TUNE INTO THE TOWN: BRAD BRADFORD’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON BIKE LANES ON BLOOR ST. W & THE DANGERS OF E-VEHICLES INCLUDING E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS

Our municipal panel reacts to the dangers of e-vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters on our roads and sidewalks and Brad Bradford's take on bike lanes on Bloor St West.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillors James Pasternak, Ward 6 York Centre; Stephen Holyday, Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre; and Mike Colle, Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence and Deputy Mayor for North York.

TORONTO IS GRAPPLING WITH A LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FIRE PROBLEM

The City is grappling with a lithium-ion battery fire problem and the Chief of Toronto Fire Services wants regulation on them to come quickly. We take a  closer look at the issue.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Acting Deputy Fire Chief, Community Risk Reduction, Marla Friebe.

HOW ARE CANADIANS FEELING ABOUT TRAVEL TO THE US LATELY?

How are Canadians feeling about traveling to the US lately? We talk to both American and Canadian travel experts and look at what the stats show.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Devyn Perry of Devyn Perry Travel and Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON CHILDHOOD VACCINES & THE CDC HAS A NEW HEAD - DR. ERICA SCHWARTZ

Our medical panel reacts to President Trump's executive order on childhood vaccinations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a new head: Dr. Erica Schwartz.

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.

MPP MICHELLE COOPER DISCUSSES ONTARIO’S HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS UNIT

How will Ontario's Hate Crime Prosecutions Unit, the first one ever in Canada, work?

Libby Znaimer is joined by Ontario PC MPP Michelle Cooper (Eglinton-Lawrence).

ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER AND PARTIAL SOLAR  ECLIPSE? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Here's what you need to know about viewing both the partial solar eclipse and perseid meteor shower in Ontario.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Rupinder Brar, Senior Teaching Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Ontario Tech University.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: ONTARIO LAUNCHES A NEW SPECIALIZED PROSECUTIONS UNIT, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CANADA

The political panel reacts to Ontario's specialized hate crimes prosecution unit & the Federal Conservatives are calling on Prime Minister Carney not to cave when it comes to Canada-US trade talks.

Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Health Minister and Deputy Premier; Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP; and Janet Ecker, a former Ontario PC Finance Minister. 

A CLOSER LOOK AT ONTARIO SPECIALIZED HATE CRIMES PROSECUTION UNIT

We take a closer look at Ontario's new specialized hate crimes prosecution unit and what it entails.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Ari Goldkind, Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Alan Kessel, a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, former Assistant Deputy Minister and legal adviser to the Government of Canada and a former deputy high commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom.

BRAD BRADFORD WANTS TO GET RID OF BIKE LANES ON BLOOR ST WEST IF ELECTED & TORONTO POLICE SERVICE’S MOBILITY SAFETY BLITZ

In an announcement in Etobicoke this morning, Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford promised to get rid of bike lanes on Bloor West. Also, he weighs in on the current TPS safety blitz on mobility vehicles in the city.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Brad Bradford, a Toronto mayoral candidate and a current Toronto City Councillor for Ward 19 (Beaches East York).

ZOOMER SQUAD: HOW TORONTO'S MAYORAL RACE IS SHAPING UP

Libby Znaimer today is joined by Anthony Quinn, President of CARP; David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies; and Rob Davis, a former Toronto City Councillor to discuss Toronto's mayoral race and other news of the week.  

RAPID TESTING TRIAL FOR LONG TERM CARE 

A trial details how rapid testing at long term care homes in Canada can reduce the number of ER visits on an annual basis. We speak to an expert directly involved in the trial.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Jerome Leis, Medical Director of infection prevention and control at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and co-principal investigator of the trial.

CANADA’S APPROACH TO WAR READINESS

How is the Canadian military shifting its priorities? In a recent report, it found that it “must be prepared to conduct Major Combat Operations”. We get into what that actually means.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Christian Leuprecht, Professor at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University and Christopher Coates, Director of the Foreign Policy, National Defence and National Security Program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Today on Free For All Friday: Libby Znaimer, guests and listeners react to the latest polling from Liaison Strategies on Toronto's mayoral race, an update from Toronto Police on the Salsa on St. Clair festival shooting and other news making headlines this week.

Libby was joined by David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies and Diane Francis, author, commentator and Editor-at-Large at The National Post.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: FUNDING FOR TASTE OF THE DANFORTH & MORE DETAILS ON PROJECT SOUTH

Ottawa is providing $100 thousand to the Taste of the Danforth festival in Toronto. But who are these festivals really for and are they beneficial or more hurtful to local business? And, what about security and safety for the public? Our panel reacts to that and other local news making headlines this week.

