ZOOMER SQUAD: CANADA SEES SURGE IN RETIREMENTS

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Cravit, Vice President of ZoomerMedia, Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP and John Wright, Executive Vice President

Canada is experiencing a surge in retirement. According to Statistics Canada, as many as 300,000 Canadians retired over the last 12 months, which is a 30 percent increase from this time last year. Meanwhile, Ottawa has fulfilled its 2021 budget promise to increase Old Age Security payments permanently for residents 75 years of age and older by 10 percent. It’s the first time this has happened since 1973. Our Zoomer Squad weighs in on the latest news.

TELECOM GIANT TELUS WANTS TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR USING CREDIT CARD TO PAY BILLS

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Consumer Advocate and journalist, Ellen Roseman

If there’s one thing that Canada’s big telecom providers are good at doing, it’s giving consumers a hard time and a bad deal. Millions of Canadians recently recovered after Rogers network went down for over 15 hours last month and the company did little to compensate customers for the great disruption it caused in their lives. Now, we’re getting more frustrating news and this time it is with Telus. The company is asking the CRTC for permission to add a 1.5 percent surcharge to customers who pay their bills through a credit card. Telus wants to start implementing this charge by October 17th. So, what do you make of this news? Libby and Ellen discuss.

CANADA TO TEST WASTEWATER FOR POLIO 

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Sameer Elsayed, A professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at Western University.

In the news: The Public Health Agency of Canada will begin testing wastewater for Polio. Canada has been Polio free since 1994 and much of the credit for that goes to vaccination against it. However, there is growing concern about the deadly virus considering it still is circulating around the globe. The U.S., for example, just reported its first case in ten years last month. But, just how worried should we be about the potential for a full on outbreak of Polio? Dr. Elsayed explains.