Today on Free For All Friday, listeners called in about the federal budget, the housing crisis, COVID-19 concerns, the rising cost of living...chickens in the City and more!

Toronto councillors are preparing to vote this week on the city’s backyard hens pilot program…but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed cases of the “highly pathogenic” H5N1 strain of avian influenza in five regions of the province, including among backyard flocks.

Libby Znaimer is joined by…Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, Councillor, Scarborough Centre - Ward 21; Michelle Nolden, an actor who wrote and directed series called "Free Range Children" that follows the exploits of Michelle and her family as they figure out how to become backyard chicken farmers; and Sarah Doucette, a former city councillor and a three-year participant in the pilot program of backyard chicken farming; to discuss the matter.

THE FEDERAL BUDGET

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will unveil the 2022 federal budget today, making it the first budget announcement since the 2021 federal election.

Libby Znaimer is joined by...John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Activist, Political Consultant...President of Bradgate Research Group; and Tom Parkin, columnist, commentator, and principal of Impact Strategies...who has worked for the NDP in the past…and later, Phil Soper, CEO of Royal LePage, to discuss what we might expect.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Barry Pakes,  Medical Officer of Health for York Region, Dr. Prabhat Jha, Epidemiologist, and Faculty Member at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Kyro Masseh, Pharmacist and owner at Lawlor Pharmacy in Toronto.

Today: Ontario announced that it is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 fourth vaccine dose to adults ages 60 and older starting April 7 at 8:00 am. The recommended interval between 3rd and 4th doses is 5 months. Up until now, the fourth dose was reserved for residents of long-term care and retirement homes and the immunocompromised. Also, Kyro explains how pharmacies like his will play an integral role in the rollout of the fourth shot.

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ONTARIO PROMISES A MIN. WAGE INCREASE STARTING OCT. 1ST

Libby Znaimer is joined by Sheila Block, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Craig Pickthorne of the Ontario Living Wage Network and Brad Butt, VP of government and stakeholder relations, Mississauga Board of Trade.

This week, the Ford government promised that it will increase the min. wage to $15.50 per hour starting October 1st of 2022. We ask our guests about why the wage increase is important and perhaps how it might negatively impact business owners. And, according to a 2021 report by the Ontario Living Wage Network, people living in Toronto need to make at least $22.08 an hour to afford basic items such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, child care and medical care, among other necessities. The lowest living wage indicated in the report was $16.20 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

And the call for equal access to Cancer drugs.

Ontario has seen a resurgence in COVID-19.

The Sunday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown

Interviews with:

- Dr. Timothy Sly and Dr. Barry Pakes on the spike of positive cases in Ontario

- Peter Schturyn and Elise Herzig on work being done to bring Ukrainian refugees into Canada

- Daniel Safayeni, Bruce O’Hare, and Christopher Bloore on the too-little-too-late help for the Ontario tourism industry

- Dr. Cody Groat and Gerald McMaster on the Vatican's collection of indigenous artifacts

- And the best calls of the week!

The Saturday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown

Interviews with:

- The Zoomer Squad with Bill VanGorder, Peter Muggeridge, and David Cravit on the latest Child Care Deal for Ontarians

- The Strategy Panel with John Capobianco, Charles Sousa, and Karen Stintz discuss Ford's deal with Trudeau

- Jay Goldberg breaks down this year's Sunshine List

- Peter Donolo discusses Canada's future with the monarchy after Jamaica declares they're seeking independence from the crown

- And the best calls of the week!

Today, on Free For All Friday, listeners called in about the resurgence of COVID-19 in Ontario and more!

Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

And Ontario has a plan to tackle the housing crisis.

Advocates are calling for their return to the right hands.