RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: DOUG FORD WANTS "LIKE MINDED JUDGES APPOINTED"

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

Today: we kick things off with a discussion about Ontario Premier Doug Ford's desire to have "like-minded" judges appointed to the provinces' courts.

MP MELISSA LANTSMAN ON THE PROBLEMS WITH UNRWA 

Jane Brown is now joined by Melissa Lantsman, Deputy leader of the Conservative Party (Thornhill).

This week, MP Lantsman alongside Liberal MP Anthony Housefather attended a conference hosted by NGO UN Watch called "International Summit for a Future Beyond UNRWA". It comes at a time when a number of UNRWA donor countries including Canada made the decision to freeze funding to the agency after it was discovered that some of its employees had taken part or were associated with the Oct. 7th massacre of Israelis. We reached out to Liberal MP Anthony Housefather as well but he was sitting on committees at the time of the show.

TWO HIGHLY UNUSUAL INCIDENTS WHERE POLICE CRUISERS PUT PEDESTRIANS IN HARM'S WAY

Jane Brown is now joined by Toronto Councillor Jon Burnside for Don Valley East and a former Toronto Police Officer.

In the past two weeks, and in two separate incidents, police cruisers in Toronto had near-misses with pedestrians. We ask the Councillor what is being done to address the issue. We reached out to Toronto Police for comment but they declined to join the program.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: RECAPPING CARP'S AGM & NDP-LIBERAL PHARMACARE DEAL

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion.

CARP hosted its annual general meeting late last week in which Minister of Seniors Seamus O'Regan participated. We get our thoughts from Bill and Anthony on how the meeting went and what specific policies they pressed Ottawa on on behalf of its members and Canadian Zoomers. Meanwhile, we also learned that the federal NDP and governing Liberals have reached an agreement on pharmacare legislation that would make diabetes and birth control medication coverable. So, what do you make of all of this? Call in!

ONTARIANS LACKING TRAVEL INSURANCE PREPAREDNESS: CAA SURVEY

Jane Brown is now joined by Kaitlynn Furse, Director of Communications for CAA South Central Ontario.

According to a new CAA poll of its members, 40 percent indicated that they don't always buy travel insurance. In such a volatile and unpredictable world, is that the best idea?

SURVEY: MANY ONTARIANS THINK THEY ARE GOOD AT DRIVING

Jane Brown is now joined by Dan Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer of Pollara Strategic Insights and Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP Highway Safety Division.

How confident do you feel about your driving? A new survey by Pollara Strategic Insights shows how Ontario drivers would answer that question.

Today on Free For All Friday: amid a Toronto City staff report on addressing dangerous dogs, listeners called in to weigh in what needs to be done and how dog owners must take the necessary steps to keep the community around them safe.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: WILL PARKING FINES GO UP IN TORONTO?

Tasha Kheiriddin is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, and David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto.

A Toronto City staff report is recommending that fines go up for parking violations. What do you make of this?

THE SHINGLES VIRUS: SHOULD VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY BE REDUCED?

Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Dr. Alon Vaisman, Epidemiologist and Infectious Disease Specialist at the University Health Network, and Molly Yang, Pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy Innovation & Professional Affairs at Wholehealth Pharmacy Partners. 

A PEI doctor is calling for the program of free shingles vaccinations through a primary care physician to be expanded to adults 55 and older. Do you agree? 

MAYOR PATRICK BROWN RESPONDS TO OTTAWA’S AUTO THEFT PLANS

Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

Ottawa announced it is providing an additional $15 million in funding towards combatting auto theft in the country. But, according to Mayor Brown, more needs to be done.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: ONTARIANS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT CATARACT SURGERY BILLING

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto, Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and  Dr. Fahad Razak.

Today: a discussion about cataract surgeries at private healthcare clinics in Ontario.

TIPS AHEAD OF TAX SEASON!

Jane Brown is now joined by Barry Choi, a Personal Finance Expert.

Tax season is upon us! The deadline to file is on April 30. So, what do you need to know? Barry weighs in.

NORTH YORK SHOOTINGS LEAVE RESIDENTS CONCERNED

Jane Brown is now joined by Toronto Police Services Superintendent Andy Singh and Marcell Wilson, Founder of The One By One Movement.

Residents of North York have been rocked by the shooting of two innocent pedestrians waiting at bus stops near the Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue intersection over the weekend. We hear the latest on the Toronto Police investigation and what community supports are being provided to residents of the neighbourhood.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: ARE BONNIE AND MARIT'S PRIORITIES TOO SIMILAR?

