Today on Free For All Friday: Libby, guests and listeners discuss the issue of theft at grocery store self-checkouts, as well as the consumer experience of self-checkout stations versus checking out with a store clerk and the latest news of the week. 

Libby is joined by David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies, and Janet Ecker, a former Ontario Finance Minister.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND MORE

Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillors Jon Burnside (Ward 16 Don Valley East), James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre) and Mike Colle (Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence), Deputy Mayor of North York.

We get the latest reaction to the municipal election campaign in Toronto and other local news of the week.

LIBBY’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THIS YEAR’S BEST BARTENDER AND A CLOSER LOOK AT CANADA’S BEST RESTAURANTS LIST 

Libby interviews Canada's bartender of the year and we do a recap of Canada's best restaurants list with Toronto Star Food Reporter Karon Liu.

WHY HAS CANADA’S FOOD INDUSTRY REACHED A “BREAKING POINT”? THE FOOD PROFESSOR EXPLAINS

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

The food professor makes the case that Canada's restaurant industry has reached a "breaking point".

THE MEDICAL RECORD: COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING, HANTAVIRUS & NEW ALZHEIMER’S DRUG APPROVED BY HEALTH CANADA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and former head of BC Cancer; Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family doctor practicing in Toronto; and Dr. Barry Pakes, Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and a former Medical Officer of Health for York Region.

We get reactions to the Hantavirus cruise ship outbreak story, Ontario reducing colorectal cancer screening from age 50 to age 45 & another Alzheimer's drug approved by Health Canada.

WAS THE PROCESS TO APPOINT CANADA’S NEW GOVERNOR GENERAL UNDEMOCRATIC? 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Duff Conacher, Co-Founder of Democracy Watch and Peter Donolo, former Director of Communications to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Was the process of appointing Canada's new Governor General Louise Arbour undemocratic? Our guests weigh in.

THE GENERATIONAL DIVIDE AMONG CANADIANS WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Will McAleer, Spokesperson for Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA).

According to THIA, there is a generational divide among Canadians when it comes to travel and, more specifically, travel to the US. What are the contributing factors? And, what do Canadians need to consider when it comes to travel health insurance?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: ONTARIO NDP’S MARIT STILES' COMMENTS TO PREMIER FORD: “YOU’LL BE IN PRISON” & CANADA’S NEW GOVERNOR GENERAL ANNOUNCED 

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by George Smitherman, former Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre, Health Minister and Deputy Premier; Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP; and Karen Stintz, a former Toronto City Councillor.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Louise Arbour, who is a francophone, is Canada's new Governor General. Meanwhile, Marit Stiles made the bold comment "you'd be in prison, Doug" to the Premier. Our panel reacts to the latest.

IT’S BLADDER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: WE TALK ABOUT THE LATEST RESEARCH AND HEAR FROM A BLADDER CANCER PATIENT

Jane Brown is joined by Dr. Alexandre Zlotta, the Director of Uro-Oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital and a member of Bladder Cancer Canada’s Medical Advisory Board and Stewart Press who is a bladder cancer patient, Peer Support Volunteer and Walk participant.

It's Bladder Cancer Awareness Month and a good opportunity to learn about the latest research on the disease and to hear first-hand from a bladder cancer patient.

ZOOMER SQUAD: IT’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION SEASON 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, President of CARP, Rob Davis, a former Toronto City Councillor, and John Mykytyshyn, a Conservative Strategist and President of Bradgate Research Group.

Today: a discussion about the demographic split when it comes to support for Olivia Chow versus declared mayoral candidate Brad Bradford and other local news of the week. We also discuss the concerning story of a suspected virus outbreak on a cruise ship in which three people have died.

DOUG FORD’S PLANS TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG USE ON TTC

Libby Znaimer is joined by Clayton Campbell, President of the Toronto Police Association followed by declared mayoral candidate Brad Bradford who is Toronto City Councillor for Ward 19 Beaches-East York.

Our guests react to the news of the Ford PC's plans to provide special constables the same authority as police and have powers to arrest individuals using drugs on the TTC.

 

DANIEL TATE OF INTEGRITYTO TALKS MUNICIPAL ELECTION SEASON

Libby Znaimer is joined by Daniel Tate, Executive Director of IntegrityTO.

Daniel reacts to the municipal election in Toronto, Councillor Gord Perks' decision not to run again for City Council and access to High Park.

