Today on Free For All Friday: Libby Znaimer, guests and listeners discussed Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Gordie Howe Bridge, the Ford government MPP hotel expenses scandal, crime in Toronto, and other news making headlines this week.

Libby was joined by Charles Bird, a Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies and David Tarrant, Vice President, National Strategic Communications at Enterprise Canada.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: FORD PC MPP HOTEL EXPENSES SCANDAL & A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE DEAL 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Jon Burnside, City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East), James Pasternak, City Councillor for Ward 6 (York Centre) and Lorne Bozinoff, President and CEO of Forum Research Group.

Today: reaction to the Ford government MPP hotel expenses scandal, the latest on the Gordie Howe bridge deal and what will the future of the Salsa on St. Clair festival be in the aftermath of the deadly shooting that rocked that neighbourhood.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LATEST STATISTICS ON HATE CRIMES IN CANADA 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Ari Goldkind, a Toronto-based criminal defence lawyer and Alan Kessel, a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute as well as a former Assistant Deputy Minister and legal adviser to the Government of Canada and a former deputy high commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom.

Together: they discuss the latest hate crime stats from Statistics Canada and take a closer look at the scourge of antisemitism in this country.

WHAT CARP IS CALLING FOR FROM THE PREMIERS AT CHARLOTTETOWN 

Anthony Quinn, President of CARP, is in Charlottetown PEI this week during the Council of the Federation meetings. He is calling on Canada's Premiers to take a united approach on the issue of healthcare when dealing with Ottawa. He joins Libby to discuss that and other issues he's raising with the Premiers on behalf of seniors.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: REVERSING A RECOMMENDATION ON COVERAGE FOR ALZHEIMER’S DRUG LECANEMAB

Canada's Drug Agency now recommends Lecanemab Alzheimers drug coverage & it is World Brain Day.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and former head of BC Cancer; Dr. Fahad Razak, general internist at St. Michael's Hospital and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto; and Dr. Barry Pakes, Professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health and former Medical Officer of Health for York Region.

THESE ARE THE MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA

We now know the top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada. At number one: the Toyota RAV 4. Tune in to find out the other vehicles that made the list.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bryan Gast, National Vice President of Intelligence & Investigations at Équité Association.

 

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCES OF OLDER WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY ACCORDING TO NIA REPORT

Even though women in this country live longer than men do, they are vulnerable to all kinds of challenges as they age including financial insecurity, loneliness and ageism according to a new report from the National Institute on Ageing.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Talia Bronstein, Director of Policy at the National Institute on Ageing.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: TRUMP'S TRADE WAR WITH CANADA & STAN CHO'S EXPENSES SCANDAL

Libby Znaimer is joined by Cheri DiNovo, a former Ontario NDP MPP; Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant; and David Tarrant, Vice President, National Strategic Communications at Enterprise Canada.

The panel reacts to President Trump intensifying his trade war with Canada and the latest on Ontario MPP Stan Cho's expenses scandal. Will Premier Ford eject him from caucus? We discuss that and other local news of the week.

INFLATION AND GROCERY STORE PRICES

Libby Znaimer is joined by Michael Von Massow, Professor in the Department of Food Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph.

Michael weighs in on the impact of inflation on grocery prices.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PERCEPTION OF WEALTH AND SPENDING HABITS 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal.

Moshe weighs in on the psychological aspect of tariffs and spending habits, and the connection between perceptions of wealth and spending.

ZOOMER SQUAD: HERE’S WHY OTTAWA HAS STOPPED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PARENT AND GRANDPARENT SPONSORSHIPS 

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies, Rob Davis, a former Toronto City Councillor and John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Strategist and President of Bradgate Research Group.

Together, they react to Canada pausing acceptances to its parent/grandparent sponsorship program and the reason behind it.

IMMIGRATION LAWYER GUIDY MAMMAN DISCUSSES THE ISSUE THAT HOME CARE WORKERS ARE FACING WITH PERMANENT RESIDENCY DELAYS

Libby Znaimer is joined by Guidy Mamman, a Toronto immigration lawyer and Partner at Mamman Sandaluk LLP Immigration Lawyers.

Guidy weighs in on the challenges home care workers are facing with regards to permanent residency delays and why that is happening.

WHY COTTAGE CHEESE HAS BECOME SO TRENDY & HAVE YOU TRIED SCANDANAVIAN FOOD? 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lucy Waverman, food columnist and cookbook author and Rose Reisman, a leading health and wellness expert and author.

Together: they discuss how cottage cheese became so trendy and its health benefits. And have you tried Scandinavian food? Libby just got back from a cruise to that part of the world and details the food she ate.

