Closer Look

Canada has a new Chief Public Health Officer.

Dr. Joss Reimer, a Manitoba physician who helped lead that province’s COVID-19 response, has been appointed to replace Dr. Theresa Tam, who is retiring.

On tonight’s episode of Closer Look, we revisit a recent interview with Dr. Reimer, who spoke to our podcast about the country’s doctor shortage, the rise of medical misinformation, and why empathy is sometimes more important than expertise.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected]

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It was a huge day for Canadian hockey, as our men’s Olympic team won again in comeback fashion to clinch a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game.

So on tonight’s episode of Closer Look, we’re going to stay on the ice.

If you haven’t heard already, the legendary voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Joe Bowen — is retiring at the end of this season after more than four decades behind the mic. On Family Day, he travelled to his hometown of Sudbury, where he was the guest of honour at a Sudbury Wolves game.

The best part? He joined his son, David, in the broadcast booth to call the game.

On tonight's podcast, we revisit our in-depth interview with Bowen, who chatted with us back in December.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected]

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The Ford government has promised to connect every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029 — and at last check, they’re making progress.

But are the patients most in need of a doctor being connected first?

A new study has found that Ontarians who lost their family physician face a higher risk of death — and that the risk is even higher for patients with multiple chronic health conditions.

Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, the study’s lead author, says the research carries “crucial policy implications” for Ontario as it continues to link every resident to primary care. He is our guest on tonight’s episode of Village Media’s Closer Look podcast.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

We hear it often: democracy is broken. But is it? Or is democracy just stuck?

That is the central question of the new book Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public, written by Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson.

MacLeod is our guest on tonight’s episode of Village Media’s Closer Look podcast.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

When Canada played the United States in the final of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, it was so much more than a single hockey game. It felt like our very existence was on the line.

A new CBC documentary — released just in time for the Olympics — tells the full story of that historic tournament, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Imagine a car that can sense whether the driver is impaired.

The technology already exists, and it’s far more sophisticated than traditional interlock devices that force a driver to pass a breathalyzer test in order to start their vehicle.

Known as “passive impairment detection," the technology includes sensor systems that can detect alcohol levels through touch or ambient air, monitor erratic lane departures, and even assess a driver’s head and eye movement.

If something doesn’t seem right, the car is automatically brought to a safe stop and shut off.

In the United States, regulators are pushing for all new vehicles to include this feature by 2030 — and according to a recent poll, Canadians are heavily in favour of our government following suit.

“We need to do more of what we're doing: education, awareness, law enforcement,” said Steve Sullivan, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, during a recent interview on our Closer Look podcast. “But ultimately the solution will be in technology. That will have a huge impact, because it may detect, it may intervene if someone is impaired, and ultimately I think it'll be technology that will be one of the biggest game changers in this area.”

On tonight’s episode of the podcast, we revisit our in-depth interview with the head of MADD Canada.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Where is Liam Toman? More than a year later, his sudden disappearance remains a mystery.

Last winter, the 22-year-old from Whitby, Ont., was on a ski trip with some friends in Mont-Tremblant, Que. After a day on the slopes and dinner out, he and a buddy made their way to a popular bar at the resort.

Early the next morning, at around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2025, a security camera recorded Toman near the outside of his hotel. Then he vanished.

As provincial police in Quebec continue to investigate, Toman’s loved ones in Ontario have done everything they can to keep his case in the public eye.

Our guest on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is Liam’s mother, Kathleen Toman. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Sûreté du Québec at 1-800-659-4264.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Don’t have a doctor? Don’t do this.

Nearly half of Canadians are turning to AI to diagnose or treat their health issues, according to a new survey — and the answers being spit out are putting a lot of people in danger.

Released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the survey found that people who follow health advice from AI are five times more likely to experience harms than those who do not.

“For years, we’ve been talking about how too many Canadians struggle to access health care when they need it,” says Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the CMA. “This leaves people little choice but to turn to dubious sources of information, and now we know that it is hurting them. We fear what this will mean for patients in the future if action is not taken now.”

Dr. Burnell is our guest on tonight’s episode of Village Media’s Closer Look podcast.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

People can be pretty biased when it comes to their hometowns. Ask someone which city is the best, and chances are they’ll choose their own.

But when it comes to livability, which Canadian city actually comes out on top? Is “good place to live” a concept that can be measured?

The Globe and Mail set out to try — and the latest results are in.

The newspaper’s third annual “Canada’s Most Livable Cities” ranking uses 58 variables across 10 key categories — from health care and the economy to housing and transportation — to produce a composite score for 454 different cities coast to coast.

The detailed report also includes an interactive tool that allows readers to prioritize the attributes they value most. Click HERE to find out how your city measures up.

Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look podcast to talk about the project is James Cowan, The Globe and Mail’s investing and personal finance editor.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email protected].

Reach out to Frisco and Scott

Sid Seixeiro is back in the game.

The longtime Toronto sports personality — who rose to prominence as one half of the iconic Tim and Sid show — launched his latest venture earlier today: a new live-stream solo podcast that runs every weekday at noon on YouTube, Facebook and X.

As loyal fans will remember, Seixeiro walked away from his signature sports show in 2021 to co-host CityTV’s Breakfast Television — but was abruptly fired last February, along with co-host Meredith Shaw.

After spending the past 12 months on the sidelines, Seixeiro says he is excited to be back in front of a mic and working with Sick Media, an independent production company.

“We have 100 per cent control of editorial so we’ll decide where we go and when, and that includes Olympics, that includes World Cup,” Seixeiro told our Closer Look podcast. “I'm gonna get angry at some stuff. I'm gonna give some people some respect. I've been pigeonholed a little bit as ‘angry guy.’ I'm not always ‘angry guy.’ That's only 85 per cent of my day.”

Asked about his high-profile break-up with Breakfast Television, Seixeiro told us he plans to address all the details on his Friday show.

“I haven't really talked about it publicly, but something happened to me online after I left BT that I wasn't used to — people were nice to me," he said. "And so I'm going to go through my version of that later this week. It's not like some tell-all salacious thing. It's going to be rather boring, but there's more to it on my end than people know.”

Click HERE to check out the official site of The Sid Seixeiro Show. 

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, 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.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Clo

Reach out to Frisco and Scott