PressProgress Sources

Why won't Canada's government let Gazans come here to study?

More than 100 students have been stuck in limbo as they wait for the Canadian government to approve the visas that would allow them to come here for graduate school. At least 26 universities across the country have accepted them into a wide range of programs. But there's something the students have in common: they live in, or are from, Gaza. The Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk Network (PSSAR) has been sounding the alarm about the unusual delays, while some of the applicants remain in places that have been, and continue to be, bombed. They say the response from the federal government — particularly from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — has been wanting.On this episode of Sources, Nada El-Falou, PSSAR's director of student services, joins Ontario reporter Eric Wickham to discuss how Canada's inaction is endangering these students, and what can be done to get their visas finally approved.Links • CBC Radio's The Morning Edition - K-W – "Hear Sally Ghazi Ibaid’s audio submission to the University of Waterloo" (Dec. 18, 2024)• PressProgress – “More Than 100 Gazans Have Been Accepted to Canadian Universities. Canada Isn’t Letting Them In.” (Jan. 27, 2026)Support the show

The PressProgress Holiday Special

While, for the first time in decades, there’s a nonzero chance of Canada getting smaller (with Alberta maybe wanting out and the U.S. maybe wanting in), PressProgress, at least, is only getting bigger.That’s… something?On this extra-festive edition of Sources, Eric speaks to Emma, Stephen, Rumneek and Jonathan about some of the favourite stories they’ve worked on this year and the many ways that this place has grown.Stories discussed include:• "While workers walk the picket lines, DHL brings in scabs by the busload" (June 18)• "The Albertans Counting on America to Help Break Apart Canada" (July 25)• "There’s a Wave of Violence Targeting Canadian Sikhs, and the Government Seems Powerless to Stop It" (Nov. 18)• "Ben Mulroney is Blurring the Lines Between Journalism, Business, Lobbying and Partisan Politics" (Sept. 22)• "The Campaigns Targeting Canadian Doctors Who Want to Discuss the Health Crisis in Gaza" (Sept. 18)• "Journalist in Poilievre’s Viral 'Apple' Video Says Election Results Bring Him 'Satisfaction'" (April 30)And note: We recorded this episode before Elections Alberta gave its go-ahead to the separatists’ latest petition application, and also prior to the OneBC party losing official status in the BC legislature. A couple weeks, it turns out, really can be a long time in politics.Support the show

Looking Inside Mark Carney’s ‘Extremely Orwellian’ Austerity Budget

Mark Carney is billing his first budget as an "investment budget," but with plans to eliminate 40,000 jobs in the federal public service and cut $60 billion in program spending, is this really an "investment budget" or is it an austerity budget?The 2025 federal budget gives Canadians a first look at the details behind Carney's plans to have federal departments cut 15% in spending, reduce the federal workforce by 10% and spend tens of billions of dollars on so-called "nation-building projects."On this episode of Sources, Canadian Labour Congress Senior Economist DT Cochrane joins PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun live inside the federal budget media lock-up to share his first impressions on the Carney government's first budget.Support the show

Ostriches and deer and viruses, oh my!

An ostrich farm in rural British Columbia keeps making national and international headlines.It's the subject of a federal cull order, after 69 birds were found dead from an H5N1 or avian flu outbreak — routine procedure to stamp out further spread. But that's not entirely why they've caught the attention of U.S. politicians.On this episode of Sources, virologist and University of Saskatchewan professor Dr. Angela Rasmussen joins PressProgress health reporter Brishti Basu to talk about the very real health risks of zoonotic diseases and the political circus surrounding this particular flock of ostriches.Support the show

What a New Court Ruling Means for Encampments in Ontario

As the housing crisis persists throughout Ontario and across Canada, more and more municipalities are struggling with how to manage vulnerable residents in need of support. In Barrie, the mayor declared a state of emergency, so the city could more aggressively move to take apart encampments. But in Kitchener, a recent court decision concerning a longstanding encampment blocked the forcible removal of its residents, at least for now.On this episode of Sources, Ontario reporter Eric Wickham speaks to Ashley Schuitema, executive director and lawyer at Waterloo Region Community Legal Services, about the unfolding situation in Kitchener and beyond.Support the show