8:30 – The Regina drive-thru AstroZeneca vaccine clinic closed yesterday after exhausting its supply and delivering more than 14,000 injections. But while many were happy to have their first dose, others are criticizing the four-month delay between doses that has allowed Saskatchewan to speed up its immunization plan. Canada’s Chief Science Adviser Dr. Mona Nemer says studies have shown that extending the interval between doses makes them less effective, particularly in seniors. Gormley shares the latest on Saskatchewan’s vaccine plan, and the controversy around delaying the second dose.
9:00 – The Hour of the Big Stories… Open Session
10:00 – International affairs columnist and commentator Jonathan Manthorpe joins Gormley for a discussion on how Canada can stop supporting China economically. With the ‘two Michaels’ on trial, many are calling for Canada to cut ties with the Asian superpower. Manthorpe says Canada can’t and shouldn’t sever its ties with Beijing, but must focus on expanding its relationships with the Asian countries where we share values and interests.
LIVE: Jonathan Manthorpe, international affairs columnist and commentator, author of ‘Claws of the Panda: Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada’ (2019).
11:00 – An Alberta MLA wants to increase highway speed limits to 120 km/h on divided highways, arguing that it will make the roads safer. Searle Turton says you can see for miles on the long, straight stretches of divided highway, and raising the speed limits would reduce passing and drivers zig-zagging between other vehicles to get ahead. B.C. tried raising highway speed limits in 2014, but reduced them again following a number of crashes. Would you support a move to raise our highway speed limits in Saskatchewan? Call 1-877-332-8255 and join the conversation!
12:00 – After hearing that SGI plans to give Saskatchewan drivers rebates of about $285/vehicle, U of R professor Marc Spooner decided to organize a pool of the rebates to benefit a good cause – Saskatchewan’s natural grasslands. He’s started a Facebook group which has so far seen more than 600 people pledge to donate their rebates for a total of more than $15,000. Spooner is working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to use the money to preserve our grasslands, and he joins Gormley to tell us more about the project.
LIVE: Marc Spooner, U of R education professor and organizer of the “Field of Dreams” project.