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Deb Hutton is hosting this edition of Free For All Fridays. She is joined by Newstalk 1290 London host Ken Eastwood and Toronto Star crime reporter Jennifer Pagliaro. Up for discussion on the main menu is federal healthcare funding, the possibility of a federal election in 2023, Danielle Smith’s catalog of controversial soundbites, Google’s top trends for 2022, and Elon Musk’s war with journalists.

Thanks for listening! This podcast will no longer be uploading new episodes. You can find our brand-new podcast for The Vassy Kapelos Show on the iHeart radio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

Free For All Friday features top talent across the iHeart radio talk network. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. 

This week's show is hosted by Mark Towhey and features panelists Sean Vanderklis, co-host of One Dish One Mic which airs in Niagara, London and Windsor, and Bob Richardson, senior counsel at National Public Relations and a former Ontario Liberal chief of staff.

Topics:

1. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention in a prisoner swap for a convicted arms dealer. Does this set a bad precedent?
2. The RCMP has suspended a contract awarded to a company with ties to the Chinese government. Why do we continue to do business with China?
3. An Ontario hospital is considering hiring unvaccinated nurses and health-care workers to combat a staffing shortage. Thoughts on this? 
4. Marit Stiles is set to be the next Ontario NDP leader after being the only candidate in the race. Meanwhile, the Ontario Liberals are courting Green leader Mike Schreiner for party leadership. Is it time for new political parties?
5. Oxford Dictionaries names 'goblin mode' its word of the year. Have you ever used this term?
6. Are you watching the new Harry and Meghan documentary?

Mark Towhey hosts. He takes your calls about Brittney Griner's release and speaks with Declan Hill, an investigative academic and journalist specializing in the study of organized crime, international issues, and international sports.

On today's show: 

• Eric Alper, a publicist, music expert and radio host, on the death of the key change in music. 
• Overhyped v. Underplayed Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator, and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin.
• Stephen Woodland, president of the The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association, on the Mint unveiling a new toonie with a black outer ring in memory of the Queen.
• Riskin It All with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist.

Deb Hutton speaks with Mary MacDonald, World Wildlife Fund Canada’s chief conservation officer, who is at the critical COP15 biodiversity talks in Montreal. 

On today’s show: 

• Jill Wine-Banks, an American lawyer who was one of the prosecutors during the Watergate scandal, on the Trump Organization being found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud. 
• Marit Stiles, who has just won an uncontested race to lead the Ontario NDP party.
• The War Room political panel with Zain Velji, Tom Mulcair and Tim Powers. 
• Amanda Lang, BNN Bloomberg anchor of Taking Stock, on the Bank of Canada raising its key interest rate again to 4.25%.
• Diana Matheson, a retired Canadian professional soccer player and 2x Olympic bronze medallist, on launching Canada’s first women’s pro soccer league.

Deb Hutton hosts. She speaks with a man who fell from a cruise ship and treaded water for 20 hours to survive.

On today’s show: 

• A conversation with James Michael Grimes, the cruise ship passenger.
• It’s been 33 years since the Montreal massacre. We speak with Nathalie Provost, who was shot four times when a gunman stormed École Polytechnique in 1989.
• Canada’s auditor general has released two highly anticipated reports on the government’s handling of COVID-19 in 2021. Rachel Aiello, senior digital parliamentary reporter with CTV National News, breaks down the key takeaways. 
• Ali Kashani, CEO of Serve Robotics, which creates food delivery robots. What are the challenges that may delay mass adoption?
• Michel Juneau-Katsuya, former chief of the Asia-Pacific desk at CSIS, on two more 'police' centres run by Chinese authorities that have been found in Canada.
• Whitney Lackenbauer, an honourary lieutenant colonel for First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, on the importance and role of our northern Canadian rangers.

Deb Hutton hosts. She speaks with the CEO of a tattoo studio that is offering to remove tattoos of Kanye West for free—an extension of their 'Second Chances' campaign.

On today's show:

• A conversation with Briony Garbett, the CEO of NAAMA, a London-based tattoo removal studio.
• Farrah Khan, who previously worked with Girl Guides of Canada as a board member on changing the name “Brownies."
• Food prices in Canada will continue to rise in 2023, a new report has found. We speak with Samantha Taylor, professor at the Dalhousie University’s faculty of management and co-author of the report.
• The majority of Canadians favoured the Emergencies Act invocation, a poll has found. We chat with Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist at Nanos Research.

• Dr. Dina Kulik, pediatrician and founder of KidCrew Medical, on the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario calling in the Red Cross as it deals with a surge in respiratory patients.

Free For All Friday features top talent across the iHeart radio talk network. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. 

This week's show is hosted by Deb Hutton and features panelists Chris Holski, senior news producer at 580 CFRA in Ottawa, and Karl Dockstader, host of One Dish One Mic which airs in Niagara, London and Windsor.

Topics:

1. Alberta premier Danielle Smith has introduced her sovereignty act into the Alberta Legislature. Is this just Alberta politics or does it signal something bigger about where we are as a country?
2. National security officials are planning for a 2023 'Freedom Convoy' reboot. Based on what we’ve heard from the Emergencies Act inquiry, do you think we’re actually prepared to deal with another one of these?
3. Quebec premier Francois Legault wants 100 per cent of all economic immigrants to speak French. How do you feel about this? Do you think this is reasonable?
4. The panellists participate in a lightning round featuring a discussion on Ontario’s auditor general report, Canada's run at the World Cup, and whether they are for or against Elf on the Shelf. 
   
   

Graham Richardson speaks with a scientist at the Alzheimer Society of Canada on an experimental Alzheimer's drug which slowed cognitive decline overall in a trial, but with major side effects for some. 

On today’s show: 

• A conversation with Dr. Joshua Armstrong, research scientist at the Alzheimer Society of Canada. 
• Michael Findlay, former Canadian Senior Men’s National Team head coach and assistant coach, on Canada’s run at the World Cup. 
• Overhyped v. Underplayed Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator, and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin.
• Jasbir Romana, a radio host in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was stranded due to the snowstorm this week and had to seek refuge in a stranger’s home.
• A global 4-day week pilot was a huge success, organizers say. We speak with Juliet Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College and the trial’s lead researcher.
• When does the holiday season officially start for you? We take your calls. 
• Riskin It All with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist.

Deb Hutton discusses former premier Jason Kenney’s decision to quit Alberta politics and his critical letter on the state of democracy. Then, we take your calls. 

On today’s show: 

• Paul Boniferro, a labour lawyer and the former Deputy Attorney General of Ontario, on the Ford government planning to appeal after an Ontario court struck down Bill 124. 
• James Snider, vice president of science, knowledge and innovation for World Wildlife Fund Canada, on a new report which finds more than 2,000 wild species are at some risk of extinction in Canada. 
• The War Room political panel with Zain Velji, Tom Mulcair and Tim Powers. 
• Dr. Michael Kalin, a family physician in Côte Saint-Luc, on Quebec’s family doctor crisis.
• Are you for or against Elf on the Shelf? We take your calls.