Zoomer Week In Review

(3:38) Over a million Canadians use medical Cannabis to treat everything from nausea to chronic pain. But there is a lack of rigorous, clinical evidence demonstrating its efficacy for specific conditions. That's why the university health network is launching a new clinical trial in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart to help doctors prescribe the right medicine for the right patient at the right dose. The Medical Cannabis Real-World Evidence study will track the outcomes of 2000 patients using verified and validated medical cannabis products. Libby talked with trial lead, Dr. Hance Clarke, Director of Pain Services, Toronto General Hospital. AND (9:46) If the restrictions of COVID-19 have you hankering for a more bucolic setting, you're not alone. Being cooped up and working from home has led to a boom in cottage country as city dwellers look to escape. Libby reached Catharine Inniss, a realtor with Johnston and Daniel Rushbrooke Realty.

There's more to being healthy than staying physically fit. Mental health is just as important, but a lot of the time gets buried beneath the stigma that surrounds it. Unfortunately those long held, negative beliefs have led to nearly two-thirds of the world's population refusing to seek help. Dr. Murali Rao is a geriatric expert and psychiatrist from Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. He's also written "50+ (Plus) And Healthy: What You Need To Know About Mental Health and Healthy Aging -- for You and Your Loved Ones". AND The Ford government is launching a pilot project with North York General Hospital to give vulnerable or alternate level-of-care patients priority access to a long-term care bed to help reduce waitlists and hopefully end hallway healthcare. ALC patients are those who no longer need to be in hospital but remain … because their status prevents them from going home and there's no space in long-term care. Dr. Joshua Tepper is President and CEO of North York General.

He's was Ontario's first NDP Premier before switching parties and becoming interim Liberal leader. Now Bob Rae becomes Canada's ambassador to the United Nations at a trying time: in the midst of a pandemic, after the loss of our bid for a security council seat, and as the UN is increasingly dominated by authoritarian regimes. But he told Libby Znaimer that the appointment is taking him full circle. AND As if the pandemic hasn't disrupted our lives enough... what to do and where to go for a summer vacation? Zoomer magazine executive Editor Vivian Vassos says we should start in our own backyard with some fresh destinations that are an easy drive!

Will a woman's perspective help navigate policing during these turbulent times? Chief Antje McNeely of Kingston becomes the third woman to serve as President of the Ontario Association of Police Chiefs and she sees change ahead. AND This week we learned the economy dropped 11.6% in April, the largest monthly drop on record due to the pandemic. The massive expansion of government spending and debt has many comparing COVID-19 to fighting a war and looking to history to point the way to recovery. That's the wrong approach, according to Phillip Cross, a 36 year veteran of Statistics Canada and a Munk Senior Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute.

A new report confirms a shameful statistic: Canada’s proportion of COVID 19 deaths in long term care is double that in other Western countries. But Tracey Johnson of the Canadian Institute of health Information says the numbers point the way to preparing for a second wave. AND The pandemic has us spending much more time in the kitchen which is now the centre of most homes. It wasn’t always like that. Author and architect John Ota toured and cooked in some of the most iconic historical kitchens in search of the perfect one. Libby Znaimer talked to him about his book simply called “The Kitchen”.

In the midst of an international and national conversation about systemic racism, a very familiar voice of the Zoomer generation is stepping forward with his experience. Hal Johnson, recounts how BodyBreak came about. The popular fitness segment he starred in, and produced, with his wife Joanne McLeod since the late 80’s was created as a way to overcome the racism and normalize interracial relationships. AND She walked away from the pinnacle of Canadian politics over a matter of principle. Former health minister Jane Philpott held a variety of cabinet posts until she was ejected from the Liberal caucus because of her objection to the handling of the SNC Lavalin affair. When the pandemic hit, she returned to her roots as a physician and now the Ontario’s Progressive conservative government is tapping her to organize the province’s diffuse and dysfunctional medical data system.

Former federal health minister Jane Philpott dishes on the pandemic, the fix for long term care, and her new assignment trying to organize all the Covid related data in Ontario. AND The financial and emotional toll of Covid-cancelled weddings. We talk to a lawyer who is also a groom trying to reschedule his big day.

While most of us have been sheltering at home, Israeli Mishel Zrian has been travelling on airplanes non-stop for more than 80 days, delivering lifesaving bone marrow to patients around the world. In order to avoid quarantines for travellers, he sleeps on planes or airport hotel rooms. Libby Znaimer caught up with the volunteer courier after he made a delivery in the Netherlands. AND Will there be a treatment for COVID-19 before a vaccine to prevent it? That's a big question for the medical community, as scientists pursue both avenues. Dr. Josef Penninger, head of the University of British Columbia's Life Sciences institute and an ideaCity alum, is developing a medicine to treat the disease, with a drug first made here in Canada. Libby reached him in Europe, where clinical trials are underway.

Tens of thousands of Canadians are out of pocket after their flights were cancelled because of COVID-19. But, passenger rights advocate, Gabor Lukacs, says it is actually illegal. Air Canada, and WestJet are giving vouchers rather than refunds to passengers who bought non-refundable tickets. Libby Znaimer reached Dr. Lukacs in Halifax. AND The violations cited in this week's explosive military report on the conditions in our Long-term care homes are horrific, but not a surprise to anyone who has followed the system over the long term. How did we get here and how do we reform it? Libby talked to Dr. Tamara Daly, Professor and Director, York University Centre for Aging Research and Education.

