Today on Free For All Friday: a lot of listeners called in to complain about a problem they've been facing while filling up for gas at the pumps and it doesn't just have to do with the high cost these days. Meanwhile, some other listeners called in to complain about the continuous shut down of Line 1 for signal upgrades. 

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

Customer service across different industries has been on the decline during the pandemic and it continues to be a trending problem even with a fully reopened economy. So, why is this happening? Staffing shortages, and the increased use of automated customer service are just some of the influencing factors.

Larry Isaacs, President of the Firkin Group of Pubs, Shaun Belding, a global expert on customer experience, and Jeff Doucette, General Manager of Field Agent Canada all join to discuss.

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ALBERTA PREMIER JASON KENNEY RESIGNS

Last night there was a seismic change in Canada’s conservative political landscape. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney resigned after he received a 51.4 percent vote of confidence. He said that  “While 51 per cent of the vote passes the constitutional threshold of a majority, it clearly is not adequate support to continue on as leader." Why is this significant for us here?  Let’s go to Michael Taube, A columnist and former speechwriter for former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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DR. FAHAD RAZAK ON TAKING OVER FOR DR. PETER JUNI AND NEW LONG COVID DATA

Dr. Fahad Razak joins Fight Back for the first time since becoming the Scientific Director of the COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. He weighs in on the pervasiveness of COVID-19 in Ontario and new data on long COVID symptoms.

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

Libby Znaimer is joined by Alison Eastwood, Editor-In-Chief of Hello! Canada magazine followed by Peter Donolo, a former longtime director of communications to Prime Minister Jean Chretien alongside Cat Criger, a Traditional Teacher and Knowledge Keeper of the Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan..

Charles and Camilla have embarked on a royal tour of Canada this week. The occasion, of course, is to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The visit to Canada also comes amid a time when the country is still very much in reflection of the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples and the legacy of residential schools, the discovery of unmarked graves and a national conversation about Truth and Reconciliation. Charles understands this and during his portion of the trip to St. Johns, NL he said: "I know that our visit here this week comes at an important moment - with indigenous and non-indigenous peoples across Canada committing to reflect honestly and openly on the past and to forge a new relationship for the future."

Meanwhile, Peter weighs in on where Canada's ties to the monarchy stand today and whether he thinks its time we consider severing ties.

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THE RISE OF BUSINESSES GOING THROUGH BANKRUPTCY

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Stephanie Ben-Ishai, Distinguished Research Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University who teaches about bankruptcy, contract, commercial law, and financial crises.

Business bankruptcy is on the rise here in Canada. There were a total of 807 such bankruptcies and proposals in Q1 compared to 733 in the quarter before that and 603 in the first quarter of 2021. Dr. Ben-Ishai weighs in on why this is happening.

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WHAT ARE THE MOST RESPECTED OCCUPATIONS IN CANADA FOR 2022?

Libby Znaimer is joined by John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion.

A new Maru poll reveals the top most respected professions in Canada this year. Of course, front line workers top the list with paramedics first (at 92 percent), then firefighters (91.4 percent) and nurses coming in third (89.6 percent). Find out who else made the list!

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

Libby Znaimer is joined by Charles Sousa, The former minister of finance for Ontario and MPP for Mississauga South, Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Howard Hampton, former leader of the Ontario NDP.

Yesterday evening, Ontarians watched the second and final provincial debate that, of course, saw all three opposition party leaders focusing their attacks on Ontario PC leader Doug Ford. The highlight issues were education, health care and Highway 413. So, who do you think won and lost during this debate? And, were there any moments that stuck out to you? Our panel weighs in.

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FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVANTS MAKING $171M IN BONUSES DESPITE FAILING TO MEET PERFORMANCE GOALS

Libby Znaimer is joined by Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

According to the Treasury Board Secretariat, between 2019 and 2020, the federal government administered a total of $171-million in bonuses to executives and public servants even though departments managed to only complete less than half of their performance objectives during this time frame. Franco weighs in on the details.

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THE PRICE OF GAS REACHES A RECORD HIGH!

Libby is now joined by Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable Energy.

Drivers are dreading the gas pumps and many of them are now paying over $2 per litre for fuel. And, it is being predicted that gas will only continue to rise to $2.10 a litre into the Victoria long weekend. So, what's causing this pain at the pumps? A lot of it has to do with supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and of course other factors including high demand as a result of the reopening of the economy. Dan gives the details.

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

And why the lineups at Pearson Airport are so long.

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

Interviews with:

- The Recovering Politicians (Charles Sousa, David Tarrant, and Cameron Holmstrom) on the latest with the Ontario election

- Ellen Roseman, Ben Klass, and Matt Hatfield on the Shaw-Rogers merger and what it means to telecoms in Canada

- Mayor John Tory on seeking re-election

- Gordon Pape on protecting your investments

- And the best calls of the week!

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

Interviews with:

- The Zoomer Squad with Bill VanGorder, David Cravit, and Peter Muggeridge on the upcoming provincial election and The CARP 5

- Dr. Paul good, Peter Schturyn, and Phil Wasielewski on Canada's support for Ukraine

- Dr. Kevin Smith, Dr. Joel Finkelstein, and Tracy Johnson on surgery wait times and back logs

- Rose Reisman, Carl Heinrich, and Frank Parhizgar on the Michelin Guide coming to Toronto

- And the best calls of the week!

Today: listeners phoned in to tell Libby about what they think about the campaign promises each Ontario leader is making and what issues they'll be voting on. One of those promises came from NDP leader Andrea Horwath. Her party is pledging to cut back auto insurance by 40 percent. But, how realistic is that? 

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

Mayor John Tory weighs in on city-wide construction, drinking in parks and more.

And the Competition Bureau wants to stop the Rogers-Shaw merger.