The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - A Tribute To The Crew Of Air Canada Flight 8646

Episode Date: March 25, 2026

It's another of our popular End Bits Wednesdays - stories ranging from how to gain access to Donald Trump's cell phone, to a serious downside to certain autonomous cars. But before that some thoughts of mine about the heroes of the Sunday night plane crash in New York City. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And hello there, Peter Mansbridge here. You're just moments away from the latest episode of The Bridge. It's Wednesday. It's kind of an in-bits day, including things like, is it really true that a lot of people have Donald Trump's personal cell phone number? We'll find out that. Coming right up. And hello there.

Yes, it's going to be an N-Bits day, but I want to say a few things first before we get to those. Like many Canadians this week, I was shocked, saddened, and have been mourning those who lost their lives in the Air Canada flight heading into LaGuardia Airport the other night. And the two people who lost their lives were the two pilots. A number of serious injuries as well have occurred, but the two deaths were the two pilots.

both young guys, both in their 30s. You know, this thing about pilots, you know, the kind of myth around pilots is that they make a lot of money. Well, some of them who've been around a long time fly the big, the big, big planes, make a fair buck, there's no doubt about that. But most don't make a lot of money, but they make good money, and they love their job. They love flying.

There's a saying about pilots, though, that the reason they make good money is not for the daily routine of flying back and forth from A to B and getting their passengers there on time and safely. It's for what they can do in a crisis. And that crisis may not happen often. It may happen for none of them. They may have no issues like that during their whole flying career. But they know what to do if, in fact, they have a crisis. And that's why they're paid well. That crisis may last seconds, but they know what to do and how to handle a situation.

Now, it's going to be a while before we know exactly what happened on Sunday night at LaGuardia. but we know quite a bit already. And it's pretty clear to me anyway, based on what knowledge I do have of the situation so far, that the problem was not caused by the two pilots. In fact, the situation could have been a lot worse if they didn't know how to handle what was a desperate situation that came up at the last possible moment. let's remember the plane had just touched down it had just landed it had completed its flight from montreal from trudeau international airport in montreal landed at laguardia and after landing they only had seconds to react to what they suddenly saw in front of them which was a fire engine which had been unfortunately

given clearance to cross the runway right in front of them. So in the cockpit, you have Antoine Foray, he was the captain. And like so many other pilots in Canada,

who start flying, they had dreams of being a first bush pilot. And he was in the perfect area to do it. He ended up flying the Saguenay before being hired by Air Canada and moving up to jets. But he was a bush pilot, flying a little plane

probably on fishing trips and supply trips. The other pilot was a fellow by the name of McKenzie Gunther who joined Air Canada Jazz after graduating from Seneca College's Aviation Technology Program in 2023, just a few years ago. He was the first officer on the flight. the colleges in morning flags are flying at half-mast. So what happened in the cockpit? Well, we'll eventually know.

All the details will be released. But what seems to have happened, going by what the passengers said, passengers who'd been on that flight before and had been on many flights before, knew what happens on a landing. They said immediately after landing, they seemed to go into an extreme break,

condition. In other words, the pilots saw what was happening. And they did all they could to try and avoided. And in those few seconds, the training they had may well have averted a much more difficult situation. But even with that, there were dozens of people injured, including, including one of the two flight attendants. If you've been on a plane like that, you know the flight attendants, there are two on that flight. There'd be one in the section immediately

behind the cockpit in front of the first section of the airplane. And the other was probably, the other flight attendant was probably at the back of the plane. Well, the flight attendant at the front of the plane, Solange Trombly. What happened to her? She was still strapped in her seat and she was thrown out of the plane,

ejected from the plane on the impact. And how far was she ejected from the plane? A hundred meters is what I've seen in the stories. A hundred meters, like longer than a football field, still strapped in her seat. She lived. She's got terrible injuries and broken leg in many places. On the other flight attendant,

