Fight Back with Libby Znaimer

Libby speaks with strategists Kim Wright of Wright Strategies and Mike Van Soelen of Navigator; Lawyer Sunira Chaudhri of Levitt LLP; and NDP MPP Taras Natyshak.

An OPP Deputy Commissioner with concerns about a friend of the premier's being appointed the province's top cop has been fired. Deputy OPP Commissioner Brad Blair says his termination is retribution for his legal battle over the appointment of a long-time Ford family friend Ron Taverner as top provincial police officer.

Blair has asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to investigate Taverner’s hiring.

In newly filed court documents Blair alleges that his firing is an attempt to, ''muzzle'' him.

The government has denied any political interference in Blair's t. Sylvia Jones, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, says the decision was made by the public service commission.

NDP Leader Andrea Howarth's motion calling for a public inquiry into the matter was defeated.

Libby speaks with Michael Cooper MP, Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Justice; and strategists Kim Wright of Wright Strategies and Jamie Ellerton of Conaptus.

Jane Philpott, one of Justin Trudeau's most trusted ministers, has resigned from cabinet as the Liberal government struggles with a scandal over the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The Treasury Board president, who formerly served as Indigenous services minister and health minister in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, resigned yesterday. She will stay on as an MP. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Philpott cited the SNC-Lavalin scandal which she says has, “shaken the federal government in recent weeks,” and said it would be “untenable” for her to remain in cabinet.

"I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities and constitutional obligations," she said in a statement.

"There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them."

Libby speaks with Michael Cooper MP, Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Justice; and strategists Kim Wright of Wright Strategies and Jamie Ellerton of Conaptus.

Jane Philpott, one of Justin Trudeau's most trusted ministers, has resigned from cabinet as the Liberal government struggles with a scandal over the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The Treasury Board president, who formerly served as Indigenous services minister and health minister in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, resigned yesterday. She will stay on as an MP. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Philpott cited the SNC-Lavalin scandal which she says has, “shaken the federal government in recent weeks,” and said it would be “untenable” for her to remain in cabinet.

"I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities and constitutional obligations," she said in a statement.

"There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them."

Some painful news: Canada no longer has the best health-care system in the world. How can we fix it? Health care policy expert Stephen Skyvington is in our studio to explain why change has to occur. The author of This May Hurt A Bit: Reinventing Canada's Health Care System describes how Canadians can and must get involved to save our health-care system. This May Hurt a Bit provides a blueprint for change once those in charge finally acknowledge the most inconvenient truth — namely, that Canada's health-care system is in poor health.

Some painful news: Canada no longer has the best health-care system in the world. How can we fix it? Health care policy expert Stephen Skyvington is in our studio to explain why change has to occur. The author of This May Hurt A Bit: Reinventing Canada's Health Care System describes how Canadians can and must get involved to save our health-care system. This May Hurt a Bit provides a blueprint for change once those in charge finally acknowledge the most inconvenient truth — namely, that Canada's health-care system is in poor health.

Libby speaks with George Washington University Law School Professor Donald Clarke and Cheuk Kwan of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China.

China has accused detained Canadian citizen Michael Kovrig of stealing state secrets, which according to the Chinese were passed on to him by the other detained Canadian, in what is likely to further ramp up tension between Ottawa and Beijing. Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up in early December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States. China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released, and reacted angrily last week when Canada's government approved extradition proceedings against her. In a short statement on its microblog, the ruling Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said Kovrig had often entered China using an ordinary passport and business visas, stealing and spying on sensitive Chinese information and intelligence via a contact in China. The Commission said Spavor was Kovrig's main contact and provided him with intelligence, but gave no details. While Canada says China has made no specific link between the detentions and Meng's arrest, experts and former diplomats say they have no doubt it is using the cases of the two men to pressure Canada.

Libby's guest is Lorne Bozinoff, President of the Forum Research Group.

One in four Canadians say the SNC Lavalin scandal will influence their vote in the October election, and a new Nanos survey indicates the political fallout appears to be growing. Before Jody Wilson Raybould's public testimony on Wednesday alleging high level government pressure and veiled threats in the case seventeen percent of Canadians said the SNC Lavalin scandal will be a factor when they vote this fall. Two days after the hearing the number of concerned respondents jumped to 26 percent. Meanwhile, it appears the Prime Minister is trying to change the dialogue from the SNC Lavalin scandal to the issue of climate change. Justin Trudeau will speak at what is being billed as a climate action rally tonight at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. His appearance comes ahead of the launch of Liberal election-year radio ads which will air this week in four provinces where the federal government is imposing a carbon tax - Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Libby speaks with George Washington University Law School Professor Donald Clarke and Cheuk Kwan of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China.

China has accused detained Canadian citizen Michael Kovrig of stealing state secrets, which according to the Chinese were passed on to him by the other detained Canadian, in what is likely to further ramp up tension between Ottawa and Beijing. Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up in early December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States. China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released, and reacted angrily last week when Canada's government approved extradition proceedings against her. In a short statement on its microblog, the ruling Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said Kovrig had often entered China using an ordinary passport and business visas, stealing and spying on sensitive Chinese information and intelligence via a contact in China. The Commission said Spavor was Kovrig's main contact and provided him with intelligence, but gave no details. While Canada says China has made no specific link between the detentions and Meng's arrest, experts and former diplomats say they have no doubt it is using the cases of the two men to pressure Canada.

Libby's guest is Lorne Bozinoff, President of the Forum Research Group.

One in four Canadians say the SNC Lavalin scandal will influence their vote in the October election, and a new Nanos survey indicates the political fallout appears to be growing. Before Jody Wilson Raybould's public testimony on Wednesday alleging high level government pressure and veiled threats in the case seventeen percent of Canadians said the SNC Lavalin scandal will be a factor when they vote this fall. Two days after the hearing the number of concerned respondents jumped to 26 percent. Meanwhile, it appears the Prime Minister is trying to change the dialogue from the SNC Lavalin scandal to the issue of climate change. Justin Trudeau will speak at what is being billed as a climate action rally tonight at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. His appearance comes ahead of the launch of Liberal election-year radio ads which will air this week in four provinces where the federal government is imposing a carbon tax - Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The Sunday edition of the Best of Libby Znaimer’s Fight Back… from the week that was.

Interviews with Francesca Grosso, Dr. Bob Bell, and Laura Tamblyn Watts on Ontario’s health care reform.

Also, conversations with Joe Mihevc and Dr. Iris Gorfinkel on anti-vaccination billboards; Michael Taube and Janice Stein on updates from Washington; and the best callers of the week.