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier and Cheri DiNovo, a former Ontario NDP MPP.

Today: the legislature resumes at Queens Park. Are the priorities of both Bonnie Crombie and Marit Stiles too similar to each other?

TORONTO CONSIDERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING DANGEROUS DOGS

Jane Brown is now joined by Kristina Rapson, dog trainer and behaviouralist for Hairy Tales Training and Beverley McKee, Senior Manager Public Support Services at Toronto Humane Society.

Toronto City Council is reviewing a report of recommendations for dealing with dangerous dogs. Here's what you need to know about it.   

LOBLAW TO INVEST $2 BILLION TO EXPAND IN CANADA

Jane Brown is now joined by Ellen Roseman, Consumer Advocate and journalist.

Loblaw is planning to invest $2 billion in Canada and create as many as 7,500 jobs. What can shoppers expect from all of this?

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: HOME CARE AND PHARMACARE

With Ontario's senior population about to spike, a new report predicts a huge demand for home care.

And the deadline is looming for the governing Liberals to table legislation on a national pharmacare program. The government has until March 1st, otherwise NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will make good on its promise to end their deal.

Bob Komsic is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. He is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP; Bob Richardson, Senior Council to National Public Relations; and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion to discuss these matters, and more.

PROPOSED COTTAGE RENTAL LEGISLATION THAT'S BECOME A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN MUSKOKA

New rules proposed for Short Term Rentals (STRs) in the Township of Muskoka Lakes are not being well-received by property owners.

Bob Komsic is joined by founder and president of Jayne's Cottages, Jayne McCaw to explore this contentious issue.

REMEMBERING ALEXEI NAVALNY AFTER HIS DEATH

Alexei Navalny, a primary critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has died in prison.

Bob Komsic is joined by Dr. Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Political Science and Jean Monnet Chair at McGill University, to get a sense of who Navalny was; how he became a major enemy of Putin; and the suspicious circumstances around his death.

Today on Free For All Friday: Listeners called in to weigh in on the death of Putin critic Alexei Navalny, Yonge-Dundas Square, and Toronto's City Budget.

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

LEAD-TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO MAYOR OLIVIA CHOW'S BUDGET FINALIZED

Libby Znaimer is joined by Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, and David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto.

This week: Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's budget has been finalized with a 9.5 per cent tax hike for residents. The Mayor is also providing additional funding to the Toronto Police Service. 

WHAT SHOULD A NATIONAL PHARMACARE PROGRAM LOOK LIKE?

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Kyro Maseh, Pharmacist and owner at Lawlor Pharmacy in Toronto, and George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal Deputy Premier and health minister and Dr. Steve Morgan, Professor of healthcare policy at the University of British Columbia and an expert in pharmaceutical policy.

The federal NDP wants the Trudeau Liberals to deliver a national pharmacare program for Canadians soon. But the question remains: what should that look like? 

PPE GROUP SUES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR "MISLEADING" THEM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Barry Hunt, President, Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers. 

The CAPPEM is suing the federal government for a whooping $5 billion alleging that Ottawa mislead its member businesses by not delivering on a promise to buy PPE equipment during the pandemic that they ramped up production for.  

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

THE MEDICAL RECORD: ONTARIO AND OTTAWA SIGN HEALTHCARE AGREEMENT

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital

In the news: An anti-Israel protest took place in front of Mount Sinai Hospital on Monday night in yet another development making Toronto's Jewish community feel safe. Meanwhile, the Ford government has signed the $3.1 billion healthcare agreement with the federal government. How will the money be spent? Our doctors weigh in.

REACTION TO THE ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST AT MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL

Libby Znaimer is joined by Richard Robertson, Director of Research and Advocacy at B'nai Brith Canada.

It's a protest that never should have happened. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the pro-Palestinian mob that formed in front of Mount Sinai Hospital on Toronto's Hospital row on University Avenue on Monday night. Why did they have to protest at that specific hospital? Is this yet another attempt to intimidate Toronto's Jewish community? Since the event, Toronto Police have been increasing their presence in the area, but is this too little too late? Our Jewish advocacy organizations react.

AG KAREN HOGAN REPORTS ON IMMENSE COST OF ARRIVECAN APP (PRE-TAPED)

Libby Znaimer is joined by federal Auditor General Karen Hogan to discuss her damning report on the ArriveCAN app. The bottom line: Canadian taxpayers paid too darn much for it: an estimated cost of nearly $60 million!

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