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Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran

Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran

Written by: Christopher Balkaran
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About this listen

 Imagine if you could explore, with genuine curiosity, the most controversial and divisive topics of our time. The conversations would push you to explore new areas and uncover insightful ‘a-ha’ moments that pique your interest. These talks could help answer the questions you may have, like: why would anyone support capital punishment? Or, what are the pros and cons to tobacco control, or public healthcare, or legalizing sex work? I’m Christopher, and I have created engaging Podcast discussions since 2018 to do exactly this. I invite guests involved in these areas to share with me their opinions. My hope is that through this natural exploration, I can craft a Podcast experience that attempts to build bridges during a time when we need it the most. Join me as I attempt to uncover these issues with true, genuine curiosity.© 2025 Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • #238: MAiD in Canada: Are We Protecting the Vulnerable, Or Failing Them? | Dr. Ramona Coelho

    #238: MAiD in Canada: Are We Protecting the Vulnerable, Or Failing Them? | Dr. Ramona Coelho
    Feb 14 2026

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    In this episode of the Open Minds Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ramona Coelho to examine one of the most consequential public policies in modern Canada: Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).


    Canada now reports that approximately 5% of all deaths occur through MAiD. Track Two cases, those not at end of life, continue to raise questions about disability, capacity assessments, oversight, and whether psychosocial suffering is being treated as irremediable.

    Dr. Coelho serves on Ontario’s MAiD Death Review Committee and the Federal Expert Advisory Group on MAiD for Mental Illness. Her perspective offers insight into what is happening on the ground and what policy safeguards may be missing.

    Support the show

    Visit my NEW Website! https://www.christopherbalkaran.com
    Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:
    Instagram @openmindspod
    Tiktok @openmindspodcast
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    56 mins
  • #237: Unpacking MAiD in Ontario with Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer

    #237: Unpacking MAiD in Ontario with Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer
    Jul 22 2025

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    I sit down with Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario’s Chief Coroner, to explore the evolving complexities behind Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Canada. As the chair of the province’s MAiD Death Review Committee (MDRC), Dr. Huyer offers a rare and in-depth perspective on what the data really shows, how legislation is being interpreted in practice, and whether concerns over coercion or systemic failure hold weight.

    MAiD Death Review Committee Reports

    https://arpacanada.ca/ontario-maid-death-review-committee-reports-2024/

    Support the show

    Visit my NEW Website! https://www.christopherbalkaran.com
    Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:
    Instagram @openmindspod
    Tiktok @openmindspodcast
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • #236: Dr. Salim Mansur: Multiculturalism or Identity Crisis?

    #236: Dr. Salim Mansur: Multiculturalism or Identity Crisis?
    Jul 8 2025

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    I sit down with Dr. Salim Mansur, professor emeritus and political scientist, to explore the untold story behind Canada’s multiculturalism policy. Dr. Mansur pulls back the curtain on the political, philosophical, and constitutional roots of multiculturalism in Canada—revealing how a once well-intentioned idea may now be weakening liberal democracy and national cohesion. From the War Measures Act to the Emergencies Act, and from Pierre Trudeau’s grand vision to Justin Trudeau’s declaration that Canada has “no core identity,” this conversation unpacks the real consequences of prioritizing group identity over individual liberty.

    Support the show

    Visit my NEW Website! https://www.christopherbalkaran.com
    Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:
    Instagram @openmindspod
    Tiktok @openmindspodcast
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
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