Fight Back with Libby Znaimer

Libby Znaimer is joined by  Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, John Capobianco, Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard HighRoad,  and Charles Sousa, the former Minister of Finance for Ontario and MPP for Mississauga South.

In the news: Erin O'Toole and some members of his caucus continue to be at odds over a COVID-19 vaccine policy for the Conservative Party. And, in other federal political news, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is urging the board of directors of Air Canada to include a “significant improvement” of speaking the French-language in their CEO's performance evaluation. It comes after CEO Michael  Rousseau gave a speech to the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and could not properly answer questions by journalists asking questions in French. And, finally, in provincial news, the panel weighs in on the Ford government's Bradford Bypass plans which has sparked plenty of criticism.

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DR PETER JUNI ON CAPACITY LIMITS AND ONTARIO'S FOURTH WAVE

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Peter Jüni, the Scientific Director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

In the news: Dr. Peter Jüni suggests that the province might look at reviewing capacity limits at public venues as confirmed  cases of COVID-19 see an increase.

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FORD GOVERNMENT'S BRADFORD BYPASS PLANS SPARK CRITICISM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario AND Dr. Frank Clayton,  a senior research fellow with the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Ryerson University.

In the news: The Ford government announced plans for the Bradford Bypass. The cost of this infrastructure development will be entirely covered by Ontario taxpayers. Ford also made clear that this stretch of highway would not be tolled when it is expected to open in 2024. Our guests today weigh in on both sides of the debate over the province's infrastructure plans including Highway 413.

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

Canada's land border with the U.S. is now open to non-essential travellers.

The Sunday edition of the Best Fight Back, from the week that was, with Bob Komsic

Interviews with:

- Dr. Peter Juni responds to news that hospital workers will not be mandated by the province to get vaccinated for COVID-19

- David Musyj, Dr. Alon Vaisman, and Doris Grinspun react to the news of no vaccine mandate for hospital workers

- Dr. Patricia Lakin on the biological considerations surrounding the possibility of Daylight Saving Time going permanent

- Brian Harris, Chris Sankey, and Mark Criger discuss the sensitivity of how to handle lowering the flag to half-mast during remembrance day ceremonies... when they are already at half-mast in response to the bodies found at resident schools

- And the best calls of the week!

The Saturday edition of the Best Fight Back, from the week that was, with Bob Komsic

Interviews with:

- The Zoomer Squad with Peter Muggeridge, Bill VanGorder, and David Cravit discuss fines levied against long-term care facilities

- Dr. Susy Hota helps explain the eligibility requirements for COVID-19 booster shots

- The Strategy Panel with John Capobinaco, Charles Sousa, and Karen Stintz react to the increase of minimum wage coming soon to Ontario

- Julie Kwiecinski offers more insight into the increase of the minimum wage

- And the best calls of the week!

Today on Free For All Friday: this week, the province announced its COVID-19 booster shot campaign, and Doug Ford said that his government would not impose a province-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for hospital workers. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy delivered Ontario's fiscal update. And, in municipal news, a teen was sentenced to two years probation in connection to the St. Michael's College sexual assault case. Tune in to chime in on these topics and anything else on your mind.

ONTARIO'S BOOSTER SHOT PLAN AND DIRECTIVE ON VACCINE MANDATES AT HOSPITALS

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Peter Jüni, the Scientific Director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

This week, the province announced it's plan for COVID-19 booster shots.

DOUG FORD DECIDES NOT TO IMPOSE PROVINCE-WIDE COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE FOR HOSPITAL WORKERS

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Musyj, President and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, Dr. Alon Vaisman, Infectious Diseases and Infection Control Physician at the University Health Network (UHN) and Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).

In a written statement, yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that the province won't get involved in mandating COVID-19 vaccines for hospital workers and will instead continue to allow individual hospitals to enforce their own policy on the matter. Our guests, all of whom work in Ontario's healthcare system, react to the news.

HOW WILL PROVINCE'S STANCE ON HOSPITAL VACCINE MANDATES IMPACT HOSPITAL STAFF FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Libby Znaimer is joined by Puneet Tiwari, Employment Lawyer with Levitt Sheikh Law.

Puneet gives his legal opinion on hospital workers' legal actions against vaccine mandates being imposed by their employers. For example, we've been seeing this with staff from the UHN. And, the impact of the province's latest decision not to get involved in enforcing a province-wide mandate on COVID-19 vaccines for hospital staff on such court cases and leaving it up to individual hospitals to impose their own policies.

CANADIAN DAIRY COULD SEE PRICE INCREASE AND STATISTICS CANADA'S FOOD INFLATION DATA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Michael Von Massow, Associate Professor in the department of food Agriculture and Resource Economics at Guelph University alongside Rosie Schwartz, Consulting Dietitian and Author of The Enlightened Eater's Whole Foods Guide.

This week, we learned that the Canadian Dairy Commission is recommending an 8.4 percent increase on farm gate milk prices. The increase is expected to take effect by Feb. 1st. Experts on Canada's food industry are calling for better transparency from the CDC with regards to how it comes up with price increases. Meanwhile, Rosie details ways you can manage eating well amid the rising cost of a variety of different foods at the grocery store.

Will Canada's flags be brought to half mast for veterans on Remembrance Day this year?

Ontario to increase min. wage by $15/hr starting Jan. 1st.

New LTC legislation in Ontario & NACI guidelines on COVID-19 booster shots.

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

Interviews with:

- Dr. Adam Kassam, Dr. Sohail Gandhi and Dr. Michelle Cohen on the OMA's recommendations

- Lisa Levin and Doris Grinspun on LTC inspectors

- Dr. Iris Gorfinkel and Dr. Timothy Sly on booster shots in BC

- Dr. Vinita Dubey on the city's flu shot campaign

- And the best calls of the week!