Yesterday, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford fired his loyal chief of staff, and hasn't explained why. Ford's become one of the most controversial figures to wear the chain of office. His outbursts and alleged use of drugs has earned him notoriety around the world. Now his silence and absence from city affairs has many wondering about the lasting consequences to Toronto. We convene some city hall watchers for their thoughts on what to watch for.

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If you've wondered where the British stiff upper lip has gone, look no further than the face of Ingrid Loyau-Kennett . The former teacher and cub scout leader stared down alleged killers with a sangfroid the Duke of Wellington would admire. Even the British Prime Minister hails her heroism. What she did was brave, but some believe it was far from wise.

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The advisories for a new strain of coronavirus are out. The links to infected cases each traced back to middle eastern countries. Samples are now in Winnipeg at Canada's National Microbiology Lab. But if you think this is a story solely about health ... think again. This is also a story about the virus as a commodity where those seeking to find a treatment or vaccine can find themselves navigating political and commercial interests. Today, the politics of potential pandemics.

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Today on Checking-In, debunking dreams of Mars and bunking with your kids. Our listener's thoughts on some of the stories of the week. And Houston, we have a prophet. Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin joins us with his thoughts for the future of space.

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He's taken us to alien colonies, to a robot dominated future and to doom on the Titanic. In our next half hour, film director and explorer James Cameron takes us along a real-life voyage to an alien world that also involves robots-- although he does avoid the doom. Today, we voyage to the bottom of the sea.

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A statistical study using data from the Great Depression of the 30s ... to post-communist Russia ... to austerity in Greece suggests there is a measurable human cost to severe government cutbacks. From soaring rates of suicide ... to HIV ... to alcoholism. David Stuckler and Sanjay Basu have documented the deadly effects of austerity and they explain the politics of life and death.

Listen to Is the case for austerity crumbling? from The Current archives.

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The people of Moore, Oklahoma listened to weather forecasters in a way few others do. But even warnings that came faster than usual were little defence against the massive funnel cloud that roared through the city yesterday afternoon. Eliminating entire neighbourhoods, hitting schools, killing dozens. Today, we go to Moore on the morning after.

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A new App enables you to link the company behind any given product to the family tree of corporate owners behind the product. It is being heralded as a rapid-fire tool to know who to boycott or who is supporting the cause you support.

But those pushing for greater corporate accountability question whether the applause over the App hides a lag in legislation.

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It's been a busy Victoria Day long weekend for the movers and shakers on Parliament Hill. After a week of political turmoil over the Senate expense scandal, the Prime Minister's chief of staff Nigel Wright has resigned. But questions about the $90,000 cheque he cut for Senator Mike Duffy continue to swirl. We track the story from here.

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Bruce Cockburn has written some of the most memorable pop songs in the world and blazed a trail for musicians trying to connect their craft to the social and political issues around us. Guest host Sarah Harmer speaks to Bruce Cockburn and Nathan Lawr of the Minotaurs about social justice and music.

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