Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in to respond to the war in Israel after the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists last weekend

Today is World Sight Day and this year’s theme is the importance of eye care in the workplace and, of course, the health of your eyes in general.

For our Zoomer audience, the risks of eye disease increase with age. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.

Now I am joined by Dr. Nupura Bakshi who is a retina and uveitis specialist, on staff at St. Joseph's Health Centre, Kensington Eye Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO POLICE RAMPS UP SECURITY MEASURES IN JEWISH COMMUNITY

12-12:30 PM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO, Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein,Co-Founder of The Peak, and Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth.

We are catching up with local news: The RCMP is investigating the Greenbelt land swap scandal. What implications will this have for the Ford government? Meanwhile, Toronto City Council has voted to increase the vacant home tax to 3 per cent. And, Toronto Police say they are ramping up security measures in and around the Jewish community amid Hamas calling for a day of Jihad (in other words, a call to violence) across the Muslim world against Israel which has been a concern for Jewish communities everywhere. Our panel discusses the latest.

WORLD SIGHT DAY-THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE CARE IN THE WORKPLACE

12:30-1:00

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Nupura Bakshi is a retina and uveitis specialist, on staff at St. Joseph's Health Centre, Kensington Eye Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at UofT in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. She will be a spokesperson on behalf of the Living With It campaign, which seeks to bring more awareness to eye conditions like Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and the importance of getting your eyes checked.

This year, the theme of World Sight Day is about the importance of eye care in the workplace and, of course, the health of your eyes in general. Dr. Bakshi weighs in on the key message here and also weighs in on how the Ford government took steps earlier this year to expand eye-related surgeries at private health care clinics.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH LAUNCHES FLU/COVID-19 VACCINE CAMPAIGN

12-12:30 PM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto, Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital.

Toronto Public Health has launched a flu/COVID-19 vaccine campaign and has a phased approach to the administration of vaccines with first priority in the rollout going to adults 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals among others. The campaign comes amid flu season. Meanwhile, the war in Israel has led to mounting casualties and deaths among innocent civilians. Our panel discusses trauma medicine and how it works during times of emergencies and also weighs in on Israel's robust medical services programs that are specialized in dealing with situations like this. So far, the death toll in Israel has reportedly reached 1,200 people.

SEGMENT 2: NDP MPP JAMA FACING PARTY BACKLASH FOR HER OFFENSIVE COMMENTS ON ISRAEL

12:30-12:40 PM

Libby Znaimer is joined by John Fraser, leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Mr. Fraser is calling for the removal of NDP MPP Sarah Jama's from caucus after she made offensive comments about Israel in the wake of the war. Part of her statement on social media platform X reads:  "We must look to the solution to this endless cycle of death and destruction: end all occupation of Palestinian land and end apartheid.” MPP Jama has made numerous offensive and public remarks about Israel in the recent past which makes these statements all the more concerning. Meanwhile, NDP leader Marit Stiles says her party did not approve of Jama's remarks.

SEGMENT 3 PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF THE WAR IN ISRAEL FROM THOSE LIVING THERE

12:40-12:50 PM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Aseel Gadban, a Druze Israeli who served in an IDF combat unit.

We reach Aseel in Israel where he weighs in on his personal account of what has been happening in the country since the war began last Saturday. He tells us how he is managing and how this conflict has been impacting Israel's Druze community. We then hear another personal account, this time from Simcha Jacobovici on how the war has impacted his own family and loved ones.

SEGMENT 4: SIMCHA JACABOVICI ON THE HORRORS OF HAMAS ATTACK

12:50-1 PM

Libby is joined by Simcha Jacabovici who lives in Israel and gives a very personal account of how the war has impacted his family. Simcha is an Israeli-Canadian journalist and New York Times best-selling author and documentary filmmaker.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: TRUDEAU AND FORD TAKE A STAND WITH ISRAEL AS WAR RAGES ON

12:00-12:30

Libby Znaimer is joined by Janet Ecker, Former Ontario PC MPP, George Smitherman,  former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier, and Cheri DiNovo, Former Ontario NDP MPP.

Over the weekend, in a surprise attack, Hamas terrorists launched a vicious attack on Israeli civilians inside Israel by land, sea and air. So far, over 900 Israelis have been killed including women and children and dozens of Israelis of all ages have been kidnapped and taken hostage to Gaza. Israel was caught off guard by the attack as it took hours before they responded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that Israel is officially at War with Hamas. Meanwhile, here in Canada rallies in support of Hamas have been taking place. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have called these protests out and made their position clear that Canada stands with Israel. But, at a time when Israel faces such an unprecedented attack on innocent civilians, are statements enough?

UPDATE ON THE WAR IN ISRAEL

12:30-1:00

Libby Znaimer is joined by Corey Gil-Shuster, Director, The International Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University and creator of the Ask Project, Professor Dan Avnon, Leon Blum Chair (emeritus) in the Department of Political Science at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Professor Amos GuioraProf of law at the university of UtahServed 20 years IDF JAG corps including legal advisor to IDF commanders in Gaza Strip and is speaking from Jerusalem.

On the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and during this year's Simchat Torah holiday, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory killing hundreds of innocent Israeli's, kidnapping dozens of hostages and catching the country entirely off guard. How could such an event like this happen especially after the lessons of the Yom Kippur war? What implications will this have on the relationship between Israel and Hamas and of course Hamas' future? Who is to blame for Israel's delayed response? And, how is the international community reacting to the War? Our guests weigh in on the latest.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD

Marissa Lennox is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP; Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP; and Gabe De Roche, founder of Pluriel Research.