I'm not sure what her status is, but one assumes that she tried to help the passengers on the plane get out. Many of them had to find their own way. You can imagine the chaos in that plane. But I think back to the dreams of those two young pilots. You know, I worked in the airline business. I wasn't a pilot in it, but I worked for a little airline in northern Manitoba. Lots of bush planes. Lots of pilots who were friends of mine.

pilots who are friends of mine still today and Air Canada and friends of this program they write every once in a while but so many of those pilots that I grew up with really started as Bush pilots but they all had this deep passion about flying

and about safety and about caring about their passengers and caring for every moment of those flights So I just wanted to say that and pass our condolences from the program and from you to the families of all those affected by what happened on Sunday night and obviously the families of the two pilots who lost their lives and to all those who were injured in what happened

including those firefighters who were in the fire engine that was slammed into. They didn't do anything wrong either. It seems like they were given the approval to cross the runway. It was a rainy night. There was a degree of fog. I don't know who saw what. But clearly, when everyone saw what they saw, it was too late.

Okay. Why don't we take our break now? Gather our thoughts and we'll move into... our NBid section. So we'll be right back after this. And welcome back. It's an NBits Wednesday here, right here on the bridge. You're listening on Sirius XM, Channel 167 Canada Talks,

or on your favorite podcast platform. We're glad to have you with us. Okay. Here's my first end bit. You might have heard the other day when Janice Stein was on the program. She talked about how a lot of reporters, seem to have Donald Trump's private cell phone number, and they call him, they talk to him, and he gives some quotes.

He loves, you know, for all the trashing of the media that he does, he loves talking to the media. He gets off on those moments. There's no doubt about it. And that's why his number kind of circulates around, but it turns out that there's more than just reporters who have that cell phone number. This is the headline in one of the papers,

that covers these kind of things. White House insiders say Trump's private phone number is out there, being sold. It's out of control, they say. Let me read a little bit of this. President Donald Trump's private digits that have become a hot commodity and the White House is receiving reports

about a growing market of people trying to nab them one way or another. The Atlantic's Michael Scherer reported on Saturday, citing two administration officials, that the president's private phone number is involved in suspected horse trading and black market sales among influence brokers, CEOs and crypto investors are reportedly offering money for the number, while journalists are taking to trading the phone numbers of other world leaders

in baseball card-like exchanges. This is crazy. According to the report, Trump's number has been offered for sale to deep pocketed interest seeking influence. What is unusual about the president is how accessible he is with journalists often noting with surprise that they can simply call the president's private line. One of the officials speaking to the Atlantic said Trump can typically receive to 10 calls from the press in two hours on his private line.

This is crazy. This guy is supposed to be the president of the United States. he's taking 10 calls every two hours from media people. It's literally call after reporter call, one of the officials said. It's just boom, boom, boom. No, you believe that? I don't know. With Trump, you can't believe anything.

Moving on. This one comes from Travel Industry Today, which is a website, travel industry today. com. And the headline in this story, and this is interesting because it's all about Canada. Well, it's not all about Canada. It's about Florida, but it's about the Canadian influence. We all know about how tourism is down from Canada into the U.S., down at least 20%. It's the latest number I saw just the other day, that it was down 20% in January. Well, this one is blue, Trump's red, in Florida town.

And the blue they're talking about is the Toronto Blue Jays. Jays fans help keep Dunedin economy afloat during turbulent times for tourism. Dan Eden is where the Jays have done their spring training. They're coming back from it this week. And having their home opener in Toronto, I think it's Friday night. Better be Friday night because I've got tickets to it. Already moved on from the Leafs. Surprise, surprise.

Okay, let me read you a little bit of this story. If you've been to Florida, if you're a baseball fan, you've probably been to Dunedin to watch the Blue Jay Spring training that's been taking place in the Dunedin area ever since. When was it? 1997, somewhere around there, that the Blue Jay started. The Toronto Blue Jays have made Dunedin, Florida, into a virtual oasis during turbulent economic times in Florida. Canadian's broad grassroots boycott of the United States has had a massive impact on the tourism industry,

especially in states like Florida. But Dunedin, home of the Blue Jays spring training facility, seems to have been spared thanks to the loyalty of Canadian baseball fans. We're in this kind of special bubble. It's a special place. It really is a special place, said Mayor Maureen Freeny. We have so many spokes on the wheel of why we're special, like the arts, our history, and the Orange Belt Railway, and the museum and the old train station.

