Guests: Toronto Star reporters Isabel Teotonio and Kristin Rushowy

With the summer break, Ontario is wrapping up the first full school year under new cellphone restrictions. Last September, the Ford government introduced restrictions on personal mobile devices in schools, with boards required to update their own policies and ban social media sites, such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, from networks and devices. Other provinces have followed suit. But the results have been mixed, and students can still access those sites using personal data. Some teachers did see students more focused and present. Others are still in a constant battle for their attention.

So, did the cellphone ban really change anything?

This Matters speaks to Toronto Star reporters Isabel Teotonio and Kristin Rushowy. One’s been hearing from teachers and students in classrooms. The other’s been tracking the political story behind the policy.

Audio sources: CBC News, Isabel Teotonio

Produced by Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Marques

GUEST: Star climate change reporter Kate Allen

Toronto just sweltered its way through one of the most intense heatwaves on record. Many Torontonians seeking relief from the heat were met with disappointment and locked doors at more than a dozen public pools as they ended up being closed because of heat safety protocols for the lifeguards. What followed was a political showdown between Mayor Olivia Chow and Premier Doug Ford, with both sides pointing fingers over who was responsible.

And amid the public backlash, Mayor Chow has introduced a new motion calling for more resources and look to bringing back 24/7 cooling centred that were cancelled in 2019.

As extreme heat becomes our new normal, is the city prepared to provide equitable access to cooling for all its residents?

Produced by Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Marques

Guest: Star climate change reporter Marco Chown Oved

Wildfire season started early this year, with states of emergency declared in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and intense fire activity across Alberta. But while much of the national attention has focused on the west, Ontario is quietly facing a growing crisis of its own. One of the largest fires in the province’s north—recently described by officials as a “sleeping giant”—has now scorched more than 175,000 hectares, triggering the evacuation of hundreds from Deer Lake First Nation and over 2,000 people from Sandy Lake First Nation. Wildfires in Ontario are no longer limited to remote northern forests. Fueled by climate change, they’re burning hotter, spreading faster, and pushing deeper into regions once thought safe. And experts warn that the systems in place to fight them are falling dangerously behind.

Marco Chown Oved joins host Saba Eitizaz to break down why Ontario is more vulnerable than ever and what it was like to become certified as a wildland firefighter to understand the stakes firsthand.

Produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Sean Pattendon