDCLIP

MARCY MARKUSA: Who came by?

JOHN KIERNAN: Well, I understand Neil Young came by as part of the childhood tour, here, the community centre, a couple of places. So we didn't see him or meet him, but some of the neighbors had seen him out front.

MM: Where were you?! And are you disappointed? How do you feel about it?

JK: You know, it's ok. You know, it's one of those things that was like can go home again, but it changes, and you change. I think he just had an interest in coming by. You know, if he had wanted, we would have been happy to show him his teenage years. But that's ok. You know, things change.

MM: Now did Neil Young do you know from your neighbours like you know he was sort of rooted around, checking it out around to around the outside, did he get inside, or was no one home?

JK: No, no one was home. So I think he made a sort of a stop here, and as I understand it Crescentwood Community Center, and then River Heights. I think it was the tour of places he had been and played, and you know it just kind of had the day, you know?

MM: How do you feel over the years? I mean you've lived there for a very, very long time. How does it feel to have people coming by and sort of looking at your house as a musical you know an iconic landmark?

JK: You know, the house has its own history. He lived here at one time. We live here now. People are really respectful. They're all good. I’d say in the 16 years we've been here, two people have knocked on the door and one was really asking permission to take a picture from across the street, and the other I think was actually this weekend where I think they were from Vancouver in for the concerts. And they appeared a little cold. But it's our house, you know it's not a museum, it's not a shrine. People connect with artists in different ways, so that it's fine. We bought the house because it was a house that worked for us, not necessary because Neil had lived here. But that's just sort of an added bonus.

SC: That was John Kiernan, speaking with Marcy Markusa today on CBC Winnipeg's "Information Radio".

[Music: Folk]

Part three: Sunrise C.E.O, Himalayan glaciers

Paul Dewar obit

SC: Paul Dewar wanted to leave something behind. The former NDP MP had already made a difference in many people's lives, when he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last year. But he wanted to do more. So, in the final months of his life — inspired by his relationship with his two sons — he started an iniative to support young activists. Paul Dewar has died. He was fifty-six. In June, after he was diagnosed with Stage Four glioblastoma, he spoke with CBC Ottawa's Robin Bresnahan. Here is part of what he had to say.

SOUNDCLIP

ROBIN BRESNAHAN: How does a diagnosis like this change those interactions with the people who you love most?

PAUL DEWAR: They're more profound. Obviously, they’re incredibly genuine. And obviously emotional, but they're so damn real. It's a gift. And you know it's a gift that is obviously one you don't plan for, but it's a gift because you know that those are things that we sometimes take for granted. So yeah.

RB: And you hear that so often from people who are left behind that you have to cherish that time you have. And yet, how many of us actually take that advice?

PD: Yeah, it’s so true. You know, I'm not the first one to go through this this journey, and I won't be the last. But I can say to you that it is that incredible paradox dichotomy of having been given this time and thank goodness you know all the people around you that love you and exceptional people that you encounter. And so yeah, it's been a real gift. And my life has been a gift. And it was really overwhelming the love and support. It really affirms that you know all the stuff and nonsense we hear sometimes in politics there's good people everywhere, and they're all trying to make a difference, and do the best they can. And I certainly felt that.

RB: So many of our listeners have e-mailed us saying do you know how Paul Dewar is doing? Is there an update? Is there anything that you want to say to the people who are listening right now?

PD: Oh thank you, is what I want to say to everyone because it's been really amazing how my neighbours. We had people delivering food to us. We had a food train it was called, and people who knew us just bringing food to us at the time I was going through treatment. But just everywhere in the city were people who were reaching out and online and sending us love and support. So I just want to say thank you, and particularly to the staff. There's lots happening, and I'm just so, so grateful for the love and support of everyone in the city. We have a fantastic city.

SC: Former NDP MP Paul Dewar speaking with CBC Ottawa's Robin Bresnahan last June about his cancer diagnosis. Mr. Dewar has died. He was 56 years old.