But one of the biggest spokes we have is the Toronto Blue Jays. You can't imagine Dunedin without the Blue Jays, and you can't imagine Dunedin without our Canadians. This is unusual. You don't hear too many people talking like this. Too many Americans talking like this right now. But one of the biggest spokes we have is the Toronto Blue Jays, she says. The broad boycott began in February 24 after Donald Trump made several comments

describing Canada as a 51st state, etc., etc. You know the list. Stats Canada said in December of 25, the Canadian residents returned from 2.2 million trips to the U.S., a 25% decrease from the same month in 24. And as I said, January, he was down 20%. The mayor says she understands. No one wants to be insulted.

She said, I've kind of been depressed about this. We don't hear good things from down south of us. And I saw your positive spirit. And all the signs for the Blue Jays and Dunedin, recall Frini, it just gave me hope. It made me feel so good. and it made my day. That's why I love being mayor.

Okay. Dunedin is a nice town, and it's a fabulous baseball facility that the Blue Jays have, you know, rebuilt in the last couple of years. And there's some great restaurants in Dunedin. You know, I've been there, obviously. I've been there a few times.

It's a great lobster place. Forget the name of it. But it's a great lobster place. just outside Dunedin, actually. I'm a lobster guy. Some of you know that already. All right, moving on. Next up on our end bits for today.

Here's the headline on the New York Times. Trapped inside a self-driving car during an anti-robot attack. Now, listen to this. In San Francisco, some passengers of autonomous taxis, okay, no driver. It's all autonomous, robotic, have experienced an unexpected hazard, being stuck in the vehicles when the cars are assaulted. Think about this. The secret about this story is that an autonomous,

vehicles. If somebody's too close to the vehicle, it won't move. Now, that's not a good thing if you're being attacked. Read the story, Peter. Okay. In January, Doug Fulop was riding home from a night out in San Francisco when a man crossed the street in front of his car, doubled back, and began screaming at him. The man punched the car's windows, tried lifting up the vehicle, he then yelled that he wanted to kill Mr. Fulop and the other two passengers for giving money to a robot. That's the car. A taxi driver would have simply driven away, but Mr. Fulop's vehicle had no driver.

It was a self-driving Waymo. We felt helpless, said Mr. Fulop, who's 37 years old. And he works in the tech industry. Since autonomous cars started roaming, San Francisco streets almost four years ago. They have elicited an array of reactions from humans, including angry protests against the vehicles. That has created an unexpected hazard for passengers of self-driving cars all around the city,

being stuck inside the vehicle during an anti-robot rant. And that is because, as we said, self-driving cars are designed to stop moving if a person is nearby. People can take advantage of that function to harass and threaten their passengers. In 2024, a San Francisco man tried covering the sensors of a self-driving car that it had stopped, effectively disabling it, while passengers were inside. Another video from that year showed three women screaming as a group of vandals tagged their autonomous taxi with a spray paint. It was unsettling to be trapped inside a Waymo during an attack, Mr. Fulop said. If he'd kept hammering on one window instead of alternating, I'm sure he would have eventually broken through.

There you go. They eventually called 9-11 and that helped them get out of the situation. But the attack lasted six minutes and they must have been scared. Very scared. Police investigated. Their report backs up the account that Mr. Fulop gave of what exactly happened. So you want to keep that one in mind. You know, you want to be safe. I mean, I'm still spooked by the simple idea of getting into a cab and there's nobody behind the wheel. That's all robotic.

