Today on Free For All Friday: listeners and guests reacted to the latest on the war in Iran, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford's comments regarding live streaming bail hearings and congratulating a Vaughan homeowner who shot a home invasion suspect. 

Today's guests were: Diane Francis, an author, commentator and editor-at-large at The National Post and John Mykytyshyn, a Conservative strategist, political consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: PREMIER DOUG FORD’S SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR HOMEOWNER WHO SHOT SUSPECT IN HOME INVASION IN VAUGHAN

Libby Znaimer is joined by Jon Burnside, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 16 for Don Valley East, Brad Bradford, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 19 Beaches East York, and former Toronto City Councillor Karen Stintz.

We get reaction to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's comments of support for a Vaughan homeowner whose home was invaded and who shot a suspect. We also widen the conversation about public safety in Toronto.

THE 2026 WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT AND WHERE CANADA IS RANKED

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lord Richard Layard, a Professor at The Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics; David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies; and Dr. Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto.

We discuss the World Happiness Report for 2026, where Canada ranks on the list and the contributing factors to happiness as well as its decline.

WHAT IS “MAPLE WASHING”, AND FINES FOR PRODUCTS THAT ARE FALSELY MARKED AS MADE IN CANADA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Maria Corradini, Professor and Arrell Chair in Food Quality in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph.

We talk about the phenomenon of "maple washing" and other food-related news this week.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: RECRUITING DOCTORS FROM U.S. & THE RISKS OF PAID PLASMA DONATIONS

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.

We get reaction to the risks of paid plasma donations in Canada, and BC's efforts to recruit doctors from the U.S.

A CLOSER LOOK AT INFLATION IN CANADA & A SURVEY ON CANADIANS LIVING PAYCHEQUE TO PAYCHEQUE

Libby Znaime is joined by Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal, Anthony Quinn, President of CARP, and Pat Pellegrini, President and CEO of Vividata.

Today: a discussion about inflation and its impact here in Canada, as well as a new Vividata survey that shows that almost half of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque. How did we get here?

WE NEED TO  DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF “TIP CREEP”

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Senior Director at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

Together they discuss the "tip creep" phenomenon and a new survey that details Canadians attitudes towards tipping in the hospitality industry.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: PREMIER FORD IS MAKING HEADLINES ON VARIOUS TOPICS, MEANWHILE HE IS TRYING TO CHANGE FOI LEGISLATION

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada; George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP, Health Minister and Deputy Premier; and Peter Tabuns, an Ontario NDP MPP for Toronto-Danforth.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been making a string of bold announcements ranging from pepper spray, HOV lanes, wanting to have livestreaming of bail hearings. Meanwhile, he is trying to make a change to legislation around freedom of information requests. Our panel breaks down the latest.

WHY HAS AN ONTARIO CONVICTED CHILDKILLER BEEN ALLOWED UNESCORTED ABSENCES FROM PRISON?

Libby Znaimer is joined by Ari Goldkind, a Toronto-based Criminal Defense Lawyer.

Why has a convicted child rapist and murderer been granted numerous unescorted absences from prison? What does this say about our criminal justice system? Ari weighs in.

A STUDY DETAILS HOW THE DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AGING FASTER

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Oren Amitay, a registered psychologist based in Toronto.

Do you have relationships with difficult and/or negative people in your life? According to a study, they can contribute to you aging faster. Dr. Amitay weighs in on the study findings.

ZOOMER SQUAD: WHY IS TORONTO PRIORITIZING THE IDEA OF A PUBLIC GROCERY STORE?

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

Our panel discussed the idea of a city-run grocer being floated by a Toronto City Councillor and a fire at a BC retirement home last week and its impact on 100 residents of the home. 

 

WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND KHARG ISLAND IS IMPORTANT IN IRAN WAR & WHAT IT MEANS FOR GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY

Libby Znaimer is joined by Christian Leuprecht, professor at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University and Paasha Mahdavi, an associate professor of political science at University of California, Santa Barbara.

What is U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island in Iran amid the war and what does it all mean for shipping and the world's oil supply? Our experts weigh in on the latest.

WHAT THE FORD GOVERNMENT IS DOING WITH FOIs 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Jessica Smith Cross, Editor-in-Chief, The Trillium.

What's Premier Doug Ford's government trying to do with Freedom of Information Requests? Jessica weighs in.

Today on Free For All Friday: Listeners and guests weighed in on a fourth floor crossing to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals this past week, concerns around the upcoming Al Quds rally taking place this weekend and other local news that's making headlines. 