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

TPS ANNOUNCE HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS RELATED TO RETAIL THEFT IN THE CITY

Libby Znaimer is joined by Superintendent Ron Taverner of 23 Division to discuss the TPS announcement on hundreds of arrests made in connection to retail theft in the city.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT THE SECOND US CONSULATE SHOOTING

Libby Znaimer is joined by Phil Gurski, a former senior strategic terrorism analyst at CSIS and author of 8 books including one coming out in September about 9/11 25 years on.

Phil reacts to the update we got this morning regarding the second US Consulate shooting in Toronto.

 

REACTION TO THREE BYELECTIONS CALLED BY PREMIER DOUG FORD

Our political strategists react to the three Ontario byelections called by Premier Doug Ford.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bob Richardson, a Public Affairs Consultant and John Mykytyshyn, a Conservative Strategist and President of Bradgate Research Group.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: AN MRNA VACCINE TRIAL FOR EBOLA & THE USE OF AI IN REDUCING DELIRIUM IN PATIENTS

In the news: Health Canada has approved an mRNA vaccine trial for ebola and Dr. Fahad Razak explains how AI is playing a role in reducing delirium among hospital patients.

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE US MIDTERMS SO FAR 

We talk to our American experts about what's happening south of the border when it comes to the US midterms.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Southern Methodist University and Matt Wylie, Republican political strategist and founder of Wylie Strategy Group.

KAREN STINTZ ON “BEYOND GOOD ENOUGH” 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, a former Toronto City Councillor and the author of “Beyond Good Enough: Toronto and the Crisis of Urban Complacency” to discuss her new book.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: REACTION TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND CHRIS ALEXANDER JOINING THE TORONTO MAYORAL RACE

There is "no obvious challenger" to Prime Minister Mark Carney from the Conservative party according to a new Nanos Research poll though former PM Stephen Harper has a greater chance than Pierre Poilievre. And, we get more reaction to the news that Chris Alexander has joined Toronto's mayoral race.

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Health Minister and Deputy Premier, Cheri DiNovo, a former Ontario NDP MPP and Janet Ecker, a former Ontario PC Finance Minister.

THE AFTERMATH OF THE WESTJET FLIGHT ATTENDANT STRIKE THAT ENDED IN A DEAL

Even though a tentative deal has been reached that ends a WestJet flight attendant strike, travellers are grappling with the aftermath. Our panel reacts to the latest.

Jane Brown is joined by Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University and Martin Firestone, President, Travel Secure Inc.

ST. CATHARINES HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY: HERE’S WHY

The city of St. Catharines has declared a state of emergency due to flooding.

Jane Brown is joined by Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

We get reaction to the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Jane Brown is joined by Andrew Rasiulis with The Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

WHO WAS JOHN GRAVES SIMCOE? 

Today marks Simcoe Day, named after John Graves Simcoe. But, how many of us actually know who he was? Dr. Dutil gives us a history lesson.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Patrice Dutil, Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, Toronto Metropolitan University.

THE GLASSES THAT ARE A GAME CHANGER 

It’s an innovation that can solve two common problems that keep Zoomers from loud, crowded restaurants, social gatherings, and workplaces. Nuance Audio glasses combine advanced sound technology into regular eyeglasses. It’s not for severe hearing loss, but these can help anyone who has trouble hearing their companions above music and ambient noise.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Simon Robert, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs & Strategic Partnerships, Canada at EssilorLuxottica (parent company of Nuance Audio).

TWO COLD CASES CRACKED BY TORONTO POLICE 

Libby is joined by Detective Constable Mike Kelly with the Toronto Police Service to discuss two cold cases that were cracked and the technology that helped make it happen.

AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS ALEXANDER WHO HAS ENTERED TORONTO'S MAYORAL RACE

Libby Znaimer asks Chris Alexander, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, why he decided to join Toronto's mayoral race and we get reaction to this news from Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant and Karen Stintz, a former Toronto City Councillor. We also get a sense of what the polling shows from Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

THE HISTORY OF THE TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL 

What is the history of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival?

Libby Znaimer is joined by Rosemary Sadlier, author and former president of the Ontario Black History Society to take us back to the beginning.

Today on Free For All Friday: Libby, her guests and listeners reacted to the news that Chris Alexander has joined the Toronto mayoral race and other news that made headlines this week.

Libby Znaimer was joined by Janet Ecker, a former Ontario PC Finance Minister and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.