I don't know whether I could do that. This adds even more concern for the average person, right? Okay, here's another one. This is from the BBC. The headline is, is this product human-made? The race to establish an AI-free logo. You know, there are lots of logos around, right? You know, gluten-free, such-and-such-free,

no crosswalk, list that and the other, you know, kind of letters inside a red circle with a red line through it. Well, Joe Tidy, who is the cyber correspondent of the BBC World Service, has this piece about AI. Organizations worldwide are racing to develop a universally recognized label for human-made products and services as part of the growing backlash against AI use. Declarations like proudly human, human-made, no AI, and AI-free are peering across films, marketing, books, and websites. It's in response to fear as the jobs or entire professions are being swept away in a wave of AI-powered automation. BBC News has counted at least eight different initiatives trying to come up with a label

that could get the kind of global recognition that the fair trade logo has for ethically made products. But with so many competing labels as well as confusion over the definition of AI-free, experts say consumers are in danger of being left confused unless a single standard can be agreed upon. This cannot rank up there as one of the great challenges of our world these days, but clearly the BBC thinks it's up there. And they've talked to people. AI is creating significant disruption and competing definitions of what is human-made are confusing consumers, says consumer expert, Dr. Amna Khan from Manchester Metropolitan University.

A universal definition is essential to build trust, clarification, and confidence. She told the BBC, okay? You get the hint here. That's what they're working on. Okay, here's one for our times. This is especially so for our times. when gas prices go up, changing the way you drive, can stretch your fuel just a bit farther.

And I'll tell you, in spite of all the hullabaloo of the last couple of days, about is there or is there not some kind of piece deal at work, the prices keep going up. You know, when this started, a mere three weeks and a few days ago, the price here in Little Old Stratford was a day, $1.15 a liter. The last time I saw a gas pump, which was yesterday, it was $1.75.9. Don't expect it to go down any time soon, even if there is a deal.

Because as you know, just as well as I know, it takes very little time for the price to go up. It takes a long time for the price to go down. But let's read this article. How to stretch your fuel just a bit farther. Here are seven tips from experts who were talked to by AP News, Associated Press, for drivers looking to use less gas. Now, some of these are obvious, but it's worth reminding us, right? Drive slower.

Or use cruise control. Vehicles are designed for maximum efficiency around highway speeds, said Sean Tucker, managing editor for compact and full-sized vehicles at Kelly Blue Book, the big car thing. Now, I didn't know that, but that's what they're designed for maximum efficiency on the highway. So what do you think the speed that they look at for maximum efficiency? Tune their car to that possibility, that speed. If all major guesses, you have your hands on your buzzers and you're giving your answer now. Stick to 65 miles an hour, or that's 105 kilometers an hour, on the highway.

Today's cars are geared to be most efficient at that speed, and you lose quite a bit of fuel efficiency the faster you go. Some estimates suggest slowing down increases gas mileage as much, is 14%. If you have a hard time doing that, cruise control is your friend, says Tucker. This maintains a set vehicle

speed. I know some people are anxious about setting the speed and taking your filter off the gas and basically a little bit of autonomous driving there. Experts also recommend coasting to stoplights. Whether there's a red light ahead

or a green light, that is likely to change. soon. Okay. That's one way. Use the vehicle's automatic start-stop ignition, experts say. This shuts off the engine at stoplights or when idling and restarts it once the accelerator is pressed. Some cars have that. If you're stuck in traffic and you see it bumper to bumper for a while and you have start-stop, don't turn that off. Allow the engine to turn on and off. Allow the engine to turn on and off as it's needed. I used to think that that didn't save you any gas. I guess I was wrong, but it just seemed to me to pump, you know, to start up again,

you got to give it a shot, it needs a shot of gas. I don't know. Obviously, I'm wrong because they wouldn't say this. If you're stuck in traffic and you see it bumper to bumper for a while and you have a start stop, don't turn that off. That's especially true for when drivers don't. don't need to blast air conditioning while waiting for long periods of time. That's true for sure.