It's an understatement to say investors have had a rough ride for the last few months. Markets have regained about half the huge losses at the beginning of the pandemic. But there is no shortage of predictions of doom and gloom for the foreseeable future. It's a special worry for Zoomers, at or near retirement. Libby Znaimer consulted market guru and Zoomer magazine contributor Gordon Pape on how to make your portfolio pandemic-proof. And After months of social isolation and growing fears of contracting the virus or losing loved ones, COVID-19 is taking a psychological toll on all of us. A recent Angus Reid poll found half of Canadians say their mental health has deteriorated. Libby reached psychologist and IdeaCity alum Susan Pinker in Montreal. She is the author of "The Village Effect" which details how face-to-face contact makes us happier and healthier. They talked about how to cope.

This week we marked International Nurses Day, which is celebrated annually on Florence Nightingale's birthday. It's the 200th anniversary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, and COVID-19 is making her legacy more relevant than ever. Professor Emerita Lynn Macdonald has written extensively about Florence Nightingale and is co-founder of The Nightingale Society. AND Imagine the anxiety of going through cancer during the pandemic. It has delayed or changed treatment plans for some patients and also prevented them from bringing along loved ones for support. But it has also brought some welcome innovations. Libby reached Dr. Sandy Sehdev, a medical oncologist at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.

This week we learned the devastating news that Canada has the highest proportion of COVID 19 deaths in long term care in the western world. And the National institute on Aging says official numbers do not reveal the full picture because they exclude retirement homes. According to their figures, a staggering 82% of this country's COVID-19 deaths occur in these care settings which house only 1% of the population. Libby Znaimer talked with Dr. Samir Sinha, one of Canada's leading geriatricians. AND The province has released a framework for resuming elective surgeries, but so far there is no timeline and it will be up to individual hospitals. Libby talked with Lyndsey Forsythe Brochu, a young woman waiting for a double lung transplant.

A report from Ontario's Financial Accountability office estimates 35 people have already died after their surgery was delayed because of COVID-19. More than 52,000 operations have been postponed since the lockdown, with another 12,000 put on hold each week. Libby Znaimer talked to Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, Surgeon-in-Chief at the University Health Network's Sprott department of Surgery. AND It seems that every day the government announces new help for people whose livelihoods are threatened during the pandemic. Many Zoomers feel their needs are being ignored and CARP is working hard with governments to advocate on their behalf. Libby talked to Chief Policy Officer Marissa Lennox.

We've all viewed chaotic and horrific scenes from hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 in places like New York, Italy and Spain. But what is it like here? Tom Jocic spent two days in an Oshawa coronavirus ward while waiting for his test results. Libby Znaimer spoke with him a few days after he was discharged to his home. AND It's that of year when we take on spring cleaning. Now that we are all spending so much more time at home there's no excuse for avoiding the task, and the experts say it will actually make us feel better in self-isolation. Libby got some tips from the star of "The Big Downsize" professional organizer Jane Veldhoven, who helps retirees and moving couples downsize their homes and live with less.

He’s calling it China’s Chernobyl moment. Former Justice Minister and leading Human Rights champion Irwin Cotler is blaming the Chinese government for covering up the pandemic during its early stages,while punishing whistleblowers. Along with a hundred international politicians he says Chinese leaders must be held to account for withholding the information for the first 40 days. Libby Znaimer reached him in Montreal.

While the Ford government has been working with public health experts in order to protect seniors during the pandemic, Ontario Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath wants the province to do more for residents of long-term care homes and those working in the facilities. AND The pandemic has forced many in the world to stop... which has given us more time to think, and worry, even feel frightened. To help keep our feelings in check during the pandemic, you may want to check out 'Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19'. U of T Psychology Professor Dr. Steve Joordens spoke with Libby Znaimer about the free online course.

Is Ottawa doing enough to help Zoomers? In addition to measures targeting low-income and frail elders, the government lowered the amount of mandatory RRIF withdrawals by 25% for this year. CARP says they should be suspended altogether in light of the plunging markets. That’s where Libby Znaimer began in a wide-ranging conversation with minister for Seniors Deb Schulte. AND Canadians, especially those over 65, need eyecare. Routine checkups are cancelled because of the pandemic. But the Ontario Association of Optometrists has come up with protocols to provide urgent care during this extraordinary time. Libby talked with Dr. Joshua Smith.

The economic devastation of COVID 19 is affecting us all. But the hardest hit are those least able to afford it. Low wage workers and women. Two in five making $14 an hour or less and one in three earning 14-16/hour are at risk of immediate job loss or have been laid off already. Libby Znaimer reached David MacDonald of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives AND Despite all this we salute a huge outpouring of generosity from our audience. Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington was gobsmacked by the response from our audience.

Life has changed as we confront Covid-19. And while the hope is that many aspects return to pre-pandemic norms, the prediction is that this event will mark a turning point in transforming our lifestyles. Libby Znaimer talked with futurist Richard Worzel. AND What will Canadians need and want in the years to come? Where and how will we live? Pollster Darrell Bricker looked at those questions through the lens of demographics. And the Zoomer generation is at the centre of the answers.

New numbers from the Ministry of Health show that patients waiting to be admitted to hospital in January spent an average of 18.3 hours in the emergency room until a bed became available on a ward. That matches the previous monthly record set a year ago and it suggests there has been no progress in ending hallway healthcare. Libby Znaimer reached NDP Health Critic France Gelinas at her constituency office in Sudbury. AND With most of us spending more time at home than usual, healthy eating is more important than ever. For the tens of thousands of Canadians suffering from diabetes it is crucial to manage weight and stave off heart disease. This is a passion for celebrity chef Mark McEwan. He dropped by our studios with some delicious food and advice on how to make it easy!