[Music: Horns]

Sunrise C.E.O

Guest: Doug Putman

SC: It's been a rough few years for HMV. The British bricks-and-mortar music chain has lost a lot of business to music streaming services, and appeared to be heading for bankruptcy. But Canada's Sunrise Records has swooped in to buy the chain — keeping open 100 HMV locations, and saving more than 14-hundred jobs in the process. Doug Putman is the guy behind that sale. The Hamilton, Ontario-native is the CEO and owner of Sunrise Records. We reached him in London, UK.

CO: Doug, I'm sure you made a lot of people happy in Britain when you rescued these HMV stores. But at the same time, aren't you buying into a sinking ship?

DOUG PUTMAN: We don't really see it that way. We think there's lots of life left in the physical business. And you know when you look at HMV doing 250 million pounds in sales, that's you know that's a bit over 400 million Canadian. So it seems like there's lots of legs left.

CO: But most people rarely go to record stores anymore, right? I mean we're going to platforms like Spotify and Itunes. So where is that business coming from?

DP: We've got a loyal following of people that want the physical formats, and not the digital. So certainly we've got a great returning customer, but we're getting a lot of new customers. I think vinyl has brought a lot of new people into the marketplace that weren't there even a year ago.

CO: So you think it's actually growing, not just that you're maintaining the numbers of people who are interested, but actually you're growing this industry?

DP: Yeah, I mean I think the numbers on vinyl specifically show that it is a growing industry. And you know based on the people I know, their kids are asking for vinyl, which they were never into. So we're definitely seeing that it's hitting a lot of different demographics.

CO: And what is it that you're selling? What is it that people are interested in?

DP: Well, I mean I think when you look at vinyl you're getting something tangible, you're getting some great artwork, you're getting a warm sound, you know? So I think really when you look at your vinyl, I think there's just a multitude of reasons that people want to be into it.

CO: Well, you certainly have been out there doing that, aren't you? I mean you bought the Sunrise Records. In 2014, you decided to buy that. And you've been keeping that business going. You bought 82 HMV stores in Canada and turned them into Sunrise Records locations as well. So how are you financing that? I don't want to get into your private business, but what interests are you having as far as those who want to support you financially?

DP: Well look, I mean we self-fund everything. So you know I think a lot of people thought when we did the Sunrise and added all those stores there was lots of coverage around it. And lots of people believed we'd be out of business very quickly. And now we're on year three. And you know year three is going to be our best year yet.

CO: You're not able to keep all the locations across Britain open. Well, there was that amazing HMV flagship store on Oxford Street in London that was this extraordinary shop that I recall. But that you are going to shut down, is that right?

DP: At this point, we are. You know, unfortunately, we were willing to lose money to keep that store open. But there's only so much you can do. And in very high demand area like Oxford, you know there's just people willing to pay a lot more for that space than we can afford. It's just really hard to make that survive if you're not a big brand-named clothing department, to be fair. So it's just unfortunate. But it just seems to be the reality.

CO: Are you're not competing with those independent record stores who do nothing else but have all these rare collections, original pressings. Are you competing with them?

DP: I think we're adding to that. I mean I don't look at the independents as competition. I think we complement each other. I think they offer something that's special and unique, and you know I think really the more people selling vinyl the better it is.

CO: There was a reason why we abandoned vinyl: they get scratched, they skip, they're hard to keep clean when you got kids around. So is there really such a future for vinyl?

DP: Look, there's a future for it because I believe people consume content differently now. So I think people will still digitally listen to music. But I think there's that spot for vinyl in their life when they're at home, when they just want to sit and relax, they want that nice warm sound. So you know, of course, if you need to travel, it's definitely not the most practical, you know? It's hard to bring ten albums with you, but I think there are a lot of situations where it makes sense to listen to it and use that format.

CO: Vinyl is now something not just like the older collectors, there's kids buying it, right?

DP: Yeah. I mean look the amount of people you see in the store you know eight year olds, nine year olds, it's unbelievable. It does have a great calling.

CO: So you have Ariana Grande on vinyl?

DP: Yeah, of course, we've got you know and that's what's kind of amazing, right? Is that you can get the new releases on vinyl as well as the classics.

CO: And what do you listen to on vinyl?