Today on Free For All Friday: Libby Znaimer, her guests and listeners weighed in on Toronto's municipal election for 2026, the issue of potholes in the City and Ontario Premier Doug Ford's polling in the aftermath of the private jet controversy. 

Libby Znaimer was joined by Tasha Kheiriddin, a columnist for The National Post, commentator and occasional guest host on Fight Back and Diane Francis, an author, commentator and editor-at-large at The National Post.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: REACTION TO GORD PERKS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Jon Burnside, City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East), Mike Colle, Toronto City Councillor Ward 8 (Eglinton-Lawrence) and Deputy Mayor for North York, and former Toronto City Councillor Karen Stintz.

The panel reacts to the news that Toronto City Councillor Gord Perks won't be seeking re-election and other municipal news of the week.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT HIGH PARK ACCESS 

Libby Znaimer is joined by Diane Buckell, founding member of 'High Park-Access for All' and over forty year resident and supporter of High Park.

Diane is behind a petition of 30,000+ signatures objecting to Toronto City Hall's plan regarding High Park.

CLINICAL TRIALS FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE THAT CAN HELP REDUCE STROKE RISK

Libby Znaimer is joined by Hamilton Health Sciences neurologists Dr. Ashkan Shoamanesh, INTERCEPT trial global leader, and Dr. Aristeidis Katsanos, who is the study’s site lead.

Hamilton Health Sciences is conducting the third phase of clinical trials for a medical device that's purpose is to try to prevent stroke. We explore how it works and what the research shows so far.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: A GENERIC VERSION OF OZEMPIC WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG HAS BEEN APPROVED BY HEALTH  CANADA & WE TALK HEARING AIDS

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 Nadia Alam, family doctor and anesthetist in Georgetown, Ontario.

Together, they discuss a generic drug version of Ozempic approved by Health Canada and other healthcare stories of the week.

REACTION TO OTTAWA’S ECONOMIC UPDATE

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant and John Capobianco, Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard HighRoad.

Our crack team of political strategists reacts to the economic update delivered in Ottawa yesterday afternoon.

ONTARIO NDP LEADER MARIT STILES TALKS "SURVEILLANCE PRICING"

Libby Znaimer is joined by Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

They discuss the issue of "surveillance pricing" for consumers.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: A LOOK AHEAD TO OTTAWA'S ECONOMIC UPDATE 

Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Health Minister and Deputy Premier; Cheri DiNovo, a former Ontario NDP MPP; and John Mykytyshyn, a Conservative Strategist and President of Bradgate Research Group.

Today: a look ahead to the upcoming economic update from Ottawa being announced later today and reaction to Prime Minister Mark Carney launching Canada's first ever sovereign wealth fund.

OLDER ADULTS CAN IMPROVE PHYSICALLY OVERTIME AS THEY AGE AND MINDSET IS A KEY FACTOR

Libby Znaimer is w joined by Igor Klibanov, CEO of Fitness Solutions Plus and Dr. Samir Sinha, Geriatrician and Clinician Scientist at Sinai Health System and University Health Network.

A study out of Yale University details how older adults can in fact improve physically over time and one's mindset about aging can play a major role in that.

LET’S TALK TAXES AS THE DEADLINE TO FILE FAST APPROACHES

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Rotfleisch (https://taxpage.com/) a chartered professional accountant and founding Canadian tax lawyer of Rotfleisch & Samulovitch, P.C.

Are you all organized ahead of the tax filing deadline this week? David provides tips to help you avoid making mistakes and more.

ZOOMER SQUAD: REACTION TO B'NAI BRITH CANADA'S ANTISEMITISM AUDIT FOR 2025 & PM CARNEY SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND

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

Today: reaction to B'nai Brith Canada's report on antisemitism for 2025 which details 6800 recorded incidents of antisemitism in 2025 (a 9.3 percent increase from 2024 and more than 145 percent increase from 2022). Also on the agenda: Prime Minister Carney has launched Canada's first sovereign wealth fund. We'll get into all of that and more news of the week.

 

A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH FORMER TPS HOMICIDE COP HANK IDSINGA

Libby Znaimer is joined by Hank Idsinga, a retired Homicide Inspector with the Toronto Police Service and the author of the book, The High Road.

Hank Idsinga looks back at his 34 year career on the force at Toronto Police Service in his new memoir, The High Road, in which he also makes explosive allegations about antisemitism and racism at the upper levels of TPS. There's a lot of ground to cover in this book and it extends to outside of his career including the story of his grandfather who was murdered during the Holocaust.