The Bill Kelly Show Podcast:

The Ontario government has officially expanded access to Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccines for those 18 and older at select pharmacies in hot spot communities.

In a Wednesday announcement about mobile vaccine clinics visiting hot spot workplaces, officials also said Moderna vaccine doses would be expanded to pharmacies “this week.”

It said up to 60 pharmacies in Durham Region, Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor-Essex, and York Region hot spots would offer shots to people 18 and older, adding the program would be expanded throughout May.

GUEST:  Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacist Association

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Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff told MPs Friday that she never informed the Prime Minister in 2018 about an allegation of sexual misconduct against then-chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance.

Testifying before the House of Commons defence committee, Katie Telford said she followed the advice of then-clerk of the privy council Michael Wernick to allow his office to investigate.

It’s the story that reaches to the top of the Prime Minister’s Office, that has caused damage to the Liberal government’s feminist brand, led to calls for the defence minister to resign and for the prime minister to fire his chief of staff.

At the heart of it is this question: What happened with an allegation against ex-chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance in 2018?

Or as some critics would say: Why did nothing happen with an allegation against Canada’s former top soldier, who remained in the position for almost another three years, and is now under military police investigation? And where was the follow up?

GUEST: Daniel Béland, James McGill Professor of Political Science and Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada with McGill University

The Canadian Paediatric Society is calling on the Ontario provincial government to “immediately” reopen outdoor recreation spaces, saying the closure is having “devastating effects” on children and youth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an open letter posted to Twitter on Friday, the society said it “cannot overstate the extent of the mental health crisis facing our children and youth.”

“Our clinics and hospitals are overrun with families seeking care for children and youth in distress — eating disorders, anxiety, hopelessness, depression, problematic substance use and more.”

The letter is addressed to Premier Doug Ford, Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Sport Minister Lisa McLeod.

GUEST: Greg Brady, Host of the Greg Brady Show, Saturdays 6-9am on 640 Toronto

Hamilton's police service needs to be innovative and make sure it's justifying every dollar that's spent on it.

That was the message on Friday from Frank Bergen who, in a short ceremony, became the city's new chief of police.

Bergen, who's been Hamilton's deputy chief since 2018, acknowledged that there's "increased budget scrutiny" on the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), and it needs to "embrace partnerships" to be more community focused. 

"We can create a model that will place communities at its core," said Bergen during a scaled-down ceremony attended by his wife and Mayor Fred Eisenberger. Eisenberger also chairs the police services board.

"Building trust is not an event, but it's a process."

Bergen also said the service's members "are our greatest asset."

Bergen takes the helm after former chief Eric Girt retired in February. He also spent 35 years with the Toronto Police Service, where he worked in community mobilization, court services and strategy management. 

GUEST: Frank Bergen, New Chief of Hamilton Police

It's time for Tech Talk with Adam Oldfield!

Topics Include: Bill C-10, Ford's electric Transit van, Facebook's new neighbourhoods feature & more.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has created some unnecessary confusion over whether or not one vaccine is better than another. This is one of those stories that makes you shake your head but what is the real message that needs to be told?

Guest: Richard Brennan, Former Journalist with The Toronto Star covering Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill

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The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of stress onto workers and that extends outside of just the medical community and there are some bosses who aren’t helping. A survey found some are using the pandemic to push their employees even harder!

Guest: Dr. Stephanie Ross, Director and Associate Professor with the School of Labour Studies at McMaster University

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As the United States’ economy starts lifting off once again, Canada’s remains grounded. Is there any chance of recovery soon or is that still far off in the distance?

Guest: Peter Hall, Vice President and Chief Economist with Export Development Canada