And I remember when I lived on the prairies, and my first car that had air conditioning, I was always close to running out of gas and having to turn the air conditioning off in the summer to try and get those extra few miles then out of the car. It could be really hot. You turn that air conditioner off. This is an interesting one.

Reduce your car's drag and drop extra weight. You got a roof rack on your car or a bike rack at the back? It takes extra fuel to push that structure through the air. Experts have found it can cost several miles per gallon. If you're not actually using those devices, it's like dragging a parachute behind your car. Any other type of accessories that basically cause drag, you want to lose those. Check your tire pressure and look to weather maintenance too.

Experts say it's important that tires are properly inflated. How often do you check your tire pressure? But it's important that they're properly inflated based on the vehicle's manual. Checking tire pressure every other fill-up is one suggestion. Do you do that? Do you check your tire pressure every other fill-up? Do you ever check your tire pressure? Lower inflated tires will increase the resistance on the road,

so properly inflated, the vehicle is going to drive a little bit smoother and be able to accelerate properly. Expect an impact on gas mileage by as much as 10%. Auto shops might also be able to make some simple changes to improve a vehicle's fuel economy. If you're finding that you're not getting close to what you're supposed to, then you need to go to the mechanic. For example, they might replace the air filter or oxygen sensors that tell the engine how rich to make the fuel mixture.

Yeah, you might want to talk to the lead mechanic in wherever you go. Don't talk to the guy who's filling up the tank. That used to be me a long time ago. I didn't know anything, although I knew that if I could sell wipers, that was a really good profit margin on wipers or tires or oil filters or air filters or air filters. filters. That's where the gas station made its money back in the day when you used to have people standing there helping you at the pump. Consider carpooling. Okay, that's obvious. What fuel are you buying and where? Some cars require more expensive premium gas and that's what they should get,

experts say. But sometimes drivers are filling up with premium when their vehicle doesn't need premium and will do just fine on cheaper regular gas. Regardless of your octane choice, you can be mindful of the quality of your gas. Consider whether a local station carries what's called top-tier gas. Gas developed with additives aimed at clearing carbon deposits from your engine. During periods of high prices or shortages, it isn't a requirement, but it's good for vehicles long-term. Okay, I don't know about that. Or it's time for a new car.

Consider a hybrid if it is time for a new car. The average age of a vehicle on the road these days, this in North America, is about 12 years. Man, I haven't seen a 12-year-old car out there. They all look new right now. Cars are all looking really good shape. Newer vehicles are more fuel efficient than older ones. Not everyone can afford a new vehicle, but when it's time,

shoppers can consider a hybrid if they're not ready to go fully electric. And EVs are the other. option. All right. Where are we going here? Last one. Last story. It's from the telegraph, and it's from their health unit, from Jane Alexander, wrote this just a couple of days ago. The headline says this, the number of times you should brush your teeth per day to ward off dementia. Okay, this is like I have not heard that, this one before. clean your teeth to avoid and ward off dementia. As recent research links gum disease to 50 different health conditions, here's what you can do to stave off gingivitis and protect yourself. So here's Jane. That's how Jane writes this story.

When I smile in the mirror, I wince. My gums are receding. several teeth are wobbling. It feels as if I have more gaps than teeth. Wow, Jane, that's really encouraging. Must be fun to look at that. My dentist says I have period... Okay, it's another one of those words that I know what it is.

I just know how to say it. Periodontus. That's close, but not right. It's advanced gum disease. Easier to say that. My mouth looks like, Jane's really, she must be getting ready for a big date. My mouth looks Dickensian and does little for my self-esteem. But what really terrifies me is that I could be facing a much greater risk of dementia,

heart disease, arthritis, and other health conditions. Research presented recently at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, their annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, implicated gum disease with around 50 health conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and asthma, to name a few. The researchers recommended brushing your teeth three times a day.