Libby was joined by Diane Francis, an author, commentator and editor-at-large at The National Post and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: SHORT LIST OF ELECTRIC FERRY NAMES FOR TORONTO & MORE REACTION TO PREMIER FORD’S BILLY BISHOP PLANS

Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillors Jon Burnside, Ward 16 Don Valley East, Stephen Holyday, Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre and Mike Colle, Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence and Deputy Mayor for North York.

Our panel reacts to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's plans with Billy Bishop airport, a home invasion that took place in North York, and other local news of the week.

THE LATEST FLOOR CROSSING TO THE LIBERALS AND A LOOK AHEAD TO FEDERAL BY-ELECTIONS

Libby Znaimer is joined by Janet Ecker, a former Ontario PC MPP and Finance Minister and Charles Bird, Principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group.

We discuss the latest floor crossing, this time from the federal NDP to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals.

THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR PUREBRED DOGS IN CANADA

Libby is joined by Ramona Bauer, Canadian Kennel Club Board Member for Ontario North.

A list of the top ten purebred dogs for Canada has been published. Tune in to find out which made the shortlist.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: THE INCREASE IN PUBLIC SPENDING OF PRESCRIPTION MEDS + ADVOCATES CALL FOR LOWERING COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AGE

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.

We discuss the latest healthcare news of the week including the call for colorectal cancer screening to be lowered to age 45 from 50, public spending on prescription drugs going up in Canada and more.

ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD EXPROPRIATING BILLY BISHOP 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority followed by Norm Di Pasquale, Chair of NoJetsTO.

Premier Doug Ford is going to expropriate Billy Bishop airport. We get into why he's doing that and we hear from various perspectives on the matter.

TRAVELLING THIS MARCH BREAK + WHERE CANADIAN PASSPORT STANDS IN INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY RANKING

Libby Znaimer is joined by Martin Firestone, President of Travel Secure Inc. and Devyn Perry, Travel Advisor and Owner of Devyn Perry Travel.

We discuss where the Canadian passport ranks in global ranking list, and what travellers stranded abroad need to consider. And, March Break is coming up. Do you have any travel plans?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: UPCOMING FEDERAL BY-ELECTIONS & PM MARK CARNEY AT IRAN WAR HOC DEBATE 

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

Three federal byelections are coming up in April. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney did not attend the house of commons debate regarding the war in Iran and has been called out by the opposition Conservatives accusing him of flip flopping on his stance on it. And, the US Consulate in Toronto was the target of a shooting. It comes shortly after the shootings at two Synagogues this past weekend.

WHY ARE WE REPLACING TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES THAT STILL WORK? 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Carmi Levy, technology analyst and journalist based in London, Ontario.

A new study details the extent to which Canadians throw away their technological devices that still work! Why do we do this? Carmi weighs in on the latest.

EXCITEMENT AROUND MAHJONG, AND HOW TO ACTUALLY PLAY THE GAME 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Shirley Hanick, a Mahjong teacher.

What's behind the popularity of Mahjong, who's actually playing it and what are the rules? Shirley explains it all. You won't want to miss this fun discussion.

ZOOMER SQUAD: TAX SEASON, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A NEW CRA SYSTEM  

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

Tax season is upon us and the CRA has launched a new tax filing system for individuals on a lower income. Meanwhile, CARP is taking the banks to the competition bureau. And, here's what you need to know about the upcoming federal byelections called by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

CALLS FOR ACTION TO PROTECT LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY IN AFTERMATH OF SYNAGOGUE SHOOTINGS 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillor Mike Colle (Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence), who is the Deputy Mayor of the City for North York followed by Caryma Sa'd, a lawyer who is also known for her video documentation of anti-Israel protests, pro-Israel protests and other kinds of rallies and protests in Toronto.

The local Jewish community was again the target of violence this weekend with two synagogues shot at over the weekend, making it a total of three that were shot at in the span of a week. So far, we have heard words from political leaders and Toronto Police, but what remains to be seen is whether any concrete action will take place to address safety concerns facing the local Jewish community.

IRAN NAMES NEW SUPREME LEADER: WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS TEHRAN TRYING TO SEND AND HOW WILL U.S.-ISRAEL RESPOND? 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer, human rights activist and Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Iran has named a new supreme leader for its country: Mojtaba Khameini. He is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khameini who was killed at the beginning of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. What kind of message is Tehran trying to send? Tune in to find out about U.S. President Donald Trump's response to the move.