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Internal government data shows that in January, nearly 2,000 patients per day were kept in ‘unconventional spaces’ like hallways and break rooms in Ontario hospitals — the highest number ever recorded. Through a Freedom of Information Request, reporter Aidan Chamandy of The Trillium was able to piece together the current state of hallway health care across the province — a problem that Doug Ford promised to fix, if elected. Chamandy joins Frisco and Scott to break down the data and talk about the reaction to his scoop. Also on the podcast: We’re getting closer and closer to our launches of SPACES and TorontoToday!

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After years of court battles, the federal and provincial governments recently reached a $10-billion settlement with beneficiaries of the Robinson Huron Treaty. Simply put, members of those 21 First Nations in northern Ontario did not see an increase to annual treaty payments for nearly 150 years, even as wealth generated in their territory from mining, forestry and fishing sectors continued to grow. Earlier this month, the settlement money finally started flowing to individual beneficiaries — in many cases, more than $100,000 per person. For Scott Flamand, the payouts represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — and he's been telling anyone who will listen to think hard about where to put all that newfound money. A member of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Flamand is a management consultant who specializes in personal finance and on-reserve housing. He joins Scott and Frisco for a fascinating conversation — not just for treaty beneficiaries, but for anyone looking to improve their money management skills. Also on the podcast this week: The countdown continues until we officially launch TorontoToday!

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As expected, the Ford government has announced it is shutting down multiple supervised drug consumption sites across the province — and banning all new ones. For harm-reduction advocates, the decision flies in the face of years of scientific research that shows these sites lower the risk of accidental overdose, reduce the spread of infectious diseases, and provide a starting point for drug users looking for treatment and withdrawal services. Amber Fritz, the former manager of The Spot, Sudbury’s now-shuttered supervised consumption site, joins Scott and Frisco to talk about what the announcement means for the many people in our communities struggling with addiction. Also on the show this week: corn hustlers!

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An alarming new study is out that shines a bright spotlight on the staffing crisis in Ontario hospitals. One of the study’s co-authors is Dr. James Brophy, a researcher at the University of Windsor, who joins Frisco and Scott on this week’s Inside the Village to talk about the findings. Burnout, fatigue, stress and anxiety are running rampant amongst healthcare workers. What’s causing it and what’s being done to turn things around? We also ask Brophy what he would say to Premier Doug Ford if he had five minutes of his time? Also on the podcast: the latest on SPACES — and a launch date for TorontoToday.

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This week on the show, somehow Frisco had some holidays approved so Scott and Derek have taken over the show. Given that it's the halfway point of the season, they decided to look back at some of the great guests that have appeared on ITV so far this year. From super-agers to teenagers and financial literacy to Ted Nolan and why kids aren't playing hockey as much - oh and some Gerry Dee thrown in just for good measure, it's all there. Check it out and thanks for watching every week.

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Do you know a super ager? Maybe you are one? To be honest, we hadn’t even heard of the term until a few days ago — but we wanted to learn more, so we reached out to a person who knows a whole lot: Dr. Angela Roberts, a University of Western Ontario professor who is the Canadian research lead on an international study into super agers. It turns out a super ager is someone 80 or over who has the memory of someone 20 or 30 years younger. It also turns out that researchers have found quite a few of them, with the hopes of understanding more about what makes these people tick. What her team discovers could help us all live longer, more enjoyable lives. Spoiler alert: We asked Roberts to weigh in on Joe Biden’s debate performance. Take a listen.

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This week on Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott talk dollars and cents — and more specifically, whether high school students in Ontario know enough about how money works. The Ford government recently announced that financial literacy would be a mandatory course in order to graduate. Why the change? Turns out it all began with a chance encounter at a furniture store between Premier Doug Ford and financial expert Saijal Patel. That initial meeting turned into more meetings, and eventually an announcement that many in the province welcomed. Patel — host of the podcast ‘Strictly Money’ — joins us on the show to explain how it all came together, and why it’s so important that teenagers learn the value of a buck. Also on the podcast this week: A huge honour for one of our journalists.

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Frisco and Scott are back for another week of Inside the Village — and in the thick of the Stanley Cup finals, it’s only fitting that they talk some hockey. More specifically, why are fewer Canadian kids choosing to lace em up? Stats show participation in youth hockey has dropped by nearly a quarter over the past 15 years, with more and more families choosing other sports instead. Why the dip? Is it the cost? The time commitment? The game’s lingering toxic culture? We ask Simon Darnell, a professor at the University of Toronto and an expert in sports culture and sociology. If you love hockey, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Also on the show this week: How squatters dashed the dreams of a first-time homebuyer in Guelph.

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The federal government recently introduced its new Canadian Dental Care Plan, with the goal of providing oral health care to all. But so far, not everyone is smiling. Thousands of dentists across the country have not opted into the plan because they still have a mouthful of unanswered questions. And patients are even more confused, with many assuming — incorrectly — that the plan means free dental appointments. Dr. Maneesh Jain, president of the Ontario Dental Association, joins us to break down all the uncertainty. For the record, he hasn’t joined the program either. Also on this week’s show: What happens when two dozen Village Media editors gather in the same town?

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From grandparent scams to romance frauds, phishing has become a daily part of life — forcing all of us to be constantly looking over our “digital shoulder.” Last year alone, Canadians lost more than $500 million to fraud (and that’s just the small percentage of people who actually report being scammed). Jeff Horncastle has seen it all. A spokesman for the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, he joins us on the podcast to talk about why this crime is skyrocketing, how fraudsters are using generative AI to their advantage, and what you can do to protect yourself. Here’s one helpful tip: If someone calls to say your grandson needs bail money, he doesn’t. It’s a scam! Also on the podcast: There is affordable housing out there — if you’re willing to live in a nudist resort.