DP: Look, I'm a classic rock guy, so definitely you know my Fleetwood Mac Supertramp, but I do have as well I've got Taylor Swift. So a pretty open taste in music.

CO: All right, well best of luck with your stores, Doug. And it’s good to talk to you. Thank you.

DP: Great. Thank you very much.

SC: Doug Putman is the Hamilton, Ontario-born CEO and owner of Sunrise Records. His company just purchased 100 HMV stores in the United Kingdom, saving more than 14-hundred jobs there. We reached Mr. Putman in London, UK.

[Music: Ambient]

Taliban BBC

SC: In an interview with the BBC, the Taliban struck an usual tone of reconciliation. The leader of its peace negotiations said that, provided that foreign forces are withdrawn, it's willing to make significant concessions — including not seeking to seize all of Afghanistan through military power. In January, a draft framework of a peace agreement was hammered out -- but it hasn't been finalized yet. Here is part of that BBC interview with Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.

SOUNDCLIP

SHER MOHAMMAD ABBAS STANIKZAI: As the world is difficult to peace is more difficult than war. And the problem, especially the conflict to the war which is being on in Afghanistan for the last four decades, giving an end to it cannot be overnight. We still hope. We are very keen from our side — the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — that as soon as it is possible, the war should end in Afghanistan.

HOST: And there are many Afghan civilians who have lost family members through Taliban attacks. What message would you send to them? They might be saying we don't want these guys to come back.

SMAS: There are not lots of civilians.

HOST: The United Nations says you're responsible for more deaths than any other…

SMAS: The United Nation and all those medias which are working in Afghanistan, they are not free. Whatever the report they give, we are not agree with that.

HOST: I've been in Kabul. I've seen the aftermath of a bomb that goes off in the centre of the city. And you must know that there will be civilian casualties.

SMAS: I said that I do not deny that there are no civilian casualties. There are civilian casualties, but less. Not that much which is just coming in the media. But still, I say that we are trying our best to prevent this.

HOST: The last time the Taliban were in power, girls weren't allowed to go to school. Women weren't allowed to work. What would be the fate of women in the future Afghanistan, where the Taliban is a mainstream political player?

SMAS: On the women's side, all those rights which are according to the Islamic rule and also the Afghan culture this will be granted to them. And this is their right.

HOST: So they can work? They go to school?

SMAS: Yes, I'm telling you they can go to school, they can go to universities, they can work.

HOST: Now, I want to ask you a question that you might not expect. Why take part in talks? Why not continue fighting?

SMAS: We know that we have already experienced that in the past also. So occupying the whole country, taking the whole country by power, will not help because it will not bring peace in Afghanistan. So we wanted to solve this on the table, and in a peaceful manner so that after the withdrawal of the foreign forces, there should be no fighting among Afghans. There should be peace forever.

SC: That was part of a BBC interview with Taliban peace negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.

[Music: Ambient]

Goose Bay snow

SC: Happy Valley-Goose Bay got a record amount of snow in January: 199 centimetres. Obviously, snow goes everywhere. But a large amount of it landed Randy Anthony's family home, which buckled under the weight — and then collapsed. Mr. Anthony lives in Toronto, so the house was empty. But he was planning to go back home to Newfoundland and Labrador to retire. He spoke with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador about the situation.

SOUNDCLIP

RANDY ANTHONY: I guess the weight of the snow all the major snowfall, right? No one there to clean it off. One of the load bearing walls on the outside I guess just couldn't take all that weight because you guys had a lot of snow there apparently.

JACOB BARKER: What did you lose in there?

RA: Well, I have like all my new building material, some vintage instruments, like everything, brand-new stuff I sent down from Toronto.

JB: Is it somewhere you plan to move back into, or?

RA: Yeah, absolutely. That was my little getaway when I'm done here in the city. My retirement, you know?

JB: It must be tough to think about restarting now?

RA: Yeah, it's very tough, but it must be done. And, hopefully, I'll get some help from the community when I need to do some physical labour.

JB: What was in there? From what I understand, it was something that was handed down through your family?

