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Bonnie Crombie is set to face a leadership review at the Ontario Liberal Party’s annual general meeting in September — and one former rival has some well-publicized thoughts about what should happen.

In a Substack post last week, Nate Erskine-Smith — a Toronto MP who finished second in the 2023 leadership race — said Crombie should resign if she doesn’t receive at least two-thirds of support from Liberal delegates.

“We need change,” Erskine-Smith wrote, adding “that renewal starts at the top.”

Not surprisingly, his comments triggered some headlines (and some pushback from Ontario MPPs).

A guest on tonight’s ‘Closer Look’ podcast, Erskine-Smith insisted he is speaking out for the good of the party, not himself. He was also adamant that he hasn’t made a decision on whether he would run in another leadership race, should Crombie not survive the September review.

“We saw at the federal level the importance of changing leaders in a particular moment,” he said. “And anyone looking at the last provincial campaign honestly would say we didn’t do as well as we could or should have.”

The Liberals did increase their seat count in the last election (14) and regained official status in the Legislature, but Crombie failed to win the riding of Mississauga East Cooksville.

“We need a new leader who is going to energize people, motivate people, inspire people to get involved in our politics — to articulate a set of ideas and values that is going to inspire people to get involved in our politics — and to really prosecute a case for change,” Erskine-Smith said.

Would he run again?

“Maybe,” he replied. “Of course I have an interest. I hope there are others too.”

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, 'Closer Look' is a new daily podcast goes beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network. You can find every episode HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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As trade negotiations drag on, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to insist that tariffs are justified because Canada isn’t doing enough to stop fentanyl from “pouring” over the border into American communities.

The data doesn’t seem to back up the president’s claim — and neither does the evidence seen by one of Ontario’s top cops. 

During a recent episode of our ‘Closer Look’ podcast, we asked OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique to weigh in on Trump’s claim. He called it "misinformation."

"There is very little evidence of that being a trend or pattern," Carrique said. "A minimal amount of fentanyl has been seized going from Canada to the U.S."

You can watch the full interview HERE.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, this new daily podcast goes beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

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Canada’s premiers are gathered in cottage country this week for a series of meetings that all revolve around the same man: U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, chair of the Council of the Federation, is hosting his counterparts at the Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka — with tariffs and trade at the top of the agenda.

Earlier today, the premiers met with First Nations leaders concerned about Bill 5, which gives the province the power to speed up the development of major infrastructure projects. Tomorrow morning, Prime Minister Mark Carney will arrive to brief premiers on the state of negotiations with Trump, who has imposed an Aug. 1 deadline to cut a new trade deal with Canada.

Jack Hauen from our Queen's Park team at The Trillium is covering the premiers’ meeting. He joins us tonight to break down all the details.​

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, 'Closer Look' is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new measures this week to help support Canada’s struggling steel industry, which has been battered in recent months by Donald Trump’s trade war.

The changes include restricting and reducing the amount of foreign steel imports — especially from China, which is notorious for illegally flooding the Canadian market with cheap steel — and prioritizing made-in-Canada steel for major domestic projects.

Although welcome news, the industry is still bracing for the next big announcement: whether President Trump will lower the current tariff on steel imported to the United States. As of today, it remains at 50 per cent.

Michael Garcia is the CEO of Algoma Steel, Canada’s only independent primary steel producer. He joins us on tonight’s ‘Closer Look’ podcast to talk about his reaction to the federal government’s plan — and whether it’s enough to keep the domestic steel industry afloat.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network. You can find every episode HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].

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For Erin Sharpe, summer camp turned out to be a defining moment in her life. The weeks she spent as a teenager at YMCA's Camp Wanakita taught her real-life lessons about teamwork, resilience and independence that still resonate today.

"I learned a lot about myself that I didn't realize before, in terms of what I could do," she says. "And the bonding that came with the other people in the group, it definitely has stuck."

Now a professor of recreation and leisure studies at Brock University, Sharpe is well aware that many Ontario parents simply can't afford to send their kids to camp. But she says there are supports available to help lower-income families give their children that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sharpe is our guest on tonight's episode of 'Closer Look.'

