Ticks in this country used to be a minor, if dangerous, annoyance. That's changing quickly. Not only are the traditional deer ticks that we've lived with in some areas of the country spreading further north than ever before, other species that carry different tick-borne disease than what we've come to expect. Some of them increasingly harmful.

Driving this explosion are a combination of factors. Climate change, of course. But it goes beyond that. So what do you need to know about which ticks are where? What can you do to protect yourself and your family? And what can Canada do, as a whole, to beter prevent and treat tick-borne illnesses?

Just before the long weekend, when we all head out in tick-filled paradise, Toronto-based journalist Rebecca Gao delivers some straightforward tick talk to help you understand how we got here and what happens next.

Also: Tick puns!

Please take a moment to check out our sponsor, Go RVing Canada, to learn more about how you can explore the wilds of Canada in your own (tick-free!) paradise on wheels.

Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Halifax, like many cities in Canada, faces a housing crunch. Not because of how big it is geographically. There's plenty of room. But because of how hard it can be for cities to rezone for increased density and create more affordable housing. If you live in a city of decent size, you're probably familiar with why: NIMBYs, lobbyists and all the assorted complaints and opposition and money that tends to stop ambitious city-planning in its tracks. And governments that can't look further than all that opposition in the next election.

A little while ago, Halifax simply ... ignored that. Council passed an ambitious plan to rezone much of the downtown. A few years later, the results are visible to everyone, and the next step is planned. The question is, will council be willing to buck the most stubborn of all city growth opponents: The suburbs?

Today's episode features local independent journalist and founder of Grand Parade Matt Stickland, describing Halifax's ambitious housing plan. And its uncertain future.

(Please take a moment to visit our sponsor Go RVing Canada, and learn a little more about how easy it is to get out there and explore our country this summer.)

Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.

Well, let's just say that if everything's going great, you don't generally need to spin up an entire law enforcement agency out of thin air. But after years of failing to meaningfully cope with financial crimes, and the subsequent hits to our reputation in the international community that failure brings, the federal government has seen enough.

Instead of the RCMP, which has murders and kidnappings and daily small-town policing on its plate as well, the new Financial Crimes Agency will deal solely with the sort of crime that may seem less urgent, but actually funds some of the ugliest crime in the world.

How will they do it? How successful will they be? How do you actually go about creating a brand new agency from scratch? Jess Davis, PhD and President at Insight Threat Intelligence, as well as the host of the Secure Line podcast, joins us to discuss financial crime in Canada and if we can make a dent in it.

Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.