Last month, Premier Danielle Smith’s government said it would launch consultations around the proposal to pull Alberta out of the CPP so the province could have its own retirement fund, and polling numbers are starting to come in to take the public’s temperature on that idea.

COVID, influenza, pneumococcal, and, for the first time, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines will all be available this fall for older adults. But while older Canadians might have more options to protect themselves than ever before, physicians are warning that staggered rollouts, patchwork approaches among the provinces, and high costs for certain shots could hinder uptake.

Together, Marissa and the Zoomer Squad unpack these issues, and more.

THANKSGIVING SURVEY

A new survey finds this weekend may well signal a return to the pre-pandemic tradition of gathering family, friends, and/or neighbor's together for Thanksgiving dinner, as more than half (54%) of Canadians indicate they’ll either be hosting or going to another household for Thanksgiving dinner this holiday weekend.

Marissa Lennox is joined by John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion to discuss.

THE SURPRISE WAR AGAINST ISRAEL

In the aftermath of Saturday’s unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel, as body counts on both sides continue to rise, the world is both reeling and bracing itself for what is yet to come.

Marissa Lennox is joined by Zach Levey, Israel Institute Visiting Professor, International Affairs Program, University of Colorado at Boulder; and Dr. Yael Aronoff, Director of the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel and Serling Chair in Israel Studies at Michigan State University to discuss these sad and shocking events.

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in to discuss their Thanksgiving plans this weekend and to talk about the future of Ontario Place.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: FORD GOVERNMENT FACING MORE HEAT OVER MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES

Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO, Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein,Co-Founder of The Peak, and Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth.

A new report by the City's integrity commissioner found that former Mayor John Tory violated his code of conduct over his affair with a staffer. Our panel reacts to the latest.

CALLS TO OPEN RECORDS OF NAZI WAR VETS LIVING IN CANADA

12:30-12:45

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Michael Mostyn, CEO B'nai Brith Canada

Governor General Mary Simon has apologized over the Order of Canada appointment of a former Waffen-SS Peter Savaryn in 1987. He served in the same unit as Yaroslav Hunka. Meanwhile, Jewish organizations like B'nai Brith are calling on Ottawa to release records on Nazi war veterans who moved to Canada post World War 2.

ROSE REISMAN ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

12:45 TO 1PM

Libby Znaimer is joined by Rose Reisman, nutritionist and cookbook author.

Rose joins Libby to discuss food ideas for Thanksgiving weekend and how we can cut costs but still make delicious recipes for the family.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: THE WIDESPREAD ISSUE OF CHRONIC PAIN

12-12:30 PM

Liz West is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at Unity Health Toronto.

We begin the discussion with a closer look into the widespread issue of chronic pain. One in five Canadians suffer from it. So, how does Canada's healthcare system help patients find answers and treatments? Meanwhile, is adult ADHD being overdiagnosed in this country? And, what is even involved in the process of diagnosing a patient with ADHD? Finally, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Our medical experts explain what adult women should consider on this aspect of health and the importance of regular screening.

THE LATEST ON CANADA-INDIA RELATIONS: INDIA WANTS CANADIAN DIPLOMATS OUT

12:30-12:45 PM

Liz West is now joined by Robin Sears, a Crisis Communications Consultant and former NDP Strategist.

The relationship between Ottawa and New Delhi remains soured. Now, India wants as many as 40 Canadian diplomats out by October 10th. Meanwhile, foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly is stressing the importance of having diplomatic talks between the two countries behind closed doors. Tensions arose after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to the House of Commons that he received credible evidence from intelligence that India was behind the murder of a Sikh leader in BC earlier in the Summer. Robin reacts to the latest.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE CRTC'S NEW RULES?

12:45-1 PM

Liz West is now joined by Carmi Levy, Technology analyst and journalist based in London, Ontario.

Canada's broadcast regulator wants podcast services and online streaming services that operate in Canada, and that make $10 million and more in yearly revenue, to register with the CRTC by the Nov 28 deadline. This is happening as part of Bill C-11--the Online Streaming Act. Carmi reacts to the latest.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL:  MPs TO ELECT NEW HOUSE SPEAKER TODAY

12:00-12:30

Liz West is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Andrew Cash, a former NDP MP for Toronto Davenport district and John Milloy,  a former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne governments.

Today: members of Parliament are expected to vote in a new speaker of the house today. It comes in the aftermath of house speaker Anthony Rota 's resignation over inviting a Nazi war veteran to Parliament during Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visit. And, Bonnie Crombie says she's raised over $1 million for her campaign to become leader of the Ontario Liberals. Crombie, who is taking a leave of absence from her post as Mississauga mayor, is firing back against her political opponents including candidate Nate Erskine-Smith who are criticizing her for getting donations from developers.

FINANCIAL STRESS AMONG CANADIANS IS UP: ARE WE IN A NATIONAL EMERGENCY?

12:30-12:45

Liz West is now joined by Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Founder of MeVest, a leading edge financial education company specializing in money coaching for Canadians.

According to a new survey by the National Payroll Institute, the number of Canadians reporting financial stress-- as much as 20 per cent. They are calling it a national emergency. Lesley-Anne reacts to the findings.

WHY ARE SO MANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN TORONTO DELAYED

12:45-1 PM

Liz West is now joined by Councillor Mike Colle, City Councillor Ward 8, Eglinton-Lawrence, and Josh Matlow, Toronto Councillor, Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul’s.

Last week, we heard yet another announcement from Metrolinx that followed the same old: no clear timeline on when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is going to be completed. How fair is this to local residents and businesses? And the reality is that there is $107 billion in infrastructure work planned for the city. how can we be confident that none of these projects will get delayed much like the Eglinton LRT.