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network. You can find every episode HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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Darrell Fox was only 17 years old when he accompanied his older brother, Terry, on what would become the most famous run in Canadian history.

Last week — 45 years after Terry Fox was forced to end his Marathon of Hope near Thunder Bay — Darrell Fox completed a monumental journey of his own.

He and a group of fellow cyclists pedalled from coast to coast (a 32-day journey that spanned more than 7,000 km) and raised more than $1 million for cancer research along the way.

Now back home in British Columbia, Darrell took some time to join our ‘Closer Look’ podcast for an emotional conversation about hope, his iconic brother, and the immeasurable legacy he left behind.

Every Canadian knows the story of Terry Fox. But no one had a closer view than his little brother.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network. You can find every episode HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].

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In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new daily podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell.

Every weeknight, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

On tonight’s episode: The death of remote work.

With COVID-19 long behind us, a growing number of employers are demanding that their workers actually come to work.

The financial sector is leading the charge, but those companies aren't alone.

Are remote workers less productive? Or is the push for in-office work driven by something else?

Joining us on the podcast to break down the pros and cons is Alex Gallacher, managing director of Engage HR.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network. You can find every episode HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].

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If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve no doubt seen this viral video by now: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice rewarding his fourth-line forwards in the waning seconds of this year’s Stanley Cup final.

“I want you three f—ing guys out there for the last shift,” said Maurice, in a behind-the-scenes moment recorded on the bench. “You throw your sh— off when we win this.”

Maurice was acknowledging the fact that his grinders — A.J. Greer, Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich — had played a pivotal role in the team’s championship run, especially their impact against the Toronto Maple Leafs in round two of the playoffs.

How many times has Gadjovich watched the clip?

“Countless times for sure,” he smiled, during an appearance today on our ‘Closer Look’ podcast. “I love that video. It’s so cool. It brings back just such a special memory. I wasn’t expecting that to happen, obviously.”

Last season, Gadjovich was on Florida’s postseason roster but never saw the ice. This year, he emerged as a critical piece of the title team, even playing Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers with a broken foot.

Now back home in Ontario for the summer, Gadjovich took some time to talk to us about everything — his injury, the post-victory parties, Brad Marchand, and how grateful he is for the love and support of his family.

Oh, he also gave us the scoop about the fate of his epic playoff beard.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, this new daily podcast goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].

Send us a text

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new daily podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell.

On tonight’s episode: One-on-one with Ontario’s top cop.

Earlier this month, the Ontario Provincial Police announced the largest fentanyl seizure in the force’s history: 38 kg, or more than 380,000 street doses of the lethal drug. The massive bust was the result of Project Golden, a multi-jurisdictional investigation that spanned 11 months and multiple communities.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is our guest on tonight’s podcast, along with Andy Bradford, the Acting Detective Superintendent of the force’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

Along with details of the investigation, we ask the commissioner to address U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that fentanyl is pouring over the border from Canada. (Spoiler alert: Carrique describes that claim as “misinformation.”)

We also ask him to weigh in on the state of Canada’s bail system for accused criminals — and Premier Doug Ford’s belief that we need more “tough-on-crime” judges and justices of the peace.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, this new daily podcast goes beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].

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Bill Barilko is a familiar name to hockey fans — a talented Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman who famously scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1951.

But for most Canadians, Barilko is even more famous for his appearance in The Tragically Hip's hit song Fifty Mission Cap.

Bill Barilko disappeared that summer
He was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored, in overtime
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another till 1962
The year he was discovered

This week, Barilko's name was back in the headlines after one of his old hockey sticks sold at auction for $60,000, more than ten times the initial appraisal. 

If nothing else, the hefty sale price shows just how much Barilko's name continues to resonate in this country — 74 years after he died.

The stick was sold by Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. in New Hamburg, Ont. Ben Pernfuss, the company's consignment director for sports cards and memorabilia, joins us on tonight's episode of 'Closer Look' to talk about where the stick came from, who bought it, and where it's going next.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, this new daily podcast from Village Media goes beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

New episodes of ‘Closer Look’ drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. across the Village Media network, or wherever you find to your favourite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? You can reach us at [email protected].