Well, isn't that what it's always mean? Like three times a day after every meal? to ward off gum disease and help protect your overall health. And the majority of us should probably be heeding this advice. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, up to 90% of adults in the UK have some form of gum disease. 90%. Gum problems start with gingivitis, inflammation in the gums,

caused by a buildup of plaque, a film of bacteria, saliva, and food particles around the gum line. This is really not... The images of this story are not fun. Gingervitis is extremely common, explains Luigi Nebuli, a professor of periodontology at King's College in London. The more advanced form of gum disease, periodontists, so they want to try and get this word into the article as many times as they can.

It affects about half the population. It should be considered a systemic disease now, not just a local gum inflammation. So how can our oral health lead to conditions such as dementia and heart attacks? And what can we do to improve our gums in our overall health? Wow. This does go on. And it recommends, obviously, all the things you know,

like three times a day, at least. the flossing. Where's the dementia stuff? Here we go. I'll read a couple paragraphs of the dementia part because the older you get the more you worry about that, right?

Oral bacteria have been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These bacteria leach into the bloodstream and trigger the immune system, which releases protein, that cause inflammation, eventually damaging the gums and bones surrounding the teeth, as well as the release of enzymes known as gingerpains that act like molecular scissors,

damaging nerve cells which can lead to memory loss. Chronic inflammation can also damage the delicate inner lining of blood vessels, which in turn makes narrowing and clot formation more likely. This can increase the risk of stroke and vascular dementia, memory loss caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Now, Professor Naboli, who we mentioned earlier, says, you've got to be careful on this. We need a little more study to do all this,

to make sure we're telling you the right stuff. But here's what you can do. I will close today's. Brilliant NBits program. With eight steps to look after your. your teeth and gums properly. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Three, once after each meal, is ideal.

For a minimum of two minutes each time. Spit, but don't rinse with water after brushing. Oh, that's interesting. Don't brush immediately after a meal, as this can wear away enamel. Wait for 30 minutes. Just before bed is the most important time. For manual toothbrushes, use a circular movement at the gum line. For electric toothbrushes, hold still on the gum line.

Always brush all surfaces of each tooth, back, front, sides. Change your tooth, how often do you change your toothbrush? I used to have mine for months at a time. I find that they're not as well made as they used to be, and mine doesn't last very long. Months, maybe. The recommendation here is change your toothbrush every three months. Three months.

Use floss for tight spaces between teeth. If you have periodontal disease and wider gaps, use interdental brushes. Rotate the brush to massage the gum. If you don't get on with those kind of brushes, water picks can have a place. Number six, see your dentist every six months for state. oral health and every three to four months if you have gum disease. The same goes for hygienist appointments, hygienist appointments. Seven, watch your diet. A study at King's College in London suggested that a balanced Mediterranean-type diet, rich in plant-based foods, could help reduce

a gum disease and inflammation. Further research indicates that dietary nitrate from vegetables such as spinach and beetroot can support the oral microbiome and in turn general health. And finally, the last thing on the list on how to look after your teeth. Sweets and fizzy drinks on the other hand are plaque magnets. If you're going to consume sweet, sticky foods, eat it all in one go rather than grazing and clean your teeth immediately afterwards. Well, there you go from Dr. Mansbridge. That's how you have better teeth,

avoid dementia, stay out of autonomous cars, travel to Dunedin, Florida, look for AI-free zones, and you want Donald Trump's phone number? Are you ready for it? Do you got your pen? You want to give them a call? Oh, sorry, we're out of time.

That's going to do it for this day. I'm Peter Mansbridge. Tomorrow's your turn. Lots of AMAs there. They've been coming in all week. And we've got so many. We're already at our limit. So ask me anything is tomorrow's your turn topic plus the random ranter.

Look forward to that. Friday, of course, good talk with Chantelle and Bruce. Chantel's going to be away for a couple of week. So she's taking a bit of a break around the Easter break, but she's here this week. So she and Bruce will be buy on Friday. I'm Peter Mansbridge. Thanks so much for listening. Good to talk to you. Take care. Stay safe. And we'll see you in 24 hours.