RA: Yes, it was. It was actually my moms and dads, and it was handed down — everything was in there like you know all the furniture, the hutch and cabinets, stuff like that. You know just stuff you can’t replace like even with new stuff. It’s old stuff like with memories, you know what I mean? It’s hard. I can’t go backwards. I’ve got to go forwards now.

JB: Is there any other recourse that you have? And I know it's a long shot, but things like insurance, things like that?

RA: I was denied insurance because of no occupancy. It's gonna be all out of my pocket — more savings.

JB: Can ask how old you are now? Is that ok?

RA: Me, I'm 52.

JB: Ok. So retirement isn't right around the corner for you, but it's a few years off.

RA: No, it's not right around the corner, but I was prepping for it. That was my project to prep, you know? Wish it didn't happen, but, unfortunately, you can't mess with Mother Nature and snow.

SC: Randy Anthony's home was destroyed by heavy snow in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. He spoke with Jacob Barker, a reporter with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Music: Ambient]

Himalayan glaciers

Guest: Joseph Shea

SC: The prognosis is already terrible. But scientists are desperate to prevent a bad scenario from becoming worst-case. A new report says that, even if the world takes radical action on climate change, a third of the glaciers in the Himalayan and Hindu Kush mountain ranges will melt away by 2100, which will have serious consequences for the almost 2 billion people living in the region — in countries like India, Pakistan and China. Joseph Shea is a geography professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, and the coordinating lead author of the report. We reached him in Prince George, B.C.

CO: Professor Shea, what is, at this point, the best case scenario for the glaciers in the Himalayas and Hindu Kush range?

JOSEPH SHEA: Well, that will depend on how you define best case. You know if we're able to meet these agreements that were made at the Paris climate summit of one-point-five Celsius warming, you'd still expect to see about a third of the volume loss from glaciers in the Himalayan Hindu Kush region.

CO: So that means no matter what we do, even if right now we stopped using any CO2 emissions-producing materials, we're still going to lose a third of these glaciers?

JS: That's correct. It's a regrettable phrase, but we say the warming is in the pipeline. And it just refers to the fact that carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases have a lifetime in the atmosphere of nearly a hundred years. So things that are being put out today are still going to be there in 100 years.

CO: Okay, so if we're dealing with the best case scenario is that even if we hold it to let's say one-point-five Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and that's what we'd have to do in order to cut emissions in time. And it's unlikely that that's going to happen right given the course that we're on. So then what happens to these glaciers?

JS: Well, if we follow what we call business as usual trajectories, where we don't really do very much at all to curb emissions, you might see sort of two thirds or 50 per cent a two thirds volume loss depending on what region of this mountain range you're in.

CO: And what if we actually reach the ambitious at this point goal that we have set for ourself of two degrees?

JS: Yeah, it will fall somewhere around there. I mean two degrees means there's some mitigation happening, and there is a reduction in emissions. But you'd still hit that 40 to 50 per cent overall volume loss.

CO: Okay. So what does that mean? I mean these glaciers are going to melt no matter what we do — at a very large and rapid rate. So what happens to I guess the regions, to the land, the geography, and the people who live there?

JS: Yeah, it's a big question. And there's not a lot of easy answers to that. It really depends on where you are in the mountain range and how close you are to the glaciers and how much you rely on them for water. So glaciers and snow packs act as sort of reservoirs in the mountains, and if we reduce the size of those reservoirs, there's less water available to buffer sort of what we call natural variability. So from year to year, the different weather patterns can change the amount of precipitation that comes. And in drier years, the glaciers and snow packs really supplement that flow. If you live in that region and you really rely on snow and ice melt then there has to be ways to adapt to the future changes.

CO: And so what countries are we talking about? What regions are we talking about there will be most affected?

JS: We're talking about Pakistan, and India, and into Nepal, Bhutan as well has a pretty significant glacier area and volume. And then on the Tibetan Plateau side, on the north side of the Himalayan mountain range where it's actually quite dry, glaciers can actually be really important local sources of water.

CO: And they always have been, right? Because the runoff from them is what really supplements and fills the reservoirs where all those communities live, right?