Today on Free For All Friday: Libby Znaimer, guests and listeners react to the news of Conservative MPP Stan Cho resigning over the hotel expenses scandal, a US response to Canada's wildfire smoke and the recent wave of violence (including the deadly shooting at Salsa on St. Clair) taking place in Toronto.

Libby Znaimer is joined by John Mykytyshyn, a Conservative Strategist and President of Bradgate Research Group, and Charles Bird, a Liberal Strategist and Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: VIOLENCE IN TORONTO & BONNIE CROMBIE WANTS HER OLD JOB BACK

Today, our panel reacts to Bonnie Crombie officially running for Mississauga mayor (again), former federal Conservative Minister Chris Alexander mulling a Toronto mayoral run and the issue of violence in Toronto.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Jon Burnside, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East), James Pasternak, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 6 (York Centre) and former Toronto City Councillor Karen Stintz.

JOHN BOLTON ON THE US VS IRANIAN REGIME AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ISRAEL

What's the latest between the US and the Iranian regime, and on the Strait of Hormuz? And what does it all mean for Israel?

Libby Znaimer is joined by John Bolton, a former US Ambassador to the UN and who served as National Security Advisor for President Donald Trump during his first term in office.

HERE ARE THE TOP 25 CAT-LOVING CITIES IN CANADA 

On to a lighter subject now: cats. PetSmart just released a list of the Top 25 most cat-loving cities in Canada.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Kelly Robotham, Zoomer Radio’s Music Director, Laura Pigott, Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences and Neurorehabilitation at London South Bank University and Kimberly Williams, Spokesperson with PetSmart Charities of Canada.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: LIBBY'S PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS ANNIVERSARY AND A CLOSER LOOK AT SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and former head of BC Cancer; Dr. Fahad Razak, general internist at St. Michael's Hospital and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto; and Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family doctor practicing in Toronto.

Today marks a very important occasion: it is the anniversary of Libby's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis she received on her 18th wedding anniversary. And, we discuss other healthcare news of the week including a closer look at the cause of death of Senator Lindsey Graham and Toronto currently having the worst air quality worldwide.

BONNIE CROMBIE EXPLAINS WHY SHE IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF MISSISSAUGA AGAIN

Libby Znaimer is joined by Mississauga Mayoral Candidate Bonnie Crombie.

In her own words, Bonnie Crombie explains why she is running for Mississauga mayor once again.

 

MPP STAN CHO'S HOTEL EXPENSE CONTROVERSY & CANADA POST BONUSES

Libby Znaimer is joined by Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Franco weighs in on the controversy surrounding MPP Stan Cho's hotel expenses and Canada Post bonuses for executives.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: AFTERMATH OF SALSA ON ST. CLAIR TRAGEDY AND MORE REACTION TO BONNIE CROMBIE RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF MISSISSAUGA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant, Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP and Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada.

Together, they discuss the aftermath of the deadly shooting at Salsa on St. Clair over the weekend & react to the news of Bonnie Crombie running for Mayor of Mississauga.

ARI GOLDKIND REACTS TO TPS CHIEF’S CALL FOR TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR SHOOTINGS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS

Libby is joined by Toronto Criminal Defence Lawyer Ari Goldkind for his reaction to TPS Chief Myron Demkiw's press conference in the aftermath of the deadly shooting that took place at Salsa on St. Clair over the weekend.

TORONTO MAYORAL CANDIDATE BRAD BRADFORD DISCUSSES DEADLY SALSA FESTIVAL SHOOTING AND VIOLENCE IN TORONTO

Libby Zniamer is joined by Toronto Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford who is also the City Councillor for Ward 19 Beaches-East York.

This morning, Brad held a press conference to talk about the deadly violence in Toronto this past weekend that included the shooting at Salsa on St. Clair.

ZOOMER SQUAD: REACTION TO BONNIE CROMBIE OFFICIALLY RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF MISSISSAUGA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, President of CARP, David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies and Rob Davis, a former Toronto City Councillor.

Together, they react to the deadly shooting incident at the popular Salsa on St. Clair festival this past weekend whereby 13,000 people were in attendance and other shooting incidents across the city over the weekend. They also react to Bonnie Crombie officially running for mayor of Mississauga.

 

TRAGEDY OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER DEADLY SHOOTING AT SALSA ON ST CLAIR FESTIVAL THAT HAD 13,000 ATTENDEES 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Natalia Buia, Associate Editor at BlogTO, Harsh Chawla, Owner of Pukka and Lorraine Hawley, Founder at Mabel's Bakery.

We speak with local businesses to get their reaction to the deadly gun violence that took place at Salsa on St. Clair festival over the weekend. Is it time for the city to totally rethink its approach to festivals in the aftermath?