Blue Jays’ Davis Schneider on mission to stop opioid deaths
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This episode of As It Happens centers on Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder, who shares his personal journey of grief and advocacy after his brother Stephen died of an opioid overdose in 2020. Motivated by his brother’s legacy as a registered nurse, Schneider has become a public spokesperson for Narcan, the nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses, partnering with Emergent Biosolutions to raise awareness and save lives. His story is interwoven with broader societal issues, including a major data breach in Alberta where a separatist group illegally accessed and posted personal voter information, raising serious concerns about privacy and government accountability. The episode also explores global humanitarian crises, with UN Undersecretary General Tom Fletcher highlighting how war spending far exceeds what’s needed to prevent mass suffering, while Canada’s Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Harriet Soloway warns her office is overwhelmed by complaints and underfunded. Meanwhile, the beloved sea lion Chonkers draws crowds in San Francisco, and journalist Christina Lamb calls for an independent body to investigate the increasing targeting of reporters in war zones, underscoring a global erosion of press freedom and safety.
Davis Schneider uses his platform as a Blue Jays player to advocate for Narcan, turning personal grief into a mission to prevent opioid deaths.
Alberta’s voter data breach reveals systemic vulnerabilities in how political data is shared and protected, despite legal permissions.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher argues that global war spending far exceeds what’s needed to save millions of lives in crises.
Canada’s integrity commissioner warns her office is overwhelmed and underfunded, risking the effectiveness of oversight in public service.
Journalists like Christina Lamb are now being targeted in conflict zones, with press vests ironically becoming targets, demanding urgent international protections.
Introduction and Podcast Teaser
The episode opens with a promotional segment for CBC’s Sounds Good newsletter, followed by a brief overview of major news stories including a voter data breach in Alberta, a sea lion celebrity in San Francisco, and a UN humanitarian appeal.
Alberta Voter Data Breach and Privacy Concerns
“It's absolutely wrong to say it's publicly available. Now, I know my address is out there. There's Canada 411. You can probably buy my address and my name from Canada Post. But this is qualitatively different. This is the government of Alberta certifying that I am a voter.”
Davis Schneider’s Mission to Prevent Opioid Deaths
“Saving or preventing one death, I feel like is all that really matters.”
Chonkers the Sea Lion: A San Francisco Sensation
Stephen Arsenault from Pier 39 describes Chonkers, a massive stellar sea lion who has become a local celebrity due to his size, playful behavior, and long stay in San Francisco Bay. The episode explores why he’s drawn such attention and what ecological factors might be keeping him there.
Canada’s Integrity Commissioner Warns of Overwhelmed Office
“I do believe that Canadians do want to see integrity in government and do feel comforted knowing that there is an independent entity that's keeping watch.”
“Our entire plan to save 87 million lives this year would cost 23 billion dollars now it's a lot of money I know but it's less than one percent of what the world is spending on arms and defense right now.”
“We're not competing at that level. All I'm asking for is less than 1% of what the world is spending on defense and security right now.”
“Killing a journalist in a war is a war crime. I just think that we've got to such a situation now with the... last year was a record number of journalists killed...”
Hosts
Guests
Chonkers
other
Davis Schneider
person
Tom Fletcher
person
Narcan
product
Harriet Soloway
person
Stephen Schneider
person
European Union
organization
UN Humanitarian Affairs
organization
Tom Keenan
person
Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
organization
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