JS: Yeah. And again, it depends on where you are. I mean the monsoon is a really big influence in the region. So this sort of seasonal summer rain in Nepal anyway is sort of supplies about 80 per cent of the stream flow. So that's a big contribution from just annual weather.

CO: I guess when we speak of ice, we think of The Poles. How significant is the volume of ice in that mountain range?

JS: In terms of we talk about glaciers as local water resources, and in terms of sea level rise, it's not such a big story. If you melt it at all, it would be 10 to 15 millimeters of sea level rise. So generally a very small contribution to the global sea level issue, but they're iconic, they're really important sources of tourism revenue and things like that in the region, and just you know the supplies of hydroelectricity and irrigation water for agriculture. They can play a really important role.

CO: But I mean there are so many people who live in the run off of that — the regions around those mountains. What has to happen? What preparations have to be made for people to survive this or to move or to live there?

JS: Yeah. And it's going to range to from local-scale solutions to you know government-run or outside organization-run adaptation programs. And I don't know what that's going to look.

CO: Because I mean what you report is saying is that largely there's nothing we can do at this point, even if we do what we promised to do, and it seems unlikely. Okay, I'm being pessimistic there, but it does at this point seem unlikely that we're going to start reversing some of this in the near future. This is a really distressing report.

JS: Yeah, you know it doesn't there's not a lot of reason for optimism, except for the fact that there are a lot of people there, and they're wonderful people, and they're resourceful and resilient. And you know they deserve the best chance they can get as well. So I think it's a global solution that has to be put into place here to help these people out.

CO: This report has been described by many as being a substantial piece of work, and a very important contribution. And I'm sure you're proud of that, but it must be depressing for you as well?

JS: Yeah, it's not easy to sleep sometimes, and you know I have I have young kids as well. And like anyone who is concerned about the future, this is gonna be a big story. And it's not just you know the local impacts in that region this is happening globally. And it's going to have sort of global repercussions.

CO: Like what?

JS: Oh, I don't know. Let's talk about geopolitical instability or water resource issues. You know the region does contain a large population, and with sea level rise from other sources not these glaciers specifically, but you're going to see migrations and people on the move. And that's going to cause a lot of instabilities.

CO: All right. Very distressing all around. Professor Shea, I appreciate your report, and for speaking with us. Thank you.

JS: Thank you very much.

SC: Joseph Shea is the lead author of a report looking at the impact of climate change on the Himalayan and Hindu Kush glaciers. We reached him in Prince George, B.C.

[Music: Ambient]

Suicide prevention

SC: When Calgary MP Ron Liepert stood up in the House of Commons earlier this week, he was understandably emotional. Tomorrow marks one year since Mr. Liepert's daughter took her own life. So when there was debate on a NDP's private member's motion calling for a national suicide prevention strategy, he felt he had to tell his story. Mr. Liepert spoke with host Doug Dirks from CBC's "The Homestretch" this afternoon about what it was like to talk about his daughter so publicly.

SOUNDCLIP

RON LIEPERT: You know, it certainly wasn't easy. However, I know that morning, I did a little practice in my apartment, and it went just fine. And then a total different story when you stand up in front of you know your fears, and effectively in front of the world. And it was frankly a lot more difficult than I had anticipated it would be. But I have had many, many people come up to me and say that what made it so effective was that it was emotional. And as a result, you know It was from the heart.

DOUG DIRKS: Why do you think we need a national strategy to address this?

RL: It's a it's an issue across the country, and it's not something that's just you know sort of happens only in regions. So it shouldn't be dealt at the national level. I think it's almost become an epidemic.

DD: How are you and your family doing these days?

RL: Well, we are attempting to move on. Obviously, the firsts are always the most difficult. So tomorrow will be the first anniversary of her passing. And I think once we get past all of these firsts, it'll make it easier. Will it ever be the same? No. Tragedies are part of life, and so I think we're dealing with it in that way. And I don't know any other way to deal with it.

SC: That was Calgary MP Ron Liepert speaking with CBC Calgary about his daughter, who died one year ago.

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February 6, 2019 episode transcript

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